President's Council
The Batten University President's Council comprises business leaders who embrace, embody, and similarly align with the University's vision and values in their management practices. Their personal and professional influence and support ensures students are strategically positioned to participate in opportunities such as internships and externships that will prepare them for a meaningful life and career. In turn, President's Council members offer the University valuable insight to the needs of the community and how campus initiatives might fulfill or impact those needs.
2026–2027
John Almeter
President
NetTek, LLC
Member as of 2022
Bruce Alperin
Vice President of Marketing, Facility Management
Aramark
Member as of 2019
Julie R. Anderson '96
Executive Vice President
TowneBank
Member as of 2016
Alex Askew
Community Relations Director
Sentara Healthcare
Member as of 2023
Justin Black
General Manager
Workvivo by Zoom
Member as of 2026
Stacy Bowman-Hade
Vice President, Segment Growth Marketing and Communications
Sodexo
Member as of 2026
Tiffany Boyle '14
Commissioner of the Revenue
City of Newport News
Member as of 2019
Jeffrey Burks
Senior Sales Manager
PepsiCo
Member as of 2026
John S. Burton, Esq. '95
Founding Partner
J.S. Burton, P.L.C.
Member as of 2016
Tonya Byrd
Senior Policy Director, Community Engagement
Dominion Energy
Member as of 2023
Alison Byrne
Executive Director
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Member as of 2026
Ellen Carver
Executive Director
Girls on the Run Hampton Roads
Member as of 2021
Jamie Childress
Vice President of Youth Development
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Member as of 2026
Krishna R. Davda
Head of School
Chesapeake Bay Academy
Member as of 2026
Bart Dexter
Vice President, Hampton Roads
Hourigan
Member as of 2021
Alan Dworetzky
Managing Director, Land Investments
Harbor Group International
Member as of 2023
Christopher Garran, Ph.D.
Head of School
Cape Henry Collegiate
Member as of 2020
Bill Gobble '03
Property Manager
Self-Employed
Member as of 2023
Stephanie Gorham, MBA '23
Chief Development Officer
United Way of South Hampton Roads
Member as of 2018
Pierre Granger
Agent and Owner
State Farm-Granger Insurance Agency
Member as of 2018
Kaddy Hamilton '85
President
WC Carpenter: Flooring & Interior Solutions
Member as of 2016
Mark E. Jones
President and Owner
Jones Printing Service, Inc.
Member as of 2016
Whitney Lester
Vice President of Talent Development
Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Member as of 2023
Bill Miller '09
Operations Manager
Fairlead Integrated
Member as of 2025
Eli Miller '00
Principal Broker/Owner
Encompass Real Estate Solutions
Member as of 2017
Priscilla Monti
Senior Sales Manager/ Associations
Gold Key | PHR
Member as of 2020
Sherry Norquist, MSN, RN-ACM
Executive Director of Community Engagement and Impact
Sentara
Member as of 2025
Linda Peck
Executive Director
Greater Norfolk Corporation
Member as of 2026
Chris Pierson
Chief Operating Officer
The Franklin Group
Member as of 2026
Jennifer V. Rouse '08
Assistant Professor
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Beach City Council Member
Member 2023
John M. Scheib
Partner
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Member as of 2026
Wendy Scott, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
Tidewater Collegiate Academy
Member as of 2019
Scott Tominovich
Partner
Thorn Run Partners
Member as of 2021
J. Benjamin Unkle
President and CEO
Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
Member as of 2019
Michael Weatherly '02, DBA
Founder
Halo Holdings Team
Member as of 2023
Michelle Ellis Young
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA of South Hampton Roads
Member as of 2020