Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has announced three new members to the Board of Trustees., Jim Fahey and Kathy Oliver.

“I am so looking forward to growing and strengthening the museum with this group, and in partnership with our other trustees, talented staff, and our executive committee, led by President Jim Holzapfel. As we work through fiscal year 2025, and continue planning and raising funds for our new education center and museum expansion, it is important that we develop a board of directors with diverse talents and deep commitment to the community, and our new trustees have demonstrated this through prior service,” said Sarah Hall, executive director of the museum.

Cathy Ashley-Cotleur is a familiar face to museum visitors; she volunteers at the greeter desk and participates in other museum activities. Now that she is president of the Singer Society, the museum’s volunteer organization, Ashley-Cotleur steps into a seat on the board.

Ashley-Cotleur has lived in Hagerstown for 42 years. She migrated from Ohio in 1981. Her work experience includes serving as administrative assistant to the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus, deputy director of the Ohio Office of Consumers’ Counsel, and as executive secretary of the Ohio House. After moving to Hagerstown, Ashley-Cotleur served as a professor of marketing at Frostburg State University for 33 years before retiring in 2016.

Ashley-Cotleur received an undergraduate degree in political Science from Kent State University, holds a Master in Political Science from Ohio State University, a Master in Management from Frostburg State University, and a doctorate in business from George Washington University.

Ashley-Cotleur has been active in political campaigns in Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania over the last 50 years. She has served as a delegate to two national political conventions, and was chosen by the American Council of Young Political Leaders to travel to Japan to meet with government leaders there. She has served on numerous boards, including the International Council for Small Business, Maryland Health and Higher Education Facilities Authority, Columbus Area Women’s Political Caucus, Prime Time for Women, Together With Families, and St. Maria Goretti High School.

Ashley-Cotleur enjoys traveling and has been to over 40 countries for both professional and personal trips. She has a son who is married and lives in Madrid, Spain.

Jim Fahey joined the Middletown Valley Bank team in October 2017 as a commercial relationship manager. Prior to coming to MVB, he served as the director of athletics at St. James School for five years, where he managed the athletic department in its entirety and provided coach mentoring and student-athlete leadership programs.

Fahey also owned and was the general manager of Hub City Builders in Hagerstown for over 20 years. The business specialized in custom homes, remodeling, and commercial construction in the Tri-State area.

Fahey graduated from Shippensburg University and served in the United States Army Reserves for eight years.

He is an active member of the community and has been a lifelong resident of Hagerstown. He has been a past board member of several local organizations, such as the Hagerstown Community College Booster Club, Washington County Home Builders Association, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and local Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

He has been married to Sue for 34 years and has three grown children.

Kathy Oliver also is a familiar face to those visiting the museum. She is a member of the Singer Society, where she serves as secretary, and often volunteers as a greeter.

Her background is in education. She was the former assistant state superintendent for Career and College Readiness for the Maryland State Department of Education, where she spent 25 years.

During her tenure, Maryland revamped Vocational-Technical Education into a 21st century system of Career and Technology Education, the New CTE, where students prepare for careers and postsecondary studies earning early college credit and industry certifications along with their high school diplomas.

Since retirement in 2015, and through December 2019, Kathy served as a part-time consultant to the Council of Chief State School Officers where she coached State Teams to improve state policies and practices for career readiness of high school graduates. She continues her professional work as a member of the PDK International Board of Directors, of which she is presently Board Chair.

The Rochester, New York, native came to Maryland to attend college at what is now Notre Dame University of Maryland. She did her post-baccalaureate work at Hood College, where she earned a Master of Science in Business Management.

She serves as secretary of the Singer Society, is on the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Public Library, is a past president of the Board of Directors of the Washington County Historical Society, chairs the Scholarship Committee of the Town and Country Garden Club and is a board member of the Hagerstown Women’s Club. She and her husband, Kent, live in Hagerstown.