Sean T. Connaughton has served as President and CEO since 2014. Prior to joining VHHA, he served as Virginia’s Transportation Secretary from 2010-2014 in the Cabinet of Governor Robert F. McDonnell. In that role, he led efforts to pass a major transportation funding package for the Commonwealth in 2013.

Connaughton served in a Presidentially-appointed, U.S. Senate-confirmed position as Administrator of the United States Maritime Administration from 2006-2009, and was Corporate Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Bureau of Shipping. Connaughton’s public service also extends to elected office – from 2000-2006, he was Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, which is the chief elected position in Virginia’s second largest county – and the armed forces.

Connaughton served as a commissioned officer on active duty with the United States Coast Guard, and later joined the United States Naval Reserve, retiring from that service with the rank of Commander. Connaughton is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He practiced law for 15 years with private firms and has appeared before the United States Supreme Court.

He has a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a Master’s degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from George Mason University, and he graduated from the United States Naval War College. Connaughton has received numerous awards over the years, including Alumnus of the Year from George Mason University, the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Counties, the Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award for Outstanding Leadership from the Navy League of the United States, Maritime Person of the Year from the Propeller Club of the United States, the Maritime Samaritan Award from the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States, and Government Man of the Year from the Maritime Port Council of Greater New York. He also has been designated a Henry Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments, a Virginia Institute of Political Leadership Fellow, and recently was named a Fellow by the Virginia Law Foundation. He is married to Teresa and has two adult children, Courtney and Sean Jr.

Sharon Alexander joined VHHA in January 2022 as the inaugural Director of Workforce Initiatives. She comes to VHHA from VCU Health where she served in multiple roles including the Interim Administrator of Pediatrics, where she directed VCU’s second largest clinical department. Sharon also played a significant role in staff and faculty recruitment at VCU Health where she gained insight into factors that affect successful staff retention. Prior to VCU Health, Sharon led multi-million dollar federal grant programs focused on improving health care access and patient experience for special needs individuals. She holds a master of public administration degree from the University of Delaware and lives in Richmond with her husband and two young sons.

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Kelly Cannon serves as CEO of the VHHA Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s efforts to improve the overall health and wellbeing of all Virginians through collaboration, research and education. The VHHA Foundation manages a wide range of federal, state, and private grants that enable hospitals and health systems to focus on addressing social drivers and health disparities while building a safer, more inclusive, and accessible health care system. Kelly joined the VHHA team in 2015 and served as the Director of State Advocacy, playing a key role in the multi-stakeholder effort to secure Medicaid expansion in Virginia. Prior to VHHA, she served in nonprofit management positions focused on young voters, education, and bereavement. Kelly is a College of William & Mary graduate and a 2007 Fellow of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and holds a certificate in fund development from the University of Richmond. She was recently recognized in STYLE Weekly’s 2022 Top 40 Under 40. Kelly serves on the board of Communities in Schools-Chesterfield and lives in Midlothian with her husband and two young children.

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Hannah Coley is the Director of Government Affairs at VHHA. She brings more than a decade of experience in public policy, political strategy, and advocacy, having served in key roles for both federal and state elected officials and candidates. Her background includes campaign and grassroots strategy, fundraising, and PAC management.

Prior to joining VHHA, Hannah spent eight years as Chief of Staff and senior advisor to a member of the Senate of Virginia. In that capacity, she led legislative development, directed political strategy, and managed constituent services. It was during this time that she developed a strong passion for health care policy and addressing social determinants of health.

Hannah is a longtime member of the Junior League of Richmond, an organization dedicated to empowering women and children throughout Greater Richmond. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Little Hands Virginia, the only organization in Central Virginia exclusively focused on providing essential resources to economically disadvantaged children during their earliest years, helping to lay the foundation for improved lifelong outcomes.

A native of Danville, Virginia, Hannah earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government and International Affairs from Sweet Briar College in 2015. She currently resides in Goochland, Virginia with her husband, Trevor, and their son, Whitt.

Scott Cormier is the Vice President of Emergency Preparedness for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, leading the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program (VHEMP). He works with hospitals, health systems, and state partners to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience across the Commonwealth.

Before joining VHHA, Scott served as Vice President for Emergency Management, Environment of Care, and Safety for one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, directing major system‑wide responses to disasters and publishing extensively on hospital preparedness, EMS, and influenza patient safety.

He is a member of the NFPA 3000 technical committee on Active Shooter and Hostile Event Response and previously served with Pittsburgh EMS and River Rescue. With more than 45 years in emergency management, public safety, and the military, Scott brings deep expertise and a national perspective to healthcare emergency preparedness.

Amy E. Crawford, MSW serves as Director of Grant Operations for the VHHA Foundation where she is responsible for grant and funding compliance, grant process improvement, grant reporting, grant research, and grant writing. Amy previously worked for the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department overseeing more than 185 contracts with a total value exceeding $85 million in funding for the City’s investments in addressing homelessness. She has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington and her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Amy lives on a beautiful 18 acre farm in Buckingham, Va. with her partner, Laurel, and their menagerie of furry and feathered companions.

Lara D’Antonio joined the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) in July 2022 and serves as Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives. In this role, she leads enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and member engagement efforts, serving as a senior liaison to member hospitals, health systems, and external partners. Her work focuses on strategic planning and data-informed decision-making to advance organizational excellence and long-term impact.

Lara also serves as Executive Director of the Virginia Coordinated Clinical Research Network (VCCRN), where she leads statewide efforts to expand access to clinical trials and research opportunities across the Commonwealth. She builds and coordinates partnerships among healthcare systems, clinician investigators, academic institutions, and industry partners to address unmet research needs and strengthen Virginia’s clinical research infrastructure.

Prior to joining VHHA, Lara was Director of Value Based Care at Patient First and previously held leadership roles at the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, where her work spanned advocacy, business strategy, innovation, grants management, and stakeholder engagement.

Lara holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Sweet Briar College and a master’s degree in healthcare delivery science from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She lives in Goochland with her husband, Steven, and their four young children.

Kayla Diggs Brody joined VHHA in June of 2026 as the Rural Health Transformation Program Manager of Graduate Medical Education. In this role, she is responsible for managing the VHHA Foundation’s grant related to the graduate medical education initiative funded through Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program to expand primary care, OBGYN, psychiatry and nurse midwife residency slots with clinical rotations in rural areas.  She comes from the Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU where she managed Medicaid quality assurance and other health related grants totaling more than $1 million annually specifically targeted to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

She has experience with project and grant management, research and program evaluation along with curriculum development for adult learners. Her professional passions are inclusive health, health equity and healthcare professional education. Diggs Brody holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Adult Learning with a research focus on undergraduate medical education from VCU’s School of Education. She also earned a Master of Public Health from VCU’s School of Medicine which has since transitioned to a School of Public Health.

Julie Dime serves as Vice President of Government Affairs at VHHA. She has more than 25 years of political, legislative, and non-profit management experience including government relations, campaign management, grassroots management, public speaking, fundraising, community outreach initiatives, strategic planning, and legislative initiatives. Prior to joining VHHA, Julie was the Director of Government Affairs in the Tyson’s office of Williams Mullen. She has also served as the managing director for the Northern Virginia office of a highly regarded government affairs/lobbying firm. She served as the Chief of Staff and Senior Campaign Advisor for a Virginia State Delegate, overseeing all aspects of the legislative and public relations strategies and responses to legislative and constituent correspondence.

Julie serves on the Board of the Directors for REAL LIFE, an organization that serves individuals who have been impacted by incarceration, homelessness, or substance abuse disorder by giving them an opportunity to overcome the personal and community barriers that hinder their pathway to a thriving life.

In 2023, Julie was appointed to the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Julie holds a B.S. degree in Government, summa cum laude, from Liberty University. She and her husband Todd reside in Midlothian, Virginia.

Emily Duggan is the Data Services Manager at VHHA, where she oversees CRM administration and supports data-driven initiatives to benefit member hospitals across the Commonwealth.

She began her early career in healthcare, and since then has developed a skillset in systems analysis and business applications. Duggan has worked primarily across financial sectors to implement technology solutions that improve operational efficiency and support strategic decision-making. She brings an enthusiasm for turning complex data into actionable insights and is currently pursuing a degree in accounting to further strengthen her ability to bridge the gap between data, technology, and business impact.

Chelsea Graham joined the VHHA Foundation team as Grants Finance and Database Manager in 2024. Utilizing her 15 years of financial experience and lifetime love of technology systems, she aims to provide the Foundation and its members with user-friendly communication and reporting tools that promote the growth of new and existing programs and member resources. She takes pride in designing data management structures that focus on intuitive functionality and future scalability. Graham studied Fine Arts as a part of the Honors Program at VCU and has used her ability to approach complex problems with creative solutions to assist both small and large corporations with their financial organization and workflow improvement needs. When she is not coming up with new and interesting ways to present spreadsheets as the solution to all of life’s problems, she is most likely creating her next work of art, either in the kitchen or at an easel.  She shares her home in downtown Richmond with her partner, teenage daughter, and more than 100 houseplants.

Erick Herrmann joined VHHA in October 2025 and serves as the Director of Partnership Growth & Strategy for VHHA Solutions, the for-profit subsidiary of VHHA. In this role, he is responsible for aligning innovative and cost-effective solutions to the hospitals and health systems throughout Virginia. Prior to joining VHHA, Herrmann worked for HCA Healthcare in a business development and strategic growth role across multiple service lines. Most recently, he worked for Master Center for Addiction Medicine, where he created and implemented the organizational growth plan for the Outpatient Addiction Medicine Practice. Throughout his career, Herrmann has held several strategic growth and leadership positions within a variety of healthcare verticals. He is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and a Richmond native. He currently resides in Hanover with his wife, Katie, and two children, Emmie and Jack.

Adrianne Hill serves as the Community Health Workers Program Manager for the VHHA Foundation. As an LPN for 20 years, she worked in private, public, and government health care facilities where she served as a primary care nurse. Most recently, Adrianne worked as a telehealth technician for the McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, where she helped develop the telehealth program for primary care by implementing the Virtual Care Management Program. She is a Walden University graduate with a master’s degree in health education and promotion. She serves as a Youth Community Leader in her local church in the Hampton area. Adrianne is married to the love of her life, Bryant A. Hill, and between the two of them have five children: Clarissa, Everett, Haley, Vanessa, and Cierra.

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Vicki Humphreys, MBA, MSHA, serves as Grant Administrator for the Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives for the VHHA Foundation. She brings  more than two decades of experience in grants management, financial oversight, and strategic engagement spanning the government, academic, and health care sectors. Humphreys previously held the role of Grants Program Director at the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, as well as high-level administrative and development positions at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Richard Bland College. She earned Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Health Administration from VCU, and her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Virginia Tech.

A native of Southside Virginia, Humphreys brings a deep personal dedication to her work, understanding firsthand the unique needs and vital importance of strengthening rural health care. When not at her desk, she can be found studying for her next wine certification, exploring Richmond’s vibrant culinary scene, or planning her next travel adventure.  She resides in Richmond with her daughter and a resident dog-and-cat duo who keep life beautifully chaotic.

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Emily Lafon joined VHHA in March 2023 as the Director of Medicaid Financial Policy. She came to VHHA from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), where she served in multiple roles, including Executive Budget Manager. Prior to that, Emily worked in the Office of Epidemiology at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Lafon holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Tech and is a lifelong native of Richmond.

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Phonya Lewis serves as Director of Partnership Growth & Strategy, Non-Acute for VHHA Solutions. In this role, she will draw on 12 years of cross-sector healthcare experience to build strategic alliances that strengthen operational efficiency, elevate clinical outcomes, and expand access to innovative solutions for providers across Virginia.

Her professional background includes progressive roles in sales, marketing, and business development spanning healthcare, banking, and technology—giving her a well-rounded perspective on organizational growth and performance.

She is a graduate of Liberty University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management, and holds a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree from Walden University.

Salinna Lor serves as a Communications Manager for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Prior to joining VHHA, Salinna worked in Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam’s Administration in the Office of Constituent Services and Community Engagement and the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. She has also worked as a lobbyist for David Bailey Associates and Virginia Capitol Connections magazine. Salinna earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, with a concentration in public relations, from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Tori Mabry joined VHHA in 2023 as Manager of Government Affairs. In the role she supports advocacy, public policy, and government relations initiatives. She previously served as a Special Assistant in the Office of the Governor under the Health and Human Resources Secretariat. Her responsibilities included producing high-quality data briefs, coordinating events with high-level stakeholders, and conducting background research to support ongoing projects. Prior to that, she served as an Executive Assistant in the Office of the Governor under the Secretary of the Commonwealth and worked as a Family Service Specialist at the Virginia Department of Social Services. Mabry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Liberty University. She also worked with organizations including Voices for Virginia’s Children and The Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center.

Matthew Marry joined the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) in 2018 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of VHHA Solutions, the organization’s for-profit subsidiary. In that role, he leads strategic initiatives that deliver innovative, cost effective solutions to support hospitals, health systems, and healthcare providers throughout the Commonwealth.

He previously served as VHHA’s Director of Emergency Preparedness, where he led the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program’s (VHEMP) statewide preparedness efforts, public sector partnerships, federal grant programs, and supported health systems’ responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, among other emergencies. His career spans health care leadership, emergency management, and clinical practice, including serving as an athletic trainer with the Detroit Lions.

Marry holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic and a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Grand Valley State University.

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Joshua “Josh” McCray, MPP, MPH, serves as Manager of Medicaid Financial Policy at VHHA, where he supports the Virginia Hospital Medical Assistance Program (MAP) and other Medicaid financial policy initiatives. He works closely with member hospitals, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and internal stakeholders on data analysis, financial reconciliation, program administration, and policy development.

Before joining VHHA, McCray worked in healthcare policy, research, and data analysis through roles with UVA Health, the Virginia Department of Social Services, and the Center for Asia Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) in Taipei, Taiwan. He is particularly interested in improving healthcare access and sustainability in rural communities and has been active with the Virginia Rural Health Association since 2022, including service as a student representative on its Board of Directors and contributions to policy efforts related to Medicare Advantage and timely reimbursement for rural hospitals.

McCray holds bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and History from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and earned both a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Public Health from the University of Virginia.

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Heather Neil serves as Program Manager, Remote Patient Monitoring for the VHHA Foundation, where she leads efforts to advance the Rural Health Transformation Program initiative and strengthen healthcare delivery in rural communities across Virginia. Working closely with hospital partners, she supports the implementation of innovative care models that expand access to services, improve patient outcomes, and address the unique challenges facing rural healthcare providers.

Prior to joining VHHA, Neil worked for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), serving in a variety of roles that supported the nation’s organ donation and transplantation system. Through her work in stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, she helped strengthen collaboration across a complex national network dedicated to saving and enhancing lives through transplantation. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree from The College of William & Mary.

David A. Nutter serves as a Regional Director for Community and Member Outreach. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2012 where he served on the Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Joint Commission on Health Care, and the committees on Science and Technology and Militia and Police. During his tenure in the General Assembly he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Virginia Rural Health Association, Career and Technical Educators Association of Virginia and the Free Clinics of Virginia.

Nutter retired after 25 years as an administrative faculty member at Virginia Tech working in the Office of University Relations as a senior spokesperson and division manager. He was a specialist in the Office of Economic Development where he worked on projects across the state including issues confronting the state’s health workforce. Because of his interest in health policy, Nutter enrolled in Virginia Tech’s Master of Public Health Program in 2010. He completed his degree in December 2014.

Prior to joining Virginia Tech in 1988, Nutter served as press secretary to Congressman Connie Mack (R-Fla) from 1980-1985, and worked in both communications and policy positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services until moving to Blacksburg.

Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Nutter to the Virginia Community College System State Board in July 2012. Nutter also is a board member and legislative affairs committee chair for One Care of Southwest Virginia, a substance abuse organization, and serves on the boards of the Virginia Rural Health Resource Center and the NRV Partnership for Access to Healthcare (PATH).

Mary O’Connor joined VHHA in July 2022 and serves as the Senior Director of Population Health for the VHHA Foundation. In this role, she supports Virginia hospitals through a variety of learning collaboratives and works with hospital leaders to advance sustainable population health programming across the Commonwealth. She is passionate about improving the quality and systems of care for all Virginians, with a particular focus on chronic disease management and maternal and child health. Prior to joining VHHA, Mary served as the Director of Population Health Operations at Augusta Health and was the operational lead for Augusta Care Partners, an Accountable Care Organization in Augusta County. Mary earned her undergraduate degrees in Sociology and German from Guilford College. She has more than 10 years’ experience working in Virginia hospitals and serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Action Partnership of Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro (CAPSAW).

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Beth Petersen, SHRM-CP, is Director of Human Resources for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Beth has over 15 years of progressive human resources experience that spans all areas of human resources including recruitment, employee engagement and retention, performance management, compensation, leadership development, benefits administration, and serving as a culture champion and strategic business partner to leadership.

Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in business administration from Widener University and holds the SHRM-CP certification. Beth is an active member of the Richmond Society for Human Resources Management Board of Directors.

A people person and avid networker, Beth enjoys meeting new people and making meaningful connections. Outside of work, she loves checking out Richmond’s live music and restaurant scenes, walking while catching up on her favorite podcasts and organizing life through lists.

Beth is originally from New York and has resided in Virginia for the past 19 years with her husband, twins, and spoiled corgi.

Rachel Pryor began her nursing career with nearly a decade of bedside nursing, ranging from cardiac stepdown units to the cardiac surgery ICU at VCU Health. Since pivoting from bedside nursing, Rachel’s career has been focused on health promotion and disease prevention, working in various roles at Virginia Department of Health and VCU Health System in epidemiology, quality, and safety. Rachel received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University, a Master of Public Health from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Certificate in Healthcare Data Analytics from the University of California, Davis.

Brent Rawlings serves as Senior Vice President & General Counsel for VHHA. In this role, he leads legal, policy, and operations functions, and oversees strategic planning and coordination among VHHA and its affiliates, VHHA Shared Services and VHHA Foundation. Brent joined VHHA in 2013 as Vice President, assumed the role of General Counsel in 2015, and previously served as an administrative intern at VHHA while completing his graduate studies.

Brent holds a J.D. degree from the University of Richmond, an M.H.A. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a B.S. degree in Health Policy and Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Brent is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and board certified in health care management. He is also a member of the Virginia State Bar and Virginia Bar Association and has been recognized among Virginia’s Legal Elite by Virginia Business magazine.

Prior to joining VHHA, Brent worked in the private practice of law at McGuireWoods LLP. For over eight years, his practice focused solely on health care regulatory and transactional matters representing hospital, physician, long term care, and managed care clients. Before attending law and graduate schools, Brent worked in the managed care industry in provider contract negotiation and network management roles.

Brent is married to his wife Alexis, a licensed speech language pathologist in private practice, and their two daughters Amelia and Marjorie are both students at Virginia Tech.

Katherine (“Katie”) Rockwell, Esq. serves as Deputy General Counsel for VHHA. In this role, she is responsible for managing an array of legal, regulatory, and corporate matters affecting VHHA and its members. Rockwell previously worked as a litigator representing health care and other professionals in malpractice, employment, commercial, and other general litigation matters in state and federal court. Prior to her work in private practice, Rockwell had the privilege of clerking for The Honorable W. Reilly Marchant and The Honorable Joi Jeter Taylor of the Richmond Circuit Court. She holds a J.D. degree from William & Mary Law School and a B.A. degree in Politics and American Studies from Fairfield University. Rockwell is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Young Lawyers Section of the Richmond Bar Association.

Christine Schein is Director of Behavioral Health Initiatives at the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. In this role she is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating behavioral health policy, strategies, and goals. She serves as a liaison between association members, stakeholders, state agencies, and the community for issues related to behavioral health, and develops behavioral health legislative priorities by working with the VHHA Behavioral Health Committee and stakeholders. Prior to VHHA, Christine served as the Clinical Director at United Healthcare-Optum in Richmond, Virginia, where she led a diverse team in the care coordination organization for Medicaid members. She previously held positions at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services including the roles of Deputy Director of the Division of Forensic Services and Forensic Operations Manager in the Office of Forensic Services. Schein also served as Program Coordinator for Jail Mental Health Services Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services, where she served as Clinical Supervisor for Jail Mental Health Services. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Richmond. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2007.

Abraham Segres joined VHHA in 2012 as Vice President for Quality & Patient Safety. In this role he provides leadership for the Association’s statewide quality, safety and performance improvement activities among Virginia Hospitals, health systems and relevant statewide stakeholders. He also serves as Executive Director of VHHA’s Center for Healthcare Excellence.

Prior to joining VHHA, Abraham worked for the UVA Health System for over 20 years. He started his career at UVA as an administrative resident from the VCU Department of Health Administration. After his residency he joined the UVA management team and coordinated accreditation and quality improvement activities. During his last six years at UVA he served as director of both the risk management and patient safety programs.

Abraham has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Masters of Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Kate Seymour serves as Office Administrator at VHHA. She has more than 10 years of experience working as an Office Manager for an accounting firm. In addition to her role as Office Administrator, Seymour supports VHHA CEO, Sean Connaughton, in working with the VHHA Board of Directors. She is originally from Virginia Beach, VA and now lives in Richmond with her husband, Nick.

Will Selden serves as a communications manager for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Prior to joining the VHHA in November of 2021, Will worked for the Richmond Kickers where he served as the Senior Manager of Groups, facilitating group events and communications. Will earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing and leadership, from Christopher Newport University.

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Tiffany Sperlein serves as the Senior Accountant at VHHA, where she plays a key role in financial operations and reporting. Driven by a deep passion for health care, she brings accounting expertise to an industry that positively impacts communities across Virginia. Before entering the accounting field, Sperlein spent more than five years as a phlebotomist and lab assistant at organizations including Bon Secours, Labcorp, and the Virginia State Lab. During this time, she contributed to public health efforts like newborn screening programs –  processing thousands of clinical samples to support early detection of health conditions in infants – while gaining valuable insight into patient care and healthcare operations. Sperlein later transitioned into accounting, holding positions at Evergreen Enterprises and Doswell Operating Group, where she sharpened her financial acumen. Tiffany holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and continues to integrate her health care experience with her financial background to support VHHA’s mission.

Andre Tolleris is the Director of Data Analytics at VHHA, with more that seven years of experience in health care analytics roles. Since joining the association in 2022, he’s led significant enhancements to the association’s analytics platform, VHHA Analytics. Tolleris is certified in Tableau (Tableau Certified Data Analyst) and has overhauled dashboards to improve usability and visual appeal while developing entirely new tools to empower data-driven decision-making. He manages VHHA’s data warehouse, overseeing inpatient and emergency department patient-level data, and serves as a subject matter expert on billed encounters data from hospitals. In this role, Tolleris supports advocacy efforts by training teams and delivering critical clinical and demographic insights to advance legislative and policy initiatives. Beyond analytics platform development, he is intricately involved in numerous clinical quality improvement initiatives, including the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group (VHAG) and the VHHA Workplace Violence and Safety Task Force. Tolleris also provide strategic data support for grant-funded projects, such as VDH Chronic Disease initiatives, developing dashboards and enhancements that amplify program effectiveness. He is currently pursuing a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to further enhance his leadership in health care analytics. Outside of work, Tolleris enjoys traveling, weightlifting, and spending time with friends and family

David Vaamonde is a healthcare leader specializing in data strategy, analytics, and system improvement. At the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA), he leads data analytics initiatives, oversees patient-level data assets. In 2016, he founded VHHA Analytics (VHHAanalytics.com), advancing data-driven decision-making for Virginia’s hospitals.

David holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Public Health from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. His experience includes global health work on international epidemiological projects. He also holds multiple IT certifications in cybersecurity, data analytics, project management, and business management, and has taught Data Analytics Foundations in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program.

He serves on the Board of Directors for Rx Partnership and has contributed to state-level initiatives through the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database Advisory Council and the Virginia Emergency Department Care Coordination Program Advisory Council, following his appointment by the Health Commissioner in 2021. He is passionate about making sense of complex healthcare data to turn it into actionable insights that improve patient care.

Julian Walker serves as Vice President of Communications for VHHA. In that role, he oversees internal and external communications including media relations; strategic communication and messaging in support of advocacy and public policy initiatives; production of daily, weekly, monthly, semi-quarterly, and annual publications; graphic design and audio-video production; advertising and public awareness campaigns; VHHA’s digital channels (websites and social media); and polling, survey, and focus group research. Earlier in his career, Walker spent 16 years as a full-time journalist covering government and politics for newspapers in Virginia and Pennsylvania, winning several writing awards along the way. He has appeared as a guest commentator on broadcast networks including CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, NPR, and C-SPAN, among others. After leaving newspapers, he worked as Communications Director for a Richmond-based public affairs and lobbying firm. He also served as Press Secretary and Policy Advisor to City of Richmond Mayor Dr. Danny Avula. Walker currently serves on the Board of the Regional Disciplinary Collaborative Working to Disrupt Human Trafficking, is a past president of the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association, was a Commissioner on Virginia’s Complete Count Commissioner appointed by former Governor Ralph Northam, and was named a 2026 Virginia Black Business Leader Award recipient by Virginia Business magazine. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from James Madison University, and a master’s of business administration degree in data analytics and marketing (with honors) from Longwood University.

Ashley F. Xavier, MPA, serves as Director of Violence Intervention Initiatives for the VHHA Foundation. She is an experienced program administrator, collaborator, and violence intervention expert. Knowing that “Violence is a Healthcare Issue,” she takes pride in providing the best support and oversight to Virginia’s HVIP Collaborative. In her role with the VHHA Foundation, her goals include building sustainability, improving HVIP collaboration, and expanding the reach of HVIP across the Commonwealth. A native of Northern NY, she holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree in public administration from VCU. She brings a decade of experience working in patient support and hospital administration for health care systems in New York and Virginia. Most recently, she was the IVPP Program Coordinator for VCU’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program and VCU Health’s Trauma Program. When she is not working, Ashley can be found drinking too much caffeine and exploring Richmond with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Todd Zimmerman, CPA, serves as VHHA Director of Accounting. He is a licensed certified public accountant with broad industry experience across life sciences, manufacturing, and packaging. He has worked in public, private, and private equity settings. Throughout his career, Zimmerman has led system implementations, optimized budgeting and reporting frameworks, and supported high growth organizations through data driven decision making and operational efficiency. He has played a key role in capital fundraising efforts, international expansion, and SOX compliance. He earned Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University and resides in Chesterfield County, VA with his wife, Monica, with their two children, Harper and Riley.