Lai W. Lee, Chairman
Mr. Lee was elected Chairman, Board of Directors, for Rockbridge Area Occupational Center (RAOC) in July 2009. He has been a member of the RAOC Board since July 2008. A retired health care executive and retired United States Air Force Medical Service Corps officer, Mr. Lee brings extensive executive management experience to RAOC. His experiences include operations, financial management, account management, policy analysis, product development, and disease management. Mr. Lee earned his Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the Medical College of Virginia, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland. Mr. Lee and his family have lived in Lexington since 2005.

Elaine Nelson, Past Chair
Elaine Nelson is an investment broker and Certified Financial Planner at Scott & Stringfellow in Lexington. She has an adult son who is autistic, and she has previously been active in the Autism Society of North Caroline/Wake County chapter and Special Olympics as a volunteer. Elaine feels that people with disabilities are capable of working, want to work and learn new skills, and that their disability need not handicap them in the workplace or social situations.

Jennifer Suba, Vice Chairman, Treasurer
Jennifer Suba joined the board in 1997 because of her belief in the RAOC mission and her desire to help RAOC achieve its strategic goals. Her current position is Business Analyst of a local HVAC manufacturer, Munters Coporation. Jennifer has a Bachelor's degree and MBA from Virginia Tech.

Dr. Gates
Dr. Gates is the superintendent of Buena Vista City Public Schools. She earned her Doctorate from Virginia Tech. Dr. Gates has been involved in education for 34 years as a teacher, reading specialist, principal, and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction. She enjoys gardening and all outdoor activities which is one of the reasons she moved to Buena Vista. “It’s a pleasure and very rewarding to serve on the Board of the RAOC because of the valuable contributions that the employees bring to our community and their appreciation of things that we take for granted.”

Dave Justice
Dave Justice has worked with children and adults with disabilities for 35 years. Experiences have been both in and out of the classroom which have included teaching, counseling and supervision of services. Presently a special education teacher at Rockbridge County High School teaching career ed and providing students with community based work experiences.

Kathy Kvach
Kathy Kvach accepted the invitation to be on the RAOC board because she thought that the perspective that 29 years as a special education teacher in Howard County, Md. gave her could help to make an effective advocate for the employees at the Center. Approximately 10 of those teaching years were devoted to vocational training and job placement of high school students with disabilities similar to those of the RAOC employees. That experience gave her great respect and appreciation for those people who struggle both with  learning problems and in finding their place in society.

Connie Loughhead
Connie Loughhead has a background in business, with a concentration in the Manufacturing Industry. Previously Connie worked for a nonprofit organization that enabled people to leave hospitals and reintegrate into society eventually into their own apartments which she thoroughly enjoyed. Between the businesses aspect of RAOC and helping people find satisfying employment Connie was excited to join the Board of Directors.

Kent Wilson
Kent Wilson - After 40 years as a practicing attorney, both in corporate law and in private practice in Lexington, I retired in 2007 and wanted to help people with disabilities realize their potential. Since joining the Board in 2009, I have enjoyed making a contribution to the work of this important organization in our community.

Jennifer Balkey
Jennifer Balkey accepted the invitation to join RAOC in the fall of 2010. She has a true appreciation for what the workforce accomplishes at RAOC. She has been in education for 18 years as a Marketing Education coordinator. Mrs. Balkey teaches marketing related competencies in the classroom and then assists students in obtaining and keeping employment in the community. She believes it is important for all people to be given the opportunity to work and to do their part as an employee while gaining job satisfaction! She has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Radford University and a Master's degree in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech. She has worked various jobs in retail, and the restaurant/hospitality service businesses.

Dennis Marchant
I was born in Denver, Colorado March 29, 1941. Moved to Moline, Illinois when I was five and lived there until I was18. Went to VMI in 1959 and graduated in 1963 with a BS in physics. I joined the Army in 1963 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 2/319th Artillery. In 1965 I was assigned to a year in Turkey. In 1966 I was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 1/319th Artillery. In 1968 I left the Army and joined the Newport News Shipping and Dry Dock Company as a nuclear engineer. In 1970 I joined Westinghouse in Baltimore and started night law school at the University of Baltimore. In 1972 I joined Koppers Company in Baltimore and was assigned to their Patent Department. I finished law school in 1974 and passed the Bar in 1975. I then joined NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland as a Patent Attorney. In 1980 I was sent to NASA Headquarters as the Director of Patent Licensing. In 1988 I went back to Goddard Space Flight Center as Patent Counsel. I retired from NASA in 1996 and moved to Buena Vista. I taught college level Advanced Government at Lord Botetourt and James River High Schools for five years and at the same time worked for the Law Firm of St Clair and Wilson. I retired completely in 2005. In 1996 I started volunteering at the Rockbridge Area Hospice and joined the Hospice Board of Directors. I eventually became the Vice President of the Hospice Board. After going off the Hospice Board for a couple of years I rejoined the Hospice Board and was the Chairman of the Personnel Committee for two years and am still on the Personnel Committee. I also volunteer at the Rockbridge Area Occupational Center and I am on the Board of Directors. I also volunteered at the Stonewall Jackson House Museum as a tour docent and substitute docent.