President -  Willie V. Ward III

Willie is an alumni of both Norfolk State (B.S. Business Management) and Radford Universities (MBA). He has professional experience that spans Nuclear Security, Healthcare, and Tech industries and is a budding entrepreneur in his spare time with businesses that specialize in Transportation, Management Consulting and Real Estate Investing. Willie is a native of Norfolk, VA who has called Houston (TX), D.C., Jacksonville (FL), both San Jose & San Francisco (CA), and Brooklyn (NY) home. Migrating back to Norfolk, VA after the birth of his first son, Willie V. Ward IV, he remained true to a 2015 proclamation that “if I returned to Norfolk, I have to stay in Ghent ''. He and his wife Shantoya, two sons, Willie (IV) & Remy love their current home and have truly entrenched themselves in the neighborhood. 

2nd Vice President -  Jean Webster

Jean Webster grew up near Schenectady New York and received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University. She moved to Norfolk with her husband Stephen Cox in 1999, joining Hanbury, the Norfolk architecture firm. Her work focuses on college and university projects as well as performing arts venues and historic preservation. She has a strong interest in resiliency and green initiatives. Jean, Steve, and their daughter Sophie moved to Ghent in 2014 and have fallen in love with this vibrant, ever-changing neighborhood. Sophie is now a third year student at the University of Virginia. Dog Lucy is a familiar presence in the neighborhood as well.

Treasurer -  Bob Kelly

Bob Kelly has been a Ghent resident for over 30 years, the last 20+ of which have been in the Hague section. Bob has a BS in Naval Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a MS in Business Financial Management from George Washington University. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1997, and subsequently worked as an engineer and program manager in the Defense industry until 2011. Bob is a member of the GNL board (Chair of Tree committee), the Norfolk Master Gardeners (Crepe Myrtle tree pruning), Chair of the Finance Committee at a local church, and a volunteer with the City of Norfolk (Keep Norfolk Beautiful projects). 

Board Member - Nat McCormick

Nat McCormick is a native of Boston and a graduate of Williams College. He received his Masters of Architecture with a certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia. Nat worked for architecture firms in Boston, Paris and Norfolk, participating in numerous preservation projects including the renovation of the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond. He joined Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority in 2004 and is involved in the planning and implementation of redevelopment initiatives throughout the city. Nat and his wife Thaler moved to Ghent in 2015 and are delighted to be part of its diverse and historic community. Nat has served on the Ghent Neighborhood League for the past four years and chairs the Project Review Committee. Nat and Thaler have daughters “remotely attending” Granby High School and Miami University and two dogs that do not attend school but should.

Secretary- Tom Ferguson

Tom Ferguson--an Old Dominion University alumnus--retired as a US Department of Defense senior executive after 36 years of service in 2015. Notably, he served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) responsible for policy, programmatic, and strategic oversight over all Defense intelligence, counterintelligence, and security programs. Afterwards, Tom joined Scientific Applications International Corporation as a senior advisor. Tom is currently serving on the City of Norfolk, Military Economic Development Advisory Committee. This committee serves in an advisory role to the mayor, city council, and city manager to support and strengthen city relations and develop economic opportunities with all military, federal entities, and defense contractors. 

Board Member - Tim Dorsey

Timothy W. Dorsey (Tim) is an attorney in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Born in Norfolk to a Navy family, he travelled and lived around the globe and the USA in the normal Navy haunts. Since 2021, he has served on the Board as Secretary of the Ghent Neighborhood League. Tim and his wife, Diana, live on Colonial Avenue and are parishioners at Sacred Heart Church.

Board Member - Paige Rose

Paige Rose, a Ghent resident for over two decades and a GNL board member for many of those years, treasures the uniqueness of our Ghent neighborhood with its historic character, architectural elements, green spaces, tree scapes, walkability, houses of faith. cultural offerings and Ghent Business district vitality, which greatly add to the aesthetics and enjoyment for all residents. Looking ahead, community improvement projects (street light repairs, street sweeping, crosswalks, traffic signage, infrastructure work, beautification projects and community input) will be a continued focus to ensure our neighborhood remains a safe and enjoyable place to call "home".