About Us

Tina grew up in South Jersey, the youngest of four girls, with parents who did not discourage them from attempting anything. After earning a B.S. in Health Science Education at James Madison University, Tina worked as a medical librarian, substitute teacher and life guard while attending the George Washington University, earning an M.A. in Education and Human Development. Shortly after earning her M.A., she became a personnel trainer at Old Dominion University and then joined the Navy Resale System as a corporate trainer in Norfolk, Virginia. She transferred to the Navy Exchange Complex in Puerto Rico as the Retail Manager and after eight years returned to Norfolk to accept a position with a military retail broker where she worked for 26 years traveling the world throughout the Navy Exchange system and handling a wide variety of responsibilities. Most recently, Tina is a member of the Ratcliffe Foundation Board of Trustees.

Jim has been the Chairman and advertising spokesperson of Perdue Farms since 1991. He is the third-generation leader of the company founded by his grandfather in 1920. As Chairman, Jim is responsible for ensuring the company stays true to its vision and values, and ensuring that the company continues to build on its strong corporate responsibility programs, especially continued leadership in elevating animal care and strengthening farmer relationships, and a strong focus on associates. Under Jim’s leadership, Perdue Foods has grown to a national roster of premium protein brands, which includes turkey, pork, beef, and lamb. At the same time, Perdue AgriBusiness went from a regional grain and oilseed business to a multi-faceted international player. His leadership guided Perdue to become a leader in workplace safety and associate health, including innovative wellness programs for which the company received the C. Everett Koop National Health award for innovative employee wellness program. Jim received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in marine biology from the University of Massachusetts at South Dartmouth, and a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington in Seattle, and his master’s degree in business administration from Salisbury University in Maryland.

Mike Roman is a Professor and the Former Director of the Horn Point Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. He received a B.A. degree from Lake Forest College, a M.S. degree from the City College of N.Y. and a Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire. His main research interests are biological oceanography and the Chesapeake Bay. Roman has served on a number of scientific advisory committees for the National Science Foundation, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Naval Research and the National Academy of Sciences. He recently is a past-President of the Oceanography Society.