Salisbury Academy announces new board of trustees leadership

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 26, 2018

Salisbury Academy

SALISBURY — Salisbury Academy has new leadership on its board of trustees for the 2018-19 school year.

Benjamin Ott will become board president.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ott earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Penn State and a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed a residency in family medicine at the University of Virginia.

Ott lives in Salisbury with his wife, Amy, and two children, Ethan and Emma. He is a lead physician at Novant Health Rowan Family Physicians on Julian Road and medical director for Autumn Care skilled nursing facility.

“I am honored and excited to serve Salisbury Academy in this new capacity,” said Ott. “Salisbury Academy is an innovative independent school, and I am happy to contribute to its continued success.”

The new vice president is Traci Williams.

Williams is president and CEO of Crescent Construction Services LLC, a commercial construction inspection and survey firm. Williams is a lifelong entrepreneur coming from a family-owned business of electrical contractors.

A 1988 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she has spent the past 28 years founding and developing successful companies in the telecommunications, medical and construction industries.

Williams lives in Salisbury with her husband, Brad, and two children, Courtney and Meredith. She loves music, art, reading, Carolina Panthers football and raising money for her favorite causes.

Andrea Davis will be secretary on the board of trustees.

Davis holds a bachelor of arts degree from Catawba College and a law degree from Northern University. She has worked as a family law attorney in Salisbury for 18 years. After coaching Salisbury Academy middle school volleyball for years, she is now the head varsity volleyball coach for Salisbury High School.

Davis has served on numerous boards, including the J.F. Hurley YMCA board of managers. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, and three children, Madelynn, Gray and Bryant.

Cliff Sorel will continue as treasurer for the board.

An investment banker with 30 years of experience, Sorel began working in investments after graduating from St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, New York, with a double major in finance and accounting.

Sorel lives in Salisbury with his wife, Barbara.

New to the Salisbury Academy board this year is Bryan Wymbs.

Wymbs holds an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York Geneseo, a master’s in business administration from Northeastern University, and a law degree from the Charlotte School of Law.

In addition to his legal career, Wymbs has experience in medical sales, insurance and financial planning. After working with the firm Ketner and Dees for three years, Wymbs opened his own legal practice earlier this year.

In his free time, Wymbs enjoys studying history, playing tennis, cooking on his two Big Green Eggs and traveling with his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Millie and Cora.