Here’s a round-up of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Cox to lead Virginia Business Higher Education Council
Former Speaker of the House Kirk Cox will become the next president of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. The appointment will take effect on July 1, following the retirement of Dr. Donald J. Finley, who has served as VBHEC’s president since its founding 25 years ago.
The council is a business group that advocates for higher education. Board chairman Dennis Treacy said in a statement that Cox “is uniquely suited to continue and build on the progress achieved through our ‘Growth4VA’ program emphasizing talent development and college affordability in the Commonwealth.”
Cox, a former teacher, served in the General Assembly 32 years as a delegate from Colonial Heights, including two years as Speaker of the House. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor last year.
Treacy pointed to Cox’s “deep experience at the intersection of business, education, and government” and noted that “he was the chief patron of legislation creating the GO Virginia program, which fosters collaboration between business, education, and government in each region. As Speaker, he chose to chief-patron only one bill: the 2019 higher education legislation that established the Innovative Internship Program and encouraged more business-higher education partnerships through performance agreements with the Commonwealth.”
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Carilion announces leadership changes
Carilion has appointed new vice presidents for the Department of Medicine, the Office of Investments and Home Care and Hospice:
- Hunter Choate named vice president of Medicine/Clinical Operations
- Lindsay Collins named vice president of Medicine/Acute Care Services
- Fred Greear, CFA, named vice president and chief investment officer
- Lisa Sprinkel named vice president of Home Health and Hospice
Choate received both a B.S.N. and M.S.N. from the University of Virginia. He went on to achieve a doctor of Nursing Practice from George Washington University.
He began his career at Mary Washington Hospital in 2003 as an R.N., moving to UVA as their clinical manager, then transitioning to Augusta Health as their administrative director of Nursing. He later moved to Roanoke with his wife, Cynthia Choate, M.D., in 2019 when they joined Carilion Clinic.
Collins received a B.S.N from Radford University, an M.S.N. from the University of Virginia and a doctor of Nursing Practice from Radford University.
She began her career in Carilion’s Emergency Department in 2008 and gained progressive leadership experience during her six-year tenure before transitioning to the director of Nursing at Correct Care Solutions, a contracted medical provider within the Western Virginia Regional Jail. In 2014, Lindsay rejoined Carilion as the unit director on 12 West, then as clinical administrator and is presently the senior director of Inpatient Surgical Services/Inpatient Rehabilitation.
Greear received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Denison University and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Vanderbilt University.
Joining Carilion in 2015, Greear previously served as Carilion’s director of investments. Prior to joining Carilion, he worked for Huntington Ingalls and the Pension Boards – United Church of Christ, managing their pension plans. In addition, his experience includes roles in New York with Cohen & Steers Capital Management and Lord Abbett & Co.
Sprinkel began her nursing career as a diploma graduate from Roanoke Memorial Hospital’s School of Professional Nursing. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mary Baldwin University, and her master’s degree in nursing administration from Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
She has held a variety of clinical and leadership positions in her tenure with Carilion and has led the Home Health and Hospice department for the last 17 years as senior director. In her new role as vice president of Home Health and Hospice, she will provide operational leadership across nine business locations that serve a 19-county footprint in Southwest Virginia.
Disclosure: Carilion is one of our donors but donors have no say in news decisions. See our policy. You can be donor, too.
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Gala for retiring chancellor raises $1.45 million for student fund
A retirement gala for Glenn DuBois, the outgoing chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, raised $1.45 million for a fund that provides financial support to students who face urgent and unforeseen events that would otherwise interrupt their education.
The “DuBois Student Success Fund” is managed by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), which organized the May 19 tribute.
“Glenn DuBois is a living example of what community colleges can and should and will do for people,” said U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, who spoke at the event. DuBois has served as chancell for 21 years, longer than any other chancellor.
Those interested in supporting the fund can visit vfcce.org/for-supporters/student-success-fund/
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Appalachian Regional Commission awards money for Wise sewer project
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $500,000 to Wise County for the Glamorgan sewer line project, according to Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
This award of $500,000 follows a previous $500,000 grant awarded by ARC on September 9, 2020. The project consists of 13,640 linear feet of sewer line improving 44 households and 13 businesses.
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Sidewalk art show in Roanoke this weekend
The 64th Annual Sidewalk Art Show will be held in Roanoke this weekend, June 4-5.
More than 100 artists representing a wide array of media will display and sell their original artwork and fine craft during the show. The event will run 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day and is free and open to the public.
Specialty ice cream from Blue Cow will be available for purchase during the event.