HPU Welcomes New Members to Board of Trustees

Furniture World News Desk on 4/19/2021

Pictured L to R: Carlvena Foster, Mark Phillips and Steve Pond.

High Point University welcomes three new members to the Board of Trustees. They are as follows:

Steve Pond has a rich background in the fields of publishing and education. He founded Furniture Today, Home Textiles Today, Home Accents Today and several other home furnishings business publications. He served as president of the North American Newspaper division of Reed Elsevier, president of Variety Inc., and chairman of North Star Travel Media, which included Travel Weekly, Meetings and Conventions, and other business travel publications. He published and owned The Mail Box, a source of print and online publications for grade school teachers across America. 

“Future generations need a classical education based on critical thinking now more than ever,” said Pond. “I’m a big believer in the education offered by High Point University, founded on God, family and country. It arms students with both intellectual capital and life skills that prepare them for the workplace.”  

Through the Chief Executives Organization and the Young Presidents Organization, Pond launched executive education programs at universities around the world, including the University of Oxford; Peking University in Beijing; Stanford University; Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University; Johns Hopkins University; Duke University; IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland; and the Harvard Business School. In addition to serving on several corporate boards, he has served on Boards at Colgate University, Duke University, Wake Forest University, Davidson College, College of Charleston and Harvard Business School Publishing.

Pond graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School as a CBS Foundation Fellow. He is Chairman and CEO of Hillbrook Limited, an investment management and consulting firm. 

Mark Phillips, CEO/President of Phillips Collection, has an extensive background and knowledge in the furniture industry. Phillips Collection has been defining global style for over 30 years with their organic contemporary furnishings. The company offers eco-friendly furniture, accessories, wall decor, lighting and sculpture for indoor and outdoor use.

“It is an honor and a great point of pride to be associated with the leadership of HPU,” said Phillips. “It is an engine that has powered the unprecedented growth and thinking of a student body, a city and the whole educational establishment.”  

Phillips serves on the board of directors for the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame and the board of acquisitions for the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Phillips is a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and a member of the International Furniture Designers. He was named the most admired CEO by the Triad Business Journal in 2018 and is a recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award from Accessory Resource Team. Phillips is an honorary trade advisor to Thailand. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Michigan.

His community support and involvement include the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum, Make a Wish Foundation and United Way. 

Carlvena Foster, district vice president of operations for the Carl Chavis YMCA, has a vast experience in community service. She is a member of numerous organizations and boards including the African American Initiative of United Way, High Point University’s First Generation and Say Yes Scholarship Committee, State Employee Credit Union Board, Visit High Point, Forward High Point, High Point Market Authority, High Point Economic Development Board and the Southwest Renewal Foundation Board.

“I am honored to join the prestigious High Point University Board of Trustees in this important role that will support the mission and vision of the university as it continues to successfully impact lives locally and globally through the many degreed and specialty programs offered,” said Foster. “As a native High Pointer and proud graduate of HPU, I bring a unique perspective, skill set and experience that represents the diversity and commitment the university has to being ‘High Point’s University.’”

Foster has served as a Guilford County Commissioner since 2014 and was elected vice chair in December 2020. She is president for the Women of National Association of County Officials and second vice president of North Carolina Association of Black County Officials. She was named High Point Citizen of Year for 2019. She served on the Guilford County Board of Education from 2008-2014. 

Foster holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from Shaw University and earned her master’s in public administration from High Point University. 

About High Point University: At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.^® HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 5,600 undergraduate and graduate students. It is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report for Best Regional Colleges in the South and No. 1 for Most Innovative Regional Colleges in the South. The Princeton Review named HPU in the 2021 edition of “The Best 386 Colleges” and on the Best Southeastern Colleges “2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region” list. HPU was recognized as a Great School for Business Majors and a Great School for Communication Majors. HPU was also recognized for Best College Dorms (No. 1), Most Beautiful Campus (No. 9), Best Career Services (No. 19) and Most Active Student Government (No. 19). For 10 years in a row, HPU has been named a College of Distinction with special recognition for career development, business and education programs, and The National Council on Teacher Quality ranks HPU’s elementary education program as one of the best in the nation. The university has 60 undergraduate majors, 63 undergraduate minors and 14 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. For more information, visit highpoint.edu.