Staff/Board of Directors

Wendy Austin, Board Member

Southside Community Partners, Appomattox Regional Library System

Wendy Austin is Director of Southside Community Partners, a nonprofit program that invests in the people and systems working to solve the complex social issues of our community. Wendy has worked for more than twenty five years in communications and marketing management in the nonprofit, government, and business sectors. She has extensive business start-up experience, including founding and managing an independent retail bookstore as well as directing the launch of ConnectSouthside in August 2007 and the merger of Southside Community Partners in October 2009. Wendy is an active community volunteer. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children with Henrico CASA since 2005 and serves on the Executive Board of the Rotary Club of Hopewell. Wendy also serves on the Chesterfield County Committee on the Future as appointed by the Honorable Dan Gecker, Midlothian Supervisor. “It has been my experience that strong, vital businesses depend on a strong and vital community. My goal is strategic cross-sector cooperation and collaboration to help strengthen our Hopewell/Prince George community.”

Don Carnesi, Board Member

Ingram & Associates Real Estate Co.

Don Carnesi is the General Manager and Managing Broker of Ingram & Associates Real Estate Company.  Ingram & Associates has been serving the real estate needs in the Hopewell/Prince George area since 1984.   Don supervises 47 agents in 2 offices with the main office in Hopewell.  He became a licensed REALTOR® in 1991 after retiring from the United States Army as a Command Sergeant Major (E-9).  Don works as a volunteer for the Hopewell Meals on Wheels, is a member of the First Baptist Church of Hopewell and has served on the Board of Directors of Hopewell Emergency Crew. He is a past President of the Southside Virginia Association of Realtors and chaired numerous REALTOR Boards and committees at the local and state levels.  "My great gift from the HPG Chamber was when they brought the Dale Carnegie course to Hopewell which I participated in. If I become a Director for the Chamber I will work with others in making our Chamber the primary point of information for all local businesses."

Cara Dillard, Chamber Secretary

Community College Workforce Alliance

Cara Dillard is the Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development, Community College Workforce Alliance. She oversees the workforce development customized training programs and consulting services provided by CCWA. Her work mainly focuses on working with private companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies to assess workforce needs and provide solutions through training and consulting. She has worked in Higher Education for over 10 years focusing on workforce development. As Chair of the Chamber's education committee, she has worked closely with the board and members to assess the workforce needs in the Hopewell/Price George area. The education committee is committed to providing more programming to members in the year to come. Cara believes "brining businesses together through the Chamber impacts and inspires success for the entire Community."

Sarita Harding, Board Member

S&B Designs

Sarita Harding is the owner of S&B Designs, located in Prince George. S&B Designs helps other individuals/businesses to promote their business, with specialty products and gift baskets. It was started 7 years ago part time and went full time 5 years ago when she then became an active member of the HPG Chamber. During that time, Sarita has been on several committees including the Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner, Chamber Ambassadors, and this year, a Golf Tournament volunteer, a proud sponsor of a "Something's Perkin' at the Chamber" networking event; in 2011, she was chair of the Forward@Four educational series. "My goal in being part of the HPG Chamber of Commerce is to work with others in promoting our members, businesses and communities from which we each come."

Jeff Heckert, Board Member

Omni Financial

Jeff Heckert is an Ohio native, retired from the Navy. He is married to Gina who is currently serving on active duty stationed in Bahrain. During his twenty-seven years of service, he was fortunate to travel the world and develop an appreciation for our great nation. He was stationed in Virginia on three separate occasions and retired from active duty in September 2009 in Williamsburg.  When they transferred back to Virginia from San Diego, they decided to settle down and purchase their dream home, which is located in Charles City County. Jeff is currently employed with Omni Financial as the General Manager and is extremely active in the Ft Lee community with Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR), Army Community Service (ACS) and the United Services Organization (USO). He is a life time member of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), American Veterans (AMVETS), and the American Legion, serving as the Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 5477 in San Diego from 2005-2007. Jeff is an active member of the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Chairman of the Ambassador’s committee since March 2011.

Jesse Mason, Board Member

Joint Logistics Managers, Inc.

Jesse Mason is Chief Operating Officer (COO), of Joint Logistics Managers, Inc. (JLMI), Prince George, VA.  Mr. Mason is responsible for managing all hands-on operational aspects of the company.  He assists in the aggressive and successful growth of the company. Mr. Mason’s reorganization of JLMI to make it a more lean organization coincides with his Lean Sigma executive training.  He has established a strategic business development vision for the company that has broadened the scope of JLMI to be more competitive in the emerging market. Mr. Mason has dealt with contractors over his 38 years experience in the military and as a government employee.  His career has been focused on leadership, management, military logistics, and logistics automation systems.  He also served as the Division Chief, Logistics Automation Division, USACASCOM and was responsible for developing functional requirements for our tactical Army automation systems. While serving in CASCOM, Mr. Mason was responsible for managing the largest Division within CASCOM and was responsible for Combat Developer’s and SME’s.  Mr. Mason retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer who had various challenging leadership and management positions throughout his career.

David Poole, Board Member

Rolls-Royce Crosspointe

David Poole is a Production Leader for Rolls Royce Crosspointe, the new aerospace manufacturing facility in Prince George, Virginia. In this role, his responsibilities include ramping up production for a manufacturing cell that will produce critical components for aircraft engines. David has been with Rolls Royce since October 2010 and has collaborated with other Rolls Royce team members in the UK to design the layout and operations for the IP (Intermediate Pressure) Turbine Disc that will be manufactured at Crosspointe. Prior to joining Rolls Royce, he has over 26 years experience in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. David is a graduate of Strayer University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Certificate of Applied Studies in Leadership from the University of Richmond. David has always characterized his leadership style as servant leadership. “Two aspects of servant leadership are commitment to the growth of people and building community. As a member of the HPG board, I want to use these characteristics to contribute to the growth of the community and the people in the community."

Trina Roberts, Board Member

Bank of America

Trina Roberts is the Banking Center Manager for Bank of America-Hopewell branch; she has been a Bank of America employee for over 12 years. She co-hosts a weekly employee conference call to promote operational excellence and is the Team Leader for a cluster of five centers in Central Virginia.  She is an active participant for five years with Hopewell/Prince George Healthy Families providing Christmas gifts to families in need of a helping hand.  She was recently appointed as the Chairperson for Project Excel overseeing innovative ways to educate the "gifted students" in Dinwiddie County.  In her spare time she provides administrative services for a family-owned business located in Dinwiddie.  She loves spending time with family on the Appomattox River.  "I am passionate about excellent customer service and feel that this is the area where I can contribute the most to the Chamber of Commerce."

Charles Shaheen, Board Member

Evonik Goldschmidt Chemical

Charles Shaheen is a native of Charleston, West Virginia and a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, with a BS in Business Management and a BA in Psychology. He has lived and worked in the Richmond area for more than 30 years and has over 25 years experience in manufacturing with 10 years experience in Production/Inventory Control, 5 years in Operations Management, and over 10 years in Logistics Management, where he currently is employed with Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation in Hopewell. He recently assumed the Supply Chain Management role with responsibilities overseeing Logistics, the Distribution, Production Scheduling, and Inventory control. He has been active with the American Society for Production and Inventory Control and the Virginia International Business Council. Charles has volunteered in the Math Mentor program in support of Hopewell schools, a program that is supported through his employer, Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation, and is an active volunteer at his church. He enjoys working with people and is very excited to continue serving on the Chamber of Commerce Board as an opportunity to serve the local community in Hopewell.  Charles has held a lead role with the HPG Chamber’s JOBS Program.

Tim Webb, Board Member

Container First Services

A retired Battalion Chief with the Hopewell, Virginia Bureau of Fire, Mr. Webb brings that firefighter drive and determination to the CFS team and he will bring it to the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber Board of Directors. With considerable experience in Environmental Health and Safety, as well as hauling and landfill operations, Tim helps CFS achieve an edge with regards to customer service and operations. He demonstrates to every person on the staff that the customer always come first and the company will do whatever it takes to take care of its customers.  Tim is a native of the area.  He and his wife live in Prince George County.  Tim is active in the community and seeks to help bring about the best possible business climate for the region.