Staff/Board of Directors

Elizabeth Abernathy, Board Member

Parr & Abernathy Realty

Elizabeth Abernathy is the Co-owner of Parr & Abernathy Realty (since 1986).  She has achieved a lifetime of success in real estate to include Life Membership in the Outstanding Sales Club of the Southside Virginia Association of Realtors®; she is a Graduate of the Realtors Institute, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer Representative and Certified Residential Broker designations to her credit. “The Tri-City area will be changing and I feel the leaders of the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber of Commerce should be involved with the changes. The Chamber is the pulse of the community.”

Cara Dillard, Board Member

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, and a proud sponsor of a "Something's Perkin' at the Chamber" networking event. "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."

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.

Mark Matthews, Board Member

The Matthews Law Group, P.L.L.C. 

Mark Matthews has been an attorney for over 10 years, including six years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.  He is the owner of The Matthews Law Group, P.L.L.C., a law firm of four attorneys who practice civil litigation, criminal defense, and business law services.  His 17 years of leadership and management experience allows him to serve the business community in many ways, including speaking on leadership to various groups and writing the Leadership column for Greater Richmond Grid Magazine. Mark is also an adjunct professor of law at the William & Mary School of Law where he teaches courses on trial tactics and veterans benefits.  Mark became involved with the HPG Chamber in 2008 when he facilitated the Board’s re-engineering of the Chamber’s mission and strategic vision over the course of several months.  He believes in the future of the HPG area as an economic engine for central Virginia, stating “now is a great opportunity for small businesses to prove that they can be nimble, flexible, and responsive to their customers’ needs.  The energy and pride in the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber sets the example for other chambers to emulate.”  “I can help the Chamber and the Board it its efforts to coordinate with the Fort Lee expansion.  I can also help with efforts to identify talent, train leadership, and organize the Board’s efforts to make greater use of volunteers.”

Mary McLean, Board Member

Virginia Vend

Mary McLean is the President and CEO of Virginia Vend, Inc., a full service coffee and vending business located in Prince George County. Virginia Vend is a regional distribution company that services Richmond, the Tri-Cities, Fort Lee and Southside Virginia. The family owned business was started by John McLean in 1946. She has served two terms on the Board of VAMA, the Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association and is a member in good standing of NAMA, the National Automatic Merchandising Association. She is a certified coffee and vending specialist. "As a business woman with a considerable number of clients throughout the region I have personally experienced and actively monitored the economic growth and developmental patterns of the area. As such, I will use my collaborative skills and influence to promote and support the Chamber's goals and objectives".

RJ Redstrom, Board Member

John Randolph Medical Center

RJ Redstrom currently works at HCA John Randolph Medical Center in the position of Human Resources Administrator and serves as a member of the executive team responsible for strategic planning, hospital operations, growth, and all human resource services. He has over twenty-three years of experience in the health care field including military and the public sector. RJ has been with HCA over 19 years and has a diverse background including nursing administration, management engineering, fiscal services, cost accounting, human resources, and hospital administration. "The benefit received from the Chamber is the pride and fulfillment I feel knowing my professional involvement supports and contributes to the success and well-being of the Hopewell - Prince George business community. Additionally, the opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow community business leaders provides me access and exposure to solid, dependable, and credible local area businesses and resources."

Lewis Stevenson, Board Member

Abateco Services, Inc.

Lewis Stevenson is the owner and President of Abateco Services, Inc. since 1992.  He serves on the United Way Construction Division for their annual campaign.  Lewis is a past Chairman of the Hopewell / Prince George Red Cross and past Board Member of the Virginia Licensing Board for Asbestos and Lead Abatement Contractors.  He is a sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce District 19 JOBS Program.  “I enjoy serving the current members of our Chamber, promote new members, and strengthen our relationship with local Government.”

Chuck Welch, Board Member

Honeywell/ Hopewell

Chuck Welch started his career with Honeywell, formally known as AlliedSignal, at the Hopewell Plant as a Production Engineer. He has held various positions at this facility including Unit Supervisor, Supply Chain Leader, Technical Leader, Production Manager and currently holds the position ofEnergy Specialist. In 1998, Chuck received a Masters in Business Administration from Averett College. His resides in the Enon are with wife, Tammy, son Alan. "I think the biggest goal for me is to understand the relationship between a large industrial company like Honeywell and smaller community businesses. The Chamber has the opportunity to offer significant value to all of its Members."

Tommy Wells, Board Member

TJ Video Productions

Tommy Wells has been the owner of TJ Video Productions (Cable TV) for 26 years. He started the Hopewell based company while still employed at Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. where he worked for 40 years as the Financial Secretary and President of the Local 1153 United Paper Workers International Union. Tommy is a member of the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission for the City of Hopewell, Hopewell Optimist Club, and passionate Chairman of the Crater District Area Agency on Aging. In the past he served in various positions in the Hopewell Jaycees. He has actively served on the Annual Meeting Committee for the past three years. In May 2008, Tommy was elected to the Hopewell Senior Citizen's Hall of Fame for his contributions to the entire community. “With the initial board term under my belt, I will contribute immediately without the needed learning curve of a new Board Member. This experience is invaluable as we move forward in pursuing opportunities for the Chamber of Commerce. "