Our Board
Marv Nisly, Chair
Retired VP of Design and Construction, VMRC
Marv was born in Hutchinson Kansas and moved with his family to northeastern Ohio where he lived until going to college at EMU. Marv was employed at VMRC for almost 30 years in various capacities, and he was involved in some way with the planning and construction of most of what you see at VMRC. Marv now works part-time doing home inspections for LD&B Insurance. He enjoys woodworking and is involved in three non-profit boards, including NewBridges. Marv joined the NewBridges Board in 2016 serving first as chair of the Development Committee and then as Board chair starting in 2020.
Bethany Blackstone, Vice Chair
Dean of the Honors College and Professor of Political Science, James Madison University
Bethany and her family relocated to Harrisonburg in 2022. The community's vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive culture was essential to the family's decision to make their home in the Shenandoah Valley. Bethany is a political scientist with research and teaching interests in American politics, and she serves as the Dean of the Honors College at James Madison University. Serving on the NewBridges Board allows Bethany to combine her passions for inclusion, community, leadership, and organizational development to promote the values that drew her to the area.
Josh Lowe, Treasurer
Certified Financial Planner, Edward Jones
Josh works as Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones and has previously served as the Treasurer for Church of the Incarnation as well as Open Doors. Josh and his wife Laura have two sons and love everything that Harrisonburg and the Valley have to offer. He is excited about this opportunity to integrate his work and aptitudes for the benefit of New Bridges and our Valley’s immigrant population.
José Thompson, Secretary
Design Associate LDDBlueline
José, originally from Honduras, studied at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, briefly pausing his education to participate in competitive shooting events as part of the Honduran Olympic Shooting Team. After graduating with a degree in Architecture, he began his career in Arkansas before relocating to Harrisonburg with his wife, who works at James Madison University. He joined Blueline (formerly Blue Ridge Architects) in 2012 and remains with them. Additionally, he co-founded Chestnut Ridge Coffee Roasters in 2018 and has aspirations in real estate development. José enjoys baking, cooking, and traveling, and loves spending time with his wife, daughter, and two pups.
Alicia Corral-Clark
English Learner Supervisor/Liaison, Rockingham County Public Schools
Alicia is a proud immigrant from Mexico. She is also a lifelong educator at RCPS where she is currently the EL and WL supervisor. She lives in Rockingham County with her husband and six children.
Nicholas Phillips
Immigration Attorney, Law Office of Nicholas J. Phillips PLLC
Nicholas is a Harrisonburg lawyer whose practice focuses on asylum, family immigration, naturalization, deportation defense, and federal court appeals. Prior to moving to Harrisonburg in 2020, Nicholas worked as an immigration attorney at Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, where he worked with a team of attorneys to establish a public defender system for immigrants facing deportation proceedings while incarcerated in New York State prison. An immigrant himself, Nicholas grew up in southwest England before moving to the United States with his family in 1991. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys playing music and hiking around the Shenandoah Valley.
Jessica Pellerito
Family & School Liaison, Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Jessica was born in Long Island, New York and moved to Harrisonburg with her family in 2004. Over the years, she has found great joy living in this community and believes in taking an active role to make Harrisonburg a welcoming city for all. Jessica is a first-generation Latina to parents from Honduras and El Salvador. She graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in social work. Currently, she works with families of Harrisonburg City students, as a liaison to the school. Empowering families to be connected to their child's educational journey is her work's commitment.
Landon Heavener
Entrepreneur, Designs by Landon Heavener, Teacher, Explore More Museum
Landon is originally from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, but relocated to Harrisonburg after graduating from EMU in 2015. He became involved with Newbridges during his time as a middle school Newcomer teacher in HCPS. He now owns and operates a custom furniture shop, but continues his involvement with our immigrant population through his efforts on the board. When not working, Landon enjoys playing music, cooking, and camping with his wife and dogs.
Kevin Iwanicki
Director of Operations, Rockingham Speciality.
Kevin grew up in Elkton, VA, as a Spotswood High School and Virginia Tech alum. He's been with Rockingham Insurance for 20 years, currently as Director of Specialty Operations. Kevin lives with his wife and three kids on the east side of Harrisonburg and they attend Harrisonburg Mennonite church. He is a member of the Rockingham Rotary Club and likes to spend time with friends on Rotary service projects. Kevin’s hobbies are running, mountain biking, hiking, and watching football. He has lived a full and blessed life and is fortunate to serve with the good people at New Bridges Immigrant Resource Center.
Tinangeles Abreu
Harrisonburg Police Department, Victim Services Liaison Coordinator, Civil Celebrant for Rockingham County/City ofHarrisonburg Circuit Court, Notary Public
Tina, a co-owner of Golden Pro Cleaning, relocated from New York City to Harrisonburg in 2008 with her husband. Tina is a mother of two and a caregiver for her mother. With 22 years of experience in law and community service across various cities, she's dedicated to aiding immigrants and refugees. Learning from the struggles her Immigrant parents experienced, she has made it her mission and passion to help others be informed and be a voice to fill in the gaps where it is needed for our community. As a defense paralegal, notary, and Victim Services Liaison Coordinator for Harrisonburg PD, she advocates for those in need. Tina is committed to working in the service of the immigrant and refugee community.
Bill Weech
Adjunct Professor Of Management, James Madison University
Bill has lived in four countries and visited more than 30 others. He has been an exchange student, Peace Corps volunteer, freelance English teacher, diplomat, and management consultant overseas. Having raised four perfect children, Bill retired from full time work in 2015 and currently enjoys working with students in JMU's College of Business. Bill also volunteers as an interpreter at the Blue Ridge Free Clinic and as a mentor for refugee youths with CWS. In his free time, Bill enjoys exploring the Valley on his bicycle and dreams of becoming a grandfather.
Wendell Shenk
Instructor of Spanish, Eastern Mennonite University, Language and Literature Department
Wendell was born in the Shenandoah Valley and grew up in Dayton. While in college at Eastern Mennonite University, he began working with New Bridges as an interpreter in both Social Services and the Virginia Employment Commission. Ove the next several years Wendell trained interpreters in the Shenandoah Valley and worked as a Liaison in the Harrisonburg City School system, working alongside New Bridges. Currently Wendell teaches Spanish and Linguistics at Eastern Mennonite University and is working on a doctorate in the geographical variation of Spanish through the University of Salamanca. When he isn't studying linguistic change he can be found making woodturnings or watching his sons play soccer.