Sandra Boyette

Sandra Boyette has led fundraising and communications initiatives for more than 35 years.

 

She entered the advancement profession as a writer, creating proposals, stewardship reports, and other development communications.

 

Sandra joined Wake Forest University in 1981 as a staff writer and was named associate director of development in 1984.  In 1988, she was named Vice-President for Public Affairs.  During that time, she led the effort to secure two Presidential debates for the University, including the first ever sanctioned by the Commission on Presidential Debates and oversaw the staff of the University’s award-winning magazine and publications program. She was appointed Vice President for University Advancement in 1996. 

 

Sandra directed Wake Forest’s successful Honoring the Promise campaign, which generated more than $600 million for needs across the University. At the time of her retirement, she was Senior Advisor to the President.

 

An enthusiastic native and advocate for the Winston-Salem/Triad community, Sandra chaired the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and the YWCA, where she led a successful $1.5 million campaign. She is a charter member and past board member of the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem. 

 

Sandra earned her MBA at Wake Forest University; her Master of Education at Converse College; and her BA degree at UNC-Charlotte.

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Bill Porter

Bill Porter has successfully led advancement programs in higher education, healthcare, international education, museums, and historic preservation.

 

At Cone Health, Bill established the first organized fundraising program and permanent endowment for this six-hospital regional healthcare system before his retirement in 2016.  

 

As Vice Chancellor for Development and Public Relations for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Bill developed and oversaw the school’s first successful capital campaign.  During his tenure, the fundraising program grew by an average of 15-20% each year for 12 years, with minimal costs, moving the development program from the bottom to the top half of the 16-campus University Of North Carolina System in overall giving.

 

Bill also has served as Chief Advancement Officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and for Youth for Understanding International Exchange, both based in Washington, D.C.  He began his advancement career at Duke University, his alma mater.

 

Consulting with a variety of non-profit organizations, Bill has assisted with annual and capital fundraising, board and volunteer development, and marketing.  Organizations include UNC Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Hospice of Davidson County, Preservation North Carolina, Winston-Salem Symphony, and the YMCA of Northwest NC.

 

Bill received his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  The recent Board Chair for Arts Greensboro, he has also led a volunteer fundraising committee for the Public Art Endowment of the Greater Greensboro Community Foundation.

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J. D. Wilson

J. D. Wilson has been guiding leaders of non-profits in fundraising, organizational effectiveness, strategic program development, and metrics-based communications for more than 45 years.

 

He has served as a board member for more than 20 non-profits, covering civic, arts and cultural, historic, social services, and economic development.  A former chair of the Board of Visitors at UNC School of the Arts, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and the Piedmont Triad Film Commission, J.D. also has co-chaired four capital campaigns, generating more than $90 million. 

   

UNC School of the Arts, where he served as a two-term trustee, awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts, the first such award for service, and the Giannini Award, the School’s highest recognition. For three recent years, Triad Business Journal listed him as one of the most influential leaders in the Triad. 

 

An entrepreneur, J. D. co-founded Excalibur Direct Marketing, the oldest such firm in North Carolina, and was president for more than 40 years; he continues as chairman and CEO. He serves on the boards of the Winston-Salem Alliance, Helen Simoneau Danse; and is an advisor to The Center for Creative Economy.  Following his board service on the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, in 2019 he established The Creative Center of North Carolina, Inc. and serves as its Board Chair and President.

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