Media Releases

Girl Scouts Elects New Board Members

Community and Business Leaders Join

Media Contact:
Ann Marie van den Hurk, APR
302-456-7170
avandenhurk@cbgsc.org

Newark, DE, May 4, 2006:  The Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council is pleased to announce the election of the following to the Board of Directors:

Anne Hogan, Third Vice President

Anne graduated from NSCC/Massachusetts with a business degree.  She has been an active member of our board of directors since 2004, was chair of Women of Distinction and served as chair of the Recognitions Task Group.  She served on the board of directors at Spar and Spindle Girl Scout Council in Massachusetts and was president.   While living in Massachusetts, Anne served on Spar and Spindles’ property committee, was a leader, trainer and served on the Service Team.    Anne is a resident of Wilmington, Delaware.

Ronald Alessi, Secretary  

Ron attended the Boys Latin School and Fairleigh Dickinson University and owns his own business in Salisbury, Maryland.   He is an active member of the board of directors  and is also active with many other organizations such as the  Salisbury Zoological Park, Lower Shore Enterprises and Family Support Center, just to name a few.    Ron is very involved in the capital campaign and in working with the architects for the Sandy Pines projects.  In his spare time, Ron enjoys gardening, golf, boating and traveling.

Members-At-Large

Rita Ayers

Rita graduated from the University of Delaware and Regis College with a chemistry degree.  She has been an active member of our board of directors for many years and is co-chair of the Master Plan Task Group.  She has served as a troop leader, trainer and outdoor consultant. Rita is employed by the DuPont Company and is instrumental in the support the Council receives from DuPont.  In her spare time, Rita enjoys all water activities, gardening and bicycling.

Beth Charnock

Beth graduated from the College of William and Mary with an accounting degree and is Director of Finance at Accomac County School Board.  She is active in the Downings United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts. Beth is Board Liaison to Association I and attends the Association meetings.  She resides in Hallwood, Virginia.   In her spare time, Beth enjoys boating, water activities and camping.

Felicitks O. (Tita) Gontang

Tita graduated from Delaware State University with a MSW and is employed at the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health as a social worker.  Tita resides in Seaford, Delaware.  She is active with other organizations such as the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and is a group leader for the State of Delaware disaster team.   She was a troop leader for her daughter’s troop.  Tita enjoys alternative healing, yoga, herbal gardening, piano playing and dancing in her spare time.

Kristine Haner

Kristi graduated from the University of Virginia.  She is employed by Citizen’s Bank as Vice President, and resides in New Castle County, Delaware.  She is active with Rebuilding Together and has volunteered for the Food Bank and Salvation Army and is a member of Chesapeake Bay’s finance committee.   Kristi serves on the Northern Advisory Council and has been instrumental in Citizen’s Banks financial support of the Council.

Shirley Massey

Shirley is a graduate of Jefferson School of Commerce and recently retired from Delmarva Power after 36 years of service.  She is a member of Chesapeake Bay’s Lower Shore Advisory Council and is active with Junior Achievement and the youth group at her church.    Shirley resides in Worcester County, Maryland.  She is assisting with the capital campaign.  In her spare time, Shirley enjoys tennis, walking, church functions and spending time with her family.

Catherine Ross

Cathy graduated from Endicott College with a degree in Radio-TV Communications and is attending Wilmington College pursuing her Masters in Organizational Leadership.  She is employed with AAA Mid-Atlantic as Manager of Public and Government Affairs and resides in Wilmington, Delaware.   She is active with Bancroft Elementary School, Catholic Social Services and was a Junior and Cadette Girl Scout.  In her spare time, Cathy enjoys fitness walking and hiking.

Gloria Jeffers

Gloria graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in applied mathematics and the University of Rochester, Simon School of Business with an MBA in Marketing and Computer Information Systems.  She is Senior Marketing Manager at Chase/Bank One, Wilmington, Delaware.  She was a former Girl Scout in Philadelphia.  Gloria is currently a member of Ujima, Employee Network Group for Employees of African American Descent and Women of Color, Employee Network Group.  In her spare time, Gloria enjoys traveling, reading and diversity.

Harriette Lowery

Harriette graduated from Community College of Baltimore. She is employed by Chesapeake College as a Resource Development Database Specialist and resides in Easton, Maryland.  Harriette is active in organizations such as Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, Uhra, Frederick Douglass Memorial Action Coalition, Talbot County Democratic Forum, and Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland. Harriette was a former Girl Scout and her mother was a leader.  Harriette is a member of the Mid-Shore Advisory Council, is chair of the Mid-Shore Alumnae Reunion Event, and is assisting with the capital campaign.  In her spare time, Harriette enjoys genealogy and the research of her family’s history and the village where she lives, reading and bowling. 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Hoong Kai Chow

Chow graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Masters of Business Administration.  He is store manager of a Walmart Supercenter and resides in Magnolia, Delaware.    Chow is active with organizations such as Great Dover Boys and Girls Club and Kent County United Way.  In his spare time, Chow enjoys reading, gardening, photography and traveling.

Clement Hathaway

Clem graduated from Towson University with a BS in Finance.  He is an Account Executive with MidAtlantic Farm Credit in Denton, Maryland.   Clem is a member of our Mid-Shore President’s Advisory Counsel and is active with organizations such as the Rotary Club, Caroline County Parks & Recreation Advisory Panel and Forest Conservancy Board.  Clem has been very helpful in seeking Maryland bond bill dollars for the Maryland campaign.  In his spare time he enjoys woodworking and wing shooting – sporting clays, skeet and trap.

Deneen Stewart

Deneen resides in Wilmington and graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School and is employed at ING Direct as general counsel.  She is active with organizations such as ING Direct Kids Foundation and YMCA Camp Tochwogh.  She is the Board nominee to the Nominating Committee and was a former Girl Scout.   In her spare time, Deneen enjoys water skiing, biking and reading.

Judy O’Neil

Judy most recently graduated from University of Maryland with Oceanography, Ph.D. and is employed at the University of Maryland, Horn Point Lab as Assistant Research Professor.  She is active with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop in Easton, Maryland and taught sailing as a former camp staff member.  Judy is on the Mid-Shore Advisory Council and is assisting with the capital campaign for Camp Todd.  In her spare time, she enjoys sailing, music, natural history and photography.

Girl Scouting builds girls of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better place. We do that by providing girls with personal leadership development and programs that build real life skills for the real world. To learn more about Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council, visit www.girlscoutschesapeakebay.org.

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