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Prasnicki Named VMI Alumni Agencies CEO
Samuel N. Stocks ’90, VMI Alumni Agencies’ board of directors chairman, announced Jan. 10, 2022, that the board named David L. Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies interim chief executive officer, the permanent CEO.
Prasnicki is among the VMI Alumni Agencies’ longest-serving employees, beginning his career with the VMI Foundation in February 1986. In his more than three-and-a-half decades serving the VMI family, Prasnicki has taken on positions of increasing responsibility. In 1996, he became the VMI Foundation’s chief financial officer; in 1998, he received the title and responsibilities of vice president and chief financial officer. In those positions, Prasnicki supervised a staff that provided accounting, personnel management, financial management, and information technology services to the VMI Foundation, VMI Keydet Club, former VMI Development Board, VMI Alumni Association, VMI Alumni Agencies, and George C. Marshall Research Foundation.
For several years, he has been responsible for the day-to-day management of VMI Investment Holdings, LLC, the organization responsible for managing the endowments of the VMI Alumni Agencies, VMI, and the George C. Marshall Research Foundation. Prasnicki is a graduate of Roanoke College, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1985. He worked for the VMI treasurer from June 1985 until he joined the VMI Foundation.
“Anyone involved with the VMI Alumni Agencies in the past 36 years knows David as a consummate professional,” said Stocks. “In every position he has held, he has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and an unshakable devotion to the Institute and VMI Alumni Agencies.
“The contributions he has made toward increasing the effectiveness of the VMI Alumni Agencies are innumerable and important, especially in the past several years as the Agencies reorganized in pursuit of their shared goal of advancing the Institute,” continued Stocks. “Finally, hundreds of volunteer leaders associated with the VMI Alumni Association, the VMI Foundation, and the VMI Keydet Club have relied on David for valuable insights and advice. “My colleagues on the Agencies’ board are pleased David has accepted this position after serving as the interim CEO since last fall. We look forward to many years of energetic and effective leadership.” Prasnicki reacted to his appointment by saying, “I have been privileged to have a front-row seat as VMI has gone through many changes, such as stepping back from mandatory commissioning, ending Saturday classes, and transitioning to coeducation. Throughout that time, however, VMI has remained steadfastly committed to its mission Prasnicki and has always worked to be a stronger version of itself. It is an honor to serve the Agencies and the Institute in this new role, and I look forward to working with the entire VMI family to ensure the Institute enjoys an ever-brighter future.” Prasnicki assumed his duties as the permanent CEO effective Monday, Jan. 10. Prasnicki is the father of two sons—the late Stephen Chase Prasnicki, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012, and Tyler L. Prasnicki ’15, a captain in the U.S. Army with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Germany—and a daughter, Lauren, who holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from James Madison University and currently works as an occupational therapist at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Crissy Elliott was named chief financial officer of the VMI Alumni Agencies in January 2022. She began working for the VMI Foundation in 2000 and served as financial controller of the Alumni Agencies. In that capacity, she was responsible for financial accounting, internal/external reporting, supervision of accounting staff, and information technology. She has also served as the secretary of VMI Investment Holdings, LLC.
A native of Buena Vista, Virginia, Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Lynchburg College and has passed the CPA exam. Elliott
Before coming to work for the Agencies, she served as director of finance for Rockbridge County Public Schools and worked for the public accounting firm Brown, Edwards, and Company LLC. She and her husband, Randy Elliott ’94, have a daughter, Josie, a junior at Oklahoma State University.
“Crissy Elliott’s promotion bolsters the strength of our fiscal program at VMI,” said David Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer. “Her experience, talent, and enthusiasm for VMI is demonstrated in everything she does. We are lucky to have her on our team and in this new role.”
Meet Alumni Agencies Volunteer Leaders: Board Presidents
W. Gregory Robertson ’65 Chairman VMI Investment Holdings, LLC
W. Gregory “Greg” Robertson ’65 is a senior adviser of TM Capital Corp. After leading the formation of TM Capital Corp. in 1989, he served as the firm’s president from 1989-2008 and chairman from 2008-21. Before founding TM Capital, he was an executive vice president and director of Thomson McKinnon
Robertson ’65 Securities Inc., where he headed the firm’s investment banking and public finance activities. Previously, Robertson served as a vice president in the investment banking division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Robertson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI and served as a U.S. Army air defense artillery officer before returning to graduate school. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Darden Graduate Business School at the University of Virginia.
“The generous donors to the endowments related to VMI are entitled to know that their funds are invested prudently and in accordance with the highest fiduciary standards to ensure that the current and future Corps of Cadets benefits from their largess,” Robertson said. “The responsibility for this undertaking falls upon the seven members of the board of directors of VMI Investment Holdings, LLC. As chairman of this board, I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with this group, the devoted staff of the Alumni Agencies, and our consultants in striving to meet these objectives.”
Samuel N. Stocks ’90 President VMI Alumni Agencies Board and VMI Alumni Association
Samuel N. “Sam” Stocks ’90 is the vice president of operations and partner of KBS, a large commercial construction firm in Richmond, Virginia. He joined the company in 2000 and has served in various roles. A distinguished graduate, Stocks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineer-
Stocks ’90 ing from VMI. He then served in U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps. While stationed in Hawaii, he earned a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Stocks began his service to VMI through the VMI Chapter of Richmond, where he served as chapter president. He then joined the Alumni Association board of directors and served as regional director and vice president before assuming his current role. He is married to the former Rita Morgan. They have three children: Mason, Bo, and Kate.
“When I left the Navy, the VMI network worked very well for me and was instrumental in me joining KBS, Inc. Since that time, I have wanted to pay it forward by starting my volunteer service to VMI,” Stocks said, explaining why he feels strongly about service to VMI. “As president of the Alumni Association and chairman of the VMI Alumni Agencies, I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with and getting to know other volunteers as well as our alumni. The last two years have brought challenges, but I have appreciated getting to work with board members and the incredible VMI Alumni Agencies staff.”
Center for Leadership and Ethics Explores Moral Courage in 2022-23
By Maj. Catherine M. Roy, Center for Leadership and Ethics
During academic year 2022-23, programming for the Center for Leadership and Ethics will focus on the attribute of moral courage with the leadership theme titled “The Courage of Convictions.”
To further highlight this leadership theme, VMI’s Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference will explore “Principled Dissent: Navigating Moral Challenges” from Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2022.
Other programs and events sponsored by the CLE will enhance and facilitate these discussions, such as the VMI Leader Journey podcast and the Courageous Leadership Speaker series.
Please visit vmi.edu/cle to read more about upcoming events, join the email list, or follow the CLE on social media to receive timely news and announcements.
Bland Massie Jr. ’77, D.M.D. President VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors
Bland Massie Jr. ’77, D.M.D., earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. In 1989, Massie earned a Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree at the Medical College of Georgia. He currently practices dentistry in Lynchburg, Virginia. During his
Massie ’77 cadetship, he was on the football team 2nd and 1st Class years and was “basketball Moe” during the 1976-77 season when VMI went to the Sweet 16.
Massie has demonstrated his love of VMI through many volunteer activities over the years. He served on the Keydet Club Board of Governors for 18 years and was part of the Executive Committee for 16 of those years. He also kept the brother rat bonds strong for his class, serving as the 1977 class agent between the 30th and 35th Reunions. In addition, he held the positions of Lynchburg Chapter president and regional director for the Alumni Association. Massie also served on the VMI Research Laboratories board for nine years.
His love for Keydet athletics is evidenced by his 13-year commitment to the VMI football chain gang at home games, and he has filled in at the VMI scorers’ tables at basketball for three years.
“It has been my privilege to be involved with VMI since moving back to Virginia in the early 1990s. I view the scholarship money that is raised through the Keydet Club donations as helping cadets who happen to be athletes get a chance to get a great education, to play a sport that they love and then graduate and go out and make the world better,” Massie said.
Thomas H. Zarges ’70 President VMI Foundation Board of Trustees
Thomas H. Zarges ’70 earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI and was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. He then moved on to large-scale, high technology engineering projects all over the U.S. and the world, dealing with many different aspects of construction, including power generation, bridges, highways, subways and mass tran-
Zarges ’70 sit, hydroelectric dams, oil and gas, and industrial production plants. He worked on assignments throughout the globe in 42 countries, often in hostile and hazardous conditions. Some assignments include decommissioning nuclear weapons production sites and decommissioning and destroying Soviet intercontinental missiles. He also worked on projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. His career culminated as president in a $20 billion publicly traded company.
Zarges and his wife, Janet—his high school sweetheart and Ring Figure date—have three children and five grandchildren.
“I was raw and entirely unfinished when I matriculated, but the VMI system prevailed, and I knew its merits immediately,” Zarges said. “The values the Institute demanded turned out to be the keys to success and accomplishment in my life. It was clear these values were distinct and appreciated throughout my career and personal relationships. I have tried to instill these values into my children with, I trust, some success.
“The point now is to ensure we continue giving young matriculants the same opportunity. VMI provides that wonderful sense of self-discipline, humility, and purpose that sticks with you and is needed in a society that craves honest and genuine behavior. I trust all our alumni feel this obligation deep in their hearts and act on it to keep this great institution enduring and vital.”
Stann ’21 Joins Alumni Association as Program Outreach Officer
Stann '21
Jack Stann ’21 joined the VMI Alumni Association in January 2022 as a program outreach officer. He matriculated from Reston, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with concentrations in literary studies and rhetoric and writing.
As a cadet, Stann was an active member of the Model United Nations Club and served as company staff for the Rat Challenge program. He also held rank within the Corps as a Company B platoon lieutenant.
The brotherhood and camaraderie within the Corps are what initially drew Stann to VMI. As a program outreach officer, he is most excited about helping alumni and being able to support them and the Institute.
“Jack is a great addition to our team,” said Thom Brashears ’95, Alumni Association chief operating officer. “His fresh perspective on the cadets and the fact that he is a part of a legacy family here at VMI will provide immense value as we look for meaningful engagement for our alumni with each other and with the Institute in general.”
