Community News

Education Foundation welcomes four new board members

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 27, 2021

Four new members have joined Board of Directors of the Henderson County Education Foundation.

Coming aboard in the foundation's new fiscal year are Christine "Chris" Becker, Dale Salvaggio Bradshaw, Sergio Fernandez and Ulises Vega de la Mora.

“We are thrilled to have each of these community members joining our board," 2021-2022 HCEF Board President Jessica Collins said. "They each bring a unique set of talents and skills to the board to help us further our mission of serving Henderson County Public Schools.”

Becker is a retired educator from New York state who moved to Henderson County in 2016 with her spouse, Fritz. Becker brings a wealth of experience as an educator, grant writer and a chairperson for the Inner Wheel USA Foundation, a national organization. In her free time she serves at her church, Trinity Presbyterian, and works as a volunteer at Four Seasons Hospice Resale Store.
Bradshaw, native of Henderson County and Hendersonville High School graduate, is self-employed working as a property manager and co-owner of Eagle Self Storage in Hendersonville. She has a marketing and communications background and brings her experience as a HCPS parent and former HCEF employee to the board. She has previously volunteered in the community in the PTO at her children’s schools, First United Methodist Youth Group, Junior Welfare, Boys & Girls Club, and Community Foundation of Henderson County’s Scholarship Committee. She and her husband, Steve Bradshaw, have two children, Charlie and Sophia.

Fernandez, the executive director of El Centro Latino Advocacy Coalition, comes to HCEF with a passion for education, mental health and community development. He has been working with the Latinx community in Western North Carolina since 2015 and brings a wealth of knowledge about this population to the HCEF board. He is a father to three children, ages 8, 10 and 12.

Vega de la Mora, a rising senior at North Henderson High School, is a member of the National Honor Society. He plays three sports — soccer, wrestling and tennis — and is a leader in student government. He serves with the high school’s Leader in Me initiative, which was launched in partnership with HCEF in 2018. His passion for education and leadership will be of great value to the HCEF board.

In addition to adding four new board members, the Foundation also elected new officers for the 2021-22 fiscal year: Jessica Collins, president; Susan Thomas, vice president; Mark Russell, secretary, and Patti Baker, treasurer.