Board of Directors

Emily Webb

Emily joined the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in January 2023 as Vice President of Education and Workforce Development and brings with her 15 years of experience in education, public policy, and advocacy. She leads the Chamber’s education and workforce efforts to ensure Virginia is responsive to the shifting needs of a global economy with an educated, well-trained, and adaptive workforce.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Emily served as the Director of the Office of Board Relations at the Virginia Department of Education. In this role, she led the policy development and regulatory work of the Virginia Board of Education ensuring the advancement of their comprehensive plan for public education in the Commonwealth. Prior to her role at the Department, she was the Director of Government Relations for the Virginia School Boards Association, served in the administration of Governor Bob McDonnell as an education policy advisor, and as Deputy Director of Virginia21.

Emily has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She currently resides in Goochland County with her goldendoodle, Kobe.

Alicia Uzzle

Dr. Alicia R. Uzzle, manager at the Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), was raised in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She moved to Hampton in 1989 to study physics at Hampton University (HU) as an Office of Naval Research scholar, there receiving her BA and MS degrees.

Dr. Uzzle taught in Newport News Public Schools for three years before returning to HU to complete her PhD and postdoctoral research at Jefferson Lab in experimental nuclear physics. She was an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Peninsula Community College before coming to The Apprentice School at NNS as an academic instructor in 2004. By 2008, Dr. Uzzle was an academic supervisor, and in 2015, she became manager of Academics.

While serving in her current position, she was selected into the Sorensen Institute class of 2019 Political Leaders Program, appointed to serve on the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center board of directors, and member of the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation. Since 2021, Dr. Uzzle has been a manager of Trades Training Integration, a department which manages all aspects of workforce proficiency at NNS. Dr. Uzzle lives in Hampton with her husband and they have three adult sons.

Allison Mays

Allison currently serves as Director of the Virginia Tech Southwest Center.

Ms. Mays’ professional experience includes working as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, a fundraising professional at Barter Theatre, Mount Rogers Community Services and Emory & Henry College, and as Director of Government Relations at Barter Theatre and Emory & Henry College.

Her community service includes serving on the Boards of Directors for the Birthplace of Country Music, YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, Washington County Chamber of Commerce (former President) and Project Glade. She also served one term on the Washington County Board of Supervisors (Vice-Chair) and on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Arts & Culture Commission (Vice-Chair), Workforce & Economic Development Committee and Rural Action Caucus. She also participated in Lead Virginia and was chosen to participate in the Jessie Ball du Pont Fund Leadership Institute as well as the inaugural cohort of the NACo Economic Mobility Leadership Network.

Keith Perrigan

Dr. Keith Perrigan started his career as a teacher in a self-contained classroom for students with emotional disabilities. He then served as an administrator in Washington County, Virginia for 13 years, 9 of those as principal at Patrick Henry High School and 4 as Superintendent of Norton City Schools. Dr. Perrigan became Superintendent of Bristol Virginia Public Schools in January of 2017 and continues to serve there. He is also a founding member of the Coalfields Coalition, which was the predecessor of the Coalition of Small and Rural Schools of Virginia, of which he now serves as President.

Gena Keller

Gena Keller recently retired from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as Assistant Superintendent for Learning and after serving as superintendent for seven years in the Fluvanna County Public Schools District in Central Virginia. Gena is currently the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Learning Partnership (CLP), a collaborative of professional learning organizations, higher education leaders, and educators with a deep commitment to transforming public education in Virginia with a laser focus on equity. During her tenure as Assistant Superintendent at VDOE, Gena was integral in connecting credible statewide professional learning organizations in assisting school districts in implementing the competencies and skill sets that comprised the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. Gena also assisted in the creation of supporting profiles – Profile of a Virginia Leader, Educator, and Classroom – that became drivers for the Virginia Superintendent Leadership Academy and the Virginia Learning Innovation Network and caused shifts in the preparation of educators in higher education institutions.

In 2017, Gena was named the Region V Superintendent of the Year by her colleagues. She received the AASA National Superintendent Certification and is known for her “dogged determination” while championing for every student that walks through the doors of a public school. Gena served as President of Women Education Leaders of Virginia (WELV) and continues to be active in professional organizations that support learning opportunities for all educators.

Gena served students as a teacher for children with special needs, home-school coordinator, counselor, administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and assistant superintendent for instruction before becoming the superintendent in Fluvanna. She earned a BS Degree from Radford University and two Masters in Education from the University of Virginia

Jeremy Satterfield

Jeremy Satterfield is the new TechSpark Community Engagement Manager for Boydton, Virginia. He is a lifelong resident of Southern Virginia having completed his K-12 education in Halifax County and obtained his bachelor’s degree at Longwood University. Jeremy spent three years teaching high school marketing courses at Bluestone High School in Mecklenburg County immediately after college. After leaving the education field, he went to work with the local community-owned not-for-profit hospital as their community outreach representative. After six years, Jeremy left healthcare to take a new position for Mid-Atlantic Broadband, a growing middle-mile provider in Southern Virginia. His time in telecommunications shed light on the disparities between rural and urban communities. One of the most impactful programs he has worked with is the Homework Gap Initiative, a TV white space pilot project in rural southern Virginia that helped bring connectivity to students in unserved and underserved areas.

The opportunities that Jeremy has had in education, healthcare, and telecommunications have helped forge his commitment to bridge the gap to rural communities. As a father of three, Jeremy has a vested interest in bringing opportunities into rural Virginia for the next generation. Kylie, 16, Kameron, 13 and Layne, 11, are all enrolled in Halifax County Public Schools where his wife, Kristy, is a third-grade teacher. Life as a father to three children keeps him busy but Jeremy has found time to coach Kylie’s travel softball team and Layne’s recreation and travel baseball teams. Jeremy has served on various boards throughout the region, chambers of commerce, IDA’s, and educational foundations. As a proponent of lifelong learning, he recently earned his certificate of Leadership from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia.

Tom Brewster

Dr. Thomas Brewster currently serves as Dean for the School of Education and Social Sciences at Bluefield College. There he has worked to expand graduate programs offerings to include degrees in educational leadership and school and clinical counseling. Dr. Brewster’s career in public education includes serving as a high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, university professor, student service coordinator, deputy superintendent, and school superintendent.

Dr. Brewster served as the Superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools from August 2012 -June 2016. During Dr. Brewster’s tenure, he led efforts to create the New River Valley’s first Governor’s STEM Academy, design a comprehensive districtwide student support system, and increase the number of advanced placement, dual enrollment, and workforce training opportunities for all students.

In 2013 with the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce selected Brewster as their Business Executive of the Year, and in the same year received the Bluefield College Alumni of the Year award. Brewster is a member of both the Pulaski County Career and Technical Center’s Wall of Honor and the Tazewell High School Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Governor Tim Kaine appointed Dr. Brewster to a term on the Virginia State Board of Education. In 2013, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Virginia State Community College Board, where he’s chaired the Academic, Workforce, and Student Services and Facilities Committees. Dr. Brewster has served as Chair of the Bluefield College Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Radford University Board of Visitors and serves as Chair of the Academic Excellence and Research Committee. Brewster also served his community as a two-time member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, representing the northern district.

Nat Marshall

Nathaniel (Nat) X.Marshall is truly a product of Central Virginia. He was born, raised, and educated in Bedford County; he graduated with a degree in Business Administration & English from the University of Lynchburg (formerly Lynchburg College); he married an Amherst County native; he has worked for BWXT, the largest employer in Campbell County, for over 35 years; he currently lives in the mid-town section of the city of Lynchburg with his wife and two daughters.

Nat has served on a number of boards and committees including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, the University of Lynchburg, the State and Regional Workforce Boards, the State Board for Community Colleges, Central Virginia Community College Local Board, Johnson Health Center, Va. Center for Inclusive Communities, and DanceLynchburg. He remains engaged in these and a number of other organizations, including his Church, with the simple purpose of making a small difference in his community.

Matt Kellam

Matt Kellam is the Military and Recruitment Program Coordinator for Dominion Energy. With over 20 years of staffing and workforce development experience, Matt has lead teams specializing in technical staffing, military and veteran recruitment, college and university relations, student employment and scholarship programs, building partnerships with community and civic organizations, and more. In collaboration with education, industry and government partners, Matt and his teams are responsible for establishing military and veteran, education and training, and career pathways leading into the Energy industry. Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized and awarded for his workforce and talent pipeline development efforts and for his commitment to diversity and inclusion. Matt served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for 6 years. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University and studied Mass Communications – Public Relations.

Michael Bolling

Michael Bolling serves as Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Prior to re-joining the VDOE, Michael served as the Executive Director of CodeRVA, a regional high school in Richmond focused on equity, educational innovation, and preparing a diverse population of students for college and careers in the tech sector. Before opening CodeRVA, Mr. Bolling served as the Coordinator of Mathematics and Director of the Office of Mathematics and Governor’s Schools at the VDOE. His teaching career began as a high school mathematics teacher at Atlee High School in Hanover County. He has also served in leadership positions in Chesterfield and Powhatan Counties.

Mark L'Esperance

Mark L’Esperance

Dr. Mark L’Esperance joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board of directors in 2019. Mark is the Dean of the College of Education at James Madison University. Prior to taking his current position at JMU in July 2019, he served as professor and chair of the Department of Elementary Education and Middle Grades Education at East Carolina University, where he was also the lead faculty administrator for the East Carolina University Community School. Mark has presented and published extensively at the state, national and international levels, and he brings a wealth of experience in working with public-school systems and coaching hundreds of administrators related to strategic planning and instructional leadership. Mark is a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, and enjoys spending time with his wife of 32 years, Pam, along with their three adult children and their families. In his free time, he enjoys reading, weightlifting and watching college sports.

John Carney

John Carney joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2015. He is the founder and CEO of several innovative technology companies that provide workforce performance solutions and personalized learning platforms for adults and students, respectively: Carney, Inc. and MARi, LLC. Prior to founding Carney Inc., John was the Director of Information Technology for the Independent Insurance Agents of America, and served in the Army National Guard.

chris

Chris Chmura

Christine “Chris” Chmura joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2019. Chris is the CEO and Chief Economist for Chmura Economics & Analytics (Chmura), a quantitative research and economic development and workforce consulting firm located in Richmond, Virginia. In the public sector, Dr. Chmura has served on the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board of Economists (under the last eight administrations). Dr. Chmura is also a past-president of the Virginia Association of Economists and is a past board member of the National Association of Business Economics. Since founding Chmura Economics & Analytics in 1998, Chris and her team of experts have continued to innovate data solutions, such as JobsEQ, LaborEQ, Zonyx, and FedSpendTOP, that help answer critical client questions across the public and private sectors.

Carol Fleming

Carol Fleming joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board in 2019. Carol is the Assistant Dean for Professional & Continuing Education at James Madison University. In this capacity, she is focused on creating mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and the community and connecting PK-12 schools with faculty, children with community engagement programs, and businesses and non-profits with professional training. She serves as a board member with the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and The Alliance for Non-Profit Partnerships. She’s also involved with national associations like the University of Professional and Continuing Education (UPCEA.) Prior to joining JMU, Carol worked in arts education in Chicago, first with Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education and then with Chicago Public Schools. She’s always had a passion for the arts and for connecting schools, children and teachers with cultural institutions, performing companies, and residency artists. Humor and Happiness are key values to her approach to work.

Jeffrey Scales

Dr. Scales joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board in February 2019 with over 17 years as a secondary school administrator. He is currently the Director of Secondary Instruction for Mecklenburg County Public Schools. Dr. Scales has a background in other professions prior to entering the field of education including automotive sales, manufactured housing management, and military service. Dr. Scales serves on the local board of Southside Virginia Community College and was formerly on the advisory board of RMEP.

Chris Swynford

Chris Swynford joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2014. Chris is Attorney at Law at Swynford Law, P.C. Chris has served as General Counsel for Software AG of North America, Attorney at the Exxon Corporation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for Alaska under the U.S. Department of Justice. He has also served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant, Captain, and JAGC.

Dorothea Shannon

Dr. Dorothea Shannon is a charter member of the Virginia Ed Strategies Board. She is an educational consultant and retired educator with experience as a school superintendent for several Virginia school divisions, Executive Director of the Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, a school improvement consultant and Chief Academic Officer for the Virginia Department of Education, and adjunct professor.

Liz Povar

Liz Povar became a Board Member in 2017. She is the Founder and Principal Officer of The Riverlink Group, providing economic development consulting services at the intersection of community capacity-building, higher education, and workforce. Previously, she was the Vice President of Business Expansion for Virginia Economic Development Partnership where she led the business development domestic sales & marketing staff in implementing strategic marketing program carrying out agency’s core mission.

kim mckay

Kim McKay

Kim McKay joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2018. Kim serves as the Director of Public Policy for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Deputy Director of the Virginia Chamber Foundation. Prior to her position with the Chamber, Kim held several state and federal government positions. She also served as a Research and Policy Analyst and Interim Deputy Director of the Council on Virginia’s Future. In her recent roles, she has helped develop Blueprint Virginia 2025.

ted bennett

Ted Bennett

W. W. “Ted” Bennett, Jr. is a charter member of the Virginia Ed Strategies Board and was the key advocate in the creation of the organization in 2007. He serves as the Board Vice-Chair. Prior to his retirement, Ted served as the Director for the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County and the Executive Director of SVHEC. He also practiced law and served as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly. Ted served as the Chair for the Virginia Math and Science Coalition.

Katherine DeRosear

Katherine DeRosear joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2012. Katherine is the Senior Vice President, Community and Partner Engagement for Headed2, a cloud-based career and transition planning platform. She has served as the Executive Director of the Manufacturing Skills Institute at the Virginia Manufacturers Association, Deputy Senior Adviser for Workforce Development in the Governor’s Office, Deputy Director for the Council on Virginia’s Future, and Director of Workforce Policy for VCCS.