ABOUT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sammie Knox: Co-Chair serves as the Co-Chair on the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Sammie was raised in Smithville. He was drafted into the Army and served in the Vietnam War. Sammie moved to the Washington, D.C area and worked in the Justice Department. Sammie attended the University of District of Columbia on the GI Bill and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1981. He spent his career as a Cooperative Education Student at NASA, as a Project Expediter for the Bechtel Power Company and then a Senior Buyer in Maryland before moving to Michigan.  Sammie worked for Electronics Data Systems (EDS) Corporation as Contract Administrator and then Program Coordinator.  Sammie retired from EDS and then became a Real Estate Sales Associate before retiring from the workforce. Sammie moved back to Smithville where he enjoys retirement and snow skiing.

Ron Potts serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Ronald Lee Potts was born and raised in the Smithville Community of Cornelius. He attended segregated schools in Mecklenburg County graduating  from Torrence-Lytle High School in 1965, graduated from Fisk University in Nashville in 1969. After college, he served in the US Army in Vietnam.  He spent most of his career in Employee Benefits specialists which took him to several places he called home – Omaha, NE, Los Angeles, CA , Houston, TX,  and West Palm Beach, Fl . He returned to Cornelius in 1997 to help his widowed father, Wilson Potts. His father operated a white only barber shop in Cornelius starting in the early 1950’s and later moved to its current location on Catawba Ave in 1960. It was peacefully integrated in 1972. His father and mother were activist when Smithville was outside the Town limit helping to obtain many services for the community.  Ron feels his passion for community came from them. He is retired and now serves as the treasurer for the Smithville Community Coalition.

John Quinn is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. John is a semi-retired global business leader.  His expertise includes leading large organizations focused on improving customer and employee experience while driving down operating and service costs. He is currently a partner with CE3 Solutions, LLC – a consulting firm. Outside of work, John is involved his community serving on the Town of Davidson Affordable Housing and Equity (Advisory) Board.  He is a Board of Directors Member of the North Mecklenburg (County) Economic Mobility Collaborative and the Wakami Foundation.  He is the Co-founder and President of The Sinapi Foundation that promotes and sponsors integrated village transformation methodologies in Guatemala.  John is a founding member of the Smithville Community Coalition Board of Directors.   He is actively involved with Unity in Community and Race Matters for Juvenile Justice.  John is a past board member of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (9 yrs.) and of Our Towns Habitat for Humanity (4 yrs.). John graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  He received his MBA from the University of Memphis.  John has been married for 44 years to his wife Beth. They have three grown children and four grandkids.  They have lived in the North Mecklenburg since 2002- 12 years in Cornelius and now in Davidson.  

Justin Miller: Community Organizer is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Justin is a community organizer for the Smithville Community Coalition. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at St. Augustine’s University and later received his Master’s degree from North Carolina Central University. His passion for helping communities started at an early age in Chicago where he learned to support underserved communities. In North Carolina, he has worked with organizations to improve economic development and affordable housing. He cares about making a positive impact and making sure everyone has the greatest quality of life.

Ivy Harvell is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Ivy Harvell was born and raised in the Smithville community. His paternal grandfather was one of the early settlers of Smithville. Both his parents and five siblings were raised in Smithville. Ivy served his country for nearly 10 years in the Army National Guard before receiving an Honorable Discharge at the rank of Sergeant E-5. He spent 32 years with OverNite Transportation Company/UPS Freight serving in various roles, such as Delivery Driver, Driver Trainer, Safety Instructor and Smart Move Trainer. Ivy has dedicated his life to leading his family and serving his church. He is married to Denise Sloan Harvell and is the proud father of four and grandfather of twelve. He has proudly served Union Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church as the Preacher Steward, Sunday School Superintendent and Sunday School teacher and Lay Council President. He served as the Chairman of the trustee Board for over 15 years; President and Vice President of the Men’s ministry for 30 years which includes nineteen churches. In retirement, Ivy remained very active. He is the owner of I View You, LLC, a professional photography company. He also serves as a Funeral Director for WH Bryant AE Grier and Sons.  He enjoys spending time with his family and supporting his very active grandchildren.  

Clarence “Rafford” Miller is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Rafford was born in nearby Mooresville, NC and raised in the Smithville community. Rayford continued his education at North Carolina State University, where he began in civil engineering and eventually earned a B.S. Degree in Economics and Business Management in 1979. His career as an engineer tech began with the Department of Transportation, Construction Division in Raleigh. In 1982 he transferred to Charlotte where he continued that career as an integral employee in the construction of I-277, I-77, W.T. Harris Blvd., and I-485. 

He enjoys all types of music, as he has been a musician (double bass) since junior high school and includes performing with orchestras in Raleigh, Charlotte, Davidson College, and Catawba College. He is a lifelong member of Gethsemane Baptist Church where he sings in the choir and is a member of the Senior Usher Board.  He resides in the Smithville Community in Cornelius.  Currently, he is retired and a full-time volunteer at the Neighborhood CARE Center in Smithville as the Warehouse Manager in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Jessica Boye is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Boye grew up in Harrisburg. North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a specialization in Human Services from Appalachian State University. Jess serves as the chair of the Town of Cornelius Historic Preservation Committee, which she has been a member for 10 years. Boye helped coordinate the Lake Norman Kiwanis Splashville Park located in Smithville Park.  The “Artworks 2016” fundraiser combined found pieces and artists to create sculptures that told a story of our region —a rural origin and then sculptures were auctioned during silent online auctions and at a grand gala event. The final fundraising goal was $12,000 which was needed to finish the community fundraising project.  Boye co-produced the “Smithville History Tour” video documentary released in 2021. Boye and a volunteer team of members of the Town of Cornelius Historic Preservation Committee partnered with SCC to tell the story of Smithville. Jess is co-founder of Old Town Cornelius, a downtown community 501(c)3 organization and initiative to engage community, connect local resources, and promote the area’s unique identity. Jess is Senior Event Coordinator for community entertainment events co-hosted by Bella Love Inc. and Waves Entertainment. She helped plan and coordinate the inaugural Cornelius Jazz Festival in 2015. Jess is a Cornelius resident and although technically not in Smithville, Jess owns a home in the neighborhood adjacent to Smithville off Smith Circle. 

Rev. Anita Harvell is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Rev. Harvell is an Ordained Minister at Union Bethel AME Zion Church, located in the community of Smithville.  She is the youngest grandchild of the late Paul and Mildred Harvell and she has a ‘home house’ in the Smithville Community.  Rev. Harvell can remember spending a significant amount of time there, as she enjoyed numerous family gatherings, dinners after church, and spending time there when her parents were out of town on vacation.  She is a Social Worker by profession and loves helping those in need, a characteristic that she believes was handed down from her grandmother, Mildred Harvell.  She looks forward to serving the Smithville Community and seeing the much-needed growth and development.  Rev. Harvell thanks God for this awesome opportunity!

Raquel Ramseur is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. She is a Nationally ranked Collegiate Track and Field Scholar Athlete, who was inducted to the SOCON 100th Anniversary Women’s Track and Field Team.  Outside of her passion for Track and Field, she specializes in ensuring the safety and efficacy of Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Drugs as Regulatory Affairs Lead.  Known as a “Servant Leader”, she makes it her priority to serve others in a professional and personal capacity. She is a leader among her peers and is generous with her time and talents.  Raquel is a Legacy of the Smithville Community, Charlotte resident and HOA Board member, active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., avid cyclist and travel enthusiast.

Dick Dandurand is a member of the Board of Directors of the Smithville Community Coalition. His business experience spans several industries and has been President of major divisions and subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 company as well as the CEO of a small publicly traded company and a private equity portfolio company. He is a Board member of 2 black-owned businesses for over 15 years and led a partnership between the companies and Howard University for the National Institute of Health HBCU initiative. Dick has always been active in the community, beginning his career as youth coordinator for the Boston YMCA and leading fundraising for the United Way and the YMCA World Service in Connecticut. He is currently on the Board of the Peninsula Community Foundation. He and his family have lived in Cornelius for almost 20 years.

Charmaine Nephew has lived in Cornelius since 1994, where she raised her two children.  She moved to Mecklenburg County in 1981. During her 40-year career, she held positions of increasing responsibility. When she retired, she was Vice President on Human Resources for an international company, responsible for North America. She has an MBA and a BSBA.  

Since moving here, Charmaine has held the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for her HOA. Currently, she serves as Vice President and Treasurer. She is an avid reader and a founding member of a local book club which has been meeting for 25 years.    She has been a poll worker in her precinct for 10 years.  She has served as Vice Chair for her precinct and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer. Currently she serves as a member of the Cornelius Wage and Salary Citizen Committee. She has run for member of the town council.  She is a founding member and Co-Coordinator of a Cornelius, political, grass roots GOVT organization.   

Charmaine firmly believes in the power of reading. As such, she has been a reading tutor at a Title 1 School with Augustine Literacy Project. When her children were young, she volunteered with Junior Achievement and as a Girl Scout Troop Leader.  

Charmaine is excited to be a member of the Smithville Community Coalition board and looks forward to serving this historical community which has given so much to the town of Cornelius.

Elainie Withers is a member of the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Elainie was born and raised in Smithville. She attended North Mecklenburg High School and Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) with a focus on business. Her career spanned 44 years from 1972 to 2016 at Citigroup as a senior branch executive working on loan processing. She enjoys gardening, travel, family activities, and music. She is a member of Union Bethel AME Zion Church where she sang in the choir. She resides in the Smithville Community in Cornelius.  Currently, she is enjoying retirement and serving on the SCC board.