Tom Kucer

Logistics/Transportation Director
President
Tom and his wife Julie lived and worked in VA for 40+ years and retired to CV in 2008. He is a member of St Thomas Aquinas Parish in Thomas WV and has been involved with the BMA Food Pantry for about 13 years – mostly in the transportation of food deliveries. 

“Being involved with my dedicated friends, Davis/Thomas city employees and various other involved community volunteers makes our commitment to BMA special. It gives us the opportunity to work hand in hand dedicating our time to serve the needs of our fellow Tucker County neighbors.”

Tom enjoys skiing, golfing, and fishing in his limited spare time. Property owner in CV since 1990 and visited regularly to ski, golf and fish.

Andy Dalton

Secretary
Andy grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, but spent most of her 30-year career teaching in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She has a BA in Deaf Education, and graduate degrees in Guidance and Counseling and Learning Disabilities. Andy and her husband Bruce moved to Tucker County 21 years ago.

Andy has volunteered at the Food Pantry for many years. In more recent years she has coordinated the BW Ministerial Association’s Thanksgiving meal program and the Christmas Food Box project for the community. She also coordinates the Canaan Valley Master Naturalists, volunteers at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and is actively involved with her church, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Davis.

Andy enjoys anything nature and loves to cross-country and downhill ski, hike, bike, scuba dive and travel around the country with her husband and two dogs.

Brenda Wolford

Co-Treasurer
Brenda Wolford is Branch Manager & Assistant Vice President of The Grant County Bank, Davis Office where she has been employed for 37 years. She is married to Ronald Wolford and lives in Dry Fork, WV with their dog Miley Grace. She enjoys the outdoors, gardening and time spent with family.

Diane Hinkle

Co-Treasurer
A Registered Nurse by degree, Diane’s career revolved around health care, non-profit work, and a family-owned business. Retired since 2018, she enjoys hiking, gardening, reading and spending time with family. Diane is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and a member of the BMA Board since 2023.

Veronica Tekavec Staron

Distribution Director
Veronica graduated from Davis High School and St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She obtained her BSN from Wayne State University and spent 46 years as an Operating Room nurse in various capacities at multiple trauma hospitals. She is also a veteran having served 8 years as an Army Nurse (Reserves) and WV National Guard.

After retirement Veronica volunteered in multiple community activities and for the past 20 years has been the driving force behind the BMA Food Pantry. She has 3 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Pastor Ruth Bullwinkle

Resource Management Director
Pastor Ruth Bullwinkle of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Davis, West Virgina, arrived in Tucker County in January of 2013 in the middle of a snowstorm.  Pastor Ruth was instrumental in registering the Blackwater Ministerial Association as a 501c3. She has a passion for helping those in need and feeding the hungry.

As followers of Christ, Pastor Ruth states, “we are called to love and serve our neighbors. This includes everyone, especially those who are struggling or pushed to the margins”.

Tim McGowan

Procurement Director
Tim spent 30 years in Information Technology, primarily computer security. He then joined the Foreign Service and spent fifteen years traveling the world. He, and wife Kobi, loved the area so much they moved to Canaan Valley in 2013, and Tim finally retired in 2015. He’s been visiting Canaan Valley and the surrounding area since the late 80s, biking, hiking, and skiing (member of the Timberline Ski Patrol for 20+years).

Tim has been volunteering at the Food Pantry since 2018. He currently oversees ordering and inventory of the food supply.

Other interests include: backpacking, bike packing, mountain biking, hiking, travel, and volunteering at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 

Paul Teranto

Paul was born and raised in Thomas, WV and now resides in nearby Canaan Valley. His attended grade school at St. Thomas Aquinas Parochial School and graduated from Mountaineer High School in Thomas. He also completed several courses at Howard County Maryland Community College. Paul was drafted and served two years of active duty in the US Army. He held a security clearance with the rank of SP4.

Prior to retirement, Paul’s career included accounting work for oil companies for 38 years and IT work ordering computer parts and equipment for the government for 5 years. Retired, Paul now volunteers with the Blackwater Ministerial Association Food Pantry and the Tucker County Veterans Association.

Rev. Caitlin Ware

Reverend Caitlin Ware is a United Methodist Provisional Elder serving Davis, Thomas, and Buena Chapel United Methodist Churches (Blackwater UMC Charge). She is from Flemington, WV (Taylor Co.). She is a graduate of WV Wesleyan (B.A. 2020) and Duke Divinity School (M.Div. 2024). She is interested in the intersections of economic, social, and environmental justice in coal communities.

Joan Emerson

Joan Emerson is a small business owner and a dedicated advocate for community well- being. Originally from North Carolina, she moved to Tucker County, WV, in 2016, where she has worked to make a meaningful impact through both her business and community involvement.

Joan’s love for food and cooking is at the heart of everything she does. She finds joy in preparing wholesome meals for her family and sharing her culinary skills with others, believing that food has the power to bring people together. Her own experiences with food insecurity have shaped her deep commitment to helping others, reinforcing her belief that access to nutritious food is essential for strong, connected communities.

Pat Cooper

Pat Tekavec Cooper graduated from Mountaineer High School, Davis, W.V. She earned a BS in Physical Therapy from Wayne State University Detroit, MI. Pat worked in home health, health department clinics, the school system with special needs students, and a skilled nursing facility.

Presently she is a member of the Mountaintop Public Library Board and the Davis Cemetery Committee. For 12 years she has volunteered at the BMA food pantry. She is a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.