Office of Cabinet Secretary
Robert W. Ferguson
Cabinet Secretary
Robert W. Ferguson, Jr. was appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin III on January 12, 2005, as Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Administration.
Secretary Ferguson holds a bachelor's degree in biology from The Citadel - the Military College in Charleston, S.C, and a master's degree in management from National University in San Diego, California. In addition, he is a graduate of the Marine Corps' Command and Staff College.
Tim Abraham
Chief Operating Officer / Chief Performance Officer
Tim Abraham is the Department of Administration's Chief Operating Officer / Chief Performance Officer. He joined the Department of Administration in 2007.
The Charleston native graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University with degrees in both Political Science and Multi-Disciplinary Studies. He will complete his Masters of Business Administration degree program in April 2010. Mr. Abraham worked in the Cabinet Secretary’s office from 2005 through 2007 as a member of the Governor’s Internship Program.
Robert Paulson
General Counsel
Robert Paulson was named General Counsel for the Department of Administration in September of 2009. Prior to his appointment, he was Assistant General Counsel for the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
Mr. Paulson is a native of Washington, D.C. and received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Virginia in 1989 and a master’s degree from Georgetown University in 1994. He received his Doctor of Juris Prudence from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and joined a Charleston law firm doing litigation work upon graduation.
Rebecca Mott
Assistant General Counsel
Rebecca Mott was named Assistant General Counsel of the Department of Administration in July of 2008.
Ms. Mott is a graduate of Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, where she received a B.A. in political science in 1999, and a graduate of Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, where she received her Doctor of Juris Prudence in 2005. Ms. Mott has an extensive background in real estate and development law, working for several Ohio state agencies and private companies prior to moving to West Virginia.
Diane Holley-Brown
Director of Communications
Diane Holley-Brown serves as the communication director of the Department of Administration. She oversees all communication efforts for the department, including publications, press releases, marketing documents, media relations and assists with the department's Web site.
With nearly 20 years of state government service within the Department of Administration, Ms. Holley-Brown has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Marshall University and a master’s degree in organizational communication from West Virginia University.
Donna M. Lipscomb
Executive Coordinator
Donna Lipscomb joined the department in February 2001. Her responsibilities include being the Legislative Liaison, Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator, Design Build Board Coordinator, Recycling Coordinator, ADA Compliance Officer, Chairperson of the Employee of the Month Committee, Records Management & Preservation Administrator, State Representative to the Charleston Renaissance Board, and the Ombudsman for the Department of Administration.
Ms. Lipscomb is on the Governor's Committee for the Purchase of Commodities and Services from the Handicapped, the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Families, the West Virginia Support Enforcement Commission, the West Virginia Hate Crime Task Force, and the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation Board of Directors.
Penney Hall
WV ADA Coordinator
Penney A. Hall has served as the West Virginia State Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator since August 2002. Her primary responsibility is to provide technical assistance and direction to the Governor, legislators, and state government administrators on compliance with the ADA.
A West Virginia native, Ms. Hall received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marshall University, a master's degree in business administration from the West Virginia Graduate College and a master's degree in public administration from West Virginia University.
Joyce Jones
Executive Secretary/Paralegal
Joyce Jones is the paralegal for the Office of General Counsel for the Department of Administration’s Cabinet Secretary’s Office and also serves as Executive Secretary and Office Manager.
Ms. Jones moved to West Virginia in 1977 and began her career as a court reporter and legal assistant for several West Virginia law firms before joining the Department of Administration in November of 1996.
Anita Allen
Receptionist
Anita Allen, an Office Assistant II, has been serving as a receptionist for the Cabinet Secretary's office since February 11, 2008. Her duties include answering the telephones, preparing the daily schedules, filing, gathering information on all new employees hired in the department each month, and serving as secretary of the department's Employee of the Month committee.