Catherine McGhee was appointed chief deputy commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation in May 2022. She is the first woman to ascend to this level at the state agency.

McGhee has more than 30 years of experience in traffic engineering and system operations, intelligent transportation systems and data and performance measurement.

Prior to her current position, McGhee served in a dual role as director of both Virginia’s Office of Transportation Research and Innovation and the Virginia Transportation Research Council. Earlier in her career, McGhee was associate director for the Virginia Transportation Research Council.

“My specific area of research was traffic operations, and I’m proud of the work I was involved in that has made Virginia a leader in connected and automated vehicle research,” McGhee says. “Although we have yet to see widescale deployment of connected or automated vehicles, VDOT is well positioned to support that deployment because of the work of VTRC and our partner universities.”

After earning a degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, McGhee completed a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Virginia.

“When I was choosing my college major, I picked civil engineering partially because I had a high school guidance counselor who told me that girls didn’t become engineers,” McGhee says.

Now, she regularly speaks to young people to convey the message that “anyone who wants to can be an engineer, regardless of gender.”

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients

The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | Kaiser Permanente appointed Dr. Thuy-Anh Melvin, a head and neck surgeon, to be its Northern Virginia physician in chief in 2023.

In this role, she is responsible for a roughly $350 million budget and oversees about 550 physicians across 13 medical office buildings in Virginia, in addition to seeing her own patients.

“What truly sets Dr. Melvin apart is her strength as a transformational leader,” her nominator says. “She actively seeks to understand complex problems and solutions, inspiring her team by leading through action, as both the chief physician leader for our Virginia service area and as a highly skilled clinician.”

Melvin joined Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in 2012. In the group’s Northern Virginia service area, Melvin has served as chief of head and neck and Mohs surgery, as well as assistant physician in chief.

Early in the pandemic, Melvin led the medical group’s pivot to virtual care.

“Dr. Melvin was among the first specialists at Kaiser Permanente to pilot video visits, and she remains the driving force behind our industry-leading virtual urgent care program,” her nominator says.

Before attending medical school at the University of Virginia, Melvin earned a degree in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as a post-doctorate fellowship in the Johns Hopkins Vestibular NeuroEngineering Laboratory.

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients

Delceno C. Miles launched her communications and community engagement firm in 1989. These days, The Miles Agency continues to serve a diverse stable of clients from public agencies, municipalities, nonprofits and businesses, providing services like media outreach, stakeholder engagement, digital marketing and crisis communications.

“The majority of our clients are repeats or referrals,” Miles says. “We compete with large firms, and many times those same firms ask us to team with them to pursue opportunities.”

Miles attributes her success as a leader to a variety of factors. For one thing, she doesn’t micromanage.

“I trust my team,” Miles says. “I’m certainly available to provide guidance and resources for them to fulfill their duties, but I also provide them the space to do them in their own way or style.”
Outside of her work life, Miles has long been a force in the community. Her current efforts include serving as vice chair of the

Hampton Roads Chamber’s board and of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s council.

“I see what impact she has made on our Virginia Beach communities,” Miles’ nominator says. “She is well known and well respected by most of the people in Hampton Roads.”

In May, the Virginia Beach Jaycees named Miles the 2025 First Citizen of Virginia Beach, an award that recognizes city residents who have made outstanding contributions to the community.

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients

Clare Miller brings more than 20 years of experience building and developing high-performing teams to her role as chief human resources officer at Atlantic Union Bank, a position she’s held since 2022.

As the head of HR for a bank with about 2,300 employees, Miller’s responsibilities include compensation and benefits; talent acquisition and development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and employee relations.

For now, one of Miller’s heaviest lifts is helping to lead Atlantic Union Bank through “a time of transformation” following the $1.3 billion April acquisition of Sandy Spring Bancorp by Atlantic Union’s holding company, Atlantic Union Bankshares. Last year, Atlantic Union Bankshares closed on another big deal: its acquisition of Danville-based American National Bankshares, parent company of American National Bank & Trust. All that is to say, Miller and her team are staying busy “integrating a significant number of teammates into our organization’s culture.”

It’s critical, according to Miller, that Atlantic Union Bank weave the diverse ideas and perspectives of new team members into the fabric of its operations.

“This is important not just for teammates’ happiness, but for our position as a growing employer in a competitive market,” she says.

Previously, Miller worked for Ohio-based Huntington Bank as chief talent officer.

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients

When Lennie Gail Mitcham joined the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing in 2013, the organization had eight manufacturing members and no active programs or initiatives.

“Tasked with revitalizing the organization, I focused on increasing membership, community awareness and value for our members — despite having no prior nonprofit experience,” she says.

Mitcham developed programs for targeted training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking events and public outreach campaigns to raise the profile of manufacturing. Today, SVAM represents 50 manufacturers from across Southwest Virginia.
“From the start,” Mitcham’s nominator says, “I have admired Lennie’s tireless commitment to advancing manufacturing opportunities in a region where economic hardship and generational poverty make this work especially challenging.”
Mitcham has a degree in business administration from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and a master’s in community and organizational leadership from Emory & Henry.

Growing up, Mitcham didn’t anticipate one day earning multiple college degrees. She was one of eight children. Her mother did not finish high school. Her father “hated school, higher education and, consequently, bettering yourself,” according to Mitcham.

Her life changed when a recruiter from the U.S. Army National Guard visited her high school, offering her a path to paying for college tuition.

“I have spent my life breaking through barriers — social, economic and professional — that were never designed to make room for someone like me,” Mitcham says.

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients

Tammy Neale, who in 2024 was named CEO of the self-supporting state organization helping Virginians attain affordable housing, has overseen the investment of $730 million in financing that has created over 4,000 housing units. Virginia Housing has also supported more than 4,500 single-family mortgage loans totaling over $1.4 billion, with 96% of borrowers receiving financial backing from the organization, previously known as the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Though she’s newish in the top role, Neale has been at Virginia Housing for four decades. Starting out as a paralegal, Neale steadily climbed the ranks, serving as managing director of human resources and then managing director of organizational development and learning, followed by chief of staff and chief of programs.

“Having been in multiple and very diverse roles at the organization, Tammy has a unique vantage point of Virginia Housing that makes her an effective and robust leader,” her nominator says.

Despite her many years of experience, Neale knew there was more to learn. After being named CEO, she went on a statewide listening tour, meeting with associates and partners across the commonwealth.

“Tammy understood the importance [of hearing] directly from the stakeholders who have [an] impact on the success of the organization and could potentially challenge her current perceptions of the company,” Neale’s nominator says. “She welcomes feedback, input and open dialogue.”

Return to the full list of this year’s recipients