Bill Kittrell is Deputy State Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Virginia, an environmental non-profit organization founded in 1951, and works out of the Charlottesville office.

Congratulations are in order to Rhu Harris on being named a 2020 Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year Honoree. Rhu Harris has spent a career in public service, and we are grateful that this has included serving on VRA’s Board of Directors. In recognition of his leadership and deep knowledge of local government needs, the Board re-elected Rhu as Vice Chair at its September 15, 2020 meeting.

On August 21, Governor Northam announced appointments to the VRA Board of Directors. VRA is excited to welcome these two newly-appointed members.

Cynthia Bailey was appointed to serve on the VRA Board of Directors in August 2019, continuing her many years of distinguished public service.

VRA Board member and Personnel Committee Chair Reggie Gordon is involved in helping his local community in a variety of ways, beyond his service on the VRA Board of Directors.

Reggie Gordon

Rhu Harris serves on the VRA board as the Vice Chair and was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe in September of 2016. Currently, Harris serves on the Board's budget and personnel committees.

We are pleased to welcome our newest board member, Jennifer M. Bowles of Martinsville. Ms. Bowles is a member of the Martinsville City Council and Executive Director of the New Heights Foundation.

Mary Bunting was appointed to the VRA Board by Governor McAuliffe in September 2016. Bunting serves as the City Manager of the City of Hampton, and brings her understanding of the needs of the Hampton Roads area to bear on her work with VRA, including her participation in the Audit and Budget Committees for VRA. A Hampton native, Bunting has worked for the city since 1989. Her work on civic budget management has garnered many national awards, including the 2012 ICMA Strategic Leadership & Governance Program Excellence Award, and recognition by President Obama in 2012 as a Local Innovation leader as part of the White House's Champion of Change Program.

On February 7th, the Chairman of the VRA Board of Directors, Bill O'Brien, passed away at the age of 73. Mr. O'Brien had a distinguished career in public service. He was known for his kind, thoughtful, and diligent demeanor and his commitment to the Commonwealth.