JACK H. WALTERS
CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Jack H. Walters is Highlands Bankshares, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and has been a Highlands board member since July 1987 and Capon Valley Bank board member since 1983.
Mr. Walters is currently a partner in the firm of Walters & Heishman, PLLC, Attorneys at Law. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Charleston in 1969 and his Law Degree from West Virginia University College of Law in 1972. For many years, Mr. Walters served as a Board Member of the Potomac Highlands Guild, which is a comprehensive behavioral health center. Additionally, he served for many years as the Chairperson of the Zoning Commission of Hardy County, West Virginia, as well as President of the South Branch Valley Bar Association.
MICHAEL A. MCDONALD
CORPORATE SECRETARY
Michael A. McDonald is the Highlands Bankshares, Inc. corporate secretary and has been a Highlands board member since 2020. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Capon Valley Bank.
Mr. McDonald graduated from Marshall University in 1990 and began his banking career with Capon Valley Bank in 1995. Mr. McDonald serves on the East hardy Scholarship Committee and the Hardy County Community Foundation Board.
GEORGE L. FORD
CORPORATE TREASURER
George L. Ford is Highlands Bankshares, Inc. corporate treasurer. He has served on the Highlands board since 2011 and has been President and Chief Executive Officer of The Grant County Bank since January 2011.
Mr. Ford graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and began his career with the United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration and joined The Grant County Bank in 1996. Mr. Ford currently serves on the Board of the Grant County Library Commission and serves on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Bankers Association. He also serves as treasurer of his church.
DONALD J. BAKER JR.
VICE CHAIRMAN
Donald J. Baker, Jr. has been a member of the Highlands Bankshares, Inc. board of directors since 2012. He has been a member of the The Grant County Bank board of directors since 2002 and became chairman of the board in 2015.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1971, Mr. Baker taught high school social studies for six years. In 1977, Mr. Baker became Executive Director of the Hardy County Rural Development Authority serving until 1983 when he became Executive Director of the West Virginia Rail Authority until 1993. Mr. Baker began his career as an insurance agent and in 1997 established Baker Insurance Services. He sold the agency in January 2015 and semi-retired. He also currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Mutual Protective Association, a mutual insurance company headquartered in Baker, Hardy County, WV. Mr. Baker has always been very active in his community. He was one of the original board members and first president of the Hardy County Chamber of Commerce. He is also active in the Moorefield Lions Club, the Peru Community Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hardy County Community Foundation. He is an active member of the Moorefield Presbyterian Church having served as an elder, trustee, deacon, and Sunday school teacher.
Cheryl L. Bennett
Dr. Cheryl L. Bennett, BS OD is the owner of Spectacle Family Eye Care in Petersburg, which opened in 2017. She also serves patients through offices in Walmart locations in Buckhannon and Flatwoods, WV. In October 2021 she opened The Grove Cafe & Bakery, specializing in coffee and pastries along with a menu of other breakfast and lunch selections. Dr. Bennet brings an entrepreneurial spirit, positive attitude and business acumen to the Board. Dr. Bennett resides on her farm in Tucker County WV with her husband and children.
DR. MORRIS M. HOMAN JR.
Dr. Morris M. Homan, Jr. has served as a member of the Highlands Bankshares, Inc board of directors since 2008 and chairs the Audit Committee. He has been a member of the Capon Valley Bank board of directors since 1997.
Dr. Homan graduated from West Virginia University and continued his education at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1977. He established his practice serving the same communities as the Company serves. Dr. Homan is also an active member of Hardy County Board of Health, a member of the West Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and an active member of the Moorefield Presbyterian Church where he has served as a deacon, an elder, and currently is serving as a trustee, along with being an active member of the choir. Dr. Homan served for several years as a member of the Moorefield Athletic Boosters.
JOHN PAUL HOTT, II
John Paul Hott, II has been a member of the Highlands Bankshares, Inc. board of directors since 2020 and served on The Grant County Bank board of directors since 2014. Mr. Hott is the secretary of the Company’s Audit Committee.
Mr. Hott is a self-employed insurance agent representing Erie Insurance since 2001 and owner of Hott Disposal Services, Inc. since 2012. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree in 1993 and earned a Masters of Education degree from Frostburg State University in 2004. Mr. Hott is currently serving as a Delegate of the WV House of Delegates representing the 54th District of West Virginia. He served as a Petersburg City Councilman from 2009-2014. Mr. Hott has volunteered his time and talents to many local organizations and is also a District Lay Leader.
JAMES R. PYLES
James R. Pyles has been a member of the Highlands Bankshares, Inc. board of directors since 2015 and a member of the Capon Valley Bank board of directors since 1980.
Mr. Pyles graduated from Shepherd University in 1967 and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1969. His family business, McKee Funeral Homes, began in 1880, and he continued his family legacy serving the same communities as his ancestors. Mr. Pyles is an active member of the Augusta Ruritan Club where he chairs the Hampshire County Fair entertainment committee. He is an active board member and of EA Hawse Health Center, member of the Clinton Lodge #86 A.F. and A.M. and a member of The Augusta Church of Christ.
JOHN MITCHELL ORNDORFF
John Mitchell Orndorff became a member of the Highlands Bankshares, Inc. board of directors in 2016 and the Capon Valley Bank board of directors in 2013.
Mr. Orndorf is the owner of SpecialMade Goods and Services, a printing, product modification, and logistics company. Mr. Orndorff also founded Hot Stamp Supply Company and is the principal in a real estate company operating in West Virginia and Virginia. He attended Fairmont State College and graduated from James Rumsey Vocational Technical Center in 1976. He began his career at Rubbermaid Commercial Products as a Graphics Manager until founding SpecialMade in 1997. He is the co-founder, along with his wife, of Share the Cheer Foundation, a non-profit family foundation helping others since 1990. He served as a past board member of Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission, Wardensville Scholarship Fund Association and the Wardensville Garden Market. He attends Opequon Presbyterian Church in Winchester where he has served as an Elder and Trustee.
JOHN D. ATHEY
John D. Athey, Attorney at Law has been a Highlands board member since September 2022 and a Grant County Bank board member since February 2019. A native and resident of Mineral County, West Virginia, he is a graduate of Keyser High School and Potomac State College. He then attended West Virginia University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree (summa cum laude) in 2001 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2004. In law school, he was a published editor of the West Virginia Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Mr. Athey is a self-employed lawyer who is engaged in the general practice of law, including personal injury and wrongful death, estates and estate planning, commercial real estate transactions and development, business law, eminent domain, and civil litigation. He is the President of The Children’s League and The Reeves Foundation, is a member of the West Virginia Continuing Legal Education Commission, and has been active with numerous other organizations and business entities. His vast professional knowledge and experiences help further the board’s capacity to understand the interrelationships between multiple perspectives.