Shannon Crocker’s lifelong passions began with horses and the community of Middleburg, where she advanced through the young rider ranks before earning an Engineering degree from the University of Virginia. Her undergraduate thesis explored the use of MRI technology for horses—an innovation that has since become standard practice in equine medicine.

Today, Shannon’s focus is on technology and leadership. For the past 11 years, she has built a career at Microsoft, where she not only drives mission-critical work but also champions culture and community. She founded and led the Culture Club within the National Security Group to strengthen team collaboration, and as a Vice President–appointed lead for the Microsoft Give Campaign, she spearheaded communications that helped raise millions of dollars for charitable causes.

Shannon has supported the Federal Justice and Legislative team at Microsoft for more than 12 years. She is passionate about empowering customers in both mission and cybersecurity spaces—helping them solve complex challenges, foster cross-collaboration, and leverage Microsoft’s resources to achieve success.

Her earlier career experiences span dynamic flight controls and UAV navigation systems for aviation companies and the U.S. Army, as well as facilitating neuroscience research through behavioral and observational software. 

Shannon lives in Middleburg, Virginia with her husband, Sean, and their son, Brodie. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, tennis, skiing, and yoga—always seeking balance between professional impact and personal fulfillment.

A Texas native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, John Price was a reporter and editor at newspapers in Eau Claire; Pampa, Texas; and Annapolis., Md., before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1987. He served as the entertainment, travel and books editor at Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service and McClatchy-Tribune News Service for nearly 30 years before joining The Washington Post’s News Service in 2014. He retired in July 2023.

Price has been a Leesburg resident since 1996. He and his wife, the late Lori Price, became involved as parents with A Place To Be soon after its inception; their son Jack was one of Tom Sweitzer’s first music therapy clients.

Matt Banner’s passion for performing arts began in elementary school when he became involved with community theatre.

After moving to Virginia in 2011, Matt and his family soon discovered local performing arts groups including the Loudoun Symphony (where his daughters joined the youth orchestra playing bassoon and violin) and Loudoun Lyric Opera.

Matt served on the Loudoun Symphony’s Board of Directors for six years, including three as president and two as vice president. Under his leadership, the Symphony achieved remarkable milestones, including navigating the challenges of the pandemic, doubling its audience size, and tripling corporate support.

Matt is excited to join A Place to Be’s board. He is inspired by the passion and compassion A Place to Be’s cofounders and staff generously share with their clients and the residents of Loudoun County and looks forward to helping A Place to Be execute their strategic plan while creating community, belonging, and hope.

Dana Hamerschlag is a strategic executive with 20 years of experience leading private equity backed technology companies.  She spent the early part of her career as a consultant leading transformational change projects across a wide variety of industries.  She hasn’t been able to kick the consulting habit and still enjoys serving as an advisor for a variety of organizations. She earned an MBA from The Harvard Business School and a BS in Finance from the University of Virginia.  She has served as Vice Chair of the Loudoun County Economic Development Advisory Commission, a mentor for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and is a grant-maker for both the Loudoun Impact Fund and 100 Women Strong.  Dana has lived in Leesburg with her family for more than 20 years. 

Ms. Hathaway is a veteran business leader with significant experience in executive recruiting and advisory, client relationship development and management, partner engagement, sales strategy and management, event development and sponsorship, training, sales performance, and marketing. Her entrepreneurial instincts and relationship networks developed across more than two decades enable her to provide clients and teams she leads with strategic, innovative business solutions that lead to revenue and profitability. She also possesses the rare ability to problem solve in the moment on topics related to people, strategy and process. Additionally, she is an adept speaker, moderator and emcee. Her client portfolio includes some of the most diverse and sought-after C-suite executives and thought leaders in Fortune 500 companies, media, and non-profits/social impact organizations.

Ms. Hathaway currently advises clients on leadership roles, specializing in professional services, media + technology, social impact and other mission-driven organizations. She partners closely with clients to identify business challenges and recruit top leaders in roles including CEO, COO, CMO and others across industries. With over 20 years of advising executives, Alisha helps leaders build high-functioning teams and advises clients on leadership strategies such as succession planning and executive assessment. While her most recent years have focused on executive search and advisory, prior to that, at CNBC/NBCU she focused on building the firm’s thought leadership powerhouse anchored in marquis events and councils, partnering with executives across some of the world’s most impactful companies and organizations. Earlier, at The Wall Street Journal she was an integral part of building and growing the hallmark leadership councils such as the CEO Council, CMO Network, and CFO Network. She also founded the Hathaway Group, now Blue Bench Advisors, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in business transformation, technology modernization, thought leadership, workforce development and business development.

Ms. Hathaway lives in Northern Viriginia with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and two horses.

Heather is a native of Northern Virginia and a resident of Loudoun County for the last 15 years.  She is active in her community, currently serving as a Founding Board Member and Treasurer for the Young Men’s Service League Dulles Chapter, an organization that promotes mothers and sons volunteering together in their local community. She previously served as a Board Member on her children’s sports teams and school PTA. Heather is also a grant-maker for Loudoun Impact Fund (LIF), a philanthropic organization based in Loudoun County, VA.

Heather is a Senior Wealth Advisor at MAI Capital Management where she serves, helping clients with their retirement, financial goals, and investment management strategies. She is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Public Accountant and has 30 years of experience in providing financial, tax, and strategic planning advice.  Previously, Heather ran her own tax and business advisory firm for five years and was employed as a CFO, controller, finance and human resource professional for several small-to-mid-sized companies in the Washington, D.C. area.  She is a graduate of the University of Richmond.

Heather has been involved with A Place to Be since 2018 when her son, Patrick, participated in the music therapy program. Her family experienced tremendous benefits through the therapy as well as the A Place to Be community, and she became a huge advocate of the organization.  She is excited to join the Board of Directors in 2024 and continue to spread the mission of A Place to Be to help more families in our region.

Heather resides in Round Hill, Virginia with her husband, three children and two dogs.  In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, tennis, skiing, gardening, and cooking.

Bobbi has always been involved with non-profits and volunteering.   She has instilled that value of service in her family.  Instead of Mother’s Day gifts, she asks her daughters and grandchildren to volunteer their time instead.   Her has a BA in Management.  She has previously served on the board of Healthworks, and All Ages Read Together.    She currently serves on the boards of the Equine Rescue League, 100WomenStrong Executive Committee (one of the original founders),  the INOVA Foundation Board and A Place to Be.   She spends free time with her grandchildren, numerous dogs, and horses.