Rethinking the path to meaningful employment.
Our Leadership
Deb Lawrence, Executive Director
A native Richmonder, Deb is a co-founder of ReWork Richmond, and has been a principal architect of the organization’s innovative partnership approach to workforce development and support service sourcing. Her long history of involvement with such respected institutions as Anna Julia Cooper School and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church have earned her a reputation as a tireless policy and program advocate for concerns related to securing viable employment for East End Richmond families. Prior to Rework, Deb served as the Director of Outreach for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, leading the transformation of that program into one of Central Virginia’s most comprehensive social intervention initiatives. Deb and her husband Rick have three adult children and are proud to have five grandchildren.
Ferd Baruch, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Ferd has worked most of his career in the corporate risk & insurance brokerage field, moving to Richmond in 1992 with Johnson & Higgins to manage what soon thereafter became the Mid-Atlantic region for Marsh & McLennan. He left the corporate world to join ReWork Richmond in the fall of 2018. Ferd has served on a number of non-profit and private school boards, the Vestry at St. James’s Episcopal Church, and has led a Haiti Mission Ministry for over twenty years. He lives in Richmond with his wife Janet, and is blessed to have five incredible children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and identical twin grandsons.
Ferd has worked most of his career in the corporate risk & insurance brokerage field, moving to Richmond in 1992 with Johnson & Higgins to manage what soon thereafter became the Mid-Atlantic region for Marsh & McLennan. He left the corporate world to join ReWork Richmond in the fall of 2018. Ferd has served on a number of non-profit and private school boards, the Vestry at St. James’s Episcopal Church, and has led a Haiti Mission Ministry for over twenty years. He lives in Richmond with his wife Janet, and is blessed to have five incredible children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and identical twin grandsons.
Dr. Patrick Graham, Executive Advisor
Patrick is a social and public sector leader with over 20 years of executive-level experience. He has served as the president or director of influential agencies in the areas of youth development, housing, and workforce and economic development, including the Martin Luther King Center, Inc., Crisis Assistance Ministry, Urban League of Central Carolinas, and Charlotte Works. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Community Wealth Building, City of Richmond. Patrick has served on dozens of national and regional boards that advocate for talent development and equitable policies. He led and designed successful local and national human asset models such as At-Opportunity Generation, Careers4All, Bank of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, and recently, the Emergency Financial Assistance-RVA, a regional approach to eviction prevention. Patrick is a proud father and an outdoor enthusiast.
Patrick is a social and public sector leader with over 20 years of executive-level experience. He has served as the president or director of influential agencies in the areas of youth development, housing, and workforce and economic development, including the Martin Luther King Center, Inc., Crisis Assistance Ministry, Urban League of Central Carolinas, and Charlotte Works. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Community Wealth Building, City of Richmond. Patrick has served on dozens of national and regional boards that advocate for talent development and equitable policies. He led and designed successful local and national human asset models such as At-Opportunity Generation, Careers4All, Bank of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, and recently, the Emergency Financial Assistance-RVA, a regional approach to eviction prevention. Patrick is a proud father and an outdoor enthusiast.
Janette Sivells-McGrady, Partner and Member Services Manager
ReWork Richmond welcomes Janette Sivells-McGrady to the team as our Partner and Member Services Manager. She comes to ReWork from the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building where she served as an Engagement/Barrier Navigator Specialist for the past six years. Janette is a certified National Workforce Development Professional and has 20+ years of experience in the labor relations and workforce development fields. A native of New Jersey, Janette has worked for organizations in the Greater Richmond area such as the Unemployment Commission, the Capital Region Workforce Partnership and ResCare Workforce Services. She is passionate about maximizing the success of individuals and connecting with partners in the community and workplace stakeholders. Janette is married and has one son and one grandson.
Our Board
Dr. Ronald Carey, Chair
Retired Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education, Richmond Public Schools
Gussie Bannard, Vice Chair
Retired Head, St. Catherine’s School
Torey Edmonds, Secretary
Community Intervention Coordinator,
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Medicine/Division of Epidemiology
Healthy Communities for Youth
The Rev. Melvin Shearin II, Treasurer
Pastor, Great Hope Baptist Church
Nancy Harrison
Retired Banker and Community Volunteer
Wayne Johnson
Analyst, Maconit Inc.
T. Justin Moore III
Managing Partner, T.J. Moore, PLC
Pamela O’Berry
Attorney, Sands Anderson
Delores Q. Smith
Development Consultant
Rod Smyth
Riverfront Investment Group, Founding Partner and Chairman of the Board
Frederick Thompson
Communications Collaborative
Diahann Whittington
Executive Director, St. James’s Children Center
Contact Us
ReWork Richmond is located in Richmond’s East End at
2123 Fairmount Ave., Richmond, VA 23223
Email us at contact@reworkrichmond.org
804-447-9026