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.

Mary B. Bunting, City Manager of Hampton, Reginald E. Gordon, Director of Office of Community Wealth Building, City of Richmond, and Cecil "Rhu" Harris Jr., County Administrator of Hanover County

Manju Ganeriwala serves on the VRA board as the State Treasurer first appointed by Governor Kaine in January 2009, and reappointed by both Governor McDonnell in 2010, and Governor McAuliffe in 2014. Ganeriwala chairs VRA's Audit Committee and also serves on the Budget and Portfolio Risk Management Committees. As Treasurer, she oversees the investment of over $10 billion in public funds; management of over $15 billion in debt; issuance of bonds; provision of banking services; and administration of the state's insurance and unclaimed property programs. Ganeriwala also serves as the Chair of the Virginia Treasury Board and is a member of other boards including the Virginia Port Authority and Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Valerie Thomson joined the VRA board in June 2014 as the designee to David Paylor, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Valerie is firmly committed to the protection of the Commonwealth's environmental well being. She has served as the Director of Administration for DEQ since 2003.

The VRA Board was unexpectedly visited by Santa (Randy Burdette, VRA Board member and Director of Department of Aviation) at its December meeting

John Aulbach serves on the VRA Board as the designated alternate of the Virginia Health Commissioner, one of the ex-officio members.

John H. Rust, Jr. was appointed to the VRA Board in 2012 by Governor Robert McDonnell. An attorney by training, Mr. Rust resides in Fairfax where he and members of his family have been active in matters relating to the community and the Commonwealth for over 100 years.