About Orchard House
2010-2011 Board of Trustees
Mr. Henry R. (Speaker) Pollard, President
Mr. Pollard, a Richmond native, holds a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he served as a Member of the Law Review. Additionally, Mr. Pollard holds an M.B.A from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College, where he graduated cum laude. Mr. Pollard combines his science and business education background to the practice of environmental and water supply law. He assists governmental, business, development, nonprofit, and individual clients with issues such as water quality, wastewater, sewage, storm water management, wetlands, water rights, solid and hazardous waste, Superfund, petroleum and chemical storage, air pollution, cultural resources, and species protection at federal, state, and local levels. Mr. Pollard is also a member of the Board of Directors of Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition, where he serves as their secretary. He is a member of Third Presbyterian Church. He serves as a Youth Soccer Coach for Strikers Soccer League.
Mr. Rob Farmer, Vice President
Mr. Farmer is the Managing Director of the Richmond branch of Morgan Keegan Company, an investment firm headquartered in Memphis. Mr. Farmer serves as the incoming Chairman of the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond, having served on that Board for 15 years. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Virginia and is a former Board member of the Alumnae Association of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
Ms. Gayle Williams, Secretary
Ms. Williams worked in the computer services industry providing business applications to government and private industry in Washington, D.C. and California before returning to Richmond. She is active in the volunteer guide program with the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
Ms. Benita Felmus, Treasurer
Ms. Felmus is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Engineering. She has worked for General Electric, GTE, and Pitney Bowes as a product manager, product creator and product development manager for over 20 years. Her volunteer efforts have been widespread including: Short Pump Elementary School, Deep Run High School, and Temple Beth El. As the parent of an Orchard House alumna she was very active in the school community. She is married to Ron Felmus and they have two daughters Samantha and Nicole.
Ms. Guenet Beshah
Ms. Guenet Beshah is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but migrated to the United States at a very young age. Her biggest source of life lessons and joy come from her daughter, Olivia Grace. Ms. Beshah received her formal education from Duke University School of Law ( J.D.) and Hampton University (B.A., in Political Science). She began her professional career with the Litigation and Lobbying teams at Christian Barton, LLP and went on to join Capital One where she became a member of the Legal Department’s Senior Leadership team. Among other roles, Ms. Beshah was responsible for the Functional General Counsels supporting all of Capital One’s lines of business, staff groups and Securities. In 2005, Ms. Beshah seized the opportunity to pursue her dream job of Executive Coaching. In this capacity, Ms. Beshah supports executives and their leadership teams in realizing their leadership and management goals. In addition to Orchard House, Ms. Beshah serves on the following boards: Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (“RRHA”), Commissioner and Chair of Finance and Administration Committee; Venture Richmond, Executive Board; Metropolitan Business League (“MBL”), Board member and Chair of the Strategy Committee.
Ms. Amy Ashworth Calos
Amy Ashworth Calos is a lawyer at an intellectual property boutique firm, Leading-Edge Law Group, PLC, in Richmond. Her practice focuses on trademark, copyright, and trade secret law. She received her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and her undergraduate degree in political science from Davidson College. She has served on the Boards of Philanthropy by Design and the Tuckahoe Condominium Association. She is married to Stefan Calos and they have two children, Lexi and Ari.
Carole Conner
Ms. Conner holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Old Dominion University. She is a former physical education teacher at the middle and lower school levels in both Norfolk and Henrico County. Ms. Conner worked in her late husband’s estate planning legal practice for many years as an assistant and bookkeeper. She serves on the Boards of the Monument Avenue Preservation Society (MAPS) and the Historic Monument Avenue and Fan District Foundation (HMFDF).
Dr. Mark Emblidge
Dr. Mark Emblidge joined Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004 where he currently serves as an affiliate professor at the School of Education and as Director of the Literacy Institute at VCU. His research focuses on adult and family literacy, high school reform, and at-risk children. Dr. Emblidge serves as the founding director of both the Virginia Literacy Foundation and Communities in School of Virginia. He is the past president of the Virginia State Board of Education and is currently the vice chairman of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). This year Dr. Emblidge is working with President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan as his education advisor. Dr. Emblidge received his Ph.D. and his M.Ed. from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He is married to the former Robbie Banning and they have two children, Catherine and Caroline.
Ms. Paige Goodpasture
Ms. Goodpasture earned a B.A., an M.Ed. in mental health counseling, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. After law school, she clerked for a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, then practiced law at Hunton and Williams in the labor and employment section. In addition to serving on the Board at Orchard House, Ms. Goodpasture has served on the Boards of the William Fox Elementary PTA, the YWCA of Richmond, and the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. She is married to Philip Goodpasture and they have three children - Eliza, an Orchard House alumna, John, and Rose.
Dr. Juliette Landphair
Dr. Landphair is the Dean of Westhampton College at the University of Richmond. She has a Ph.D. and MA in US Southern history from the University of Virginia. Currently her research interests include New Orleans history and women in higher education. Dr. Landphair’s daughter Katie is a student at Orchard House; she also has a son Sammy.
Mr. Jack Martin
Jack Martin is a lawyer at Hunton & Williams and lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law. His practice focuses on antitrust law and includes pro bono international human rights work. He has previously practiced law with the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission and taught law in France as a Fulbright Fellow. He is a former Board member of the Linwood Holton Elementary School PTA and advocate for the Richmond Council of PTAs.
Mr. Richard Moore
Richard is CEO of Mercury Data Exchange, a Virginia based healthcare technology company specializing in providing insurance claim and eligibility information to provider offices in real time. He holds a B.S. and MBA from Old Dominion University and is a CPA. Richard is scoutmaster for Troop 418 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Richmond. His daughter Courtney is a "7" at Orchard House and son Christian is in 9th grade at St. Christophers.
Ms. Sandra Morse
Ms. Morse earned a B.S. in Biology from Madison College (now James Madison University) and a M.S. degree in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been a Managing Principal of Aegis Environmental, Inc. since its incorporation. Ms. Morse has over thirty years of professional experience as a regulator, consultant and trainer in environmental regulations and has been involved in a wide range of environmental issues. She is a current member of the Air & Waste Management Association and associate in the Environmental Law Institute.
Mr. Mike Philhower
Mr. Mike Philhower is a Vice President with Scott Insurance, a leading edge employee owned company which provides commercial insurance solutions and risk consulting. He graduated from Florida State University in 1990 with degrees in Finance & Risk Management.
Ms. Nancy W. Davies, Executive Director
Nancy Davies is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She founded Orchard House School in 1998. Ms. Davies has an undergraduate degree in English and a Master's Degree in Education. Prior to founding Orchard House, she taught in public and independent schools at the elementary, middle and secondary levels, including fifteen years as a fifth grade teacher at St. Catherine's School in Richmond. In 1994, Ms. Davies received a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Foundation, allowing her to research the development of middle school girls and the most effective strategies for educating them. As a result of her research and experience, Ms. Davies has emerged as a national expert in developing curricula and learning environments where girls thrive.
