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