YSV Board of Directors

Kevin Eley is a Docking Pilot in Hampton Roads harbor and President of Independent Docking Pilots.  Captain Eley holds a USCG license as a First Class Pilot and Unlimited Master Mariner.  He sailed with the Maine Maritime Academy college team, returning to coach dinghy and offshore teams and run their sailing school in 1984.  He served as a navigation and seamanship instructor for Sea Education Association at sea aboard the Schooner WESTWARD and Brigantine CORWITH CRAMER.  He has competed in ocean and one-design racing including the Laser and International 505 classes.

Kevin currently windsurfs at Buckroe Beach and Hatteras Island, team races Sonar class keelboats at Hampton Yacht Club, volunteers as Sailing Coach for Hampton Roads Academy, and is a vice-president of the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association. Kevin has served on the vestry and as a youth leader at St. Johns Church in Hampton, VA

David “Dave” Stalfort is a maritime and management consultant with ABS Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Bureau of Shipping. He joined ABS Group following a 30-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard where he retired in 2010 at the rank of Captain.  Dave’s Coast Guard career focused on maritime safety in ports throughout the United States. In his last Coast Guard assignment, he served as Director of the National Maritime Center, which issued Merchant Mariner Credentials to over 210,000 mariners.  He also served as a trainer and course developer at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia.  Dave holds a USCG License as Master, Steam, Motor and Auxiliary Sailing Vessels.  He learned to sail with his father at age 11, where they both participated in a Learn to Sail program at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  Dave has continued his involvement with sailing and racing around the country and currently sails out of Hampton Yacht Club, racing on a J-24 and day sailing on his Cal 29 with his wife Trena. He’s volunteered with the U.S. Power Squadron where he served as an Executive Officer of a local squadron and taught boating safety courses in the community.  He also volunteered as a Team Manager of a community youth soccer team.

Alan Bomar is a 1984 Mechanical Engineering Graduate Georgia Tech.  While at Georgia Tech, he was captain of the Sailing Team, as well as a member of the Yellow Jackets Swim Team.  After graduation, he moved to Hampton Roads to work for Newport News Shipbuilding, and claims to have logged over 1000 miles on sailboats his first year in the area.  He is currently a Superintendent with Huntington Ingalls – Newport News Shipbuilding working on the Aircraft Carrier Overhaul programs.  He is part Chair of the Hampton Roads Section of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and remains active supporting the education and development of local society members.  Alan currently owns several J/24s that he uses to instruct sailors of all levels, and regularly takes high school students and others out for Wednesday night races during the spring and summer.  He is J/24 Fleet 71 fleet Captain.  For 2015, Alan was asked to be the Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta Committee Chairman.  He regularly works with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society on ideas to promote and improve the regatta including bringing Leukemia Cup Regatta celebrity sponsors to webinars with local high school sailors.  While his children in high school, from 2005 to 2011, Alan served as Assistant Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association Advisor for Walsingham Academy.  In 2014 and 2015 he served as a Director for the Hampton Yacht Club, Hampton, VA.

Rosemary Hobart brings a background of business management and leadership from the for-profit business arena. Her positions of increasing responsibility and growth include Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing in a Dallas-based Fortune 500 Company. Her experience in strategic planning, marketing and sales and business leadership provide skill sets that translate to the not-for-profit organizations that she serves. She has served on the Board of Directors of Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula, a 501(c)(3) organization where she continues to direct Corporate Development. Additionally, she serves on the Steering Committee of Impact 100 Greater Peninsula, which is a member-based philanthropic organization helping 501(c)(3) organizations operating in the area.

Rosemary enjoys fleet and team racing in Sonar Class boats and she also helms a Soveral 30 sailing vessel that she and her husband enjoy racing together. Rosemary holds a BSBA from Old Dominion University and an Executive Certificate in Strategic Planning from Wharton School of Business. Rosemary is excited to bring her skill sets and passion of sailing to benefit the community’s youth through her work at YSV in fundraising, grant writing and serving on the Finance Committee in hopes of spreading her love of the lifelong sport of Sailing!

Carolyn Campbell was born and raised in the Fox Hill area of Hampton, Virginia.  Carolyn has a degree in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, and worked over 20 years in the computer field as a defense contractor developing software and managing command and control programs for the military.  She is now running her own company renovating homes and managing the company properties.

Carolyn and her husband John recently celebrated 35 years of marriage.  They have two sons, Dylan and Miles, who both sailed in the Hampton Yacht Club summer sailing program and then for their high school teams.  Carolyn and John were active in supporting the high school sailing programs, as well as Youth Sailing Virginia. Over the years, Carolyn and her family have been active in boating with their motor boat, canoes, and kayaks.

Claire Bellecci is President and COO of Mellen Street Creative.  Mellen Street Creative designs and produces marketing, publications, museum exhibit design, video animation, branding and websites for institutions and organizations and businesses. Mellen Street Creative has been in business for more than 30 years and has distinguished itself as a leader in graphic arts and communication, always exceeding the expectations of its clients.

Prior to joining Mellen Street Creative, Claire worked in the non-profit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work there included partnerships with the San Francisco Foundation, The Marin Community Foundation, Helicon Collaborative, The East Bay Community Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, LINC (Leveraging Investments in Creativity) and Northern California Community Loan Fund to name a few.

Claire holds a B.S.from the University of California, Davis. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Soundscapes, is on the Advisory Board for Thomas Nelson Community College Visual Arts Department, Public Affairs and Marketing Advisory Board for Sister Cities Newport News, and the Arts and Design Advisory Board for the Academy of Media in the Academies of Hampton. Claire grew up sailing at the Warwick Yacht and Country Club where she participated in club racing. She quickly became connected to Youth Sailing Virginia when she signed her twins, Ava and Angelo, up for a beginner sailing course in 2019. Angelo has since found his own passion for sailing, starting the first high school racing club team in Newport News Schools in decades, and hopes to become an instructor with Youth Sailing Virginia in the future.

Michele Benson works as a Gift Planning Officer for the Riverside Health System Foundation where she manages a major gift portfolio of grateful patients and families, and provides creative direction and strategic collaboration with various Riverside regions and service lines to include Lifelong Health, Oncology, and Neurosciences. She has previously served as the Chief Development Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula and the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank where she oversaw all fundraising, marketing, and public relations.

Before nonprofit work, Michele excelled in sales and marketing for media outlets, 106.9 FM WAFX and WAVY TV 10/FOX 43 WVBT, where she successfully managed millions of dollars in annual accounts. Her enthusiasm, passion, and relationship development were keys to her success.

Michele graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and a minor in French. She serves as a member of the Citizens Engagement Advisory and Review Commission (CEARC) for the City of Hampton and is a member of First United Methodist Church. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, playing golf, and spending time with her husband, Harry, and their two rescue chihuahuas, Emma and Rocco.

In March 2021, Gary Bodie was awarded the 2021 US Sailing Nathaniel G. Herreshoff Trophy at a ceremony at the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. This is US Sailing’s most prestigious award, and is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing in this country in any associated activity.

Gary Bodie has coached intercollegiate sailing since 1978, working at Old Dominion University, the US Naval Academy, and Hampton University (the first minority sailing program in the US).  His teams have won an unprecedented fifteen College National Championships, including four Dinghy Championships. Individual sailors coached by Bodie have earned 30 first team All-American honors, 26 All-American crew, 11 All-American women, plus 11 Honorable Mentions.

The most important individual award, College Sailor of the Year (equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in college football), has been awarded four times to sailors in Bodie’s programs.

Prior to the 1996 Olympics, Bodie worked as a private coach with Olympic aspirants in Laser’s, Europe’s, 470’s, and Finns.  In 1998, Gary was named Head Olympic Coach and High Performance Director for the U.S. Sailing Team, and he worked specifically with Laser and Soling sailors leading up to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.  Under Gary’s leadership, the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team won four medals in Sydney: Gold in the Star class, Silver in the Men’s and Women’s 470, and Bronze in the 49er class.  In 2004, sailors won Gold in the Men’s 470 class and Silver in the Tornado.  For the 2008 games, Gary again served as the High Performance Director, coaching that same Tornado duo in their fourth Olympics while most of the 2008 sailors were attending their first Olympic games.

Bodie has also served as U.S. Team Leader/Coach for the ISAF Youth World Championships and the ISAF Team Race World Championship. Gary served several years as chairman of the US SAILING Team Racing Committee, and has been a member of the Youth and the Inshore committees.  He has been a member of the Youth and Inshore committees.  He has been a long time member of the Board of Directors for High School Sailing.

Bodie raced many one design classes, but the 505 was his favorite for almost 20 years.  Victories included Bermuda Race Week, CORK, East Coasts, and Midwinter Championships.  Bodie has also finished top ten in the 505 World Championship.  Three-on-three team racing is his other sailing passion, and he competes whenever his schedule permits.

Gary graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering.  He is married to the former Mary Pitchford of Norfolk, Virginia, and they have three daughters, Kelly, Katie, and Caroline.

William “Bill” Brown is a partner with Keller Williams Realty on the Virginia Peninsula.  He is an avid boater with over 50 years of experience on the water, and owns Eleanor Susan, a 36’ Deadrise.  Bill is heavily invested in the Hampton Roads community with extensive volunteer leadership experience including past President of the Newport News Clean Community Council, past President of the Peninsula Remodelers Council, past President of the Peninsula Housing and Buildings Association.  He served as a board member of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce where he received the President’s award.  Bill was the past president of the Melfa Rotary Club, and currently a member of the Hampton Rotary Club and Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

James “Jim” DiSomma has over 40 years’ experience on the water.  While growing up on Forked River, New Jersey, he sailed, surfed, lifeguarded and worked clamming boats on the Jersey Shore.  After moving to Virginia in 2001, Jim has been involved in the community as President for Historic Hilton Village, and Ambassador for Thomas Nelson Community College’s Nursing Program.  He is a Peritoneal Dialysis Instructor and a Kidney Transplant Coordinator.  He is also an amateur boat building, as well as ABYC Standards Certified, and a Marine Surveyor.  He is currently serving as Vice Commodore for the Broad Bay Sailing Association and will become Commodore in 2022.

Catryna Jackson, an eastern North Carolina native and Hampton University graduate, brings decades of business development, consulting, and 501(c)(3) experience. As the Director of Williamsburg Classical Academy for over 10 years, she has successfully managed the funding and creation of several student educational programs. These include a brand new sailing program for Williamsburg Classical Academy! As an environmental engineering consultant Catryna managed large federal projects and was a frequent national Pollution Prevention speaker with published articles concerning Hazardous Material and Hazardous Waste Management.

Catryna also serves on the Beauty for Ashes Contemporary Dance board which brings dance and the arts to underserved communities. It was after serving as the first Sailing Club President at Hampton University that she became aware of disparities in maritime opportunities. She is happy to serve an organization that will increase access to sailing and maritime opportunities!

Allen Kilgore is Deputy Director for Facility and Laboratory Operations, Research Directorate NASA Langley Research Center. Allen is a native of Hampton who graduated from Kecoughtan High School. He graduated from Old Dominion University with engineering degrees and sailed on the sailing team under Gary Bodie. Allen has coached at the US Naval Academy and competed in the international 505 and Flying Dutchman classes, and was a member of the 1988 US Sailing Olympic team. He currently volunteers as Sailing Coach for Hampton, Kecoughtan and Phoebus High School sailing teams, and is the Safety Officer for the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association.

Jonathan Romero is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at Old Dominion University.  Jonathan is “fairly” new to sailing and boating, having bought and sailed his first boat, an Ensenada 20 in 2004.  During this time, Jonathan has been able to found the Hampton Roads Sunfish Challenge & Dinghy Distance Race, become certified as a US Sailing Race Official, and served as the Principal Race Official for the Hampton University Varsity Sailing Team. In addition to small boat activities, Jonathan is an active keelboat racer, winning his class at the 2017 Southern Bay Race Week, as well as being awarded the Hampton Yacht Club Sportsmanship Award in 2018. Jonathan cruises his Cal 33-2 Tempo up the Chesapeake Bay, around the DelMarVa peninsula, and has single-handed his boat from Hampton, Virginia to Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Staying active in service to his community, Jonathan is currently a board member of Thomas Nelson Community College, and WHRO Public Media.  Jonathan is happy to serve on the board with Youth Sail Virginia, increasing access to sailing for the local community youth.

Jason Samuels currently serves as the Program Manager of the Hampton Healthy Families School Age Programs, and is a member of the Hampton City School Board.  For the past 23 years, Jason has served the City of Hampton as both a Social Worker and as a Program Manager with the City’s Department of Human Services.  Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Norfolk State University, a Leadership Certificate from the Academy for Nonprofit Excellence at Tidewater Community College, and a Muma College of Business Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida.

Jason is married to Keisha M. Samuels and they have two children.

Jason’s community organizations/affiliations include: serving the City of Hampton with the Department of Human Services as a Social Worker in many capacities to include Foster Care, Child Protective Services, and Adult Services; serving on various local, regional, state, and national councils and boards to include the City of Hampton Purchasing & Procurement Oversight Committee (Past Member), Thomas Nelson Community College Human & Health Advisory Council, PTA member of Hunter B. Andrews Pre K-8, Downtown Hampton Kiwanis Club, Crowne Pointe Home Owner Association (President), Hampton Triad, Hampton Senior Citizen Advisory Council, Peninsula Agency on Aging Advisory Council (Past Chairman), Peninsula Agency on Aging Board of Directors (Past Member), Aberdeen Historic Civic Association, Hampton Branch of the NAACP and a member of Ivy Baptist Church.

Mark Sarrett is currently a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network with offices in Newport News and Richmond. He has been a lifelong resident of Hampton Roads, with sailboat racing being a major part of his entire life. He taught junior sailing at Hampton Yacht Club, was a long-time board member of Christopher Newport University Sailing Foundation. In addition to racing on the Chesapeake Bay, Mark has also participated as both skipper and crew in National offshore events such as MORC Nationals, Block Island race week, Key West race week, Annapolis to Newport Race, and many others. He is presently a Trustee, on the board of Hampton Roads Academy and was previously a board member for the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA.

Robert “Rob” Shuford, Jr., President and CEO of Old Point National Bank, is a native of Hampton who attended Duke University and graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. He subsequently served 4 years in the United States Navy as an Officer, earning a Navy Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. Rob’s degree led to related employment in San Diego, California and Indianapolis, Indiana, but eventually he and his family returned to the Virginia Peninsula where Rob embarked on a career in banking. Rob is former Chair of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and Past President of the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA. He currently serves on the Finance Committee of the Fort Monroe Authority, is the treasurer of the Hampton History Museum Association, and serves on the CIVIC Leadership Institute Board of Directors. Rob is actively involved in the Virginia Bankers Association, including serving as past chair of the Board of Trustees of the School of Bank Management, a member of the VBA’s Board of Directors, and a regional leader for the VBA’s Government Relations Committee.

Rick Spaulding is the Vice President of Business Process Standardization at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.  He has a degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan.