Board of Directors & Staff
Meet Our Team
CRAB Board of Directors and Staff members love sailing and are well aware of its benefits.
Board of Directors
CRAB Board members’ personal experiences and life-long love of boating convinced each of them of the therapeutic and restorative powers of time spent on the water and that CRAB was the right organization to share this experience with others.
James “Jim” Nolan
Chair
“As a resident of Annapolis since 1962, I have spent a great part of my life enjoying the Chesapeake Bay. I’m excited to join CRAB’s Board in order to assist in enabling those with disabilities to have their lives enriched by equitable access to the Bay. I had the great honor of interacting with CRAB founder Don Backe shortly after the formation of CRAB. I’m eager to help carry on his legacy and that of this wonderful organization.”
Jim Nolan is a partner of Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A. He previously served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1987-2015. Mr. Nolan’s practice includes general civil and criminal litigation, administrative law, business and commercial law, corporate law, construction law, real estate and land use law and personal injury law.
In addition to Jim’s extensive litigation and business experience, he has been a leader in many bar, civic and business organizations. He is a member and Immediate Past Chair of the Board of the University of Baltimore Foundation and Board of Visitors and a member of the Board of Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB). He is a Past President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, the Maryland State Bar Association, the Anne Arundel County Bar Association, the Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation and the Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers. He previously served as a Delegate in the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association for 16 years. He is a Past Chair of the Board of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, a Past Chair of the Board of Severn School, a Past Co-Chair of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, a Past Chair of the Board of the Historic Annapolis Foundation and a former member of the Boards of the Annapolis Banking and Trust Company, the Annapolis Advisory Board of PNC Bank, the Annapolis Community Foundation and the Maryland Bar Foundation.
Elizabeth “Beth” Rossman
Vice Chair & Secretary
Elizabeth (Beth) Rossman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She inherited her love of
being on the water from her dad, and she and her family spent a great deal of time
during her childhood boating, fishing, and crabbing all along the Chesapeake Bay and
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Beth became a volunteer with CRAB in late 2020
and strongly believes in CRAB’s mission – the therapeutic value of being on the water
for anyone with a disability, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved
communities. Beth not only works with CRAB leadership, she is also an active volunteer
who enjoys interacting with guests and sharing in their joyful experiences.
Beth currently serves as both Vice Chair and Secretary of the CRAB Board of Directors.
She is Chair of the CRAB Governance Committee and an active member of the CRAB
Development and Programs & Activities Committees.
Before her retirement in October 2019, Beth enjoyed a 35-year career in both the
government and private sectors in Washington, DC. She spent the first 20 years of her
professional life in the Federal Government, the majority of which was serving in the
White House Office of Management and Budget. She worked for Administrations of both
political parties and advised the OMB Directors and other senior White House policy
officials on all aspects of the legislative process as it pertained to the President’s
Budget, including relevant authorization legislation and all appropriations/funding
measures. After retiring from the Government, she went to work as Vice President of
Global Government Relations for Honeywell Aerospace. She led a global team whose
primary goal was to support Honeywell business leaders throughout the defense,
energy, space, and civil aviation business segments. Beth and her team worked with the
US Departments of Defense, Energy, and Transportation; the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration; the White House, US Congress, and key Congressional
Committees; and embassies and other international representatives on a daily basis.
Beth also serves on the Board of the Greater Washington Aviation Open (GWAO), the
largest aviation charity event in Washington, DC. She is also very involved in supporting
Suited for Change, a Washington, DC, non-profit organization that equips women in
need in the community on their path to financial independence by providing them with
professional attire, coaching, and skills training.
Beth has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maryland
Baltimore County and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of
Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She has
served on the Board of Visitors for GSPIA for more than a decade.
Will Crump
Treasurer
Will is a successful technology entrepreneur and investor who has made Annapolis his home because of his love for the water and competitive sailboat racing. Shortly after graduating from Hampden-Sydney College, Will moved to Annapolis to race and coach sailing professionally. He earned multiple regional, national, and continental championships which afforded him the opportunity to meet his future bride who represented Denmark on the Danish Olympic sailing team.
After attending the Copenhagen Business School together, Will and his wife Marie Klok Crump became technology executives and entrepreneurs in the data management space with a specialty in hyper-growth and building high performance technology teams. Together they have built two companies into industry leadership positions, while successfully match racing, offshore distance racing, and one-design fleet racing. Together they have earned regional and continental titles in addition to some of sailings most legendary offshore trophies.
The father of two girls, Will is excited to share his favorite sports of lacrosse and sailing with his daughters and cultivate the tradition of philanthropy he learned from his mother’s thirty-year service in the United Way of Virginia.
David Hankey
Immediate Past Chair
David Hankey grew up on the Magothy River, where he still lives and sails. Starting with a small wooden rowboat his father built for him when he was 4, David has enjoyed a variety of boats on the tidewater. His family’s current fleet includes a mix of canoes, kayaks, dinghies, and sailboats—none of which he’s able to use as much as he’d like.
David sails his 50-year old Pearson sloop, the Night Owl. David’s best first mate is his teenage son Michael, who has a significant developmental disability. He also regularly crews in the Annapolis Wednesday Night Races, the NOOD, the Oxford race, the Canadian Friendship races, and best of all the Boatyard Bar & Grill Regatta benefitting CRAB.
David deeply believes in the therapeutic value of being on and around the water—which is precisely CRAB’s mission. His family’s own long experience confirms that belief.
Over the years David has served as a board member and board chair of a several charities, ranging from a large regional health care center to small community-based groups.
Professionally, David practices with the Baltimore law firm of Gohn, Hankey, Stichel & Berlage, where David concentrates on business and corporate law. His clients include a number of national and regional non-profit organizations, as well as a variety of large national corporations.
David graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Duke University Law School.
Keith Misner
Mr. Misner has over 35 years of national commercial real estate experience with success in
investment sales, investor relations, asset management, and development in public and private
owner/investor firms and major service providers. Mr. Misner is a private investor, developer,
and intermediary focused on the Living Sector.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Misner held key positions in renowned companies, including serving
as EVP and co-head of Investment Sales at Berkadia, Senior Vice President and Portfolio
Manager at Abacus Capital Group, and Senior Vice President of Transactions at AIMCO, a
Denver-based nationally active REIT. His career also includes significant contributions in senior
leadership roles at Grubb & Ellis, CBRE, and Cushman & Wakefield.
Mr. Misner earned an M.S. in Real Estate Development and Investment from New York
University and a B.S.B.A in Finance and Real Estate from East Carolina University.
Mr. Misner also serves on the Board of Directors of The Buoniconti Fund, which supports The
Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in Miami, FL. Keith further supports The Miami Project and
cancer-related charities through a family foundation, The Misner Foundation. Keith is an at-large
member of the Annapolis Yacht Club Board of Governors.
Mr. Misner has lived in Annapolis, MD, for 30+ years, is married to Gretchen Misner, and they
are always active with three 20-year-old sons: Maxfield, Blake, and Gavin. When not working,
Keith enjoys boating, skiing, pickleball, traveling, and spending time with the family Bernie
doodle dogs, Bennett and Bair.
George Schulze
George served on the CRAB Board of Directors from 2020-2021. He was one of the first major fundraisers in the Skippers Challenge to use his business contacts and social media to raise a record amount of funds. He moved to North Carolina in 2021 but has moved back to Annapolis and has rejoined the CRAB Board.
George has been boating all since early childhood and greatly loves and respects the water. In all his years of boating, safety has been a paramount concern after witnessing a fatal boating accident. When he moved to this region twenty years ago, he always planned to retire on the Bay, except for a brief hiatus to Cornelius, NC.
Before retirement, George enjoyed a successful 42-year career in the hi-tech industry, both in sales and executive management. He worked for companies ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar companies like KPMG Consulting and OpenText. While at OpenText, he was Senior Vice President and member of the CEO’s Executive Leadership Team. He was responsible for an $800M global business unit and assisted in mergers and acquisitions. His client base of over 60,000 customers included many of the Global 2000 companies like Citibank, Nestle, and Toyota. His business unit was recognized by Gartner (the premier research and advisory company) as the #1 provider of business-to-business services for four years. His leadership style, passion, and ability to work collaboratively with employees and many different companies and cultures around the world led to his successful business career.
He was introduced to CRAB at The Crab Cup in 2019. Due to a fairly severe accident, he had six years ago, which included a number of surgeries, leaving him with some permanent nerve damage to his knee, he felt a strong personal affinity with CRAB’s mission. His compassion for CRAB aligns with his love of the water and personal experiences. George’s understanding of the happiness boating brings to CRAB’s guests inspired him to serve on CRAB’s Board and further support its mission.
George graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He has a son and daughter, along with two adorable grandkids. He resides on Spa Creek with his yellow lab Ellie, and a beautiful Formula 31 Bowrider.
Sandy Grosvenor
Sandy is an international official in the sport of sailing and a lifelong sailor. She is recognized by World Sailing as an International Judge, Umpire, and Race Officer. She is also currently Chair of the Race Committee at Annapolis Yacht Club.
Sandy does not remember learning how to sail: She grew up sailing initially on family boats and then competing for many years in keelboats like the J/22 and J/24 all around the country. She match-raced for several years rising at one point to 13th rank among women internationally.
She shifted priorities into officiating and has served at international events around the world over the last 15 years including highlights such as being Chief Judge twice at the Laser Women’s Radial World Championships; being Principal Race Officer for the 2018 J/22 World Championships and the 2017 5O5 World Championships.
As her mid-life crisis, she started to train and compete in triathlons and other endurance sports, culminating in finish in the 2016 Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI, and 3rd in her age group in the 2018 International Triathlon Union’s Aqua-Bike World Championships.
Professionally, she has been career software developer working over the years with (among others) Leidos, SAIC, and NASA.
Stephen Ritterbush
In December 2016, Dr. Ritterbush retired as the Managing Partner of Fairfax Partners, a Washington, D.C. based equity firm, which he founded in 1989. During his career Dr. Ritterbush had been responsible for approximately 40 private equity investments that were a combination of both leveraged buyout/acquisition-oriented transactions and more traditional early-stage venture capital opportunities. Over the last 18 years, Dr. Ritterbush has also founded or co-founded more than 25 companies.
From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Ritterbush was President and CEO of Greater Washington Investors, a $38 million Small Business Investment Corporation (SBIC), where he repositioned a stagnant, underperforming portfolio, ultimately resulting in an eleven-fold increase in the share price.
In 1986, Dr. Ritterbush, with five partners, successfully acquired Kaiser Engineers, of Oakland, California. Kaiser Engineers was then merged with ICF, a northern Virginia company of which he was a partner. In the newly merged companies, he served as a director and senior corporate officer of ICF Kaiser International, Inc., and President of its subsidiary, American Venture Investments, Inc. During this period, ICF’s revenues grew from $18 million to more than $500 million, as the company became one of the largest environmental engineering and remediation firms in the United States. In 1989, the company was taken public by Alex Brown.
From 1981-1986, Dr. Ritterbush served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arthur D. Little Far East, Inc., located in Singapore. While in the Far East and later in Washington, DC he worked with Advent International of Boston, MA to establish and develop venture capital funds in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Dr. Ritterbush received a BS in civil engineering and a BA in political science from Union College. He subsequently earned an MS in oceanography from the University of Hawaii as well as an MA in international affairs and a PhD in international economics from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. He was concurrently awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship to support further study at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Dr. Ritterbush served on the Board of Trustees of Union College and as Chairman of the Finance Committee for eleven years from 2005-2016. Until 2019 he served as Chairman of the Board of Advanced Software Systems (Assyst) of Sterling, Virginia. He is currently the founder and equity owner of two early-stage companies: xMD Diagnostics, which develops medical equipment for the emerging field of genomics, and Cordex Systems, Inc., a medical device company that is developing a new non-invasive way to examine inflammation in a patient’s arteries. He has been awarded ten US and International patents covering the development of medical technologies.
Arthur “Jib” Edwards Jr.
Jib is the President and CEO of The Severn Companies and currently oversees 100 employees and 60 multifamily housing communities in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Responsible for over $500,000 in annual capital expenditures and $8 million in annual rental income, Jib has sponsored and served as a partner on a total of 25 limited partnerships that have acquired and built an aggregate of $200 million of assets on behalf of investment partnerships. Jib has successfully developed a diverse range of multi-family housing developments, from small rehabilitation projects to large master planned communities using structured financing that includes market-rate and government programs such as 515, HUD 221D-4, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and other affordable housing resources. Certified as HCCP and C3P Specialist, Jib is recognized by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program for compliance in the LIHTC program. As a specialist in housing planning and development for over 20 years, Mr. Edwards has served as a consultant to state federated labor councils, housing development corporations, and state and local housing authorities and taskforces. Prior to joining The Severn Companies, Jib served as a naval pilot and flew the SH-2F during Desert Storm, where he was awarded two Navy Achievement awards.
Shelly Ford
Shelly is the Head People Person at The Brick Companies (TBC) based in Edgewater. In addition to overseeing the HR functions for TBC, she also sits on the executive team and assists in the setting of the strategic direction for the organization. Shelly oversees the “Good Works” arm of TBC as well and is very involved in facilitating fund-raising events and implementing programs and initiatives supporting TBC’s commitment to Social Responsibility and Environmental Leadership. In her spare time Shelly enjoys golf, cooking, gardening, and time spent with her grandchildren and her Great Dane “Millie” and her Quaker Parrot “Tula”.
Don Santa
Don is an active Annapolis racing sailor on his J-105 Santa’s Reign Dear, who has supported the sport of sailing and charitable organizations with a sailing/boating focus, especially CRAB. He also has prior experience as a member of nonprofit boards for the Arundel Rivers Federation and St. Anne’s School of Annapolis.
Don is an executive with over 35 years’ of experience dealing with the intersection of law, public
policy, and business imperatives affecting the energy industry. He has served in multiple roles connected with the US natural gas and electric power industries, including federal government policymaker, industry trade association leader, corporate legal and executive positions, and outside counsel.
Staff
Paul “Bo” Bollinger is the President & CEO of Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) and has been serving in this role since March, 2016. Prior to becoming the President & CEO he was a CRAB Board Member in 2015. Bo was responsible for the public funding, accessible and sustainable design, and construction oversight of the Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center that opened in 2023.
Bollinger was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky majoring in Business Administration and Airport Management. He is married to Elizabeth Stablein Bollinger, his high school sweetheart and they have two adult children and two grandsons. Elizabeth was designated an honorary “Admiral” of CRAB in 2017 for her exemplary service to the organization.
Bo has been boating all of his life starting on the Ohio River and many of Kentucky’s major lakes, before sailing and boating on Chesapeake Bay for 40 years. His local boating covers the entire length and breadth of the Bay and Delmarva.
Bo spent 18 years working in Washington, DC in senior level positions for aviation associations such as the American Association of Airport Executives; Airport Consultants Council, Airports Council International; and, the Air Traffic Control Association. In addition, he spent more than a dozen years working for companies in the aviation industry such as AECOM and Boeing. His favorite work was as a Special Assistant and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary from 2006-2009 in the Pentagon. He was responsible for standing up the alternative fuel certification program for the Air Force; and, creating the Army’s energy strategy and initiating projects to reduce consumption, increase renewables, and enhance energy security. Bo also provided oversight for the $13B public/private partnership to build 89,000 new housing units for soldiers.
Working with his aviation friends, Bo created the Greater Washington Aviation Open (GWAO) in 1989 which is the largest aviation charity event in Washington, DC. The GWAO was the 2013 recipient of the National Aeronautic Association’s Public Benefit Flying Award and has raised over $3 million for several aviation charities.
Bo founded the Wounded Warrior Sailing Regatta in Annapolis in 2012 and was introduced to CRAB’s founder Don Backe. In 2018, Bo had the idea of creating the Triple Crown of Triple Crown Sailing Trophy to create greater interest in sailing and raising funds for the Leukemia Cup, CRAB Cup, and Hospice Cup.
Bollinger earned a graduate executive certificate in association management from George Washington University in 1984. He earned his U.S. Coast Guard Master’s license in Sail/Power in 2006.
Rebecca Gonser is a native of New Jersey and gained a love of watersports on Greenwood Lake, NY, and Lake Wallenpaupack, PA boating with her family and friends. After graduating from Monmouth University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism, she married USNA graduate JT Gonser. As a Navy family, they traveled around the country on an adventure together.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has gained extensive marketing experience working with several non-profits, military interest groups, and special education advocacy organizations. Rebecca has experience in event management, relationship management, branding, design, editing, and grant writing. Rebecca has also been an active volunteer, and has served on the board of the Chesapeake Public Relations Society of America.
Rebecca and JT have three teenage children. All of whom love sailing and boating and enjoy volunteering for CRAB whenever possible. When not on the water, Rebecca and her daughter are avid equestrians and can be found competing at local and regional horse shows.
Matt Schaaf was a volunteer CRAB Skipper for several years before joining the CRAB Board of Directors in 2018. Matt officially resigned from the Board in May, 2022 to take on the role of Director of Operations.
He was formally the Executive Vice President at ds+f, A Full-Service Branding Agency. For over twenty years Matt helped build and grow the business to serve a diverse mix of local, national, international and Fortune 500 clients. ds+f was an integral partner with these clients for Marketing, Branding, Advertising, Digital Media and Event Promotion. ds+f gained Inc. 500 status as well as winning numerous industry design awards for their work. As EVP Matt worked directly with clients as well as handling the financials and operations of the business. Before ds+f Matt spent seven years in restaurant management after attending Shepherd University in West Virginia for Hotel & Restaurant Management.
A 20+ year resident of Annapolis, an avid alpine skier and ex-instructor, motorcyclist, power boater and sailor. Matt bought his first sailboat at age 14 after learning to sail at summer camp and has actively sailed boats up to thirty feet.
Besides sailing with CRAB as much as he can, Matt has enjoyed helping run the Recovering Warrior Regattas, as well as other CRAB events.
Shannon Rohrer, is CRAB’s Manager of Programs. Shannon is responsible for all communication, scheduling, and managing CRAB’s boating and education events. She also takes charge of scheduling and management of all facility rental events at the new Adaptive Boating Center. Shannon’s smiling face welcomes all guests, volunteers, Fleet Directors, and friends when they arrive to participate in all CRAB programs.
Shannon came to CRAB with twenty-nine years of hospitality experience. Her career began at the Ram’s Head Tavern and Tsunami restaurants in Annapolis. From there, Shannon relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, in 2002, where she continued in the Hospitality Industry and obtained an education in Culinary Arts. In 2017, shifted her focus to management and obtained a position at the Seabrook Island Resort Club and at Kiawah Island Club.
After many years in South Carolina, Shannon returned to Annapolis and became a member of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and assumed a position at Annapolis Yacht Club, where she continued to exceed expectations.
As a native of Kent Island, a love of the Chesapeake Bay comes naturally to Shannon. She and her husband, Chris, an experienced sailor and past CRAB Volunteer, have established their home just blocks from the Adaptive Boating Center and expect many joyful and fulfilling days on the water. “I am excited to be a part of the CRAB team. Life on the water has always brought me joy, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share that experience with the guests and volunteers at the new Adaptive Boating Center,” said Shannon.
Shannon has a passion for golf, loves water sports, and excels in customer service.
Vicki Neidenthal
Family Sail Coordinator
Vicki’s bio will be added soon!
Fleet Directors
George Pappas
Dan Flagler
Tom Spitzer
Dan Pendergast
Walt Laird
