Br. Maximilian Watner

President, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Staff, St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary

Member of the Buckingham Chamber since 2021, President since January 2023

Br. Maximilian Watner was born and raised in upstate South Carolina. He comes from a long line of all-American entrepreneurs, and he grew up helping at his father’s two small businesses: Inman Feed Mill and Inman Tire Service. After earning an Associate of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College in Kansas, he entered St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, at that time, in Winona, MN. After earning the equivalent of a Bachelors in Philosophy, he joined the Religious Brothers of the Society of St. Pius X. In 2019 he was assigned as a member of the staff at new facility built by St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Buckingham, where he is one of the chefs for the Seminary and oversees local public relations.

Barbara Wheeler

Vice President, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Retired

Member of the Chamber since 2016

Ms. Wheeler was born and raised in New Jersey and received her B.A. at Georgian Court College (now University) and her Master of Education Degree from the University of Florida. She spent 8 years teaching at the Middle School, High School, and Community College level in Florida. After her teaching career, she worked as a Manager/Enrolled IRS Agent with H&R Block. In 1984 she moved to Virginia and began a 24-year career with the Department of Corrections. She began as a secretary but retired as a Warden in 2010. Over the years she has served on the Board Directors for the Virginia Correctional Association, as well as serving as the president of the Parent-Teacher Association at the local school. In retirement she pursues her interests which are traveling and gardening. She is active in the Buckingham Dillwyn Garden Club, the Buckingham County Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers with the 4H club.

Ruth Lyle

Treasurer, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Member of the Chamber since 2015

Ruth Lyle was born in Longview, WA, but grew up in several different states on the East Coast. She graduated high school from Thomas A. Edison HS in Alexandria, VA. Ruth has worked for the National Education Association in DC and the VA Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. She worked in HR and Marketing for the Atlantic research Corporation and as the budget manager for the Trident Submarine Periscope Program where she managed to keep track of $28 million a year down to the penny – so she is quite over-qualified to count the peanuts in the BCC account!

Ruth’s other work experience includes retail and sales as well as the insurance industry. She was a teacher’s aide for a private school. She finally retired in 2014 from Fairfax Neonatal Associates where she worked in medical billing and was the collections manager. She moved to Dillwyn in 2015 and enjoys landscaping, gardening, reading, cooking, and social activities.

Sandra Moss

Board of Directors, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Owner, Moss Motor Company

Founding Member of the Chamber 1995

Sandra Moss is a Buckingham native and became a charter member of the Dillwyn Fire Department Auxiliary back in the ‘70’s. With her husband, Bill Lewis and son, Billy, she became a member of the business community of Buckingham through Moss Motor Company which opened in 1984 and is still active in the VIADA & NIADA – Independent Automobile Dealer Associations. Together with Shirley Martin and five other business people, she began the Buckingham Business Boosters in 1991, which became the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce in 1995. She is currently a member of Dillwyn First Baptist and serves on the Board of Fuqua School and the Dillwyn Town Council.

Faye Shumaker

Board of Directors, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Central Virginia Health Systems

Member of the Chamber Since 2007

Former president of the Chamber, Faye Shumaker, has lived in beautiful Buckingham County her entire life. She retired after working 58 years for Kyanite Mining Corporation and now works part-time at Central VA Health Services. She firmly believes in the importance of shopping local and supporting our home-town businesses.

Gordan ‘Gil’ Ragland

Board of Directors, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Old Dominion Insurance Services Inc.

Member of the Chamber since 2023

Gil Ragland was born in Philadelphia but was raised in Buckingham and has always considered it home as did generations of his family before him. He graduated from Longwood College and went into the Insurance business. He now owns two agencies that service Central and Southern Virginia. He has been a board member of the Buckingham Chamber since 2023 and looks forward to serving its members into the future.

Justin D. Midkiff

Board of Directors, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Clerk, Buckingham Circuit Court

Member of the Chamber since 2019

Justin Midkiff was born and raised in Buckingham (Dillwyn, VA). He attended Buckingham County High School and graduated as Salutatorian in 2011. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in American Government and Politics from the University of Virginia in 2015, he worked for his family’s business, Midkiff Timber, LLC, for three years. In a special Election he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court in 2018. In 2023 he was re-elected, winning 99% of the vote and receiving more votes than anyone else in the election.

Margaret Stout

Board of Directors, Buckingham Chamber of Commerce

Owner, Dillwyn Dairy Freeze

Member of the Chamber Since 2005

Margaret Stout was born in Buckingham and has lived there all her life. After graduating from Buckingham High School, she began working at the Dillwyn Dairy Freeze in 1969. In 2005 she became the owner, and she continues to operate this Buckingham icon to this day. She also serves on the board of the Central VA Christian School.