Virginia Ability is bringing the Richmond Business community an awe-inspiring line up of speakers and self-advocate employment stories to educate businesses on the proven benefits of hiring qualified individuals with disabilities. Hear from Elizabeth Creamer on best practices for Industry Sector Strategies, and Neil Romano on trends and examples in Corporate America and what can be expected from Capitol Hill as he Chairs the National Council on Disability (NCD) in Washington D.C.. Network and cultivate partnerships between businesses and community employment resources to connect workforce talent with job opportunities.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
8:00am-12pm
Community College Workforce Alliance
On the Parham Road Campus of Reynolds Community College
Workforce Development & Conference Center
1651 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA
Sponsors
Forum Speakers
Neil Romano—Chair of the National Council on Disability (NCD)
Romano has served at NCD since February 2015, and was named chair in February 2018. Prior to joining the
NCD, Romano worked on disability issues as Assistant Secretary of Labor and Director of the Office of
Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). As head of ODEP, Romano advised the Secretary of Labor and
worked with all Department of Labor agencies to lead a comprehensive and coordinated national policy
regarding the employment of people with disabilities in the United States. Romano has made two films
portraying the experiences of people with disabilities. His film Youth Homicide: A Public Health Crisis,
earned him an Emmy nomination as Best Director, and his 2010 film, America’s Strength, tells the stories of
people with disabilities who have mainstream jobs.
Elizabeth Creamer—Vice President for Workforce Development and Credential
Attainment, Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
Elizabeth Creamer is VP for Workforce Development and Credential Attainment with CCWA, a partnership
of Reynolds and John Tyler Community Colleges. In her role, Creamer drives workforce training and
credentialing programs that align with high demand occupations in Central Virginia that employers are
challenged to fill. Previously, Elizabeth served as the Senior Advisor for Workforce Development Governor
Terence R. McAuliffe’s administration.
Brian K. Davis – Executive Director of the Capital Region Workforce Partnership
Brian Davis serves as the Executive Director of the Capital Region Workforce Partnership, a position he has held since 2014. In this role, he has oversight of a $5 million budget that provides for workforce development solutions for job seekers and employers in the greater Richmond area. He has over twenty years of local and state planning and policy experience with more than ten years focused on workforce development systems and programs.
Other professional highlights include serving as a workforce development specialist in the office of Governor Tim Kaine, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development at the Virginia Community College System and Workforce Development Director for Virginia’s Central Region in the Lynchburg area.
Brian is considered a subject matter expert in the workforce development field in Virginia and has a proven track record of success in balancing program requirements with innovative solutions to better serve customers.
He serves as Treasurer of the Virginia Association of Workforce Directors and Chairman of the Governance Committee of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care.
Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University and a leadership development certificate from the Clarion University of Pennsylvania.