K-64 Governing Board
Governed by an Advisory Board and managed by staff employed by Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), K-64 is located on CVCC’s campus. K-64 leverages tax dollars, private contributions and grant funds to support program expansion and sustainability. The Catawba Valley Community College Foundation, CVCC’S 501(c) 3 educational foundation, is K-64’s fiscal agent.
The K-64 advisory board is comprised of 12 members representing the private and public sectors and is supported by ex-officio staff representing K-64’s founding partners.
Advisor Responsibilities:
- Establish long-term vision for K-64
- Secure continuous financial support
- Ensure transparency and accountability for use of public funds
- Implement concrete plans with both tangible and timely goals and outcomes
- Direct executive staff hired in conjunction with, and overseen by, K-64 board
- Deliver communication and engagement resulting in continued buy-in by partner organizations and community at large
Voting Members

Garrett Osborne
K-64 Board Chair

Robert Abernathy Jr.
Catawba County Board of Commissioners

Amanda Hetzel
Business Chief of Staff, Network Integrity Systems
Private Sector

Leslie Barnette
Catawba County Board of Education
Catawba County Board of Education

Hickory Board of Education

Robbie Gonzales
Newton-Conover Board of Education

Bill Unverfehrt
Private Sector
Ex-Officio Members
- Dr. Jennifer Griffin, Superintendent, Hickory Public Schools
- Mary Furtado, Catawba County Manager
- Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, President, Catawba Valley Community College
- Lindsay Keisler, President & CEO, The Chamber of Catawba County
- Scott Millar, President, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation
- Dr. Aron Gabriel, Superintendent, Newton-Conover City Schools
- Dr. Matthew Stover, Superintendent, Catawba County Schools
- Dr. Fred Whitt, President, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Meetings
The Advisory Board meets quarterly, March, June, September and December, on the first Thursday of the month at 12:00 noon. Meetings take place in the Alex Lee/MDI/Lowes Foods Corporate Conference Center in Catawba Valley Community College’s Workforce Solutions Complex, 1980 Startown Road, Hickory but locations may vary due to special circumstances.
All Advisory subcommittees meet as needed.
2025 Meeting Dates
- Thursday, March 6
- Thursday, June 5
- Thursday, September 4
- Wednesday, December 10
