1. LEAD Virginia Graduation Remarks
November 22, 2013
Several weeks ago, I received a call from our Player Development
Representative notifying me that she needed to talk to me about our team
- LEAD Virginia. I thought I had been traded or released on waivers. After
an exchange of pleasantries, I was informed me that I needed to provide
remarks for the Richmond program. I immediately thought about the
contract that I had signed following the draft that clearly stated NO AFTER
DINNER SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. I proceeded to ask specific questions –
So What? Big Deal? What’s Next? I was informed that the majority
stakeholders of LEAD Virginia had called a meeting for Friday, November
22nd and that I was to give an update that included TEAM statistics,
training routines, and future plans – you know - So What? Big Deal? What’s
Next? So here goes . . .
It is a joy and privilege to provide an update regarding our team - TEAM
LEAD Virginia. As you are well aware, we began our season back in April
with 50 members on the roster. You know many on our starting line-up:
you see names imprinted on our team jerseys – I always had trouble
figuring out what jersey to wear . . . (pull out shirts). What you may not
know about our teammates is some of the following:
In addition to the names on the back of our shirts, we wear titles such as
President, CCO, CEO, CIO, Vice President, Director, Comptroller, Partner,
Dean, and Vice Chancellor. We are wives, husbands (including our
newlywed John Markowitz), mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters,
grandmothers, grandfathers, swimmers, shoppers, runners, musicians,
ironmen, golfers, and scholars.
We bring to our team educational credentials in rhetoric, music, math,
computer science, education, business, Spanish, public administration,
engineering, and law from VMI, UVA, JMU, New York University, University
of Michigan, Texas Tech, University of Massachusetts, Louisiana State
University, Syracuse, Wellesley, Frostburg State, the US Naval Academy,
Fort Hays State University, and a place called Virginia Tech.

2. In regards to our TEAM LEAD Virginia training routines, here is what we’ve
been up to for the past several months. We have met folks and visited
diverse communities and learned, eaten, debated, sung, and danced our
way around the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have been inspired by
President Thomas Jefferson with his thoughts on civic engagement. We
have had toe tapping experiences and been reminded about the value of
culture and arts at Berry Hill with Wayne Henderson & Jeff Little, the Barter
Theater, and Lay’s Hardware. We have experienced the spirit of innovation
and entrepreneurship at the dairy processing operation in Mt. Crawford
with brothers Kenneth and Frank Will; the Junior Achievement Finance Park
in Fairfax; Dominion Power Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center; the
engineering feats of the Hampton Road’s tunnels; and at Virginia
International Raceway (and from his demonstration on the skid pad, I
continue to wonder how Craig Herndon has authorization to drive a state
vehicle).
Our motivational speakers and coaches have included Susan Horne, John
Thomas, all of our regional program/curriculum co-chairs, the Honorable
Whitt Clement, the Honorable Rick Brown, the Honorable Tom Davis, Peter
Blake, Tiffany Franks, Mike Quillen, Debbie DiCroce, Sue Cantrell, Tim
Miller, and Bob Holsworth.
Our training and conditioning coaches have been a little concerned about
our nutritional intake throughout the season. Many of us our reexperiencing the “Freshman 15” thanks to Christiana Campbell’s Tavern,
Mrs. Shank, Passion Fish, Waterman’s, and The Savory Grain. We have
enjoyed the best of Virginia’s viticulture – picking grapes and sampling wine
at the Mountain Rose Vineyard and ale at Devil’s Backbone in Lexington.
Thanks to one of our team captains – J.D. Myers – we know that tilapia and
asparagus help with issues related to fluid retention. In addition, Fitbit and
Jawbone are interested in becoming corporate sponsors of LEAD Virginia as
a result of Kristy Kiser’s, Janet Laughlin’s, and Kris Westover’s
encouragement . . . our activity levels and sleep (or lack thereof) patterns
continue to be monitored.

3. When not in players and coaches meetings, our “free time” has been
occupied with improving regional economies through shopping, golf,
Shakespeare, karaoke, karaoke, and more karaoke.
Our player development representatives and directors of operation Margaret Taylor and Amanda Keller – have kept us mostly on schedule.
Barry Feil and John Jacobs have reminded us about the use of technology . .
. wake-up calls and 511 dispatch.
Transporting our team from point A to point B is provided by ground
transportation – a.k.a. the bus. I have had lifelong issues with motion and
subsequently have been assigned to the front of the bus. I can’t really
provide an update from the back of the bus – but I think they had a very
different LEAD Virginia experience.
The talent of our team is endless on and off of the playing field – thanks to
Ellen Spong for our on the bus yoga instruction; to Luanne Gutermuth for
our very own TEAM LEAD Virginia soundtrack; to Lori Hester and Darien
Grant for serving as our social coordinators; and to Ellen and Sam Hill for
serving as co-chairs for our “Pay It Forward” campaign.
We are a diverse, talented group of professionals who are better equipped
to embrace the opportunities that tomorrow will bring in the
Commonwealth of Virginia. I can assure our major stakeholders that our
TEAM LEAD Virginia bench is prepared to assume starting positions.
(Transition to slides . . .) I don’t know about all of you but when it comes to
championship playoff time in NCAA basketball, I always stay up late to
watch who made the highlight reel . . . you all know what I’m talking about .
. . the One Shining Moment clip! Let’s take a minute to see who made
TEAM LEAD Virginia’s 2013 highlights . . . (Go to Slides)

4. CLOSING COMMENTS . . . .
In closing, I ask all of you . . . So What? Big Deal? What’s Next?
It has been a great privilege to be a part of this LEAD Virginia experience – a
privilege that comes with great responsibility.
Imagine if you will, the transformation of an “Old Dominion to a new
Virginia” . . .
• one that has every member of TEAM LEAD Virginia 2013 serving as
ambassadors for LifeNet and telling the story of how organ and tissue
donations sustain lives for thousands;
• Image a Junior Achievement Finance Park housed at Heartwood in
Southwest Virginia focused on teaching our children about the rich
heritage and business opportunities related to arts and culture;
• And being able to witness a new landscape in the Southern Virginia
region transformed by imagination, broadband technologies,
education, research, and development.
As newly minted alumni, we are called to influence policy, perspectives,
and innovation and are ready to accept the responsibility of contributing in
multiple way to shape Virginia’s future.
Thank you to all who touched our lives throughout this experience. I can
assure you that with the championship game on the line, I’ll challenge
anyone to take on the LEAD Virginia Class of 2013 – forever friends and Far
Better than the Best Class Ever!