Sponsored by 40 Under Forty INTHEVUE.COM | SEPTEMBER 2025 15 WKMS Community Advisory Board Member, WKCTC Alumni Association Board Member Gavin Posey’s path into the nonprofit sector began with a year-long AmeriCorps VISTA term at Family Service Society in Paducah—a role made even more challenging by taking place at the height of the pandemic. During that time, he worked with local partners to strengthen outcomes for area residents, contributing to the organization’s development, community outreach, and volunteer management efforts. That formative experience set the stage for his career, leading to his current role as Program Officer at the Community Foundation of West Kentucky. In recent years, Gavin has helped design systems to manage the Foundation’s assets while providing stronger support to area nonprofits. He takes particular pride in overseeing the Foundation’s annual Fred Paxton Challenge for Charities and its expansive scholarship program, where he has facilitated more than $760,000 in scholarship awards and helped direct several million dollars in gifts to local organizations. One of Gavin’s earliest professional lessons came from that first AmeriCorps year—realizing that meaningful change takes time. Entering the nonprofit field, he had a clear vision and ambitious plans, but experience taught him the importance of celebrating small victories while steadily working toward a larger collective mission. Relationship-building remains central to Gavin’s approach. He values connecting with people beyond their titles, learning what motivates them to make a difference. “Everyone has a story,” he believes, and taking time to listen often reveals unexpected insights that strengthen collaboration. In addition to fostering connections, Gavin is known for his organization, follow-through, and readiness to take initiative. A mentor once told him, “If you want to see a project through, make sure Gavin is involved”—a sentiment that has stayed with him. His professional growth has been shaped by many mentors, from his time at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, to his studies in Organizational Communication and Nonprofit Leadership at Murray State, to his ongoing involvement in the region’s nonprofit community. For Gavin, western Kentucky’s greatest strength lies in its people. Inspired by servant leaders who work to meet community needs, he strives to carry that same spirit forward. His mission is to create opportunities for others, celebrate their unique strengths, and ensure his career continues to give back to the community that shaped him. His advice is simple but meaningful: be yourself, embrace growth, and let your values guide the way. Gavin Posey Program Officer, Community Foundation of West Kentucky Geelyn Warren’s career is defined by a dedication to using data not just as numbers on a page, but as a tool for transformation. She considers her greatest accomplishments to be those that have built a culture of data-informed decision-making— efforts that have strengthened student success through actionable insights and driven large-scale institutional initiatives. Her journey began in 2006 as a first-generation college student working part-time in a work-study position at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Over the years, she advanced through the ranks, fulfilling a prediction her grandmother often made: that one day she would help “run that school.” Today, her work has touched projects that improve student financial literacy, address student loan default rates, ensure institutional compliance, and tell WKCTC’s story so the college receives the recognition it deserves. While she credits teamwork for these achievements, she remains deeply proud of her own role in their success. One of Geelyn’s unique challenges has been helping teams see the value in confronting less flattering data. She reframes these findings by reminding colleagues that “gaps are good”—they reveal opportunities for improvement. In her view, avoiding those insights risks stagnation and leaves students underserved. What sets her apart is her rare ability to connect data, strategy, and people to create meaningful change. She is passionate about translating numbers into stories, enabling others to understand the context, make informed decisions, and act. Her background in student services adds an additional perspective, pairing technical expertise with strategic vision and a people-centered approach— qualities not often found together in her primarily numbers- driven field. Geelyn draws inspiration from many, but most notably from her grandmother, who believed in everyone she met, and her mother, who returned to college later in life to achieve a lifelong dream. The example set by the strong women in her life has shaped her own approach to leadership and perseverance. She hopes her legacy will show that anything is possible when paired with education and dedication. As someone who worked her way from the ground up, she encourages others—especially first-generation students—to take risks, share ideas, speak up, and embrace being wrong. For her, that willingness is what opens doors to making a difference. Geelyn Warren Director of Institutional Planning, Research and Effectiveness, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
