The USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of two professionals to its all-volunteer staff. Bill Sheridan, an Army Reserve veteran, recently retired after 32 years in the Rhode Island Department of Administration. His last position was Assistant Chief of Statewide Planning, where he oversaw the Land Use, Transportation and Comprehensive Planning programs. He will assume the full-time responsibilities of Deputy Director of the project.

Marie Sorman brings a wealth of business and community outreach experience to the museum effort. For the last four years she worked for Congressman Bob Weygand, first as Projects Coordinatorand then as Interim District Director. Marie will assume the part-time role of Community Affairs Coordinator.

Details of their backgrounds can be found below.

Bill Sheridan, an Army Reserve veteran, recently retired after 32 years in the Rhode Island Department of Administration. His last position was Assistant Chief of Statewide Planning, where he oversaw the Land Use, Transportation and Comprehensive Planning programs.

He is a 1969 graduate of Rhode Island College, who went on to receive his Masters Degree in Public Administration from URI and his JD from Suffolk University Law School. Bill is a practicing attorney who also has extensive experience consulting on municipal planning issues. His background includes many years of service to the community, primarily in North Providence, where he is well known for his work in education, sports, scouting and substance abuse prevention. He was also Chief of the Fruit Hill Fire Department, where he logged 25 years active service.

Bill is a private pilot and a member of a number of aviation organizations, to include AOPA, EAA , and EAA Warbirds. He was one of the Founders of the Quonset Air Museum. He has served the museum and the Rhode Island Aviation Heritage Association in many different capacities since their inception. He is also a Director of the Gallaudet Aviation Foundation, and has served as a director of a number of other non-profit groups.

Marie Sorman brings a wealth of business and community outreach experience to the project. For the last four years she worked for Congressman Bob Weygand, first as Projects Coordinator and then as Interim District Director. Her responsibilities involved all projects in the district where federal involvement was appropriate or requested. She was responsible for administering all federal grant activity, ranging from identification of available funding through congressional support for funding applications. She was also in charge of the administrative operation of the congressional office, ranging from personnel matters to ensuring adherence to and compliance with the federal ethics codes.

From 1988 to 1997 Marie served as Administrator or Executive Director of three chambers of commerce in Illinois and Rhode Island. For her work she received a number of citations and awards for economic development. She also served as Special Events Coordinator for the City of Elmhurst, IL, where in addition to "soup to nuts" responsibility for all special events, she administered more than 300 project volunteers. One of her projects won the cable industry's Ace Award for the best community event.

Before entering public service Marie was owner/operator of a high-end retail ready-to-wear operation in Illinois.

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Last Updated:
9/29/01