Cara is the Executive Director of the ES Public Library. She received her master’s degree in library and information science at Syracuse University, and was a public library director in the Syracuse, New York, area for over 15 years. Prior to returning to her native Eastern Shore, she was the executive director of the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History in Danville, Virginia. There she was heavily involved with fundraising and had limited opportunities to interact with the public, which was a primary reason for seeking the position of library director at the library.

Bill Payne is the owner of Practical Business Solutions (Consulting) and is very active in the communtiy. He is a Board Chairman of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia and Eastern Shore Boys & Girls Club. He is a Board Member of the Eastern Shore Community College, Northampton County Education Foundation, Smart Beginnings Eastern Shore, New Roots Youth Garden, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia United Way. He is a member of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Post 56 Cheriton, and the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Northampton County and its Towns. Mr. Payne is the President of the Cape Charles Rotary Club, Vice Chairman of the Northampton County Democratic Committee, and Ad Hoc Northampton Cty Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee.

John lives in Cape Charles with his wife, now Judge Cela Burge. He is a graduate of West Virginia University and Regent University Law School. He practiced law in Virginia from 2005 until his retirement in 2023. In the 1970s John was a National Bank Examiner; he then worked in the commercial banking industry, including the last 30+ years as an expert witness in banking litigation. He is active in the Cape Charles Rotary, and he is a board member of the Cape Charles Christian School, the Northampton County YMCA, and the Northampton County Economic Development Authority.

Nick Chuquin is a Shore native and President of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital. He has been with Riverside since 2014, most recently as Associate Vice President. In that role he oversaw Riverside Medical Group including day-to-day operations and provider recruitment. He also was pivotal in the organization’s pandemic strategy focusing on safety for patients and team members, and spearheads Riverside’s continuing vaccination efforts on the Shore. Before joining Riverside, Chuquin’s health care experience included a management position with Eastern Shore Rural Health System.

Andre is the Executive Director at the Eastern Shore YMCA. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Board member and Treasurer of the Eastern Shore Community Services Board, Chair for the Eastern Shore Healthy Communities Diversity Equity and inclusion work group, Chair of the Eastern Shore Food Bank advisory council and as a Board Member of the Foodbank of South Eastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Andre is also a member and President of the Onancock Rotary club, a member of the Eastern Shore Christian Businessmen’s Association and a former member of the town council of Melfa, Va. Andre Currently resides in Painter, Va. with his wife Julie and three children.

Dr. O’Hare has more than 50 years of experience working with data from the Census Bureau. He has held positions in state government, non-profit organizations, and universities. He is the author of many articles based on Census data as well as a book on measuring quality in the U.S. Census and the undercount of young children in the U.S. Census. He was formerly a consultant to the U.S. Census Bureau, and he is currently a consultant to The Leadership Conference Education Fund and The Count All Kids Campaign.

For fifteen years he ran the KIDS COUNT project at the Annie. E. Casey Foundation where he used data from the Census Bureau to illuminate the well-being of children across the U.S.

Dr. James Shaeffer served as the 5th President of Eastern Shore Community College (2019–2025), where he established the transformative culture of "YES! Your Eastern Shore." Under his leadership, the college embraced hospitality, transparency, accountability, and inclusion, fostering a shared commitment to its mission, vision, and values.

With 45 years in education, Dr. Shaeffer’s career began as a middle school teacher in Kansas City. He later held leadership roles at the University of Wyoming, the University of North Dakota, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University, where he was the founding dean of the College of Continuing Education and Professional Development.

Dr. Shaeffer holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Iowa State University, a Master’s in Multicultural Education from Kansas State University, and a Doctorate in Teaching and Learning from Northwestern University. His career reflects a dedication to advancing education and workforce development.

Beth Sharpley is a dedicated professional and community leader, currently serving as Office Manager at Coastline Chemical & SharpTech USA. With a career that includes roles such as Director of Admissions and Development at Broadwater Academy, she brings extensive expertise to her work.

Beth is the 2nd Vice Chair of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and chairs the 2024–2025 United Way Campaign. She has raised over $103,000 as a Celebrity Dipper for Habitat for Humanity and actively supports Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore.

A lifelong advocate for the arts, Beth has performed with the Eastern Shore Madrigal Singers for 35 years and appeared in productions at the North Street Playhouse. She also founded the Worcester Preparatory School Grandparent’s Association and chaired the Salisbury Children’s Choir Board. Beth’s leadership and passion greatly enrich the Eastern Shore community.

Ms. Walker holds a BFA in Architecture and Environmental Planning and an MBA in Management. She founded and owned SEA Consulting Group for 38 years. She is globally recognized for her technical work in oil spills and collaborative approaches involving natural, social, and decision sciences and affected communities. The final phase of her career focused on the intersection of environmental and human disasters.

Ms. Walker and her family moved to Cape Charles in 1997. On the Shore, Ms. Walker has chaired the Cape Charles Wetlands and Coastal Dune Board, and she is a member of the Eastern Shore Groundwater Committee.

Dr. Leslie West has over 20 years of experience in academia and industry. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Business, Management and Accounting at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). She uses innovative methods and incorporates her professional experience in the classroom to teach the complex concepts of accounting, auditing, and business communications. Prior to joining UMES, she served as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources at Broadwater Academy. 

Throughout her professional career, Dr. West has obtained diverse experiences as an auditor and analyst from federal and state government, manufacturing, financial, and healthcare industries to include the US Government Accountability Office, Shore Financial Corporation, Amerigroup, and Pepsi Bottling Ventures. She earned a BS degree in Accounting from Virginia State University, MS degree in Accounting from Old Dominion University, and Ph.D. in Business Administration from Hampton University. 

Monika brings over three decades of diverse experience in management, strategic planning, and community engagement to her role as Executive Director. With a robust background in both the non-profit and business sectors, Monika has a proven track record of driving organizational success and fostering community relationships.

Mrs. Bridgforth moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her family in 2005. A graduate of Wellesley College (BA) and UVA’s Darden School (MBA), Monika has worked with many key Eastern Shore individuals and organizations, including The Barrier Islands Center and the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club.