Governor McDonnell Announces Board and Commission Appointments
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced appointments to Virginia boards and commissions. A bio for today's appointments can be found below. Further announcements regarding additional appointments in the McDonnell administration will continue to be made in the months ahead.
Virginia Tourism Corporation
Rita McClenny, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation
Rita McClenny has been the director of the Virginia Film Office since 1991, and is currently serving as the Interim President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state's tourism agency. During her time with the Virginia Film Office, her leadership has helped to make it one of the most respected film offices in the country. Rita was born and raised on a farm in the Southampton County, in the eastern part of Virginia. She graduated from Fisk University and worked for Eastman Kodak and Lockheed Aeronautical Systems. Rita enjoys athletic endeavors and excels at many sports including sporting clays and tennis. She is an accomplished horsewoman, who enjoys a game of polo whenever she can find the time. Rita is also committed to working on behalf of the community and has served on the Board of Directors of numerous community organizations including the Virginia Film Festival, Maymount Foundation, Byrd Theatre Foundation, Arts Council and HCA's Chippenham Medical Center.
Commission for the Arts
Foster Billingsley, Executive Director
Foster Billingsley previously served as Interim Director and Deputy Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, a position that he had held since 2001. The Commission for the Arts is an agency of state government, which promotes the arts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, provides funding to artists and arts organizations, and supports artist residencies in Virginia schools. Mr. Billingsley is a native of Virginia and graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia with bachelor degrees in Communications and Theatre Arts. He also completed the Virginia Executive Leadership Institute in 2007.
Prior to working at the Commission for the Arts Mr. Billingsley worked as the Production Coordinator Company Manager for the Virginia Opera Association in Norfolk, Virginia. He also has extensive experience in theatre working as an Actors Equity Stage Manager for New York Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and Regional Theatre Companies. Mr. Billingsley has been an advisory panelist for the Kentucky Arts Council. He has served as co-chair of the Deputy Director Peer Group for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. He has served on the boards of the Virginia Executive Leadership Institute and the Virginia Employee Dispute Resolution Council.
Board Appointments
State Air Pollution Control Board
- Michael D. Overstreet of Abingdon, Retired
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