— OUR HISTORY —

About Us

Leadership Fairfax fosters diverse leaders by inspiring, developing, engaging, and connecting them across various sectors. Through our nonprofit programs, including the Leadership Fairfax Institute, Empowering Leaders Institute (ELI), Inclusive Leadership Institute (ILI), and Youth Leadership Network (YLN), we empower leaders to address crucial local and regional issues.

Our 2500+ alumni, from Fortune 500 companies to social service organizations, actively contribute to the Northern Virginia community through volunteerism.

Join Leadership Fairfax to make a meaningful difference and expand your professional network.

Kia Cole-Hines, LFI'24

President & CEO 

Kia Cole-Hines was named President & CEO of Leadership Fairfax in October 2023. An energetic and dedicated professional with exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills, Kia brings a wealth of experience and a competitive spirit to the forefront. 

Kia has proven herself to be an exemplary leader, emphasizing effective team collaboration and innovative problem solving. With a strong work ethic, she leads with dedication and passion, ensuring the success of Leadership Fairfax’s mission to inspire, develop, engage and connect diverse leaders across various sectors and experiences.

 

Prior to joining Leadership Fairfax, Kia served as the Executive Director of Friends of Reston, where she played a pivotal role in the effective administration of operations, strategic planning and expanding revenue and fundraising activities. Throughout her career, Kia has held management, business development, and marketing positions in the personal services and pharmaceutical fields. She also served as a College and Career Counselor within Fairfax County Public Schools. 

Kia also sports an impressive athletics resume. Fairfax County born and raised she played basketball, field hockey and softball at South Lakes High School. She earned a full scholarship to play Division I basketball at St. John’s University (NY) where she was an Academic All-American. Prior to her executive roles, Kia spent time coaching basketball at the collegiate level, including at George Mason University. In 2016 she was inducted into the South Lakes High School Hall of Fame. 

Kia resides in Fairfax County with her husband and three sons. She enjoys spending time with family, fellowshipping over a great meal, traveling, and of course attending and/or watching all the basketball, football, and baseball games she can.

Sara Baba Ghayad

Director of Marketing and Communications

Meet Sara, a seasoned marketing professional and the dynamic Marketing and Communications Director at Leadership Fairfax. Armed with a Master's degree in Marketing from the American University (2022), Sara brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic acumen to the forefront of the organization.

In her current role, Sara not only strategically crafts compelling content but also sets the strategic marketing strategy that resonates across various channels, including the Leadership Fairfax website, social media platforms, and impactful email campaigns. A true data aficionado, she deftly monitors and analyzes campaign performance, implementing data-driven adjustments for maximum impact. Sara takes the reins of digital campaigns, ensuring brand consistency across SEO, SEM, email marketing, and social media advertising. Her prowess extends to design and visual identity management, maintaining a cohesive brand presence across all communication channels.

Prior to her role at Leadership Fairfax, Sara served as the Marketing Director at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Here, she led the charge in brand campaigns, market tests, and diverse marketing initiatives. Sara's role involved not just designing marketing collateral but also creating engaging content and managing social media platforms to elevate the online presence of the luxury real estate company. A meticulous professional, she diligently measured, tracked, and reported marketing performance, aligning efforts with defined goals and KPIs.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sara has a noteworthy record of pioneering successful initiatives. She played a pivotal role in launching Lebanon's inaugural wellness exhibition in 2019, attracting a staggering 120,000 annual visitors and securing sponsorships from esteemed Health and Wellness brands in the MENA region. Demonstrating a commitment to women's empowerment, she co-founded Afk'art World in 2020, an online concept store empowering Lebanese women designers and creating jobs for vulnerable women. Her dedication also extends to The International Foundation for Women's Empowerment (IFWE), a non-partisan organization dedicated to helping women thrive personally and professionally.



Sara is not just a marketing professional; she is a trailblazer, a visionary, and a committed advocate for positive change. Her exceptional skills, achievements, and unwavering commitment, including setting strategic marketing strategy, make her a standout professional in the field of marketing and beyond.

Susan Sims, LFI'22, ELI'12

Director of Leadership Programs 

Susan has a background as an educational consultant and strategist, program manager and facilitator with 20 years’ experience coordinating with organizations, nonprofits and individuals to facilitate discussions, build student-focused curriculum and create courageous environments that build bridges and further the holistic development of program participants. 

She is an AmeriCorps alumnus serving two years in the Jumpstart Corps and two years as a Pearson Teaching Fellow in Washington, DC and Boston. She is a graduate of the Center for Inspired Teaching Institute in Washington, DC, a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a graduate of the Points of Light Foundation Civic Circle Cohort, as well as the Leadership Fairfax ELI Class of 2012 and the LFI Class of 2022. She is a published author in the fields of science, education and creative writing.

Susan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from The George Washington University and Master of Fine Arts from Full Sail University. Susan is a 2021 40 Under 40 honoree from the Leadership Center for Excellence, and has received multiple awards for volunteerism, leadership and innovation.

Lisa McGrail, LFI ‘24

Director of Partnerships and Development 

Lisa McGrail is an experienced nonprofit professional with a passion for community engagement. As the Director of Partnerships & Development at Leadership Fairfax, she collaborates with alumni and organizations to continue creating lasting impact in the community.

Lisa’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections has been honed through years of service in various leadership roles. Previously, she served as the Volunteer Engagement Specialist at Women Giving Back, a nonprofit that provides clothing at no cost to women and children in crisis. There, Lisa built a strong community of volunteers and secured essential financial support.

She is also a proud graduate of American University—Go Eagles! In her personal life, Lisa enjoys hiking and geocaching with her husband of 28 years. Additionally, she takes pride in being a parent to three adult children.

Kristin Gollhofer, ELI'24

Office Administrator and Events Assistant 

Kristin is currently the Office Administrator for Leadership Fairfax. She has been with Leadership Fairfax for two years and is currently enrolled in the ELI class of 2024. She is a Northern VA native growing up in Arlington County.  Kristin has an Associates of Arts: Business Administration & Management from Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA.