Better Leaders | Better Region
If you need assistance registering, please contact Leslie Ramsey at leadership@fcsva.com.
On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device). As a result of the blast Travis suffered the loss of both arms and both legs. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Enduring a grueling rehabilitation program, Travis committed himself not only to recovery, but to fatherhood and to giving back to the veteran community any way he could.
Travis is the subject of the NETFLIX original movie: "Travis - A Soldier's Story" and author of the N.Y. Times Bestseller "Tough as They Come." In 2023 Travis released his second book "Bounce Back: 12 Warrior Principles to Reclaim and Recalibrate Your Life."
An exclusive evening for event sponsors on Monday, April 29th at Rockledge, the home of Drs. Nancy and Kevin Dye. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Leslie Ramsey at leadership@fcsva.com.
The Roanoke Valley Leadership Series Breakfast is Roanoke's premier leadership and networking event. The free breakfast will be held on Tuesday, April 30th at the Hotel Roanoke. Travis Mills will provide an inspiring message: Never Give Up, Never Quit on the power of resilience.
2015: Jimmy Collins, Former COO of Chick-fil-A and author of Creative Followership
2016: Chad Hennings, Air Force Veteran and three-time Super Bowl Champion
2017: Gregg Marcantel, Former Secretary of Corrections for the State of New Mexico.
2018: Mark Miller, Vice President of High Performance Leadership, Chick-fil-A
2019: David Weaver, President BB&T Community Banking, Senior Executive Vice President, BB&T Corporation
2022: Jeremie Kubicek, President and founder, GiANT Worldwide
2023: Dee Ann Turner, President, Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC
"The Roanoke Valley Leadership Series provides local leaders the opportunity to network, learn from one another and experience leadership insights from keynote speakers. As a speaker, I was impressed by the hospitality and quality of the event! Perfect logistics, delicious food and gracious hosts. Engaging with the students at Faith Christian School was one of the highlights of my visit in addition to meeting so many impressive leaders from the Roanoke Community. "
Dee Ann Turner, Author of Bet on Talent
"A great agenda, skillfully constructed to reach so many audiences of wide variety, all filled with the nicest, friendliest people anyone could ever expect to meet, offered me a perfect opportunity to share. Every detail was skillfully executed. The timing for each component of the events were right on track."
Jimmy Collins, Former COO of Chick-fil-A
"If you want to impact your clients, partners, and employees on topics ranging from leadership to character, then you need to attend the Roanoke Valley Leadership Series event. As a previous speaker, I was impressed with event and the vision of impact that it has upon the community. This event serves as great reminder as to what the emphasis needs to be for our personal lives and businesses.”
Chad Hennings, Air Force Veteran and three-time Super Bowl Champion
In 2015, Faith Christian School began the Roanoke Valley Leadership Series to inspire leaders in the Roanoke Valley. Faith Christian School, is a Christian classical school that offers a historically unique approach to learning that has produced some of the greatest leaders, inventors, scientists, writers, philosophers, physicians, lawyers and artists in the world. Given such, the school’s approach to classical education will be highlighted in a historically and meaningful way within our purpose.
Chair, Jason Ridinger, Vice President of Operations, RhinoFin Consulting
Peter Baur, Head of School, Faith Christian School
Scott Brown, Director of Used Operations, Berglund Automotive
Bob Childress, Owner-Operator, Chick-fil-A
Randi Earls, PharmD, CDCES, Clinical Consultant/Diabetes Educator, Novo Nordisk
Stephen Hamilton, Executive Vice President, Hawk Advisors
Ellie Hammer, First Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Leslie Ramsey, Event Coordinator, Roanoke Valley Leadership Series
Cullen Reed, Faith Christian School '08, Account Manager, WSLS
Jan Sessor, President, Universal Rx
Jay Whitmore, Director of Development, Faith Christian School