Mr. Robert Van Geons
Chair
Phone: (704) 637-5526
E-mail: vangeonsr@rowanedc.com
Website: www.rowanedc.com

Robert M. Van Geons, CEcD.,  joined the Salisbury – Rowan Economic Development Commission in January of 2008.  Mr. Van Geons has over ten years of experience in economic development, land use planning, grant writing and public policy.  Robert is the current Chair of the advisory council for the 16 County bi-state "Charlotte Regional Partnership" and a member of numerous organizations such as the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).  A 1997 graduate, he has also received a MS from the University of Southern Mississippi in Economic Development and Mr. Van Geons is one of only 1,200 economic development practitioners to have achieved the CEcD designation, the highest level of professional certification in his field. 

Mr. Joey Popp
Website: JoeyPopp.com

Joey Popp, a broadcasting and marketing veteran, is a graduate of Catawba College. A native of Mooresville, Popp operates Marketing & Media Resources/Joey Popp Productions in Charlotte. Popp currently hosts "HealthWise" on WTVI and "Weekend Edition" on WFAE-FM. He has previously worked at Atlanta's WXIA, WBTV and WCNC in Charlotte, and WLOS in Asheville. He served as master of ceremonies for the inaugural Catawba College Business Hall of Fame last fall. He and his wife, Catherine, live in the Elizabeth community of Charlotte.

Mr. Charles T. Muse

Dr. Charles T. Muse received his undergraduate degree in Business from Catawba College, his MBA degree from East Tennessee State University and his doctorate in Adult Education from North Carolina State University. He has published over forty articles, authored and co-authored four textbooks, and has made presentations at regional, national, and international conferences and workshops. Prior to his current position as the Executive Director for the National Robotics Training Center (NRTC), Dr. Muse served for twenty years as the Vice President for Academic Affairs for Florence-Darlington Technical College. As the Executive Director of the NRTC, his objectives are to create a manufacturing engineering process program (product launch) for small robotics manufacturing companies, create a Robotics Manufacturing Certification Program to train and certify manufacturing workers and technicians, onsite support of small businesses, and manufacturing for small technical companies that prefer to focus on technology development.

Ms. Cecilia Stach
Secretary; Administrative Assistant, Ketner School of Business
Phone: (704) 637-4405
E-mail: cfstach@catawba.edu

Cecilia serves as administrative assistant for the Ketner School of Business and Ralph Ketner, as well as secretary for the board. Prior to joining the School of Business in 2007, she worked in Library Services. Cecilia, a Catawba College alumna, is enrolled in a master's program in Liberal Studies at Wake Forest University.

Mr. Ralph W. Ketner, D.B.A
Honorary Chair; Adjunct Professor of Business; Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Food Lion, Inc.
Phone: (704) 637-4321
E-mail: rwketner@catawba.edu

Mr. Ketner attended school in Salisbury, graduating from Boyden High School in 1937. After Boyden, he enrolled at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana in 1937. Read more »

Prof. Pamela L. (Pam) Thompson, M.B.A.

Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member; Chair, Ketner School of Business; Associate Professor of Information Systems
Phone: (704) 637-4323
E-mail: pthompso@catawba.edu

Teaching:
• Applications Programming
• Networks and Telecommunications
• Web Design
• Read more »

James Wesley (Jamie) Slate, Ph.D.
ACTING DEAN and DEPARTMENT CHAIR; Associate Professor of Economics - Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Economics; B.A., Christopher Newport University, Economics
Phone: (704) 637-4407
E-mail: jwslate@catawba.edu

Teaching:
• Economic Principles and Theory

• Business & Economics Statistics & Forecasting
• Money & Banking
• International Economics
• Read more »

Mr. Tom Childress '64

Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member; Senior Vice President
Phone: 1-800-CATAWBA or (704) 637-4394
E-mail: tchildre@catawba.edu

Tom returned to Catawba in 1995 to oversee and manage both the Office of Development and the Athletic Department.

Dr. Rick Stephens

Provost
Office: ADM 237C
Phone: (704) 637-4401
E-mail: rstephen@catawba.edu