RICHMOND, VA (February 2023) – Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom McInerney as the Chair of its Board of Directors. He follows the excellent leadership of Loretta Penn, the founding Chairwoman, who will remain on the Board. McInerney is President and CEO of Genworth Financial, a position he has held for ten years. He has been a member of the VA Ready Board since its founding in 2020, and his leadership and experience are invaluable to the organization’s continued success.

A founding partner of VA Ready, Genworth Financial is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Richmond, VA, and focused on empowering families to navigate the aging journey by providing guidance, products, and services that help them understand their caregiving options and fund their long- term care needs. “I am proud that Genworth was a founding partner of VA Ready and has extended its support of the organization through the next two years,” said McInerney. “VA Ready’s mission aligns perfectly with Genworth’s vision for Virginia’s workforce.”

“I am excited to work with Tom in his new role on our Board,” said Natalie Foster, Executive Director of Virginia Ready Initiative. “His passion for our mission, deep knowledge of Virginia’s workforce, and experience in leading organizations will be key to our continued success.”

McInerney encourages business leaders across the Commonwealth to join him in supporting VA Ready. He added, “The organization’s track record speaks for itself. Any company located in Virginia, large or small, is relying on a well-skilled employee base from which to draw much-needed talent. With support from employers, VA Ready is facilitating access to a broader pool of motivated, skilled, and credentialed workers to fill key jobs.”

The nonprofit has helped thousands of Virginians rapidly training for in-demand, family-sustaining careers. The number of Virginia Ready Scholars receiving career readiness training and a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award recently surpassed 4,000.

Now in its third year, VA Ready is well-positioned to continue delivering on its mission. McInerney noted, “I am incredibly honored to have been appointed Virginia Ready’s next Board Chair as the organization works to create opportunity and enable advancement for even more of the Commonwealth’s residents.”

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The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready) is a business-led partnership with a mission to rapidly reskill Virginians for in-demand jobs. We do this by supporting credentials in high-growth industries where Scholars have a better chance of finding career pathways that are family-sustaining and fulfilling. In addition, we provide $1,000 Credential Achievement Awards to Virginians who complete rapid training programs. For more information about VA Ready and applying to become a VA Ready Scholar, go to vaready.org