Richmond, VA – Gary Thomson, managing partner of Thomson Consulting, was elected to a two-year term as board chair of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) at the organization’s annual board meeting on June 18. He succeeds Richard Bynum, chief corporate responsibility officer of The PNC Financial Services Group, who will become chair emeritus.

In addition, Edmond E. Hughes, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer of HII in Newport News, Va., was elected vice-chair; Alexis Ehrhardt, Ed.D., Executive Director of State Government Relations and Special Assistant to the President, University of Virginia, was elected treasurer; and Jamelle S. Wilson, Ed.D., Dean of the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies, was re-elected to serve as secretary.

VECF is a statewide public-private entity that serves as the non-partisan steward of Virginia’s promise for early childhood success, supporting opportunities for all families with young children to thrive.

Gary Thomson established Thomson Consulting in 2019 to pursue a passion to impact the future of the public accounting profession. He specializes in the critical areas of leadership development, succession planning, partner compensation, mergers & acquisition, strategic
planning, culture, profitability, and innovation. A member of the VECF board since 2019, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University.

Edmond E. Hughes is responsible for driving alignment of HII’s talent and culture strategies with business priorities and values. As a member of the senior leadership team, Hughes oversees talent acquisition, management and succession planning; leadership development; compensation; benefits; employee and labor relations; and organizational effectiveness. HII is a global defense technologies provider, America’s largest shipbuilder, and Virginia’s largest non-retail employer. A member of VECF’s board since 2022, Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Alexis Ehrhardt, Ed.D., was elected to the VECF’s board in 2022. Prior to assuming her current position with the University of Virginia, she held the position of President and CEO of the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce serving the business community in the Dan River region. A graduate of LEAD Virginia and a former gubernatorial appointee to the Tobacco Revitalization Commission, she serves on a number of state and regional boards.

Jamelle S. Wilson, Ed.D. serves as the fifth Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond. Previously, she served as superintendent of schools for Hanover County, as well as a classroom teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, among other positions with the county. She holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia and an additional master’s degree from VCU. She joined the VECF board in 2020.

In other action by the board:

• Paula Masters, DrPH, Chief Health Disparities Officer at Ballad Health, was elected for a three-year term on the board.
• Bergen Nelson, MD, Pediatrician and Associate Professor with Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, were re-elected to a three-year term on the board.

“VECF is fortunate to have such a talented and inspiring team of board officers with Gary, Edmond, Alexis, and Jamelle. Also, we welcome Paula to the board and look forward to the insights that she will contribute. Each of these accomplished individuals brings a unique perspective and strong commitment to ensure Virginia’s early childhood success,” said Kathy Glazer, President of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. “We extend our sincere appreciation to Richard Bynum for his exceptional leadership as board chair. His vision, guidance and unwavering dedication helped VECF make tremendous strides in our long-term mission.”

“I look forward to collaborating with VECF’s fully engaged board of statewide business and community leaders,” said Gary Thomson. “Working together to impact change is essential as we strive to build a strengthened and sustainable child care system to support the children, families, workforce and economic prosperity of Virginia.”