ABOUT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Raquel Ramseur
Chair

Raquel Ramseur is the Chair 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.

Richard Dandurand
Treasurer

Dick Dandurand serves as the Treasurer 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.

Ron Potts
V.P. Treasurer/Emeritus Advisor

Ron Potts serves as the V.P. 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.

Ivy Harvell

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.  

Rayford Miller

Clarence “Rayford” 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.

Elaine Withers

Elaine 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.

Lisa Mayhew-Jones
Emeritus Advisor/Executive Director

Lisa Mayhew-Jones currently serves as the Executive Director and Emeritus Advisor on the Board of Directors for the Smithville Community Coalition. Lisa has led the grassroots efforts of the organization since 2011. Lisa is responsible for the oversight of residential services. She manages the program’s execution, hires, and supervises the employees, and ensures excellent treatment of the program members. She is a direct contact for all residents of the Smithville community for any issues or concerns. She partners with other non-profit organizations in the area. Lisa manages phases of rehab of existing homes and the building and construction of the revitalization plan. Lisa received her Associate Degree in Business from National Business College, Roanoke, VA, and Duke University Certification Non-Profit Management. She is continuing her education by becoming a HUD Certified Counseling Agent and is on track for graduating from Southern New Hampshire in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with Non-Profits. Lisa spent most of her career in executive administration and office management. Lisa led the development and articulation of a multi-year strategy that has mobilized the town government and neighborhoods in the East Catawba area on improving neighborhood infrastructure, delivering community services for groups in need, aiding economic development and job creation, and spurring housing revitalization. Lisa was a member of the Board of Directors of Our Towns Habitat for Humanity and Lake Norman YMCA. She is still actively involved with both organizations. She led the Smithville efforts for the creation of the Jazz Festival, Community Garden, and annual neighborhood cleanups. Her community activism inspired community improvements in safety and drainage and motivated the local Kiwanis Club to sponsor a new Splash Park at Smithville Park. Lisa was born and raised in Smithville until the sixth grade. She still has family that lives in Smithville. She cannot wait to move back into the community once homes are built with the revitalization plan. Lisa currently lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband.

Sammie Knox
Emeritus Advisor

Sammie Knox serves as an Emeritus Advisor 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.

John Quinn
Emeritus Advisor

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
Emeritus Advisor

Justin Miller 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.