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 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 Secretary

Dr. Karen Hathaway Viani is a consultant and leadership coach focused on the technology sector with extensive experience in management, leadership development, and strategic planning.She is the founder and CEO of Breakthru Consulting, accelerating STEM initiatives for students, professionals, and organizations; and she serves as Chief Innovation Officer at The Catalyst Coalition, leading technology scouting, solution integration, and strategy initiatives that enable success for organizations across sectors. Karen’s career includes senior leadership roles at The MITRE Corporation, where she developed corporate-level strategies and delivered high-impact solutions addressing cybersecurity, humanitarian, and economic challenges. Earlier in her career, she led multi-million-dollar capital investment projects at Genuity and secured major USAF program contracts while at BAE Systems.

Karen holds a Doctorate in Engineering, an MBA, and multiple professional certifications. She serves on several technology startup company boards, and previously was a member of the Board of Governors at Bishop O’Connell High School, in Arlington, VA. A frequent invited speaker and published author, she is dedicated to fostering innovation, advancing STEM education, and supporting the academic success of future generations.

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

Tom, after a 33-year career at Edward Jones in Norwalk, Ohio, retired. During his tenure, he provided financial advice to wealthy families across the country. He educated his clients on various investments, estate planning, tax implications, and wealth management strategies. Notably, he led his team to become the 104th largest office out of the 19,000 Edward Jones offices.

Tom has been actively involved in the Norwalk Area United Fund and the Norwalk Rotary. Currently residing in St. James, he is an active member of Generations Church. He serves as an usher and has gone on mission trips, including one to western North Carolina to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene.

In his free time, Tom enjoys golfing, working out at the gym, and is a classic car enthusiast.

Board Member, Grant Chairperson

An advocate for public libraries, literacy initiatives and lifelong learning, Diana serves as the Grant Chairperson for the St. James Foundation of North Carolina. She is also the Chairperson of the Brunswick County Library Board of Trustees and serves on the Cape Fear Digital Inclusion Steering Committee for NC State. 

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 & 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, Diana enjoys traveling, line dancing, mahjong, reading and being a member of the Literary Sisters Book Club.