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Gov. Northam Appoints Four to Old Dominion University Board of Visitors

By Joe Garvey

Gov. Ralph Northam has named three new members, and reappointed a current member, to Old Dominion University's Board of Visitors.

The new members are:

  • Robert Broermann of Virginia Beach, the chief financial officer of Sentara Healthcare.
  • Peter G. Decker III of Norfolk, an attorney with the Decker Law Firm.
  • MacArthur DeShazer Sr. of Woodbridge, the president and CEO of Aethiops Business Solutions, LLC.

Yvonne Toms Allmond of Norfolk, executive vice president of TowneBank, was appointed for a second term.

All will serve four-year terms starting July 1.

The new board members replace Robert M. Tata, managing partner of the Norfolk office of the international law firm of Hunton & Williams and an ODU graduate; Michael J. Henry, an ODU graduate and chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine; and Donna L. Scassera, president and CEO of DLS Engineering Associates Inc.

Tata was appointed in 2013; Henry and Scassera in 2015.

"We appreciate the service and the wisdom that Bob, Mike and Donna provided to the board," President John R. Broderick said. "We welcome Yvonne's continued service on the board and look forward to working with our three new members. Serving on the Board of Visitors takes a lot of time and commitment. Our board members don't receive enough recognition for all that they do. All of their work is greatly appreciated."

Broermann, who received both a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master of Business Administration from ODU, has held his current position with Sentara Healthcare since 2001. He joined Sentara in 1998 through the merger with Tidewater Health Care, where he was the chief financial officer since 1993.

Decker, who received a bachelor's degree in political science from ODU, focuses his practice on criminal, traffic and personal injury cases. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations and Circuit courts as well as federal courts in the seven cities of Hampton Roads.

DeShazer has led Aethiops Business Solutions, LLC, since 2018. Prior to Aethiops, he was director of small business development and industrial participation for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions from 2002 to 2016. He is also executive director of the MacArthur and Janice T. DeShazer Foundation.

Allmond was appointed to the board in 2015. She served as its secretary from 2016 to 2018. She serves on the Administration & Finance and Student Enhancement & Engagement committees and is the vice chair of the Athletics Committee.

Stephen Greiling was appointed the board's new student representative in May. Greiling, who was a recipient of the Evon Broderick Award in 2018, is a senior majoring in civil engineering with a minor in environmental engineering. He is a graduate of Grassfield High School in Chesapeake.

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