Staff & Leadership
Staff
Administrative Staff
Morgan Romeo, Executive Director
mromeo@vcwblueridge.com
Leah Gibson, Operations Director
lgibson@vcwblueridge.com
Brad Stephens, Business & Development Manager
bstephens@vcwblueridge.com
Bobby Welch, Grant Accountant
bwelch@vcwblueridge.com
Program Staff
Michelle Brennan, Program Manager
mbrennan@vcwblueridge.com
Mark Holman, Jr., Youth Program Manager
mholman@vcwblueridge.com
Toni McLawhorn, One Stop Coordinator
tmclawhorn@vcwblueridge.com
CLEO (Chief Local Elected Officials) Consortium
The Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEO) Consortium is made up of one (1) representative from each of the eight (8) localities in the Blue Ridge region, including the Counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke, and the Cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem. Working together, the CLEO Consortium reviews strategic, programmatic, and fiscal recommendations from the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board and communicates needs from their respective localities in terms of workforce.
The Honorable Martha Hooker*
Board of Supervisors
Roanoke County
The Honorable Mayor Tom Sibold**
City Council
City of Covington
The Honorable Stephen Bennett
Board of Supervisors
Alleghany County
The Honorable Billy Martin, Sr.
Board of Supervisors
Botetourt County
The Honorable Kathi Toelke
Board of Supervisors
Craig County
The Honorable Leland Mitchell
Board of Supervisors
Franklin County
The Honorable Mayor Sherman Lea
City Council
City of Roanoke
The Honorable John Saunders
City Council
City of Salem
* Chair
** Vice-Chair
Board of Directors
The Western Virginia Workforce Development Board is a partnership of public and private sector organizations dedicated to achieving regional workforce and economic development goals. Serving the Blue Ridge region, Board members are made up of representatives from all eight (8) localities in the region, including the Counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke and the Cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem. Members of the Board actively participate in strategic planning and implementation of local workforce initiatives and help drive the Blue Ridge regional workforce system to produce a qualified workforce to meet current and future job demand.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Board member, please contact Morgan Romeo, the Executive Director of the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board offices, at (540) 562-8442 or by email at mromeo@vcwblueridge.com.
Casey Nicely (Chair)
Financal Services Manager
First Citizens Bank
David Olsen (Vice-Chair)
Production Services Manager
WestRock – Low Moor Converting Plant
Jeremy Adkins
President
Solution Matrix, Inc.
Ashley Bayne
Manager, Human Resources
Constellation Brands
Joseph Brinley
Business Development Representative
NECA/IBEW Local 26
Michael Burnette
Director of Economic Development
Franklin County
Blair Cade
Accounting/Human Resources Manager
Paint Bank General Store
Lea DeCosta
Regional Program Manager
Roanoke Valley Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education
Amanda Forrester
Director
Roanoke Small Business Development Center
Michael Gardner
Attorney
Woods Rogers, PLC
Susan Goad
Director
Botetourt County Department of Social Services
Crystal Hall
Resident Services Manager
Roanoke Redevelopment Housing Authority
Abby Hamilton
CEO
United Way Roanoke Valley
Teresa Hammond
Executive Director
Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Milan Hayward
VP, Workforce Development
Virginia Western Community College
Debra Lovelace
Senior Director
Carilion Clinic
Kristi Mallory
Human Resources Manager
Eaton Crouse-Hinds
Richard Mansell
CEO
IVO Ltd.
Karen Michalski-Karney
Executive Director
Blue Ridge Independent Living Center
Phil Peters
Executive Consultant, Human Resources
Optical Cable Corporation
Todd Putney
Vice President, Human Resources
Medical Facilities of America
Dr. John Rainone
President
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Amanda Rogers
Human Resources Manager
Wabtec Graham White
Adrienne Ross
Human Resources – Recruiter
Integer
Christopher Simmons
Manager – Covington Office
Virginia Employment Commission
Chuck Simpson
President
CWA Local 2204
Emily Smith
Human Resources Manager
Orvis
Jason Suhr
Director, Career and Technical Education
Roanoke County Public Schools
Susan Watkins
Human Services Manager
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Visit A Virginia Career Works Center
ROANOKE CENTER
3601 Thirlane Road NW, Suite 2
Roanoke, VA 24019
540.613.8220