The Shadow
COVINGTON — The Alleghany Foundation has announced changes to its board of directors.
Kelly Dean Madsen has been named the new board president, while Janie D. Barnette moves into the secretary/treasurer position on the board. Kevin Persinger joins as a new board member, succeeding Jim Eller, whose latest three-year term has ended. These appointments became effective as of July 18.
After serving as secretary/treasurer on The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors for the past three years, Madsen moves into the presidency role on the board, succeeding Dr. Sue Rollinson. She has also served on multiple subcommittees since joining the board in 2019.
Madsen was born and raised in the Alleghany Highlands and graduated from Alleghany High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and attained a certificate of completion from U.Va.’s McIntire Business Institute.
She holds three insurance licenses (property and casualty, health and life) and is currently president of Racey & Dean Insurance in Clifton Forge, which has been in business since 1934.
Madsen resides in Alleghany County and Clifton Forge with her husband, Greg. She has two stepchildren, Max and Olivia Madsen. Madsen moved away from the Alleghany Highlands to attend college and pursue professional opportunities after high school and returned to the Highlands to live and work in 2006.
She has served on the Clifton Forge Main Street Inc. Board of Directors as secretary and on the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board of Directors. She has served on the Augusta Mutual Insurance Co. (AMIC) Insurance Agent’s Advisory Board. Additionally, she is currently a member of the Mountain Gateway Community College Business Advisory Board.
Madsen enjoys hiking, kayaking, learning to play golf and spending time with family, friends and her dog, Rosie, in her spare time.
“I have been honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve on The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors,” she said. “I have enjoyed my time serving the local community on the board and am looking forward to my new role as president.”
Dr. Rollinson succeeded Meade Snyder as president of the foundation board in 2021. A native of Chicago, Ill., she moved to Clifton Forge in 1980 and was an integral part of the educational community for many years. She was an adjunct instructor at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (now Mountain Gateway Community College) while also directing and instructing in the Field Ecology Summer Regional Governor’s School there. Dr. Rollinson also served as director of the Jackson River Governor’s School and as an instructor at Jackson River Technical Center.
Dr. Rollinson was a member of the Alleghany Highlands School Board from 1994 to 2000 and was chair of the school board in 1997 and 1998. She also served from July 1995 to June 1997 and from July 1998 to June 2000 on the JRTC Joint Board of Control. She served as both vice chair and chair of the JRTC Joint Board of Control.
“It has been an honor and privilege to have been president of The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors for the past three years,” Dr. Rollinson said. “The foundation has been a positive force in the Alleghany Highlands since its founding in 1995, giving more than $62.5 million (yes, million) in grants during that time to local nonprofits and governments (including schools).” Dr. Rollinson recognized The Alleghany Foundation staff and said she looked forward to working with Madsen.
“It has been a pleasure to work with our extremely capable staff — they are the individuals who keep the foundation running day to day and keep us on a firm financial footing,” she said. “I look forward to working with Kelly Dean Madsen, incoming president of the foundation board. She has already demonstrated engaged, energetic and thoughtful leadership. The foundation will continue to be a community asset for many years to come.”
Barnette moves into the secretary/treasurer position on the foundation board, assuming the role previously held by Madsen. Barnette served as Business Manager at what is now Mountain Gateway Community College where she worked for 26 years. She was appointed to The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors in 2019.
Among her other community roles, Barnette is a member of Central United Methodist Church, where she serves as the chair of finance and as a lay speaker. She is on the board of ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice and volunteers at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge.
Barnette is a former member of the LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany Board of Trustees (2012-18) and its chair in 2018. She is also a former member of the Alleghany Highlands School Board and the Clifton Forge School Board.
“I am very pleased to have been appointed as secretary/treasurer for The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors,” she said. “I have learned so much about the organization and the community. I look forward to working in this new role with the organization.”
Persinger retired in 2023 after a 42-year career in the financial industry. A native of Clifton Forge, he worked for several local banks, including Mountain National Bank, First National Bank, State Bank of the Alleghenies, Bank of Rockbridge, BB&T, First Community Bank and Sonabank/Primus. He also worked nine years for Green Tree Financial Corporation. Persinger spent nine years living in Prince William
County and was able to return to the Alleghany Highlands with the opening of the Clifton Forge branch of the State Bank.
An Eagle Scout and former Adult Scout Leader, Persinger’s hobbies include camping, hiking, music, reading, hunting, fishing and traveling. He currently performs with the classic rock band, Alibi, as a guitarist. He is a founding member of Alibi and Detour of Northern Virginia. He also performed for five years as a member of the Alleghany Highlands Blues Society.
Persinger attended Sharon Elementary School and is a member of the Class of 1977 at Alleghany County High School. He received his associate of arts degree from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (now Mountain Gateway Community College) and his bachelor of science degree from Bluefield College. He Is a graduate of the Wake Forest School of Banking.
Persinger resides in northeastern Alleghany County with his wife, Neva, and children, Ethan (and wife Abby) and Maggie. He has served as a board member for various organizations in and around the Alleghany Highlands, including president of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and president of the Scott Hill Foundation.
“I feel very privileged to be called to service on this board,” Persinger said. ”It has always been a desire of mine to be a part of this organization, as it is a highly motivated and very beneficial board for the Alleghany Highlands. I consider it an honor, and I plan to be an asset to this team.”
Persinger succeeds Eller on the Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors. Eller was elected as a director emeritus in 2017 but agreed to serve another term on the board in 2021.
Eller is the president of Alleghany Printing in Covington. He is also a board member of the Covington- Alleghany County Industrial Development Authority.
A native and resident of Clifton Forge, Eller was educated in local public schools, while he also attended Greenbrier Military School and Emory and Henry College. He and his wife, Joyce Ann, have been married for 40 years.
“In a community like ours, the only way we can grow and thrive is for people who live here to give something back to the community,” Eller said. “Being on The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors is an honor, a privilege and a responsibility I have enjoyed over these many years. The Alleghany Highlands community has been very good to me, and serving on The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors is a great way for me to pay it forward.”
Other members of The Alleghany Foundation Board of Directors include Brandon S. Caldwell, David E. Crandall, D.O., Jack A. (Rusty) Hammond II, Teresa B. Johnson, Ray N. Lipes, Nancy M. Moga, R. Meade Snyder and Rachael G. Thompson. Directors Emeriti include Michele K. Ballou, M.D., James R. Eller, Harrison L. Fridley, Jack A. Hammond, Charles W. Kahle, Dr. Leo T. Mulcahy, Lisa H. Schoppmeyer, George C. Snead Jr., James D. Snyder, Lynda N. Thompson, and Anne L. Wright.
About The Alleghany Foundation: The Alleghany Foundation was established in 1995 with $35 million in proceeds from the sale of Alleghany Regional Hospital. The foundation’s vision is to be a resource partner with eligible organization to make the Alleghany Highlands a civically engaged, prosperous region that builds upon its assets to produce opportunities for its residents.
Total annual grant payments from The Alleghany Foundation now add up to more than $62.5 million. For more information, visit alleghanyfoundation.org.
