J. Knox Singleton, CEO and co-founder of Opportunity Scholars, "retired" after 35 years working as the CEO of Inova Health System, a $3.5 billion health care system. He continues to serve people – locally and globally. He was named CEO of the year by both the Virginia Business and Washington Business Journal. He is also Board Chair of Healthcare Realty Trust, a co-founder and board member for The Global Good Fund, board chair for the Winchester Rescue Mission, and holds officer positions for many other organizations. He is Executive in Residence for Healthcare Management in the Shenandoah University School of Business. Knox earned his bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree from Duke University. He resides in Winchester, Va., with his wife. Together, they have seven children.

Julie Hart Overbaugh is the Chief Operating Officer for Opportunity Scholars. She is a lifelong resident of the Shenandoah Valley and graduated from Lord Fairfax Community College. Julie has more than 24 years of extensive experience for two national non-profit organizations, overseeing education, mission, outreach, development and fundraising programs. She most recently worked as the Business Administrator at Open Door Church and was their Youth and Preschool Program Director. Julie served as board president for Friday’s Child Adoption Agency and was a board member and treasurer at the American Cancer Society. She resides in Winchester with her husband, Tony and their three children.

Bibianna Vazquez, Lead Counselor, comes from a family of Mexican migrant farmers that arrived to the Shenandoah Valley over 25 years ago. She is a first-generation high school and college graduate. She holds degrees in Criminal Justice, Political Science & Sociology from Mary Baldwin University and a master's degree in Public Policy from George Mason University. She has worked extensively with families and children, helping them access resources and navigate the criminal justice system. Her volunteer work includes ESLL Adult Literacy Instructor, Committee Member for Latinx Connection, Vice-Chair for the Advisory Board for Winchester Dept. of Social Services, Program Facilitator for NWCSB, and Spanish Interpreter. She lives in Winchester with her husband, their son and four dogs.

Connie Van Sickler is a ​Counselor and Program Specialist. She is originally from the Washington, D.C. area but moved to Frederick County, Va. 30 years ago. She holds a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and a master’s degree in School Counseling and Guidance from West Virginia University. She joined Opportunity Scholars after recently retiring from Frederick County, Va. Public Schools where she served for 26 years as a school counselor. Connie has considerable experience working in partnership with many of the Shenandoah Valley’s local support agencies and non profit organizations while helping her school families. She and her husband Jerry have three grown children and they enjoy spending time traveling and with family.

Wendy Kedzierski, Director of Partnerships & Engagement, has over 25 years of experience as a writer, editor and publisher. For 10 of those years, she published an award-winning regional magazine. She has applied her skills in the fields of education and business, but found her true calling in the nonprofit sector. As Sr. Communications Manager for a global organization, Wendy traveled to underserved countries, including remote villages in Africa, working with healthcare workers and program beneficiaries, sharing stories of human resilience, focusing on orphans & vulnerable children, maternal & child health, and HIV/AIDS patients. Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Secondary Education from Towson University. She lives in Berryville with her husband and they have two grown children.

Marlenne Perez Gonzalez is a Program Counselor with Opportunity Scholars. Born in Cortazar, Guanajuato, Mexico, she has lived in Stephens City for the past 12 years. Marlenne graduated from Sherando High School in 2020 with her associate's degree from Laurel Ridge Community College, and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Shenandoah University in 2022. While an undergraduate, she worked as a marketing and grant researcher and volunteered with the local United Way. She is currently working on her master's degree in Business Administration with a certificate in Business Analytics from Shenandoah University. Marlenne enjoys exploring the area, spending time with her family and taking her dog on long walks at the lake.

Aida Sempe is a Program Counselor with Opportunity Scholars. She was born in Guatemala and moved to the U.S. 20 years ago with her husband and three children. Her previous professional experience includes working as Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A Village Commons in Reston, Va., where she developed a giving strategy and process for handling donation requests, worked with schools, churches, hospitals and other organizations to form partnerships and execute community events, while contributing to the franchise's public relations and sales campaigns. In addition to their three children, Aida and her husband have seven grandchildren.

Greg Bucher is a life-long resident of Frederick County, Va., and is the Employment Services Manager for Opportunity Scholars. Prior to joining the team, he worked with Laurel Ridge Community College as the Career Coach for Sherando High School. Greg also has experience as a marketing teacher. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Shenandoah University and a master's degree in Education from Liberty University. Greg and his wife, Karen, have two college-age children, Pearce and Reese. They enjoy traveling, visiting wineries on the weekends, and spending time with family and friends.

Heather Waugh is the Outreach & Fundraising Manager for Opportunity Scholars. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. Heather has more than 15 years experience working with national non-profit organizations and corporate sales. She is on the youth worship committee at her church and also enjoys organizing fundraisers for the local community center in Berkeley Springs, WV. She resides in Winchester with her husband, Randy, and their two children.