Nick Ellis, Chairman
Dr. M. Nixon Ellis (Nick) is currently President and CEO of Argolyn Bioscience and has over 20 years of pharmaceutical experience in major research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Most recently Dr. Ellis served as President of Trimeris, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of viral disease. Dr. Ellis joined Trimeris from Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1995 until 2000. Dr. Ellis was employed by Burroughs Wellcome Co. and The Wellcome Foundation Ltd. He spent 12 years in positions of increasing responsibility within the Division of Virology, ending as the Assistant Director. Dr. Ellis then transferred to London to the group business development headquarters. Dr. Ellis holds a B.S. degree in biology from the University of South Carolina, a M.S. degree in medical microbiology and a Ph.D. degree in microbiology from the University of Georgia, and an M.B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina. He now lives in Southern Pines with his wife Effie and he continues to foxhunt and competes hunter/jumpers.
Larry Smith, President
Larry has many interests ranging from restoring antique airplanes to three day eventing. He and his wife, Elenor, both pilots, own and operate a Connecticut business that manages corporate jets on a worldwide basis. Larry was the former chairman of the Winsted Memorial Hospital and is currently on the Board of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority. Larry owns a Southern Pines horse farm as a winter residence where he continues to ride and to drive throughout the winter and spring. He and Elenor live in Connecticut in the fall and winter months closely surrounded by their family, many of whom ride and compete.
Doreen Schlicht, Treasurer
Doreen is a CPA, currently managing Treasury Services for FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc. She moved to Southern Pines in 2006 from Connecticut where she was Chief Financial Officer of Target Insurance Services since 1998. Prior experience includes Vice President with CIGNA, Inc. and audit manager with Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Doreen has recently begun eventing, after successfully showing hunters for many years. She and her husband live on a horse farm in Southern Pines.
Wyatt Upchurch, Vice-President
Wyatt has been Owner and President of Tar Heel Turkey Hatchery, Raeford, NC for the past 30 years. He has been very active in the community for three decades, serving on the Hoke County Board of Commissioners for 10 years and as Chairman of that Board for 6 years. Wyatt Upchurch has served as President of the State and National Turkey Federations, was Kiwanis Man of the Year, and continues in numerous leadership roles in economic, educational, and cultural growth and development in the County.
Stephen Later, Secretary
Stephen is a partner in Robbins May & Rich LLP in Pinehurst, North Carolina, where he focuses on business and healthcare law. He moved to Southern Pines in 1998 after several years in Washington, D.C., where he worked in the U.S. Senate. Although his horse show participation began and ended with the lead line class, Stephen foxhunts with the Moore County Hounds, and he and his wife and daughter live on a horse farm in Southern Pines. He serves on the boards of the Sandhills Area Chamber of Commerce, the Pinehurst Historic Preservation Foundation, the Carolina Performing Arts Center, The Walthour-Moss Foundation, and the Arts Council of Moore County.
John Burgess
John graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Education. A lifelong passion for boat building lead him to found Landing School of Boat Building and Design in Kennebunkport, ME. John served as President and Trustee of Landing School, a non-profit educational institution, for over 20 years. John successfully worked with trustees on leadership initiatives at the school, including; long-range planning, a master plan for new facilities, and strategic planning. Currently John spends part of the year in Southern Pines with his wife and he enjoys fox hunting, eventing, sailing, and ice hockey. John serves on a variety of professional and non-profit boards.
Rhonda Dretel
Bio not available.
Marshall Glass
Marshall was born in Philadelphia, PA. His family was engaged in the horse breeding and training business in West Chester, PA. He attended Solebury Preparatory School and joined the US Army Corp of Engineers in 1958 and served in France until 1961. Upon return to the US he established a Thoroughbred breeding farm in Maryland which operated until 1977, then moving to Jackson, WY with his wife Alice, and children. In Jackson he and Alice became involved in the sport of polo and established two businesses; a polo equipment business that operated in Jackson, WY, Palm Desert, CA, and Santa Barbara, CA, as well as a polo field maintenance company in Indio, CA. The Glass family moved back to Pennsylvania in 1987 and Marshall became a Joint Master of the Rose Tree Foxhunting Club in York County. While living there, Marshall also served on the Board of Directors for the York County Farmland Trust. In 1995, the Glasses moved to Southern Pines. Marshall has served on the Planning Board for the town of Southern Pines since 2002 and is involved in the home remodeling business with his son and son-in-law while enjoying an occasional round of golf.
James Granito
Bio not available
Richard Moore
Dick graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with an A.B. degree in Political Science and attended the University of North Carolina Executive Program. He was employee Milliken & Co. as General Manager in New York City and Spartanburg, SC. Dick areas of responsibility included, marketing, sales, advertising, public relations, manufacturing, and styling and development. Dick now resides in Southern Pines with his wife Andrea. He is currently President of the Board of Directors of the Walthour-Moss Foundation, having served on their board since 1993.
Kelly Valdes
Kelly began her equestrian career in Cheshire, Pennsylvania fox hunting and eventing. She worked for Frolic Weymouth in Chadds Ford, PA in 1974 and that’s where she traded in the riding saddle for a set of driving harness. In the late 70’s she helped to organize the Chesterland and Radnor Driving Events. In the 80’s, Kelly was introduced to the international driving scene as navigator for Deidre Pirie competing at the Windsor Horse Show and at the 1982 four in hand world championships in Appledorn, Holland. Kelly began her own business named Driving Disciplines, teaching horse and rider how to be safe and competitive. In 1989 Kelly was privileged to drive a pair of Dutch warm bloods, sponsored by Peter Wetherill, to the world championships held in Lake Balaton, Hungry. Kelly was the USET national single champion in 1996 and 1997 and the 1998 silver medalist at the singles world championship in Ebbs, Austria. Kelly moved to Southern Pines in 2000 to manage Clair Reid’s Big Sky Farm and help with her welsh ponies. Kelly helps to organize the Pine Tree and Southern Pines Combined Driving Events. She is currently chairman of young drives for the American Driving Society and also runs the young drivers camp at Big Sky farm held every summer.
Wade Young
Wade Young grew up in Riddle, Oregon, a small town in the southwestern portion of the state. He enlisted into the military, and spent twenty years of service in the U. S. Army. The majority of his career was spent in the U. S. Army Special Operations Command. Wade spent two tours in the U.S. Army Ranger Regiment and eight years in the Combat Applications Group (CAG) of USASOC. While assigned to CAG, he deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Wade retired from the Army in the summer of 2006. Since retiring, Wade has divided his time between pursuing an economics degree from Campbell University, and working as a consultant to Army Special Operations Forces. He enjoys riding, fly-fishing, and organic gardening. Wade is married to Caroline McKissick Young and they live on a farm in Vass, North Carolina.
Jo Ann Williams
Jo Ann lived in Dover Massachusetts for 21 years and was a member of the Norfolk Hunt Club, participating in the Club Board and filling the position of Chairperson of the AA rated Hunt Club Horse Show. By creating a Horse Show Committee, the group was able to go from losing money on the show to becoming a major contributor of funding for Hunt Club expenses in just one year. After coming to Southern Pines for 23 years, Jo Ann finally made the move and has lived in horse country for the last three years. Growing up, Jo Ann was involved in horses from a very young age. Her riding experience includes dressage, eventing and horse shows, and in the past ten year her efforts have been focused in the Horse Show world, primarily Jumpers. Presently, she is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC in Durham, North Carolina.
Lefreda Williams
Lefreda has fox hunted for 40 years, and evented and shown horses for 50 years. She has been a Horse Trials Organizer since 1970 and was a member of the Board of Governors of USCTA for thirteen years. She is a founding director and has served both vice president and president of the Carolina Horse Park Foundation. She continues to be a director on the CHPF board. Lefreda was named one of the Ten Most Influential People in Moore County for the year 2000. She continues her long and successful eventing career competing at events throughout the east coast.
Rebecca Wood
Rebecca grew up in Chapel Hill, NC; showing on the Hunter/Jumper circuit, before changing over to show Arabians. She graduated from NC State University in 1997 with an Animal Science and Agricultural Business Management degree. A Territory Sales Manager with Cargill Animal Nutrition/Nutrena for 5 years, Rebecca covered NC, SC, and VA. She is now an Assistant Vice-President; Sr. Commercial Loan Officer; with Cape Fear Farm Credit in Raeford and Laurinburg, NC. Rebecca serves on the Hoke Community Foundation Board of Directors, the NCSU Equine Advisory Board, and is a Past President of the NC Alpha Zeta Alumni Association, a National Honorary Fraternity serving Agriculture. She and her husband Randy, the Livestock Extension Agent for Hoke and Scotland County, recently moved from Moore County to Hoke County, where they live with their pleasure horses on a small farm.
Jane Murray, Executive Director
Jane worked in the financial services industry for over twenty years in several roles including Director of International Human Resources; Managing Director, Corporate Banking Marketing and Planning; and Director of Corporate Compensation and Benefits at Bank Boston Corporation and Fleet Boston Financial Corporation. She has significant Human Resource Management and Organizational Development experience. In 2002, Jane left the corporate world to focus full time on her eventing career. She currently competes at the upper levels along with her husband, Tim and her daughter, Helen. She holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont. Jane is a past member of the Carolina Horse Park Board of Directors and of the Myopia Hunt Equestrian Committee. She recently purchased a home in Southern Pines where she resides in the fall, winter, and spring and in the summer months resides in Hamilton, Massachusetts