UMW Foundation Archives

UMW Foundation, Alumni Association Boards Welcome New Members

August 20, 2025 by Jill Laiacona

The University of Mary Washington announces new members of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The University of Mary Washington announced in August the newest members of the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. These accomplished Mary Washington alumni and supporters will help guide the University’s continued growth, philanthropic outreach and alumni engagement.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these dedicated individuals to our boards,” said Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation. “Their leadership, experience and passion for Mary Washington will be instrumental as we continue to advance the University’s mission and strengthen our alumni community.”

UMW Foundation Board of Trustees:

Martha “Marty” Abbott ’72
Irene Cimino Roberts ’86

Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABOD):

Judith Henley Beck ’68
Janet Hedrick ’73
Susan Leavitt ’83
Devon Williams Cushman ’93
Alex Clegg ’17
Casey Breslin, MBA ’22

Adventure Brewing to Open Second Site in Eagle Village

August 28, 2019 by jlaiacon

Adventure Brewing – Eagle Village is set to open in late fall in the space previously occupied by Blackstone Coffee.

The University of Mary Washington Foundation announced today that the Eagle Village space that formerly housed Blackstone Coffee will become home to a different type of brew. Adventure Brewing Company, based in Stafford, will open a second location in the section of Eagle Village that fronts Jefferson Davis Highway.

Adventure Brewing’s owners, Tim Bornholtz, Stan Johnson and Russ Patishnock, said the move has been part of the company’s strategic plan to have a facility within the City of Fredericksburg. “This location is one more way we can expand the adventurous spirit that has long been part of our core business plan,” Patishnock said. “We are thrilled to be able to provide our amazing line of craft beer and hard seltzers that we are recognized for.”

Foundation Converts to Google

June 5, 2014 by Melina Downs

In order to update and improve its platform for data processing, and file sharing and storage, the UMW Foundation has just completed a major conversion over to Google’s suite of applications, email and cloud services.

Effective immediately, the email addresses for Foundation staff will change to the following:

Jeff Rountree jeff.rountree@umwf.org
Greg Branner greg.branner@umwf.org
Shannon Williams shannon.williams@umwf.org
Peggy Simpkins peggy.simpkins@umwf.org
Jean Stumbaugh jean.stumbaugh@umwf.org
Melinda Albrycht melinda.albrycht@umwf.org

All emails to umw.edu are being forwarded temporarily, however we recommend that you update your contact lists. Please pass this information along to those who are in your department.

Thank you for your understanding and patience with any bumps in the road that we may encounter. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Peggy

Peggy Simpkins, CPS
Executive Assistant to the CEO
University of Mary Washington Foundation
1125 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 200
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Office 540.654.2060
FAX 540.654.1064
peggy.simpkins@umwf.org

Hyatt Place Fredericksburg To Open in Eagle Village

January 10, 2014 by Marty Morrison

The Hyatt Place Fredericksburg will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21 in the Eagle Village mixed-use development located across from the University of Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus.

The hotel, built by the UMW Foundation, is the first boutique hotel of its kind serving the university, downtown Fredericksburg and the Mary Washington Health System, according to Jim Fournier, general manager of the hotel.

“Hyatt Place Fredericksburg at Mary Washington is located in a very desirable and historic area, and we’re looking forward to creating a positive travel experience for each and every guest that walks through our doors,” Fournier said.

The 93-room, five-story hotel blends historical and modern elements, and features 89 studios and three executive suites and one presidential suite. The facility also houses an indoor heated salt-water pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, more than 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, an exterior courtyard with a fountain and fire pit bars, a gallery lobby with 24-hour food and beverage service, and 1,400 square feet of retail space.

The Hyatt Place Fredericksburg began accepting reservations earlier this month and already has booked events, including weddings, reunions and meetings for associations and university-affiliated groups.

Jeff Rountree, chief executive officer for the UMW Foundation, said the new hotel will bring additional meeting space, first-class lodging and new jobs to the area. The hotel is owned by the UMW Foundation and will be managed by Interstate Hotel and Resorts.

“By partnering with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, the UMW Foundation is bringing one of the most iconic symbols of hospitality to our region,” Rountree said.

The Hyatt Place Fredericksburg is the first project to benefit from the commonwealth’s new Virginia Tourism Development Financing program, which provides economic incentives to developers of projects that benefit tourism.

For reservations or more information about the Hyatt Place Fredericksburg, call (540) 654-3333 or email the hotel at Hyattplacefredericksburg.com.

Hyatt Place Fredericksburg Names General Manager

May 23, 2013 by Brynn Boyer

The University of Mary Washington Foundation and Interstate Hotels & Resorts have appointed James A. Fournier as general manager for the 93-room Hyatt Place Fredericksburg hotel currently under construction. Located in the Eagle Village mixed-use development complex between Mary Washington Hospital and the University of Mary Washington, the Hyatt Place broke ground last August and plans to open in the fall of 2013. The hotel is owned by the University of Mary Washington Foundation and will be operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.

As general manager for the hotel, Fournier will cultivate and lead the hotel’s executive team and manage the hotel through the pre-opening phase into opening and full operations, with responsibility for day-to-day operations upon opening.

Fournier brings 23 years of experience to his role, including 12 years in operations leadership as a general manager with Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott properties. Most recently, he was general manager at the Residence Inn in Alexandria, where he successfully managed the hotel through the construction phase to opening.

During his tenure with Marriott, Fournier received numerous accolades, including the Top Operations Excellence Award in 2010 based on high quality assurance and guest service satisfaction scores.

“Jim is a top performer in the hotel business and brings the level of service and experience to our hotel that both we as owners, and Hyatt as a global brand, will expect from a general manager,” said Jeff Rountree, CEO of the UMW Foundation. “Our goal is to run a hotel with the customer service and friendliness of a Ritz Carlton, but within the body of a select-service hotel product. We believe this can be done and we believe Jim is the right man for the job.”

Fournier has a degree from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass.

The premium select-service Hyatt Place Fredericksburg hotel is located at 1241 Jefferson David Highway. Upon completion, the hotel will have 93 spacious guestrooms featuring the Hyatt Grand Bed™ and Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper; 2,000 square feet of meeting space; an indoor pool and fitness center; Gallery Menu, Fresh 24/7 and Gallery Market for a la carte items; a coffee and spirits bar; a complimentary hot breakfast; and complimentary Wi-Fi in guestrooms and throughout the hotel.

New Staff Members at UMW Foundation

April 5, 2012 by Brynn Boyer

Melinda Albrycht

The Foundation would like to introduce our new staff members: Gregory A. Branner, CPA, 1985 graduate of UMW, joined us in October as the Director of Finance and Administration. Shannon C. Williams, CPA, joined us in March as Controller. Melinda D. Albrycht joined us in January as an accountant. Greg came to us from the UVa Health Services Foundation while Shannon and Melinda both moved over from other positions at UMW. Please join us in welcoming them.

Greg Branner

Shannon Williams

UMW Foundation Releases Preliminary Renderings for Eagle Village Hotel

January 2, 2012 by Brynn Boyer

Plans are moving forward for the University of Mary Washington Foundation’s construction of a $14 million-plus select-service hotel in the second phase of the Eagle Village mixed-use development across U.S. 1 from the Fredericksburg campus of the University of Mary Washington. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2012.

The five-story hotel, to be located between Giant Food and the Eagle Village Executive Offices, will feature 93 studio rooms or suites, several meeting and conference rooms for public use, and a 24-hour food and beverage service for guests. The 66,500-square-foot facility also will include an indoor pool and a fitness center. In addition, the building will house approximately 1,600 square feet of retail space, possibly a day spa, according to Jeff Rountree, CEO of the UMW Foundation and President, Eagle Property Holdings, LLC.

Construction will begin when demolition of the shopping center north of Giant is complete. The hotel is expected to open by fall 2013. Currently, the Foundation is negotiating the franchise agreement for the hotel brand, which will be announced once the agreement is finalized in early May.