District 66 Trio
District Director - Maggie Geoghegan, DTM
Maggie Geoghegan, DTM
A positive attitude goes a long way! I learned that not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am about Toastmasters and that I can not push people to do more than they can handle. Balance is important. I am able to motivate individuals and develop a high performance team. I learned that I do not need to know everything but should build teams with people who bring different experiences and knowledge. Leading by example and clarifying expectations is important at the beginning of the year.
Program Quality Director - Linda Kennedy, DTM
Linda Kennedy, DTM
Linda Kennedy, Distinguished Toastmaster, joined Toastmasters in 2007 in Brussels, Belgium as a member of Berlaymont Toastmasters, a French/English club and Claddagh Toastmasters, an Irish/English club. In District 66, She is a member of several clubs in in Divisions B and C, and one in District 29.
Linda Kennedy, Distinguished Toastmaster, credits Toastmasters for building her confidence, communication, and leadership skills to serve as a leader in our organization. She stays in Toastmasters because she is always learning. She also wants to help others find their voice and discover their potential.
Linda is a retired IT professional, having worked for the law firm McGuireWoods for 40 years. In addition to her Toastmasters responsibilities, she is an avid biker, loves working on various DIY projects and maintains a flower and vegetable garden.
Club Growth Director - Tishuan Harris-Ugworji
Tishaun Harris-Ugworgi
Tishaun joined SPBC Toastmasters in January 2016. During her tenure, she has served in the capacity of Treasurer, Secretary, Vice -President Education and currently as the club President. She recently received the prestigious award of Distinguished Toastmaster. She has also served the District in the capacity of Logistics Manager, Dean of Leadership Institute, Area Director and Division B Director where she led the division this past year as Select Distinguished.
Admin Manager - Robin Jenkins, DTM
Robin Jenkins, DTM
Robin Jenkins, DTM has been in Toastmasters since 2007. Highlights of her membership include serving in all club officer roles, Assistant Area 34 Director, Division C Area Director of the Year, District 66 Area Director of the Year, District 66 Conference Co-chair, Assistant Program Quality Director, Delta Dental Toothmasters Club Mentor, and Advanced Leadership Club Sponsor. This year Robin will be President of two clubs: Midtown Toastmasters and the Advanced Leadership Club. Additionally, she is a member of Voices of Change. She is excited to serve District 66 as Administration Manager.
Finance Manager - Bryana Vaughan
Bryana Vaughan
Bryana joined Toastmasters in April 2020 as she had just finished college and was looking for career opportunities. She wanted to become a more proficient public speaker and improve above her leadership skills which prompted her to join Toastmasters. Currently Kayla is a member of Five Rings Financial and Friends Toastmaster where she served as Vice President Public Relations in 2020-2021 and will serve as Vice President Education in 2021-2022. She will serve as Finance Manager during the 2021-2022 term for District 66 and is excited to learn all that the role has to offer.
Public Relations Manager - John Roberts
Logistics Manager -
Parliamentarian - Frederica Ricks
Parliamentarian – Frederica Ricks
I am a graduate of Theatre VCU, where I received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. Later I received my Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University. I am member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. I have worked with the public-school system as teacher, administrator, mentor, and in curriculum development. In the non-profit sector, I have worked as program director, building and supporting the urban sector. After thirty-five years, it was time to work on me. I joined Toastmasters International in March 2020. I currently participate in three Toastmasters Clubs, serving as SPBC Vice-President of Membership; and contest award winner in the Leader’s Circle Club, which is an advance club. I look forward to furthering my communication and leadership journey as mentor and child advocate.
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”–Buddha
Incentives Chair - Annette Jensen
Annette Jensen, DTM, joined Toastmasters in 2009 to target her fear of speaking in groups (even small groups). She has earned 2 Legacy program DTMs, Served in 5 out of 7 Club Officer roles in multiple clubs, Past Area 22 Governor, Past Area 22 Director, Past Division B Director, Club Sponsor and Mentor for St. Michael Toastmasters, and working on 2 Paths (Leadership Development and Visionary Communication) in Pathway.
Annette remains a Toastmaster because there is always something new to learn through the program. While we didn’t anticipate the changes this past year, learning to operate our clubs remotely has provided great value to those who continue to participate. Participating in activities outside our home clubs has been a great experience. Thanks to the Toastmasters International Conference, she had the opportunity to visit Vancouver in addition to networking with fellow Toastmasters from around the world.
Saying “yes” to leadership roles was instrumental in developing confidence and opening the doors to new possibilities. She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and grateful to all in the district who encouraged her.
Immediate Past District Director - William D. Tyree, DTM
William D. Tyree, III
Served as District Director for the 2021-2022 Toastmaster year.
Division A Director – Deb Ferron, DTM
Since joining Toastmasters in 2012 I have rekindled the joy of public speaking and expanded on that joy by helping others find their strengths and successes. Watching personal growth in members really makes my heart sing! I want to constantly encourage members to excel, constantly embrace new ways to elevate each other and develop their leadership skills in a genuine, respected and transparent way. I’ve served in many club offices and as Area Director twice. I look forward to serving you this year!
Division C
On the District level, I served as an Assistant to the Division C Director from July 2017- June 2018 under the leadership of Maggie Geoghegan, and as the Area 34 Director for Division C, D:istrict 66 from July 2018-June 2019. I have conducted leadership training for Club Presidents and Vice Presidents. I gave a presentation on Mentoring during WLI training in 2018. I have attended SLI and WLI consistently every year when offered. I have attended and participated in District leadership training and other functions consistently. I visit other clubs and serve in roles when requested. Lastly, I served as a Club Coach for Lake Country Toastmasters in South Hill, Virginia.
I currently hold positions or have held leadership roles in several capacities. I am an Ordained Deacon at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Prince George, Virginia, where I serve as the Chairman of the Benevolent Committee, Assistant Chairman on the Baptism Committee, Secretary on the Diaconate Ministry, and Past President of the Senior/Youth Ushers Ministry and Sunday School Teacher. I am also a member of the Safety and Security Ministry charged with ensuring all safety measures are adhered to before, during and after worship service. I am currently serving as the President of the Ushers Union of Petersburg, Hopewell & Vicinity. This organization is comprised of 7 local churches where membership consists of church ushers that share a common goal of perfecting practices and principles of good ushering techniques, ministering to the congregants during worship service, and developing and enhancing their spiritual growth and dedication to serving God and his people.
I have over 33 years of federal government service. I retired from the Department of Criminal Justice in 2010 as a GS-11 under Executive Administration after 23 years of service. I have over 10 years of military service with an honorable discharge from active duty in December 1985. I have served in several leadership roles throughout my lifetime. Having been a leader in many capacities I believe is what has made me the person I am today. Each leadership role that I have held has prepared me for the next level. I believe that I can be an effective District leader if elected as a Division Director. I have the personality, demeanor, social skills, professional ethics, and experience that will make me an effective leader within District 66. Together, we make the Division and District better.
Director – John Jones
Division D Director – Jamar Skyles
Jamar Skyles, IP3, CL was introduced to
Toastmasters International in later 2017, through an invite from a fellow
teammate. As a result of that generous invitation, Jamar became fascinated with
Toastmasters and decided to join the local Toastmasters club at his place of
employment in 2018. He began his tenure
serving in several club officer roles, including Sergeant at Arms, Vice
President of Education, Vice President Public Relations, and Club President.
In 2019 Jamar excepted the request to
become an Area Director in his Division D. Jamar through his servant leadership
led his Area to become a Select Distinguished Area. His motto was that no club
or member should be left behind. As a result of his service, District 66,
awarded him the 2019-2020 Division D, Area Director of the Year Award. He also
reached out to his local community and workplace to host a Toastmasters
Speechcraft program., thereby introducing the public to the fundamentals of
public speaking.
Outside Toastmasters, Jamar is currently
employed at Newport News Shipbuilding as an Engineer Planning Analyst with the
Waterfront Engineering Business Team and previously was a Project
Scheduler/Coordinator on the Critical Chain Project Management Execution Team.
Jamar is a native of the Norfolk-Virginia
Beach, Virginia area. He currently resides in Hampton, Virginia. He holds a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Construction Technology from Norfolk
State University. He also holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in
Computer-Aided Drafting from Tidewater Community College. He is currently
pursuing an Engineering Systems and Industrial Engineering Certificate from Old
Dominion University.
Jamar continues to strive to advance his
leadership and communication skills and sees the value in Toastmasters
International organization. He served as an
assistant to the current Division D Director for the 2020-2021 year.
Jamar aims for success and desires that
everyone around him aims for success as well. He likes to motivate, see others
learn, grow and be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Division E Director – James Kennedy
Jim Kennedy is an International Best Selling Author and speaker on the topic of Leadership Development. He has been a member of Toastmasters since 2018 and is a member of two (2) clubs: Five Rings Financial and Friends Toastmasters Club in Virginia Beach and he recently became a member of the Advanced Leadership Toastmasters Club in Richmond. He has served as the Vice President Education and is the current Club President for Five Rings Financial and Friends. In addition, he also currently serves as the Area Director for Area 55 within Division E.
Before becoming a writer, Jim served in a variety of leadership and management positions for over 28 years within the federal government and private sector. Jim began his career as a US Army Officer and has gone on to serve as a program executive, program manager, administrative manager, project manager, and Information Technology Consultant. He has formally managed organizations consisting of over 200 people and has informally influenced multiple organizations at the agency level. Jim has worked with Presidential and Congressional offices as a leadership change agent.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Howard University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University (St. Louis, MO), and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. He has also participated in Leadership Development programs with the Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) and the Urban League of Cincinnati (African American Leadership Development Program of Greater Cincinnati). Jim currently lives in Chesapeake, VA. You can follow him online at his website (http://DadLeadership.com), on Twitter (@Dad_Leadershipt), on Facebook (@DadLeadership), or Instagram (@DadLeadership).
Division F Director – Venus Wilmer, DTM
Since joining Toastmasters in 2007, I am less fearful and hesitant at work and in social situations. I feel like a more valuable member of any team, and I love helping others find these blessings in their lives.