Each June, the CFNRV Board experiences some changes. New members are elected and some roll off the board after their term is complete, while others are re-elected to new term. Board members can serve up to three terms (each term is three years), plus one year, for a total of 10 years.
New Terms & New Members
This year, five current members were elected for another three-year team: Nancy Artis, Catherine Cotrupi, Rob Graham, Linda Millsaps, and Roger Slusher. Three new members, Michael Ehrat, Lara Ramsey, and Whitney Stokes, joined us.
New Officers
We look forward to working with our four officers, three of whom are on the executive committee for the first time. This includes our new board president, Catherine Cotrupi, who serves as Assistant Dean for Student Services & Strategic Partnerships at Virginia Tech Graduate School. Our officers are:
- President: Catherine Cotrupi
- Vice President: Emily Gibson
- Treasurer: David Riggan
- Secretary: Eric Chapman
Michael Ehrat
Michael Ehrat serves as Chief Executive Officer of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, where he is responsible for leading the hospital’s strategic, operational, and clinical initiatives in support of high-quality patient care and community health.
Michael brings more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience and a proven track record of advancing quality, driving growth, and building engaged, high-performing teams.
Prior to joining LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, he served as Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital. Known for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to clinical excellence, Michael is passionate about strengthening partnerships with physicians, colleagues, patients, and community stakeholders.
Michael and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 36 years and are proud parents of four children, including a set of twins. In his free time, he enjoys running, fishing, traveling with family, and listening to history podcasts. A lifelong learner, Michael is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Executive Leadership.
Lara Ramsey
Lara Ramsey is President and CEO of the National Bank of Blacksburg. Lara has been with the NBB since 1996, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. During her career she has led the company’s Investment, Human Resources, Marketing, Training, Corporate Administration, and Strategic Initiative functions.
Lara earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Radford University. She serves on the Radford University Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Radford University Athletic Foundation Board of Directors, and the New River Valley Regional Commission.
She is a past Board Member of both the United Way of the New River Valley and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Radford with her husband, Sean. The couple have an adult son, Benjamin.
Whitney Stokes
Whitney Stokes currently serves as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Virginia.
Prior to this role, she served as Admissions Coordinator for the Virginia campus and as Admissions Director for VCOM’s Carolinas campus, and she has been involved with numerous committees with the AACOM Council of Osteopathic Medical Admissions Officers and Student Affairs since joining VCOM in 2012.
Whitney grew up in Radford and earned her bachelor’s degree from Radford University, followed by master’s and Doctor of Education degrees from Liberty University. She has also held leadership roles with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and its Leadership NRV program. She lives in Radford with her husband and children.
Farewell to Three Wonderful Board Members
A huge thank you to Brad Denardo, Pat Hyer, and Kathy Krendl, who are leaving the board this year. We appreciate each of you so much and are so grateful for your service. From serving on our executive committee to assisting with our scholarship process to generously contributing to our mission, each of you will be missed!
Learn more about our board members on this page.