Our Mission & Vision
Virginians for High Speed Rail is a 501 (C) (3) not-for-profit coalition of citizens, businesses, localities, community organizations, and economic development agencies that educate for the need for the expansion of fast, frequent, and reliable rail service connecting our communities to destinations along the eastern seaboard to increase the economic potential of the Commonwealth. We were founded in 1994 as a partnership between the RVA Chamber and the Future of Hampton Roads.
Our mission is to educate and advocate for the expansion of fast, frequent, and reliable passenger rail service connecting Virginia to destinations up and down the east coast.
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We want to triple the number of Amtrak Regional trains serving Virginia; reduce their travel times by up-to 35 percent; increase their on-time reliability to over 90 percent; and reach over 80 percent of Virginians.
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Leadership
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Executive Committee:
President: Rafi Guroian, Apple Inc.
Vice-President: Jason Williams, RK&K
Treasurer: Michael L. Testerman, NARP
Secretary: Willie Bates, Ret. Amtrak, SMART local 1933 (Richmond)
Past-President: Barry C. Bishop, Ret. Greater Norfolk Corporation
Co-Chairs:
Cliff Dunn, Modern Machine & Tool Company (Hampton Roads)
Hon. Meredith Richards, Virginia Rail Policy Institute (Piedmont)*
Dr. John Christoph, Smithsonian Museum (NoVA)
At-Large:
Hon. William J. Pantele, Pantele Law*
Trip Pollard, Southern Environmental Law Center
Board of Directors:
Laura Chalk, Virginia Beach Vision
Hon. Whittington W. Clement, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Josée G. Covington; Covington Travel*
Jennifer DeBruhl, RK&K
Tim Davey, Timmons Group
Sean Driscoll, Towne Wealth Management/Raymond James
Jake Edens, Co-Star
Dwight Farmer, Ret. Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization
Robbyn Gayer; UBS Inc*
Oscar Gonzalez
Elliott Harrigan; Harrigan & Company
Henry “Sandy” Harris; Palladium Investment Advisors
Jacqui Hawkins, Hawkins Roman Architects
Corey Hill, Kimley-Horn; Fmr. FRA executive director
Steven Morrison, Siemens Mobility
Lorna Parkins, Michael Baker International
James E. Taylor; Fortna
Thomas G. Tingle, AIA; Guernsey Tingle Architects*
Robert “Litt” Thompson; Virginia Land Investments
David Wilkins; Range Commercial
Emeritus Directors:
Richard L. Beadles; VHSR Founder*
Brad Face; The Face Companies*
Hon. Wiley F. Mitchell Jr., Esq.; Fmr. State Senator
James E. Ukrop; New Richmond Ventures*
Advisory Council:
Gerard R. Deily, P.E.; Ret. Federal Railroad Admin.
Hon. Sandra L. Duckworth; Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tom Frantz; Williams Mullen
James Michel, Marsh Companies
Richard Sliwoski, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jeannie Welliver, City of Richmond
Garland Williams, City of Charlottesville
Staff:
Danny Plaugher, Executive Director
Diana Hall, Programs Manager
Oliver Harmon, Administrative Coordinator
*denotes a former VHSR President/Board Chair
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