Real Conversation: RVA Women Leading the Way in Education and Workforce

10 Years of ChamberWomen!

How do we build the Richmond region to compete on the global stage, and how do we bring RVA's next generation of workers to the table? Not only are there more job openings than qualified applicants in the region, but this gap is set to increase as boomers continue to retire. This is where education and workforce development meet, to build a talent pipeline that will continue to fuel Greater Richmond's success into the future.

Join us for a vital discussion with leaders from government, business and nonprofit sectors in this inaugural event of our tenth year of Real Conversations.
 

Anne Holton

Member, Virginia Board of Education

Anne Holton is a visiting professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government and at the College of Education and Human Development, and a visiting fellow at the Center for Education Policy and Evaluation. She is a lifelong advocate for children and families in Virginia. With a bachelor's from Princeton and a law degree from Harvard, Holton has worked as a legal aid lawyer serving low-income families, a juvenile and domestic relations district court judge, a child welfare reformer, and Virginia's Secretary of Education. As secretary, she worked to increase Virginia's investment in public education, to promote innovation and the joy of teaching and learning in our schools, and to ensure every student has a successful pathway to the future, especially those in high-poverty communities. Her life's work has focused on children and families at the margin, and the crucial role education must play in helping young people escape poverty. Holton currently serves on the Virginia Board of Education.

Leslie Parpart

Director, Community Relations, CarMax

Leslie Parpart is the director of community relations for CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. In her role, she oversees CarMax’s philanthropy and community engagement strategy, including the work of the CarMax Foundation. Parpart and her team focus on engaging CarMax’s 25,000 employees in meaningful and impactful community engagement experiences, and lead CarMax’s strategic partnerships with military-serving nonprofits and the company’s philanthropic response to disasters, including the CarMax Associate Disaster fund. Prior to joining CarMax, Parpart was a middle school teacher and an attorney, and managed an international business program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia with her bachelor's degree in government and master's degrees in teaching, and received her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Parpart is active in her community, serving in leadership capacities for her children’s school as well as for several Richmond-based organizations.
 

Daphne Swanson

President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia

Daphne Swanson joined Junior Achievement of Central Virginia (JACV) in March of 2005 and became president and CEO of the organization in 2011. Prior to joining JACV, Swanson worked at Deloitte where she was an in-charge auditor primarily working with clients in the mortgage and financial industries as well as local government. Prior to joining Deloitte, she worked in the banking and mortgage industry. Swanson received her bachelor's in political science from Old Dominion University and post-baccalaureate degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a certified public accountant and currently serves on the boards of ChamberRVA and the Henrico Fire Fighter Foundation. She is on the Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education and the Advisory Board for BB&T of Richmond, and she is a member of the West Richmond Rotary, serving on its Service Projects Committee and Diversity Committee. Swanson is an alumni of Leadership Metro Richmond, class of 2015.
 

Monica Callahan, facilitator

Director of Workforce Programs, ChamberRVA

Monica Smith-Callahan is Director of Workforce Programs at ChamberRVA, where she is responsible for leading the Chamber's FutureRVA initiatives that focus on workforce development and education in the Richmond region. She works closely with business, K-12, post-secondary, civic, local and state government, and economic development authorities to assess the future workforce needs in the region and identify ways to address the skills gaps in order to meet demand. Callahan most recently served as the director of outreach and development for Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond, focusing on the earliest end of the workforce pipeline. Prior to that, she was the "face of the race," serving as community engagement director for Richmond 2015, the organization responsible for the 2015 UCI Road World Cycling Championships that attracted over 600,000 spectators from across the globe to the Richmond region. A native of Richmond, Monica holds an MBA and a bachelor's in mass communication.

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We'll start off at 4:00 p.m. with check-in, connecting and tabletops to visit. The program will begin promptly at 4:30 p.m. and we will end with a wine social. Join in as we all engage on this important topic.

If you are interested in displaying your products or services via a tabletop, please reach out to Stephanie Phillips directly at 804-783-9350 for more information.

Program agenda

• 4:00–4:30 p.m. — Check-in, connecting, and tabletops
• 4:30–5:30 p.m. — The "Real Conversation"
• 5:30–6:15 p.m. — Wine time and more connecting

Questions? Please contact Stephanie Phillips at 804-783-9350.