Susan Healey Payson |Executive director

Susan Healey Payson joined the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort as its new executive director December 1, 2025.

Payson brings to the organization a distinguished career in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement. Known for her philosophy that “it’s not about the money—it’s about the mission,” she is deeply committed to guiding and growing organizations that serve their communities.

“We’re thrilled to be able to add someone of Susan’s caliber to the Friends leadership team,” said Tom Kies, president of the Board of Directors. “Our sole purpose is to support the museum, and Susan is the one who will help us take that to a new level.”

Throughout her career, Payson has raised millions of dollars for prominent institutions, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Northeast Health System, the Neuroendocrine Research Foundation, Mass General/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, and Shore Country Day School in Beverly, Massachusetts. Her extensive background includes leading capital campaign drives, strengthening board governance, organizing major community fundraising events, and mentoring staff and volunteers.

A native of Rhode Island, Susan grew up in a large, competitive sailing family. Along with her siblings—some of whom were collegiate All-American sailors at Boston University, Brown, and Dartmouth, and one who competed in the 470 Class at the 2004 Olympics in Athens—she raced in the J24 and S2 7.9 fleets in Newport, RI, and along the Eastern Seaboard. During her youth, she served as a sailing instructor and later as program director of the junior sailing program at the Barrington Yacht Club on Narragansett Bay.

Susan is a graduate of Providence College, where she competed on the indoor and outdoor track teams. A three-time Boston Marathon finisher, she continues to enjoy local 5K and 10K road races.

She and her husband, Chip, have five grown children and a yellow lab named Dewey. The couple relocated to North Carolina from New England to be closer to Susan’s brother, Thomas, his wife, Kimberly, and their family.

In addition to her professional experience, Susan has served on several nonprofit boards and currently acts as Secretary and board member of Katherine’s Light Foundation, a Severna Park, MD–based organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research and patient care programs.

When not working, Susan and Chip can often be found on the water aboard their power boat or their 36’ Catalina sailboat, Debutante. They, along with Dewey, are proud to call the Crystal Coast home.

Danielle Marshall | Executive director

Danielle joined the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum bringing a career rooted in strategic communications, advancement strategy, and mission-driven leadership. A retired United States Marine and graduate of Liberty University with a master’s degree in communication, Danielle is known for her belief in building strong systems that allow organizations to thrive. She is deeply committed to stewarding the Museum’s story, impact, and future.

Danielle brings extensive experience across the Department of Defense, federal and state governments, and the corporate sector. Her background includes leading communications, engagement, and transformation efforts in complex environments, with a focus on aligning mission, audience, and measurable outcomes. She previously served in a communications leadership role with the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, where she gained valuable experience working at the intersection of state government and nonprofit partners—experience she now brings to strengthening the relationship between the Friends organization and the Museum.

Danielle relocated to Emerald Isle in 2009 and made the Crystal Coast her forever home in 2011 after returning from an overseas deployment. She and her husband, Joe, are proud parents of a lively “Brady Bunch” family that includes three grown sons, a daughter-in-law, a grandson, and three young daughters. As a family, they love being on the water and gathering at the sandbars that make the Crystal Coast so special. Danielle is thrilled to bring both her professional experience and deep personal connection to the waterways in support of the North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Friends organization as stewards of North Carolina’s maritime heritage.

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Darlene SANCHEZ | BOOKKEEPER

Darlene joined the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort in July 2024, bringing more than 30 years of bookkeeping experience and a lifelong connection to the water.

Originally from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Darlene has spent much of her life on or near the coast. She began sailing in college alongside her husband, Frank, on the Chesapeake Bay—a passion that has shaped their lives ever since. Together, they have explored the Chesapeake Bay, cruised the East Coast, and sailed as far as the Florida Keys. Most recently, they completed a voyage from Beaufort to the Bahamas and back aboard their Jeanneau 42 sailboat.

For the past decade, Darlene, a licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain and her family have called Bogue Banks home, drawn by a shared love of coastal living, sailing, and offshore fishing.

At the Friends, Darlene plays an essential role in stewarding the organization’s financial operations with care and consistency. She is deeply connected to the Museum’s mission and values the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way—helping ensure the North Carolina Maritime Museum remains accessible to all. For Darlene, this work is more than numbers; it’s a way to stay connected to the water, support a place her family loves, and be part of a community dedicated to preserving North Carolina’s maritime heritage.