Leadership

Board of Directors: The volunteer, unpaid board charts the organization's strategic course and ensures it is effectively carrying out its mission.

Bill Leighty - Chairman
Bon Air
Current Term: 2022-24
Member Since: 2019
Leighty, a partner in DesignSmart LLC, served as chief of staff to Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Abigail Farris Rogers - Vice Chair/Secretary
Richmond
Current Term: 2023-2025
Member Since: 2020
Rogers is Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer for YMCA of the U.S.A. She is a former GOP fundraiser.
Ross Grogg - Treasurer
Richmond
Current Term: 2023-25
Member Since: 2017
Grogg is a lobbyist with Kemper Consulting. He is a former legislative aide to Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach).
Jeff Britt
Richmond
Current Term: 2021-2023
Member Since: 2014
Britt is a senior vice president at McGuireWoods Consulting. His political background includes work on two GOP statewide campaigns.
Tom Cosgrove
Williamsburg
Current Term: 2023-25
Member Since: 2015
Cosgrove is manager of Corporate, Citizenship & Government Relations at Newport News Shipbuilding. He is a former executive director of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus.
Elizabeth Hooper
Richmond
Current Term: 2021-2023
Member Since: 2020
Hooper is Associate Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Virginia Teach. She worked as an aide to Del. Ward Armstrong (D-Martinsville.)
Deborah Oswalt
Richmond
Current Term: 2021-2023
Member Since: 2021
Oswalt is Executive Director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which helps bring care to underserved communities.
Michael Schewel
Richmond
Current Term: 2021-23
Member Since: 2021
Schewel is a retired attorney who was a McGuireWoods partner and general counsel at the Tredegar Corporation. He served as Secretary of Commerce and Trade in the Warner administration.
Samantha Sedivy
Richmond
Current Term: 2023-2025
Member Since: 2021
Sam is an associate attorney for Reed Smith, where her practice focuses on representing clients before the General Assembly.
Paul Shanks
Richmond
Current Term: 2022-24
Member Since: 2022
Shanks is manger of digital communications and marketing for Dominion Energy. Before joining Dominion, Shanks was responsible for promoting the 2015 UCI Road World Cycling Championships in Richmond.
Steven Shapiro
Alexandria
Current Term: 2023-2025
Member Since: 2020
Shapiro is a former technology executive and high school math teacher. A Democrat, Shapiro teaches courses in data visualizations.
Nancy Smith
Henrico
Current Term: 2022-2024
Member Since: 2017
Smith is Political Director for Middle Resolution PAC and former campaign manager for Congressman Dave Brat (R-Henrico).
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley
Arlington
Current Term: 2022-24
Member Since: 2021
Tapia-Hadley is a senior director of public affairs for TelevisaUnivision. Born in Mexico and raised in Washington, D.C., Tapia-Hadley is a former member of the Virginia Latino Advisory Board.
Harrison Wallace
Richmond
Current Term: 2021-2023
Member Since: 2021
Wallace is Program Officer with the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund.