President, CAMC Foundation, Inc.
By Brittany McClung
Growing up in Dunbar, WV, Gail Pitchford developed a strong work ethic and sense of pride at an early age. She learned about customer service, money management and small business ownership through her first job as a newspaper carrier, where she became the first female to have her own route in Dunbar. Early on, her dad told her she could do anything she wanted to and being a girl should never stop her. His words have been her inspiration for success and have helped guide her throughout her career.
Today, Pitchford serves as the president of the CAMC Foundation, the charitable, fundraising arm of Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC). She attended West Virginia State University (WVSU), where she earned an associate degree in science and commerce and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and went on to earn a master’s degree in communication studies from West Virginia University. During college and even early in her career, she never thought of working as a professional fundraiser. She later realized this field offered many of the things she was good at and enjoyed—interacting with people, managing money and helping others. Pitchford has served in this role for the last 14 years, and she is responsible for overseeing and implementing all fundraising programs within the nonprofit health care system foundation, including annual giving, special events, capital campaigns, donor acquisition and donor relations.
In 2009, she was asked to undertake a major capital campaign to raise $15 million for the building of the CAMC Cancer Center. With the help of many volunteers, staff and employees, her team was able to successfully raise the funds.
“To know that the building stands now to serve cancer patients and that I was a part of it is truly my greatest professional achievement,” she says.
Before beginning her career at CAMC, Pitchford had a successful career in banking, where she started out as a student loan officer at Kanawha Banking & Trust Company in 1978. As her career advanced, she held several leadership roles, including branch manager at the National Bank of Commerce, assistant vice president and executive banker at One Valley Bank, senior vice president and wealth management team director at BB&T and senior vice president and regional manager at Huntington Bank.
“My parents laid the groundwork for my work in the financial industry,” she recalls. “They taught us survival skills, including how to handle money. They would loan me money to buy things, but I had to pay it back. Mom would draw up promissory notes or loan documents that I had to sign and terms with which I had to agree. When I took my first job in the banking business, it all made sense to me—I had grown up with these concepts and practices in the family bank.”
Pitchford became involved in community activism and volunteer organizations early in her career, which ultimately allowed her to network, advance her career, meet new people, learn new skills and make an impact. She currently serves on the board of governors for WVSU, board of directors for the CAMC Health Education and Research Institute and as a member of the Rotary Club of Charleston. She is also a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. In the past, Pitchford spent time serving on the board of directors for the West Virginia Cycling Foundation, YWCA of Charleston, Junior Achievement of West Virginia, the Capitol Market and Craik-Patton House.
Her philanthropic contributions are concentrated on WVSU and the CAMC Foundation. WVSU provided Pitchford the opportunity to earn a college education, as well as the knowledge and credentials to be successful, and she became the first person in her family to earn a four-year degree. She supports the CAMC Foundation not only because she works there, but because of the care and passion she is able to witness from the nurses, doctors and other caregivers every day.
In her free time, Pitchford is an avid runner and cyclist who loves to run or bike anywhere in West Virginia. She has lived in West Virginia her entire life and has found success and happiness within the Mountain State.
“It is my home. It is my roots. It is where I’m from,” she says.
1978 Started work as student loan officer at Kanawha Banking & Trust Co.
1984 Graduated from WVSU
1989 Joined YWCA board
1989 Named vice president and executive banker at One Valley Bank
1992 Joined Junior Achievement of WV board
1999 Joined Capitol Market board
2000 Named vice president and private banker at BB&T
2001 Graduated from WVU
2003 Named senior vice president and wealth management team director at BB&T
2005 Named senior vice president and regional manager of private banking
and trust at Huntington National Bank
2008 Appointed to CAMC Health Education and Research Institute board
2010 Appointed to WVSU board
2015 Joined WVSU Research & Development Corp. board
2015 Obtained Certified Fundraising Executive International
