Board of Directors
President-Helmut Weisser
Helmut Weisser, and his late wife Carmen, are the Founders of this non for profit. Helmut has extensive experience in business and a passion for helping his local community.
Vice President- Sarah Teel Bennett
Sarah has had a career in healthcare as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She works at CarolinaEast Medical Center and is a proud mom of 2 boys and the spouse of a USAF veteran.
Treasurer- W. Randall (Randy) Gray, CPA
Randy is a partner with Williams Scarborough Gray LLP with offices in New Bern and Jacksonville, NC. He is an Eastern North Carolina native and has practiced in New Bern since 1988. Randy is a very active member in the community. He enjoys anything that involves being in nature whether on a farm or wooded land or on the river and ocean. Randy is married with four children.
Secretary- Bonnie Wilkins
David and Bonnie Wilkins have lived in New Bern for over 30 years and have four grown children. They both graduated from UNC-CH, where they met. Bonnie's background is in education, and David's is in banking.
Director- Jill Thompson
Jill Thompson has a love for Eastern NC dating back to attending summer camp at Camp Seafarer as a teenager. New Bern became home to Jill shortly after graduate school when she worked full time for Camps Seafarer and Sea Gull. She left Eastern NC to pursue her love of aviation by working for Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association flying to meet pilots across the country. She was thrilled to return to New Bern with her husband and five children in 2011 as the Executive Director of the CarolinaEast Foundation. She served CarolinaEast for ten years before relocating to California to care for aging family. She recently has returned to New Bern and is thrilled to be a part of the Weisser Foundation to help honor the amazing life and legacy of Carmen and Helmut Weisser.
Advisory Board- Colleen Roberts
Colleen Roberts works in public relations for the City of New Bern. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, she spent the first half of her career working in broadcast journalism. She and her husband have two grown children and two adorable grandchildren.