Susan Worteck (President) and her family moved to Chadds Ford from Landenberg, PA in 1998. She’s served the community in many capacities such as Judge of Elections and board member for the Chadds Ford Historical Society and Civic Association of Chadds Ford Township. She has over 35 years of marketing and communications experience having held senior marketing roles in financial services companies in both Wilmington and Philadelphia. She believes Chadds Ford is a special place where history, culture, community and a beautiful landscape come together. She rejoined the CFTRA board in 2021 to help the township preserve those characteristics.
Jesse Sheppard (Vice President), a filmmaker and musician, moved from the suburbs of New York City to Chadds Ford with his wife, Ina, and their 3 young children in the summer of 2005. At the time, the area’s beauty and location were what attracted him; but since then, the little ones have graduated and he has fallen in love with the history and people of this area. From the time he has spent as a Cub Scout leader, to his stint as Treasurer of his homeowners association, to the work he has done as an Election Day poll worker and Chadds Ford SW Committee-person, Jesse has always sought to build community and sees his service on the Residents Association Board as an extension of that commitment.
Joseph (Jody) Allen (Treasurer) grew up in Chadds Ford and attended Chadds Ford Elementary School and Unionville Middle School. After graduating from Brown University, Jody returned to Chadds Ford and began his career by opening the Barnes & Noble in the Concord Mall. Several years later, he moved to New York City and managed B&N stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn before moving to Morocco. After his daughter’s birth, he and his wife Melissa moved back to Chadds Ford to raise their daughter who is a student at Chadds Ford Elementary School. Having grown up in Chadds Ford, Jody has always appreciated the uniqueness of the area which encompasses beautiful open spaces, rich history, and abundant cultural institutions such as the Brandywine River Museum and Brandywine Battlefield. He and his wife are avid trail runners often seen on the Beaver Valley trails or at trail races throughout the Brandywine Valley. Since returning to Chadds Ford, he has served as a Judge of Elections in Delaware County, a Committeeperson in Chadds Ford SW, and is currently a director on the UCFSD School Board and the Delaware County Library Board.
Eric “Tex” Varney (Secretary) was born and raised in Chadds Ford, where he and his wife Genevieve recently celebrated their 15th anniversary. As a youngster he served in Boy Scout Troop 260 and his first job was with The Chadds Ford Tree Service. Later, he started the local chapter of Chadds Ford REACT, an organization dedicated to assisting emergency services, and joined the Concordville Fire Department, where he is a lifetime member. He volunteers over 1,000 hours each year at the Wilmington and Western Railroad, keeping the track straight and the trains running. In edition, he donates time to the Auburn Heights Museum, the Friends of Brandywine Springs Park, Habitat for Humanity, and he remains active with the Boy Scouts. Professionally, he has worked for more than 25 years managing events from live theater, to concerts and festivals, to temporarily catering and medical sites, to presidential events and even the U.S. Papal visit. He sees his work on the Association board as following in the footsteps of his mother, God rest her soul, who was a former member of the Chadds Ford Civic Association as well as a volunteer at the Rachel Kohl Library and Historical Society.
Katharine King moved to Chadds Ford with her family in 1969 and attended Unionionville High School; which is where she met her future husband, Rob, a lifelong resident of the township. She has fond memories of hunting in the woods behind their first small house off Bullock Road. Eventually purchasing a beautiful property on Ring Road, Katharine and Rob grew their business (Chadds Ford Tree Service), raised four amazing children, and attended church right here in town. Over that time Katharine has been an active member of every community she touched. When the kids were young, she volunteered as a Girl Scout mom and helped with school productions at the Wilmington Christian School. Later, she was a member of the Chadds Ford Women’s Club as well as the Chadds Ford Business Association, and she served as a representative of Chadds Ford Township at the Delaware County Council on Environmental Affairs. For over ten years she also served as a Poll Worker on Election Day. Through her work on the CFTRA Board she hopes to continue to share her gifts with her community and help those around her feel connected.
Margie Pierce moved to Chadds Ford in 2011 with her husband Jim and three children because they have always loved the area and have a great appreciation for the local history and natural beauty of Chadds Ford. She has worked in healthcare for 40 years and served 10 years as a board member for a professional society. She holds a doctorate degree in business administration from Wilmington University. Margie volunteers with VITA, providing free tax preparation to qualified individuals who need assistance. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, and native gardening. Margie joined the CFTRA Board to be more involved in Chadds Ford community events and help keep it a beautiful place to enjoy.
Karen Tancredi and her husband, Bill, moved to Chadds Ford in 1987. Here, amid rolling hills and farmland, they raised their three children, all of whom attended local schools. Karen worked for DuPont as an engineer and engineering manager for 34 years and served on many industry committees and boards. In 2014, Karen retired from DuPont and she, Bill, and their youngest daughter moved to California where Karen continued her career in chemical process safety, this time with Chevron. She retired again in 2021 and, along with her husband and beloved dog, Finn, returned to Chadds Ford where she enjoys traveling, hiking, and watercolor painting. Karen joined the CFTRA Board to help build a vibrant Chadds Ford community.
Jeff Alderfer is a Certified Financial PlannerTM who grew up in Harleysville PA and returned to Wyomissing PA after serving 27 years as an Air Force Special Operations pilot. He and his family have called Chadds Ford home since 2014. Currently, Jeff works alongside his wife, Alix James, as a consultant for Chadd House Partners LLC, providing financial and business exit planning advice to firms across the country. In addition to his consulting work, Jeff is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University, where he teaches investing fundamentals to over 100 undergraduate students each year. He is also dedicated to giving back to his community as a volunteer financial counselor for Second Chance Cars LLC, a Boston-based charity that provides reliable, affordable vehicles to veterans, immigrants, and individuals reentering society after incarceration. When he’s not working or volunteering, Jeff enjoys spending time on local running trails with his three dogs or exploring Chester County’s scenic back roads on his BMW motorcycle.
Robin Newman moved to Chadds Ford with her husband Rob in 2006. It was work that brought her here, but her love of the area and the friendships she has developed are what made this her home. Robin earned her undergraduate degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and went on to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Working for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in pediatric cardiology, Robin fell in love with research and over the next few years, she built a Clinical Research Consulting Firm called MedTrials with offices in Dallas and Media, PA. She eventually made the decision to sell her company and take a position as VP for Clinical, Regulatory and Quality with Siemens. After earning her doctorate, Robin was recruited by the US Food and Drug Administration to serve as the Director of the Office of Compliance for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. In time, she returned to the private sector where she served as Global VP for Clinical Affairs at both Johnson & Johnson and Beckman Coulter. Robin retired in 2024 from her full time role and now consults on a part time basis. She is active in the community and enjoys spending time with friends and family.