Board of Trustees
You may contact any member of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees
by writing to the member at the following address:
Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees
9733 Healthway Drive
Berlin, MD 21811-1151
Main Title
Greg Shockley, Chair
Greg Shockley, owner of Shenanigan’s Irish Pub in Ocean City, Md.,
was the 2012 recipient of the Paul Hazard Award, named after one of the
original Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association (OCHMRA) members.
Shockley is a founding member of the Boardwalk Development Association,
helping to implement $5 million in boardwalk improvements, and serves
on the Maryland tourism development board. He has also served as president
of the Ocean City Development Corporation and the OCHMRA. Shockley was
named chair of the Board of Trustees at Atlantic General Hospital in November 2018.
Hugh T. Cropper, IV, Esq., Past Chair

Hugh Cropper, IV is the descendant of a long line of Worcester County
natives. He was born and raised in Worcester County and his grandfather,
Hugh T. Cropper, was the former Mayor of Ocean City. He holds dear the
best interests of Berlin and the surrounding areas. Cropper is a graduate
of Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, the College of William and
Mary, and the University of Maryland Law School. Hugh practices as an
attorney, and he is a Partner in the Law Firm of Booth Booth Cropper and
Marriner, P.C. Hugh has represented local clients in and around Worcester
County for nearly 29 years, including numerous charitable and pro bono
clients. Hugh is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Bank of Ocean
City and also for the Lower Shore Land Trust. He was formerly a member
of the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association, and he
is a member of the Judicial Nominating Committee for the First Circuit.
Hugh has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Atlantic General Hospital
since 2007, and he is currently the Chairman of the Quality Committee.
He was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Atlantic General Hospital
from November 2017-2018. He lives in the Berlin area with his wife, Jennifer,
and his twins, Myra and Hugh Thomas. He is an active commercial fisherman
and he enjoys the outdoors, hunting, and fishing with his family.
Will E. Esham, III, Vice Chair
William E. Esham, III, has been named Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Will is an attorney with Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy & Almand, P.A. Will
graduated with from Washington & Lee University in 1987. He was admitted
to the bar in 1991 after obtaining his law degree from University of Baltimore.
He served as law clerk to the Honorable William R. Buchanan, Sr., and
in Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, and is a member of the
Worcester County and Maryland State Bar Associations. In addition to serving
on the Board of Trustees at Atlantic General, Will is a member of the
Board of Trustees of Worcester Preparatory School, the Board of Directors
of Ocean City Golf Club, attorney for the Ocean City Planning and Zoning
Commission and past president of St. Martin's Church Foundation.
Doug Cook, Treasurer
Doug Cook is the Chief Lending Officer and Executive Vice President at
Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company. Over the years, Cook has been involved
in Atlantic General Hospital by serving on the Finance Committee and also
on the board for AGH ImmediCare. Cook also serves as a trustee member
for the Life Crisis Center. “The betterment of our community is
important to me. AGH is the most vital asset to our area,” Cook
stated. Cook holds a masters of business administration degree from Salisbury
University and a bachelor of sciences degree in finance from Regis University.
He served in the United States Army as well. Cook and his wife Lisa have
two children, Garrett and Austin.
Charlotte Kerbin Cathell, Secretary
The Honorable Charlotte Kerbin Cathell was first sworn into office as the
Register of Wills for Worcester County on December 3, 1998. A lifelong
resident of Worcester County, Cathell is married to Judge Dale R. Cathell
(retired). She is on the AGH Foundation board of directors and the corporate
board. Cathell was a founder and president of Worcester County G.O.L.D.
(Giving Other Lives Dignity), a former long-time member and vice-president
of the Worcester County Commission for Women and is on the board of directors
of Taylor Bank. Cathell has resided in Ocean Pines for over forty years
and is the first countywide-elected official from Ocean Pines and was
just named the Citizen of the Year by the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce.
Jon M. Andes, Ed. D.
Dr. Jon Andes, Professor of Practice at Salisbury University is also Executive
Director of the Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium. He is
a member of the American Association of School Administrators and American
Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Andes holds a Doctorate
of Education from the University of Maryland College Park and is very
active in local community organizations including the Snow Hill Rotary
Club, Boy Scouts of America, Delmarva Pets on Wheels, and Ocean City Pipes
and Drums. He earned the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout and God and
Country Awards and was named a National Distinguished Eagle Scout and
Maryland Superintendent of the Year. Andes adds, “serving on the
Board of Atlantic General Hospital provides me with an opportunity to
give back to the community that has given so much to my family.”
James Ryan Bergey, III
James Ryan Bergey, III is a Berlin native, certified public accountant
and a member of Bergey and Company, P.A., with offices in Berlin, Md.
He has been a practicing accountant since 2006 and holds bachelor's degrees
in both accounting and finance from the University of Maryland. Bergey
is a member of the finance committee of Atlantic General Hospital, and
is on the board of directors of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Co., and Hudson
Heath Services, Inc.
Cory Carpenter, M.D., Vice Chief of Staff
Cory Carpenter, M.D. is Vice Chief of Staff at Atlantic General Hospital
and currently holds a position with Emergency Services Associates, PA
and is board certified in Emergency Medicine. A graduate of the U.S. Coast
Guard Academy, he received his Medical Doctorate from Medical College
of Georgia. Dr. Carpenter moved to the area with his family in 2006 and
practices at Atlantic General Hospital and Peninsula Regional Medical Center.
Edwin Castaneda, M.D.

Edwin Castaneda MD, FACP , is an Internist/Hospitalist at Atlantic General
Hospital, received his medical degree from St. Louis University Medical
School and an Internal Medicine residency at Hackensack University Medical
Center (a University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey program )
in Hackensack, N,J. Dr. Castaneda is a Diplomat of the American Board
of Internal Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians
and a member of the American College of Physician Executives. He is an
immediate past Chief of the Medical Staff and a former Chief of Medicine.,
He provides Internal Medicine care in his private practice in Berlin.
Todd Ferrante, Foundation Board Chair
Todd Ferrante
Michael A. Franklin, President/CEO, FACHE

Michael Franklin joined Atlantic General Hospital and Health System as
President and CEO in October 2005. Mr. Franklin has guided the leadership
team at AGH through the process of establishing a unique, cyclical strategic
planning process that incorporates the input of all the key stakeholders
of the hospital and health system (physicians, associates, community).
This “customer-based” focus has led to the successful development
of programs such as the “ER 30 Minute Promise”. Prior to coming
to Atlantic General Hospital, Michael served as the Chief Operating Officer
of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, MD, and has served in
healthcare management for over 20 years. Michael is a Fellow of the American
College of Healthcare Executives, holds a Bachelor of Science in Health
Sciences degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and
a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration degree from Virginia
Commonwealth University - Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
He currently lives in Worcester County with his wife, Marianne, and their
two children.
Jeffrey Greenwood, M.D.

Dr. Greenwood is board certified by the American College of Emergency
Physicians and president of Emergency Services Associates. Greenwood is
an emergency medicine physician employed by Emergency Service Association
and serves as Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Atlantic
General Hospital. Dr. Greenwood received his bachelors of Science from
Salisbury University and his Doctorate from University of Maryland School
of Medicine. Dr. Greenwood serves on the board of directors with the bank
of Ocean City, and is the president of Emergency Service Associates.
Michael S. Guerrieri
Michael Guerrieri, Guerrieri Venture Partnership L.P., is also on the foundation
boards at Salisbury University, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, and
Wor-Wic Community College, as well as supporter of the Wellness Community.
Michael, who grew up in Salisbury/Ocean City, graduated from Lehigh University
with a degree in finance. After graduating, he worked for his family’s
business, Showell Farms Inc., an integrated poultry company, until it
was sold in 1995. Currently, his family office is located in Ocean City, Md.
Harriet L. Johnson

Harriet graduated from nursing school at Jersey City Medical Center and
continued her education at Seton Hall University, where she obtained her
Bachelor of Science degree. Johnson attended graduate school at Rutgers
Graduate School of Education and received her Master of Science at Hunter
College of the City University of New York. Harriet has served as an instructor
at New Jersey State Hospital at Marlboro, Jersey City Medical Center Hospital
School of Nursing, Hospital of Joint Disease, New York University Medical
Center and Rutgers University College of Nursing.
Rebecca Jones

Rebecca Jones is a Salisbury University graduate, earning a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Nursing, with a minor in Psychology, in 1996 and a Master
of Science Degree in Nursing-Leadership in 2008. Her areas of expertise
include leadership and systems training, policy development, and program
and financial planning and management. With 16 years of experience in
community health with the Worcester County Health Department, she currently
represents the Health Department on the Worcester County Commission on
Aging Board of Directors. She is also part of the outstanding Care Coordination
Team whose standards of excellence and innovation earned the Worcester
County Health Department national accreditation through the Public Health
Accreditation Board in 2014-making it one of the first health departments
to be accredited in Maryland. Rebecca and her husband, Lewis, have been
married for 20 years. They have one daughter and reside in Newark, MD.
Jay Knerr
For Jay Knerr, owner of The Kite Loft, giving back to the community that
he lives in has been vitally important to him. He has been involved in
many organizations over the years, serving as a president of the Ocean
City Development Corporation as well as the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
and vice chairman of the Worcester County Planning Commission, sitting
on the Paramedic Foundation Board of Directors and participating on the
Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town of Berlin before joining the Board
of Trustees of Atlantic General Hospital. Jay studied computer science
at Salisbury University and purchased the Kite Loft in 2007, maintaining
its presence as a boardwalk landmark and authority for kite enthusiasts
around the world. He and his wife, Mary Lynn, have a daughter, Casey,
and reside in Berlin.
Tom Mears

Tom Mears
Lois Sirman

Lois Sirman, stockholder and officer at J.W. Shockley and Sons, Inc, received
her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Common Wealth University. She
serves on the board of directors for the Farmers Bank of Willards and
Osprey Point Homeowners Association, on the Finance Committee of The Community
Church of Ocean Pines, and a former member of the Worcester County Drug
and Alcohol Task Force and the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees.
Dale Smack
John (Dale) Smack, a Berlin native and Stephen Decatur High School alum,
started his career in law enforcement in 1987 with the Ocean City Police
Department. He was a seasonal officer before being hired full-time with
the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. After 29 years, Smack retired
from this office in July of 2016 while holding the rank of Chief Deputy.
In addition, Smack served as a commander in Patrol, SWAT and Special Operations.
He received additional training from the University of Louisville, Southern
Police Institute and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development. Smack
was elected as an Orphan’s Court Judge in 2006, 2010, and 2014 for
Worcester County. In 2014, Smack was appointed by Governor Hogan as the
Chief Judge for the Worcester County Orphans’ Court. Just two years
later, Governor Hogan appointed Smack as a Maryland Parole Commissioner
for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Outside of his career, Smack has served his community by holding the position
as a member of the Board of Directors and also as President for several
organizations. Smack and his wife Sheryl still live in the area. They
have two sons, Brandon Smack and Sidney Douglas, and a grandchild named
Jason Douglas. In his free time, Smack enjoys music, cooking, and volunteer
work at his church, St. Paul United Methodist Men’s Ministry.
Bob Thompson
Thompson, an executive with more than 25 years of experience building and
managing organizations in a range of industries, is chief operating office
of Blue Water Development Corporation, a real estate developer specializing
in commercial and hospitality properties operating in Delaware, Maryland
and Virginia. Thompson oversees operations of the Berlin-based development
firm and its extensive portfolio of properties including three luxury
RV resorts, four hotels and three recreational venues.
Thompson joins Blue Water from Ocean Pines Association, Inc., where he
served as general manager and chief administrative officer since 2010,
managing operations for the community of 12,000 year-round residents and
25,000 seasonal residents and vacationers.
A West Ocean City native and current resident of Ocean Pines, Thompson
holds an associate’s degree in business administration, management
and operations from Wor-Wic Community College, where he graduated magna
cum laude. He serves on the board of trustees for Atlantic General Hospital
and is an executive board member and chair of the Greater Ocean City Chamber
of Commerce.
Chris Woodley
Chris Woodley, who is a partner at the law firm of Williams, Moore, Shockley
& Harrison, LLP, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees at Atlantic
General Hospital. A native of New Hampshire, Chris attended Wheaton College
in Norton, MA before graduating from The Dickinson School of Law, in Carlisle,
PA and moving to the Shore in 1998. In addition to his service to Atlantic
General, Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors of Worcester
County G.O.L.D., the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, and the Worcester
County Public Schools Education Foundation. He previously served on the
Board of Directors of Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care. Chris resides
in Ocean City with his wife, Darlah, and two children, Samuel and Lydia.
Alae Zarif, M.D., Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Surgical Services, Alae Zarif,
MD, performs the gastric banding and gastric sleeve procedures for Atlantic
Bariatric Center, joined Atlantic General’s medical staff in April
2006. He has been in practice since 1996 when he finished his residency
at Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut, a Yale-affiliated surgical training
program. Dr. Zarif is certified by the American Board of Surgery and performs
multiple advanced laparoscopic procedures and is a fellow of the American
College of Surgeons.