Harvey Gold

Harvey has long been interested in the arts, including 1) the Virginia Writers Club (founded in 1918, and for which he and wife Roberta chaired two successive statewide conferences); 2) founding member of the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra (where he served for six years a president); and most recently, 3) as founding member and president of the Arts & Cultural Council of the Rappahannock. Harvey Gold trained as a marine microbiologist at Duke University, was Chairman of the Biology Department at Converse College and then ran an international research program for the Velsicol Chemical Corporation. There he directed the operation of an oceangoing research vessel and a land-based laboratory. He holds a U. S. Patent for a microbiological water sampler and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1968, Harvey and family moved to Virginia when he became Velsicol’s chief lobbyist. After 21 years with Velsicol, he became the Executive Vice President of the National Pest Control Association, a position he held until 1995. He returned to teaching as Adjunct Professor of Biology at the Rappahannock Community College, and also taught environmental science and oceanography at the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School. In 2001, he joined the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association, and is the immediate past Director of Government Affairs for the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association.

Dana Herlong

Dana is an architect, and president of Herlong Associates Inc, Facilities Management and Architecture. She has practiced in Louisiana and Virginia for thirty years. Since 1988 her community involvement in the Fredericksburg region has included the American Institute of Architects, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts, United Way, Economic Development Authority, and Jumpstart! 2010. She is confident the Arts and Cultural Council of the Rappahannock will play a vital role economic development throughout the region.

Susan Landess

Susan is Executive Director Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theatre, and Associate, Strategic Insight, Ltd., which assists non-profit and government clients in business planning. Her background includes management and administrative positions with both for profit and not for profit companies.  While supervising the theaters of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, she doubled rental use of one facility, increasing income over 100 percent, and expanded programs for all ages. Also at  M-NCPPC she was trained in audio description for the visually handicapped and then supervised the associated program to provide this service to the community.  She was Director of Administration for Rowan & Blewitt, a consulting firm and head of accounts receivable for Art Display, a multi-million dollar sign and display firm.  Her degrees include a BA from Brown University in Bio-Medical Ethics and a MS in Business Management from University of Maryland University College.

Carolyn Can Der Jagt

Carolyn is a government energy lawyer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Prior to getting a BS in Business at the University of North Texas and pursuing her law degree at the University of Texas, she studied art at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.  Carolyn is a part-time fiber artist, quilter, jewelry maker, blacksmith, and gardener.  She intends to return to pursuing a career in art when she retires from her government job.

Charlie Booth

Charles (Charlie) Booth is the CTO for Cisco’s Global, Defense, Space, and Security organization.  He is responsible for overseeing the global aspects of Cisco’s solutions for government, seeking to maximize the benefits of commercial technologies.  He is one of the founders of Cisco’s Global Defense and Space Group.  Mr. Booth joined Cisco Systems in June 2000.  Before joining Cisco, Mr. Booth spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy.  Living in Stafford County since 1997, Mr. Booth has been an active supporter of the local arts community.  Assisting artist in establishing presence in Fredericksburg’s LibertyTown Arts Workshop, the startup of Brush Strokes Gallery, and volunteering support to the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts.  Mr. Booth holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Physics from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; a Master of Science in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA; and an Entrepreneurial Development Program Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management.

Anthony Campbell

A life-long lover of music and art, singing talent Anthony Campbell became a central figure in his community in the autumn of 2003 when he won a national talent competition produced and aired on NBC’s popular morning show TODAY. Beating out 6,000 hopefuls to become NBC TODAY Show Superstar, Campbell has become a popular solo entertainer and recently the lead singer of the highly acclaimed Funk-Fusion group Third Stream Giants. Campbell is an account executive for Willow Publishing in Fredericksburg, VA. He has worked in the sales and marketing field for nearly twenty years Remaining strongly connected to both the arts and business communities, Campbell is eager to get a first-hand look at the value the Arts and Cultural Council of the Rappahannock can have on bringing recognition to our area as an arts and entertainment destination.

Johnny Johnson

Johnny is retired from a long and distinguished career as art instructor at James Monroe High School. He is a much-admired and well-respected professional artist, who has exhibited for a lifetime. He is a member of the Art First cooperative and the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA). He continues to teach and to give generously to the arts community and to the region through his church, his civic services, and his art. As a champion of racial relations and the African-American community in Fredericksburg, he serves on numerous boards, and has been a board member of the Council from its earliest stages.

Debby Klein

Debby Klein has a long history of involvement in the arts, stemming from her high school days as an art major at New York City’s High School of Music and Art.  She majored in theatre at the University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and taught drama and speech at James Monroe High School, the Governor’s School for the Gifted at Mary Washington College, and Germanna Community College. She has also designed scenery and costumes for numerous productions, conducted her own programs on radio and television and was, for many years, Director of Advertising for Fredericksburg Savings and Loan Assn.  She was Secretary and Treasurer of the Virginia Theater Association for 17 years, has served on many Fredericksburg community boards and was made a Life Member of the Rappahannock United Way for service over a span of more than 40 years.  Currently, Debby serves on the Fredericksburg Arts Commission and the Board of the Arts and Cultural Council of the Rappahannock.  She is Information Officer for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, broadcasting a weekly interview program on public access television.

Judy Laxague

Judy Laxague is a realtor with Exit Real Estate Professional s and teaches Moseley Pre-Licensing courses for new realtors. She is also the owner of Aristocrat Cruises and Tours and specializes in group cruises and has arranged group tours for musical groups to tour and perform in Europe. She was transferred to the FBI Academy in 1984 and moved to Fredericksburg. After 37 years in federal law enforcement, she retired in 1999 and became very active in the ARTS commity in the Fredericksburg area.

She serves on the board as immediate past-president for the Rappahanoock POPS Orchestra and has filled the position of music librarian for the orchestra and chorus for the past ten years. She was a founding member and has also served as vice-president on the board. She currently sings with the Spotsylvanian Community chorus and was a founding member of that group which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary and has served as board secretary and vice-president. She is a past member of the St. Matthew Family Choir and traveled with the choir when they performed for Pope John in 1999 and when the choir performed in Austria. She currently sings with the St .Mary Church Adult choir and has sung with the Stafford Choral Society. She is a founding member and currently sings with the Joysong Chorale and is a member of the working committee for the proposed performing arts center in Fredericksburg. She is active in the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce and activities that promote the ARTS in the Fredericksburg region.

Linda A. Monner

Music has always been a part of Linda’s life. Aside from singing and playing various instruments, she found her greatest musical enjoyment and achievement in conducting. Linda organized and conducted several award winning choral groups on Long Island (NY), and is currently the Conductor/Musical Director of “The Spotsylvanians.” A graduate of the University of Connecticut, she furthered her studies at Hofstra University, the University of Rochester (NY), and Long Island University. She taught Junior High School vocal and general music as well as music to special education and handicapped children. After leaving education to raise her family, she turned to the business world where she became Director of Operations at Matter Research (an environmental testing company). From there she went on to work for ERD, Inc. (a national, publicly traded environmental corporation) where she worked herself up through the ranks to become a corporate vice president overseeing compliance with local, state and federal agencies. Linda and her husband, Fred, formed Frederick Associates which produced merger studies and master plans for school districts, as well as directories and field trip guides for SCOPE in Suffolk County, NY. They authored two books entitled “Where to go on Long Island” and “Florida: Be Aware (or Beware)!!”

Carrol E. Morgan

Carrol E. Morgan grew up in Dumfries, Virginia. She received her BFA Degree from Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and her MALS Degree from Mary Washington College (UMW). She taught art in King George County Public Schools for thirty-five years and has taught adult and children’s art classes for local arts organizations. She has participated in seminars of the Getty Center for Education in the Arts at the University of Cincinnati and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Art Educators’ Forums at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Tony Sheets’ Watercolor Workshop in Eugene, Oregon, and Dave Daniels’ watercolor workshops in Virginia. She is a member of the King George Art Guild, the Colonial Beach Art Guild, Fredericksburg Center of the Creative Arts and the North Windsor Artists in King George, Virginia. Carrol is the chairperson of the biennial King George Art Show and has been chairperson of the KGAG Art Show hanging committee and the FCCA Frederick Gallery hanging committee. Carrol is currently the Curator at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. She has participated in many juried and regional art shows and her work is represented in numerous private collections. Her specialties are watercolors, portraits, still life paintings and landscapes with an emphasis on the colors of reflected light.

Roy Strohl

Roy is the University Librarian at the University of Mary Washington and previously served as the College Librarian at Emory & Henry College. Roy has been an active participant in local civic organizations over the past twenty five years. He has served on the local boards of the YMCA, American Heart Association and the Salvation Army and was the Fredericksburg representative to the National Parks Service Citizens Advisory Council. He is the charter president of the Rappahannock Rotary Club and serves on the club's executive board. Roy was instrumental in bringing the popular Bluemont Concert Series to the Fredericksburg area and serves on Bluemont Regional Board of Directors.

Kathryn Willis

Kathryn is past board member, Virginians for the Arts (two terms), which is the statewide arts advocacy and education liaison with the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She also served on the steering committee for the creation of the Virginia Association of State Arts Agencies (VALAA), and on the steering committee for the 2000 Governor’s Awards for the Arts. For ten years, she was art critic and cultural writer for the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. For eight years, she worked in public relations for now-University of Mary Washington, and then for three years as communications director for the foundation of the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. She currently serves on the board of Virginia Press Women, and has also served on the board of Fredericksburg Sister City Association. She double majored in French and Art History at Mary Washington College, and holds a master’s in English from Va. Tech. In 2004, she completed a certificate in advanced public relations from George Washington University. She is a long-time arts advocate, and currently teaches Composition at Germanna Community College. She also serves as volunteer director of the Council.