L-R: Lilianna Rivera, Nandy Stuart, Chris Sawin and Denise Adams. Photo courtesy of Biff Jennings.
Denise Adams
Denise joined the Community Foundation in April 2023 as Finance Manager. She comes to the Outer Banks from Delaware, where she enjoyed a 35-year career as Controller and Assistant Treasurer of Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Wilmington DE). The Outer Banks has been her second home since the 1990’s. In her spare time, Denise loves gardening, canning, and relaxing on the beach with her husband Van and two dogs, Annie and Peaches. You can reach Denise by email at Denise [at] obcf.org.
Chris Sawin
Community Foundation President and CEO Chris Sawin grew up in Kill Devil Hills and joined the Community Foundation in August 2021 with thirty years of executive experience marked by entrepreneurial and organizational accomplishments, at both for-profit and non-profit concerns. He was Dare County Arts Council’s Executive Director from 2012 – 2021, leading that agency’s resurgence to financial stability and strategic, dramatic growth. He has worked in senior executive positions at Chapel Hill-based Mammoth Records, the first indie record label to produce two platinum-certified records; at Batanga, Inc., an independent digital media company serving U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets; and at NC start-up Zenph Sound Innovations, before returning to the Outer Banks in 2011. Sawin graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Carleton College in Minnesota. Chris can be reached by email to Chris [at] obcf.org.
Nandy Stuart
Nandy joined the Outer Banks Community Foundation in August of 2019 and is Chief Operating Officer and Scholarship Program Manager. She hails to the Outer Banks from Gainesville, Florida, where she had two very successful careers, the most recent working in the nonprofit sector as the Director of Outreach Programs for a local intimate partner violence agency. Her almost 9 years of experience in the nonprofit world focused mostly in creating and maintaining collaborative community relationships to better serve the public of North Central Florida. Nandy earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Florida and relocated to the Outer Banks to be closer to family. She has travelled extensively in South America and loves to experience new places and cultures. Nandy considers herself an animal advocate and has served on a shelter’s board of directors and volunteered at several rescues. She and her rescue dog, Mika, love the outdoors and enjoy spending time on the beach and walking the trails of the Nags Head Woods Preserve. You can reach Nandy by email at Nandy [at] obcf.org.
Lilianna Rivera
Lilianna graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Visual Culture. Originally from the Outer Banks, they began working with the Outer Banks Community Foundation in November 2024. With a strong background in community engagement and environmental education, Lilianna spent five years volunteering, interning, and working at the NC Aquariums on Roanoke Island, delivering presentations on coastal protection and global connections. At Appalachian State, Lilianna was actively involved in the ASU Women’s Center, advocating for issues related to femme bodies and coordinating events to support survivors of domestic violence. They also interned at the Appalachian Theatre, a non-profit focused on cultural programming in the High Country. Lilianna Rivera will be working as planning and office support to the Outer Banks Community Foundation. You can reach Lilianna by email at Lilianna [at] obcf.org.
