Our Board
Unitarian Universalist Congregation operates under a “Covenant-Based Governance Model” within the guidelines of our Bylaws. We have an elected, 7-member Board that holds authority and responsibility for our congregation. These leaders are elected by our members and operate as a single body in service to the mission of our congregation. The Board welcomes your input and questions.
Our 2025-2026 Board Members
See below for more about these gifted leaders
CHRIS LONG, PRESIDENT | Chris Long started attending UUC in late 2021 and has been a volunteer for almost the entire time he has been attending. He has found himself stepping into multiple leadership roles in his relatively short time here, most notably leading the Auction committee for two years. He loves supporting his loving UUC community by serving on the AV team and leading the Quarterlifers social group. Chris works as a senior account services representative at the National Bank of Blacksburg. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Virginia Tech and loves cheering on the Hokies alongside playing pickleball and spending time with friends. Email Chris at president@uucnrv.org.
CASSY KOST, PRESIDENT-ELECT | Cassy Kost and her two children have attended the UUC since spring 2018. She enjoys participating in UUC grounds work, attending spiritual based workshops and gatherings, as well as family events, and assists with UUC music. She works at Virginia Tech and believes in the importance of emphasizing inclusivity and UUC values in all spaces, while strengthening community. Additionally, she serves as a leader for local Girl Scouts. In her free time, Cassy enjoys spending time with her children and dogs, creating music, exploring the outdoors, reading, and many other artful hobbies.
CAROLYN KOGAN, SECRETARY, joined the UUC in 2024 with her husband, Greg, and their two young children, Lucia and Matthias. Drawn to the congregation’s commitment to respect, tolerance, and understanding within a multigenerational community, Carolyn quickly became involved in children’s programming. She served as an RE instructor for the Pre-K and 2nd/3rd grade classes and has taken an active role in revitalizing the playground—working with the committee to replace outdated equipment and design interactive, inclusive spaces for children of all ages.
Professionally, Carolyn teaches in the Marketing Department at Virginia Tech, where she leads courses on social media, content marketing, and the intersection of personal well-being and professional success. With a background in media and production, she is attentive to detail—from ideation to execution. Needless to say, she’s a fan of spreadsheets, to-do lists, and spending time with her family.
WAYNE NEU, TREASURER, has been a part of UUC since the early 1990s. His service started with performing many small tasks, and as he became more engaged and more attached to UUC, he served in a number of other capacities. He’s sung in the choir and operated the sound/recording equipment. He served as auctioneer for many of our auctions. He’s served on the Finance, Long-Range Planning, and Stewardship committees and was a part of the task force that raised funds for our building expansion. Wayne served twice on the Board as a member-at-large and again as President-Elect and then as President.
JOSEPH COOLEY, MEMBER AT LARGE, is an accomplished architect currently working at Virginia Tech. With a profound expertise in accessible architecture, Joseph brings over 30 years of experience as a Unitarian Universalist, including three years of active involvement with our congregation. Joseph is a member of the UUC Safety Committee and is working towards ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Originally from Western New York, Joseph has two grown children and is married to Robin, also a member of UUC. Beyond his professional achievements, he is passionate about various forms of art, such as drawing, painting, and glass art. His architectural background provides him with a unique blend of analytical skills and imaginative vision, which will be invaluable in his role on the board.
HELEN RENQUIST, MEMBER AT LARGE, grew up in Giles County (Newport), Virginia. She received her B.A. in Biology Education from Emory and Henry College. From 1972 to 1995, she lived in Finland and is fluent in Finnish. She moved back to Virginia with her family in 1995, after which she obtained her MS in Curriculum and Instruction in ESL (English as a Second Language) and taught ESL in Montgomery County for 14 years. Helen and her husband Åke-Eric (deceased 2023) joined the UUC in 2017. Since joining our congregation, Helen has volunteered for numerous activities and taken part in various groups. At present, she helps with religious education. She has two children and two grandchildren.
ANDY ROBERTS, MEMBER AT LARGE, and his wife, Mary Ann, started attending the UUC in the early 2000s. He has taught RE as well as middle-school and high school OWL, been a member of the Lay Pastoral Care Committee, and chaired the Stewardship Committee for several years. He most recently performed as The Fanged Steward in the 2024 and 2025 Pledge Drive video series. Andy is retired from Virginia Tech and likes to hike, bicycle, travel, read, putter in the yard, and cook for Mary Ann.
A Message from the Board
By Laura Robinson, UUC Board President 2024-2025
Thank you to all who serve, lead, and show up with open hearts. Our mission to Inspire, Create, and Transform is alive in your fellowship. It has been an immense joy to serve as your 2024-2025 Board President.
We hope our congregation feels the thanks and care behind every Board decision. And if you haven’t heard it yet, let me take a moment now to personally thank you and share some of our 2024-2025 accomplishments.
This year, the Board worked to strengthen our community from the inside out. We ensured all staff roles were filled and took steps to appreciate our volunteers, especially during our minister’s sabbatical.
Our congregation showed remarkable courage and participation in the UU the Vote and Defending Democracy initiatives. These values remain at the heart of our community.
We are a welcoming congregation. So, this year, the Board focused on improving accessibility and safety by conducting an assessment, improving facilities, and finding more ways to increase accessibility during UUC activities. Several things were identified. Future projects are being prioritized based on budget, safety, accessibility, and volunteers.
The Board also had a goal to encourage engagement within our congregation. By doing this, we hoped to nurture a strong sense of belonging and ownership, which may also lead to growth in membership and financial support. We were so happy to see many of you at our activities fair and joining committees.
We would like to recognize our congregation’s work in our communities. Our partnership with the To Our House makes a real difference, offering winter shelter to the homeless. Also, it was a joy to be able to help families impacted by Hurricane Helene and celebrate the opening of the Calfee Community & Cultural Center.
Finally, we are especially thankful to our Finance Committee. Their guidance has been so valuable to the Board, and their hard work is often unseen. It is our mutual goal to move away from a deficit budget and ensure a sustainable financial future.
And if no one’s told you today: you matter. We’re so grateful you’re here, and our congregation is better because you’re part of it. – Laura Robinson, UUC Board President
Our Governance
UUC operates under a “Covenant-Based Governance Model” within the guidelines of our Bylaws. We have an elected, 7-member Board that is charged with setting clear policies that reflect the congregation’s vision and mission.
An annual meeting is held each year in early June, and members vote to adopt a new budget, elect new members to the Board, vote on proposed Bylaws changes, and any other matter that requires a congregational vote. An extraordinary meeting can be called at other times, as needed.