Alumni who have successfully completed their LEAD VIRGINIA class experience can look forward to continued opportunities to engage with colleagues on statewide issues and innovative outcomes.
Alumni conference
An annual LEAD VIRGINIA alumni conference is held each year around the commonwealth to introduce alumni and guests to a new region with its own unique assets and challenges. The curriculum and agenda for each of these conferences are modeled after a regional session during the class year, with a Thursday evening reception and dinner, a full day’s program and site visits on Friday and concluding with a dinner and closing session on Saturday morning.
2011 Alumni Conference
The 2011 alumni conference will be returning the Roanoke/Blacksburg region, June 2-4, 2011. Alumni and guest will stay at the Hotel Roanoke.
This year's theme is Advancing the Region through Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The conference will kick-off on Thursday, June 2, with a reception & dinner at The Hotel Roanoke. Dr. Charles W. Steger, President, Virginia Tech will be our keynote speaker, providing an overview of innovation and entrepreneurship that is shaping the region.
Friday, June 3 begins at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine & Research Institute followed by a panel of Presidents from colleges around the region speaking to Higher Education's Untold Story. After lunch, we'll travel to the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to hear from young entrepreneurs whose initiatives are shaping the region. We'll also hear about economic development plans for innovation through a Blueprint for Action, specifically highlighting a regional approach. We'll then travel to Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery and learn more about how they are Serving the Region's Healthcare Needs. After a full day, we'll enjoy dinner at the Inn at Virginia Tech.
Saturday, June 4 will start with a presentation by Pete Eschelman, Director of Outdoor Branding at Roanoke Regional Partnership and RoanokeOutside.com, on Branding the Region's Outdoor Assets. We'll then travel to nearby Mill Mountain for a picnic lunch. Families are invited to join on Saturday.
To register for the 2011 alumni conference click here.
2010 Alumni Conference
The 2010 alumni conference was held in the Charlottesville/Central Virginia region and guests stayed at the Boar’s Head Inn.
2009 Alumni Conference
The 2009 alumni conference featured Virginia’s Northern Neck, with preservation and sustainability issues surrounding its primary maritime economy. Alumni and guests stayed at The Tides Inn.
2008 Alumni Conference
The 2008 alumni conference was held in the Roanoke/Blacksburg region and featured the emerging entrepreneurial economy of that area. Alumni and guests stayed at the Hotel Roanoke.
Networking
Regional alumni groups are encouraged to cross-connect among different class years with gatherings that include social networking events, scholarly forums, recruiting information sessions and informal dinners.
Additional LEAD VIRGINIA forums examining specific issues with statewide policy implications are on the horizon.
