Two residents have retired after long careers in their fields. Educators, Sons of the American Revolution and archaeology enthusiasts engaged with local history. The College of William & Mary welcomed two new employees, while Williamsburg Landing added new board members.
Kingsmill General Manager to Retire After More Than 30 Years in Hospitality
After eight years as general manager of Kingsmill Resort, Robin Carson is stepping down to retire.
Carson — originally from Newport News — began her career in hospitality with a summer job at Busch Gardens in 1976. Since then, she has managed five theme parks, Busch Entertainment Corporate Marketing and Kingsmill Resort.
For her retirement, Carson said in an email she is most looking forward to traveling without an itinerary or cell phone, along with planting a garden she will have time to enjoy.
42-Year Employee Retires from Chesapeake Bank
Betty Sue Spence came to Chesapeake Bank in 1972 to work in its Operations Department. More than 40 years later, Spence has retired as vice president and operations officer.
“Betty Sue in a sense ushered in the ‘computer age’ at Chesapeake Bank. As technology changed over the years, she kept us on the leading edge, contributing to our company’s overall success,” said Jeffrey M. Szyperski, Chesapeake Bank’s chairman, president and CEO, in a news release. “She will be missed, but I am happy that she is retiring at an age at which she will have many years to enjoy the pursuit of personal interests.”
From her starting position, Spence advanced through the company to management roles, including department supervisor, before earning a vice president title.
Douglas D. Monroe Jr., chairman emeritus, expressed gratitude both for Spence’s service and her plan to stay in the community.
“Having known her for 42 years, I feel like she is a family member,” Monroe said in the release.
JYF Teaching Institute Engages Educators
Virginia educators embarked on a weeklong learning experience with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation 2014 Summer Teacher Institute.
From Sunday through Friday, they participated in interactive programs on teaching American history that included working in period costumes alongside museum historical interpreters. The institute is aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning and national curriculum objectives.
Volunteers Sift Through Archeological Finds
Handling artifacts uncovered from New Quarter Park digs in 2013 and this year, volunteers from the Fairfield Foundation in Gloucester wash and sort items at a July 10 program at York Hall. The programs allow partipants to work with professional archaeologists in what once was a slave quarter attached to Carter’s Grove plantation.
The artifacts found included tobacco pipe stems, wine bottle glass, ceramics and building materials dating back to the 17th century.
Archaeologists will return to New Quarter Park for the next public dig Sept. 26 and 27. To volunteer, contact [email protected].
Sons of American Revolution Commemorate 18th-Century Battle
On June 26, the Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a wreath-laying ceremony at Freedom Park. The event marked the anniversary of the Battle of Spencer’s Ordinary, where a series of skirmished between units of British General Lord Cornwallis and the French General Marquis de Lafayette happened on Freedom Park land in 1781.
W&M Swem Library Welcomes New University Archivist
Swem Library at the College of William & Mary has named Kim Sims has its new university archivist.
Sims will be responsible for documenting university history, helping to develop strategies for preserving digital materials, and creating policies for management of electronic theses and dissertations.
“Kim brings a wealth of archival experience with her, especially in the area of digital documentation, a major area of importance as we work to manage and preserve the massive amounts of data and digital files created by the university. Also her passion for history will do much to improve awareness and importance of the university’s history,” said Jay Gaidmore, director of the Special Collections Research Center at Swem Library, in a news release.
Sims previously worked as technical services archivist for Duke University’s Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and holds a master’s degree in public history from North Carolina State University.
“As someone whose passion for history morphed into an archival career, the opportunity to work at William & Mary as university archivist is a career high for me,” Sims said in the release. “I look forward to not only serving as custodian of the institution’s historical records but also serving as an advocate for its current and future records.”
Kappa Alpha Theta Supports Colonial CASA
A sorority at the College of William & Mary has supported Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocates over the course of the school year with internships, volunteering and sponsoring annual fundraisers. The Beta Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta raised a total of $4,000 to donate to Colonial CASA.
Colonial CASA recruits, trains and supports volunteer advocates appointed by the court. It also works with child advocacy organizations to identify and maximize resources to find abused and neglected children safe, loving and stable homes.
Hoagland Named Director of W&M Law School’s Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic
The College of William & Mary’s Law School has appointed Roy A. Hoagland as a visiting professor of practice and director of the Law School’s Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic. Former vice president of environmental protection and restoration for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Hoagland brings extensive experience in environmental law.
“William & Mary Law School is extremely fortunate to welcome someone of Roy Hoagland’s caliber to head up our Coastal Policy Clinic,” said Davison M. Douglas, dean of the Law School and Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, in a news release. “Roy’s understanding of both science and the law, and his impeccable leadership skills, will help Virginia and the nation tackle the many interrelated problems associated with recurrent flooding, storm surges, environmental degradation, and sea level rise.”
The Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic provides science-based legal and policy analysis of environmental and land use issues affecting the state’s coastal resources to present to the Commonwealth’s policymaking, nonprofit, legal, military and business communities. The law students in the clinic partner with Virginia scientists, especially those at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, bridging scientific discovery with legal and policy analysis.
Williamsburg Landing Names New Board Members
Four new members have joined the 2014-2017 board of directors for Williamsburg Landing. As a nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community, Williamsburg Landing is led by a local 18-member volunteer board of directors that includes two voting residents.
“We are pleased to welcome these highly qualified community leaders to our board of directors. … The value of a strong local board of directors, which includes residents, cannot be underestimated in today’s environment,” said Steve Montgomery, Williamsburg Landing president and CEO, in a news release.
James L. Easton was vice president of the products division at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for nine years before serving as chief operations officer at Tienda Inc. There he directed sales, marketing, operations and human resources.
Easton also volunteers multiple local organizations, including Literacy for Life, Hospice House and Support Care of Williamsburg, United Way of Williamsburg, Emmanuel Cancer Foundation and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
John T. Hallowell is also a longtime veteran of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, having worked as vice president and general manager of the Williamsburg Inn and the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center, later overseeing all hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities. Hallowell is a past chair of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance.
Virginia L. McLaughlin held positions at Clemson University and Old Dominion University before returning to work at her alma mater, the College of William & Mary, in 1983. Dean of its School of Education from 1995 to 2013, she has served on numerous national and state boards for education.
Locally, McLaughlin chaired the board of directors of the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation and the operating board of LEAD Historic Triangle.
Easton, Hallowell and McLaughlin will serve three-year terms on the board.
Residents’ Council President, Jack Edwards, newly elected by the Williamsburg Landing residents, will serve on the board for two years.
