Bonnie Chavez, CEO of Building Beloved Communities in Roanoke, Virginia, discusses quality of life and talent opportunities in Roanoke and Virginia as a whole, including what drew her to the area, the opportunities for talent and her own "Why Virginia" story.

Bonnie Chavez, CEO of Building Beloved Communities in Roanoke, Virginia, discusses quality of life and talent opportunities in Roanoke and Virginia as a whole, including what drew her to the area, the opportunities for talent and her own "Why Virginia" story.

VEDP Senior Vice President of Talent and Workforce Strategy Megan Healy spoke with Beard about talent in Virginia and the rest of the country and the ways states and regions can help ensure alignment between skill development and employer needs.

VEDP’s Virginia Global Business Internship Program connects students with companies seeking to grow exports.

Key investments at Virginia Tech, George Mason, University of Virginia help the Commonwealth position itself as a home for AI innovation.

How Virginia leads the nation in veteran career transitions.

Award-winning customized training programs help companies ramp up quickly in Virginia.

The newest workforce cohort brings tech savvy and tremendous upside to the economy — if it can overcome some systemic challenges.

Virginia’s FastForward program offers locally relevant job training and certifications — efficiently and affordably.

Alison Lands is vice president of employer and workforce solutions at Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that works to align the education and workforce systems to improve access to quality jobs for over 75 million American workers. Her career spans workforce and economic development, with experience partnering across sectors to shape strategies that drive growth and results. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, higher education institutions, and mission-driven organizations.