Board President

Geri is President of the St. James Foundation of North Carolina and was significantly involved in its formation.  She has spent her career advocating for students, committed to providing a high-quality education for all.  She began as a high school math teacher and completed her 30 years plus career as a New Jersey School Superintendent.

Living in St. James for the last 9 years, Geri has been involved in making a difference in Brunswick County as a member and past president of the St. James Service Club.

She and her husband enjoy international travel, as well as traveling to visit their new grandchildren.  She also is a member of the Literary Sisters Book Club and an avid yoga practitioner.

Board Vice President

Before retiring as a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke, Rick represented financial institutions and non-regulated entities in a range of matters involving investment management, commercial and consumer financial services, public finance and trusts. Drawing upon many years of experience inside the banking industry and involvement in drafting key banking regulations, he is a trusted advisor on operational and regulatory issues.

Board Secretary

An advocate for public libraries, literacy initiatives and lifelong learning, Diana serves as board secretary on both the Brunswick County Library Board of Trustees and the St. James Foundation of North Carolina.

Having volunteered as a Communities in Schools homework tutor at Supply Elementary for grades two through five for several years, she learned first-hand the importance of funding educational initiatives in Brunswick County. She is a past president and lifetime member of the Friends of the Library Southport and Oak Island. As a retired executive search consultant and career coach, making connections between people and organizations is in her DNA.

When she’s not networking and writing meeting minutes, Diana enjoys line dancing, mahjong, reading and being a member of the Literary Sisters Book Club.

Treasurer

Bruce has an extensive backround in the insurance business. Having worked primarily in the property and casualty area, he has experience in working with both businesses and individuals. After several mergers and acquisitions, his insurance partership was purchased by BB & T (now Truist).

Later, Bruce worked at Radford University in their advancement division. He retired in July 2018, as the Director of Planned Giving and served also as interim Vice-President of Advancement. In this role he worked closely with the Radford Unversity Foundation as a fund raiser.

Over the years, Bruce has served on several HOA Boards and was treasurer of several organizations. In addition, he served as President of the Home Builders Association of Virginia.

Since moving to St. James, he has taken up pickleball. He also enjoys golfing, fishing, boating, and meeting new people.

Board Member

Jay has over 25 years of experience as a real estate developer, investor, and broker. Jay is the President and Managing Broker of St. James Properties LLC in Southport, North Carolina. As a developer, Jay was the creative force behind several highly acclaimed neighborhoods in St. James including The Reserve, a finalist for national development of the year in Golf Inc. magazine.

Prior to entering the real estate business, Jay served on active duty in the United States Navy as a Supply Corps Officer and was deployed overseas. Jay is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and earned an MBA from Boston University Metropolitan College.

Jay holds a Master of Divinity degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Jay is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and serves on the Board of Trustees of Blue Ridge School (VA) and the St. James Foundation of NC.

Board Member

Dr. Linda Sharkey is a renowned transformational expert, author, speaker, and global leadership development coach. With deep experience in Fortune 50 companies, she has held senior human resource executive roles at Hewlett-Packard and GE Capital, shaping company culture and talent development. She is the co-author of The Future-Proof Workplace and Winning With Transglobal Leadership, recognized as one of the top business books of 2013. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has been honored with the “Super Women Achievement Award” and is a founding member of the Marshall Goldsmith Group.

She also serves as Vice President of the Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation Board, where she plays a key role in advancing the hospital’s mission. Her focus is on strengthening medical contributions to the community by supporting state-of-the-art medical equipment and services, ensuring high-quality healthcare for all.