June 11, 2009 CONTACT: Cameron McPherson
CRT/tanaka for LEAD VIRGINIA
(804) 675-8165
cmcpherson@crt-tanaka.com
Editor's note: LEAD Virginia is not to be confused with the LEAD program at the Weldon Cooper Center at UVa.
New members’ unique perspectives advance program’s goals
LEAD VIRGINIA, the statewide leadership program now entering its fifth year of educating Virginia’s leaders about the issues most relevant to the Commonwealth, has appointed three new members to its Board of Directors. Each member will serve a three year term.
The Honorable John Hager – As former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and a previous assistant secretary within the United States Department of Education, Hager brings more than 30 years of political knowledge and leadership to the board.
Allyson Rothrock – As executive director of the Harvest Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting health, education and welfare initiatives that serve the Martinsville and Henry counties in Virginia, Rothrock brings her passion, commitment and solutions for community redevelopment and revitalization to the board.
Dr. Sandra Peart – As dean of the prestigious Jepson School of Leadership at the University of Richmond, Dr. Peart will apply her strong background in leadership research and economic thought to the board. She also serves as director of the annual Summer Institute for the Preservation of the History of Economic Thought at George Mason University.
In addition, Dr. Patricia Cormier, who previously served as vice chair for the board, will now act as board chair. Dr. Cormier’s passion for higher education and experience as president at Longwood University will help guide LEAD VIRGINIA’s statewide program.
“Our new board members bring a tremendous amount of experience serving the Commonwealth,” said Susan Horne, president and CEO of LEAD VIRGINIA. “These proven leaders will provide incredible insight to the board and will help us to improve the LEAD VIRGINIA program and realize our mission of connecting diverse leaders to promote positive change in the Commonwealth.”
LEAD VIRGINIA brings together experienced, established senior level executives from public and private entities across the state to learn about important local and regional issues and opportunities. LEAD VIRGINIA educates participants about regional differences and statewide needs through the shared experience of seven two-day sessions held throughout the Commonwealth.
Endorsed by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, state universities and regional leadership organizations, LEAD VIRGINIA offers leaders a forum for gaining deeper insights into complex statewide issues, exchanging resources, creating momentum and working within and outside the political arena to usher in positive change for the Commonwealth. Specific curriculum themes of local/regional economies, as well as the larger issues of health and education, are explored through in-depth dialogue, on-site field studies and experiential activities designed to highlight the diverse interests of each region.
About LEAD VIRGINIA
LEAD VIRGINIA was incorporated as a charitable and educational organization in March 2005 and is patterned after similar models of statewide leadership programs across the nation. Led by a board of directors composed of business, education, government, non-profit and community leaders from across Virginia, LEAD VIRGINIA uses a proven model for developing a statewide network of leaders by engaging academic, business, civic and government advisors to educate class members on the wide range of key issues in Virginia. 2009 sustaining sponsors of the program include Bon Secours Richmond Health System, HCA Virginia and Philip Morris USA. Additional sponsors include the Claude Moore Foundation, Dominion, The Harvest Foundation and Norfolk Southern Corporation. More information about LEAD VIRGINIA and its board members can be found at www.leadvirginia.org.
