Please Join Me in Welcoming Our Board of Directors

It is with tremendous pride, gratitude, and excitement that I introduce the Board of Directors of the Eugene and Beverly Stradwick Heritage Foundation.

Launching a foundation is about more than creating an organization. It is about establishing a public trust, building something capable of lasting for generations, and surrounding the mission with people who possess the character, judgment, experience, and commitment needed to guide it responsibly.

I am deeply appreciative that these remarkable individuals have agreed to serve.

Our Board brings together an extraordinary range of expertise spanning executive leadership, law, finance, education, academic research, archives, libraries, technology, governance, compliance, public history, and community engagement. Just as importantly, each member understands that the history we seek to preserve belongs to the community and must always be treated with dignity, accuracy, and care.

Terrill L. Gosa, Chairman

As the Foundation’s founder and chairman, I am honored to lead the Board’s governance work, help establish our strategic direction, and ensure that EBSHF remains faithful to its mission, fiduciary responsibilities, and the public trust.

This Foundation is deeply personal to me. It carries the names of my grandparents, Eugene and Beverly Stradwick, while honoring the much larger African American community whose experiences helped shape Wheeling and the Upper Ohio Valley.

I am grateful to be joined in this work by people whose knowledge, leadership, and dedication make our ambitions possible.

Jovetta A. Parry, Vice Chairman

Jovetta brings more than two decades of experience in contracts, proposals, negotiations, compliance, and organizational leadership. Her career has required sound judgment, careful stewardship, and the ability to help complex organizations move from vision to execution.

As vice chairman, she brings both strategic discipline and a meaningful personal connection to Wheeling. Her leadership will be invaluable as we develop partnerships, establish strong organizational practices, and transform our ideas into sustainable programs.

Dr. Travis L. Gosa, Treasurer

Dr. Travis Gosa brings an exceptional record of academic research, teaching, writing, archival development, and scholarship focused on African American life and culture.

His experience includes service on the advisory board of Cornell University’s Hip Hop Collection and work establishing physical and digital collections documenting Black communities and culture.

His expertise will help the Foundation approach research, interpretation, preservation, and education with intellectual rigor and historical integrity.

As treasurer, he will also help ensure that the Foundation’s resources are managed responsibly and aligned with its long-term mission.

Charles D. Buskey, Secretary

Charles brings more than 25 years of experience as an attorney, executive advisor, technology leader, and public servant. His work has encompassed governance, commercial transactions, intellectual property, cybersecurity, privacy, artificial intelligence, and enterprise risk.

His combination of legal judgment, technical knowledge, executive leadership, and civic commitment provides the Foundation with thoughtful, forward-looking guidance. As secretary, he will help strengthen our governance, maintain organizational accountability, and support the careful documentation of the Board’s work.

Laura L. Carroll, Board Member

Laura brings more than 25 years of experience in libraries, archives, special collections, technology, and public service. As Head of Adult Services, Assistant Director, and Archivist at the Ohio County Public Library, she possesses invaluable knowledge about preservation, access, archival practice, and community education.

Her passion for local history reflects a principle at the very heart of our Foundation: when communities preserve, showcase, and celebrate their history, people become more knowledgeable, engaged, and empowered.

Sean P. Duffy, Board Member

Sean is a respected local historian, author, educator, and community leader with a deep understanding of Wheeling’s people, neighborhoods, and institutions.

His books and historical projects have helped make local history accessible to broad audiences, while his public programming has encouraged residents to see Wheeling’s past as something alive, relevant, and worthy of exploration. His experience and love of the region will help us connect African American history to the fuller story of Wheeling and the Upper Ohio Valley.

Denise Odoe, Board Member

Denise brings nearly two decades of experience in strategic pricing, financial analysis, risk mitigation, team leadership, and professional development.

Her ability to evaluate complex financial decisions, establish effective processes, and lead teams will be an important asset as the Foundation grows. She adds another strong voice for sound stewardship, accountability, and thoughtful planning—qualities essential to turning an ambitious vision into a sustainable institution.

Seven Leaders, One Shared Responsibility

A nonprofit board is not ceremonial. Its members accept real responsibilities for governance, strategy, financial stewardship, ethical leadership, mission protection, and accountability to the public.

Each of these individuals has agreed to share those responsibilities because they believe in what the Eugene and Beverly Stradwick Heritage Foundation can become.

Together, we will work to preserve and share African American history through archives, research, oral histories, exhibitions, publications, educational programs, scholarships, partnerships, and community engagement. We will pursue our aspirations with energy while remaining careful stewards of the stories, materials, relationships, and resources entrusted to us.

We will also hold firmly to our most important guardrail: never compromise historical integrity.

I could not be more grateful for this Board’s willingness to serve. Their collective experience gives me tremendous confidence in the Foundation’s future, but their spirit of service makes me even prouder.

Please join me in welcoming and thanking Jovetta A. Parry, Dr. Travis L. Gosa, Charles D. Buskey, Laura L. Carroll, Sean P. Duffy, and Denise Odoe for committing their time, talents, judgment, and leadership to this mission.

I invite you to meet our complete Board of Directors, learn more about their backgrounds, and follow the work we will undertake together.

Our history deserves committed guardians. I am proud to say that the Eugene and Beverly Stradwick Heritage Foundation has assembled an outstanding team to help carry that responsibility forward.

-T