2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: MONICA SMITH-CALLAHAN

In early 2020, Smith-Callahan joined Henrico as deputy county manager for community affairs. In this role, she works to promote county relationships with nongovernmental organizations and serves as a liaison to Henrico County Public Schools and other entities. Smith-Callahan oversees a number of the county’s offices and departments, including recreation and parks, social services, libraries, outreach and engagement, and the cooperative extension.

Smith-Callahan also served as part of a COVID-19 response team that managed the largest vaccination clinic in Virginia, delivering vaccinations to more than 100,000 individuals between January and May 2021.

Previously, Smith-Callahan worked as assistant superintendent of policy, equity and communication for the Virginia Department of Education. She earned a degree in mass communications from George Mason University and an MBA from Strayer University.

A 2008 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, she founded Teen Summit RVA, a regional youth leadership summit that brings together hundreds of high school students from the Richmond region. The fourth annual Ten Summit RVA will be held March 14.

WHOSE FOOTSTEPS I’M FOLLOWING: My mother also worked for Henrico County in the library system. I often joke that if [she] had not retired before I became deputy county manager, I would be her boss, as the library system is a part of my portfolio.

WHY I CHOSE MY PROFESSION: I’ve been fortunate to do public relations/community engagement work my entire career. I don’t know if I chose this work or if it chose me, but I am grateful for the gift of being able to mobilize and motivate people to do great things.

SOMETHING I’VE LEARNED: I’ve learned that I can do anything, but I’ve also learned that just because I can doesn’t mean that I should.