The Seminole State College Educational Foundation welcomed three new trustees during their quarterly meeting on Oct. 19. President and CEO of the Avedis Foundation Dr. Kathy Laster, Director of Kontoor Brands-Wrangler Fulfillment Center Ray McQuiston and Arvest Community Bank President of Shawnee Brian Nave have all been selected to serve as members on the Foundation Board. All were appointed to serve three-year terms.
Bringing more than three decades of business management, board leadership, professional consulting, and clinical practice experience, Dr. Kathy Laster was named to lead the Avedis Foundation in July 2018. She served as the CEO of Impact Consulting in Oklahoma City and previously maintained a private psychology practice in Shawnee. Prior to that, she held corporate management positions with AT&T and Southwestern Bell. Laster was a founding board member for Avedis and served as a member of the Community Health Partners board, which was the governing board of the former Unity Health Center (SSM Health St. Anthony – Shawnee).
Ray McQuiston previously served as a Trustee for the SSC Educational Foundation prior to being appointed by Governor Mary Fallin to serve a seven-year term on the SSC Board of Regents in 2015.
He has been with the Wrangler corporation since 1995 and has led the Seminole distribution center since 1999.
A past president of the Seminole Chamber of Commerce, he was named as Seminole’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2010. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum Governing Board.
Brian Nave who has served President of the Arvest bank in Shawnee since 2021 and has been with the Arvest organization since 2010. He has served as a board member for the Shawnee Kiwanis Club, a member of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation, and a Shawnee Forward work force committee member among other community involvement activities.
Nave earned a bachelor’s degree in technology education and a master’s degree in business administration at Northeastern State University.
The Foundation approved a slate of officers for 2022-2023, with Lance Wortham of Shawnee continuing to serve as Chair of the organization’s Executive Committee and Andy Tucker of Okemah and Mark Schell of Seminole, continuing to serve in their roles as Vice Chairs. Nine trustees were reappointed during the meeting: Steve Bagwell, Dr. Vickie Carter, Haley Coates, Darren Frederick, Jim Hardin, John Hargrave, Gordon Melson, Roy Sisco and Lance Wortham.