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 -  Shawn Z. Tarrant

Shawn Z. Tarrant, Candidate for 2nd Vice President GNL Shawn was born and raised in Long Island, New York. Shawn spent most of his professional career in Baltimore, Maryland. He and his wife Latisha recently moved to Ghent from Chesapeake with their youngest son and have a blended family of five adult children.

Shawn is the Graduate Advisor Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, at Old Dominion University Eta Omega Chapter and the past President of Norfolk State University, Chesapeake Alumni Chapter. Shawn was also elected to Maryland General Assembly House of Delegates and the Baltimore State Delegate serving two 4-year terms.

He is also the Past President/Vice President of Ashburton Area Association and he has served on the Boards of the Maryland Zoo, SPCA & Baltimore City Community College Foundation.

Treasurer -  Karen Reynes

Karen Reynes and her husband Joe moved to Ghent in the summer of 2013 and became the stewards of the George L. Arps House, circa 1896. The renovation of an historic home is a unique personal experience made more pleasurable by a connection with the community that surrounds it. Karen has served on the GNL in various positions since the spring of 2014: President, First Vice President, Treasurer and the GNL representative to the Ghent Business Association (GBA). She has served on the GNL Nominating Committee; the GNL Bylaws Committee; GNL Project Review Committee, the GNL Flooding Committee, and the GBA Streetscapes Committee. Karen is a board member of the Norfolk Preservation Collective, served on the Keeping History Above Water Norfolk planning committee, is one of the first Public Members to serve on the Commonwealth of Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. She previously served on the City of Norfolk’s Architectural Review Board. Karen received the GBA’s Rowena Award in 2022.

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- Jean Webster

Jean Webster grew up in upstate New York and attended architecture school at Syracuse University. She moved to Norfolk in 1999 with her husband Steve Cox. She joined the architecture firm Hanbury where her work focuses on college and university campuses and creating places for engaged learning and student success. Other work includes performing arts venues and historic preservation.  She has an interest in resiliency and green initiatives.  

Board Member - Maurice Cannon Sr.

Maurice Cannon Sr. serves as the CEO and Clinical Director of Trust Counseling Services, a position he has held for the past twelve years.

Dedicated to their core mission, his firm delivers community-based treatment solutions to address the intricate behavioral and mental health challenges confronting individuals and families within their community.

Mr. Cannon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Old Dominion University. He furthered his education with Master's Degrees in Counseling from Hampton University and in Severe Disabilities Rehabilitation Counseling from Norfolk State University.

Having recently relocated to the Ghent area in 2021, Mr. Cannon finds himself captivated by the scenic beauty afforded by his residence along Mowbray Arch.

Board Member - Jennifer Dawn

Jennifer Dawn is a REALTOR® in Hampton Roads. She serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Hampton Roads REALTOR® Association Board of Directors, Government Affairs Committee Vice Chair, as well as an Association Brokerage Ambassador. Additionally, she serves on the Public Policy Committee for Virginia Association of REALTORS®, as well as a current member of VLA, their Leadership Academy cohort. She is a Commitment to Excellence State Ambassador for the National Association of REALTORs®. After moving to Hampton Roads from NC in 2017, she relocated to Ghent with her 2 pups in May 2023. She has since engaged as a member of the Ghent Neighborhood League, as well as co-chairing the Events/Programming committee. Most recently, she has been appointed to the NFK2050 Advisory Committee, for the purpose of assisting the City Planning Commission in the development of a proposed new Comprehensive Plan. Before becoming a REALTOR®, Jennifer was a National Board-Certified educator, mentor, and coach for almost 2 decades.

Board Member-Lynne Seagle

Lynne Seagle has lived in Ghent for over 40 years. She attended ODU and received her bachelor’s degree in special education and master’s degree in public administration. She was hired at Hope House Foundation in 1978 while living on Redgate Ave, and then later moved to Graydon Ave, where she resides today.

Under Lynne’s leadership, Hope House has become internationally known for its innovative, person-centered approach. One of her proudest accomplishments was guiding Hope House through its transition from group homes to supporting people in their own apartments in the early nineties.

In 1986, Lynne was honored as the Virginia Administrator of the Year by the Virginia Community Living Association (CLAMR), and also received an Innovation Award from the same organization. In 1990, she received the Leadership Award from the American Association on Intellectual Disabilities, and in 1998, she received the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation's International Future Leader Award. In 2011, she was appointed to the Arc of Virginia’s board of directors. She has also served on the President's Commission on Intellectual Disabilities and is on the advisory board of the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation.

Lynne is passionate about social justice and equality for all people, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. She also enjoys reading, travel, Mexican cuisine, and the beach. Having recently retired Lynne is very interested in her community and contributing to the success and continued improvement of her neighborhood. Lynne is concurrently a consultant for not for profits and corporations, specifically concerning leadership and strategic planning.