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.

John 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.

Beth Sharpley is CFO of Coastline Chemical and SharpTech USA and brings broad experience from previous leadership roles, including Director of Admissions and Development at Broadwater Academy. She serves as 2nd Vice Chair of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Board and chaired the 2024–2025 United Way Campaign. A committed volunteer, Beth has raised more than $103,000 as a Celebrity Dipper for Habitat for Humanity and actively supports Junior Achievement.

A lifelong arts advocate, she has performed with the Eastern Shore Madrigal Singers for 35 years and appeared with the North Street Playhouse. Beth’s deep community involvement enriches the region.

Dr. James Shaeffer served as the 5th President of Eastern Shore Community College from 2019 to 2025, where he championed the “YES! Your Eastern Shore” culture and strengthened the college’s focus on hospitality, transparency, accountability, and inclusion. His tenure fostered a shared commitment to mission and student success.

With 45 years in education, Dr. Shaeffer previously held leadership roles at the University of Wyoming, University of North Dakota, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University, where he was the founding dean of the College of Continuing Education. He holds degrees from Iowa State, Kansas State, and Northwestern University and is deeply committed to advancing education and workforce development.

Cara formerly served as Director of the Eastern Shore 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.

John Custis, an Onancock native, is a solo practicing attorney based in Onley with an additional office in Salisbury, Maryland. He has practiced law on the Eastern Shore since 2010 and was appointed Commissioner of Accounts for Accomack County in 2023. John serves on the Board of Directors of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Co., where he chairs the Corporate Governance Committee, and is co-owner of Core Capital Advisors, LLC.

He has held leadership roles with several regional nonprofits, including the ESVA Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Salisbury School. John and his wife, artist Abbi Custis, live on the Shore with their 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.

Willie Randall opened the first Edward Jones branch on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in 1997 and became a limited partner in 1999. His investment career followed 20 years of service in the United States Army, where he retired as a major and received the Bronze Star and five Meritorious Service Medals for his Gulf War service. Willie holds the AAMS designation and completed executive studies through the Peter Drucker Institute and Harvard University.

A committed community leader, he has served on numerous local and statewide boards and is an active member of the Onancock Rotary Club. Willie and his wife, Dr. Shirley Randall, have a son, Xavier, and a grandson, Ashton.

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.

Wendy Walker is a lifelong Eastern Shore resident with a strong background in business leadership, legal work, and community engagement. She previously served as Co-Owner and CFO of T&W Block, Inc., and earlier worked for the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, where she developed statewide policies and training programs supporting Violence Against Women Act funding.

Wendy has served on the Garden Club of Virginia Board for eight years and is active in the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, reflecting her commitment to conservation and historic preservation. She holds a JD from the University of Denver and a BA from the University of Richmond. Wendy raised her two children on the Shore and is honored to serve on the Board.

Dr. Leslie West, a Shore native, brings more than 20 years of experience in academia and industry. She is an Assistant Professor of Business, Management and Accounting at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she uses innovative teaching methods to make accounting and auditing accessible to students. Previously, she served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources at Broadwater Academy.

Her career includes leadership roles with the US Government Accountability Office, Shore Financial Corporation, Amerigroup, and Pepsi Bottling Ventures. She also founded Beyond Numbers Consulting, LLC. Dr. West holds degrees from Virginia State, Old Dominion, and 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.