PRESIDENT

Sarah Sladek, Sarah Sladek & Company

Sarah Sladek has been referred to as a Social Equality Expert and recognized as a Talent Economy Influencer. 

Over the past 20 years, she has become a renowned thought leader on the topics of generational shifts, engagement strategies, and change management. Membership associations, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies have relied on her strategic guidance and next-gen intelligence to successfully plan their futures, foster collaborative cultures, and realize growth.

Since 2002, Sarah has been researching declines in membership and employee turnover, alongside shifts in demographics, social values, economics, and consumerism.  As a result, she has identified why sharp declines in membership and employee engagement occur, and what organizations must do to successfully reverse the decline. 

Sarah is the founder and CEO of Sarah Sladek & Company and its three divisions: 

• XYZ University, one of the nation’s only firms focused on generational research and the development of inclusive and inter-generational workplaces; 

• Membership University, an online learning company delivering membership growth strategies; and

• Save the Associations, a web show featuring the insights of association executives worldwide who are committed to creating large-scale change.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Sarah is the author of five books, including the long-running best-seller, The End of Membership As We Know It. Her latest book, Talent Generation, is based on her research of the nation’s most profitable and people-centric organizations in existence today. The book identifies the game-changing strategies essential to succeeding in today’s ever-changing marketplace. 

Sarah’s expertise has been prominently featured in international media, and she has keynoted events worldwide. Backed by years of experience and supported by solid research, she remains committed to helping organizations plan for their futures and prosper in the new economy.

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Dawn DeBoer, DeBoer South

Dawn DeBoer has more than 30 years of family law experience.  She truly enjoys helping people and guiding them through some of life’s toughest times. Ms. DeBoer fights for her clients with compassion and tenacity, and makes herself readily accessible to clients with prompt responsiveness. She strives to obtain optimal results for her clients without litigation but will fiercely represent their rights in court if needed, using her skills as a seasoned litigator and advocate.

Ms. DeBoer has been named among Virginia Business’ Legal Elite for more than 10 years and is proud to have been recognized as an outstanding attorney by SuperLawyers. She was appointed as a Commissioner in Chancery to assist local courts in overseeing certain matters, including divorce trials. She has presented numerous seminars to bar associations, paralegal associations, Certified Public Accountants and other professional groups. She is a member of the Domestic Relations Section of the Virginia State Bar and is the current Treasurer of the Metropolitan Richmond Family Law Bar Association. She was a member of the Board of Directors for the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society from 1994 to 2012.

SECRETARY / TREASURER

Katie Atkinson, New Oak Insurance

Katie Atkinson graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science in 2014. After graduating, she worked her way up the ranks of a local insurance agency. Driven by her work ethic and insatiable curiosity, she started as a customer service agent and rose to the role of premier commercial specialist within 5 years. Longing for an uncapped future, she founded New Oak Insurance Co. in October 2020. In less than a year, she has already made more impactful contributions to the Richmond entrepreneurial community than would have been possible at her previous employer. She is excited to share her insurance knowledge with fellow business owners and is always open to meeting at a local RVA coffeehouse.

FOUNDATION LIASION

PRESIDENT-ELECT, 2022-2023

Tonya Futrell, WellsColeman 

Tonya Futrell is a Partner and oversees Client Accounting Services.  In her role, she helps business owners make strategic financial decisions by assisting with and managing their accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll needs.  Tonya enjoys watching business owners do more of what they love once they no longer have to worry about the day-to-day accounting.  She is passionate about helping clients put accounting and bookkeeping processes in place, leveraging technology to increase efficiency and provide timely information, and consulting with businesses on cash management and tax planning.  Tonya can assist with QuickBooks training, bookkeeping, bill pay, payroll, tax planning, business consulting, and more.  She has experience with multiple industries, including but not limited to, medical practices, professional services, veterinary practices, real estate, and not-for-profits. When not in the office, Tonya can be found outdoors running or hiking, reading, or spending time with her husband and two daughters.

SPONSORSHIPS & FUNDRAISING

Dawn Young, Thrive Marketing

Dawn has been connecting people and brands for over 20 years. Her ability to understand your needs and the needs of your customers is unmatched. Her commitment to your success is evident in her incredible attention to detail, and the remarkable accessibility she provides to her clients. 

Dawn served as the Director of Account Services and Business Development for a $12 million regional agency specializing in retail, finance, and healthcare. Some of her clients included Sonabank (EVB), Mercedes-Benz, Sheltering Arms, Commonwealth Commercial and Bon Secours Health System.

MEMBERSHIP & OUTREACH

Nancy M. Jansen, Virginia Asset Management

Nancy M. Jansen has been a lifetime resident of Richmond Virginia and has 3 children.  She is a graduate of the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business, University of Richmond, where she received a finance/marketing degree.  Since graduating, she has been involved in many women’s groups and philanthropic activities.  She was an active participant in creating Noah’s Children, the first pediatric hospice in central Virginia. She was an 18 year member of the Bon Air Junior Woman’s Club; serving as a past President, and held several committee chairs, and officer positions.  She has also been a Sunday school, Pre-School, and Kindergarten teacher.  Through these roles, she became keenly aware of women’s challenges, concerns, and goals.  This along with her desire to educate and the need to provide for her family, led her into the professional marketplace. Her educational style and awareness of the unique concerns of women and women business owners has led her to focus her practice where her passion is, women and women business owners. 

MEMBERSHIP & OUTREACH

Carrie Vance, Merrill Lynch

Carrie is a Financial Advisor and Sr. Portfolio Advisor at Merrill Lynch where her practice offers experienced financial guidance to women business owners and their families. Some of her services include comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, asset allocation strategies, family wealth education, education planning, estate planning and tax optimization investment strategies. Carrie’s passion for helping others today is derived from her own family’s positive experience after seeking professional financial counsel following the death of a loved one.

Carrie’s most important goal: helping others live a more meaningful and financial stress-free life with excellent wealth management through life transitions and across generations. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2019, Carrie’s practice was at Morgan Stanley. Carrie’s early career was similarly customer centric after college, working in human resources at two global organizations, Smithfield Foods and STIHL Incorporated. She also served constituents' needs in Virginia’s 21st and 84th District as senior legislative aide to two elected Delegates in the Virginia General Assembly. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management at Christopher Newport University. Carrie is a native of Hampton Roads in Virginia where she and her husband Sean live with their adopted labrador named Buddy.

EQUITY & ENGAGeMENT / NEXT-GEN

Morgan McCoy, M.A.M. Inc. & A.C.T. 4 Life Inc.

Morgan is an author, keynote speaker, historical interpreter, minister, award-winning actress, and CEO of M.A.M. Inc She utilizes her unique storytelling ability to motivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Morgan’s mission is to empower educate and entertain her respective audiences. She uses comedy and drama to connect with her audiences and expose social woes. As an African American woman, Morgan has encountered racism and sexism, so she decided to use her life experiences to write, "Evolution of a Black Girl...". She has a second show, “She’s Got Issues” which addresses sexism, domestic violence, human trafficking, and breast cancer. Her third show, The Cry of the Fatherless, emphasizes the importance of adoption. 

Prior to becoming an actress, she was the valedictorian of her high school class, earned her B.A. from Hampton University and M.A. at Regent University.