Our Team

Dr. Sudhakar Puvvada, Chair

Dr. Sudhakar Puvvada is Vice President of the Global Denim Innovation Center at VF Corporation in Greensboro, NC. He is passionate about innovation and is known to drive top and bottom line growth through consumer desired innovations based on deep consumer insights. Prior to joining VF, Sudhakar has served in multiple roles spanning the innovation continuum of upstream research to “go to market” in numerous product categories, top tier companies such as Unilever & Ashland specialty ingredients, and in multiple geographies including India, Europe & the US. Sudhakar has a PhD in Surface Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has published over 20 articles in peer reviewed journals. He holds more than 20 patents.

Leesa Sluder, Vice Chair

Leesa Sluder is a Financial Advisor at Earth Equity Advisors in Asheville, NC, a leading socially and environmentally responsible investment management and financial planning firm. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Leesa served as a Professional Coach with the Davidson Centre for the Professions, Founder and President of Triple Bottom Line Consulting, and as a Managing Director and Senior Vice President with Bank of America. Leesa received her undergraduate degree at UNC – Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Arts degree at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Leesa is a board member of the United Methodist Foundation of Western NC, Inc. and has served on the Board of Advisors of ImagineHub since its inception.

Meredith Garwood, CPA, Treasurer

Meredith Garwood is Group Vice President of Strategic Tax for Charter Communications. She leads Charter’s federal and state tax policy for income, property and transaction taxes. She also leads the Company’s tax controversy and property tax groups. Meredith represents the company in national state tax organizations and projects. She has been proactively involved in numerous tax policy initiatives including state tax reform efforts and federal tax reform. Meredith currently serves on the Board of the Council on State Taxation, Board of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Business School and is Treasurer for North Carolina Cable and Telecommunication Association.

Dr. Dana Lyles, PhD

Dana Lyles currently serves as the Director of the US Regional Office on Multicultural Ministries at the General Board of Global Ministries in Atlanta, GA. In her role, she is responsible for collaborating with United Methodist agencies in efforts to serve US annual conferences for mission programs related to multicultural ministries. Prior to joining Global Ministries in August 2018, Dana served as an assistant principal and high school teacher in Guilford County Schools. Dana received her undergraduate, graduate, and terminal degrees from North Carolina A&T State University. Dana also received her master’s in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.

Ditra Miller

Ditra Miller recently joined Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. as Director of Member Relations and Engagement, after serving as CEO for Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce since 2018. For the past 10 years, Ditra has also worked with clients through DitraCreative Media Group to connect the world to amazing people with unique stories through creative strategies and media relations. Ditra is a member of several associations for journalists and has won the Best PR Firm in Greensboro on several occasions.

Rev. Dr. Jae Lee

Rev. Dr. Jae Lee serves as District Superintendent of the Smoky Mountain District in the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. Prior to his appointment, Jae served as pastor of several Charlotte-area churches, and as associate pastor at First UMC in Brevard. Jae completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. He earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School. Jae is married to Kim, and they have three children.

Rev. Preston Davis

Rev. Preston Davis is the minister to High Point University. He leads the religious and spiritual life of the University by shaping the vision and culture for Christian spiritual formation and interfaith dialogue and service. Rev. Davis, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the Western North Carolina Conference, has pastored Christian communities in Decatur, Georgia, New York City, and western North Carolina.

Roberta McCullough

As Senior Vice President Operations at National Institute of Minority Economic Development, Roberta has served over 30 years as a non-profit and finance professional, contributing to the economic development and community enhancement of the state. Her experiences includes small business lending, management, grant writing, public relations, and training to name a few. Roberta's experiences include certification as an Economic Development Professional through the National Development Council, Leadership Triangle graduate and NC School of Banking graduate.

Felix Muriithi, CPA

Cindy Thompson, Executive Director

Cindy has over 25 years of Executive Financial Management experience in varied industries. Throughout her career, she has benefited from working for great organizations such as Arthur Andersen & Co., The Fresh Market, Wendover Funding/EDS, United Guaranty/AIG, Coyne Beahm Marketing and VIF International Education. While at VIF, Cindy helped launch the Global Schools Network, a public-private initiative in K-12 education to ensure students are prepared to succeed in the global economy. Through this experience, Cindy discovered a passion for working at the intersection of education, economic development and international relations. Through the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, Cindy received a certificate in Nonprofit Management from High Point University. Cindy is an alumnus of Leadership North Carolina Class XVII and received the Triad Business Journal Women in Business in 2004.