Alumni Committees

Leadership Fairfax is your organization and you can help make it even more impactful for our 2,000 alums and our community. We depend on our talented volunteers - from program committees, mentoring and coaching, alumni engagement, to finance and recruitment, there is a place for you.

Serving on a committee is a positive way to give back while strengthening your network. Below are committee descriptions. Committees are open to all members in good standing or current class participants unless otherwise noted. Please contact the office if you need more information.

Committee meetings are being held virtually.

OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES

Advancement Committee

The Advancement Committee is a relatively new committee that strategizes on the best approaches to growing and sustaining Leadership Fairfax. The committee will work with our Director of Advancement to develop important relationships with current and prospective investor-partners through personal visits, and securing the additional financial resources to fund programs, class scholarships, and supporting all Leadership Fairfax events. In addition, members will work to identify and attract candidates for each year's LFI, ELI, and LLP class programs. Committee members reach out to corporations, small businesses, and non-profits, and plan the year's information sessions. Committee members also act as advocates in the community, through networking events, speaking engagements, and promoting Leadership Fairfax to organizations that best represent the diversity of the county.

Alumni Engagement Committee

The Alumni Engagement Committee plans creative and entertaining events for Leadership Fairfax members and alumni to network and continue learning throughout the year. Committee members also seek out opportunities to partner with other organizations for events. Events include the Alumni Reception, brown bag lunches, Speaker Series, happy hours, etc.

Committee Co-Chairs: Sharon Ferraro, LFI ’03 & Ashleigh Dorfman, LFI ‘14
Meeting Times: The 3rd Wed of every month from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Meeting Location: LFx Conference Room 

Ambassador Committee (sub-committee of the Alumni Engagement committee)

The LFI/ELI/LLP Ambassadors are a select group of Class representatives to further alumni engagement in Leadership Fairfax’s mission; to educate, prepare, inspire, and connect leaders to serve and strengthen our community. Class Ambassadors will encourage support through engagement and annual membership. We ask that all Ambassadors and committee members be members in good standing and accept a two-year term.

Committee Captain: Seema Ajrawat, LFI ‘06
Meeting Times: Join us when you can. The 3rd Wednesday of every month at 4:00 pm-5:30 pm
Meeting Location: LFx Conference Room 

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee provides oversight of the current year's budget, reviews financial statements, prepares the next fiscal year's budget, advises on current- and long-term fiscal affairs, and develops and recommends financial policies and guidelines.   

Marketing and Communications Committee

The Marketing and Communications Committee works with Leadership Fairfax staff to create a marketing and communications calendar for the year, to include press releases, social media postings, e-newsletters, marketing collateral for programs and events, and the Leadership Fairfax website.

Event committees

Northern Va Leadership Awards (nvla) Luncheon

Work with Leadership Fairfax staff to plan our awards luncheon in November. Solicit award nominations, participate on the selection committee, interview the winners, and market this celebration of local leaders in our community through the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards.   

Board of Supervisors Breakfast

Plan Leadership Fairfax's most popular event - work directly with the Board of Supervisors and Leadership Fairfax staff to create program content, plan event, and market it to Leadership Fairfax members and supporters. Event in held in April.

PROGRAM Committees

ELI Program Committee

The ELI Program Committee provides direction and oversight of curriculum planning for the Emerging Leader Institute's class. The committee also determines topics of study for the class year and contacts prospective trainers/speakers. The committee meets as needed during the summer and monthly after the ELI program begins in September. Preference to ELI grads.

Committee Chair: Susan Sims, ELI ‘12
Vice Chair: Joan Dempsey, ELI ‘14
Meeting Times: Meetings are 2 weeks prior to ELI Class day at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Meeting Location: LFx Conference Room

ELI Program Committee Meeting    ELI Class Day Wednesday, August 26 Tue, September 15, 2020 Wednesday, September 23 Tue, October 6, 2020 Wednesday, October 28 Tue, November 10, 2020 Wednesday, November 18 Tue, December 8, 2020 No Meeting in December 2020 Tue, January 12, 2021 Wednesday, January 27 Tue, February 9, 2021 Wednesday, February 24 Tue, March 9, 2021 Wednesday, March 24 Tue, April 8, 2021 Wednesday, April 28 Tue, May 11, 2021 Wednesday, May 19 Tue, June 1, 2020

ELI mentor

ELI mentors meet with their mentees from January through June, providing guidance and advice to help emerging leaders build their core leadership competencies and make connections in the community.   

ELI Coach

ELI coaches with their "coachees" from January through June to help them work on their leadership development and other issues. ELI Coaches must be professional coaches from an accredited program. 

ELI Community Service Projects Committee

The ELI CSP Committee solicits, reviews, and selects applications from nonprofits for the community service projects which will be offered to the ELI class for selection. Members of the committee will also act as ELI Team Advisors to guide and support the teams in project management, facilitate communication between nonprofit and team once the project is assigned, and liaise to the CSP committee. 

Committee Chair: Tom Barnett, ELI ‘08
Meeting Times: Meetings are scheduled by Committee Chair
Meeting Location: TBD

LFI Program Committee

The LFI Program Committee manages and oversees the LFI class program. This committee works closely with the LFI Team Advisors, who coordinate with each class team on planning their program day(s). The committee and its members plan the opening and closing program days, the leadership competencies of each class, County and Local Government as well as the Road to Richmond Day. The committee meets as needed during the summer and monthly after the LFI program begins in September. Open to LFI members.

Committee Co-Chairs: Kim Stewart, LFI ’17 and Cynthia Bailey, LFI ‘18

Honorary Chair: Betsy Schatz, LFI '02

Meeting Times: 1st Wednesday of the month at 8:30 am - 10 am

Meeting Location: LFx Conference Room

LFI Team Advisor

LFI Team Advisors assist assigned team of members of the LFI class in all aspects of planning for their program days. Support, facilitate, and offer guidance to team. Attend team planning meetings and presentations to the LFI Program Committee, and the class day the team will be organizing. Team Advisors will attend a training session prior to the start of the class and will attend the Saturday opening program day in September. Open to LFI members.

Honors College Connects (HCC) Student Team Advisor

The HCC Student Team Advisor helps facilitate and guide a GMU Honors College Student team as it takes on a 6-month community service project; helps develop project management and leadership skills, guides the team through the project planning and execution phase, facilitates between nonprofit and team, and liaises to Mason Honors College and Leadership Fairfax staff. The Team Advisors are encouraged to join the students for their opening orientation on a Saturday in September.

If you are interested in learning more or joining a committee, please email Karen Cleveland.