2024 SWVHEC Annual Report

Meet Our Leadership Team

DAVID MATLOCK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/AGENCY HEAD

David N. Matlock was appointed Agency Head/Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in 2015 after a distinguished 25-year career with Virginia Highlands Community College. He also leads the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Foundation. He is a member of the Washington County Virginia Industrial Development Authority and also serves as a board member for the Bristol, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, The Justin Foundation, Washington County Virginia K-12 Technology Council and Education Chairman for the Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Hietala began working at the Center in 2004 as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director (Dr. Rachel Fowlkes, at that time). Previously, she spent 25 years working as manager, legal assistant, and bookkeeper at a Marion law practice. During the course of her 20-year employment, Kathy’s role has expanded to include preparation of the Center’s bi-annual board meetings, supervision of the information desk team and coordinating the Center’s Annual STEM Workshops for Sixth-Grade Girls. Since 2004, Kathy has also served as student coordinator for VCU’s Nurse Anesthesia program. Deborah Hensley began working at the Center in 2001, as the Information Technology Department Office Manager. She worked in the IT department for almost ten years. She moved to the Finance Department in January 2011 and she assumed the position of Senior Director of Finance in 2018. Debbie oversees all aspects of the Finance Department including management of a more than six-million-dollar annual budget. Management oversight also includes procurement, cash management, inventory management, budget submissions to the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget among various other duties. KATHY HIETALA EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEBORAH HENSLEY SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

2023-24 Annual Report

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