The Impact Center Staff

For William Weeks, leadership is not defined by the position you hold, but by the change you create. As the new Executive Director, William steps into a role that bridges history and possibility. A native of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, he exemplifies the belief that communities flourish when people and purpose converge. At age five, William was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and given only months to live. Though blindness reshaped his world, it never limited his vision. What some might have seen as an ending became the beginning of extraordinary perspective — one that allows him to see potential where others see obstacles, and purpose where others see pain. From the child who was not expected to see his sixth birthday to the man now shaping purpose and a symbol of hope in his community, William’s life is proof that strength is not born from what you can see, but from what you refuse to stop believing. Over the past two decades, William has advanced initiatives in disability services, mental health, medical transportation, workforce development, and community action. As a Senior Disability Program Navigator in Maryland, he led efforts across nine counties to expand access and opportunity to persons with disabilities — earning recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center at the University of Iowa College of Law. He later managed disability and mental health services in Head Start, and in senior leadership at ESAAA/CAA, he guided CSBG/TANF funding, governance standards, and data systems infrastructure, blending accountability with technological integrity. William has a strong commitment to systems that serve people. He translates data into results: a bus route that connects someone to work, a laptop enabling an older adult to connect with family, thus minimizing social isolation, a training class that improves economic security, or a policy that eases burdens for struggling households. William is also known for building bridges across sectors, turning complexity into impact, and creating structures that endure — grounded in financial discipline, clear standards, and measurable results. He is a peripheral thinker with a rare ability to make things happen and turn vision into reality. At The Impact Center — housed in the historic Cape Charles Elementary, a Washington-Rosenwald School — William’s vision is clear. He sees the Center as more than a preserved landmark; he sees it as living proof that legacy can breathe again. Under his leadership, the Impact Center will serve as a place where history meets innovation — a space where children can learn, small businesses can grow, and neighbors can rediscover a shared sense of purpose. Through workforce development programs and community partnerships, the Center will serve as a hub that unites people across various cultures and backgrounds, bridging divides and creating opportunity regardless of socioeconomic status. For William, the Center is not just about revitalizing a building; it’s about reigniting a movement — one that unites generations, builds capacity, and proves that the Eastern Shore’s greatest resource has always been its people. William believes legacy isn’t what you leave — it’s what you live, breathe, and give to others every day. As Executive Director, he leads with both heart and strategy, ensuring the ripple felt in Cape Charles reaches across the Eastern Shore. William studied Special Education at Western Governors University, with a minor in Psychology — a foundation that continues to shape his compassion, clarity, and commitment to people.

A fifth-generation Cape Charles resident, Elise McMath studied History and Linguistics at the University of Virginia and later served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, where she taught English and became fluent in Spanish. With experience in education, community organizing, project management, and outreach, she leads programming at the Impact Center that bridges the Shore’s rich history with the aspirations of its people today. She believes that honoring the Eastern Shore’s past is essential to building a more just and connected future. Elise recently restored her family’s historic home on Tazewell Avenue — featured on the Magnolia Network’s In With the Old — reflecting her commitment to preservation and community revitalization. When she’s not working, she enjoys DIY projects, birdwatching, and gardening with native plants.