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Countryside was founded in 1993 as a 3-person operation supported by a small group of investors. Frank Root and his wife Chris, along with a now-retired partner, quickly found a niche developing tracts of land and offering seller-financing. Since then, Countryside has been blessed with strong, consistent growth.

Franklin Root: Founder and President
Frank began working full time in the real estate industry after earning a real estate salesman’s license in 1972.  Frank was a principal partner in more than two dozen partnerships involved in purchasing, selling, construction, renovation and development in both residential and commercial real estate.  He is a founding promotor of Countryside, as well as a founding partner of the predecessor companies dating back to 1980 that merged to form Countryside in 1993.

Eric Shipplett: Vice President of Acquisitions
Eric is one of Countryside's managing partners and has served on its Review Board since its inception. He joined the real estate industry in 1982 and began working for Countryside full-time in 1998. Eric oversees acquisitions of new projects and handles commerical and residential leasing. Eric is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College with a degree in Business Administration.

Leah Thomas: Vice President of Marketing and Sales
Leah is responsible for all of Countryside’s marketing. She holds a degree in Communications from Virginia Tech.  She has been with Countryside since July 2001. 

Steve Tomasi: Vice President of Finance
Steve provides financial oversight for Countryside. He brings 18 years of experience in public accounting and the financial services industry where he managed cash flows, developed funding sources and contributed to medium/long-term strategies. Steve is a CPA and received his undergraduate business degree from James Madison University as well as MBA graduate studies from the College of William and Mary and the University of Richmond.

Don Bosserman: Vice President of Operations
Don, who joined Countryside in June 2006, has a background in construction and property management. Don oversees planning, development and construction for several subdivisions as well as new home construction. He is a native of Staunton.

Paul Julian, P.E./P.L.S.: Engineering Manager
In April 2006, Countryside continued to add to its engineering staff. Paul oversees engineering and design of all new projects. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering Technology. He has 30 years of experience in civil engineering and is licensed in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. He is also a licensed land surveyor in Virginia and Maryland.

Teresa Hannon: Surveyor
Teresa joined our team in 2009. She graduated from West Virginia Tech with a degree in civil engineering technology and surveying and she has over 20 years' experience in the field. She holds a Virginia surveyor's license and she has worked with the Forest service and several other survey firms.

Sara Coleman : Project Manager
Sara joined Countryside in 2011 as our Lynchburg-area construction supervisor. She assists Don Bosserman by overseeing our construction projects in that region. She holds her contractor's license as well as her real estate license.

Earl Thompson : Project Manager
Earl joined Countryside in 2011 to assist Don Bosserman as his field person for construction projects in the Shenandoah Valley.

Milt Hallmark: Marketing Representative
Milt joined Countryside in September 2006 as a land sales representative in our rural land division. He has an extensive background in the real estate industry. Milt has been a resident of Bedford County since 1979.

Bob Brydge: Principal Broker, Valley Real Estate Brokers
Bob has spent many years in the real estate industry and is known for his ability to assemble and manage top-producing real estate teams. He joined us in 2010 as the broker for Countryside's own real estate brokerage, Valley Real Estate Brokers.

Paul Baker: Supervising Broker, Valley Real Estate Brokers, Lexington Office
Paul joined our team in 2008 with over 30 years of experience in the real estate field. In 2009, he transferred his duties to Countryside's own real estate brokerage, Valley Real Estate Brokers. In 2011, he helped to open a Lexington branch office which he now supervises.

Beth Carpenter: Associate Broker, Valley Real Estate Brokers
Beth has spent the last several years of her career in real estate. In 2009, she joined Valley Real Estate Brokers and helped to organize this new division. She now works through Valley as an on-site sales representative at Overlook in Stuarts Draft.

Vernon Ward : Marketing Representative
Vernon has spent most of his career as a marketing representative for land development companies. He worked largely with timber land and continues to use that expertise at Countryside.

Beverly Anderson : Marketing Representative
Bev has been a real estate agent for many years working in Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. She was part of a large team of builder representatives and she joined Countryside in 2011.

Sheryl Clarke : Marketing Representative
Sheryl joined Countryside after 27 years in the real estate and construction industries as owner of a national executive search firm.  This has proven to be a natural segue to helping people find the home of their dreams. 

Chris Root: Executive Secretary
Chris is one of the co-founders of Countryside and has served as Secretary of the Company since inception.  Chris has worked in the real estate industry since the late 1970s and has been involved in every aspect of Countryside and the predecessor companies that merged to form Countryside in 1993.  In addition to serving as Corporate Secretary and secretary to the Board, Chris has at various times served as secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper and office manager.  Chris currently manages our mortgages receivable.

Linda Higgins: Administrative Assistant
Linda is responsible for handling our front office needs and providing administrative assistance for the leasing department. She schedules our maintenance requests along with many other administrative duties. She joined Countryside in 2006 after working for Augusta County Schools at Riverheads Elementary. She is a graduate of Elizabeth Brant School of Business.

Becky Morris: Bookkeeping
Becky handles all of Countryside's accounts payable functions in addition to other bookkeeping functions.

Marian Simmons: Construction Assistant
Marian is responsible for the administrative needs of our construction division. She has several years' experience as a legal assistant which she has been able to employ at Countryside as she also administers our contracts, shepherding them from contract date to closing.

Ron Coffey : Accountant
Ron joined Countryside as an accountant in 2011.  He is a native of Charlottesville and a UVA graduate with degrees in Commerce and Accounting.  He brings over 35 years of experience in the accounting field from positions with several local manufacturing and construction corporations. He handles most of the accounts receivable functions as well as other accounting duties.

Resa Beasley : Office Coordinator for Valley Real Estate Brokers
Resa joined us in December 2010 in order to oversee the administrative needs for our real estate brokerage. She brings with her many years of experience.

Kay Liming : Office Coordinator for Valley Real Estate Brokers--Waynesboro
Kay joined us in in 2011 as administrative assistant for our newly-opened Waynesboro branch. Kay has been involved with real estate since 1987. Kay functions as office manager, as well as office bookkeeper, transaction coordinator and advertising rep. In addition to the experience of working in real estate for the past 25 years, together with her ability to multi-task and her “people skills,” Kay has been a strong asset to her co-workers.