Meet the NextUp Team

NextUp Staff

Dr. Traymanesha Lamy the CEO of NextUp

Traymanesha Lamy, PhD

President and CEO
of NextUp

tlamy@nextuprva.org

Candace Benn, EVP, poses next to NextUp sign

Candace Benn

Executive Vice President
of NextUp

Ashleigh Moody, CFRE

Ashleigh Moody, CFRE

Vice President of Development

Bryan Peery, VP of Finance at NextUp, poses for a staff photo.

Bryan Peery

Vice President of Finance and Operations

Amir Elsayed, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at NextUp, poses in front of the organization's logo in their office in Richmond, VA.

Amir Elsayed

Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives

Eric Garmon, Director of Systems Data and Analytics, smiles in front of the NextUp logo.

Eric Garmon, MCHES

Director of Systems Data and Analytics

Sarah Ramirez, Senior Manager of System Services at NextUp, poses next to the organization's logo.

Sarah Ramirez

Senior Manager of System Operations

Annie Hedrick poses in front of the NextUp logo in the staff office located in Richmond, VA

Annie Hedrick

Communications Manager
(Press Contact)

Dominique Menefee poses in front of the NextUp logo smiling

Dominique Menefee

Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager

Abby Ritt poses in front of the NextUp logo in their office

Abby Ritt

NextUp Office Manager

Julie Russo NextUp

Julie Russo, PhD, MPH

Evaluation and Data Manager

Emma Schneider poses before the NextUp nonprofit logo

Emma Schneider

Development and Grants Manager

Alexis Stokes stands in front of the NextUp logo in their office

Alexis Stokes

Research and Data Specialist

Professional Headshot of Takel Shavers

Takel Shavers

Quality and Compliance Manager

Please reach out to Annie Hedrick (ahedrick@nextuprva.org) for media inquiries.

Looking to join our team? Explore career opportunities with NextUp!

Board of Directors

Heidi Abbott – Board Chair
Hunton Andrews Kurth 

Troy Dye – Vice Chair
T. Rowe Price

Frank Atkinson – Governance Chair
McGuireWoods LLC

Tim Bicha – Development Chair
Truist Bank

Kevin Smith – Finance Chair
Dominion Energy

Torey Edmonds – Advisory Chair, Ex Officio
VCU Healthy Communities for Youth

Dr. Danny Avula – Ex Officio
City of Richmond

Shavonda Fernandez – Ex Officio 
Richmond City School Board 

Harold Fitrer, PhD
Communities in Schools of Richmond 

Palmer Garson 
Silvercrest Asset Management Group 

Krissy Gathright 
Former – Apple Hospitality REIT 

Monroe Harris, Jr., DMD 
Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery 

Jason Kamras – Ex Officio  
Richmond Public Schools 

John A. Luke, Jr.
WestRock Company

Colette Wallace McEachin 
City of Richmond 

Morenike Miles 
Dominion Energy 

Cynthia Newbille, PhD – Ex Officio 
City of Richmond 

Lauren Nolan 
Milepost 11 Consulting 

Brooks Smith 
Troutman Pepper 

Martha Schley Smith 
Cochlear Americas 

Directors Emeriti

Marty Barrington
Former – Altria Group Inc.

Carlos Brown
Dominion Energy

Moses W. Foster, Jr.
West Cary Group LLC

William H. Goodwin, Jr.
CCA Industries, Inc.

Thurston Moore
Hunton Andrews Kurth

Tayloe Negus
Aon Hewitt

Steven A. Rogers
Writer and Speaker

Advisory Committee

Torey Edmonds – Advisory Chair, Ex Officio
VCU Healthy Communities for Youth

Major Ronnie Armstead
Richmond Police Department

Nannette A. Bailey 
Office of Engagement – Richmond Public Schools 

Marcel Boyd
Liberation Resource Center

Carolyn Champion 
Dominion Energy 

Becky Christensen 
Bon Secours Richmond Health System 

Taikein Cooper 
Richmond Ed Fund 

Dionne Henderson 
Partnership for the Future 

Sean Miller 
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond 

Leanne Petroziello 
Community Foundation for a greater Richmond 

Robin Pope-Moss 
Truist Bank 

Sherri Robinson 
Richmond Hight School for the Arts 

Mary Dunne Stewart  
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids 

Ty Toepke 
The Faison Center 

Courtney Ward
Richmond Public Schools