JAY SCOTT President

Jay Scott has lived in the Venable Neighborhood off and on since 1960 and highly recommends it to anyone considering a move to the area.  In prior lives, he has worked as an entrepreneur and in senior management at the University of Virginia. Jay currently works as an executive recruiter in the field of higher education.  Jay and his wife, Sarah Bedford, have three kids, who have all learned to ride their bikes and climb trees in the neighborhood.

erica goldfarb past president

Erica Goldfarb has lived on Wayside Place since 1998, having moved here from Cleveland, Ohio.   She recently retired from the International Studies Office at UVA.  Husband Adam  works at the UVA Medical School.  She has served regularly in various volunteer positions around the area and also enjoys travel, cooking, the outdoors and being with friends. "I believe in the power of the community neighborhoods to work towards a better place for all." She and Adam raised two daughters who attended Charlottesville public schools. You will probably see her walking her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Georgia and Gus.

diane hillman  board member

Diane Hillman has resided, with her two dogs, in the Venable Neighborhood, since 2002. She is retired from a career as health care planner and policy researcher, at UVA Health System and VCU as well as other major medical centers across the U.S. Diane spends her time volunteering for various local not-for-profit organizations including Congregation Beth Israel and Building Goodness Foundation. She also spends her time hiking, gardening, dancing, playing piano and bridge and just enjoying life in Charlottesville.

robert king board member

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Mr. King was born and raised in Charlottesville Virginia and was baptized at First Baptist Church on Main Street at the age of seven years old.
He attended Jefferson Elementary School, Venable Elementary School, Walker Middle School, and Lane High School.  He also attended Saint Paul’s Episcopal College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.
Mr. King helped integrate Venable school in 1960 to help conquer the Commonwealth of Virginia’s massive resistance program that was put in place throughout the state to prevent African-Americans from fully participating in American society. He was on the battlefield at the age of 10 years old. From there he was among the first students to open Walker Middle School in its first year of operation. He would then go on to Lane High School where he was part of a football team that had a winning streak that lasted 53 games over five years. That team became the winningest team in the nation at that time.
After high school, he left Charlottesville for Saint Paul’s Episcopal college to study business administration.  
Subsequently, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked for several grocery chains (A&P, Kroger and Big Star Foods) ultimately becoming a store manager.   After 35 years in the grocery business, he moved on to a satellite business, the wine industry. He worked as a Sales Rep calling on accounts and placing orders. His accounts were some of the best to be had in Atlanta which included businesses in the Buckhead, Peachtree Road, Peachtree Street, and Piedmont Avenue areas of the city. As a result, he became very successful in the wine industry.
After retiring in 2015, he returned home to Charlottesville to spend some of his best years in this great city.   


 

MARTIN KILIAN board member

Born in Germany, came as a grad student to the US in 1975. Studied political science, US history and African-American literature in Europe and at the University of Georgia. PhD in US history. Wrote for Der Spiegel and other publications in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Always bounced between Washington DC and Charlottesville. Lives on University Circle since 1992. Married to Silvia Sanides, two daughters, one in DC and one in Vienna, Austria.

CAILEE HALLIGAN student board member

Cailee serves as the Inter-Sorority Council representative to the Venable Neighborhood Association. A member of the Class of 2027, Cailee is studying both Economics and Global Sustainability, with a minor in General Business. Along with being a member of Tri Delta Sorority and the Inter-Sorority Council, Cailee is involved with the 2027 Class Council and serves on the executive board of Lighting of the Lawn as well. In her free time, Cailee loves to go for walks around the neighborhood, spend time with friends, and try new recipes!

Pen Oldham student board member

Pen is a Fourth-Year History major at the University of Virginia, pursuing double minors in Economics and Entrepreneurship. He serves as the Public Relations Chair for the Inter-Fraternity Council and represents the council on the Venable Neighborhood Association Board. A member of Zeta Psi Fraternity, Pen is actively involved in campus and community life. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he enjoys spending time with friends, walking his dogs, reading, writing, and running.

fritz knabe Treasurer

Fritz Knabe has been part of the Venable neighborhood since 2021. In the late 90's he was a homeowner in the Lewis Mountain neighborhood and participated in the City's neighborhood leadership training at the time. In the intervening years he lived in Boston and was active in organizing block parties and other neighborhood activities, while continuing to rent out his former Charlottesville home and pay regular return visits.. Professionally he has been an engineering leader in various startups, and he currently assists faculty and grad students start new companies through UVA's Licensing and Ventures Group. He lives with his wife and high-school-age daughter on Edgewood Lane.

maria rincon Board member

Maria Rincón (she/her) is a proud long-time resident of Charlottesville/Albemarle and the surrounding counties, where she spent her most formative years. A 2017 graduate of the University of Virginia, Maria has called the Venable neighborhood home twice—first as a student during her 4th year and now as a young professional dedicating her time to the nonprofit sector. She has a strong passion for social justice, and believes that fostering meaningful relationships within our community is essential for driving positive change. She is excited to join the Venable Neighborhood Association to connect with more of her neighbors, encourage civic engagement, and inspire others to stay informed and actively involved in the neighborhood’s growth and development. Outside of her day job, you can find Maria at a DSA meeting, leading board meetings for Creciendo Juntos, a local nonprofit, or enjoying a walk with dogs around Washington Park.

matthew clark board member

Matthew was born in Port Angeles Washington, a beautiful city that he still loves and holds dear.  After graduating from Pomona College in 2004 Matthew moved to Portland Oregon to pursue a career in scientific research while simultaneously working in new home construction and real estate development. He met his wife Brittany while taking advantage of an opportunity to lead a construction project in Montauk, Long island.  After years of living and working in Brooklyn, Atlanta and Washington DC, the Clark family decided to move to one of their favorite places in the world, Charlottesville, Virginia, to raise a family and live out their lives. 

ALEXANDER BEER Board MemBER

Alexander and his family have lived on Edgewood Lane for over two years and in Charlottesville for six. Drawn to the neighborhood’s energy and strong sense of community, he’s eager to take a more active role and so volunteered to join the VNA board. He looks forward to helping build on the current momentum and lend a hand wherever he can. Alexander owns and manages real estate and can often be found walking laps around the neighborhood with his toddler.