Official Scorekeeper

Mayor David Norris

David Norris is the mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Since moving to Charlottesville in 1995, Dave has been very involved in efforts to enhance the quality of life in our community. In his professional life as a non-profit director, in his civic life as an advocate for affordable housing, social justice and the environment, and in his personal life as a father of two wonderful children (Eli, 9, and Chloe, 6), he has enjoyed being an active member of the Charlottesville community.

Dave currently works as Executive Director of PACEM, an interfaith ministry that provides shelter and meals to homeless men, women and children during the cold winter months. In previous positions, he’s served as Associate Director of Madison House, as Interim Director of PHAR (the Public Housing Association of Residents), as founding Director of the Connecting People to Jobs Initiative (a joint venture between PHAR and Piedmont Virginia Community College), and as Coordinator of the Virginia Economic Development Corporation’s Micro Loan Program for low-income, minority and female entrepreneurs.

In the event of a tie, Mayor Norris will also act as the tiebreaking judge.

Special Guests

Mollie Bryan

Mollie is an essayist, columnist, freelance writer, and cookbook author. Her essays have appeared on NPR’s Kitchen Window, the Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Sun Times, Relish Magazine, as well as in several regional parenting magazines across the country. Her articles have appeared in Grit Magazine, Taste of the South Magazine, and Virginia Living, the Roanoker, German Life, and Blue Ridge Traditions. She’s a regular contributor on NPR’s WVTF.

Mollie’s second cookbook MRS. ROWE’S LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHERN PIES (Ten Speed Press, 2009) a sweet collection of 60 pie recipes and slices of local life is available to pre-order on Amazon and from the publisher at Tenspeedpress.com.

Barbara Hutchinson

Barbara is the executive director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) and was the first to jump in as a volunteer to help with the event. Barbara put together a beautiful gift basket for the winner as well as a fine bottle of wine for the runner-up.

Jennifer McKeever

Jennifer McKeever is a general practice attorney at Jones & Green, LLP. She has a law abiding appreciation for pies, specifically cream or icebox pies. Jennifer grew up in Albemarle County, graduated from Western Albemarle High School, Piedmont Virginia Community College and UVA. She moved back to Cville after law school, marriage and two babies in 2005. She is involved in way too many things but the legitimacy of the Cville Pie Down is one of her priorities. She is concerned about the appearance of a conflict since she is friends with Marijean, but hopes her appreciation for Brian is evident since he answered her all important question on whip cream. In the end, Charlottesville wins. Good luck Brian and Marijean.

Jamie Schwartz

Jamie is the Director of Marketing (and “Social Butterfly”) for Brown Automotive. It was Jamie’s question that started the entire PieDown experience, and she was kind enough to come to the event - as well as provide some wonderful prizes to both contestants on behalf of Brown.

The Esteemed Judges

Sara Gould

Sara Gould is a Project Engineer working on testing and R&D for a ship interiors company headquartered in Crozet. She grew up in upstate New York and has lived at the Jersey Shore, in DC, and Annapolis, but is very happy to have bought a house in Charlottesville so she can stop moving further south.

Settled down now, Sara spends her time outside of work playing saxophone with the Municipal Band, cooking and drinking wine and caring for two cats and Betsie, her robotic lawnmower.

Sara is also very happy about meeting locals who like to bake pies.

Cindy Maisannes

Cindy Maisannes is a publishing technology specialist at CFA Institute, where she thrills to new ebook devices, online journals, and overthinking Twitter. She has formerly worked as a digital librarian at UVA and a lowly PhD candidate in French literature, as well as fighting crime as her superhero alter-ego, The Spider. Wait…I mean… There is nothing to see here — move along.

Cindy’s love of pie runs so deep that she’s included Golden Smog’s “Pecan Pie” on approximately every mix tape or CD or playlist she’s ever made, and frankly, her friends that she pawns these things off on are sick to death of hearing it. Interestingly, she’s not an especial fan of pecan pie and thinks there are many better varieties. It will be up to the esteemed competitors of Cville Pie Down to discover which ones.

Joe Meade

Joe Meade is an IT Consultant with Dominion Digital, focused on Agile software development practices. He has a deep appreciation for the aesthetics of software, and of food. Beauty matters, as does the application of one’s craft. The deep hues of fresh sushi, a quality beer, and a pie master’s harvest all give him pause and delight.

When not helping companies deliver software or eating pie, Joe plans for the next opportunity to eat pie or help companies deliver software.

Steve Whitaker

Steve Whitaker has a Ph.D. in instructional technology and is the Director of Technology for UVA’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning. Previously, he has been a high school social studies teacher and historical interpreter for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

But none of that matters so much as his profound, abiding love of pie. Steve’s feelings for it run so deep that he would probably steal money from many of you just so he could buy more pie for himself. It is therefore unsurprising to those who know him that he selflessly volunteered to be a judge at this august event. Also, love of community or something.