Strategies Corner

Antoinette Jenkins

Emily Webb

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.

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.

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 worked for BWXT, the largest employer in Campbell County, for 41 years before he retired in the fall of 2025; 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 Dance Lynchburg. 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.

Tom Brewster

Dr. Thomas Brewster currently serves as the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Montgomery County Public Schools. His extensive career in education includes roles as a high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, university professor, student service coordinator, deputy superintendent, and school superintendent.

Before joining Montgomery County, Dr. Brewster served as the Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences at Bluefield University, where he played a key role in expanding graduate programs, including degrees in educational leadership and counseling. During his tenure as Superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools from 2012 to 2016, he led initiatives to enhance advanced placement, dual enrollment, and workforce training opportunities for students, along with efforts to improve digital connectivity across the district.

Dr. Brewster has held leadership positions in several educational initiatives. He chaired the Commonwealth of Virginia Advisory Committee on Adult Education and Literacy, led a national study group on improving graduation rates for the National Association of State Boards of Education, and co-chaired the Taskforce on Workforce Readiness for the Virginia School Boards Association. In 2016, Senator Mark Warner invited him to participate in the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Education and Workforce Roundtable for the United States Senate.

Throughout his career, Dr. Brewster has received recognition for his contributions. In 2013, he was named Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Executive of the Year and received the Bluefield College Alumni of the Year award. His achievements have been honored with inductions into the Pulaski County Career and Technical Center’s Wall of Honor and the Tazewell High School Hall of Fame.

In addition to his work in education, Dr. Brewster has served on various boards and committees, including the Virginia State Board of Education, the Virginia State Community College Board, the Bluefield University Board of Trustees, and the Radford University Board of Visitors. He also served as a member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

A Southwest Virginia native, Dr. Brewster holds a doctorate from Virginia Tech, an MS from Radford University, and a BA from Bluefield College.

Liz Povar

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Liz Povar founded The RiverLink Group, a Virginia SWAM-certified economic development consulting firm focusing on the intersection of higher education, workforce and community development. The RiverLink Group’s clients include economic development organizations across Virginia, as well as education, corporate and non-profit organizations; it has a special focus on rural Virginia.

With nearly 45 years in economic development, Liz has public, private and non-profit experience. With 9 years as a small business owner, she also served for 21 years in various leadership roles in the public sector with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, retiring as Vice-President for Business Expansion, where she was responsible for leading VEDP’s Business Retention/Expansion, Partner Communications, Higher Education Partnerships, and Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Before joining VEDP, she served for 10 years as Director of the Emporia-Greensville Industrial Development Corporation, a local non-profit rural economic development agency. Prior to that she served for 4 years as the Executive Director of the Emporia-Greensville Chamber of Commerce.

She is a graduate of Bluefield College with a B.S. degree in Organizational Management, has held her Certified Economic Developer designation since 1997, and currently holds the CEcD Emeritus designation. She is co-founder of CARES (Children Are Really Extra Special), a rural business-education partnership. She is serving her second term as a Governor’s Appointee to the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Rural Center; is immediate past chair of the Board of Directors for Virginia Ed Strategies, Inc.; is immediate past chair of the Board of the Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges; is a founding member of the Rappahannock Region Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Council for GO Virginia Region 6; is a member of the Rappahannock Community College Advisory Board; and the Advisory Council for Cardinal Education. She remains active in various committees of the Virginia Economic Developers Association.

In 2014, Liz was named the 2014 Alumna of the Year for Bluefield College and received the Jorman D. Granger Service Award from LEAD Virginia. She is a past President of the Virginia Economic Developers Association and received its Cardinal Award in 2011. A past president of the Emporia Rotary Club, she also previously served as a Board member of LEAD Virginia. She is married to Tedd Povar, who retired as Associate Director for the Virginia Institute of Government, and is currently affiliated with The Berkeley Group. She is a proud mom and step-mom to seven young professionals and a blessed grandma of ten exceptional grandchildren. Liz and Tedd live in western Henrico and in Deltaville (Middlesex County) and enjoy international travel, time with family, and boating on the Rappahannock River.

Michael Bolling

Michael Bolling currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Stafford County Public Schools. Just prior to this appointment, Michael was the Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). In 2017, Michael was the founding 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. Mr. Bolling also 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. He spent 2.5 years as Superintendent of Norton City Schools and then 6.5 years as Superintendent of Bristol Virginia Public Schools. Dr. Perrigan became Superintendent of Washington County Public Schools in June of 2023 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.

Latoya Smith

Latoya Smith is vice president–Employee Experience and Talent Strategy.

She is responsible for the strategic oversight of employee experience programs and initiatives, talent acquisition compliance, the student employment program, the staff augmentation program, workforce development, talent management, employee & leader development programs, HR technology strategy & analytics, and HR shared services.

Smith joined Dominion Energy in 2020 as managing counsel in the Law Department, advising on labor and employment matters. In 2021, she was named director–Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning and was responsible for leading and developing strategic talent acquisition and workforce planning initiatives to promote an inclusive work culture at Dominion Energy. She was promoted to her current position in August 2023.

Before joining Dominion Energy, Smith served as vice president – inclusion, diversity & belonging at Verisk, where she partnered with executive and business leaders on strategy and programs to accelerate efforts to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse workforce. Prior to that, Smith served as director – associate general counsel at E*TRADE Financial Corporation, where she provided strategic legal counsel on matters impacting the company across the globe. She also served as manager – human resources and labor relations at NewMarket Corporation, where she provided strategic human resources leadership in various business units and managed labor relations activities at the company’s U.S. plants. Earlier in her career, Smith worked as a labor and employment litigation attorney at McGuireWoods LLP and taught high school at Sahel Academy in Niamey, Niger.

Smith is currently a member of the Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium, a member of the Center for Energy Workforce Development Executive Council, a member of the EEI DEI Executive Advisory Committee, and Vice Chair of the Congressional School Board of Trustees. She also serves as adjunct faculty at George Mason University’s School of Business and as an adjunct lecturer in Georgetown University’s Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources Management program.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a J.D. from William & Mary School of Law.

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.

Gena Keller

In 2024, Gena Keller retired from a notable and productive career in Virginia K-12 education. Most recently, she served as 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. Just prior to her work at the CLP, Gena retired from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as Assistant Superintendent for Learning. During her tenure there, she 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.

Before moving to the VDOE, Gena served as superintendent for seven years in the Fluvanna County Public Schools District in Central Virginia. 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 every student who 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.

Early in her career, 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.