Kidwell, Payne, Lesiak, and Tucker Named Trustees

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College recently welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees.

Gary W. Kidwell, Chris Payne ’81, S. Dean Lesiak ’74, and Kathy Tucker ’85 are the newest additions to the 32-member board.

“We are pleased to welcome Gary Kidwell, Chris Payne, Dean Lesiak, and Kathy Tucker to the Bethany College Board of Trustees,” President Tamara Nichols Rodenberg said. “Each new member brings great talent and leadership to the board and a strong dedication to the future of the college.”

Kidwell is president of the Christian Church Foundation. He joined the foundation in 1998, serving as a zone vice president and senior vice president before becoming president in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Campbellsville University and a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Society. He received a certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School. Kidwell is a chartered financial consultant, a certified fundraising executive, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Payne is the director of digital and enterprise improvement practice areas for AlixPartners LLP. He graduated from Bethany with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He has 30 years of experience in high-value business improvement projects that incorporate the use of technology.

Lesiak has more than 45 years of experience in the financial services industry with a background as a national bank regulator, a senior executive of large complex banking organizations, and a consultant with one of the Big Four national regulatory consulting firms. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bethany and an MBA in financial management from West Virginia University.

Tucker, the founder of Kathy Tucker Coaching & Consulting, has more than 30 years of experience with the nation’s leading homebuilders. She offers one-on-one coaching to sales professionals and sales leaders. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethany and an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte.

Kidwell, Payne, Lesiak, and Tucker were elected to the board during the trustees’ meeting in May.

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.