VML Voice

How is this small town doing such big things? The VML Voice travelled to Tappahannock in December to talk with lifetime resident Mayor Roy Gladding and relative newcomer Town Manager Eric Pollitt to find out how the community is honoring its past while building for the future.

"Sell your surplus assets virtually - anytime, anywhere!"

We've all got stuff we need to get rid of and local governments are no different! VML partner organization GovDeals is a leader in helping local government assess and sell their unused assets easily, affordably, and responsibly. We had a chance to catch up with Business Development Manager Chris Lassiter during our Annual Conference in October. VML's member localities would do well to hear what Chris and GovDeals can do for them.

Chris can be reached at [email protected].

On September 25, the VML Voice traveled to the City of Manassas to spend an afternoon with Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger. Find out what it's been like for Mayor Davis-Younger to be the first African-American, female mayor of Manassas, what motivated her to run for council in the first place, and why her "My Mayor Looks Like Me" program is making a difference in the lives young girls in her city.

Among the highlights we are looking forward to for the 2024 Annual Conference is the return of ace facilitator Matt Lehrman. This time, Matt is coming back to emcee the Mayors Institute on Sunday and to close out the conference Tuesday morning with an interactive leadership exercise

In this episode, we catch up with Matt to find out more about what we can expect to experience at the 2024 VML Annual Conference.

On May 14, the VML Voice traveled from Richmond to Falls Church for a chat with Mayor Letty Hardi and Councilwoman Marybeth Connelly. The timing was fortuitous as May 14 happened to be the day after the Falls Church council had not only honored the Region 5 winner of VML’s “If I Were Mayor” essay contest, but had also celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and passed a budget! All of which meant that there was plenty to talk about.

Learn about Dominion Energy’s outdoor LED conversion program with options that are perfect for municipal customers. Plus – hear about Dominion Energy’s partnership with several Virginia cities to pilot innovative smart city technologies. These partnerships aim to enhance urban living, improve sustainability, and empower local communities.

Guests include:

• Jerri Northedge, Manager Outdoor Lighting & Smart Cities
• Machesha Hasty, Electric Distribution Program Manager - Smart Cities
• Leslie Downey, Outdoor Lighting Project Manager

The Manassas City Police Department (MCPD) complies with over 460 standards set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). These standards drive department policies from mental health response to use of force; from evidence handling to volunteering; from uniforms to towing. 

In this episode the VML Voice chats with Police Chief (and current Interim City Manager) Douglas Keen and MCPD Accreditation Manager Mason Riggs about how CALEA accreditation ensures that the police department’s policies and behaviors are fair, safe, and effective for its employees and residents.

On May 18 and 19, VML, VACo and the Broadband Association of Virginia hosted an in-person conference in Richmond that brought together some of the leading voices in Virginia and national broadband. The VML Voice was there talking to some of the leading voices in broadband. 

In Part II we talk to...

• Elad Nafshi – Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer of Comcast

• Sejal Naik – Deputy Chief Economist at the Virginia Association of Realtors 

• Matt Ogburn – Director of Virginia State and Local Affairs for Verizon

• Cindy Church – E Rate Coordinator for the Library of Virginia

• Crystal Duke – Grants and Funding Manager for Breezeline

On May 18 and 19, VML, VACo and the Broadband Association of Virginia hosted an in-person conference in Richmond that brought together some of the leading voices in Virginia and national broadband. The VML Voice was there talking to some of the leading voices in broadband.

In Part I we talk to...

• Jim Doyle – President, Business Forward Foundation

• Deborah Lathen – Founder and President, Lathen Consulting LLC

• Mike Culp – Director, Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office in Albemarle County

• Keli Page – FirstNet Area Sales Manager, First Net by AT&T

• Lori Stone – Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority

This episode of the VML Voice came at the suggestion of City of Bristol Manager (and VML Board Member) Randy Eads. Bristol’s city council members are all relatively young and new to local government. But I think you’ll find, as I did, that though they may be young and new they are also enthusiastic and bring a lot of the table.

Featured guests are Mayor Neal Osborne, Vice-Mayor Becky Nave, Councilmember (and former mayor) Anthony Farnum, and Councilmember Jake Holmes.

Enjoy!