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SARAH STRASSHEIM
One of Sarah Strassheim’s University of Mary Washington professors once told her that if she started out in finance and understood the numbers, she could go anywhere in an organization. “As a result, I started out as a finance analyst and haven’t really ever left,” says Strassheim, who now serves as chief financial officer for […]
JENNIFER WEST
Ever since she was a child, Jennifer West knew she wanted to be a lawyer. “I always felt like advocating for others was going to be my calling,” she says. And now she serves as president at Richmond-based Spotts Fain, where she also heads up the law firm’s pro bono practice and community outreach activities. […]
ALISON BANZIGER
During the recruitment process at xScion, potential hires may be asked about what benefits stood out at the other companies where they’ve interviewed. “We’re constantly asking for ideas when we meet folks,” CEO Alison Banziger says. These conversations, along with feedback from current employees, are a way for the tech company to stay ahead of […]
CARRIE McCONNELL
What does it take to start a new community bank from scratch?As with any new business, there are plenty of decisions to make, not to mention obtaining regulatory approvals. It’s no surprise then that the past few years have been very busy for Carrie McConnell of Ridge View Bank. But the journey also has been […]
TIFFANY FRANKS
Ahead of her first job interview there, Tiffany Franks visited Averett University’s campus with her husband to scope it out — a bit of “mystery shopping,” if you will. “We fell in love,” she recalls. “It was a match made in heaven.” Franks became Averett’s 14th president in 2008, making her the first woman to […]
JUDY BARRETT
Early in her career, Judy Barrett combined her love of water with her passion for serving clients. She’s spent most of her banking career in Norfolk, where she developed a niche working with harbor pilots, maritime attorneys, logistics coordinators and the like. Barrett took the time to learn the different sectors in the maritime industry […]
RUTH ANN CLARK
When Ruth Ann Clark drives to or from the six JPMorgan Chase offices she oversees, she leaves her radio turned off. These commutes create a white space for Clark to sort through and analyze data to identify potential solutions — in short: great thinking time. “That is one of the things I try to prioritize.” […]
SHAZA ANDERSEN
Shaza Andersen could have opted for early retirement in 2017 when the first bank she founded, WashingtonFirst Bank, was acquired by Sandy Spring Bank. But her work wasn’t finished and, along with former colleagues, she founded Fairfax County-based Trustar Bank, which opened for business in 2019. Success this time around has been “very rewarding,” Andersen […]
MELODY BARNES
At age 8, Melody Barnes sold cupcakes to support U.S. Sen. George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign. She recalls enjoying her first taste of civic service, even if McGovern’s presidential bid proved unsuccessful. By high school, Barnes was involved in student government and seeking out opportunities to give back and create change — an ethos inspired […]
SAGE BOLTE
If Sage Bolte forgets to take off her badge when she leaves the office, people often stop her to talk about their experiences with Inova Health System. These types of stories from patients tend to be “very inspirational,” Bolte says. “You’re never more than one person away from being touched by the care we provide […]
KATHERINE O’DONNELL
Katherine O’Donnell recalls the excitement around the Richmond area in the early 2000s when the convention center was underway, and she was interviewing for a role with Richmond Region Tourism. Some 22 years later, she remains just as excited about everything happening around the commonwealth’s capital. “It’s very rewarding knowing that our efforts inspire people […]
KRISTIN BAUM
Kristin Baum has always been fascinated by the idea that things and places have a history. While antiquing with her mother, she’d contemplate how a prior owner used an item she found. That ability to see the world through another perspective has proven valuable in her career as an architect. Once, while designing a building […]
