Board of Directors

Gordon K. Haist, Chair, Ethics Board of Directors: Philosophy Professor at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort, 1974-2013. Retired as Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and then served as USCB’s interim Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs from 2013 to 2016. He was a friend and colleague of Howard Radest, founder of the HHI Ethics Society. Areas of specialization in addition to ethics include aesthetics, ancient philosophy, and postmodern thought. 

Paul Weismantel, Director and Communications Chair: Brooklyn born and raised in NY, with stops in Indiana, Florida, Texas, and NJ. After education in Engineering and Business Management Paul worked for over 35 years in product management roles with a variety of multi-national, mid-sized, and start-up providers of systems, hardware, and software in the communication and information sector around the globe. He and his wife Susan retired to South Carolina in early 2016. He volunteered as a mentor for small businesses with Low Country SCORE for 4 years, speaks on several topics regularly for Lifelong Learning of Hilton Head, and leads a neighborhood committee organizing community & social activities for 300 friends over the last 7 years in Sun City Hilton Head.

Isam Sakati, Director and Sergeant-at-Arms:  Born in Damascus, Syria. College and Medical School at the American University of Beirut, General Surgery residency at Cleveland Gen. Hospital - Case Western Reserve University, Urology residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell and Norfolk General Hospital at University of Eastern Virginia. Practiced urology in Utica and Rome, New York for 30 years. Retired to Hilton Head Island 19 years ago.

Neil Funnell, Director and Program Moderator:  At IBM Neil worked in the International Division, primarily in Latin America and the Far East. Was Director of IBM’s Higher Education Grants Program when he retired. Has served as President and Treasurer of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head.  Education: BSIE Lehigh University, MBA New York University.

Betsy Doughtie, Treasurer and Program Moderator: Betsy grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and after spending 3 years with her Air Force husband in Wiesbaden Germany, moved to Hilton Head in 1970. From day one she was involved in the community: helping in her church, her son’s schools, the hospital auxiliary, St. Mary Human Development Center, Hilton Head Humane Association, Hospice Care of the Lowcountry and the Art League of Hilton Head. Betsy started a Gourmet To Go Catering business, and shortly after it closed in 1995, she was chosen as the executive director of The Deep Well Project. She retired from Deep Well in April of 2018.

John Miller, Director and Program Moderator: Ordained as a Presbyterian minister over 50 years ago. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church on HHI for 17 years, and has been pastor of The Chapel Without Walls on the island for the past 13 years. Active in many community organizations, including frequent presentations for Lifelong Learning of Hilton Head Island.

Henry (Hank) Noble, Director and Program Moderator: Hank Noble received his BBA from Baruch College, NYC, his MS from Hofstra University on Long Island and served in the US Army Reserves from 1962 to 1968.  He then worked as a salesman and a teacher. Hank became a school administrator in Long Island and Westchester County, NY.  Hank moved to Sea Pines in 1979 and moved to the Crescent in Bluffton 20 years ago.  He became a school principal and executive principal for Hilton Head Elementary School and retired from school work in 2002, serving as an educational technology consultant and presently works as a travel agent.  Hank is active in the Rotary Club of HHI, World Affairs Council, Congregation Beth Yam, and serves as a Krum Foundation Trustee.

Dr. Colin Moseley, when he’s not practicing pediatric orthopaedics, played varsity hockey and skied. After completing medical training at McGill University in Montreal about half a century ago he joined the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Toronto, practiced at the Hospital for Sick Children, and became a doctor for Canada’s world cup ski team.. He later moved to Los Angeles to be Chief Surgeon at the Shriners Hospital for Children and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics at UCLA. Throughout his career Colin has been devoted to teaching, giving more than 400 presentations in many corners of the world. He was a member of the Council on Education of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and President of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Association of North America which awarded him its Distinguished Service Award. Retirement in the Low Country has provided a wonderful expansion of the horizon to include biking, computer programming, and World Affairs. 

Cindy Petitt:  Cindy is a consultant and former federal government senior executive focused on building capacity, performance and compassion of organizations and leaders.  For most of her career, she has worked with financial services and international development organizations (e.g., World Bank, UN, IMF). Cindy has a MS degree in Human Resources/Organizational Development from American University and a BS degree in Psychology from Centre College of Kentucky.  Cindy moved to this community in 2006 from Northern Virginia.  She has been active in local business development groups. She is also a discussion group facilitator and on the Program Committee of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. 

Andréa Sisino is in her 12th year as Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Carolina Beaufort that serves more than 1,800 members among the three locations; Bluffton, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island.  Andrea obtained her Master’s degree in Executive Leadership from Champlain College in Vermont, and teaches undergrad and graduate courses focused on this topic. Andrea grew up in Detroit, Michigan and attended the University of Arizona and University of South Florida in her athletic career. She worked in sport management in many places around the globe, finally settling in to the Lowcountry in 2009.   When she’s not challenging herself physically or mentally, she’s spending time with her husband and two cats, gardening or exploring the low-country.

​Gerry Schroeter: Neurologist in Huntington and Glen Cove, NY from 1965-1997. Retired to HHI, chaired and served on Alzheimer R & R (Memory Matters) Board. Presently Chair of the Neurology Department at Volunteers in Medicine. Co-chaired HHI Ethics with Neil Funnell since the departure of founder Dr. Howard Radest.

Emeritus

Steve Asheroff: After finishing graduate school in Philadelphia, Mr. Asheroff joined the Real Estate Finance Division of PNC Bank. He spent 25 years in the banking business, finishing as Executive VP with NatWest Bank's U.S. operation in New York.

Joe Fox: Graduated from St. John’s Prep and St. John’s University, Brooklyn, NY and began work at IBM, 1956. Worked on Air Traffic Control Program, lecturing on management at IBM and the CIA. 1976, left IBM and started own Software company, which was sold in1998. Retired, residing on Hilton Head Island since 2000.

William H. (Bill) Harris: Bill was a Fulbright Fellow and guest Professor of History at the University of Hamburg and subsequently in West Germany. He taught and conducted research for a decade at Indiana University, from which he received his PhD. For three decades before retirement to Hilton Head Island, Bill served as president of a number of colleges and universities.

Peter Laman: Born in Philadelphia, PA. Education: College and University of Delaware and Temple University. 21 years in the Industrial supply business. 17 years in the banking business. Retired and living on Hilton Head Island.

Fran Heyward Bollin:  Except for two 2-year stints in other parts of the country, Fran has lived in the Bluffton area all of her life. She retired as editor of The Island Packet after a long career in journalism. Since her retirement she has written regional history books and served on several nonprofit boards.

Kenneth Nykiel, Director: Owner & partner in Nykiel, Carlin & Company, LLD, for over thirty years; sold his practice to Clifton Gundrson, LLD and remained as partner until his retirement in 2008. Served seven years as member and chairman for two years of the Illinois CPA Ethics Society. A Hilton Head vacation/condo owner many years before building a home  in 2003 and becoming a permanent  resident in 2008.  Ken holds a BBA degree from Loyola University and MBA from Northwestern University.

John Patten:  Currently, John is Chair of the HHI/Ethics/Hilton Head High Debate Team committee. His 50-year career in the food industry began in sales/marketing, progressed to management and executive positions. He worked in a consultancy practice to the food industry in the last 10 years of his career. Education: BSJ, University of Kansas, MSJ, Northwestern University.  

In Memoriam

Marion Conlin, Director and Program Coordinator:  Former nurse, cooking teacher and food writer, came to Hilton Head in 1993 from Minnesota, by way of Texas. After 9/11 she became active in the World Affairs Council, serving on the board of directors for ten years and as Program Chair for 2 years. She served our Society with distinction and left a lasting memory of her curiosity and her character as reflected in her motto, "Seek not to be understood but to understand." She passed away in 2022.

Gerry Schroeter: Neurologist in Huntington and Glen Cove, NY from 1965-1997. Retired to HHI, chaired and served on Alzheimer R & R (Memory Matters) Board. Most recently he served as Chair of the Neurology Department at Volunteers in Medicine. Co-chaired HHI Ethics with Neil Funnell since the departure of founder Dr. Howard Radest. He passed away in 2024.