The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities is led by the State Board of Directors. This group provides legal and fiduciary oversight, approving the budget, setting the strategic direction, and providing supervision and direction for the executive. State Board committees include Development and Marketing, Finance, and Governance.
VCIC’s chapters are local advisory committees based in Lynchburg, Peninsula, Richmond, and Tidewater. Learn More …
STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The State Board of Directors provides primary oversight of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. These individuals volunteer their time, talent and expertise to lead the organization. Current members are:
Chair
J. Benjamin English
Hirschler
Vice Chair
James R. Spencer
U.S. District Court, Retired
Secretary
Elizabeth M. Panilaitis
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Treasurer
Chris S. Zambas
Community Volunteer
Immediate Past Chair
Chavis W. Harris
Newport News Shipbuilding – HII
Members
Hadeel M. Abouhasira
Williams Mullen
Grant L. Azdell
Randolph-Macon College
Charlie C. Boyd, Jr.
BWX Technologies, Inc.
John S. Capps
Central Virginia Community College
M. Imad Damaj
Islamic Center of Virginia
Miriam R. Davidow
Community Volunteer
ReNeé S. Dunman
Old Dominion University
Melissa K. Early
SunTrust Bank
Martin A. Einhorn
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.
Mekbib L. Gemeda
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Jodi K. Gillette
Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, Inc.
Lisa M. Hicks-Thomas
Dominion Energy
Ashby C. Kilgore
Newport News Public Schools, Retired
Derek Polley
Mass Mutual Commonwealth
Kathryn M. Pumphrey
Centra Foundation, Retired
Quan T. Schneider
Altria Group Distribution Company
Baljit S. Sidhu
Sikh Association of Central Virginia, Inc.
Aaron D. Smith
University of Lynchburg
T. K. Somanath
Community Volunteer
Joycelyn Spight Roache
Old Point National Bank
Alexis N. Swann
Wells Fargo Bank
Emeritus
David D. Burhans
University of Richmond, Retired
LOCAL CHAPTER MEMBERS
Local chapter members are the “eyes and ears” of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, identifying program opportunities, supporting the Humanitarian Awards Dinners by securing chairs, selecting honorees, and selling tables, and making sure that VCIC is well-connected in the communities we serve.
The Lynchburg Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities provides direction and support with a particular focus on the greater Lynchburg community. In addition to planning the annual Lynchburg Humanitarian Awards Dinner, the local chapter supports the organization’s programming and outreach efforts. Current officers and members are:
Chair
James W. Wright
Genworth Financial
Vice Chair
Jodi K. Gillette
Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, Inc.
Secretary
Shanda K. Horner
Community Volunteer
Immediate Past Chair
Nathaniel X. Marshall
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Members
Dori Baker
Author & Speaker
Charlie C. Boyd, Jr.
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Ally D. Davis
Liberty University
Georgia M. Delbridge
Community Volunteer
Bert Dodson, Jr.
Dodson Pest Control
Kenneth R. Garren
University of Lynchburg
Ellen S. Gross
Central Virginia Community College, Retired
Hermina W. Hendricks
Randolph College
John R. Nimon
Agudath Sholom Congregation
Bruce D. Phipps
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, Inc.
Kathryn M. Pumphrey
Centra Foundation, Retired
Dennis S. Roberts
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Lila A. Rosenthal
Community Volunteer
Marc A. Schewel
Schewel Furniture Company
Marjette G. Upshur
City of Lynchburg Office of Economic Development
Charles B. White
Pettyjohn, Wood & White, Inc.
Sterling A. Wilder
Jubilee Family Development Center
Gloria T. Witt
Define Success Coaching and Facilitation Services, LLC
Meredith J. Woo
Sweet Briar College
The Peninsula Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities provides direction and support with a particular focus on the greater Peninsula community. In addition to planning the annual Peninsula Humanitarian Awards Dinner, the local chapter supports the organization’s programming and outreach efforts. Current officers and members are:
Chair
Donna E. Woods
Hampton City Schools
Vice Chair
Eugene M. Jordan, II
Old Point Trust
Secretary
Wayne D. Lett
Newport News Public Schools, Retired
Immediate Past Chair
Chris S. Zambas
Community Volunteer
Members
Marika E. Anthony
Educator, Retired
Hugh J. Barlow
Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P.
Golden H. Bethune-Hill
The Community Free Clinic of Newport News
Tracy S. Brooks
Newport News Public Schools
Valerie C. Butler
Realtor
Sam C. Canavos
Community Volunteer
George Chioros
Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
M. Denise Counce
TowneBank
W. Vidal Dickerson
Christopher Newport University
W. Fanchon Glover
College of William & Mary
Norma B. Harvey
Hampton University
Howard E. Heard
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Patricia A. Heath
Patty Heath Insurance Agency
Syed Ismail
Muslim Community of Tidewater
C. W. Johnson
Daily Press
Trevion D. Jones
U.S. Air Force
Guy G. Levy
Levy Dental Group
Kris Rarig
Thomas Nelson Community College
Don Roberts
WAVY-TV 10
Robert G. Saunders
Hunter Law Firm
William T. Saunders, Jr.
Wells Fargo Advisors
Ward Scull, III
Virginia Transfer & Storage Co.
Edith G. White
Hampton Roads Community Action Program
Nhu Q. Yeargin
Yeargin Landscape Services, Inc.
The Richmond Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities provides direction and support with a particular focus on the greater Richmond community. In addition to planning the annual Richmond Humanitarian Awards Dinner, the local chapter supports the organization’s programming and outreach efforts. Current officers and members are:
Chair
Dwight Jones
LeClairRyan
Vice Chair
Lesley H. Bruno
Institute for Contemporary Art
Secretary
Sharon Amoss
InnerWill Leadership Institute
Immediate Past Chair
Richard L. Thalhimer
Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer, Inc.
Members
M. Imad Damaj
Islamic Center of Virginia
Miriam R. Davidow
Community Volunteer
Melissa K. Early
SunTrust Bank
Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick
Department of Criminal Justice Services
Hollee R. Freeman
MathScience Innovation Center
Wendell B. Fuller
Fuller Wealth Advisors
Ghazala F. Hashmi
Reynolds Community College
D. Mason Lecky
St. Christopher’s School
Erin Lessin Mahone
#IfYouCouldSeeMe: Stories for Change
Gary A. Mance
Wells Fargo Bank
JoAnn McCaffrey
Bon Secours Richmond – East
Steven T. McCarther
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Jo S. Murphy
Virginia Commonwealth University
John G. Myers, Jr.
Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer, Inc., Retired
Patricia W. Plaisted
Community Volunteer
Cristina Domínguez Ramírez
Henrico County Public Library
Thomas Raper
Anthem Virginia HealthKeepers
Kimberly A. Ross
Consultant
Mona Hafeez Siddiqui
Virginia Office of the Attorney General
The Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities provides direction and support with a particular focus on the South Hampton Roads community. In addition to planning the annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards Dinner, the local chapter supports the organization’s programming and outreach efforts. Current officers and members are:
Chair
Martin A. Einhorn
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.
First Vice Chair
Sara Jo Rubin
Rubin Communications Group
Second Vice Chair
Melvin T. Blackwell
Little Zion Baptist Church
Secretary
Robin A. Mancoll
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
Immediate Past Chair
Kelly T. Jackson
Virginia Wesleyan University
Members
Carolyn A. Abron-McCadden
Community Volunteer
Colleen R. Brennan
City of Virginia Beach
Albert G. Butzer, III
First Presbyterian Church
Somya Dwivedi-Burks
Somya trains, LLC
Bernard I. Einhorn
Community Volunteer
Chas Ferguson
Atkinson Realty
S. Annette Finley-Croswhite
Old Dominion University
Delores “Dee-Dee” Gee
DDG Media Consulting
Catherine X. Heben
KPMG
Mark A. Johnson
SunTrust Bank
J. Jerry Kantor
Community Volunteer
Elsie Harold Lans
Norfolk Public Schools
Barbara Hamm Lee
Sharing Info, LLC
Eleanor L. Lipkin
Community Volunteer
Charles V. McPhillips
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Saher Mirza
Community Volunteer
Jeanne B. Natali
Tidewater Community College
Cecelia T. Tucker
Old Dominion University
Gregory S. Zittrain
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
Nominate a Board/Chapter Member
You may nominate a prospective member for VCIC’s State Board or one of the chapters at any time. Nominees are reviewed each spring by the officers of the Board and Chapters. Those who are invited to be new members serve 3-year terms beginning on July 1 of each year. Contact Jonathan Zur, President & CEO, with questions.
