Kara Hughes is the Executive Director for the West Virginia Board of Treasury Investments. Kara reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for execution of the strategic plan, investment performance, financial reporting, staff development, participant outreach and overall program operations. Kara has over 28 years of investment and cash management experience. Prior to her current role, Kara served seven years as the BTI’s Chief Financial Officer responsible for developing the entity’s first financial statements, annual report, operating budget and financial reporting processes. Her prior experience includes public accounting with the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, Internal Auditor and Director of Accounting/Investments with the WV Board of Investments, Cash Management Controller for the WV State Treasurer’s Office, and Coordinator of School Finance with the WV Department of Education. Kara is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Government Investment Professional. Kara earned her B.S. in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University.

Karl Shanholtzer is the Chief Financial Officer for the West Virginia Board of Treasury Investments. Karl also serves as an internal consultant for the investment and savings related programs operated by the State Treasurer’s Office, which includes the WV SMART529 Plan, the WV Prepaid College Plan, and WV Retirement Plus (a 457 deferred compensation plan). He started with the WV State Treasurer’s Office as Director of Internal Audit in 1997 after serving as the Internal Auditor for the WV Board of Investments. In 2005, Karl moved into the position of Internal Auditor for the WV Board of Treasury Investments and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2012. Prior to joining the state, Karl worked for a regional public accounting firm that specialized in audits of state and local government entities. Karl is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor and a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder. Karl earned his B.S. in Business Administration from West Virginia State University.

Jamie Chambers is the Internal Auditor for the West Virginia Board of Treasury Investments. Jamie has been serving in this position since July 2023. Jamie has 20 years of service with the State of West Virginia. Fourteen of those years have been in auditing/internal auditing. Additionally, she has had the privilege to work in financial reporting, grants management, accounting, and college records. Jamie is an active Board member of the Charleston AGA.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from West Virginia State University and the Master’s of Science in Accountancy from the University of Phoenix (online). Jamie is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), and is currently completing the requirements to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Director of Operations, Denise Baker, holds an Associate of Applied Science in Finance from West Virginia State University and is a graduate of the American Institute of Banking.  Denise has more than 26 years of experience with the state’s investment pools including the West Virginia Board of Investments, West Virginia Trust Fund, West Virginia Investment Management Board, and the West Virginia Board of Treasury Investments since its inception in 2005. Denise was formerly a banking professional for more than eight years with Charleston National Bank. Denise received her Bloomberg Certification in Bloomberg Market Concepts in 2022.

Holly Garner holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Marshall University. She has 18 years of experience, including CMIA Accountant for the State Treasurer’s Office and Senior Accountant for the WV Higher Education Policy Commission. Holly received her Bloomberg Certification in Bloomberg Market Concepts in 2022.

Randy Covert has more than 29 years of public service. Randy formerly worked in the State Treasurer’s Cash Management and Unclaimed Property Divisions. Prior to the Treasurer’s Office, Randy worked nine years for the West Virginia Housing Development Fund as a Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Specialist. Randy received his Bloomberg Certification in Bloomberg Market Concepts in 2022.