Board of Directors
2012 Board of Directors
STUART LOGAN (President and Chair)
is the Manager of Contractor Services and a member of the senior management team of Pinnacle Services, LLC, which employs approximately 120 people. In his position, he manages 50 professionals who provide Administrative Support Services, Logistics Services, Safety Training, Medical Testing, First Aid Services, and Transportation Services to HOVENSA, L.L.C. and its subcontractors. He also is the Managing Director of Pinnacle Sales and Services, which sells safety supplies and rents portable office space. He is a 25-year resident of St. Croix.
MARK W. ECKARD, ESQUIRE (Vice Chair and Chair-Elect)
Is an attorney and shareholder in the law firm of Groner & Eckard, P.C. He practices in the areas of general commercial, corporate and real estate litigation, corporate, commercial and real estate transactions, corporate and consumer bankruptcy, family law and probate. He is licensed to practice law in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the State of Delaware. Mark graduated cum laude from the Widener University School of Law in Delaware with a Juris Doctor and a certificate in the Law of Business Organizations. While at Widener, Mark served on the staff and then as research editor of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law. He also has written extensively and lectured on the subject of corporate and bankruptcy law. Prior to joining Groner & Eckard, P.C., Mark was an associate in the corporate restructuring and litigation groups of Reed Smith, LLP, a global top twenty law firm. He also was previously associated with the Virgin Islands law firm of Hamm & Barry. From 2001-2002, Mark served as legislative director of the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Chamber of Business and Industry. He also served on the staff of the United House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he worked extensively on the legislative drafting of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.
LORINE WILLIAMS (Treasurer)
is a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker, Land-de Wilde Realty. She began her real estate career in southern New Jersey in 1979. While vacationing in the Caribbean in 1984, Lorine fell in love with St. Croix and moved her family to begin a new adventure. She received her Broker’s license and worked with Pivar Real Estate for 16 years before joining Coldwell Banker Land-de Wilde Realty in 2002. Most recently, Lorine received the prestigious Diamond Award from Coldwell Banker® for outstanding sales volume. Lorine has played an active role with the St. Croix Board of Realtors® and the Territorial Association of Realtors, and has held nearly every board position. She is the past National Director of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) representing the Virgin Islands for six years. She has been awarded the coveted “Realtor of the Year” award from the Virgin Islands. She was also instrumental in creating the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) a Board of Realtors sponsored system, utilizing a computer based system which is still in use today.
VICKI BANDOLA
Is an Account Executive with Marshall & Sterling Insurance. Since moving to St. Croix in 1999, she has formed personal and professional relationships with many members of the community and local organizations. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2007 and served on both the Events Committee and the Membership Committee. She also has been actively engaged in many Chamber activities and events, volunteering for monthly Business After Hours, Business Luncheons, and the annual Business and Professional Excellence Awards Gala. In addition to her involvement with the Chamber, Vicki is a tourism ambassador for St. Croix by welcoming cruise ship passengers and encouraging them to enjoy the island’s many natural wonders. She also serves on the Board of the St. Croix Yacht Club and was Commodore of the St. Croix Yacht Club in 2007 and 2008.
JEFF BARSTOW
is the Owner and President of Quality Food St. Croix, which provides a broad range of food, paper products, cleaning chemicals and restaurant equipment to many of the island’s restaurants. He moved to St. Croix three years ago from New Hampshire, where he founded a food service distribution company, Favorite Foods, and grew it into a $30 million a year business employing more than 50 people. In addition to national recognition for its marketing programs, Favorite Foods was named “Business of the Year” in New Hampshire. Jeff sold the business to his brother to pursue his dream of living in the Caribbean. While in New Hampshire he served as the Chairman of the Board of the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served the maximum of two terms on the Board of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, and was honored as that organization’s “Allied Member of the Year.” He also founded the Favorite Independent Restaurant Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving business conditions, customer traffic and sales at more than 50 independent restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Mr. Brian Blaschka
is the managing partner of IBP, LLC, a manufacturers‘ representative firm dealing with the resort, golf and high-end residential construction industry.
LINDA BRUTON
is the Publisher of the relocation guide, The Settler’s Handbook for the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Sales Manager for SkyMed/Virgin Islands Air Ambulance. She has been an active member of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce since 1992, serving as a volunteer for numerous Chamber projects and activities. She moved to St. Croix in 1991 to work for Travelhost magazine. She previously worked for a Chicago telephone company and prior to that lived in San Diego, where she obtained a BA degree in marketing and worked for San Diego Gas Co. A native of Toronto, Canada, Linda developed an early interest in diving and created the publication Dive Canada. Since arriving on St. Croix, she has worked in sales, advertising and marketing for Bohlke Airways, Tutu Park Mall, Divi Resorts and VisitStCroix.com. In 2002, she purchased the rights to The Settler’s Handbook for the U. S. Virgin Islands and has published three revisions to date. She also has developed a DVD entitled “St. Croix’s Hidden Secrets” and recently produced a short and long version of the DVD “Get Hooked on St. Croix.” She currently is a former member of the Board of Directors of the St. Croix Hotel Association and is a member of the St. Croix Yacht Club. She is a former member of the Advertising Club of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Chapter.
RAFAEL A. RAMIREZ CASABLANCA
Is the Director of Human Resources for Diageo, USVI.
RICHARD D. CLAY
is a partner in Cane Bay Partners VI, LP. He has been in the financial services industry since 1988 and formed his own company, Great American Credit, Inc. (GAC) in 1993. Prior to GAC’s corporate inception, Rich worked as the regional manager of seven small loan offices before buying the Atlanta locations. As both regional manager for the previous owners and then as president of GAC, he oversaw branch operations, all financial matters including financial performance, strategic planning, capitalization, real estate development and treasury operations. The company expanded to 42 locations in Georgia through April of 2007 with revenues of $23 million. In January of 2006, Rich began consulting for the industry and formed Strategic Link Consulting, LP, a small boutique firm specializing in providing trended marketing, underwriting, collections, accounting and legal services to portfolio lenders. He is a founding partner of this firm. Rich received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia. He has served as Vice-President of the Georgia Community Financial Services Association, was an active member of the national association, Community Financial Services Association, and served as a board member of the Online Lenders Alliance. These organizations serve members by working with state legislators and regulators to support responsible legislation of the financial services industry.
DR. RALPH DeCHABERT
comes from a well-known native Virgin Islands family. He is a retired pediatric physician and a long-time businessman and civic leader. He and other members of the DeChabert family established and owned Sunny Isle Shopping Center until it was sold several years ago. He has been an active member and generous supporter of numerous St. Croix civic, charitable and educational organizations and institutions, including the University of the Virgin Islands.
SANDRA HARTY GUTIERREZ, CPCU
is Executive President, General Manager and a shareholder with Inter-Ocean Insurance Agency, Inc. Her primary responsibilities include the agency’s underwriting department with account coverage for homes, commercial and personal autos, commercial property and liability and executive protection. A native of St. Croix, Sandra previously worked as Director of Marketing for the E.G. Bowman Co. in New York, where she was responsible for analysis, marketing and placing coverage for a wide range of business and industries, including Fortune 500 companies. She also was an Account Executive with Frenkel & Company in New York, where she provided underwriting services to mid-size to large companies. She earned a degree in management studies from the University of the West Indies and earned CISR – Certification in 2008.
MARGI LEVI
Margi is the owner of Travel Desk of S. Croix.
MATTHEW LEONARD
is the St. Croix Island Manager for CaribTrans and oversees all day-to-day operations. CaribTrans serves the USVI as the largest cruise ship and mega-yacht agent. It also provides LCL and FCL cargo shipping from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Prior to relocating to St. Croix, Matthew lived in St. Thomas serving in the same capacity. He is a board member-elect for Rotary Club of St. Croix - Mid Isle, a member of the Governors’ St. Croix Cruise Ship Task Force, and volunteers his time on projects at the St. Croix Boys and Girls Club. Matthew earned a degree in Economics and Business Management from University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He also has an M.B.A. in International Business from Butler University.
KIMBERLY M. McCOLLUM
Is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Quality Electric Supply. Originally from South Carolina, she holds a degree in electrical engineering from Clemson University. She has more than 25 years of experience in the electrical equipment industry and 11 years of experience working with Caribbean businesses. Kimberly moved to St. Croix from Miami in 2006, joining Quality Electric Supply as an assistant manager. She has since introduced a number of new programs and initiatives that have contributed to the growth of Quality Electric Supply throughout the Caribbean region. She introduced the company’s Vendor Day to bring together off-island manufacturers and on-island customers to discuss available products and solutions. This annual event has now been expanded to several days offering seminars and presentations for customers at no charge on such topics as energy efficiency and eco-friendly products. Most recently, Kimberly has taken the lead role for Quality Electric Supply as co-chair of the Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN-USVI) Energy Efficiency Working Group, which is working to achieve the goal of reducing the Territory’s fossil-fuel consumption by 60 percent by 2025. Quality Electric Supply was the first company to be named an official partner in the EDIN-USVI initiative in 2011 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
JAMES M. OLIVER
Is a private consultant to Innovative Companies and has specialized in the acquisition and management of federal and private grants for various local government agencies, including the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission and the Virgin island Department of Education. Prior to pursuing private consulting, Jim was an executive with Innovative Telephone and authored the company’s Strategic Outreach Plan. He also was Director of Research for the Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection for the 22nd Legislature. Before joining Innovative, Jim established the Office of Federal Programs for the Virgin Islands Department of Education and served as its first Director, working to identify and secure federal education funding and grants. He also was Program Manager for two innovative school-to-work programs in Washington D.C. Jim earned a masters degree in library science from Wayne State University and at one time was Director of Library Media Services for the Virgin island Department of Education.
LISA STINES
Is the owner of Flex VI Fitness Center, where she also is a wellness coordinator as well as sales and marketing director. She also is a real estate consultant and marketing advisor to Blue Sky Real Estate. Prior to relocating to the Virgin Islands, Lisa was an associate broker with Network Associates Realty in Atlanta, Georgia. While living in Atlanta, she also worked as a Realtor/Associate Broker for Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta and as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. She previously was affiliated with BNI – Business Networking, the largest networking organization in the world, and served as president of the Peachtree Towers Condominium Association in Atlanta.