RICHMOND (November 14, 2024)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) recognized the Class of 2024 – the second graduating class of the revamped Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program – during VACo’s 90th Annual Conference.
The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program consists of three core courses – budgeting; planning, land use, and infrastructure; and leadership. The program provides fundamental skills training as well as deep dive examinations and discussions of real scenarios that impact counties. Supervisors enrich the educational experience by sharing their journeys – the challenges and successes as an elected official serving a rural, or urban, or suburban community.
The 25 graduates (group photo) of the 12-month certification program are:
- Cathy Binder | King George County | PHOTO
- C. “Tom” Bowen | Mathews County
- Edwin W. “Ike” Broaddus | Fauquier County | PHOTO
- Gerald Childress | Spotsylvania County
- Donna D. Comer | Rappahannock County
- William Donati, Jr. | Powhatan County | PHOTO
- Timothy P. Doss | Mathews County
- David M. Felts, Jr. | Amelia County | PHOTO
- John R. “J.R.” Fidler | Richmond County | PHOTO
- Matthew D. Ingram | Westmoreland County | PHOTO
- Marshall Jamison | Franklin County | PHOTO
- Deshundra Jefferson | Prince William County
- Francis X. McGuigan | Greene County
- Denise Morrissette | Powhatan County
- Phil C. North | Roanoke County | PHOTO
- Daphne V. Norton | Nottoway County | PHOTO
- Barbara E. Null | James City County | PHOTO
- Janice Hudgins Phillips | Mathews County
- Robert W. Powers | Powhatan County
- Travis L. Pruitt | Henry County
- Renee K. Rountree | Isle of Wight County | PHOTO
- Isaac B. Smelser | Page County
- Lorie Smith | Franklin County
- Jeff S. Stoneman | Hanover County
- James R. Walkinshaw | Fairfax County
“Congratulations to our 25 graduates of the Supervisors’ Certification Program – the Class of 2024,” VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch said. “Our supervisors certification program emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and student engagement, and we continue to be amazed at the depth of experience of real-time issues being shared among the supervisors. Thank you, Class of 2024. Your support of each other will be remembered.”
The program was enhanced by the stewardship of each course instructor.
- Budgeting – Suzette Denslow
- Planning, Land Use, and Infrastructure – Andrew Hopewell, AICP, CZA; Earl Anderson, AICP; Will Cockrell, AICP; Jeffrey Farner
- Leadership – Jane Dittmar
Each course instructor led two in-person, all-day educational sessions as well as multiple virtual meetings. Students engaged with various leaders and experts in the three course areas.
“The instructors are owed a tremendous amount of gratitude for their work in leading each course,” Lynch said. “It’s not easy to balance the teaching of all the different components like fundamental skills training. Our instructors not only taught theory but also shared real skills, fundamental ways of tackling challenges, that the students can take back home and apply immediately to their role as supervisor.”
For more information about the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program, contact Karie Walker at kwalker@vaco.org or 804.343.2504.