Board of Directors
Officers
Neil Stratford – President
Proud father of Ben, Neil pledged at the eulogy to use Ben’s passing as a catalyst to help young adults struggling with mental health. He subsequently founded Ben’s Bright Horizons.
Professionally, Neil serves as the CEO of Strat-Comm, a marketing, promotions, and special events powerhouse with over 25 years of expertise. Leading a dedicated team, he spearheads the creation of customized, creatively envisioned marketing programs that consistently propel Strat-Comm’s clients to the forefront of their industries.
Neil is also Managing Partner of SunQuest Property Group in Hilton Head, South Carolina. SunQuest is a property management company managing a substantial inventory of long-term rentals and quarter-share properties on an island he cherishes.
Neil is a passionate, if average, golfer who embraces the “salt life,” finds joy in exploring the world, and, above all, treasures his role as a devoted father to Ben, Charlotte, and Jake.
Carol Stratford – Vice President
Carol, with a career spanning three decades, has been a driving force behind the success of well-known brands in hospitality and wellness, leveraging her expertise as a marketing executive.
Presently, she holds the position of Managing Director of Consulting at Arch Amenities Group, where her focus is on bringing new spas and wellness centers to life. Carol’s foremost priority is her family.
As a dedicated mother with one child of her own, she has actively embraced the role of stepmom to both Ben and Charlotte since their early years. Family is where she finds real joy, especially when combined with her love for travel.
Board Members
Craig Fenstermaker
Craig was born and raised in Northampton, PA and was part of the Northampton HS National Championship Wrestling teams in the 1990s. He continued to the University of Virginia where he earned a bachelor’s degree Economics and a master’s degree in education. While studying at UVA, he continued his wrestling career to become an ACC Champion.
After working in the insurance industry in Washington D.C., Craig joined the team at IMC in 2001. He serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer for IMC Hilton Head and President of IMC Charleston. He has been very active in Community Associations Institute over the years serving as President of the SC Chapter and Chairman of the Low Country Regional Committee.
Craig dedicated a decade to playing rugby for Hilton Head RFC. He’s an avid car enthusiast and loves spending time on the water with his family.
Joey Froedge
Joey is a seasoned entrepreneur with 30+ years of expertise in Business Development, Product Development, and Marketing. He is known for successfully managing sales, devising effective marketing strategies, and forging key partnerships with global organizations.
Outside the business realm, Joey actively volunteers for various foundations, and he, along with his wife Krista, enjoys family time with their two daughters. An avid golfer and travel enthusiast, Joey holds an MBA and a BS in Business Administration from Tennessee Tech University.
Jon Vernon-Browne
Jon contributes to the mission of Ben’s Bright Horizons by serving as liaison for corporate and strategic partnerships. He is committed to the wellbeing of youth and communities and is an active volunteer at his children’s school and sports teams.
Jon brings his passion coupled with his corporate management leadership skills and strong relationships to Ben’s Bright Horizons. His last professional role was Head of Global Client Services for a FinTech company, where he spent 25 years driving growth.
Ben Weetman
Ben is a native of England and emigrated to the US in 1998. He is married with twin daughters and lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts. His passions are soccer coaching, skiing, tennis and cycling. He has coached girls’ youth soccer in his local town for several years.
Ben first met the Stratford family whilst playing for Greenwich field hockey club in New York City in 2002. He is a regular rider in the “Pan Mass Challenge” bikeathon event which raises funds for Cancer treatment and research. When he is not on a field, court, piste or bike, he will be found working as IT professional in financial services.
Golf Chair
Tom Sanders
Tom spent nearly 20 years with UPS specializing in business development both domestically and internationally for the company’s airline. In 2003 Tom succumbed to his entrepreneurship drive and acquired his own logistics company that he grew for 8 years before selling in 2011. Since then, he has become involved in local real estate via his newest venture, Prospect Construction, LLC, which specializes in providing low-income housing in Louisville.
On the personal side of life Tom is a proud member of Hunting Creek Country Club where he recently served as president and helped lead a complete renovation of the facilities. Tom is the proud parent of two children of his own and three stepchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and sharing a good bourbon with friends.
Auction Chair
Michael Tompkins
Michael Tompkins is a trendsetter in the luxury hospitality and wellness industries. The companies he’s overseen have always been all about connecting with people and transforming lives.
Currently, Michael is the Managing Director at Hutchinson Recruiting, an ARCH Company. Before that, he was partners with Carol Stratford at Hutchinson Consulting, where they built, grew, and eventually sold their super respected hospitality consultancy firm.
He’s also been the CEO of Miraval Resorts, Hilton Head Health, and PALM Health, and held executive positions at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. He’s the recipient of the 2024 ISPA Visionary Award and was a previous Chairman of the Board.
And get this, Michael has been a Stratford family friend for more than a decade. He’s so lucky, he’s become like an honorary Guncle to all the Stratford children and enjoyed many a late-night phone conversation with Ben.
