Roberta Cashwell has performed on stage in New York, Dallas, Pennsylvania and, this past weekend, at McIntyre Auditorium where the Tar Rivers Players, which she founded, presented their third production in less than two years, “Mornings at Seven.”
But the talented thespian and successful businesswoman will be taking one of her most important roles when she becomes the president of the Tarboro Edgecombe Chamber of Commerce.
Cashwell, 52, was selected for the job last week after a three-month search that attracted a dozen applicants that were most impressive, according to members of the five-person search committee.
Due to a busy schedule, Cashwell will work part time for now before beginning full-time duties on Nov. 13.
Cashwell is a Tarboro native who moved back in 2004. She left town after graduating from Tarboro High School to accept a scholarship to prestigious Vassar College. She graduated in 1972 with a double major in English and drama. She received her first master’s degree in English creative writing at Boston University and a second master’s in fine arts from Dallas Theatre Center at Trinity University.
After 20 years in school, she worked as an account executive at Merrill Lynch in New York and Long Island Bancorp for 13 years.
She came home, became active in the arts and opened Rose Cottage Books on Saint John Streets.
“She has been involved in the community since she’s moved back (in 2004),” said Dennis Marsh, chairman of the chamber’s Board of Directors and head of the search committee. “She’s committed to this area.”
Marsh said Cashwell’s job would be different than has been required in the past.
“We want to take care of our membership,” he explained, “and then we need to promote Tarboro and Edgecombe County outside the county as well as be supportive of the new Creative Community Initiative”
“We have had a declining population the last several years and we feel we must work to turn that around into growth. We feel is Roberta is exactly the person we need to do that.”
Cashwell understands her challenge. She said:
“I think we need to balance the growth of the chamber membership with marketing the Tarboro-Edgecombe County area. We need to build upon our strengths: natural beauty, historic character, culture and education system …
“We cannot be all things to all people, so we must focus on what we want.
“I love Tarboro, and I am a person with lot of energy. I look forward to putting that energy into the chamber and promoting Tarboro, in the state and outside the state.”
Anyone who has met Cashwell has come away impressed. The woman is smart, and she is not afraid of hard work. To be honest, we doubt if Cashwell has ever failed at anything. She is most remarkable person.
The chamber board did itself proud with its selection and, like Marsh, we are “looking forward to all the things she will be able to accomplish.”
