Sorensen Board Members
Ray Lamura
Chairman
Term as chair ends 12/31/2021
President, VCTA – Broadband Association of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Ray is President of the VCTA – Broadband Association of Virginia, the state trade association representing Virginia’s broadband and cable industry. Ray’s principal responsibilities are representing Virginia’s broadband and cable industry before members of the Virginia General Assembly and the United States Congress. Ray is also a board member of the Virginia Telehealth Network.
Matt Calkins
Term ends 12/31/2022
Chairman/CEO, Appian
Sorensen Alumnus: PLP 2011
Fairfax County
Matthew Calkins is the founder and CEO of Appian, an enterprise cloud software company traded on NASDAQ. Appian provides a low-code automation platform that enables organizations to develop business applications rapidly.
Jim Cheng
Term ends 12/31/2021
Chief Strategy Officer, Pamunkey Indian Enterprises (PIE-PS)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Jim Cheng supports technology startups and entrepreneurs and advises companies on economic development issues and on investing in the U.S. He has over 25 years of experience as a technology entrepreneur, angel investor, private capital investor, business leader and senior state government executive. From 2010 to 2014, Jim served as Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade.
Allison Cryor DiNardo
Term ends 12/31/2021
President, King Street Wireless
Alexandria, Virginia
Allison Cryor DiNardo leads King Street Wireless, a company that owns 152 licenses of wireless spectrum around the country, providing service to millions of customers in many of US Cellular’s markets. She has worked in the telecommunications sector developing and managing wireless companies for over 20 years.
Barbara Fried
Life member
President, Fried Companies, Inc.
Crozet, Virginia
Barbara Fried is president of Fried Companies, Inc., a real estate development and management firm, chairman of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia. She previously served as chairman of the Sorensen Institute's Statewide Advisory Board.
Susan Gaston
Term ends 12/31/2022
President and Owner, the Gaston Group
Williamsburg, Virginia
Susan Gaston is the founder and President of the Gaston Group, and has over 20 years of governmental affairs and lobbying experience in the U.S. Congress, General Assembly of Virginia, federal and state regulatory agencies, and local government bodies. She has created strong relationships and contacts with elected and appointed officials on both sides of the political aisle.
Suzy Kelly
Term ends 12/31/2022
CEO, Jo-Kell Inc.
Sorensen Alumna: PLP 2009
Chesapeake, Virginia
Suzy Kelly is Chief Executive Officer of Jo-Kell Inc., an electrical engineering and distribution company providing automation solutions and shipboard electrical equipment to markets throughout the United States and abroad. She has served two terms on the Chesapeake City Council and is currently an active member in her community.
Charles Majors
Term ends 12/31/2022
Chairman of the Board, American National Bank
Danville, Virginia
Charley Majors is Chairman of the Board of American National Bank & Trust Company and its holding company, American National Bankshares Inc. He previously served at various times as President, CEO, and Executive Chairman of the Bank and the holding company.
Monty Mason
Treasurer
Term ends 12/31/2022
Member, Virginia Senate (D-1)
Sorensen Alumnus: CTP 2010
Williamsburg, Virginia
Monty Mason represents Virginia's 1st Senate district, including all of the City of Williamsburg and parts of Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, James City County and York County. Monty was twice elected to the House of Delegates in the 93rd District before winning his race for State Senate in November of 2016.
Andria McClellan
Term ends 12/31/2021
Member, Norfolk City Council
Sorensen Alumna: PLP 2013
Norfolk, Virginia
Andria McClellan represents Superward 6 on the Norfolk City Council of Norfolk. She serves as Vice Chair of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and is a member of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (HRT). From 2018-2019, she co-chaired the Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, creating the region’s first-ever Climate Action Plan.
Leigh Middleditch
Sorensen Co-founder
Life member
Retired Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Charlottesville, Virginia
Leigh Middleditch is a retired partner of the Charlottesville office of McGuireWoods LLP law firm. He serves on a number of non-profit boards, e.g., the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation and Charlottesville Tomorrow, and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. He previously served on UVA's Board of Visitors and as Legal Advisor to the University.
Bernie Niemeier
Term ends 12/31/2022
President/Publisher, Virginia Business
Richmond, Virginia
Bernie Niemeier is the president, publisher and owner of Virginia Business. He has overall responsibility for all operational aspects of the magazine, related publications and Internet products. Niemeier has more than 30 years of experience in the newspaper business, including 17 on the corporate staff of Richmond, Virginia-based Media General Inc.
Davis Rennolds
Term ends 12/31/2022
VP State Government Relations, McGuireWoods Consulting
Richmond, Virginia
Davis Rennolds serves as a senior vice president in the Virginia government relations group of McGuireWoods Consulting, navigating legislative, regulatory, and administrative issues at the state and local levels. He leads MWC’s private equity advisory services team.
Michael Smith
Ex Officio Member
Thomas C. Sorensen Professor of Political and Social Thought, University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Michael is the Thomas C. Sorensen Professor of Political and Social Thought and Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. A product of public schools in Yonkers, New York, he holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University, and an M.Phil. from Oxford University where he was a Marshall Scholar.
Adam Sorensen
Sorensen Family Member
Associate, Morrison & Foerster
Charlottesville, Virginia
Adam is the youngest son of Thomas C. Sorensen. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and works as an attorney in Washington DC.
Jackie Stone
Term ends 12/31/2022
Partner, McGuireWoods
Richmond, Virginia
Jackie Stone is a partner with McGuireWoods, where she concentrates on legislative, regulatory, and business immigration and compliance matters. She previously served as the McGuireWoods Global Hiring Partner, was elected to the firm’s Board of Partners, and chaired the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Larry D. Terry II
Ex Officio Member
Executive Director, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
Charlottesville, Virginia
Larry Terry comes to the Cooper Center in 2018 from Texas, where he worked to improve the lives of citizens in the Dallas region and beyond, creating practical partnerships with elected officials, public servants and community leaders to address poverty and other community issues, including launching the Community Leadership Academy.
Sean T. Connaughton
Term ends 12/31/2023
President/CEO, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
Sorensen Alumnus: PLP 1995
Richmond, Virginia
Sean has served as the President and CEO of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association since 2014. Prior to joining VHHA, he served as Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation. He previously served as Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration and Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
James Dyke
Term ends 12/31/23
Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
McLean, Virginia
Jim’s practice at McGuireWoods covers a broad range of law including corporate, legislative, education, governmental relations, and municipal matters. He served as Virginia’s Secretary of Education and has been an active community leader.
Todd Stottlemyer
Term ends 12/31/23
CEO, CNSI
McLean, Virginia
Todd currently serves as CEO of CNSI, a private equity backed healthcare software products and solutions company. He has served on or serves on the boards of 12 technology companies and two publicly traded commercial banks, and he is a Venture Partner for the Blue Delta Capital Partners.
Alexis Ehrhardt, Ed.D
Term ends 12/31/23
President/CEO, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce
Danville, Virginia
As President & CEO of the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber, Alexis’ work focuses on serving the business community in the Dan River Region. Prior to her work at the Chamber of Commerce, she served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness at Averett University.
Kathleen Galvin
Term ends 12/31/23
Principal, Galvin Architects
Sorensen Alumna: PLP 2005
Charlottesville, Virginia
Kathy is a registered architect with her own practice based in Charlottesville, and a member of the American Institute of Architects, College of Fellows. Throughout her professional and political career, she has demonstrated an unfailing commitment to creating equitable and sustainable places where people of all ages and income levels can thrive.
Vince Apruzzese
Term ends 12/31/23
President, AT&T Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Vince is the president of AT&T Virginia. As president, Mr. Apruzzese helps to set and implement AT&T’s public policy and philanthropic presence in Virginia. Previously, he served in many corporate security roles for the company. He earned a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served ten years.
Chris West
Term ends 12/31/21
Director of Government Relations, Kaiser Permanente
Sorensen Alumnus: PLP 2014
Richmond, Virginia
Chris West is the mid-Atlantic Director of Government Relations for Kaiser Permanente. He previously served as an Associate at Lamar Consulting, Director of Policy & Communications for the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and House Majority Caucus, and on the staff of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Scott A. Price
Term ends 12/31/2021
Regional Policy Director, Dominion Energy
Alexandria, VA
Scott Price is the Regional Policy Director at Dominion Energy. He was Regional Director for Senator Mark R. Warner and before his federal service worked as Executive Director of the Virginia High-Tech Partnership (VHTP).
Shekar Narasimhan
Term ends 12/31/22
Principal, Beekman Advisors
McLean, Virginia
Shekar Narasimhan is Managing Partner at Beekman Advisors which provides strategic advisory services to companies and investors involved in real estate, mortgage finance, affordable housing and related sectors. He also serves as Chairman of Papillon Capital, focused on sustainable infrastructure investing in emerging markets.
Burson Snyder
Term ends 12/31/21
Principal, Virginia 30-Day Fund
Charlottesville, Virginia
Burson Snyder has had successful careers in government and entrepreneurial ventures. She is a co-founder of the Virginia 30 Day Fund, a non-profit she and her husband established during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide fully forgivable loans to Virginia-based small businesses.
Courtney Malveaux
Term ends 12/31/23
Principal, Jackson Lewis
Sorensen Alumnus: PLP 1996
Richmond, Virginia
Courtney Malveaux is a Principal in the Richmond, Virginia office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and Co-Leader of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group. Mr. Malveaux represents employers cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other regulatory agencies, and he advises and represents employers in employment law matters.
David Toscano
Term ends 12/31/21
Partner, Buck Toscano & Tereskerz
Charlottesville, Virginia
David Toscano practices family and estate planning law in Charlottesville. He served seven terms in the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 57th District, which includes all of Charlottesville and parts of Albemarle County, and is the seat once occupied by Thomas Jefferson in the House of Burgesses.
Beatriz Gonzalez
Term ends 12/31/23
Partner, Capital Results
Richmond, VA
Bea Gonzalez is a partner at Capital Results in Richmond and has over 20 years’ experience managing a variety of clients in the areas of government relations, issue management and crisis communications. She began her career in Virginia politics serving as Finance Director at the Republican Party of Virginia in 1997.
Terrie Suit
Term ends 12/31/23
CEO, Virginia REALTORS
Richmond, Virginia
Terrie Suit is the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia REALTORS®, a state trade/professional association. Her real estate career began as a REALTOR® in 1985 and transitioned to lending where she worked as a mortgage loan officer and production manager for nearly 20 years. She received a Gubernatorial appointment to the Virginia Real Estate Board in 1996.
Lashrecse D. Aird
Term ends 12/31/21
Member, Virginia House of Delegates
Sorensen Alumna: PLP 2015
Petersburg, Virginia
Lashrecse has represented the 63rd House of Delegates District since January 2016 with a commitment to showing that political freedom and education are the keys to equality. As a House member, she has placed significant emphasis on improving Virginia’s K-12 and higher education systems, workforce development, and economic and social justice.
Robert Hurt
Term ends 12/31/21
Dean, Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Sorensen Alumnus: PLP 2000
Lynchburg, Virginia
Robert Hurt is the current Dean of Liberty University’s Helms School of Government. He served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Virginia’s Fifth District. At Liberty, he has developed numerous programs that have provided students with exceptional opportunities to engage with influential leaders from the nation’s capital and across the country.
Martin Kent
Term ends 12/31/22
President/Chief Operating Officer, The United Company
Bristol, Virginia
Martin Kent serves as the President & Chief Operating Officer of The United Company, a diversified private investment company with primary concentrations in the energy, healthcare and recreation and leisure sectors. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Bristol Regional Medical Center and several other regional and statewide organizations.
Leopoldo Martinez Nucete
Term ends 12/31/2023
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Member and Center for Democracy and Development in the Americas
McLean, Virginia
Leopoldo Martinez Nucete is a Venezuelan-American lawyer, expert of global trends and former congressman of the National Assembly of Venezuela. He founded the Center for Democracy and Development in the Americas and serves as executive editor of IQLatino.
