Richmond, VA — Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor-elect of the City of Richmond, today announced new members of his Transition Team. Over 35 local subject-matter experts will join the Team and begin crafting tangible Action Plans to accelerate the Mayor-elect’s work to address challenges facing Richmond.

“Throughout my campaign, I leaned so heavily on local community members and subject-matter experts”, said Danny. “Now that we’re transitioning from campaigning to governing, I’m super excited for this amazing team to ensure we deliver on voters’ priorities and hit the ground running in January. I’m incredibly thankful for the dozens of people willing to volunteer their time, roll up their sleeves, and help build a Richmond where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

The Mayor-elect’s Transition Team will tackle planning across a range of subject matter areas that reflect residents’ concerns, commitments Danny made on the campaign trail, and some of the urgent issues facing the City. Transition Team members will both dive into specific issues (like a new career technical high school, permitting processes and meals tax administration, Southside investments, and digital transformation) and explore broad issues (like affordable housing, access to care, and gun violence prevention).

Then, over the next two months, the Transition Team will craft Action Plans to define immediate steps that can be taken to quickly move the City forward. Action Plans for the Mayor-elect’s transition will complement existing plans, like Richmond 300, RVAgreen 2050, Richmond Connects, Richmond SPEED, and other guiding documents already built on a foundation of community input. As part of their work, the Transition Team will consult with City Council, School Board, the private sector, and broader community stakeholders and organizations.

“I’m excited to get to work. Danny’s put together such a smart, experienced, and passionate Transition Team,” said Executive Team member Toria Edmonds-Howell, “I’ve got a lot of confidence in this group of people, and a lot of trust in Danny to execute what we come up with.”

See below for a full list of Transition Team members.

Leadership Team

• Reginald “Reggie” Gordon, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (Co-chair)
• Katherine Whitney, Warren Whitney (Co-chair)
• Dr. Thad Williamson, University of Richmond (Director)

• Sarah Carpenter
• Taikein Cooper, Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation
• Toria Edmonds-Howell, Her Newfangled Consulting
• Ruth Morrison, Richmond & Henrico Health District
• Lawson Wijesooriya

Transition Team

• Karen Booth Adams, Entrepreneur/Investor
• Laura Bateman, Bateman Consulting LLC
• Anedra Bourne, Venture Richmond
• Marland Buckner, Shockoe Institute
• Jovan Burton, Partnership for Housing Affordability
• Del. Betsy Carr, Richmond
• Sean Crippen, Virginia Community Voice
• Elvira De La Cruz, Latinos en Virginia LLC
• Liz Doerr, Sandbox and vice-chair of Richmond School Board
• Olivier Faye, S.L.O.T., Inc.
• Anthony Fung, Amplitude9 and former Deputy Secretary of Technology, Commonwealth of Virginia
• Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, ChangeServant and former Chief Deputy Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia
• Kathy Glazer, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
• Hamilton Glass, Artist
• Tanya M. González, Sacred Heart Center
• Lori Haas, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
• Elizabeth Hancock Greenfield, Home Building Association of Richmond
• Greta J. Harris, Better Housing Coalition
• Kelly Harris-Braxton, Virginia First Cities Coalition
• Michael Herring, former Commonwealth’s Attorney and partner, McGuireWoods
• Chris Hilbert, former City Council President
• Karen Legato, Health Brigade
• Kevin Liu, restaurant owner/operator
• Christina Mastroianni, ChamberRVA
• Zakia McKensey, Nationz Foundation
• Shekinah Mitchell, BonSecours Mercy
• Rupa Murthy, YWCA Richmond
• Katherine O’Donnell, Richmond Region Tourism
• William J. “Bill” Pantele, former City Council President
• Charles Skelly, IBEW Local 666
• Lisa Sims, Venture Richmond
• Emily Smith, 1708 Gallery
• Nancy Thomas, InUnison
• Faith Walker, RVA Rapid Transit
• Amy Wentz, The Commonwealth Institute and Southside ReLeaf
• Janet Woodka, Manchester Alliance and Friends of the James River Park

An Inaugural Committee will be announced soon.