GCAC Expands Board, Adds Advisors

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. has announced the expansion of its Board of Directors to 13 members and the creation of an Advisor Network of professionals to assist the Board in their specific areas of expertise.  The new Board was introduced on Monday, January 9th at its 2017 reorganizational meeting held at the Crisfield Public Library.  Corporate officers, comprising the GCAC Executive Committee, were elected for 2017.

New Board Members include:

• Tim Boston, Vice President, Business Development, Hebron Savings Bank; he has agreed to serve as Chair of the GCAC Development Committee
• Phil Riggin, former executive at U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC & local leader in economic development.
• Andre Collins, former pro basketball player from Crisfield High School, coach, and leader in sports and training programs on the Eastern Shore
• Dan Nelson, owner of Water’s Edge Cafe and Rock Around the Dock restaurant
• Adam Thompson, North & South American Sales Manager for satellite communications company, SatCom Global, Inc.
• Rick Pollitt, City Manager, City of Crisfield (ex officio member)
• Tom Schisler, Executive Director, Somers Cove Marina (ex officio member)

These professionals join existing GCAC Board members:

• Charlotte Scott, community leader; President, East Coast Consulting; Founder, Business Navigation Forum; and Crisfield City Council Member
• Paul Regester, expert in marketing & sales, former Group Vice-President, Constellation Brands
• Darlene Taylor, community leader with youth & adults; Founder, It Takes a Village; former manager with defense contractor in Washington, D.C.
• Jay Tawes, entrepreneur with multiple businesses in Crisfield and recipient of the Jefferson Award for service to the community
• Angenette Stewart, community leader, previously the elected resident representative to the Crisfield Housing Authority
• Keith Campbell, workforce development and strategic planning consultant, retired executive with The Hershey Company

Officers elected for one year terms were Charlotte Scott, President; Dan Nelson, Vice President; Darlene Taylor, Secretary; Jay Tawes, Treasurer; and Keith Campbell, Director of Workforce Development. These persons form the Executive Committee for GCAC.

The Board, which provides strategic direction for GCAC, will hold six regular meetings per year on the second Monday of odd-numbered months.  The Executive Committee, which handles the day-to-day affairs of GCAC until such time as paid staff can be put in place, will continue to meet at least twice per month.

Charlotte Scott, President of GCAC, said, “I am excited and appreciative of the community leaders who have stepped up to help guide the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition to success by serving on the Board of Directors. This new board adds to our diversity, bringing new ideas, new professional skills, and new community representation within the Greater Crisfield Area.  In addition, the Advisor Network gives us direct access to specialized professional skills that can be employed toward achieving the goals of our Action Plan. I am confident we will be able to make great strides for Crisfield in 2017 as we work together for the good of our community, its people and its future vitality.”

GCAC is holding open a positions on its Board for an appointment by Somerset County, pending formal endorsement of GCAC and its mission by the City and County government entities.

The GCAC Advisor Network is a new initiative which is expected to grow over time.  Members of this network bring specific expertise to matters of importance in the GCAC Action Plan and will advise the Board and chair committees or partnerships of citizens to accomplish specific tasks.  Members of the Network include:

• Isabelle Regester, trained tourism professional & Chair of Proudly Crisfield Program, a new program which will recognize residences and businesses that take pride in their property.
• Phillip C. Huber, organizational consultant, Disaster Response Coordinator for MD and DE, Lutheran Disaster Response Chair
• Kathy Berezosky, co-owner of Watermen’s Inn & Chair, Crisfield Hospitality Industry Partnership
• Ruth E. Baker, Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, Wor-Wic Community College
• David Carlin King, advisor on development & fundraising, Founder & Senior Producer, The Carlin Company & Owner of Kingsbay Mansion Executive B&B in Marion
• Jesse Drewer, youth advisor studying Business and Economics at Salisbury University
• Frances Myers, advisor for real estate and human resource issues

Board Member Keith Campbell commented, “The willingness of all of these busy people to serve as Board members or Advisors to GCAC is testimony to the credibility that GCAC has established over the past year and a half, and to the importance that the community places upon executing the GCAC Action Plan.”

Crisfield City Manager Rick Pollitt added, “I am grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to help build a bridge between City Hall and the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition.  Citizen involvement at all levels of society builds stronger communities and if we can all agree to focus on a common mission, our success is assured.”

GCAC is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community and economic development corporation whose mission is to transform Crisfield into a vibrant and thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed in an outstanding and meaningful way.  More information is available on the corporation’s website – www.greatercrisfieldmd.org – and Facebook page – www.facebook.com/greatercrisfield.