About

Our Team


Everyone involved with Neptune Festival is passionate about providing our community a variety of events open to those who love fun in the sun. Meet the team who helps Virginia Beach celebrate the beach life.

Leadership

Dave Burton Headshot

Dave Burton

Chair of the Board

Buffy Barefoot Headshot

Buffy Barefoot

Chair-Elect

Steve Sager

Steve Sager

Celebration Chair

Stephanie Sager

Stephanie Sager

Celebration Chair

Neptune Festival Headshots Steve Childs

Steve Childs

Chair of Fundraising

Stephen Armbruster web

Stephen Armbruster

Vice Chair of Fundraising

Double Wave Divider 

Staff

Neptune Festival Headshots Kit Chope

Christopher "Kit" Chope

President & CEO

Contact Kit
Neptune Festival Headshots Bo Wilkinson

Bo Wilkinson

Vice President of Operations

Contact Bo
Neptune Festival Headshots Melanie Gazzolo

Melanie Gazzolo

Director of Marketing & Special Events

Contact Melanie
Neptune Festival Headshots Theresa Rudacille

Theresa Rudacille

Director of Development

Contact Theresa
Neptune Festival Headshots Emma Applebach

Emma Applebach

Community Outreach Coordinator

Contact Emma
Neptune Festival Headshots Beverly Taylor

Beverly Taylor

Office Manager, Volunteer Coordinator

Contact beverly
Neptune Festival Headshots Cary Gaddy

Cary Gaddy

Royal Court Director

Contact Cary
Neptune Festival Headshots Sharon Tanner

Sharon Tanner

Art & Craft Show Director

Contact Sharon
Neptune Festival Headshots Jake States

Jake States

Operations Manager

Contact Jake
Neptune Festival Headshots Sam Broughton

Sam Broughton

Operations Manager

Contact Sam
Neptune Headshot Placeholder

Whit Collins

Special Projects

Contact Whit

Media Inquiries

Need to get in touch?

For Media Relations, contact the Neptune Festival office at (757) 498-0215 or email us using the button below.

Email our Media Team
Double Wave Divider 

Board of Directors

Edward Amorosso
BDO USA, LLP

Buffy Barefoot
TowneBank

Tom Barton, III
Beach Ford

David Burton
Williams Mullen

Adam Carroll
The Garcia Companies

Brian Carson
Gold Key/PHR

Stephen Childs
Core22 Design Build

Nancy Creech
Retired

Stacy Cummings
Priority Automotive

Michael Danso
Virginia Oncology Associates, Brock Cancer Center

Timothy Faulkner
The Breeden Company

Taylor Franklin
Franklin Johnston Group

Justin Fulton
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Steve Herbert
City of Virginia Beach

Andrew Hodge
Atlantic Union Bank

Akhil Jain
Landmark Hotel Group

William Lascara
Pender & Coward

Angie Loew
Breeden Construction

George MacDonald
Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors

Jeff Marks (Of Counsel)
Kaufman & Canoles, PC

Martha McClees
Virginia Beach Vision

Cheryl McLeskey
McLeskey and Associates

George Melnyk
Premier Millwork and Lumber Company

Paul Merritt
NTrust Wealth Management

James Raynor
Architectural Graphics, Inc

Stephen Romine
Williams Mullen

Becky Sawyer
Sentara Healthcare

Patrick Shuler
Forvis

James Spore
Retired

David Stephens
Legacy Business Advisors Mid-Atlantic

Tonie Wallace
Veteran Reporters, Inc

Mark Whitaker
Morrison Foerster

Alvin Williams
Cobalt Grille


Board of Directors Spotlight


David Burton

Williams Mullen

David C. Burton is a partner with the law firm of Williams Mullen where he serves as the firm’s Hampton Roads Managing Partner.

David is a labor and employment law with over 30 years’ experience. David joined Williams Mullen in 1993 after clerking for the Virginia Supreme Court. David is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Virginia Legal Elite and Virginia “Super Lawyers.”

He and his wife, Anne, joined the Neptune Festival in 2010 as members of the 37th Court. He joined the Board of Directors in 2013 and was honored as the John J. Kruger Award recipient in 2017. David was crowned as King Neptune XLV in 2018 and has served as the Chairman of the Board since 2019.

Buffy Barefoot

TowneBank

Buffy Barefoot is the President of TowneBank Virginia Beach. She has almost three decades of banking industry experience and joined TowneBank in 2013.

She is a graduate of LEAD Virginia, Class of 2021, serves as a director on the boards of the Virginia Marine Science Museum, Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, Hampton Roads Alliance, and Virginia Beach Neptune Festival.

Buffy and her husband, Jason, joined the Neptune Festival in 2013 as members of the 40th Court. Buffy has served on the Neptune Festival Board of Directors since 2020, the Executive Committee since 2021, and is currently the Chairman Elect.

Double Wave Divider 

Directors Emeritus

The Honorable David H. Adams

Jim Arnhold
HAV, Inc

Lee Bandy
Warren & Bandy, PLC

Matthew Breitenberg
Straight Path Management

B. Scott Burgess
Hoffman Beverage Co.

Sal DaBiero
Lionheart Ltd t/a Burger King

J. Morgan Davis
TowneBank

Doug Ellis
Venture Realty

Ellen Ellis

Thomas Fraim, Sr.
The MASA Corporation

Thomas Frantz
Williams Mullen, PC

Joseph Gianascoli
Gee’s Group

Brad Hobbs
Hobbs & Associates

Dr. Clarence Holland

Peggy Layne

Mike Levinson

Paul Michels

Craig Poppen
Napolitano Homes, Inc

Rod Rodriguez
Bay Mechanical, Inc

Daniel Ryan, Sr.
Dan Ryan’s for Men

Joan Spore

J. Randolph Sutton

Stephen Test

Neptune Statue 

Learn more about the 34' statue of Neptune that stands tall over the Boardwalk.

Learn About Neptune