History

With a shared vision and much encouragement from the Virginia Leadership Association — a statewide affiliation of community leadership programs across the commonwealth — and sparked by a call to action by Virginia’s then-Governor Mark Warner, a small group of Virginians began informally exploring the feasibility of a statewide leadership program in the commonwealth. This loosely organized cadre of educators from several leading universities, leaders of community leadership groups and representatives of local chambers of commerce, evaluated statewide leadership programs in more than 30 states.

Research showed that these statewide programs offer a proven model for creating a network of senior-level leaders to address statewide challenges and create a better future for residents and future generations. The increasingly enthusiastic group organized as a steering committee, debated best practices and decided on basic constructs for the program.

Incubation period

This group clearly understood that to be successful, the venture must be a public and private collaboration, drawing on the strengths and resources of each. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce wholeheartedly embraced the initiative, offered office space during an incubation period for the organization and opened doors to the broader business community.

Inaugural class

LEAD VIRGINIA’s first president and CEO, Susan Timmons, was hired in September 2004 to launch the inaugural class in April 2005. In the fall of 2004 and early months of 2005, a founding board of directors was recruited with Chairman G. Slaughter “Sandy” Fitz-Hugh Jr., president of Bank of America, Virginia, at its helm. Program and curriculum responsibilities were directed by John P. Thomas, Ph.D., director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, along with regional curriculum committees for each of seven regions. The inaugural class of 2005 was recruited with 39 class participants. Founding sponsors Bon Secours Richmond Health System, HCA Virginia and Philip Morris USA, Bank of America, Norfolk Southern, SunTrust and other financial and in-kind contributors stepped up to support the effort and regional curriculum committees worked to create the seven sessions that remain the hallmark of the LEAD VIRGINIA program content and curriculum. Three key themes were addressed in the first three years of LEAD VIRGINIA: economy, education and transportation. In 2008 the three curriculum themes were modified with health taking the place of transportation. Transportation became one of six perspectives woven through the program content, along with economic development, demographics, technology, growth management and quality of life.

By all measures, the initial venture was a resounding success with a graduation rate of 100 percent for LEAD VIRGINIA’s inaugural class of 2005. This first class then demonstrated their commitment to the program by personally recruiting more than 50 percent of the 42 participants of the class of 2006, contributing to scholarship support for future participants and organizing an active alumni committee. After much success in launching the program, Timmons departed in 2007.

New leadership

In March 2007, Susan Horne, former president and CEO of Leadership Fairfax Inc., was hired as LEAD VIRGINIA’s president and CEO. Horne brought with her more than 15 years of experience with Virginia’s largest regional community leadership program, as well as her public sector experience as vice mayor for the town of Leesburg, and stepped into the role of taking LEAD VIRGINIA into its next phase of growth and development. Horne has taken LEAD VIRGINIA from its third program year forward, recruiting an impressive group of leaders each successive year from across Virginia; expanding the Board’s representation, impact and diversity; planning and executing annual alumni conferences each year focusing on geographic regions not part of the regular class curriculum; further engaging four years of alumni with regional alumni gatherings and recruiting outreach; and sustaining the program through significant fundraising responsibilities and corporate support.

LEAD VIRGINIA today

In 2009, now in its fifth year, LEAD VIRGINIA’s imprint on Virginia’s history is being made across the state, with 160-plus proven community and regional leaders now counting among their credentials completion of this prestigious program. Alumni are well-represented on statewide boards and commissions and are encouraged to seek out opportunities to serve at the highest levels in the state. Alumni are also becoming increasingly engaged with LEAD VIRGINIA by serving on its board of directors and regional program committees, and are stepping up to take on additional leadership roles within the organization.

Through their roles as community and statewide stakeholders, LEAD VIRGINIA alumni are influencing policy, perspective and innovation at all levels throughout Virginia in their private and public sector roles.

Updated May 5, 2009