Contact: Jack Bailey (304) 766-4109 Jbaile19@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Three leading Kanawha Valley business and civic leaders will be honored at the seventh annual West Virginia State University (WVSU) and West Virginia State University Foundation (WVSU Foundation) Black & Gold Gala, Friday, April 5.
Commerce Secretary C. Edward Gaunch, Georgette Rashid George and Otis Laury will be recognized during the event at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
The black tie event recognizes the generosity of donors while raising funds to further support student scholarships and educational programs at the University. In addition, the Gala honors community and business leaders who have made a lasting impact on the state of West Virginia and beyond.
Gaunch is a native of Boone County, and a 1970 WVSU graduate with a double major in economics and political science. He spent more than three decades in the insurance industry including 28 years at the Carson Agency in Charleston where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer for a number of years.
Gaunch was elected to the state senate representing Kanawha County in 2014 and in December 2018 he was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to serve as Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce beginning in January 2019.
He has served on numerous professional, business and community boards and foundations including the BB&T/Charleston Board of Directors, the WVSU Foundation, the Believe in West Virginia Leadership Foundation, CAMC Foundation, Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, University of Charleston, Alderson Broaddus College, King College, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center.
Gaunch is also active in his church, Emmanuel Baptist, where he has been a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
George is a successful second generation West Virginia entrepreneur. After leaving West Virginia for college and working for Hewlett Packard in technical sales and management for about 10 years, George returned to the Charleston area to work in the family business in 1991.
George is the CEO and an Executive Team Member of Monarch Holdings, LLC which includes business enterprises involving retail, office and hotel development. She has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including the Thomas Hospital Foundation, Community Council of Kanawha Valley, and the Convention Bureaus of the cities of both Charleston and South Charleston. She currently serves as a director of the West Virginia Regional Tech Park, Summit Financial Group, Inc./Summit Community Bank, and the Clay Center Foundation. She is also a member of the Federal Reserve West Virginia Advisory Committee for the Fifth District. George was a recipient of the Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Charleston.
George is a graduate of Vanderbilt University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical and electrical engineering.
Laury is a native of Charleston, and a graduate of Charleston High School and WVSU. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and chef and founder of Laury’s Restaurant in Charleston. In addition, Laury served as the executive chef at the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion for 16 years under Governors Gaston Caperton, Cecil Underwood and Bob Wise.
He is an avid art collector and award-winning artist in his own right, receiving recognition from the Huntington Museum of Art’s Exhibition 180 among others. In addition, Laury serves on the Charleston Beautification Board, the Governor’s Mansion Preservation Board and the Collectors Club of the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.
Laury also volunteers his time cooking Christmas meals for Manna Meal, in addition to volunteering at the Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center. In addition, Laury also donates dinner for six at his home to local charity and non-profit groups to auction off as a fundraiser. Laury has been named a Distinguished West Virginian and has been recognized by the Charleston Community Music Association.
The seventh annual Black & Gold Gala will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner and the program recognizing honorees at 7:30 p.m.
After the program and dinner, the Gala will continue with an evening of dancing to live music provided by Santa Cruz. Individual tickets are on sale now at a cost of $150 and can be purchased online at .
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (304) 766-4121, email , or visit .
The WVSU Foundation Inc. is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization and gifts are deductible to the extent provided by federal and state law.
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