Jonathan Board, a Marion County resident who has been vice president of external affairs at Mon Health, has now been named director of the foundation established to distribute millions of dollars in opioid litigation money.
Board was introduced during a press conference led today by Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Board had been running in the Republican primary for state Senate but said he will suspend his campaign.
“West Virginia has to heal from the inside out,” Board said during his introduction.
The West Virginia First Foundation is the non-profit organization approved by state lawmakers to handle opioid settlement funds. The state will have about $1 billion following a number of lawsuits against distributors, wholesalers and pharmacies.
The West Virginia First Foundation board, just an hour or so after the hiring announcement, met and empowered Board for the day-to-day responsibilities of the executive director role.
“I trust Jonathan. I trust Jonathan. I trust his judgment. I know where his heart is. I know that’s to serve the citizens of West Virginia, and he brings all the skills necessary to put that together and lead us,” said Matt Harvey, chairman of the foundation.
Leaders of the foundation said the salary and terms for the executive director are known, but they won’t be made public until official paperwork is signed.
The “West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding” lays out the terms for the state and the many counties and cities that may receive a portion of settlement dollars to push back against ongoing drug addiction issues.
A major portion of the millions of dollars, 72.5 percent, goes to a private, nonstock, nonprofit corporation described as an Opioid Foundation. That foundation will now distribute the funding for work toward abating the opioid epidemic in communities around the state.
“The foundation’s going to be partnering with entities in the private sector, with other foundations, with the Legislature, with the governor, with the federal government — because the problems facing West Virginia in this drug epidemic are so vast. And so there’s an opportunity for the foundation to really bring people together in a way that hasn’t happened before,” Morrisey said.
“That’s what’s exciting about it. Everyone is a potential partner to solve problems and stop senseless death.”
Board had been a member of the foundation representing north central West Virginia counties.
The search for an executive director has been going on for a couple of months.
“Now, with a full-time person, there’s a chance to really start to execute on an agenda,” Morrisey said at the announcement today.
Morrisey said the job search meant reviewing more than 100 resumes and interviewing 18 to 20 people. Board had not applied in the first round, the attorney general said.
“I spent countless hours, but so did our team. There was a team of people in our office that went through every resume that came in. We obviously had an executive search firm that did a lot of work. So it was a lengthy process, and we tried to consult with a lot of people,” Morrisey said.
“And I’m fortunate that we found a jewel right underneath us here in West Virginia, someone who’s incredible.”