About

Shuan Butcher is a nonprofit professional, writer, amateur photographer, occasional actor, and event planner.

It was the two years spent as an Americorps VISTA in his home state of West Virginia that introduced him to a career in the nonprofit industry. Since then, he has spent more than two decades working in the nonprofit sector, for organizations focused on issues ranging from youth development and housing and human services to arts and culture, tourism, and sports.

Throughout his career, Shuan has presented workshops across the country on such topics as leadership, diversity, teambuilding, strategic planning, youth development, volunteerism, and others.

From an early age, writing has always played an important role in his life, beginning when he served on the newspaper staff at his middle and high school through college. He continues to write as part of his job and as a freelance writer for various publications. He is a member of the National Press Club. Not surprisingly, his interest in photography also began with his school newspaper, even leading to him serving a stint as the photography editor.

The arts have also been an integral part of Shuan’s life from his school days. He started in his elementary school’s Glee Club, followed up by show choir, Madrigals group, college chorale (where he met his wife Cindy), barbershop chorus, and church choir. That led to an interest in theater and film as well, where continues to dabble in some acting gigs.

Shuan developed an ethos of service that he attributes to his time in the Boy Scouts. He also followed a long-time family tradition of military service which his dad, both grandfathers, and a number of uncles had done prior to him joining the West Virginia Army National Guard. He was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his class at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School and earned the Army Achievement Medal. With his unit, he was selected to serve as his Commanding Officer’s driver and also part of a detail assigned to support

An active member of the community, Shuan has served on various nonprofit and civic boards including the Tourism Council of Frederick County, Heritage Frederick, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, the City of Frederick Zoning Board of Appeals, Frederick County Business Development Advisory Council, Volunteer Frederick (Past President), Frederick County Parks and Recreation Commission, Frederick Sister Cities Association (Past President), and more.

He received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and earned a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University. He is a graduate of Leadership West Virginia and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Frederick. He has also worked for state and local including, including a stint with the West Virginia Legislature over two legislative sessions.

He resides wife Cindy and dog Snowball in Frederick, Maryland.