Staff

Bill Crow assumed the Presidency of VSRA in September, 2012. His experience in the maintenance and modernization field in the Virginia ports is extensive, including Commanding Officer positions at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and later the Joint Expeditionary Base; Executive Officer of Naval Station Norfolk.  After retiring from 30 years of service as a Naval Captain, he was a Senior Naval Consultant for McKean Defense Group. His knowledge of the ship repair industry, coupled with his reputation for being a collaborative leader, are strong contributions to the continued success of the Virginia Ship Repair Association's focus on being the "Strength Behind the Fleet."

Sylvia Bell is our Office Manager and Member Services Coordinator.  She joined the VSRA Staff in October 2010. She is responsible for directing and coordinating office services and related activities. She coordinates membership services and provides support to members as needed. Born and raised in Hampton, she is a native of Hampton Roads. She serves our administrative team using her management, organizational and administrative skills developed throughout her more than 20 years of administrative experience. She is the mother of 5 grown children and one spunky little doggy named "Bear."  Her greatest joy in life is spending quality time with her family.

Sylvia can be reached at SBell@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 101.

Born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, Barbara Washer graduated from Kecoughtan High School and attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Barbara joined the Staff in March 2014, and is excited to work with the VSRA membership to serve the Ship Repair Industry.

As the Director for Development and Programming, Barbara is tasked with implementing and enhancing new business, programs, and events that support the strategic goals of the VSRA & VSRF. Barbara works closely with the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation Board of Directors to develop workforce initiatives to benefit the Association membership and Ship Repair Industry at-large.

Barbara can be reached at BWasher@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 103.

Sallena Nikitas provides administrative, clerical and coordination support to the Training Department of the organization, and other programs as needed to include: Foundation events, general office support and growth initiatives.  Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Sallena has lived in Hampton, VA since 1985, and is a graduate of Kecoughtan High School. She holds a BS in Business Administration Management from Radford University. At home, Sallena has been married to her high school sweetheart, Brian, for 20 years, is a proud mom to 3 wonderful children.

Sallena can be reached at SNikitas@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 104.

Sydney Sigler joined the Virginia Ship Repair Association in June 2019, providing us with administrative assistance and staff support. Sigler holds a great deal of responsibilities in our office to include; coordinating events, monitoring otraining system, and providing executive level assistance. Sydney thoroughly enjoys being a part of Virginia Ship Repair Association.

Sigler was born in Arizona but spent most of her adolescence in Australia. In Spring 2020, Sigler plans to continue her education by studying Business Administration.

Sydney can be reached at SSigler@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 100.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Daniel Keats graduated from First Colonial High School and received a degree in Political Science from James Madison University in 2013. After an internship in Ethiopia, where he connected recent graduates to apprenticeship opportunities, Daniel realized he wanted to help improve people’s lives by working in the non-profit realm.

To aid him in this kind of career, Daniel quickly pursued a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from Old Dominion University in a little more than a year, despite working at the same time. Before he obtained his graduate degree in 2015, Daniel completed a summer internship at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations, where he worked to improve socioeconomically disadvantaged New Yorkers’ access to health and human services.

Daniel Keats joined the VSRA staff in October 2019, and serves the Association as the Training Service Administrator & Marine Trade Training Program Coordinator.
Every day, he arrives at the office glad that he works at an organization that not only serves its members but the Hampton Roads community as a whole.

Daniel can be reached at DKeats@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 108.

Darius R. Swift is a native of Hampton, VA, graduating from Phoebus High School in 2007 with an advanced diploma and career technical seal. Swift then attended Shaw University where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Accounting. At Shaw University, Swift was very active in social and academic clubs. After graduating he traveled south, pursuing a childhood dream of a career in Human Resource. Now that Darius R. Swift is back living in Hampton Roads, he is devoted to serving youth and giving back to the community that has provided him with so many meaningful, life altering experiences.

Darius joined the Staff in October 2019, and serves the Virginia Ship Repair Association as the Outreach Coordinator. He is excited to work with the VSRA membership to serve the Ship Repair Industry by fostering the next generation of Ship Repairers.

Darius can be reached at DSwift@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 109.

Edna Bagtas is an accountant born, raised, and educated in the Philippines. She joined VSRA in March 2019 as the Bookkeeper. She is responsible for Virginia Ship Repair Association’s general ledger and the accompanying financial reports. She brings to the table her 20+ years of experience in the Accounting profession both from for-profit and non-profit entities.

When not crunching numbers, you will either find her in her backyard tending to her vegetable garden or in the kitchen cooking the family’s favorite dishes or on her favorite sofa reading a good book. She is married to her wonderful husband, Ed, and a proud Mother to two beautiful daughters, Aster Nadine and Lianna.

Edna can be reached at EBagtas@VirginiaShipRepair.org or (757) 233-7034 x 105.