Litz Van Dyke, Leeland Prillaman and Judy Hodge will join The Harvest Foundation Board of Directors this year.
Van Dyke, chief executive officer and director of Carter Bank & Trust, said he was honored to be asked to serve on the foundation’s board.
“The Martinsville-Henry County area is very fortunate to have a tremendous asset like The Harvest Foundation,” he said. “Being asked to contribute to the very important task of stewardship for these funds is an honor. I do not take this responsibility lightly.”
Van Dyke said he knew of the foundation and was aware of its investments, but he now looks forward to learning much more about the nuances of the foundation.
“I’ve served on numerous boards over my professional career and have been involved in various economic development and community initiatives as well,” Van Dyke said. “As the CEO of a public company, I have experience in corporate governance that could be of value in the role as a board member of a nonprofit foundation. I’m here to make a small contribution to the successful stewardship of this important community asset and will assist in improving the vitality of our area.”
Van Dyke served as executive vice president of Carter Bank & Trust before taking on his current role of CEO and director. He has more than 25 years of experience as a senior banking executive and strategic advisor. He has served as a director of the Virginia Association of Community Banks, is currently a director of Banker’s Insurance LLC, and he’s served as a board member at various nonprofit organizations over the years including the United Way and Chamber of Commerce. Van Dyke is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney, Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the VBA School of Bank Management. He and his wife Jackie reside in Martinsville. They have four sons.
Hodge is retired, having served as an elementary music teacher at Henry County Public Schools for 30 years. When asked to serve on the foundation’s board of directors, she said she was surprised, humbled and honored.
“I would like to help and contribute to the economical, educational and cultural growth of our community by helping to advance the mission of The Harvest Foundation,” Hodge said. “I previously read and heard of the work the foundation has been doing in our area and being an educator, I was really impressed with the SEED Fund grants for students to attend Patrick Henry Community College.”
Hodge said she feels she has some insight into the needs of the community. She’s lived in Henry County for 46 years, she said, “however, my roots are deep in this community. I have a passion for the needs of young people, and I love researching causes and new innovations. I also like listening to the opinions and ideas of others.”
Hodge is the music coordinator at Moral Hill Missionary Baptist Church. After retiring from Henry County Public Schools, she served as an elementary music teacher at Rockingham County Public Schools for 10 years. She currently serves as a substitute teacher in Henry County. Hodge attended Concord University and the University of Virginia. She is a member and officer in the local Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter and resides in Axton. She has one daughter who lives in Martinsville.
Prillaman grew up in Martinsville and recently moved back to town after a 36-year career at Ernst & Young LLP. He said after he and his wife returned to the area, he was anxious to invest in the community and become actively involved in organizations that have a meaningful impact.
“We see a very bright future for Martinsville and Henry County, and we see the foundation as an integral investor for all residents,” Prillaman said. “My goal is to bring my experiences to help the foundation successfully pursue its mission by addressing the more critical needs, but also investing in future opportunities.”
Prillaman grew up in Martinsville, attended Martinsville High School and Patrick Henry Community College, which he said gives him a good appreciation for the community. He recently invested in renovating the Holt Building in Uptown Martinsville and owns a cattle farm in the Mountain Valley area. He said he hopes these experiences, combined with living in six different cities across the country, will help him be an asset to the board.
“Even though we were not living here, we remained connected to Martinsville-Henry County through family and have always spent a lot of time visiting, so I’ve followed the tremendous activities of the foundation for some time,” Prillaman added. “I hope my experiences will allow me to be an effective board member and be available to all the staff to assess future opportunities in a creative way that benefits all members of the community.”
Prillaman retired from Ernst & Young LLP in 2017 with 24 years of audit and 12 years of consulting experience. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University and the Executive Program at Northwestern University. He’s served as a leadership participant at the United Way and a deacon and class director at Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX. He currently serves as a board member for Move to Martinsville. He and his wife Linda reside in Martinsville, and they currently operate a 235-acre cattle farm with 75 grass-fed black Angus cattle. They have three children.
The Harvest Foundation Board of Directors is a 12-member board that includes a new slate of officers for 2020. They are David L. Stone, Jr. as chair, Danny Wulff as vice chair of the Grants Committee and secretary, Monica T. Monday, Esq. as vice chair Finance and Administration Committee and treasurer, and William L. “Bill” Kirby IV as vice chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Other board members include Dr. Valenica Eggleston-Clark, Kelvin Perry, James “Jim” Tobin, Dr. John Favero and Rev. Charles Whitfield.
