BEST OF SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE 2003
Most Influential

RON WILLARD, Sr.
Leading the list of most influential for the second year in a row is Ron Willard.  And it’s no surprise since his operations have assisted more than 1,200 families in making Smith Mountain Lake their home. With developments including The Waterfront, The Water’s Edge, The Boardwalk and their most recent project, Westlake Towne Center, The Willard Companies have brought life, culture and entertainment to the area. Still in development, Westlake Towne Center offers retail shops, professional office buildings, a theatre, condominiums, an assisted living retirement center and a Par 3 nine-hole golf course. While adding to the community, The Willard Companies also supported the community by sponsoring events such as the SML Charity Home Tour.

SUSAN WEISGERBER
As director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Susan has given a new tone to "The voice of the business community." She has helped the Chamber more than double its membership (active membership is now 429 members with 9,151 employees), added more benefits for members, and kicked-off the first Junior Chamber. Through reorganization, revitalization and even some remodeling, the Chamber is ready to offer its members and the community more than ever. From regional tourism partnerships between Smith Mountain Lake and Bedford to three Franklin County virtual tours on the Virginia is for Lovers web site, Susan is making sure SML gets noticed. And it looks like she’s getting noticed too.

ED WATERS
Making the influential list for the second year, Ed Waters’ popularity has grown almost as much as the lake area has. When he and his family first moved here there was very little commercial development. In the 20 years since Waters and his wife Linda fell in love with this land, Waters has given area residents a lot more to love. As the Lake started to take off in 1984,Waters and his brother Greg opened Water’s Edge, a dock building business. Waters also purchased several parcels of land and hired an architect to lay out Bridgewater Plaza. As this mall on the water was built, it filled in quickly. A Welcome Center, Bridgewater Marina, the miniature golf course and a variety of shops made Bridgewater one of the most popular areas in the community. And he’s not finished yet with plans for floating boat slips for public parking and a 1,200 foot boardwalk around the point. There’s no doubt that the new development will be as popular as Bridgewater and Ed himself are.

THOMAS LOVEGROVE
Lovegrove owns Bayview Holdings, a licensing, holding and investment company consisting of pre-venture Technology and Software companies. Currently serving as the President and Founding Director of the Smith Mountain Lake "Angel" Club, Lovegrove has served multiple venture capital boards representing billions of dollars invested. Lovegrove is collaborating with several organizations and investors involved with the management of NASA, Virginia Tech, UVA, and VCU intellectual properties. VCU and UVA elected Lovegrove to membership in the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI).  As Chief Executive of several organizations, Lovegrove brings high tech employment opportunities to the tri-county trading area of Smith Mountain Lake. All that and he still finds time to actively contribute to the quality of life in the community by serving on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA leadership board, the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Aviation Network (FAN), the SML Boating Association, the SMLA Lake Committee, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and the Board of Directors of the Association of Lake Area Communities (ALAC). He’s a member of SML Marine Fire/Rescue, Scruggs Fire and Rescue. He’s Chairman of the Roanoke River Basin Water Conservation Alliance Inflow Group. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Upper Roanoke River Roundtable and is a Patron of the Smith Mountain Arts Council.

CAPTAIN SEAWEED
His mother called him Paul Berube, most people call him Captain Seaweed, but everyone calls him 'friend'.  Before moving to the Lake in 1969, the Captain served in the Navy and then worked as an air traffic controller.  If you haven't hung out with him at Mango's or Portside, you've probably seen him riding around the lake on his Harley, or driving his 1956 Chris Craft boat.  Captain Seaweed is one of the charter members of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, and he has won his cruiser class in the Antique Boat Show for two years running.

The reason Captain Seaweed is one of the Lake's most influential people is his undying optimism. According to his friends, Seaweed's philosophy of life keeps him happy at all times--he loves life and lives it to the fullest.  He is the kind of person that men, whether young or old, want to be like when they "grow up." Tim Reith summed it all up, saying, "Captain Seaweed is as good as they get."

MIKE TURNER
Mike Turner has watched the average dock price at Smith Mountain Lake go from $3,000 - $4,000 to $30,000 - $40,000. And his popularity has grown in leaps and bounds too. He and his wife Jane moved to the lake in 1972 and started a construction business. By 1976 it became Turner’s Building Inc. From floating docks to custom-built boathouses, they do it all. He says the key is dedicated employees—and 10 of his 18 full-time employees have been with him for over 15 years. While running a company that produces over 2 million in docks per year, Turner still finds time to be Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Cool Branch Rescue Squad. To investigate and improve lake conditions with the Tri-county Administrative Commission (T-LAC). And to help the people of Franklin County as a board member of the Free Clinic of Franklin County. Having grown up in the area, Turner is quick to tell us how "This is a great place to live. All the people of this area will be right there for you when you need a hand. And we all have those days when we need a hand." If his popularity is any indication, Mike has been there for quite a few people also.

DON FINK
If it’s a cultural influence you are looking for, Don Fink in an inspired choice for the second year in a row. Retired to Smith Mountain Lake after a 35-year career in aviation and journalism, Fink is making things quite harmonious here. And it’s no surprise. Fink serves on the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Symphony, teaches an adult Sunday School class at Trinity Ecumenical Parish and is a member of the Lake Lions Club. He helped coordinate a tri-county "vision" for the lake. He is president of Smith Mountain Lake Arts Council and the Smith Mountain Lake Association, and he’s making many contributions toward promoting the arts at the lake. And considering his background Fink could probably do just about anything. He earned his pilot’s license at age 12, then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in journalism form the University of Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Air Force followed by a career with the international journal, Aviation Week & Space Technology. He retired after 10 years as editor-in-chief and editorial director for the Aviation Week magazine group.

DAVE CAPPELLARI
Chosen for the second year in a row, Dave Cappellari is a popular guy around Smith Mountain Lake, and quite a busy one too. He’s president of Capps Home Building Center. A past president and director of the Chamber of Commerce/Partnership. A member of the Rotary Club. A charter member of the Lions Club. An active member of Resurrection Catholic Church, serving on the Parish Council and teaching religious education classes. A youth soccer and basketball coach. And in his spare time Cappellari also enjoys lending a helping hand to charity organizations—sponsoring the Charity Home Tour since its inception and donating the building and land to the Lake Christian Ministries. Cappellari is no stranger to recognition, in 1999, the Moneta Ruritans named him Citizen of the Year. "I wouldn't be anywhere without the support of family, friends and colleagues," he said. And apparently they feel the same way about him.

SHARYN BEHNKE
Coming off the heels of the most successful Charity Home Tour ever, Sharyn Behnke’s influence is impossible to dispute. As Event Coordinator, she headed up planning, months of preparation, 1,400 volunteers and three days of hosting over 3,300 visitors to ten lake homes for a record-breaking gross income of over $240,000 to be split among eight charities. Sharyn is no stranger to this kind of work, and this kind of success. With a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she was a Headstart Teacher in Grayville, Illinois and Social worker for Aid to Dependent Children in Mt. Vernon, Indiana before relocating to the Lake area. For years she has been coordinating the intake and distribution of Angel Tree, Easter and Winter food baskets, working one-on-one with needy families and heading-up social justice issues. She served as the Church Representative on several Lynchburg non-profit boards including Interfaith Outreach, Live it up–a local suicide prevention program, the Domestic Violence Coalition, and Timberlake Area Ministries. For seven years she was Social Minister at St. Thomas More in Lynchburg,Va and for 10 years she directed and developed CASA of Central Va.– Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children. She played an integral part in taking that organization to state and national levels. All that and she had time to be a wonderful wife and mother to three boys.