Advisory Committees

Virginia Advisory Committee for Career & Technical Education

Learn more about Career & Technical Education and Career Clusters

The purpose of the Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education (CTE) is to advise, assist and provide support and advocacy for high quality programs that prepare middle and high school students for successful transition to further education and careers.

Committee Meetings

Meetings of the Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education are held quarterly.

2021 Meeting Dates
Date	Agenda	Minutes
February 25, 2021 – Virtual ZOOM Meeting	Agenda-This is a Word document. The meeting will be livestreamed on the VDOE YouTube Channel.	Pending
April 15, 2021 – Virtual ZOOM Meeting	Pending	Pending
June 10, 2021 – Virtual ZOOM Meeting	Pending	Pending

2020 Meeting Dates
Date	Agenda	Minutes
January 16, 2020 – CTE Resource Center, Henrico	Agenda-This is a Word document.	Minutes-This is a Word document.
April 16, 2020 – CTE Resource Center, Henrico – cancelled
June 11, 2020 – Creating Excellence Awards Luncheon, Richmond – cancelled
October 22, 2020 – Virtual ZOOM Meeting	Agenda-This is a Word document. Play Video.	Pending

For information from previous meetings, go to 2006-2019 committee meeting schedule, agendas and minutes.

Committee Work & Accomplishments

Top Tips – Engage Local Employers and Strengthen CTE Programs and Recommendations for Aligning Secondary CTE Programs with Virginia’s Labor Market Needs
The Top 15 Businesses in Virginia – by School Division, Region, and Local Workforce Investment Area
CTE Local Advisory Committees – The Key to Strong, Successful Business/Industry Partnerships (PDF)

What’s Trending

General Resources

Career-Related Resources

Career Overview: Information Technology (IT) Careers, Jobs and Employment Information allows the user to select a category to review detailed job description and career reviews, to identify useful technology degrees, and to see employment forecasts in information technology.

Cloud computing introductory information

Cybersecurity resources

Cybersecurity sites for the business manager

Cybersecurity: The new business priority from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cybersecurity for Small Business from the Federal Communications Commission

Public safety resources

Health & medical sciences career options in engineering

10 Emerging Healthcare Technologies.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine promises to have a major impact on healthcare, especially for patients in rural areas, in homebound situations, and in specific branches of medicine.

Logistics and predictions for its future

Manufacturing prospects

Green building practices and sustainability in construction

Committee Members

The advisory committee consists of members who volunteer their time, talents and knowledge to help strengthen career and technical education programs. Members are appointed by the Virginia Board of Education to serve up to two consecutive three-year terms of service.

S. Stewart Harris, Jr., Chair

First Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2018
Second Term: July1, 2018 – June 30, 2021
Representing the Manufacturing career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report (PDF)

Program Director
Advanced Integrated Manufacturing (AIM)
Thomas Nelson Community College
99 Thomas Nelson Drive
Hampton, VA 23666

Stewart Harris, Jr. leads the development of the Advanced Integrated Manufacturing strategy at Thomas Nelson Community College. His leadership includes establishing partnerships with industry, development of curricula, coordination of grants, and site location of a Center for a comprehensive program in education and workforce development to provide multi-skilled technicians for advanced integrated manufacturing in the region.

While at NASA, he reestablished the cooperative education program for technicians, developing a partnership with Thomas Nelson that provided tuition and work experience for students in engineering technology programs, national certification as aerospace technicians and a career pathway to apprenticeship at NASA Langley. Mr.Harris is NSF’s Visiting Committee Chair for SpaceTEC, a National Resource Center that promotes technical education for aerospace technicians, provides the only FAA-recognized national performance-based certifications available for aerospace technicians in the United States, and with its partner colleges offers aerospace curricula for two-year degree programs.

Mr. Harris retired from NASA Langley Research Center in 2013, with over 40 years of service. He began his career as an electronics technician apprentice, served in numerous management positions, and retired as the Deputy Director for Technical Services in the Engineering Directorate. He provided strategic and visionary leadership for the design, development, and innovative fabrication of high quality research hardware for aerospace and scientific programs.

Shawn Avery

First Term: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023
Representing the Government and Public Administration career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report (PDF)

President and CEO

Hampton Roads Workforce Council
999 Waterside Drive, Suite 1314
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Mr. Shawn Avery currently serves as the president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. In this role, he provides leadership for strategic initiatives, partner and community relations, business and industry development, industry sector activities, educational initiatives, and management and oversight for the largest workforce development board in the Commonwealth. He comes to the Hampton Roads Workforce Council after serving as vice president for the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development, where he provided leadership for the Councils’ Private/Public Partnership Division. In addition, he has held the positions of senior manager of development and community affairs for Opportunity Inc., manager of the Peninsula Workforce Development Center and grants specialist for Thomas Nelson Community College.

Mr. Avery holds a master of business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s in business administration from Christopher Newport University. He has received certificates of studies in economic development from Virginia Tech and the University of North Carolina.

Mr. Avery is the recipient of an Inside Business Top Forty under 40 in Hampton Roads award, as well as an Expanding Workforce Opportunities Award and a Chancellor’s Award from the Virginia Community College System. Most recently, he received Community Builders Award from the Hampton Roads Community Action Program.

Mr. Avery serves on the GO Virginia Regional Council, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Tidewater Community College Workforce Solutions’ Advisory Committee, Future Hampton Roads, Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia, and the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance. Since 2018, he has served as chair of the Virginia Association of Workforce Directors.

William Edward Bowman, Jr

First Term: July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Second Term: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Representing the Architecture & Construction Private Sector career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report

President
W. E. Bowman Construction, Inc.
3715 Belt Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia 23234-1524

Ed grew up in the construction industry, took over leadership of the family business in 1996 and has become an industry leader. Ed’s entrepreneurial spirit and responsible ownership style continues to guide W.E. Bowman Construction as it nears its 50th anniversary. In recent years, Ed has built a skilled leadership team that can support and sustain the company’s substantial growth while maintaining the family business atmosphere. He received his BS and MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University and was sponsored by Goldman Sachs for Babson College’s 10,000 Small Business Program. Ed has served as former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s appointee to the Commonwealth of Virginia Design-Build/Construction Management Review Board. He is proud to be a successful Portuguese-American business owner where he serves as a Committee Leader for Virginia Hispanic Chamber and he is the current Chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Virginia.

Christina L. Clark

First Term: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2020
Second Term: July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2023
Representing the Human Services career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.

President/CEO
Human Capabilities Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 1194
Locust Grove, VA 22508

After 19 years with the federal government, Ms. Clark founded Human Capabilities Solutions, LLC. In 2015. She is certified Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Small Women and Minority (SWaM), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB). Certified Human Capital Strategist, Problem Solver and Expert Communicator with 15+ years of experience in Program Management, Subject Matter Expertise includes Strategic Workforce Planning, Policy Development and Administrative Workforce Management. Experience in organizational restructuring and leading multi-functional teams in numerous projects.

Ms. Clark is affiliated with numerous local, state, and national professional associations
Society of Human Resources (SHRM), National Workforce Development Association (NWDA), Stafford County Career and Technology Advisory Committee 2016-2018, Association of Training and Development (ATD), DC Chapter, Federal Executive Women (FEW), Professional Association of Women, Human Capital Institute (HCI), Veterans Woman’s Association and member of the Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, professional business women’s sorority.

Education and Credentials

B.S. in Management from University of Maryland

Masters in Human Relations from University of Oklahoma

Christina enjoys traveling, learning from her daughters and serving as a DC STEM Ambassador.

Jason Daniel

First Term: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023
Representing the Information Technology career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report (PDF)

President
Tech Dynamism
800 E. Jefferson Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Jason Daniel is an entrepreneur with 20-plus years of experience advising and implementing enterprise technologies, creating Software as a Service platforms, and building custom software systems for more than 100 clients. Mr. Daniel’s expertise is broad and deep: he has served as a fractional chief information officer, a technology advisor, an enterprise software architect, a process analyst, and a software engineer. His clients span industry sectors for which he has conducted technology assessments including staffing and training needs, process, and technology integration. Mr. Daniel has also worked with groups to optimize how their people, processes, and technology work together to meet their goals.

As founder and president of Tech Dynamism in Charlottesville, Mr. Daniel has influenced the IT community by continuously communicating current and upcoming workforce needs. He has partnered with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) on their Network2Work initiative, which helps families become self-sufficient by identifying jobs within their reach and positioning them to secure and excel in those jobs. He has been working with PVCC’s technology professors to prepare students with relevant skills for the workforce. Tech Dynamism has started a Network2Learnproject to coordinate internship and other workforce opportunities to augment in-class learning opportunities.
Mr. Daniel is also a co-founder and partner in Wellspring Workforce, a human resources consulting company that specializes in identifying and recruiting IT professionals, career development, and retention of staff.

Mr. Daniel has been advising and helping clients in the government and education sectors for more than10 years. He’s worked with multiple colleges (University of Virginia, PVCC, Columbia University, Harvard University), private educational organizations (e.g. Teachstone, Explore Learning, Silverchair Learning Systems), and governmental agencies (e.g., Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, County of Albemarle, VSBE, RWSA), helping them develop IT roadmaps that meet their short- and long-term goals. Mr. Daniel’s passion for education and information technology has involved him in numerous discussions on how to better promote computer science and information technology in career and technical education at high schools and community colleges, as well as how to fill the gaps that employers currently face.

He is a graduate of University of Virginia (bachelor’s in psychology, 1996) and Western Carolina University (master’s in project management, 2008).

Tomeka Dowling

First Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2018
Second Term: July1, 2018 – June 30, 2021
Representing the Health Science career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report (PDF)

Assistant Professor
University of Virginia School of Nursing
Claude Moore Nursing Education Building
Office 2005
P. O. Box 800826
Charlottesville, VA 22908

Tomeka Dowling obtained a Masters in Science degree from Hampton University’s School of Nursing with a focus on community health nursing and nursing education role development. She is enrolled at The George Washington University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with an expected graduation date of May 2016.

Over the past 15 years, she served in many roles that provided the necessary skills to meet the challenges facing nursing practice and nursing education. She has worked with pre-licensure associate and baccalaureate nursing programs and post-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs within the state of Virginia. Ms. Dowling has experience in delivering instruction face-to-face and online. As a faculty member, she has served on several committees proposed to standardize, enhance, and expand the college/university’s nursing education programs.

As the previous Nursing Education Consultant for the Virginia Board of Nursing, Ms. Dowling ensured the practical and registered nursing education programs compiled with state laws, regulations, and standards, as well as produce competent and safe graduates who protect the health and welfare of the state’s citizens. Additionally, her responsibilities included management of nursing education program approval, responding to program non-compliance issues, serving as a consultant on nursing education and nursing practice issues, and supervising on-site reviews.

Mr. Philip N. Frazier

First Term: July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2019
Second Term: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Representing the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Private Sector career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.

Regional Program Manager
Virginia Paving Company
14500 Avion Parkway, Suite 200
Chantilly, Virginia 20151-1108

Drexel N. Harris

First Term: July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2018

Second Term: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2021

Representing the Energy career cluster

Drexel Harris, a retired HR Professional, developed mutually beneficial relationships with universities, community colleges, and high school programs in his last corporate role. He oversaw recruiting and development of new talent pipeline sources for Dominion Energy. He was responsible for proactively developing new sources that meet current and future workforce needs. Currently, Drexel spends his time supporting several non-profit organizations. A native of Defuniak Springs Florida and currently residing in the Richmond Virginia area, Drexel holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Haven and a master’s degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus University. Drexel joined Dominion Energy, his last employer, in 1989 as a Senior Instructor at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Connecticut. He enjoyed several careers at Dominion Energy, including nuclear instructor, operations engineer, licensing engineer, HR recruiter, EEO/diversity consultant, HR generalist, Six Sigma training manager, HR manager, HR director, and HR advisor. Drexel has over 40 years of nuclear and electric utility experience, and over 20 years of human resources experience. Prior to joining Dominion Energy, Drexel served eight years in the US Navy as a nuclear reactor operator and electronics technician on board a nuclear powered submarine. He was also a nuclear training instructor for the US Nuclear Navy, General Electric Company, and Long Island Lighting Company.

Congetta Kelley

First Term: October 1, 2019 – August 30, 2022
Representing the STEM and Manufacturing career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.

VP of Career Development
Service Center Metals
5850 Quality Way
Prince George, Virginia 23875

Congetta has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Applied Mathematics. She has 30 years of experience as a computer engineer working in various roles for the Department of Navy, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. Congetta founded Seeds of Genius, in 2002, which sold computer solutions to the federal government, while providing employment alternatives for at risk youth in the Washington D.C area.

Congetta dedicates her time creating programs and helping students (K-12) access the tools, opportunities, and resources available for a successful entry into higher education or manufacturing career paths. Combining Service Center Metals (SCM) and the Aluminum Extrusion Counsel (AEC) resources, she has captured the unique opportunity to build an RVA workforce for tomorrow. Congetta currently serves on the Partnership to Ensure Educational Reform (PEER) steering Committee and the AEC’s Educational Outreach Committee.

Dr. Brenda Long

July 2008

VACTE Liaison
420 Stonegate Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060

Dr. Brenda Long earned an undergraduate and graduate degree in Career and Technical Education (CTE) from Virginia Tech before serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and local CTE director in Tazewell and Stafford counties.

Dr. Long's commitment to CTE has led to promoting and implementing rigorous CTE programs and ensuring that all students benefit from these programs regardless of their career goals. In this effort, she has worked with policymakers and stakeholders at local, state, and national levels and continues to identify avenues to enhance the visibility of CTE.

Brenda has served as president of the Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (Virginia ACTE), Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Administrators (VACTEA), and Virginia Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (VATFACS). She has held leadership positions with the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) as a regional policy member and as chair of various committees.

Most recently, Dr. Long has provided public policy leadership as a board member of both Virginia ACTE and VACTEA. She now serves as executive director of Virginia ACTE.

Ms. Marsha Lopez

First Term: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2020
Second Term: July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2023
Representing the Education & Training career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report -This is a PDF document.

Teacher – Teachers for Tomorrow
Franklin County Public Schools
700 Tanyard Rd
Rocky Mount, VA 24151

Ms. Marsha Lopez has been with the Franklin County High School Business Department for 18 years. She has been the Department Chairperson for the last 10 years. Ms. Lopez also serves as the Head Cheerleading Coach at Franklin County High School and the Chairperson for the Social Committee. She began our Teachers for Tomorrow program and has grown it to offering a level II this school year. Ms. Lopez was named Teacher of the Year for the school, district, and Region VI in 2006-07.

Suzanne Mallory-Parker

First Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2018
Second Term: July1, 2018 – June 30, 2021
Representing the Arts, A/V Technology & Communications career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report

Turnaround Arts: Richmond
Richmond Public Schools
Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
1000 Mosby Street
Richmond, Virginia 23223

Suzanne Mallory-Parker has a degree in Music Education and a Masters of Education (Administration and Supervision) from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of fine arts and arts education as a choral director, clinician, arts advocate, and instructional leader with extensive knowledge in performing arts curriculum development, fine arts curriculum standards, arts administration, professional development and training, strategic planning, and curriculum alignment. Prior to her retirement from public education in 2010, she served as Instructional Specialist for Performing Arts in Chesterfield County Public Schools, providing comprehensive and instructional leadership to the preforming arts program K-12. She has served as a project consultant with the Virginia Department of Education - Fine Arts, in the development and revision of Standards of Learning in Music and as an Instructional Program Endorsement Reviewer for the Virginia Department of Education – Teacher Licensure Division.

Currently, Ms. Mallory-Parker is employed with Richmond CenterStage and serves as the Associate Director of Education and is responsible for the overall implementation and management of specific components of the arts in education initiative at the Genworth BrightLights Education Center within Richmond CenterStage. She is an active member of the Board of Directors for City Singers Youth Choir and serves on the Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s Diversity Inclusion committee.

Sharon Dianne Plymire

First Term: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2020
Second Term: July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2023
Representing the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.

Analyst
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Sharon has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Auburn University in Building Construction. Sharon has over 20 years of experience as an engineer working on various programs for the Virginia Department of General Services, Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and now Virginia Department of Transportation.

Sharon has taught in Petersburg Public School system for four years as a Technology Teacher. She currently serves on the Technology Advisory Committee for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

Lorin S. Sodell

First Term: October 1, 2019 – August 30, 2022
Representing the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics and Manufacturing career clusters
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.
Cluster Analysis Report-This is a PDF document.

Business Leader for Machining and Factory Development
Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM)
Director for External and Industry Engagement
VSU College of Engineering and Technology
1 Hayden St
Petersburg, Virginia 23806

Lorin Sodell is the Business Leader for Machining and Factory Development at the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM). He is also Director for External and Industry Engagement at Virginia State University’s College of Engineering and Technology. At CCAM, he is responsible for the growth of CCAM’s machining program, member relationships, and development of Advanced Manufacturing Education programs. At VSU, Lorin works on behalf of the College of Engineering and Technology to better engage with industrial partners, finding opportunities to place students both in internships and graduate roles. He joined both organizations in February 2019.

Previously, Lorin served for nine years as Manufacturing Executive and Site Director for Crosspointe, Rolls-Royce’s advanced manufacturing center in Prince George, Virginia. In this role, Mr. Sodell was responsible for the design and launch of two manufacturing facilities, including staffing, process validation, and production acceleration. The Crosspointe operation produces discs and blades for gas turbine engines, and the campus consists of more than $350 million investment and has created more than 400 jobs, including registered apprentice programs for CNC machinists and maintenance mechanics. He joined Rolls-Royce in 2006 as Director of Manufacturing Engineering in Indianapolis, IN.

In total, Lorin has 34 years of manufacturing and engineering experience in the manufacture of engines for the aerospace and automotive industries. He has also held several executive leadership positions at United Technologies Corporation. Lorin began his career as a Manufacturing Engineer at General Motors where he established Standard Global Processes for Engineering and launched an automotive engine manufacturing plant in Germany.

Lorin previously served on the Board of Advisors for the Virginia Tech College of Engineering and is a current member of the Advisory Board for the Petersburg Central School Career and Technical Education Program. He is a member of the Region 4 Council of GO-Virginia, a state-wide workforce development initiative. He is Past President of the Board of Directors for The READ Center – an adult literacy organization based in Richmond, VA. For the past nine years, he has also been an avid volunteer for Virginia FIRST, an organization that promotes career-oriented STEM experiences for youth.

Lorin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY and an MBA from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. He and his wife Janet live in New Kent County, Virginia.

Sukeena Stephens, PhD

First Term: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023
Representing the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security career cluster
Cluster Analysis Report (PDF)

Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge
Federal Air Marshal Service
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202

Dr. Sukeena Stephens, has more than 23 years of federal law enforcement service. Dr. Stephens is currently employed with the Federal Air Marshal Service’s Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Program as an assistant supervisory air marshal in charge and manages, directs, and supervises civilians and air marshals in the Joint Coordination Center (JCC).

Dr. Stephens also serves as the logistic lead for the Transportation Security Administration’s Critical Incident Management Group (CIMG), the agency’s response team from each TSA office, including security operations, acquisitions, human capital, chief counsel and information technology, who work under incident managers to handle logistics, coordinate operations and provide support in affected areas.

Dr. Stephens has a doctorate in public policy and administration with a specialization in homeland security policy and coordination and a master’s in public administration-inspector general from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Dr. Stephens serves on the Career & Technical Education Committee Advisory Board with the Stafford County School Board. Dr. Stephens sees the value in providing opportunities to students and enabling them to become more marketable. As part of the Career & Technical Education Committee Advisory Board, Dr. Stephens is a member of the work-based learning (WBL) focus group to assist in the development of defining what WBL will look like for Stafford County students. Dr. Stephens is also a member of the Career & Technical Education Committee Scholarship Committee.

Dr. Stephens also serves as the nomination chair of the Colonial Forge Parent Teacher Student Organization and serves as vice president of the Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She believes in serving her community and has volunteered with the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, packing boxes to feed those in need, hosted food drives, and provided entire Thanksgiving dinners to homeless families in Loisann’s Hope House. Dr. Stephens has organized voter registration drives, hosted post card writing parties, and led the charge to get out the message to vote. Dr. Stephens was able to donate more than $500 in cleaning supplies as a result of a cleaning supply drive for women in Empowerhouse.

Dr. Stephens is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two sons. She enjoys traveling and reading during her spare time.

Contact

To contact a member of the Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education, please email cte@doe.virginia.gov

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