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Mandy Fowler

The Virginia Executive Institute (VEI) hosted by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs celebrated the graduation of its Fall 2024 cohort on November 22 at the historic Virginia Capitol. This exceptional group of leaders from across the Commonwealth's government agencies spent two weeks over the fall honing their leadership skills and tackling some of Virginia’s most pressing challenges.

A Transformative Leadership Journey

The program began with an immersive week at Virginia Beach, where participants explored foundational leadership principles. Through tools like the 360, MBTI, and EQ-I assessments, they gained a deeper understanding of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Participants also tackled topics such as implementing change efforts, building bridges to leadership by "managing up," and the intersection of finance trends and leadership in customer service, presented by experts like Scott Pattison, JD, Director of the Tax Policy and Research at the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) and Richard Holcomb, JD, Former Commissioner at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The second week in November took place in Charlottesville, building upon the skills developed in Week One. Attendees explored advanced leadership topics, including the impact of organizational culture, tackling tough conversations, effective communication during crises, and the power of storytelling in leadership. Harold Clarke, former Director of the Department of Corrections, provided insights into fostering positive organizational cultures, while Paula Otto, President of Otto Training and Consulting, equipped leaders with tools for crisis communication. The program also featured engaging discussions led by Janet Lawson, Director of the Department of Human Resources Management on navigating personnel matters, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo from the University of Maryland on the impacts of health on public policy, and insights from Justice William Mims on servant leadership. Dr. Bob Holsworth gave a very timely insight into Virginia politics.

This dynamic and rigorous curriculum equipped participants with the tools and perspectives necessary to navigate the complexities of leadership in Virginia’s public sector, culminating in the impactful Leadership Challenge presentations.

Leadership Challenge Presentations

A key feature of the VEI is the opportunity to discuss and address real issues being encountered by state government. As part of the VEI experience, each participant works in a small group on a critical problem facing the commonwealth. This project provides an opportunity to practice using tools and techniques featured at VEI while proposing a solution to a critical leadership challenge.  

This cohort's final projects addressed critical topics:

  1. Enhancing Student Well-being: Recommendations for improving access and visibility of student mental health: Developing strategies to improve resource accessibility and awareness for high school students in need.
  2. Cyberbullying and the Additional Dangers of Artificial Intelligence: Proposing educational programs to address the dual threats of cyberbullying and AI-based manipulation.
  3. Improving Awareness and Effectiveness of Recycling & Waste Reduction Programs: Identifying gaps in agency recycling efforts and enhancing participation and resource allocation.
  4. Enhancing Interest and Retention for Entry Level State Government Roles: Designing a program to recruit and train candidates for hard-to-fill state agency positions.

To see past VEI presentations, visit here. 

These presentations demonstrated the cohort’s ability to apply their learning to actionable strategies for the Commonwealth. Please explore their presentations and contact any of our esteemed VEI graduates with questions or to discuss how we can implement these ideas going forward.

Recognizing the Graduates

VEI’s Fall 2024 graduates represent diverse expertise and dedication to public service. Congratulations to:

  • Scott Booker, Director, Auditor of Public Accounts
  • Taneisha Brown, Director, Virginia State University
  • Vickie Carter, Director of Operations - Western Region, Department of Social Services
  • Donna Cox, Director of Education and Library Services, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
  • Brookie Crawford, Risk Communications Manager, Department of Health
  • Bill Cuttler, Northern Virginia District Administrator, Department of Transportation
  • Michael Davis, Deputy District Engineer, Department of Transportation
  • Guy Dinkins II, Benefits Director, Department of Veterans Services
  • Richard Doucette, Director - Northern Regional Office, Department of Environmental Quality
  • Michelle Franco, Director of Program Operations - Business Operations, Department of Social Services
  • Greg Henion, State Structure & Bridge Engineer, Department of Transportation
  • Ashley Herring, Director of the Office of CQI, Department of Social Services
  • Michael Jones, Chief Information Officer, Department of Medical Assistance Services
  • Jessica Kilgo, Chief Financial Officer, VA American Revolution 250 Commission
  • Beth Levermore, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer & Director of Strategy & Transformation, Virginia IT Agency (VITA)
  • Robert Mason, Licensing and Customer Service Manager, Department of Criminal Justice Services
  • Keven Patchett, Director, Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, State Corporation Commission
  • Brian Pratt, Deputy Director, State Corporation Commission
  • Maria Pruner, Associate Chief – Operations, Virginia Housing
  • Shakema Sanders, Deputy Director of Administration, Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Kevin Spruill, Assistant Fire Chief, Richmond Fire & Emergency Services
  • Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Boards of Funeral Directors & Embalmers, Physical Therapy, Long-Term Care Admins, Department of Health Professions
  • Nathan Warfield, Director of Gaming Licensing and Investigations, Virginia Lottery

About the Virginia Executive Institute

VEI, part of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, has a legacy of developing senior leaders in Virginia state government for decades. The program equips participants to lead with vision, adaptability, and innovation, fostering a robust network of public service professionals dedicated to advancing the Commonwealth.

The Fall 2024 graduates are now part of VEI’s distinguished alumni network of over 1,500 leaders. As they return to their agencies, their work will continue to create meaningful impacts in Virginia.

Congratulations, graduates, and thank you for your commitment to leadership and service!

For more information about VEI, visit here.