WARM Board of Directors
Meet the Board
Brian Edwards, Board Chair
Brian originally hailed from Northern Virginia but fell in love with the Shenandoah Valley when he went to Bridgewater College where he earned a degree in history and political science. He also met his partner in crime, Michele, and married her shortly after graduating. Together they settled in Fishersville and then moved to Waynesboro where they raised their three children, Carly, Isaac, and Olivia. All of whom are Waynesboro High School graduates and attend or graduated from Virginia Tech.
Brian spent 26 years as a police officer for the Waynesboro Police Department and retired at the rank of sergeant. In 2019, he became a school teacher for Waynesboro and Augusta County Public Schools. He has found his passion in teaching math to high school and middle school students at Valley Academy Alternative School in Fishersville. He is a member of Fishersville United Methodist Church where he has served in many capacities. He also served two terms on the Waynesboro School Board and various other local commissions and advisory boards.
Brian’s path to WARM began in 2011 when he was working a patrol dayshift that ended with the discovery of the body of a homeless man who had been bludgeoned to death by two other homeless men and discarded like trash in the South River. As a devout community activist, Brian joined his church in being one of the first churches to host the Cold Weather Shelter. He spent many nights fellowshipping with our unsheltered neighbors, many of whom he had had interactions with as a police officer. “All people are worthy of God’s love which is manifested in shelter, food, warmth, and being treated as a human.” Brian joined the WARM Board of Directors in 2015 and has served as board chair since 2018.
Jeff Loomis, Vice Chair
Jeff came to Waynesboro in 1985, shortly out of college, for a 6 month IT assignment at the DuPont plant and either did a really good or really bad job as he has been here ever since! He married his beautiful wife Cathy in 1989 and they have three kids who are all grown and in the working world but thankfully all still live in Virginia.
Over the past 40 years, Jeff has tried to serve the community in many ways, starting with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, then Boy Scouts (serving as committee chair as well as other roles), Shenandoah Valley Stargazers (past president), Shenandoah Marlins swim club (SMAC) board, Westminster Presbyterian church (where he served on the session and as a trustee), then most recently working with the Boys and Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta county, where he served on their board for 6+ years and is still very active as an ex-officio board member and volunteer.
In December 2024, Jeff made the decision, after 40+ years working in industry, to retire from full time paid employment and devote more of his time to volunteering in the Waynesboro community. As part of this effort, he joined the WARM board officially in February of 2025 (having worked with WARM in the past through Westminster Presbyterian Church) and in 2026, Jeff accepted a role on the WARM executive board as vice-chair.
Susan Myers, Secretary
Susan was born in Milwaukee, WI and grew up an Air Force brat – moving numerous times. She graduated with a BS from the University of Southern Mississippi and obtained her JD from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Susan’s career was with State Farm Insurance; she retired as a Claims Team Manager in 2020. She is married to Michael (Mike) Myers and after almost 20 years, they finally moved “over the mountain” to Waynesboro from Greenwood in 2023.
Susan and her husband, Michael (Mike) are active members of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church here in Waynesboro. Susan is an active member of Church Council, the Finance Committee, Adult Choir, and Altar Guild; she participates in various activities and outreach programs. She is a former Chair of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Board of Directors. In 2023, she worked with others from area churches to organize and form HERO of Waynesboro.
Susan and Mike are the Co-Founders of Raising Resources for Readers (3Rs) which has been helping local students retain and strengthen reading skills since 2014.
Susan first came to WARM as the Coordinator of the Cold Weather Shelter for Grace ELC in 2022 when WARM reopened the CWS after COVID. She is thrilled to be a member of the Board and is currently serving as Secretary of the Board and a member of the Events Committee.
Mary E. Hunt Cowherd, Treasurer
Mary Hunt Cowherd, EA is the President of Hunt & Associate, LLC, a tax and accounting firm in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. As an Enrolled Agent (EA), she is federally licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and has extensive experience in tax preparation, accounting, payroll, and financial consulting for individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Mary serves as Treasurer of WARM (Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry), where she oversees the organization’s financial stewardship and works to strengthen its financial processes and internal controls. She also co-chairs WARM’s Finance Committee, helping guide long-term financial planning and accountability.
Giving back to the community has always been important to Mary. She served as Treasurer of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office Foundation from October 2017 through December 2025 and is also a member of First Bank’s Advisory Board.
Mary’s Christian faith guides both her personal and professional life. She is honored to use her experience to support WARM’s mission of providing shelter, support, and hope to those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
Richard Kane, Past President
Raised as an “Army brat,” Rick has had plenty of experience with moving before settling permanently in Waynesboro over 45 years ago. With his wife Mary, they raised 3 children and have 10 grandchildren.
Rick graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech in 1977. In 1981, he entered the real estate industry and was awarded the local Rookie Realtor of the Year award, and in 1982, 1983, and 1984 the Realtor of the Year award. In 1985, he was recognized on the Virginia Association of Realtors Honor Board as President of the local association. The next year, he received the 1986 Salesman of the Year and has served twice as the local association president.
He is a 1985 Graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI) and also was awarded the Certified Residential Specialist CRS designation in 1985. This designation represents that he has had additional education and experience which places him in the top 5% of all U. S. Realtors. He received his Broker’s License in 1990, the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation in 2008, the Certified Green Professional in 2009 and A-REO designation in 2011.
In 1990, after seeing the movie, “Field of Dreams,” Rick realized that although very successful in real estate, he missed deigning homes. For the next 20 years he was the Vice-President of Westhills Company, the area’s premier builder, and Vice President –Broker of Westhills Ltd. REALTORS, which allowed him to practice both. He has deigned approximately 175 homes over the years. He was voted the 2010 Valley’s favorite Builder and also the 2010 Valley’s Favorite Real Estate Agent by the News-Virginian. With the decline of the building industry he purchased Westhills Ltd REALTORS in November of 2010.
His background in architecture is a real asset in his real estate career. Extensive knowledge of construction and design afford him opportunities to offer constructive criticism of homes being considered by his clients.
He believes that serving his community is a privilege and a duty. He was a Trustee of his church for 24 years and serves as the current Moderator, three time President of the Kiwanis Club, Kiwanian of the Year 2013 and 2014, Non–Rotarian Vocational Service Award recipient, former firefighter, soccer and baseball coach, and a three time president of the Augusta Homebuilders. He is a Past Chair and current Vice-Chair of the Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry (WARM) which provides services and shelter to the area’s homeless community. He has been named to the Community Foundation Board of the Central Blue Ridge Board in 2024.
Lisa Wade, Board Member
Lisa was born in Washington D.C. and was raised in Rockville, MD. James Madison University brought her to the Shenandoah Valley in 1981, and it quickly became her home.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from JMU, and her Masters and Doctoral work was completed at University of Virginia. Lisa was a teacher and reading specialist for Waynesboro City School for 32 years before retiring. She and her husband Bud have 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
As a lifelong active church member, Lisa has always had a heart for helping others, and joining the board of WARM has been a natural extension of that commitment. It has truly been a blessing to her to be part of such a dedicated and caring team.
Fr. Tom DuMontier, Board Member
The Reverend Tom DuMontier is a priest, parent, husband, and a passionate advocate for the unhoused. Tom’s parish, St. John’s Episcopal Church serves as an overflow site for WARM’s cold weather shelter, and WARM proved a valuable ally when St. John’s hosted a community forum on housing and homelessness. Tom is attracted to WARM’s mission and commitment in seeing Christ in all people, and in WARM’s courage to do the hard, messy, faithful work of loving and serving the poor and neglected.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Centre College in Danville, KY and a Masters of Divinity from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.
Tom has lived most of his adult life in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro area.
Prior to ordained ministry he worked at the American Shakespeare Center, Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, SAW Habitat for Humanity, The Frontier Culture Museum, and WQSV radio in Staunton.
Tom is married to Nicole DuMontier. They have 2 daughters, Wallis and Saskia.
Tom enjoys food, film, music, and time in nature.
Jackie Sims, Board Member
With nearly 37 years of service to Augusta Health, Jackie Sims is an experienced healthcare leader with a background in clinical operations, workforce development, service line growth, and enterprise transformation. She began her career as Clinical Coordinator of Critical Care Services where she led ICU operations, supported the opening of Augusta Health in 1994, expanded critical care capacity, and contributed to the organization earning Thomson Reuters Top 100 ICU recognition.
Jackie later served as Director of Staff Development partnering with Virginia community colleges to establish an onsite nursing program that advanced internal workforce development, while also redesigning nursing orientation and developing an AHA training center. From 2011 to 2024, Jackie was Administrative Director of Clinical Operations for Augusta Medical Group where she led the development and expansion of multiple service lines, secured significant grant funding to support access to care, expanded Primary Care from five to twelve sites, and achieved Patient-Centered Medical Home certification.
Currently, Jackie serves as Enterprise Design Lead for the Expanse EHR project, leading system build, implementation, and training, with a focus on designing the future digital day for ambulatory care. Jackie holds a BSN and MSN from the University of Virginia and maintains NE-BC and CMPE certifications.
Jackie is an active member of First Baptist Waynesboro and also serves on the Board for the Augusta Regional Denta; Clinic. Outside of work, Jackie enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, motorcycle trips with her husband, gardening, and cooking. Her passion lies in advancing access to care and strengthening the health and well-being of the community she calls home.
Wanda Washington, Board Member
Wanda grew up in Staunton and currently resides in Waynesboro. She is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose life is guided by strong Christian values. Wanda is an active member of New Valley Church, where she finds joy in serving alongside her church family and supporting her local community.
Professionally, Wanda works as a local realtor, where she is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate one of life’s most important decisions with care and integrity.
Wanda believes it is both a privilege and an honor to serve others. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships, assisting those in need, and making a positive difference in the lives of the people she serves.
Lillian Boutrous, Board Member
Bio coming soon
Dr. Nadia Kuley, Board Member
Bio coming soon