New Trustees – left to right: Kate Slevin, Michele Orabona, Linda Caviness, Kendall Kerby.
Not pictured: Sterling Nichols and Wilma Sharp
The Williamsburg Community Foundation recently elected six new members to its 2016-2017 Board of Trustees.
- Linda Caviness retired from the National Center for State Courts, where she served in a number of roles including Executive Director, International Programs, Executive Director of Strategic Planning/COO, Chief Financial Officer, and Development Director. She worked for the College of William and Mary as an Associate Professor of Sociology, and has been involved with both the Virginia and North Carolina Crime Commissions. Linda has served the Williamsburg community as a founding member of the Williamsburg/James City County Library Foundation, the Vice President of This Century Art Gallery, and the United Way of Greater Williamsburg. Linda holds a Masters in Sociology from North Carolina State University.
- Kendall Kerby is co-owner of Seasons of Williamsburg Flowers and Gifts, and a graduate of the College of William and Mary majoring in theatre and music. A long-time resident of the area, he served on the board of the Williamsburg Symphonia and The Williamsburg Community Foundation. He is a member of The Friends of Collections at Colonial Williamsburg, The Decorative Arts Trust, The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and Antique Collector’s Guild of Virginia. He attends St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Surry Courthouse and resides in Surry County.
- Michele Orabona is a Certified Financial Planner and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Monarch Bank, Private Wealth division. She holds degrees from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, as well as the New England School of Banking at Williams College and the Babson College School of Commercial Lending. Michele has worked as a financial services industry professional with over 30 years’ experience in retail banking, commercial lending, and private wealth management. She has served on the boards of Berkshire United Way, Avalon, and Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg. She is currently the Chair of the Endowment Committee at Walsingham Academy. She and her husband Len have lived in Williamsburg since 1997.
- Sterling Nichols and his wife, Dottie, and their two children came to Williamsburg when Sterling joined Dow-Badische as a chemical engineer in 1967, and later formed a real estate development and construction company. Now retired, Sterling has served James City County on the Industrial Development Authority, and chaired the Citizen Input Committee for the writing of two 5-year Comprehensive Plans. He has served on the Executive Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, Board for Housing Partnerships, Hospice Board, and the Williamsburg Homebuilders Association board. Recently he served on the Jamestown Yorktown board and is currently on the Jamestown Rediscovery board and is chair of the James River Association board. He served two terms on the early boards of The Williamsburg Community Foundation. His passion is boating up and down the Chesapeake Bay and the east coast of the US.
- Wilma Sharp became active in community volunteer work after serving as an educator for over 30 years, retiring in 2010. As a Master Gardener, she volunteers in Colonial Williamsburg Gardens and in the Therapeutic Gardening programs for assisted living facilities. Wilma serves on the Literacy for Life Board, as well as the executive board as treasurer for the Comte de Grasse Chapter, NSDAR. She is actively involved with her alma mater Longwood University. She and her husband, Marc, had five children and have five grandchildren. They have lived in Williamsburg for 27 years and share avid interests in Colonial Williamsburg, Child Development Resources, the University of Virginia, and the College of William and Mary, where Wilma received her Master’s in Education. Wilma grew up in Hampton, Va.
- Kate Slevin received her undergraduate education at University College, Dublin, Ireland, and completed a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Georgia. She came to the College of William and Mary in 1986 as the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, a position she held for four years before returning to the faculty. Kate went on to direct the Graduate Program in Sociology and chair the Undergraduate Department. Kate is a scholar of aging and has authored several books and articles in that field. She has served as Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, as well as William and Mary’s chief officer for accreditation. Kate has received several major teaching awards at the state and university level.