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We are so grateful for our volunteer instructors who give graciously of their time to provide courses for LLI. If you're interested in joining our volunteer faculty, click the button below to let us know!
Robert Abbott has lived in Midlothian since 1993. Since 2014, Robert has hiked the Caminos de Santiago in Spain, France and Portugal covering five different Caminos and over 1,300 miles. He is interested in sharing the background and history of the Camino as well as the personal reasons that one goes on these hikes.
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Ramzi Aboujaoude is an award-winning, board-certified urogynecologist and OB/GYN, specializing in urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders at the Urogynecology Center at Virginia Physicians for Women. Dr. Aboujaoude is passionate about improving women’s quality of life and helping guide them toward individualized treatment options. He is highly regarded in the Richmond community.
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Melissa Ackley LCSW, is Prevention Services Manager at Chesterfield Mental Health Support Services and co-chair of the Chesterfield Suicide Awareness and Prevention Coalition.
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Kenneth Alford is an LLI member, frequent historical consultant for television productions, and a contributor to news articles involving looted Nazi Treasures. He is the author of The Spoils of World War II, Great Treasure Stories of World War II, Allied Looting in World War II, Hermann Goering and the Nazi Art Collection, Sacking Aladdin's Cave, American Crimes and the Liberation of Paris, Monetary Men, and co-authored Nazi Millionaires.
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Diane Andrews is a licensed Real Estate Agent who specializes in working with senior adults looking to downsize and make a lifestyle change. She is a designated Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES,) and focuses on how to “age in place” by making your home safe and accessible. Diane is also a certified stager who assists in decluttering and setting up homes in preparation for sale. She has been an LLI member since 2021.
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Daniel Arkin will someday figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. His experiences to date include landscape architecture, regional planning, non-profits, flying, welding, fixing, adventuring, and advocating for the role of technology in our lives. He is best known as a storytelling technology educator, having presented cutting edge topics at conferences and classrooms, encouraging adult learners on anything and everything. Nowadays, he splits his energy between evolving outdoor spaces on his three-acre property in the suburbs of Chester and teaching courses which address an ever-growing collection of topics. His classes are always packed with valuable information sandwiched between a healthy amount of humor and sarcasm. Danny has been an LLI member since 2018.
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Amy Armstrong PhD, is an associate professor with the VCU College of Health Professions in Rehabilitation Counseling. She received an MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University and a PhD in Education from VCU. Amy provides training related to well-being, positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, and leadership. She enjoys traveling, the water, her dog Callie, and her family and friends. She also loves to laugh.
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Cindy Arnold is a librarian at the Chesterfield County Public Library Midlothian branch. She has a Masters in Library Science from Louisiana State University and has worked as a librarian since 2001 both in public and school libraries. Cindy enjoys assisting people as they pursue their learning goals. She has lived in Midlothian since 2003 and likes exploring all that Virginia has to offer.
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Brian Austin PhD is a retired professor of psychology who, earlier in his career, practiced as a clinical psychologist. His passion for studio art blossomed upon becoming a member of LLI. In whatever medium, the joy of painting and drawing is contagious, and Brian looks forward to sharing his passion for creative expression with others in the classroom.
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Charles Barron is a retired US Army Officer, holds a BS in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University and an MS in Logistics Management from Florida Institution of Technology. He also holds a certificate for teaching English as a second language. Charles has 10 years of experience working with and training members of the Saudi Arabian military in logistics and cultural awareness. As a United States military contractor, working in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, he taught American workers and third country nationals (TCNs) Cultural Awareness, simple Arabic script (Arabic letters, Arabic phonetics recognizing/reading English words written in Arabic Script) and most useful basic spoken Arabic words and phrases.
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GeGe Beall has a bachelor’s degree in theatre and a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Radford University, where she serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. She has been a professional improv comedian at ComedySportz Richmond since 2013 and performs there several times a month. GeGe created “Upstaged”, which improvises a 20-minute sitcom set in the 1960’s, and is part of “Bardalicious”, a group that improvises one hour plays in the style of Shakespeare. She is the Richmond producer for “Murder Mystery” where embedded actors improvise characters at the dinner table with guests. A professional healthcare consultant and speaker, GeGe often teaches improv games in the corporate world to help people tap into their creativity and to get teams laughing and bonding. Her additional certifications include Yoga, Laughter Yoga, Ageless Grace, and Nia. GeGe's goal is to make improv accessible to everyone by focusing on brain health and play, rather than on performance.
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Pamela Biasca Losada MS, PCC-ICF has worked directly with clients for over 20 years and has been a psychologist, business owner, coach, speaker, author, and immersive guided meditation facilitator. Pamela helps clients overcome things like chronic stress, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, so they can lead lives of ultimate joy, wellness, and fulfillment. Additionally, she provides coaching at multiple companies, facilitates workshops, and seminars, and has been a guest on several podcasts.
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Donna Blackwell was raised in Northern Virginia and has lived her life advocating for civil and human rights. She was a co-founder of Black Women United for Action, a NAACP Youth leader, and a board member for the Human Rights Commission, the Human Relations Council, and the Fairfax History Commission. Before moving to Chesterfield, Donna was the administrative assistant and research analyst for Fairfax Legal Aid and Bar Association. An LLI member since 2016, she has been the instructor of Black Lives Matter course and is serving as Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
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Edward Blackwell has taught a variety of subjects for over thirty years. Much of his time was with Chesterfield County Public Schools, but he has also worked with Richmond City Public Schools, VCU and a local private school. Mr. Blackwell has a B.A. and M.A. in English, as well as a large concentration of courses in history and education. He has taught on middle, secondary, and collegiate levels, and his courses have included English, writing, history, civics and economics, as well as alternative education. He is keenly interested in the English Renaissance and writes sonnets, but he also enjoys helping others with prose writing techniques. Mr. Blackwell loves studying and lecturing about the American Civil War. When teaching social sciences, he believes it is essential to combine the development of U.S. government with its resulting historical effects.
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N. Douglas Boardman is a VCU Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in elbow and shoulder reconstruction including total joint replacement, trauma and post-trauma reconstruction, arthritis, arthroscopy, tendon injuries, and sports injuries, as well as in arthroscopic knee surgery. Dr. Boardman is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Virginia Orthopaedic Society, Medical Society of Virginia, Richmond Academy of Medicine, Mayo Elbow Club, Richmond Orthopaedic Club, Southern Orthopaedic Association, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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Miller Bowe is a Museum Educator for Preservation Virginia's historic sites and interprets 18th and 19th century social, political, and legal history at the John Marshall House and Patrick Henry's Scotchtown. Miller is a gifted storyteller and works to emphasize contemporary connections to the complex histories and legacies he interprets. He attended Christopher Newport University, earning degrees in history and museum studies.
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Mary Bradstock is a native Virginian—born in Richmond and raised in Chesterfield County. She is a member of The Country Style Dancers of Richmond and has been dancing at LLI since 2009 and teaching since 2012.
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Tracey Brooks was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps Reserves. She has various Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Group Exercise & Personal Trainer Certifications, including Kickboxing (IFTA), Zumba and Yoga. Tracey has been teaching and training since 2002. She is energetic and knowledgeable! She also has the ability to motivate and inspire clients regardless of physical fitness level and encourages habits that are life changing.
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Liz Brown has a passion for analytics, wealth management, and financial education. Liz earned her BS in commerce from the University of Virginia and her MBA with honors from the University of Chicago. In January of 2022, after spending seven years at Altria, where she served in brand management roles and gained valuable knowledge of finance, business strategy, and communication plan development, she joined Davenport & Company. Using her experience with customer behavior studies and analyzing data, Liz offers her clients a detailed analytical approach to investment and financial planning, working with them to develop personalized plans that help them to meet their goals and needs. In her free time, Liz is a member of the Junior League and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and she and her husband, Patrick, stay active with their son, David.
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Sherella Brown is a certified Jazzercise fitness instructor who specializes in combining dance and exercise in her work with active adults.
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John Byrd is an award-winning ventriloquist and has been performing as a ventriloquist in the Richmond area for the past 25 years. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and received a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He retired from the Commonwealth of Virginia with 38 years of service. He also retired from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel.
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Nelson Calisch is a former mental health clinician for the Henrico County Community Services Board who retired in 2017 after 30 years of service. Since his first week in retirement, he has attended history and political science classes at VCU. Quite accidentally, he developed an interest in FDR's New Deal, when he purchased a book on New Deal art, while visiting Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Waters" in Mill Run Pennsylvania. Nelson has photographed several New Deal murals throughout the mid-Atlantic and has read about many intangibles from that period that are in existence today and continue to impact our lives.
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Ken Carlson is a former electrical engineer with an enthusiasm for music, the dramatic arts, and group participation. He joined LLI in 2019 and enjoys playing tuba and string bass with several bands and ensembles, including the LLI Lifelong Musicians group.
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Karyn Carpenter learned tap dancing, through classes at LLI and elsewhere. During that time, she discovered a love for helping new tappers learn the steps. Karyn has been an LLI member since 2019.
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J. Diane Carter is an experienced bridge player and encourages people who have not been regular players to join the fun bridge group. She has been an LLI member since 2017.
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Linda Caruthers CSA, LTCP, is the founder and CEO of Long-Term Care Consultants, Inc., Richmond’s only dedicated long-term care insurance agency providing long-term care planning and caregiver support resources to individuals and employer groups. She has specialized in long-term care insurance since 2000 and earned the Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP) designation from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) in 2005 and the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors in 2006.
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Hal Cauthen retired from the Navy and then from private industry (Defense Electronics). He enjoys traveling, drawing, sketching, painting, writing, dancing, and interacting with others to share ideas and techniques. Hal started sketching and painting as a kid and filled numerous sketch pads with line drawings, most often of horses and cowboys. Later, Hal took lessons from Ellie Cox. He has since led classes at LLI and at Stonebridge. He has been a member of LLI since 2016.
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Marlene Cauthen enjoys traveling, drawing, sketching, painting, writing, dancing and interacting with others to share ideas and techniques. Marlene and her husband joined LLI in 2016.
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Keith Chambers is a 55-year resident of Chesterfield County and a 32-year veteran of Chesterfield Fire and EMS, where he currently serves as the Assistant Chief of Community Risk Reduction. In this position, he provides strategic oversight and daily management of the Fire Marshal's Office and Chesterfield County Emergency Management, where they use engineering, education, enforcement, economic incentives, and emergency response to plan, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all types of emergency events and natural or man-made disasters. When not working, Keith enjoys the outdoors with his wife of 33 years, Jane.
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Emma Clark is the Programs Coordinator for the Poe Museum.
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Anne Clendenin is a member of LLI who enjoys dancing and has been playing Spades for years. She wants to continue sharing her love for Spades with other members at LLI!
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Poly Cline renewed her interest in painting in 2019. She took it up for stress relief and loved it! Since Poly recently learned the techniques for successfully accomplishing watercolors, she can break down the steps to help others enjoy painting as much as she does. Poly became an LLI member in 2019.
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Susan Coffey has been a member of LLI since 2009 and has taught various communication-type courses over the years. She has a doctorate in Communication Studies from UVA. She loves taking art and craft classes, including jewelry making, oil painting, watercolors, acrylics, and sketching.
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Dennis Cogswell has an EDD degree from Virginia Tech and an MSW from Case-Western Reserve. He has more than four decades of graduate and undergraduate teaching experience and over five years of teaching Osher courses. Dennis was awarded a Virginia Social Work Educator of the Year Award and has presented at least 130 courses nationwide. He is a published author and is working on two other books.
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Sabrina Cohen is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist who provides skilled treatment for individuals living with acquired cognitive, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Sabrina started her own private practice in 2021, and is able to provide virtual and in-person services to those in need. Sabrina enjoys seeing her patients meet their personal goals, communicate better and with more ease, and feel more confident in completing their daily tasks. In her leisure time, Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family, going thrift shopping, baking, and listening to music and podcasts.
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Carol Colacurcio is a sound practitioner and classically trained musician who has certifications in "The Use of Cross-Cultural Sacred Music for Therapeutic Applications" and "Music in Hospice." She has worked with people in hospice and with groups for bereavement, abuse, and suicide, as well as presented on sound healing at conferences nationally. Some of her methods include breathing techniques, toning, and experiential listening with the results of helping to relieve stress, pain, and depression, as well as stabilizing body rhythms and improving concentration, focus, and motivation.
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Kate Conn joined LLI in 2018 after retiring from Chesterfield County Public Schools. She has many interests and hobbies. Kate gets much joy from playing banjo, autoharp, and the "Limberjack" with the Company's Coming band. She loves to sing harmony.
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Lauren Cook is a nurse practitioner at Virginia Physicians for Women. She is passionate about helping women through every stage of life, providing better clinical care, as well as patient education and counseling. An L.C. Bird graduate, Lauren hails from Chester, Virginia. She met her husband at Shenandoah University in Winchester where they were both college athletes (softball and football). During graduate school at the University of Alabama Birmingham, she earned a dual degree in Women’s Health and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and is board-certified as a nurse practitioner in both fields. While completing her graduate studies, Lauren worked several clinical rotations with VPFW, and realized that working there would be a dream come true. Lauren now sees patients at VPFW’s Koger Center and Prince George offices, and she loves working with her more seasoned patients!
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Jennifer Cottle is the Education Manager of the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA and has been at the museum since 2019. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 2014 and worked as an archaeologist for several years before going into the museum field. In December 2023, she received her a MA in Public History. Her capstone project focused on the WWII civilian internment camps in the Philippines.
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Wanda Cutchins is an artist with over thirty years’ experience in oil painting. She is a retired teacher and completed her career as an educational technology director. Wanda enjoys being a master gardener as well as a Virginia Master Naturalist. She has been an LLI member since 2017.
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Roy Dahlquist recently retired from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in 2015. He was an economic advisor to Governors Kaine, McDonnell and McAuliffe on issues related to Asian business opportunities and challenges, serving as Managing Director, International Business Development - Asia. He met with high level government and business leaders throughout Asia. Roy first retired from Alcoa/Reynolds Metals Company in 2006 with 30 years of global and domestic service. He was Managing Director of Food Packaging Operations in China and Director of International Business Development for the Food Packaging Division, overseeing operations worldwide. He traveled to over 60 different countries developing global business relationships and opportunities. He met with international, federal, state and local government officials including governors and federal agency heads. Roy currently serves as Vice President of the Madison Village Homeowners Association located in Charter Colony and serves on the Board of Directors for the Salisbury Country Club Senior Men’s Association. He has a BS degree from Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia and has been an LLI member since 2016.
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Billie Darlington is a Mobility Coordinator for Chesterfield County. A mother of three and a grandmother of nine, Billie loves helping the community through her job. Knowing that she’s helping people makes her work rewarding!
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Beverly Davidson is a retired elementary school teacher and an avid crafter who has dabbled in many different mediums over the years. While continuing to take classes herself, Bev has taught crafts to other adults and children and has participated in craft shows as a vendor. She has been an LLI member since 2019.
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James Davidson is a Vice President of Investments for Davenport & Company and Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner with more than 18 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an Ex-Officio member on the LLI Board of Directors and manages the LLI Endowment Fund.
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Susan Davies is helping out in the oil painting workshop. She has been painting for five years and is still a rookie but loves the fun of it. She taught elementary school in three states for 40 years before retiring and joining LLI in 2017.
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Teresa Day has been dancing ballroom socially for more than 15 years, taking lessons all the while to improve her ability to dance the many American School smooth and rhythm dances popular in Richmond. Teresa enjoys helping others learn this fun way to sharpen physical, mental, and social skills all at once. She has been an LLI member since 2021.
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David Deal has been the Executive Director of the Hanover Tavern Foundation since January 2010. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of this nonprofit 501(c)3 entity with an annual budget of $400,000, which includes a 16,000-square-foot historic 18th-century tavern structure and 3.5 acres of grounds. David’s responsibilities include overseeing the proper protection, interpretation, and maintenance of the structures and property; oversight of the restaurant; working with the tenant theater company; designing and implementing educational programs, historic tours, and exhibits; creating and executing fundraising events; as well as grant writing to request funding. David, a 30-year Hanover County resident, provides more than 35 years of professional sales, training, and management experience. From 1998 to 2009, he served on the Hanover County Architectural Review Board (ARB), and the Hanover County Historical Commission, for numerous years as Chairman of both organizations. These civic services provided the opportunity to protect Hanover County's historic resources, apply appropriate historic preservation techniques, and guide those on proper restoration and resources. David and his family live in a Circa 1800 home that he placed on the National Register of Historic Places. His work in the antiques field and connections within that industry assist the Tavern in appropriate furnishings and interpretation. David’s passion for historic structures, previous work with Hanover County, and hands-on preservation experience combined with a degree in history help to further Hanover Tavern as the center of the community and an educational destination.
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Jennifer DeRusha has been a member of LLI since 2015 and has 38 years of teaching experience including Chesterfield Adult Education, Allbrands, Collegiate Cougar after-school program for children, and the YMCA. She was past president, vice president, secretary and founding member of Hospitality Quilters Chapter, Richmond Quilters Guild. Jennifer is a member of and Membership Chairman of the Richmond Central VA Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. She has 50 years of sewing experience, including her own line of reversible clothing for children, has completed 100+ quilts and featured three quilt shows of her own work. Jennifer is a juried artist in watercolor, colored pencil, pastel and mixed media, and is a member of Bon Air Artist Association as well as the MidAtlantic Pastel Society. She graduated from VCU in 1969 with a degree in science and has been tap dancing at LLI for four years.
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Jeff Deveney has worked for Chesterfield County in Public Safety since 2002. He has worked for Chesterfield Fire & EMS for the past 11 years. Prior, Jeff worked for Chesterfield County Police for 10 years. He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and has been assigned to Companies 19, 16, 15, 9, and 5. In 2018, Jeff was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and has served as a Lieutenant at Companies 9 and 5. In his time off, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two Australian Shepherds.
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Brie Dixon knew she wanted to be an ICU nurse from the minute she started nursing school and she worked in this role at Chippenham Hospital from 2008 to 2022. Brie found the teamwork to be rewarding and enjoyed watching the hospital grow from a level three to a level one trauma and burn center. Her passion for the program at Chippenham grew out of witnessing the outstanding care and many victories that she and her colleagues were able to achieve for their patients. In 2022, she accepted the position of Trauma and Burn Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator where she is able to have a positive impact on the public while building relationships with the EMS community.
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Shawn Doran is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Midlothian. He focuses on helping people with navigating investments, saving on taxes, important estate planning items, long term care planning, creating income in retirement, and making sure they have a solid plan. Shawn and his wife, Lisa, enjoy spending their free time with their seven children, playing sports and enjoying the outdoors.
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Diane Drummond has been an LLI member since 2009. She began making headbands, hair bows and jewelry for her beautiful granddaughter and has continued adding to her repertoire of craft skills, which she happily shares with her fellow LLI members in a variety of classes. Diane is especially interested in early settlers and Indian crafts used in everyday living.
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Kimberly Felder is a Hearing Instrument Specialist. She founded Clarity Hearing in 2018 with the belief that everyone should be able to afford hearing. Originally from Upstate NY, she came from a large farm family with eight siblings and cherished the time she spent growing up in a small country setting in the Mohawk Valley. In 1990, Kimberly started working for the audiologist who became her mentor and who inspired her to work with the hearing impaired. For over 30 years, she has helped the hearing impaired understand their hearing loss and find the solution to understanding speech again. Continuing education is an important part of keeping up with this industry, and Kimberly makes it a top priority as the technology available is changing all the time. She has been an LLI member since 2022.
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Bob Ferguson has been an active member of LLI since 2008 and has served on the LLI Board of Directors since 2015. He has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and worked at NIH before moving to Richmond. For 38 years he worked in various capacities at Philip Morris/Altria prior to retiring in 2012. Bob has varied interests including Science, History, Literature, and Theater. He has performed with LLI’s Readers Theater group, Bifocals, Huguenot Community Players, and River City Community Players. He writes plays (with Vic Thompson) and acts with LLI’s own Young at Heart Actors (YAHA).
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John Fisher graduated from VA Tech in 1975 and received his MBA in 1984. During his 44-year career as an electrical engineer at a defense contractor, he worked on the manufacturing, testing, and design for radar systems including the F-16, F-22, and F35. As part of his manufacturing experience, he completed Six Sigma Black Belt training in 1998. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. John retired to Midlothian from Ellicott City, MD in 2019 and his retirement interests include golf, history, and the intersection of technology with the larger world. John and his wife, Harriet, have been members of LLI since 2022.
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Marti Franks loves Watercolors! She has been painting since 1997, starting out with Ellie Cox and continuing with Sarah Hoyle, Chris Wynn, and Susan Stuller. She has participated in many workshops with nationally known artists, including John Salamien, Mary Whyte, Ted Andrews, Alvaro Cassinett, Tony Van Hassett, Frank Webb, and Jean Spicer. Marti is a past president of the Bon Air Artists Association and has served as a co-chair of its events, Art Affair and Artful Healing. She exhibits at Crossroads Art Center and at various venues with the Bon Air Artist Association.
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Martha Frickert is retired and now serving as community advocate on several boards. She previously served as a member and president on the LLI Board of Directors.
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Marc Friedlander is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) helping families navigate the difficult assisted living and memory care arenas. He has had personal experiences with both sides of his family and could have used an advocate during the difficult decision-making process. Marc is a member of the Richmond Senior Network. He has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from The George Washington University and an MBA from Montclair State University. Marc enjoys living in the beautiful Richmond area with his wife and two kids. In his spare time, he is on the board of his neighborhood swim team.
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Gerry Germond is retired from the U.S. Army and Capital One. He now spends his time playing with history by reading, attending lectures (guess where!), going to historical sites, listening to classical, traditional, and military music, war gaming, fooling with genealogy, and spending Fridays at the Chesterfield Historical Society's Trinity Museum. Gerry has been a LLI member since 2014.
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Paul Glancy is a former high school and college instructor who earned his BA in history and MS in education with a focus on broad field social studies from the University of Wisconsin. Paul spent 14 years in the newspaper business, including as part of the USA TODAY start-up team, and he drew from his experience to develop newspaper-in-education curricula. He has been the VP of Marketing and Business Development for the Martin Agency and the Call Center Services Director of Sales for WebsiteAlive/Alive5. A current substitute teacher for Chesterfield County schools, Paul is interested in German history and the Third Reich, including books, movies, and other sources on the Holocaust. Paul has been an LLI member since 2022.
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Carolyn Goble has been an LLI member since 2019 and enjoys playing games and cycling.
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Arthur Goldberg is a semi-retired CPA from the Bronx who moved to Virginia after living and working in Miami for 40 years. He and his wife, Arlene, enjoy the scenery and climate in Virginia and the friendly people they’ve met at LLI. Arthur plays Bingo, Mah Jongg, and Hand and Foot, and he excels at jigsaw puzzles.
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Bill Good participated in Civil War reenactments for 10 years as an infantryman and in the ambulance corps. He has a wealth of knowledge about the Civil War. He has been a member of LLI since 2007 and enjoys history, genealogy and woodcarving.
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Ryan Greenlee CFP® is the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Barrett Capital Management, LLC. Ryan brings over 20 years of Fortune 500 experience to Barrett Capital and is able to draw from a diverse background in strategy, finance, technology, compliance, risk management, and operations. Since joining Barret Capital in 2022, he has enjoyed putting his diverse skillset to work, ensuring compliance, operational efficiency, and sound strategies to guide individuals and families toward their life goals. Ryan holds a BS in Communications from James Madison University, an MS in Management of Information Systems from University of Virginia, and is a CFP® Professional. Before joining Barrett Capital, Ryan worked for several Fortune 500 companies including GE Financial Assurance (now Genworth Financial) and McKesson Medical-Surgical. Ryan has experience with senior needs planning, Medicare supplement programs, long-term care insurance, life insurance, annuities, employee benefit planning, and ERISA regulations.
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Mark Grubbs is originally from and grew up in Richmond, VA. He has lived in several states and in South Korea. He has a B.S. in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Mark has worked with computers for the last 35+ years in several occupations: engineering, aircraft piloting, teaching in universities abroad, and in vocational ministry. In 2016, he began his own business, Mark’s Help LLC, in which he helps people in their homes with their technology, mostly computers and smart phones. Mark began teaching at LLI in 2015 and hopes to continue into the foreseeable future.
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Sabrina Guerin thinks being financially confident starts with having the right skills and tools to make smart financial decisions. With almost seven years of financial education experience, Sabrina is passionate about enriching lives in her community by giving people the support they need to reach their financial goals. Sabrina is a certified financial counselor and holds her MBA from the College of William and Mary.
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Mary Gutberlet has been interested in meditative and positive energy practices for physical and spiritual health since she was in graduate school. She attended Tai Chi classes elsewhere in the Richmond area in the late 1990s. After retiring, she joined LLI in 2015, primarily because Tai Chi instruction was offered. She has been a student in Damir Strmel's Tai Chi classes since the Fall of 2016. Mary has bachelor's and master's degrees in general and special education. During her 37.5 years in Education, she taught in two Virginia public school divisions as well as in the Hospital Education Program at what is now known as Children's Hospital at VCU. She eventually became an outpatient Educational Consultant. In this role, she served as an advocate for her patients and as the liaison between various medical teams and the school teams of her patients. Mary enjoys going to museums, plays, concerts, and movies. She likes to travel, is an avid reader, loves the beach and the mountains, and very much enjoys walking and hiking.
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Phyllis Harris is a social ballroom dance instructor in the American Style. Throughout her 30+ year career, Phyllis has taught in Richmond, Colonial Heights, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach. Working with people of all ages, from middle school children and teens, to seniors who are "young at heart," and every age in between, she truly enjoys helping folks discover the many benefits of social dancing.
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Bernard Henderson is the President Emeritus and Funeral Celebrant for Woody and Nelsen Funeral Homes. He worked as Legislative Assistant in the Virginia General Assembly; Assistant Tally Clerk of the U. S. House of Representatives; Assistant to the Commissioners of the Virginia State Corporation Commission; Administrator for the Virginia Bureau of Insurance; director of the Virginia Department of Commerce and the Virginia Department of Health Professions; and Senior Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth with Cabinet-rank during the Warner and Kaine administrations. He serves on the boards of the Sheperd’s Center of Richmond, the Capital Area Agency on Aging, and the Virginia Holocaust Museum. Bernie was educated at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Old Dominion University, Loewen University, and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Bernie and his wife, Marie, have two daughters and four grandchildren.
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Diana Hinman has a lifelong love of the arts. She loves experimenting with all mediums, and particularly loves colored pencils. Her first colored pencil class was taught by Laura Evans and she has since taken LLI Art classes led by Brian Austin, Hal Cauthen, Marti Franks, Bev Perdue, Patrice Reese, Sandy Schimmel Gold, and others. She has been a member of LLI since 2015 and enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, gardening, and playing with her grandkids.
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Robin Hoerber was born three months prematurely and developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) which resulted in total blindness. Raised in New Jersey, Robin was taught to be as independent as possible. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in English from Dickinson College and her master’s in vocational rehabilitation counseling from East Carolina University. Robin has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a missions program coordinator, at a call center, as a Disability Rights Advocate, as a braille instructor, and as a rehabilitation teacher. She has worked with many populations including clients with a wide variety of disabilities, elderly people, persons struggling with substance abuse, and the homeless. Now retired, she serves with her church and the local Lions Club, takes classes at LLI, bakes, provides disability awareness programs, volunteers with Camp Rainbow, and spends as much time as possible outdoors and visiting her son, his wife, and her granddaughter.
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Deb Hood is a retired professor from John Tyler Community College where she taught Information Technology and mathematics classes in person and online for 22 years. She has an MA in Counseling and Guidance from Western Kentucky University and an MS in Computer Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Deb’s favorite pastimes are reading banned books and ballroom dancing with her husband, Mike Recant.
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Matthew Huk MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery in colorectal and general surgery. Dr. Huk earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Richmond and is a graduate of New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He completed his general surgery residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center—Mercy Hospital. Following medical school, he fulfilled a colon and rectal surgery fellowship with Indiana University’s Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center. His care philosophy focuses on patient education and enhanced recovery following surgery. Dr. Huk is a proponent of advanced minimally invasive techniques, including robotic and transanal surgery. In addition to his surgical practice, he has performed extensive clinical research on various colorectal conditions.
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Kim Hutchinson is the Executive Director for the Virginia Farmers Market Association. Kim has been a nonprofit executive, management consultant, public policy expert, federal contractor, community advocate and special advisor to the White House for building healthy, sustainable communities for more than 30 years. Dr. Hutchinson is a native of Virginia and resides in Midlothian, Virginia with her family. She is an avid chef, artist, and golfer.
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Patricia Jackson has a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu style Karate and many years of experience teaching and performing Qigong. Together with her daughter and grandkids, she lives in a big wooden house in the Brandermill woods.
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Walter Jackson has been a practitioner of Tai Chi and Qigong since he took his first classes in 1964. Since then, he has earned a sixth-degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu and has become fully accredited in Tai Chi and Acupressure (Shiatsu). Over the last 50 years, he has taught hundreds of classes for his San Diego organization, the Walking Tiger Tai Chi Club. After retiring from a career as an electrical engineer and a video producer, Walter and his wife moved to Richmond to help raise their two grandchildren. They live with their daughter, her husband, and their two grandkids in a big wooden house in Brandermill.
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Peppy Jones was born and raised in Midlothian, Virginia and graduated from Midlothian High School. Peppy is a graduate of University of Richmond and worked in the construction industry for 40 years. Since 2011, he has been the Director of Mid-Lothian Mines and Railroads Foundation and is a member of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
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Stacey Jones is a follower of Jesus. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, for over 30 years and is a mother to four adult children. Stacey currently serves as the Executive Director of the Mercy Mall of Virginia. A native Floridian, she loves to hang out with her family, care for her plants, organize, and visit coffee shops!
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Tanya Jones MS is a Supervisee in Social Work working for the Jeremiah Foundation. She has experience working with adults and seniors and advocating for those with any type of disability.
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Frances Judd is a Jersey Girl who used her nursing education to travel to Minnesota, Texas, and Virginia. After retiring, she became involved in the Salisbury Garden Club. Fran joined LLI after hearing about the Institute during a pedicure. She has two sons. One lives in Lexington, KY which is great for the races, and one lives in Minneapolis which is great for everything else. Her four grandchildren live in Kentucky.
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Rick Kaerwer was born and raised outside of Boston and has lived in Chesterfield County for over 30 years. He is happily married with grown twin sons. A big fan of ukuleles, Rick has been playing since 2018 and has been singing since he was a wee lad. From 1976 to 1979 Rick played the guitar and he currently enjoys playing in the LLI Lifelong Musicians group. Rick has been an LLI instructor since 2022.
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Randall Kaker was born and raised in Wisconsin (Go Pack!) and got his degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He moved to Virginia in 1980 and taught Math and Statistics for Chesterfield Schools from 1980 until he retired in 2011. Randall has been very happily married since 1975 and has two children who live nearby. He has been playing the guitar since 1961 and truly enjoys the Lifelong Musicians group and all the friends he has made there.
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Mel Kauffman spent 35 years with the CIA dealing with communications, networking, and security. He holds ISCET certifications in Electronics/Radio/Computers and NRI certification in computers. Mel has been using computers since 1984.
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Dorota Kawka E-RYT 200, took her first yoga class in 1996 while pregnant with her first child and instantly fell in love with it. She was certified to teach yoga in 2008 and has been teaching ever since. Dorota especially enjoys working with older adults, teaching a variety of Chair Yoga, Senior Yoga and Gentle Yoga classes at different locations in the Richmond area. She is delighted to be able to share her practice with the LLI family.
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Jennifer Kell LCSW, is the Executive Director of the Jeremiah Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit that provides trauma recovery for adults through Robin's Hope, and provides outpatient counseling through Inner Touch. With over 20 years of experience treating trauma survivors, Jennifer has a passion for helping those of all ages heal.
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Suzanne Kelly is a retired Chesterfield County teacher with degrees in business education and English. She taught for 47 years in North Carolina and in various county junior and senior high schools. In 2001, she and Dr. Sarah Mansfield created Teachers for Tomorrow, a program for juniors and seniors interested in becoming teachers. The program has been used at James River and Midlothian High Schools since then. Suzanne began her teaching career in Chesterfield in the LLI building in 1969 and returned as a member in 2015.
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Linda Kerman earned her master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. She taught literature courses in high school and community college, frequently moderating class discussions, and now assists students who are composing essays as they apply for college and specialty programs. Linda has one adult son and three grandchildren, all of whom are bookworms. An LLI member since 2016, she enjoys reading and playing with her two pet birds.
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Rick Kinnaird has been interested in ancient places since the fourth grade, maybe earlier. He has travelled the world investigating ancient places and sometimes flying kites (another passion.) He follows oftentimes in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Richard Halliburton, who along with Amelia Earhardt and Charles Lindburgh, were the most famous people in America in the 1930s. Halliburton called his travels and adventures “Romance.” Fascinated by ancient places and cultures, Mr. Kinnaird has gone to see for himself and to learn what has been discovered since Halliburton ventured out into the world.
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John Kirn is a Professor Emeritus of American History at Brightpoint Community College in Midlothian, VA. He received his B.A. from Cornell University and his M.A. and PH.D. from the University of Virginia. His research specialty is the Civil War era, but he enjoys teaching and learning about all aspects of American history. Dr. Kirn has always been fascinated with Norman Rockwell, the humor and poignancy of his artwork, and what his popularity tells us about twentieth-century American society and culture.
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Evelyn Klumb is the past president and member of the Oxford Garden Club in Richmond and The Gardeners of Watchung Hills in New Jersey. She is a member of Ikebana of Richmond and studies Ikenobo, Sogetsu, Ohara and Keika Kazan. Evelyn worked with a floral designer in New Jersey and enjoys sharing the art of floral design. She became an LLI member in 2022.
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James Knego is a retired hippie with degrees in philosophy, political science, and executive leadership. He spent over 30 years working in the communications industry managing large sales organizations in VP and Executive Director roles. It is his belief that our individual lives have purpose and meaning with unlimited possibilities. Jim has been an LLI member since 2022.
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Christopher Kolakowski is the Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and former Director of the MacArthur Memorial. He has written and spoken extensively on military history.
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Bette Kot MLIS, is a retired librarian. Her passion is genealogy! Bette welcomes others with the same interest to join her classes for adventures into the past.
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Trupti Girish Kulkarni has been meditating for over 20 years and has been a certified instructor since 2006 with the Heartfulness Institute. She was born and brought up in India and earned an MS in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Kansas. T worked in Pharmaceuticals as a project manager and is now retired to enjoy the real life. She is blessed with a husband and two kids. She loves self-development, meditation, traveling, cooking, reading, painting, drawing, as well as teaching math, meditation and cooking. T has been an LLI member since 2015.
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Steve Kunnmann has been an LLI member since 2013. He also serves as Treasurer on the LLI Board of Directors. Steve has degrees in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
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Randall Lanning has been a member of Toastmasters International (TMI) - a self-help public speaking club, for over 25 years. He earned the award of "Distinguished Toastmaster," the highest achievement possible in TMI. During his tenure, he belonged to seven different clubs, and served as club president and area governor. He started two of the TMI clubs while on military duty in the UK. He facilitated several Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program courses, while teaching at two different high schools. Most recently, he taught public speaking courses to inmates at the Chesterfield County Jail. Randy is a retired US Air Force colonel and has 20 years of teaching experience at both the high school and college levels.
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Rachel Lawson is the Program Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association supporting the Greater Richmond Chapter. She has been with the Alzheimer’s Association since July 2018 after completing her internship with the association in the Spring of 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotions and a Master of Science in Public Health, both from Lynchburg College. Prior to the Alzheimer’s Association, she worked in medical office administration and non-profit health organizations. Rachel always strives to bring education and awareness to those impacted by all forms of dementia through the services and support of the association.
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Joshua LeHuray is the author of “Virginians Will Dance or Die! The Importance of Music in Pre-Revolutionary Williamsburg,” an adjunct history instructor at Rappahannock Community College, and the Education Supervisor at Henricus Historical Park. In addition to having presented numerous history lectures in Virginia, he appeared in the PBS documentary “How the Welsh Changed the World: The Tale of Two Tredegars,” which is about the Tredegar Ironworks of Richmond and its sister site in Wales.
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John Lemza graduated the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976. He served over 20 years in the Army with more than eight years abroad in Asia and Europe. His last assignment was at the Pentagon. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005 with an MA in History and from George Mason University in 2014 with a PhD in History. His research interests are post-1945 America, the Cold War, the history of immigration, consumerism, and military history. John currently teaches history at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been a member of the LLI teaching faculty since 2005. He is a member of the LLI, sits on the Board of Directors, and currently serves as President. He has published two books, American Military Communities in West Germany: Life in the Cold War Badlands, 1945-1990 (2016), and The Big Picture: The Cold War on the Small Screen (2021).
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Juana Levi is a retired registered nurse who studied Art History at the University of Maryland. She is a mother of two daughters, who are both teachers, and a grandmother of four. She and her husband have been LLI members since 2013.
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Eric Levitan is the founder and CEO of Vivo. After witnessing the decline of his parents’ quality of life, he realized he wanted to better understand the aging process so that he could help them. That’s why he started Vivo – a safe, engaging, and impactful program to guide older adults to a safer and healthier life. More information on the research he found and the solution he recommends is available at www.teamvivo.com/.
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Suzanne Levitas has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and a Master of Arts in Musicology. Her doctoral studies concentrated on the Early Music of the Golden Age of Spain: Ladino Music (Miloš Velimirović, University of Virginia). Suzanne has an extensive background in teaching and in music performance as a vocal soloist. She specializes in early music performance and performance standards and has performed opera, musical theater, madrigal/motet ensembles, oratorio, recitals, choral and orchestral conducting, and private voice instruction, and has been a music instructor at high school and university levels. Today, Suzanne teaches Western Art Music history seminars to adult learners. In 2013, Suzanne founded and is the current Artistic Director for the early music ensemble, CANTUS CANTORES Madrigal Singers (CCMS). The CCMS vision is to study and perform early, a cappella music for audiences new to the art form. Outside of music, she holds an MLIS (Library and Information Science) and a Master of Information Technology. Suzanne lives in Midlothian with her two cats.
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Annebel Lewis is a Socio-Cultural Anthropologist whose primary research is in ritual, belief systems, and mythology. She is retired from California State University Fullerton and from Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. She appeared in Who's Who in American Women in 91-92 and has been published in various professional journals. Annebel has been a faculty member of LLI since 2007 and serves on the Board of Directors.
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Jeffrey Litt is a general surgeon in Richmond, VA and is affiliated with HCA Virginia and the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for eight years. Dr. Litt specializes in burn surgery and surgical critical care and is experienced in wound repair and healing, burn care, trauma and surgical critical care, severe burn management, and burn reconstruction. Bringing cutting edge technologies and techniques to Richmond is his passion, and he is increasingly nationally recognized for expertise in new burn-care techniques like “spray-on-skin,” utilizing lab-grown “skin” grafts, and clinic-based minimally invasive skin grafting techniques for taking care of complex serious burns and wounds.
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Roger Loria is an internationally recognized expert in virology and immunology and an emeritus professor at VCU’s Medical College. He has many patents in immune therapies and travels widely to lecture on his scientific discoveries. He was born in Antwerp in 1940 and immigrated to Israel in 1949 with his mother. In 1964, after military service and an undergraduate degree, Dr. Loria came to the U.S. as a Rockefeller Foundation scholar. He came to learn and stayed to help, with an academic career spanning 52 years, teaching thousands of medical and graduate students, and contributing widely to the field of medicine, combat casualty care, and basic science.
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Russell Lundeberg is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer for Barrett Capital Management, LLC and has worked in the investment industry for more than 25 years. He has extensive experience in developing and implementing quantitative investment strategies, portfolio management, and investment analysis. He is a designated CPA and is Series 65 registered as an Investment Advisory Agent. Russell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Virginia. Russell has spoken at investment forums in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. He has been quoted in and interviewed by media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, Reuters, CNN/Money, TheStreet.com, Smartmoney.com, Investment News, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Chicago Tribune, Investor’s Business Daily, the Washington Post, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Joanna Lurie has a master’s degree in health administration, a Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology, and is a certified Medical Technologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology at a master’s level. She is also certified in database designs. Joanna was the chemistry laboratory supervisor for 20 years in a major Long Island hospital. In addition, she worked as the Laboratory Information Systems Coordinator for six years. She taught Clinical Chemistry as an adjunct professor for the State University of NY at Farmingdale, New York. At St. Gabriel’s Parish, Joanna is a lector, serves on the Adult Faith Formation ministry, is a member of Women in God’s Spirit (WINGS) group, a member of the book club, and a member of a Bible study group since 2007, and has taken over 50 Bible study classes. She has served on the LLI faculty since 2006.
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Sharon Macauley joined the LLI in 2009 when she took her first line dance class. It’s been a passion ever since then. Now she enjoys sharing this fun and social activity with newcomers.
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Virginia Maloney has been an LLI member since 2021 and enjoys playing games.
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Jay Mann is the owner of Amada Senior Care in Richmond and Williamsburg, VA. He is a 30-year veteran of the Healthcare Industry having served the Physician, Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Clinical Laboratory and Bio-Pharmaceutical Markets. Prior to leaving Corporate Health for business ownership, Jay led sales teams in both the United States and Europe for companies focused on Imaging Technology in Cancer Research and Diagnostics. Since 2014, Jay has owned and operated Amada Senior Care, an award-winning, A+ Rated Senior Care Agency. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management Science from Virginia Tech. Residing in Richmond and Montross, VA, his children include a son and daughter, both in high school, and a Great Pyrenees dog.
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Marilyn Mare is a retired Chesterfield County teacher who taught at J. B. Watkins Elementary School. She joined LLI in 2007 and is an active member who volunteers whenever needed. She also enjoys teaching Mah Jongg to fellow LLI students!
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Karen Masley comes from a creative family and has been drawing and painting since she was very young. Having no formal art education, she began to take art more seriously in her thirties when, as a member of various art groups, she was mentored by well-known artists in Texas and Florida. Now at LLI, Karen has enjoyed classes with Brian Austin, Marti Franks, and Hal Cauthen. Karen loves to look for inspiration in nature, capturing vivid colors and textures in her work and bringing her interpretation of the beauty and gloriousness of God's creation. Though she occasionally works in other mediums. Karen's favorites are watercolor and colored pencil. Karen has been an LLI member since 2017.
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Sarah Matthews taught elementary art for 34 years in Chesterfield County. She won numerous local, state, and national awards, including Art Educator of the Year for the State of Virginia. Sarah published magazine articles and taught dozens of workshops. She loved teaching others how to teach and mentored over 25 student teachers and currently supervises student teachers for VCU. Sarah appreciates how they keep her on her toes and teach her new things all the time. She was a mural painter for 20 years and has worked in schools, daycare centers, and private homes. Since retiring, she has begun selling smaller-scale work at art shows and boutiques, working in mixed media, mainly acrylics. Sarah is passionate about bringing the joy of art to all and believes anyone can learn the basics and find joy in the process.
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Alan McCrea is a transplant from the Philadelphia suburbs with some South Carolina heritage. He studied mechanical engineering at Cornell and did graduate study in control theory in Aachen, Germany. Alan also worked for industrial companies there and in Austria. In 1967 Robertshaw Controls Company hired him in Richmond to develop what was probably the world's first computerized energy management system for commercial buildings. Early projects included the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington and the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. After fourteen years, Alan began consulting in control and microprocessor applications and now has fun publishing word puzzles. He's enjoyed being a member of LLI since 2012.
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Linda McDorman has been in the fitness industry since 1990 and is certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor, AFAA for Personal Training, Yoga Alliance RYT200 for many yoga formats, Stott Pilates, and Mad Dogg Spinning for cycling. Her passion is helping others become healthier and stronger through exercise.
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Joseph McMoneagle was raised in Miami, FL, volunteered for the US army, and was recruited by the Army Security agency for classified assignments. He spent 1964 – 1978 on missions in the Bahamas, South Vietnam, Germany, Italy, and Thailand among others, and was eventually assigned to the headquarters of the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) in Arlington, VA. One of the original intelligence officers for the STARGATE program, he earned a Legion of Merit for providing critical intelligence to the Joint Chiefs of staff, DIA, NSA, CIA, DEA, and the Secret Service. In 1984 Mr. McMoneagle retired from the army and founded Intuitive Intelligence Applications. He worked as a remote viewing consultant to the Cognitive Service Laboratories at SRI – International and Science Application Corp. He continues to seek answers to the questions of remote viewing, its underlying mechanisms, and the paranormal and is acknowledged as one of the best remote viewers in the field. He is the author of numerous books, among them “Memoirs of a Psychic Spy” and “Mind Trek.”
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Douglas McRae completed the ballroom teacher training course at Simply Ballroom Dance Studio and has been ballroom dancing for over 25 years. He has taught for USA Dance chapters in Richmond and the Tri-Cities, The Dance Space, and has helped with beginner classes at Rigby's Jig. In addition, Doug DJs dances several times a month. He and his co-instructor, Teresa Day, have been dancing together for several years. Doug has been an LLI member since 2023.
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Patricia Meek graduated from VCU with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. She spent most of her working years operating a commercial interior design company before retiring so she could focus on renovating houses.
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Beth Mercer taught choral music in Chesterfield County for 33 years and retired in 2012. She has spent the last 40 years working in musical theater where she has directed and choreographed numerous shows for various schools, local churches and community theater. She is currently working with "Broken Leg Theater." Beth is so happy to be a member of LLI and this community since 2018.
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Albert Meyer is a locally-educated Richmond native and graduate of Georgetown University. He served active duty with the ROTC Commission with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Korea, the Dominican Republic and U.S. Army Reserves (Civil Affairs and Military Government). Al joined the family manufacturing and contracting business as a major supplier to the retail department store industry. Later he became a Commercial Real Estate Broker, a Chesterfield County appointed member to the Metropolitan Economic Development Commission, and he was appointed a 12-year term on the Eppington Plantation Board of Directors. Al has been married to Lil, a dream, since 1967, has three married sons, and nine grandchildren. He still enjoys being a kid! Al has been an LLI member since 2018.
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Lillian Meyer is a true Southern gal - born and raised in Richmond, a Midlothian resident since 1968, and an LLI member since 2023! A graduate of St. Gertrude High School and Sullins College, Lil is interested in reading, painting, and knitting, but she especially loves gardening! Lil worked as an executive secretary before marrying Al Meyer and becoming a mother to their three sons. While the boys were growing up, Lil worked as a Mary Kay Cosmetologist where her art experience was invaluable. She then served as a soccer coach and was active with her sons’ Boy Scout troops. Lil looks forward to sharing joviality through funny and happy films at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield.
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Mark Mikuta is a principal with Estate Settlement Solutions, LLC. He has worked in internal audit, corporate finance and real estate management and development. Mark received his BS in accounting from the University of Richmond. He is a member of many professional organizations and is also a Certified Financial Planner.
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Charles Miller was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He received his BA from Kalamazoo College in 1982 and his Doctor of Medicine from Loyola University of Chicago in 1986. Dr. Miller completed a surgical internship in San Antonio at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in 1987 and a residency in Neurosurgery at Loyola in Chicago in 1993 where he received the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Annual Resident Award in 1991. During his residency, he served on active duty and continued to serve as an Air Force neurosurgeon from 1993 to 1998 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Landstuhl, Germany, having been commissioned in the Air Force Reserve in 1982. Dr. Miller practiced neurosurgery in South Dakota from 1999 to 2014 and retired from the South Dakota Air National Guard in 2002. He joined Neurosurgical Associates in 2015 and operates at both Chippenham and Johnston Willis Hospitals. His areas of expertise include surgical and non-surgical management of disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine; surgical management of primary and metastatic tumors of the brain and spine; minimally invasive procedures for lumbar herniated disk, spinal stenosis, and instability, including true minimally invasive fusion; minimally invasive and complex cervical spine surgeries; peripheral nerve surgery, including minimally invasive carpal tunnel release; and traumatic brain and spine injury.
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Guru Mohanty specializes in cardiac electrophysiology. He is involved in the comprehensive care of heart rhythm disorders, including complex arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AFib) and ventricular tachycardia, and complex device management, including the implantation and extraction of pacemakers and defibrillators. He is among the first and most experienced electrophysiologists in the greater Richmond area to implant leadless pacemakers, which are the smallest available, and he is one of the most experienced with using cryoballoon therapy to treat atrial fibrillation.
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Angie Morriss is a Certified Bereavement Counselor with Crater Community Hospice, where she works part-time as an Outreach Assistant, educating the community about the non-profit’s services and programs. Angie is a member of the Chesterfield Council on Aging, the CCA Caregiver Committee, and the Tri-Cities Alzheimer’s Council. She is also a board member for the Petersburg Home for Ladies.
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Dorothy Moses has been an LLI member since 2008. She’s an aspiring writer and has participated in several critique groups.
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Jennifer Moss had a twenty-year career in non-profit and social work before she joined the team at Bliley's funeral home in 2017. Jennifer provides educational outreach to end of life professionals and the public on topics related to grief and bereavement. She recognizes that helping people prepare for their “Grand Bon Voyage” helps their families be able to focus on the grieving process when the time comes.
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Mary Jane Murphy has a BS in Home Economics Education and a B.A. in Studio Art. She brings 25 years teaching experience to LLI and has been a member at Chesterfield LLI since 2010.
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Gary Nelson was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his degree in geology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After working for 39 years in the quarry and asphalt business in various positions, he retired and took a part time position with the Cornell Local Roads Program, which is the New York State branch of the Federal Highway Administration’s Local Technical Assistance Program. There, he was an instructor and educator, writing, presenting workshops and seminars, and producing training videos on asphalt related topics. It was during this time that he learned how satisfying it is to share knowledge with others.
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Thomas Neviaser is a retired orthopedic surgeon of 33 years who specialized in knee and shoulder conditions. He has written or co-written over 40 peer review articles, presented many papers and instruction courses, and developed surgical procedures for the knee, elbow, and shoulder. He is an emeritus member of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons and a founding member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Tom has been an LLI member since 2023.
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Nana Ataa Ofosu-Benefo is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the owner of Tungsten Wellness, LLC, a medical nutrition therapy and wellness private practice. Her non-diet nutrition counseling approach is grounded in intuitive eating and Health At Every Size principles, support for radical self-acceptance, and is weight- and size-inclusive. Ms. Ofosu-Benefo also currently works as an Adjunct Lecturer at Southside Virginia Community College and Virginia State University. For thirteen years prior to starting her own business, Ms. Ofosu-Benefo worked as a Clinical Dietitian for Morrison Healthcare at VCU Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, Virginia. Her experiences include all aspects of acute care coverage (general med-surg floors and the ICU), the dialysis unit, labor and delivery, the oncology center, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation classes, community diabetes education classes, precepting dietetic interns, food service management and interdisciplinary staff training/development.
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Judith Onesty has been making art and advocating for a healthy diet her whole life. She loves making jewelry out of materials such as metal, wire, and clay. In the 1990s, Judith began creating recipes that follow her mantra of “tasty, healthy, and quick.” She has been an LLI instructor since 2018 and has been offering cooking classes since 2020.
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Leycester Owens has worked for Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, since December 2018 and has a passion for helping older adults lead fulfilling lives. Originally from Sioux Falls, SD, Lee received his bachelor's degree from Luther College in Decorah, IA. He went on to receive his Master of Public Administration from the University of South Dakota and his Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. Lee lives in Midlothian, VA with his wife, Christine, their two sons, Lee IV and Cooper, and their poodle, Annie. He enjoys skateboarding, karate, playing the guitar, and spending time with his family.
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Timothy Pace received a Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University in 1972, and was a senior adviser to the Board of Veterans Appeals from 1972 to 1990. After presidential appointment, Timothy served as Administrative Law judge for the Social Security Administration from 1990 to 2014 handling primarily Medicare cases and Disability claims. In that capacity, he presided in various courtroom proceedings along the east coast at hearing sites in eight states and in the District of Columbia. From time to time, he was called upon to lecture to fellow judges and administrative personnel on the nuances of ever-changing laws governing the administration on Social Security benefits. He has been a member of LLI since 2014.
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Josh Pachter recently retired from a fifty-year career as a college educator, most recently at Northern Virginia Community College. In addition to teaching, he is a writer, editor, and translator of short crime fiction. In 2020, the Short Mystery Fiction Society awarded him its Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement. He has been an LLI instructor since early 2022.
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Mike Pagel taught high school physics and chemistry in public and private schools for 40 years before retiring in 2013. He has been a student and teacher of the Bible since college. In his church he has taught two-year overviews of the Bible, in depth studies of individual books, and courses in creative Bible teaching techniques. He has been involved in the leadership of the Bible Discussion class since becoming an LLI member in 2017.
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Kevin Parks is a formerly licensed Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Administrator. He has been working in the senior housing industry since 2001 and has served older adults in various capacities from Community Relations to Executive Director. As an advocate for older adults and active member of several organizations focused on improving quality of life for elders, Kevin champions quality of life issues in senior housing and recognizes the importance of offering choice and involving seniors in the decision-making process when a more supportive environment is being considered. Kevin provides a comprehensive, personalized service that helps his clients identify supportive housing options that best fit their unique situation, thus eliminating the chaos often accompanying a search for the best option. "Replacing chaos with clarity in your search for senior housing options" is what he strives for.
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Kathy Parrish is the Adult and College Group Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
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Paula Peaden began her professional career as a registered nurse after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from Mount St. Mary’s College. She received her legal education from Antonin Scalia Law School. Currently, she is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Special Needs Alliance and Estate Planning Council of Richmond. Paula practices law in Trust and Estate Planning, Trust and Estate Administration, Elder Law, Long Term Care & Disability Planning, Special Needs Trusts, and Guardianships. She was named the best Elder Lawyer in Richmond in the Best Lawyers in America® and was voted by Peer Recognition as 2022 Virginia Lawyer of the Year as published by Best Lawyers®. Her knowledge and professionalism are evidenced by other accolades, including her appointment to the Virginia Business Legal Elite and the Class of Leaders in the Law, Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts and Estate, Virginia Super Lawyers for Trusts and Estates and Elder Law and AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell Preeminent Women Lawyers.
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Kira Peikoff is the author of “Mother Knows Best,” “Living Proof,” “No Time to Die,” and “Die Again Tomorrow.” She has a degree in journalism from New York University and a master's in bioethics from Columbia. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, and other outlets. She now works in biotech communications, helping spread the word about transformative developments in the life sciences. Peikoff is a proud member of the Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Her latest thriller, “BABY X” will be released in March 2024.
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Beverly Perdue has been creating in oils and watercolors for the past thirty years. She has been recognized with several national and international awards in both mediums. Her style of teaching is to guide and encourage students to find their own individual art voice.
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Robert Perkins graduated from Middlebury College in 1954 and from the University of Vermont College of Medicine 1958. He completed his residency in OB-GYN in 1962 at the National Naval Center and served in the US Navy Medical Corp from 1958 to 1965. After leaving the service, Dr. Perkins had a private practice in Attleboro, MA for 30 and was the Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. He has been a medical consultant to Hospice and a Compassion and Choices member since 2015.
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Sandy Phillips has a degree in Music and Music Education. She continued her studies at the University of Richmond, VCU, and Westminster Choir College. Her performance majors were piano and organ, with a minor in vocal production. She taught public and private school music in Virginia, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois and has also been a church organist and choral director. She has performed in musicals, and other theatrical productions and has been an instructor at LLI since 2013.
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Zachary Pittard earned his bachelor's in history from Longwood University and his master’s in history from VCU. He is the Director of Education and Interpretation for Pamplin Historical Park and serves on the Board of Directors for the Appomattox-Petersburg Preservation Society.
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Ryan Poland is a Certified Financial Planner® and Associate Vice President of Investments at Davenport & Company. He specializes in wholistic financial planning and wealth management.
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Barbara Powers has been teaching Sign Language for over 40 years. She studied for 3 years at the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults in Sands Point, New York. She has taught both privately and corporately for many years. Barbara joined LLI in 2016 and invites her fellow LLI members to come and learn a type of communication that is beautiful, rewarding and practical.
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Anita Prince is a native Virginian and a 44-year resident of Chesterfield County. She retired in 2018 after 44 years of service to the Commonwealth in five different agencies, including Social Services, the Department for Children, the Department of Education, the Department of Correctional Education, and the Department of Corrections. A member of faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the School of Social Work and the School of Education, she received her undergraduate degree in Psychology/Biology from Radford College and her masters degree and Doctorate in Adult Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She currently volunteers at Joy House working with homeless women, on the African American Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society, and more recently with the Lifelong Learning Institute. Anita has been an LLI member since 2022.
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Carol Pritchard is a French teacher who taught beginning, intermediate, advanced and adult education classes for forty years. She taught in the school systems of Baltimore City and County, Maryland; Pittsford, New York; and Chesterfield County, Virginia. Locally, she taught at Monacan High School (until 1994) and James River High School (until 2008). She retired from CCPS in July 2008 and has been a member of LLI since 2009.
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Jeremy Pryor Esq., is a Principal attorney at the law firm Carrell Blanton Ferris & Associates, PLC. His areas of practice include elder law, estate planning, and incapacity-related litigation. As an empathetic and fierce advocate for his clients’ rights, Mr. Pryor concentrates on securing Medicaid coverage for nursing home care needs and safeguarding assets from the costs of long-term care. In addition, he helps clients become guardians and conservators through court proceedings. Mr. Pryor received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from James Madison University and his Juris Doctor cum laude in 2007 from Regent University's School of Law.
Actively affiliated with the legal community, Mr. Pryor has memberships in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and ElderCounsel.
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Lucas Ramirez is the son of Rachel Ramirez, Executive Director at LLI in Chesterfield. He is an avid reader, and he loves learning, dinosaurs, puzzles, playing on playgrounds, riding his scooter, and playing with his father, Luis, and his little brother, Levi. Since he was born in 2018, Lucas has spent countless hours at LLI and loves seeing members and making them laugh with stories and jokes. Lucas is being homeschooled for first grade and is a part of the Classical Conversations Charter Colony community that meets weekly for a half-day.
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Rachel Ramirez has been the Executive Director at LLI in Chesterfield since March 2014. She previously worked for four years in IT and as a Financial Team Manager for a nonprofit in Mechanicsville. Before that she was an Assistant Branch Manager with First Market Bank in Richmond and a Store Manager at Starbucks Coffee Company. Rachel has enjoyed attending and serving with Clover Hill Church since 2003 and is grateful for the opportunities she has had to work with Give Hope 2 Kids, a children's home in the mountains of Honduras. Rachel earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University in 2006 and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from VCU in 2018. Rachel and her husband, Luis, love spending time with their two boys, their family and friends, as well as biking, hiking, and traveling!
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Waite Rawls retired at the end of 2019. He previously served as the President of the American Civil War Museum Foundation. He received a B.A. at Virginia Military Institute and was awarded an M.B.A. and J. D. by the University of Virginia. Some of the positions he held in the banking, investment, and money markets fields were: Managing Director, Chemical Bank, New York; Vice Chairman, Continental Bank, Chicago; Executive Vice President, The Chicago Corporation; and Chief Operating Officer of Ferrell Capital Management, Greenwich, Conn. He also led a start-up technology company and has been a visiting or adjunct professor at University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration and Illinois Institute of Technology.
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Michael Recant has been active in the field of LGBTQ justice since the mid-2000s. As head of the First Unitarian Universalist Church LGBTQ-Straight Alliance committee, he helped to establish the first ROSMY Alternative Prom for LGBTQ+ High Schoolers in the RVA area. Mr. Recant is a trained Sexuality Educator in the "Our Whole Lives" curriculum jointly developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. The Our Whole Lives program operates under the idea that well informed youth, young adults, and adults make better, healthier decisions about sexuality than those without complete information. OWL strives to be unbiased and teaches about heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, non-binary, and transgender sexual health.
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David Reynolds earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Lynchburg in 2016. He now manages the CORA Physical Therapy in Midlothian, VA where he specializes in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. David believes in leveraging the body's natural healing processes through movement and encouraging patients to manage their impairments with less reliance on medications and surgeries. On several occasions, David has done medical missions as a physical therapist in North Africa, including mentoring and teaching local providers and taking PT students from various universities on clinical rotations.
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Kimberly Rideout is a Fire and Life Safety Educator for Chesterfield Fire and EMS in Virginia. She has been serving in career and volunteer roles in public safety since 2000. Kimberly is a graduate of the Southside Regional Fire Academy, has attended the National Fire Academy, holds multiple degrees from Radford University, and has a Master of Public Administration from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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Jessica Robison is the Emergency Management Public Outreach Coordinator for Chesterfield County. She manages the Chesterfield County Emergency Management staff, who are highly experienced professionals in the areas of emergency planning, mitigation, response, and recovery and are committed to enhancing the resilience of the County though providing comprehensive preparedness training to those who work, live, or play in Chesterfield. Jessica serves as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator, overseeing more than 1,300 trained volunteers. Jessica’s background is in volunteer programs and management. In 2013, she became a certified Master Resiliency Trainer (MRT) through the University of Pennsylvania and the Department of the Army. As an MRT, she taught soldiers and family members how to build skills that would allow them to survive and thrive in difficult situations. Jessica’s passion is to educate and empower residents to play an active role in their own well-being and the well-being of their communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Crime, Law, and Justice from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in healthcare management from Western Governors University.
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Matt Rogers was raised in Chesterfield County, graduated from James River High School, and then graduated from Longwood University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Corporal Rogers has served with the Chesterfield County Police Department for 16 years. During that time, he has served as a patrol officer, school resource officer, and is currently assigned to the Community Engagement Unit. Corporal Rogers is the coordinator for the Chesterfield County Police Department's Citizen's Academies and the Project Lifesaver program. He also assists in teaching crisis intervention for the Chesterfield County Police Department's CIT program.
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Misi Rose is a wife and mom to two adult children and the Director of Operations for the Mercy Mall of Virginia.
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Audrey Ross was born and raised in the Village of Midlothian, Virginia, attended Midlothian Elementary School, and graduated from Carver High School in Chester, Virginia in 1968. Audrey earned a B.S. degree in Professional Biology from N.C. A &T State University in Greensboro, N.C. in 1972, and a Master of Public Health degree from VCU/MCV in Richmond, VA., in 1998. A retired Senior Scientist from the Commonwealth of Virginia, she serves as Historian at First Baptist Church of Midlothian, and is a member of the African American History Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV).
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Gordon Russell has experience in both graphic design and corporate America. After graduating from VCU (RPI of the College of William & Mary) with majors in graphic design and advertising, he entered the fast-paced advertising industry in Richmond and then, in Atlanta, Georgia where he ran his own agency. Next, Gordon made major career shifts to work for Bell South and In-flight Publishing. He was the Senior Vice President of an international computer company, the Dean of a School of Design, and a Campus Director of Academic Affairs. No matter what he pursued, creativity always played an integral role.
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Patricia Ryther is retired from a career in banking and insurance. In retirement, she’s enjoyed studying 19th century American History, and teaching classes on notable environmental figures from that era. She has a degree in English Literature and has taught at the community college level. Pat has been an LLI member since 2018.
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George Saunders is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. A lifelong student of railroad history, he has been an active member of the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society for more than 40 years. Contributing in countless capacities, including serving on the board of directors, he currently serves as the facilities rental manager for the chapter’s museum in Richmond, Virginia. In the past, George has done PowerPoint presentations on “The Development of Trains in the South and their Use in 1864” and “Railroad Communications in 1864” at the American Civil War Museum, the Richmond Railroad Museum, and LLI as part of the Sesquicentennial lecture series on the war.
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Les Schaffer is a long-time LLI instructor, storyteller, retired counselor, veteran, and cowboy-at-heart. He is a founding member of the Tell Tale Hearts Storytellers Theater Company and the TwoTellersTelling Tandem Storytellers with Judith Onesty. His resume includes being a long-time board member of the Virginia Storytelling Alliance (VASA), pioneering treatment programs for violent men and adolescent sex offenders, operating a pottery clay manufacturing company, as well as working in photography and retail advertising. These days, Les performs and teaches storytelling in a variety of settings. He believes that storytelling can save the world and that a good story will get you out of just about anything.
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Crsyt'l Scheer is a NEDA proficient end-of-life doula (EOLD) and small business owner who supports end-of-life education and community outreach. She has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Oregon State University, professional training through Peaceful Presence in Bend, Oregon, and her EOLD Professional Certificate through the University of Vermont’s Larner School of Medicine. Cryst’l sees clients in the Williamsburg area and provides remote and in-person presentations, training, and workshops. Trained as a Qualified Advance Directive Facilitator Cryst’l believes it is never too early to start preparing for a thoughtful and intentional final stage of life. She is also a certified Guided Autobiography instructor through the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies, and a certified Legacy Navigator through Living Wisely. A native Oregonian, Cryst'l enjoys spending time with her family, road trips, hazelnut lattes, and Halloween.
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Bonnie Scimone serves as the Lead Community Outreach and Marketing Specialist for The VirginiaNavigator Family of Websites. Bonnie has been with the organization since 2006. She graduated from Longwood University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and received her Elementary Education Teaching Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University. Bonnie has one son in Georgia, one daughter in Chesterfield and five grandchildren. Bonnie resides in Chesterfield County and serves Central Virginia and Tidewater.
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Tom Seaborn is a native of Newport News, Virginia and holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. After serving three years as a company grade officer in the Army Medical Service Corps, he started his career in Consulting Engineering and Construction Management. In 1998, he became the design manager of semiconductor wafer fabrication plants for Motorola and Siemens. Tom has been a member of LLI since 2018 and has been active in the genealogy and memoir writing classes.
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Emme Simon is an Energy Intuitive, an Energy Codes Facilitator, and an Integrative Love Life Coach. Emme empowers women to transform their lives from the inside-out by changing their energy and restoring their true nature of radiant health, wholeness, love, and happiness. Her intention is to see the entire planetary family living in health, wholeness, and a consciousness of life more abundant.
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Matthew Simpson is the Director of Guest Services for the VA Holocaust Museum.
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Kevin Skellett is a pastor at Southside Church, founder of Love Never Ends ministry, and a member of the Chesterfield Suicide Awareness and Prevention Coalition.
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Jaime Smiley is an occupational therapist who now serves as a healthcare consultant and educator. Jaime is a 2001 graduate of VCU's occupational therapy program. She has over 22 years of experience in senior care as a therapist, director, clinical educator, and vice president of therapy services. Jaime is also an adjunct instructor in VCU's Department of Occupational Therapy and South University's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Her passion lies in helping the aging population secure healthy lifestyle options as well as providing training to encourage seniors to become educated consumers of services.
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Shelvey Smith has been involved with doing handwork since she was young. Shelvey began cross stitching, then crocheting, and at the beginning of 2022, learned to knit at LLI. It has been very enjoyable! She has met a lot of nice people willing to share their knowledge and friendship, and she hopes others will come join the Needleworkers United group. Shelvey has been an LLI member since 2019.
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Shep Smith is a native of Richmond. He holds a Bachelor's degree from RPI, now VCU, and a Master's degree from the University of Richmond. He taught American history at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County for over 30 years.
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Fred Soltow retired after serving for 45 years as clergy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at churches in West Virginia, Arizona, and Virginia. Fred became an advocate for End-of Life planning after losing three grandparents in one year and watching the tension that the absence of preplanning caused in his family. Since 1975, he has taught classes, lectured, and been part of task forces advocating for advanced planning and end of life issues. Currently, Fred serves as a volunteer for Compassion & Choices and works to support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) legislation in the State of Virginia.
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Katie Starr PhD, RD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and Research Health Scientist at Durham VA Medical Center. Dr. Starr is also Co-Director of the Duke Center for Aging Clinical Nutrition Laboratory, and her research and professional experience focuses on understudied, older adult populations at high risk for chronic health conditions and functional disability. She is also the Chief Scientific Advisor for Vivo.
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Martha Steger was the public relations director for Virginia's office of tourism for 25 years. She has covered Virginia destinations and attractions for Richmond Magazine, Boomer Magazine, and Mid-Atlantic Recreation News. Martha has been an LLI member since 2020.
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Kendalle Stock has been in the field of insurance in Chesterfield since 1985. A graduate of High Point University, Kendalle also earned her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1999. She has owned her own multi-line insurance agency, worked in the long-term care (LTC) insurance field, and in group benefits. In 2013, she decided to make Medicare her primary focus, realizing how so many people were overwhelmed and confused by this program. Her passion is to help educate her clients so they understand the options well enough to make informed decisions about this important part of retirement. More information can be found on her website: CommonwealthMedicareAdvisors.com
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Damir Strmel is the Director of Quantitative Development at Barrett Capital Management, LLC, an investment advisor in Midlothian VA. Mr. Strmel has been developing financial models for over 25 years and his trading and investment allocation models have been employed by Hedge Funds and RIAs. Damir holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a master’s in business administration in decision information systems from the University of Florida.
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Kerrigan Sullivan (She/Her) is currently the Department Chair of Performing Arts at Brightpoint and the Producing Artistic Director of the Lynn Theatre. Kerrigan has been in over a hundred plays since she began her career at the age of six. Some of her favorite professional credits include “A Christmas Carol” at Madison Square Garden and “The Batman Forever Stunt Show” at Six Flags Great Adventure. Locally, her favorite roles include Becky in “Becky’s New Car” at CAT Theatre and Dinah in “The Quality of Life” at HATTheatre. She directs locally including, “Wings” (RTCC nominated for Best Director), “The Fourth Wall,” and “This World We Know” at Firehouse Theatre Project. Kerrigan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Brooklyn College.
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Wayne Swatlowski began his adult career as a catholic priest and served for 15 years in various areas of Appalachia. After resigning and marrying, he worked with various non-profit homeless and low-income housing organizations. Wayne graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clown College at John Tyler Community College, has been clowning around for about 15 years with Clowns of America International and local Virginia Clown Alley #3. He retired three years ago and is now enjoying volunteer activities, reading, and watching birds and Netflix movies from his recliner. He continues to use bubbles, rocket balloons, and perform a little magic as Basa (his clown alter-ego) and loves the opportunity it provides him to be with kids and the young at heart. Wayne has been an LLI member since 2019.
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Nicole Thomas-Jackson EdD, has been in the fitness industry for over 20 years. A certified fitness instructor since 2001, Nicole has taught group fitness classes in a variety of settings, including high and low impact aerobics, lite physical fitness, and senior fitness. Nicole has also taught elementary physical fitness and currently holds an elementary teaching certificate and administrative endorsement.
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Victor Thompson earned a BA in English Literature from Middlebury College (1963), an MA in English Literature from Rutgers University (1966), and a PhD in English and American Literature from Rutgers University (1972). He has published the following books: Eudora Welty: A Reference Guide (1976); The Trumpets of Jericho: A Romantic Novel about Bands and Musicians in the American Civil War (2004); Safe at Home: Baseball and Other Forms of Life in a Small New Jersey Town (2007) and Muses of Fire (2021). Vic has also written numerous articles and book reviews and performed with the Readers Theater and the Ya Ha Players at LLI. He taught at the University of Cincinnati (1966-1970) and Thomas Nelson Community College (1970-present), where he is now a Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor. He is married with three children and four grandchildren. He enjoys singing with the Virginians Barbershop Harmony Society, wood carving, swimming, dog walking, and more! Vic and his wife, Sharon, have been LLI members since 2013.
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James Triesler has been educating and entertaining students of all ages for over thirty years. He currently serves as the Director of Education at the Virginia War Memorial and as Historian for the National Battle of the Bulge Association. Jim has a BA in political science from East Carolina University and a MEd from Virginia Commonwealth University. For twenty years he taught social studies at Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County. He and his students were the recipients of a Save Our History Award, from the History Channel, for their class project on WWII. Jim has been the Chesterfield County Teacher of the Year and the Virginia Region One Teacher of the Year. He loves learning and teaching about history!
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Bryan Truzzie is the Historic Sites Supervisor for the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department and a member of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
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Julia Van Buskirk enjoys dancing, cooking, sewing, knitting, and spending time with her family. She is happy to have been an LLI member since 2018.
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Stone Wahl has a PhD in Quantum Physics; was published in Aerodynamics, in Physics, and in Finance; was lead investigator for a patent in DVR processes; and was on an Emmy-winning team. After working as a software development analyst and project manager in various industries, he made a career change in 2018 to full-time grandpa and professional disc golfer (PDGA #68590). Stone is active in his church choir, Bible studies, and children’s ministry, and serves as the treasurer for the River City Disc Golf Club, which he led through 501(c)3 certification and through which he runs youth clinics and tournaments. He has been an LLI member since 2019.
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Mervin Warner has been carving since the mid 1980's and started carving to learn to represent objects in three dimensions versus the two dimensions of drawing. He has been a member of the James River Wood Carvers since the mid 80's. He prefers to carve objects in the round and enjoys carving sea mammals, masks and projects that provide a challenge such as whales, busts, and one-third size carousel horses.
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Jon Waybright is a field archaeologist and assistant professor in Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University where he has taught courses since 1997, focusing on World Religions, Biblical Studies, and Near Eastern Archaeology. He earned his Master of Theological Studies from Boston University’s School of Theology and holds degrees in History and Religious Studies from VCU. Mr. Waybright’s field experience is expansive and focuses on southern Israel. While spending a dozen seasons excavating at Ashkelon, he has conducted field research at Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tell Lachish, and Khirbet al-Rai. He has been the Experiential Coordinator for the School of World Studies since 2013 and is also a core faculty member in the VCU Open Minds Program with the Richmond City Justice Center where classes are held in tandem with both VCU students and incarcerated residents. Mr. Waybright leads a study abroad program to Israel in the summers, where students engage in archaeological research with a multi-university team of researchers.
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Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and she has non-fiction pieces in “Promophobia” and “The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.” She is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Central Virginia, Chessie, and Guppies, and the Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers. Heather blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill and lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
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Jackie Weisgarber is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. She’s based in Richmond and covers Social Security outreach and education throughout Central and Southwest Virginia. Jackie implements Social Security’s communications plan through local, regional, and national initiatives and supports 12 Social Security field offices in Virginia. Previously, she was a Claims Specialist for 10 years based in the Charleston, SC field office where she implemented Social Security policy, adjudicated claims and managed special projects while serving the public with compassion, courtesy, and respect. Prior to joining Social Security, Jackie was a Project Manager for a health benefits technology firm and a PR Specialist for a national nonprofit. Jackie has a BA in Journalism from The University of South Carolina and a Master’s in Public Administration from The College of Charleston.
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E. Ayn Welleford PhD, has taught extensively in the areas of Lifespan Development, Developmental Gerontology, Geropsychology, and Ethical Decision Making and Human Values. An associate professor and the gerontologist for Community Voice, she works to make our community a great place for all people to GROW older by bridging classroom and community. Currently, Dr. Welleford serves as co-lead of the Longevity Project for a greater Richmond with Senior Connections Executive Director, Amy Strite. She has been known to say, “Let’s do something that does something.”
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Donna Whitfield is a current member of LLI. She is a former English teacher with Chesterfield County. She started beading in 1998 and specializes in bead weaving. Donna enjoys playing Mah Jongg and Triple Play with her friends.
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Amanda Williams is the Director of the MacArthur Memorial. Amanda graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with a B.A. in History & Art History and later earned her M.A. in History from Old Dominion University. She began her career as an Archaeologist at Historic Jamestowne before serving as Education Manager for the MacArthur Memorial. She specializes in military history and women’s history and is the host of the MacArthur Memorial and the World War I podcasts.
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Lee Winne grew up on his parents’ guest ranch near Reno, Nevada. He attended local public schools, graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno with a B.A. in Journalism. For three years during college, Lee worked as a photographer and reporter for the local afternoon newspaper. Following college, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army where he was assigned as a public information officer and troop commander in the Transportation Corps. After the military, Lee attended law school, graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree from the California Western School of Law in San Diego, and was admitted to the State Bar of California. Lee then enjoyed a 40-year career in contract management with the engineering and construction industry. His work included assignments on oil, gas, petrochemical, power generation, and nuclear projects in the USA, as well as more than 10 years on work assignments in the Middle East, Asia, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Lee is now retired and spends his time on church activities, reading, and taking classes at LLI Chesterfield, where he has been an active member since 2022.
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Alan Winter graduated with honors in history from Rutgers, studied creative writing at Columbia’s Graduate School of General Studies, and earned advanced degrees from NYU and Columbia. Winter has authored six novels including “Wolf” and “Sins of the Fathers,” which he co-authored with Herbert J. Stern. Both of these books challenge the historiography of Hitler’s early years and the Nazi rise to power by incorporating primary resources into historical novels. His novel “Savior’s Day” was selected as a Kirkus Best Book Selection of 2013 and of which Kirkus said, "Winter’s command of his historical material is impressive, as is his skill at shaping his characters.”
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Nena Woods has a BA in French and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and has taught all levels of Spanish since 1981. Her latest experience was teaching K-8th grade at the Sabot at Stony Point private school here in Richmond. She has traveled many times to Spain especially the Canary Islands where her mother's family lives.
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Michael Wriston has been an adjunct member of the faculty at the University of Richmond for over 25 years and is the founder and president of The Reinvention Factory and The Competitive Edge. An established and published expert on leadership development and the creation of high-performance teams and cultures, Dr. Wriston has most recently developed broad and practical expertise on the development of talent, nurturing personal resiliency and enabling people to discover their gifts, their story and their life's purpose to ensure that they're able to fulfill their destiny. A native Vermonter and guardian of the environment, Dr. Wriston is a long-time soccer coach and the proud father of four remarkable sons.
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Howard Wynn is a retired recreational supervisor for the VA Department of Juvenile Justice. When this former paratrooper and Vietnam veteran isn't glued to an art project, he enjoys Phase 10, backgammon, corn hole, and any other sports-related activity. His mother's experience with Alzheimer's was a pivotal moment in his life that has inspired and encouraged him to share his creative talents.
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