The North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new directors to the statewide board, according to Linda Staunch, chair. Named were Peter M. Bristow, Hilda Pinnix-Ragland and John Willingham.

Bristow is president of First Citizens Bank, where he manages the retail, commercial and small business functions for the financial services company in six states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland). He also is responsible for the company’s mortgage and sales finance lines of business. He formerly served as president and chief operating officer of First Citizens Bank in Columbia, S.C., before its merger with Raleigh-based First Citizens Bank. When in South Carolina, he was appointed by two governors to serve in leadership roles with the South Carolina State Retirement System and the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission. He served as a board member for numerous charitable organizations, including the S.C. Governors School Foundation, MUSC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Central Carolina Community Foundation and the Columbia Museum of Art. The Richmond, Va. native earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

 

Pinnix-Ragland is a corporate officer and vice president of public affairs for Duke Energy. In this role she collaborates with federal, state and local officials to develop public policy. She also works with Duke Energy’s international interests on global policy. She has served on the State’s Budget Reform and Accountability Commission. She served six consecutive terms as chair of the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Currently she serves on the board for RTI International, where she is chair of the nominating and governance committee and the audit committee. She is a member of the board of trustees for the College Foundation of North Carolina. She is national chair of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. She is a former chair of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and the N.C. State University Advisory Council. A native North Carolinian, she graduated magna cum laude from N.C. A&T University with a bachelor’s degree and earned an MBA from Duke University. She also completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Public Policy.

 

Willingham is president and the fourth generation to manage the family owned Indera Mills, the largest producer of thermal underwear in the United States, which is located in Yadkinville. He currently is chair of the Yadkin County Community Foundation, an affiliate of NCCF. He also serves as board chair of the Surry Community College Foundation, the North Carolina Arts Council Foundation and president of the Yadkin Arts Council. In this role, he has been instrumental in the creation of the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, which has been an anchor for downtown revitalization. He serves on the Tourist & Development Authority of Yadkin County, on the North Carolina Arts Council and Arts NC. He is an active Rotarian. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University.

 

NCCF’s CEO and President Jennifer Tolle Whiteside said she was looking forward to working with the new board members. “These are three exemplary executives who all bring a wealth of knowledge to our board through their business experience as well as their community leadership,” she said. “They will be true assets to our board – and to our state.”