The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is proud to recognize the Fall 2024 graduates of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy (CLA). This second cohort of 30 senior executives from Virginia state agencies completed an intensive eight-week program designed to enhance leadership and management capabilities while tackling some of the Commonwealth’s most pressing challenges.
Sponsored in partnership with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, CLA equips agency leaders with the tools to drive innovation, manage change, and align their agencies with the Governor’s priorities. A new feature of this year’s program included participants actively working in teams to develop actionable plans for key initiatives.
“CLA represents the Commonwealth’s commitment to cultivating leaders who not only excel within their agencies but also collaborate to make government more efficient, effective, and impactful,” said Robyn McDougle, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Outreach at the VCU Wilder School. “We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s cohort.”
Highlights of the Fall 2024 Program
Participants immersed themselves in a curriculum that included strategic planning, cultural transformation, innovation in government, and change management. Through workshops, expert presentations, and peer discussions, they honed skills to navigate complex challenges and drive results. Key initiatives tackled by this year’s teams included:
- Streamlining IT Back-Office Systems: Developing strategies to consolidate and improve efficiency across decentralized IT systems.
- Enhancing Recruitment Strategies: Reframing talent acquisition as a business imperative to attract top-tier professionals.
- Fostering Community Engagement: Creating opportunities for public servants to engage meaningfully with Virginia’s citizens.
- Transition Readiness for Future Administrations: Ensuring smooth leadership transitions to maintain continuity and service excellence.
- Telework Policy Optimization: Balancing in-person collaboration with equitable telework practices.
- Telework Policy Optimization (PDF)
- Telework _ Report (PDF)
Transformative Outcomes
The program culminated with project presentations at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, where participants shared their innovative solutions with Governor Youngkin’s team, senior officials, and agency leaders. These collaborative projects demonstrated the cohort’s dedication to improving government services and fostering positive change.
The graduation ceremony, held on November 12, celebrated the achievements of these exceptional leaders. Remarks from Dean Susan Gooden and Secretary of Administration Lyn McDermid underscored the importance of cultivating leadership excellence in public service.
As these graduates return to their agencies, they bring with them renewed skills, innovative strategies, and a collective commitment to advancing the Commonwealth. Their work represents the enduring legacy of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy in shaping the future of Virginia governance.
Congratulations to the Fall 2024 CLA Cohort!
For more information about the Commonwealth Leadership Academy and its mission to develop high-performing public service leaders, visit the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.
Introducing the 2024 Commonwealth Leadership Academy cohort
Trisha Beasley, Director of Process Improvement and Data Applications, Department of Environmental Quality
Mason Byrd, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Forensic Science
Jeff Cabral, Safety Program Director, Department of Labor & Industry
Aaron Cubbage, Captain, Department of Motor Vehicles Police
CC Damian, Director of Constituent Services. Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin
Ashley Ervin, Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs, Virginia Employment Commission
Kayla Fallon Arestivo, Executive Director, Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
Norman Gray, Sr., Major Deputy Director |Bureau of Strategic Governance, Virginia State Police
John Grieser, Director of Investigations - Field Operations, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Andy Hallberg, Information Security Officer, Department of Taxation
Deyonta Johnson, Director of Violence Intervention, Department of Juvenile Justice
Angela Kelly-Wiecek, Chief Deputy Commissioner, Virginia Works
Steve Kirschner, Deputy Director, Licensing and Regulatory Programs Division, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Stephen Klos, Property Tax Director, Department of Taxation
Leslie Knachel, Chief Operating Officer, Department of Health Professions
Barb Layman, Assistant Commissioner for Business Services, Department of Labor and Industry
Trisha Lindsey, Director of Policy & Legislative Services, Department of Housing and Community Development
Jeff Lunardi, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Medical Assistance Services
Vince Maiden, State Energy Office Director, Department of Energy
Tiffany Marks, Director of Human Resources, Department of Labor and Industry
Nathan Miles, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Jenna Moon, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, Office of the Governor Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office
Everton Nevers, Chief Operations Officer, Department of Military Affairs
Kellie Powell, Captain, Department of Motor Vehicles
Michelle Schmitz, Associate Director, Program Evaluation, Department of Planning and Budget
Rachel Stradling, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
Marcus Thornton, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Office of Data Governance and Analytics
Julie Wang, Director of Administration and Financial Services, Department of Labor and Industry
James Williams, Commissioner, Department of Social Services
Ed Zimmer, Deputy State Forester, Department of Forestry
This story originally appeared on the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute website.
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