The Board of the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition (GCAC)
Formed in May 2015

UPDATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

May 2023

FRANCES MARTINEZ MYERS, President
Real Estate and Relocation Specialist

• Principal of HIMW Consulting, LLC
• Formerly Senior Vice President, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox and Roach Realtors
• President of Employee Transfer Corporation, an international corporate relocation and REO asset management company owned by Fox and Roach
• Past Chairman for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit with 60 chapters throughout the U.S. & Puerto Rico
• Served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Realtors 2005-2007
• Was Chair of the National Housing Advisory Council of Fannie Mae 2005-2007
• Served as a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of Freddie Mac 2005-2007
• Served on the National Advisory Council of the Bank of America 2005-2007
• In 2006, Realtor Magazine named her one of real estate’s 25 most influential thought leaders
• She is a member of Worldwide ERC and is a recipient of their Meritorious Service Award and Distinguished Service Award in 2010
• In 2011, honored as one of the Top 10 Women in the Mortgage and Housing Industry by Five Star Institute
• In 2006 Hispanic Business named her as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanics

• in the United States

“I am excited for this opportunity to serve on the GCAC board and to help Crisfield become a thriving and financially sustainable community once again.  GCAC in collaboration with the City and the community can help drive this change.  Everything is possible—-if your heart is in it.”

DONNIE DREWER – Vice President
Retired District Engineer, State Highway Administration

•  Born and raised in Crisfield, Maryland
• Married Betsy Tyler, also from Crisfield, and raised two daughters, Beth and Amanda
• Started his career as a construction inspector for SHA and later worked as Resident Maintenance Engineer in Somerset County.
• Spent the last 27 years of his career at SHA as District Engineer in charge of State roads in the four lower counties of the Eastern Shore
• Two of the highlights of his career are the pedestrian tunnel connecting the Main Campus of Salisbury University with east US-13 and the roundabout at UMES Boulevard, Somerset County’s first roundabout.
• He also promoted the idea of a bike trail from Crisfield to Westover and was instrumental in securing funding through the Maryland Transportation Enhancement Program for construction of the first phase.
• Donnie credits his wife, Betsy, for all his success at SHA.
• Retired in 2016 after 55 years working for SHA
• Upon his retirement, a scholarship in his name was created and Route 413 was dedicated in his name
• Longtime member of Maryland Highway Engineer’s Association
• Also served in the Maryland National Guard and retired as a Full Colonel in 1990 with 30 years of service

“I was very pleased when I was approached about joining the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition.  Being born and educated in Crisfield, I am excited to join this group of talented individuals as they come together with the primary mission of making Crisfield a better place to visit or to live.  With the help of the elected officials, I am sure we can make a difference!”

JAY TAWES –Leader in business development, marketing, and fundraising

• Owns or owned several successful businesses in Crisfield:
  • Tawes Insurance – 42 years
  • DJ’s Car Wash – 30 years
  • Tawes Real Estate – 27 years
• Raised over $1 million for the Alice B. Tawes Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Chesapeake Cove Assisted Living Facility
• Organized and held the first Buy Boat event in 2012 that brought 1000 people to Crisfield
• Designed and built 20 spec homes in Crisfield
• Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award in 2008 from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
• President, Crisfield Heritage Foundation
• Past President, Crisfield Chamber – 2 terms
• Past Member, McCready Foundation Board and Advisory Board
• Degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, one of the Top Ten Business Schools in the nation
• Grandson of former Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes

“In the forty years that I have been in Crisfield actively seeking to help the town move forward, I have never been a part of a group like this. For the first time, we have talented representatives from the whole community coming together, and we are on the same page: We are dedicated to helping Crisfield become the town we always felt it could be: vibrant, prosperous, and beautiful.”

LINDA SINGH, Treasurer, Local Business Owner (The Bay Gift Vault), CEO of Sitara Collections & Marketing Launch Partners

• Owner of several businesses in Crisfield:
  • The Bay Gift Vault & Boutique
  • Sitara Collections 
  • Marketing Launch Partners
• Senior Marketing Director, Coty Beauty
• MBA, Eastern University, Delta Mu Delta
• Business Mentor – Start-Up Stamford
• Student Mentor, Temple University Business Plan Competition – Be Your Own Boss Bowl (2019-2023)
• Business Plan Judge, Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business
• Board Member:
  • Crisfield Chamber of Commerce
  • Crisfield Arts & Entertainment District
  • Gallery 413

“Since moving to Crisfield in 2017 and opening a retail store, I have been in a unique position that allowed me to meet long-term and new residents of Crisfield in a very short time.  What struck me almost immediately was the commonality of residents expressing their desire for the City of Crisfield to be a thriving community, with many wanting to embrace tourism as a means of growth.  I’m thrilled to be able to do my part in helping the City of Crisfield achieve its goals.”

STEVE FLAHERTY,  Board Secretary, Business owner (Agralarm)

• • Attended the University of Maryland School of Agriculture
  • Has always been involved with farming and agriculture
  • Owns Agralarm, Inc. in Salisbury, Maryland
  • Agralarm is involved with the sales and servicing of alarms and controls for the poultry industry in Delmarva as well as throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama
  • Originally from Easton, Maryland
  • He married Lee Ann Riggin of Crisfield and has made his home here
  • Raised two children, Courtney and Brooks
  • A member of the Asbury United Methodist Church and active in various Christian and Civic activities in Crisfield
  • Has a sincere and vested interest in helping Crisfield to realize its full potential for its citizens and tourists that visit us

“When I first came to Crisfield in 1976, I was only 17 years old. I did not spend a lot of time thinking about the future of Crisfield. Today I have come to appreciate all the things we take for granted and the many strengths this area has. The future of Crisfield is very important, but it will only be as bright as we make it and will depend greatly on the effort we provide. It is the responsibility of our citizens, business leaders, and elected officials all working together with a clear vision and an action plan. GCAC can help the City because we are an organization with a strong, diverse group of citizens and leaders from many backgrounds. I am excited to play a part in helping Crisfield achieve its true potential.”

CURT LAFEY, Business Owner

• Curt joined the Board of Directors in March 2021.
• Founder and Chief Operating Officer: Strategic Consulting Alliances<LLC. Crisfield MD.: Government Construction Service Contractor throughout the East Coast And the Caribbean
• US Army, US Air Force US, Navy, DHS, and National Park Service.

• Former executive National Architectural Sales Manager, Duron Paint & Wallcovering
• FORMER US Army Infantry Officer.
• A former executive with Sears, Montgomery Ward, Zayers & EJ Korvetes Retail corporations
• Past member of the National Association of Home Builders, and Construction Specification Institute.
• Graduate of Pennsylvania Military College with degrees in Economics, Accounting & Military Science.
• Co-founder of the Crisfield Arts Syndicate and Gallery 413 on West Main Street

 Curt is a strong advocate for the development of the Arts in our community as a means for overall economic development and children’s education.

MEGAN TAWES, Assistant State Attorney 

BILL MEYER, Marketing Communications & Public Affairs, Media Production Specialist, and co-proprietor of The Lady Grace B&B and The Silver Spoon

Prior to moving to Crisfield from Arizona, Bill was the Marketing Communications and Public Affairs Media Production Specialist for the City of Glendale, Arizona.  He also had a long career with Cox Communications in both Arizona and California. He has extensive marketing and multi-media experience.  He and his wife Grace (who hails from Australia) moved to Crisfield in 2019, purchased the old My Fair Lady, and created Lady Grace B&B. Most recently they added The Silver Spoon to bring some high-level dining by hosting various guest chefs.  

“Bill’s comprehensive marketing and production experience is certain to be an asset to GCAC as we embark on an extensive marketing campaign to promote Crisfield to developers, investors, and builders.” says Martinez Myers.  “I look forward to leveraging my skills and experience to help GCAC achieve its goals for economic development in the City of Crisfield and the surrounding region. I am thrilled to have been invited to join GCAC and I am eagerly looking forward to exploring ways in which I can make meaningful contributions to the organization.” says Bill Meyer. 

ROBIN HANDY RAYFORD, Founder & President, Life Restoration Counseling and Psychological Services 

Robin Rayford is a co-founding pastor of Restoration Fellowship Tabernacle (RFT) of Detroit.  Pastor Robin is the founder of Life Restoration Counseling and Psychological Services, a private practice in Troy, MI. In May of 2022, Robin and her husband Stan recently returned to Crisfield (while still managing operations in Michigan) and both desire to contribute in whatever way they can to help in the process of fulfilling Crisfield’s potential.

Robin is involved with the beautification of Crisfield. She’s a board member of the Somerset Arts Council and Crisfield Arts Syndicate. She volunteers on Doug Swifts Garden Committee and with the Union Asbury Cemetery restoration. Her husband Stan has an inspirational jazz program on Crisfield’s radio station and serves on a committee to market Crisfield.

“GCAC is very excited to have Robin, who is a Crisfield native, become a member of our board and feel she will make a significant contribution to our effort”, says Frances Martinez Myers, Board President. “I agree with GCAC that Crisfield can be appealing because of its location on the water, its serene environment, and its affordable small-town charm. I would love to be part of preparing Crisfield to embrace this as a community and share it with others who actually need a place like Crisfield to save them from the harshness of city living,” says Robin Rayford.

CHARLOTTE SCOTT – Past President (2015 – 2020) Specialist in professional writing, grants, and entrepreneur training

• President, East Coast Consulting – professional writing of business plans, marketing materials, and successful grants from $40,000 to $2.1 million
• Part of the launch team of The Crab Place in 1999, the first online business to ship Maryland blue crabs and now has 100,000+ friends on Facebook
• Council member and top vote-getter for Crisfield City Council in first time running for political office – 2014-2018
• Founder of the Business Navigation Forum in Crisfield in 2004 with 150 members/attendees from Lower Eastern Shore
• President, Captain’s Quarters Condo Association – 2010-2013
• Past President, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore
• Leadership Maryland, Class of 2002; Board Member – 2008-2009
•  Helped produce the 32-page Crisfield Visitor Guide and brochure in 2013 and 2018
• Graduate, West Virginia University – with honors
• Master’s degree from Salisbury University – with honors
• State Certification in Administration and Supervision

“Since I came here as a young teacher over 40 years ago, I have always loved and admired the people.  There are two things I know for sure: The people are smart, and the people are good. I like to say, ‘These people have PhDs in life.’ They are resourceful, friendly, and hard-working. And yet, Crisfield has only achieved maybe 5% of its true potential. What has been lacking is a clear vision for the town and unity. With vision and unity, it is our mission and our commitment to pursue ways for people to make their lives better and to make Crisfield better. Together I know we can!”