2024 Symposium Speakers

Doug Agner joined Wabtec Corporation as Vice President and General Manager of Graham White Manufacturing in 2021 to lead an exciting growth strategy.
Doug relocated to Salem, VA from Houston, TX where he previously managed a large-scale
manufacturing restructure for Weatherford International, Inc in the Oil and Gas Industry. Prior to Weatherford, he has enjoyed leading other successful manufacturing growth initiatives and startups with similar companies in Power & Energy, Fixture & Furniture, and Gas Equipment as well as owning and operating small manufacturing and technology businesses.
While Doug has enjoyed working in interesting locations around the US and abroad, he is happy to be back in Virginia. He lived in Virginia in early life and attended Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA. Doug and his wife Kelly have two children who are both attending Universities. In his spare time, Doug enjoys hiking, golf, and offshore fishing with his brother’s charter business in Virginia Beach.

Director of Talent Strategies at Roanoke Regional Partnership, Julia is a passionate and effective communicator who develops and implements strategies to market the region as a top destination for talent. She supports the talent needs of Partnership projects and the advancement of the education pipelines and workforce development initiatives. Julia has a strong background in content marketing, social media, events, and economic and community development, with certifications from HubSpot Academy and Google Analytics. She thrives on new challenges, creative thinking, and problem-solving, and values customer experience, teamwork, and lasting connections. She has contributed to the growth and recognition of the Roanoke Region, earning the honor of being one of the 100 Virginians to Meet in 2020 Virginia Business Magazine, and 40 under 40 for The Roanoker Magazine. She has helped to develop regional brands and events including Roanoke Outside, Blue Ridge Marathon, Go Outside Festival, Go Cross Cyclocross Race, Roanoke Region of Virginia, and Get2KnowNoke.

Bonnie Chavez, Founder and CEO of Building Beloved Communities, brings over 20 years of leadership experience in community advocacy and organizational development initiatives centered on racial justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ equity, disability inclusion, and dismantling systemic oppression. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in marketing and a master’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in economics. Bonnie is a proud lesbian Mexican-American who values her family, roots, heritage, and culture. Her passion is to serve her community through training & educational workshops.

Lessons in Love

Xavier was born in December of 1990 in Roanoke, where he was raised in a culture of service, generosity, and love for community.

At a young age, he participated in youth mission trips, and worked with several mentorship and advisory programs across the state of Virginia throughout high school and college.

Xavier founded the Imagine Me Mentoring Program in 2013, as a commitment to youth education and empowerment.

The program took some time to establish: Xavier persevered for several years before it would finally take off, and didn’t win an official contract until August 2018. “It takes time to build something that’s going to last,” explains Xavier.

Spreading the Love

In 2015, Xavier moved back to Roanoke  after finishing his football career at ODU, with the mission to not only give back to his community, but to uplift it.

He recognized the need for local youth empowerment programs, and founded a nonprofit organization in October 2015 with that in mind: The Humble Hustle Co. This successful nonprofit offers events and programs to underprivileged families in Roanoke, including an outdoor exposure and education program for black youth, a leadership development program for young black girls, along with coat drives, back to school drives, and food drives for children in the community.

Inspiring the Love

Xavier has leveraged his diverse background to impact youth and inspire others. His work continues to uplift his community and its members.

“He’s a visionary when it comes to helping other structure their dreams into goals,” says Douglas Pitzer, an educator, mentor, and IT specialist in Roanoke.

By empowering tomorrow’s leaders to create change in their lives, they’ll be able to impact and uplift their own communities.

“Everywhere in life, the true question isn’t what we gain, but what we do.”

Cornelius is an author, speaker, course creator, and podcast host. He is perhaps best known for creating one of the first and most renowned PM Exam Simulators, offering PMP practice exams that have helped countless students effortlessly pass their PMP Exam. Students have said that the main way he helps candidates pass their exams is by letting his enthusiasm for project management shine through during training. Students often comment on how he's able to make a dry subject like PM theory come alive to motivate, excite, and inspire them with this 'dry' subject.

John Hetherington is a Technology Strategist, International Speaker and founder of We Deliver Your Vision.

He is an expert in using to Technology to scale business and grow revenue and he helps Project Managers delivery projects faster and with less stress.

John has 10 years strategic consulting experience with Deloitte and Ernst & Young and 25 years delivering technology projects in UK and Canada. He lives in Calgary but travels around the world for his clients and speaking.