Jasmine Gore had a sense of civic duty inspired by her Veteran parents that enabled her to make history in November 2012. At the age of 25, Ms. Gore became one of the youngest local elected officials within the Commonwealth of Virginia when she was elected to represent Ward 4 for the City of Hopewell, Virginia. In that election, she also became the first African-American and first female ever to hold that seat. For two years Ms. Gore served as one of the youngest Vice Mayors in Virginia. In 2019 she became the youngest African American and female Mayor within the Commonwealth.

Her forward-thinking has earned her the distinction of “Emerging Leader of the Year”, and recognition by Style Weekly as one of “Richmond’s Top 40 Under 40” for being among “young standouts who are lifting the community to greater heights.”

In November 2014, she became the youngest appointed Board Member for the National League of Cities. In addition, she was elected to serve as the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Region 3 Director.

Governor McAuliffe tapped Ms. Gore for a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Board of Medicine and the Local Government Advisory Board to the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council. She has proven her advocacy for Veterans, rallying the City of Hopewell behind a pledge to end Veteran homelessness. As a result, the City of Hopewell was acknowledged both federally and statewide as contributing to the Commonwealth being the first state to functionally end veteran homelessness.

She holds a B.A. in political science with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University. Contact Jasmine for any questions about the V3 Program at:

jasmine.gore@dvs.virginia.gov

Tracey Hart is an experienced Business Analyst.  Tracey is a subject matter expert in electronic payments, corporate audit, corporate fraud, revenue research, and financial systems Implementation.  An asset Tracey possess is understanding policies while assuring compliance with regulatory standards.  Tracey has experience working with several United States Treasury Departments which include the Bureau of Fiscal Service, Department of Education, and Fedwire Funds. She brings with her more than a decade of knowledge in the financial industry including accounting, audit, process improvement, data sampling/testing, research & data analysis.  She attended Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in Business Management.  She is a native of Richmond and still resides in the local area.  Tracey is married with one child, a son.   Tracey is the proud daughter of a Marine Veteran.

Meagan Altizer is the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Regional Program Manager for Central and Southwest Virginia and Out-of-State employers. A Roanoke native, Meagan enlisted on Active Duty in the United Sates Air Force in 2001. During her 13 years of service as an Instructor Weapons Director, she provided tactical air control to United States and Coalition aircraft during exercise and combat missions. Additionally, she provided leadership management, on-the-job training, classroom instruction, and direct mentorship to the enlisted personnel under her supervision and the officer cadre she instructed through initial qualification training. Meagan is an Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Combat Veteran with four deployments and two remote tours overseas.

Upon her transition to the civilian sector, Meagan built a direct sales business. During her six years there, she coached sales teams around the globe and was lauded top producer and international trainer achieving the highest self-promoted rank within the company.

Meagan continues Veteran and Military Spouse advocacy through consulting Human Resource and Recruitment teams on Veteran and Military Spouse best hiring and retention practices. Well networked within the Veteran community, V3 assist employers with implementing these practices by connecting them to potential Veteran and Military Spouse candidates.

Meagan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Maryland University College and was voted by Roanoker Magazine readers “40 under 40” class of 2020. You may contact Meagan at:

meagan.altizer@dvs.virginia.gov

(540) 220-1091

Lakendra Hayes serves as the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Regional Program Manager for Virginia’s East Region. A native of Clinton, Maryland, Lakendra began her distinguished career by commissioning into the United States Army, where she dedicated 20 years of service. During her military tenure, she excelled as a Logistics Officer, providing comprehensive logistical and operational support at various levels—tactical, operational, and strategic. Her leadership capabilities were further demonstrated through her role as an Executive Officer, where she offered mentorship and guidance to both enlisted personnel and fellow officers. Additionally, Lakendra contributed to the development of future leaders as a small group instructor at The Army Logistics University. A decorated Operations Iraqi Freedom 05-07 Combat Veteran, she completed three deployments and two remote tours overseas.
Following her transition from active duty, Lakendra participated in the VA Skillbridge Program, gaining valuable experience as a Program Manager with the VA Department of Veterans Services in the Military Education and Workforce Initiatives division. Through this role, she effectively networked with V3 employees and engaged in Career and Skillbridge Expos.
Lakendra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Morgan State University and a Master’s of Arts in Leadership and Management from Webster University.
Lakendra.hayes@dvs.virginia.gov

Michael Glascock is the V3 Employer Liaison for Northern Virginia. A Fredericksburg native, Michael lives just across the Rappahannock in the Falmouth area of Stafford County with his wife, Chrystal, four kids, two dogs, a cat, a rabbit, a bearded dragon, a turtle, thirteen chickens, two geese, and a black snake. Michael is a 14 year veteran of the Navy Reserve as an Expeditionary Intelligence Specialist with Active Duty time spent in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Spain, and Washington D.C.

Prior to joining the V3 Team, Michael spent several years as a Defense Contractor working for the Department of Defense, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and several national level defense and intelligence agencies. In addition to providing collections and analysis services, Michael successfully developed and implemented multiple on-the-job training programs, professional skill certification programs, classroom and remote training courses, and operational teams.

Michael is thrilled to be working with employers to expand veteran and military family employment opportunities and for the chance to continue serving his veteran family.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from SNHU, is currently pursuing a Master’s from Loyola University, Chicago, and is always looking for ways to learn and develop personally and professionally. You may contact Michael at:

Michael.Glascock@dvs.virginia.gov
(703) 261-5802

Mike Mullins has been with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services since 2018. He previously worked in the State Approving Agency program, which reviews and approves education and training courses and programs for veterans and eligible spouses and dependents using their GI Bill® Benefits.

As the V3 Training Program & SkillBridge Coordinator, Mike serves as the primary liaison to establish and approve multiple training programs in support of V3 and various VDVS service lines, MOU partners, and stakeholders. He is a subject matter expert on training programs including State Approving Agency On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship programs, as well as Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

Mike is a Virginia native. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Management from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Education from Virginia State University. He started his career in the Insurance Industry before transitioning as a Business and Information Technology teacher in the Richmond area.

Mike is married with a son and a daughter. His father-in-law is a Navy Combat Medic who served in Vietnam and his mother-in-law is a Vietnam-era Navy Nurse.

michael.mullins@dvs.virginia.gov
(804) 297-5719

Tanisha Edwards is an Active-Duty Military Spouse and a proud daughter of her Army Veteran parents. She serves as the V3 Employer Liaison for Eastern Virginia. Tanisha is a mother to three children and two dogs, currently residing in Hampton Roads. After her mother’s retirement from the Army, Tanisha moved to Yorktown, VA, where her mother was born and raised. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business management at the University of Maryland.

Over the past 11 years, as a military spouse, Tanisha has experienced a wide variety of state-side duty stations. Her husband has been stationed at Fort Campbell, Fort Carson, Fort Riley, and is currently stationed at Fort Eustis. He serves as an Aviation Mechanic with a significant deployment load, completing 10–12-month deployment tours to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea.

Despite the challenges, Tanisha is enthusiastic about helping employers understand the benefits of hiring, training, and retaining military veterans or their family members for employment.

Tanisha. Edwards@dvs.virginia.gov

(804) 898-9196

Jennifer Hodges is the V3 Employer Liaison for Southwest Virginia. A Virginia native, Jennifer lives in Botetourt County with her husband Tommy, youngest son Noah, two dogs, two cats and all the wildlife that visit her home for treats.

Prior to joining the V3 Team, Jennifer spent a little over 14 years working in the Workforce Development programs in the Roanoke Valley. She started working with youth in the Workforce Investment Act Program (WIA). She advanced into a leadership role where she oversaw the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Program (WIOA) for the Roanoke Valley and Lynchburg. When the chance to work with the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) came along, she took leadership roles with that program and assisted individuals in reaching their dreams of obtaining healthcare certificates and licensures to start their careers in the healthcare industry.

Jennifer is excited to be working with employers in Southwest Virginia to expand opportunities for veterans and their families. Jennifer.hodges@dvs.virginia.gov

(540) 200-9090

Amy proudly serves with the Virginia Department of Veteran Services as the Eastern V3 Transition Resource Coordinator. She is a Military to Civilian Transition Subject Matter Expert who specializes in Workforce Development, providing supportive services to thousands of Transitioning Service Members, Military Spouses, Veterans and Eligible Dependents across the Eastern Region. She is a Virginia Certified Workforce Development Professional specializing in employment, resume review, interview preparation, and holisitic needs-based case management. A passionate advocate, mentor and accountability partner, Amy effectively collaborates with local, state, and federal partner agencies and employers to ensure she continually meets the needs of both her clients and partners.

Born in Texas, and raised in the cradle of the United States, her family relocated approxinmately every 3 years on military orders, resulting in her attending schools in Illinois, Hawaii, California and finally, Virginia. Her family settled in Virginia in September of 1993, where sadly, her father passed away after reporting to his final duty station. Amy graduated from High School in 1998, joined the Army in 1999, planning her 20+ year career, attending Basic Training in Ft. Jackson, SC. A career ending injurty resulted in discharge shortly thereafter. She returned home and married her Active Duty Navy Spouse in May of 2000. His career would take them back and forth between Virginia and Florida. He retired in January, 2022. She and her husband have 3 children, and during his multiple PCS’s she attended school at St. Leo University, completing both a B.A. and M.S. in Criminal Justice.

Her employment journey is similar to many military spouses, stints in seasonal retail, and a “never say can’t” attitude resulted in Amy taking her first post-grad position through a Staffing Agency. She was over and underqualified at the same time, having too much education and not enough experience. She took a $9.00/hr. filing clerk position and within 15 weeks would be in charge of the Accounts Payable department. She spent the remaining 8 months at H.T. Hackney building her skills and gaining workforce experience. She would turn to another Staffing Agency upon relocation to Virginia. That resulted in her finding employment in Workforce Development, which resulted in pursuing her career of passion. The staffing agency placement at Opportunity Inc. allowed her to learn about Workforce Development and how reducing recidivism through increased employment with the returning citizen population would allow her to use her degrees in a useful capacity.

The spark was lit. She would turn that temporary position into the Office Manager position, learning as much as she could about the industry, and within 2 years applied for and promoted to a Career Developer position. Two years after becoming a Career Developer, she was presented with the opportunity to become demographic specific, working only with the active duty and veteran population. This allowed her to make use of all of her experiences, education, and to give back to her community in a positive, impactful way. She would go on to earn the JVSG WIOA Partner Case Manager award for 2020.

amy.rodriguez@dvs.virginia.gov

804-297-6147

Stuart Allison is a retired Air Force Veteran with almost thirty years active-duty experience. During his active-duty career, he provided logistics management and personnel leadership focused on readiness, development, morale, and the effective utilization of personnel. He held numerous leadership positions throughout the continental United States and overseas. His deployment history includes Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Djibouti, and Niger. During his military career, Stuart received numerous Meritorious Service and Unit Awards.
He completed all levels of Air Force Professional Military Education, and he attended the Coast Guard’s Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, California. He also has a Bachelor’s degree in Logistics Management from Bellevue University in Nebraska and a master’s degree in leadership from Trident University in California.
He was born in Scotland, and he immigrated to America when he was eighteen. He currently lives in Prince George, Virginia with his wife Char and two children TeeAnn and JohnRic. Stuart and his family initially relocated to Prince George in July 2014 and decided to stay permanently in July 2022 upon his retirement from the Air Force.

stuart.allison@dvs.virginia.gov
(804) 489-0552

Katie is proudly serving with the Virginia Department of Veteran Services as the Northern V3 Transition Resource Coordinator. Katie provides customized one-on-one career readiness support and resource coordination to hundreds of service members and spouses across the NCR region including Quantico, Fort Belvoir, and Joint Base Fort Myer/Henderson Hall. She is a certified career coach, Certified Professional Resumé Writer, and certified in both Federal and Corporate resumes.

She has developed and nurtured strong partnerships with well-known Veteran Service Organizations and regional partners in the local area. Katie has created and facilitated multiple workshops and unique worksheets focused on civilian employment, character assessments, and wants/needs after leaving the military to not only regional partners such as the USO and Hiring Our Heroes, but she has also developed custom workshops for multiple Units and Commands across the NCR Region.

As the daughter of a retired Navy captain, Katie had the opportunity to grow up in places that adults wish they could visit for a week. Adaptability became a core value at a very young age. Katie’s first experience with the bear known as “Transition” started when her father retired after an impressive 20+ year career. As a daughter, watching her hero struggle to figure out who he wanted to be after hanging up the uniform was heartbreaking and with that memory, the spark to help those who have served was born.

Katie took on a new role in the military space, as a wife of a United States Marine. After surviving a deployment and smoothing out the newlywed jitters, Katie experienced the anxiety and stresses of transition once again but this time as a spouse.

After various roles in business management and operations, Katie went out on a limb and applied for a Career Advisor position with ECPI University, a role that she didn’t meet any of the qualifications except a Bachelor’s degree. Within a year she was promoted to Director of Career Services and her department had outstanding graduate employment success for four consecutive years. Katie ended up with a substantial amount of knowledge and experience in Corporate recruiting and private sector company needs which ended up being a perfect blend for her current position.

Katie has always had a soft spot in her heart for helping service members and veterans. The drive and desire to assist and support were always there, but the answer was never clear as to how she could help until she stumbled upon a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to marry her passion for the military and her strong skills of being a career counselor, advocate, and mentor.

Katie has been able to honor not only her father’s legacy but uses his experience as a beacon to be able to provide transparent, honest, and genuine support to her clients while helping them locate opportunities for employment, education, entrepreneurship, and training through programs such as Virginia Values Veterans, Military Medics and Corpsman, Hire Vets Now Fellowship and countless others.

katie.spinazzola@dvs.virginia.gov

(804) 337-1184

Erika Nasah is the V3 Military Spouse Resource Coordinator for the Northern region. She brings a wealth of experience as a military spouse for over 15 years and working with the military population. In her current role, Erika provides education and employment resources for military spouses and their dependents.

In 2022, Erika joined the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and served as the Central Military Spouse Liaison. In nearly two decades, Erika has worked in various roles for government agencies, non-profit associations, and military organizations. She developed successful marketing campaigns to reach revenue and attendance goals for conferences; educated and provided resources to service members, Veterans, and their families dealing with the diagnoses of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and resolved customer service inquiries for the military tuition assistance (TA) program and Post 9/11 GI Bill. She was a Certified Test Administrator for the Defense and Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam.

Erika maintains a positive working relationship with her colleagues, community leaders, and constituents to build a bridge to help those in need. She is a kind, compassionate listener who is eager to find a resolution to any problem.

Erika is a 2001 graduate of Hampton University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Public Relations. She has completed credits for the Organization Development and Change Operational Excellence (ODCOE) Graduate Certificate from the Pennsylvania State University, and she will pursue a Master of Human Relations degree with emphasis on Equity and Strategic Impact. Erika holds certifications in LEAN Process Improvement and Adult Mental Health First Aid.

Her greatest accomplishments are serving as a mother to her three fantastic children and holding down the fort, while her husband served all over the world for multiple overseas billets. She is the proud wife of an honorable United States Marine Corps Veteran. Erika volunteers for several community organizations to advocate for equal opportunity and equity for minority populations and children.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

erika.nasah@dvs.virginia.gov
804-898-9164

Kim is the V3 Military Spouse and Dependent Employment Specialist for the Central Region. She originally hails from Williamsburg and has also lived in the Hampton Roads area. Kim is a mother of 4, and spent 18 years as an Army wife, until her veteran husband’s passing in 2018.

She’s had her share of careers and knows first-hand what it means to have to pick up and reinvent yourself, all while having your resume make sense on a moment’s notice. She’s had various careers in Customer Service, Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Workforce Management and Case Management.

Kim is a Virginia State University alum, where she studied English and Mass Communications, but found herself back in the Central Virginia area, only now as an “empty-nester” assisting military spouses in their own career endeavors. She holds a certification in Human Resources Management and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

During her free time she enjoys spending time with loved ones, cooking, traveling, writing urban fiction and listening to good music of all genres!

Philip “Phil” Rigney is a native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia where he returned in 2018 to buy the family farm originally purchased by his grandfather in 1922.
Offered a position with the JVSG program in Roanoke, over the last five years Phil has built a successful JVSG team at the American Job Center collaborating with partner agencies and reaching out to employers to advocate for veterans’ employment.
Joining the Virginia Department of Veteran Services in April 2023 Phil is a retired Navy Chief. He holds a master’s in human resources development and is a Reality Therapy certified counselor.
With his last duty station at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, Phil wrote curriculum first for the Navy and then for a defense contractor until 1999. He went on to teach high school, and for over 10 years was an adjunct at Sul Ross State University & Rio Grande College in Uvalde.
Phil joined the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments in 2004 as Coordinator of Business and Employment Services in the nine-county region serving six workforce centers. His role expanded over time to include special populations and veterans’ services, before taking on a new challenge in San Antonio as Center and Program Manager in two urban workforce centers administering five federal program grants.
Phil is an advocate for homeless and justice-involved veterans and is always looking to support communities of southwest Virginia. You may contact him by email: philip.rigney@dvs.virginia.gov or call 804.898.9134.