Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

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. Although she’s a creditors’ rights attorney, she also feels compelled to work on the other side of the issue.

“I do a lot of work where I’m collecting bad debt, working in the bankruptcy world, and I see people at their worst,” she says. “I do a lot of pro bono work almost to balance out my moral compass.” For her, pro bono work is both a responsibility and privilege, she says.

West is also president-elect of the Richmond Bar Association, with which she’s been involved for more than 20 years. As president-elect, she’s responsible for overseeing programming and member appreciation — but also mentors attorneys, paralegals, staff and other legal professionals.

As a woman in the legal industry, West’s biggest advice is to “keep going,” even in a field that’s still largely male-dominated.

“Keep showing up,” she says. “People notice what you’re doing. Keep supporting other women.
We as women owe it to one another to do everything we can to support each other.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 trends and offer a new benefit or perk each year.

Company culture is more than a catchphrase at xScion, it’s deeply entwined in the company’s origins. After Banziger was laid off in the early 2000s from a tech startup — a company she describes as having an “amazing culture” — she lamented to her husband that she might never find another employer like that again. At his encouragement, she decided to co-found a company similarly focused on a strong culture, and xScion made Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work list seven years in a row.

Building strong, solid relationships with customers has also been a common theme at xScion for the past 20-plus years. The company has carved out a niche in regulatory technology —  or “regtech” — with a goal of offering the value of Big 5 consultants without the price tag and with added flexibility, Banziger says.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, she mostly worked in people-facing roles, and Banziger credits her days on the women’s track & field team at Mount St. Mary’s University for sparking her career trajectory. “I love the interaction with people and what you can learn from all walks of life.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 gratifying for McConnell, who’s spent her entire career working for small, regional banks. In addition to providing the financing for some “pretty big” projects in the region, she’s on a mission to make banking fun again. “There are so many opportunities to make a difference and that’s been really cool.”

McConnell spent 13 years at HomeTown Bank before it was acquired by American National in 2018. That merger created a void for a “true, regional community bank,” she says.

Ridge View Bank, a division of Pennsylvania-based CNB Bank, opened for business in October 2021, with McConnell as president. “A satisfying day for me is knowing we’ve contributed to the community, our employees and our clients,” says McConnell.

Overseeing a growing team of employees has been an opportunity for McConnell to incorporate lessons she learned in prior roles, including from captaining her women’s basketball team at Roanoke College. “You may want to bounce pass versus lob,” she says. “You have to know what people are comfortable with, and I try to manage to their strengths.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 to better understand something as simple as how a can of beans ends up on the grocery store shelf. “It’s a beautiful dance,” she says. “I just found it so fascinating years and years ago.”

Barrett’s specialization in maritime logistics has led to other opportunities. She’s currently president of the Virginia Maritime Association, only the second woman ever to serve in this role. In 25 years with the association, Barrett has advocated for women and minorities to be considered for leadership positions and strives to be an “open book” for the next generation. In 2019, the Propeller Club, Port of Norfolk, honored her by establishing a fund in her name to benefit a sailing program for underprivileged children. 

Though she has yet to take up sailing herself, Barrett loves spending time boating, kayaking or getting her toes in the sand. Her love of water is only rivaled by her love for work. Barrett has become the point of contact for her clients — most of whom she’s worked with for decades, including the past 20 years at TowneBank. “I love knowing all about them and taking care of them, and they know that.” 

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.”

Being a strategic thinker is a skill Clark has tried to sharpen over the course of her career. Alongside her team, she creates a road map to support the aerospace, defense and government services industry in various ways. She particularly enjoys the good discussions and problem-solving, as well as the customer-facing aspects of her role. “A gratifying day to me,” she says, “is a couple of great aha! moments.” 

One of Clark’s mantras is that “anybody can be a leader,” so mentoring the next generation of leaders has long been one of her priorities. She recalls trying to make sense of how corporate America worked when she began her career — something she now tries to demystify for others. “I thought about how much easier it would be if someone told me, ‘This is what success looks like.’”

She took a similar approach at home, where she spent breakfasts delivering what her grown kids refer to as “life lesson lectures.” And even though all three of her kids now live out of state, Clark and her husband have strived to maintain closeness in their family. “I’m really proud of that.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 lead the university since its founding. Her tenure has been defined by expansion and change, with a list of accomplishments including new facilities, new academic programs and new athletics teams. “One of the things I’m most grateful for is how we have established Averett’s place in this community and garnered tremendous community support,” she says.

Averett’s aeronautics program is an example of both the university’s growth and its role as “a hometown university.” Aeronautics has seen enrollment increase 25% in a five-year period, and it now operates the Danville airport.

This type of partnership explains why one of Franks’ favorite traditions on campus is the annual engaged learning showcase, which celebrates Averett students, faculty and staff who are active in the community. Franks likewise has been celebrated for her accomplishments, including in 2022 when she won the Courageous Leadership Award from higher education consulting firm Credo, though she’s quick to note she’s surrounded by a great senior leadership team.

“Any time a compliment is paid to me, it’s a testament to so many people,” Franks says. “It’s the privilege of a lifetime to have served this institution.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

Virginia 500 2023 WOMEN leaders 

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 by her “very civically involved” parents, whose conversations about good citizenship she’d observed and absorbed while growing up.

More than 30 years later, Barnes was at the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, whose campaign she supported as a senior domestic policy adviser. She recalls feeling an “enormous sense of responsibility” that day, particularly to address the recurring concerns and challenges she’d learned about from voters on the campaign trail. “To this day, I haven’t forgotten those conversations.”

Barnes spent three years working in the Obama administration as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, adding to the 12 years she’d served on various committees in Congress. Since 2018, she’s been the founding executive director of U.Va.’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, where she enjoys the opportunity to galvanize students’ aspirations into democratic practices. “It’s been exhilarating and invigorating and educational.”

During what Barnes sees as a make-or-break time for U.S. democracy, working with young adults is reassuring, offering “a deep sense of hope” for the future. “It’s a privilege to be able to do that, and I learn a lot from them, and that’s important to my work.” 


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 at Inova.”

Bolte began her career as a clinical oncology social worker, and earned a Ph.D. in social work from Catholic University in 2010. Moving into philanthropy wasn’t something she’d considered until Dr. J. Stephen Jones, Inova’s president and CEO, urged her to apply.

As the doctors started talking, Bolte realized the role combined work she’s both good at and loves doing — fostering meaningful relationships, building a collaborative team, telling stories and talking about Inova. Four months later, she was the new chief of philanthropy.

As her name suggests, Bolte moves fast. The mom of three spends time training for sprint triathlons. Her two “very active” teenagers also keep Bolte and her husband busy, between hockey games and dance performances.

She also quickly took to her new role. In her first six years, the foundation raised $625 million, nearly double the amount of the prior six years. And her team just raised the most money in a year, totaling $150 million, thanks to a $75 million gift which the foundation subsequently matched — and all to help patients.

“I get to meet some of the most amazing and resilient individuals,” Bolte says.


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards

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 says, because Trustar differentiates itself by offering highly personalized service, responsiveness and a willingness to tailor products to customers’ unique needs. “I feel that banking is a way for you to help people.” 

Helping people has been a theme throughout Andersen’s career. She became interested in banking in college while working as a teller and customer service representative. While the COVID pandemic presented one of the best opportunities to step up and make a difference in customers’ lives, helping people in everyday ways is what gets her up each day. “That’s what I enjoy and work towards, making a difference and making an impact.”

That goes beyond banking for Andersen, who says she’s most proud of the nonprofit she founded, Trustar Youth Foundation, and its impact on the greater Washington, D.C., community. But it’s her role at home that’s always been Andersen’s top priority.

“When my kids were little, people would always ask me, ‘How do you balance a high-stress job with kids and family?’” she recalls. “It’s never a balance; the kids and family will always come first.”


RELATED STORY: 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards