2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards: Leading Ladies

For the fourth annual Women in Leadership Awards, Virginia Business hosted a photo shoot at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where eight of this year’s winners struck poses for Richmond photographer James Lee.

Given the surroundings, Lee took inspiration from the museum’s collection and other artwork in staging the photos. The results display a different side of these powerful and accomplished leaders.

Over the past four years, Virginia Business has introduced readers to many outstanding executives through the Women in Leadership Awards, including 2024’s impressive cohort of 38 women, chosen from a pool of more than 250 nominees.

All winners work in Virginia and hold C-suite or equivalent positions. They also have demonstrated extraordinary professional achievements, including breaking glass ceilings, mentoring others, engaging in civic work and bringing their leadership skills to nonprofit and company boards.

Most also have been willing to take risks in their careers. It takes guts, after all, to be a woman leader. Women still run just 10.4% of Fortune 500 companies, and, astoundingly, 2023 was the first year that there were more women CEOs of S&P 500 companies than S&P CEOs named John.

In the pages ahead, you’ll read about the fascinating journeys that this year’s cohort of Virginia executives took to leadership and success. Please join us in congratulating the 2024 winners of the Virginia Business Women in Leadership Awards!

LARGE EMPLOYER

YVONNE ALLMOND
Executive vice president and community financial engagement officer, TowneBank, Norfolk

MELODY BARNES
Executive director, University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy, Charlottesville

JUDY BARRETT
Senior vice president, private banking, TowneBank, Norfolk

SAGE BOLTE
President and chief philanthropy officer, Inova Health Foundation, Fairfax

CAPRICE BRAGG
Chief strategy officer and deputy director for strategic planning, government and board relations, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond

ERICA CARTER
Regional leader and principal, Kimley-Horn, Reston

RUTH ANN CLARK
Managing director, mid-Atlantic region and aerospace, defense and government services industry manager, JPMorgan Chase, McLean

PAT DAVIS-HAGENS
Market president, Bon Secours Mercy Health Hampton Roads, Suffolk

MELODY DICKERSON
Senior vice president for hospital operations and chief nursing officer, VHC Health, Arlington County

MELISSA FRYE
Senior program director, General Dynamics Information Technology, Reston

CANDICE LING
Federal sector leader, Microsoft Federal, Arlington County

LYN McDERMID
Secretary of administration, Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond

PAULA PANDO
President, Reynolds Community College, Richmond

FRAN RANDALL
Partner, Richmond market leader and national tax practice leader for international tax services, Forvis Mazars, Richmond

MONICA SCHMUDE
Virginia president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Richmond

AMY SEBRING
Executive vice president and chief operating officer, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg 

SARAH STRASSHEIM
Chief financial officer, data and technology, Dentsu, Keswick

NICOLE STUART
President, Top Guard Security, Norfolk

DANA WESTON GRAVES
President, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, Virginia Beach

MIDSIZE EMPLOYER

TIFFANY FRANKS
President, Averett University, Danville

CONNIE NYHOLM
Owner and CEO, Virginia International Raceway, Alton

LINDA RABBITT
Founder and executive chairman, Rand Construction, Alexandria

JACQUELINE ROGERS
Chief communications and operating officer, Capital Square, Glen Allen 

MARGARET SHAIA
CEO, Acoustical Sheetmetal Co. (ASC), Virginia Beach 

LAKSHMI WILLIAMS
General counsel, corporate secretary, Transurban North America, Tysons

SMALL EMPLOYER

SHAZA ANDERSEN
CEO, Trustar Bank, Great Falls

ALISON BANZIGER
Founder and CEO, xScion, McLean

KRISTIN BAUM
Principal and board chairman, GuernseyTingle, Williamsburg

JULIE COONS
President and CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Tysons

LYNNE HUGHES
Founder and CEO, Comfort Zone Camp, Richmond

ELIZABETH ANN McCLANAHAN
CEO, Virginia Tech Foundation, Blacksburg

CARRIE McCONNELL
President, Ridge View Bank, Roanoke

KATHERINE O’DONNELL
President and CEO, Richmond Region Tourism, Richmond

DALAL SALOMON
CEO/founding partner, Salomon & Ludwin, Richmond 

RONDA SCHRENK
CEO, U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, Herndon

KIM SNYDER
CEO and founder, KlariVis, Roanoke

JILL VOGEL
Managing partner, Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky and Josefiak, Haymarket

JENNIFER WEST
Shareholder and president, Spotts Fain, Richmond

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