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Sam Rasoul, DelegateRepresentative of General Assembly
Start of Term: September 2014 Sam Rasoul represents the Eleventh District in the General Assembly House of Delegates and has won The Roanoker magazine’s Platinum Award for “Government Person Who Gets It” for the past two years. Raised in a working class family here in the Star City, Sam lives in Roanoke with his wife Layaly and their 3 beautiful children. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Roanoke College and Master’s Degree in International Business from Hawaii Pacific University, he became a small business owner and later the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of a non-profit healthcare firm. Sam channeled his passion for healthcare reform into finding more compassionate ways to care for our seniors and helping with maternal and child health in East Africa. Aside from working hard to best serve the people he represents in the Roanoke Valley, Sam currently has his own small business that helps organizations become more successful through developing better business plans and through investing in their employees. |
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Designee:
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Chris Hurst, DelegateRepresentative of General Assembly
Start of Term: January 2018 Chris Hurst is an American journalist, former news anchor and politician of the Democratic Party serving as a Delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates for the state’s 12th district. He defeated Republican incumbent Joseph R. Yost in the November 2017 election, receiving 54.3% of the vote. Hurst was formerly a journalist for Roanoke’s WDBJ; he became an anchor at 22, which the station said made him the youngest anchor in the country. He entered politics in the aftermath of the 2015 on-air murder of his girlfriend, Alison Parker; in February 2017 he left his job and lived on his savings in order to run for the House of Delegates in the 12th district. In the race, Hurst was endorsed by Every town for Gun Safety (the only House of Delegates candidate to receive the endorsement), while his opponent Yost had an A rating from the NRA. Hurst also ran on LGBT rights, education, mental health, and Medicaid expansion. Membership & Affiliation: Kiwanis of Montgomery County-Blacksburg Education: Emerson College, MA ( B.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2009) Occupation/Profession: Journalist Awards: National Alliance on Mental Illness, Media Person of the Year (2014) NAACP, Roanoke Branch, Media Person of the Year (2015) Edward R. Murrow Award (2016) |
Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office
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David F. CoxPrivate Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: April 2019 – April 2024 Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Superintendent Western Virginia Regional Jail, Salem, VA Exercise line authority over jail personnel in the day-to-day operation of the jail and serve as the jail’s chief operating officer. Responsible for ensuring the goals and objectives set forth by the Superintendent are met. Report directly to the Superintendent and assume command in the absence of the Superintendent. Major, Chief Services Officer Western Virginia Regional Jail, Salem VA Directed and supervised all Services Division personnel in the day to day operations of the Classification Section, Inmate Property, Laundry, Facility Sanitation, Warehouse Operations, Facility Maintenance, Inmate Rehabilitation, Recreation, Religious, and Substance Abuse Programs, Inmate Commissary, Inmate Medical Treatment and Food Services. Captain, Chief Services Officer Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke, VA Directed and supervised all personnel within the Services Division which included Accreditation, Classification, Staff Training, Maintenance, Counseling, Research and Planning, Education, Recreation, and Payroll. Worked extensively with private service providers in the areas of inmate medical care and inmate commissary services. Sergeant, Training Officer Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke, VA Responsible for implementation and documentation of all staff training including basic, in-service, roll-call and all specialized training sessions and seminars. Worked as lead firearms instructor for the agency. Also was employed as Jail Training Coordinator at the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy prior to the hiring of full-time staff coordinators. Deputy Sheriff Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke, VA Worked as a correctional officer within the Roanoke City Jail, primarily as a booking officer. Police Officer Salem Police Department, Salem, VA Assigned to the patrol division. Answered calls for service, investigated crimes, prepared incident reports, placed charges against offenders, made arrests, transported prisoners, issued traffic summonses, testified in court, and directed traffic as needed. Also worked as a departmental firearms instructor. |
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Cheryl MoselyPrivate Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: July 2021 – April 2026 Cheryl Mosley is originally a native of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She relocated to Roanoke, VA with her family as a young child. Cheryl attended Roanoke City Public Schools and graduated from Patrick Henry High School. She graduates from Virginia Western Community College in 2021 with an Associate of Science in Social Sciences. She is also currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at Norfolk State University. Cheryl has three adult children, Rayshon Cobbs, Jr., Bryce Cobbs and Micah Cobbs. At her core, Cheryl is driven and inspired by her purpose which includes helping others and building community. These qualities are engrained in her work, personal and social life. Cheryl has spent most of her professional career in the non-profit sector. Cheryl is currently the Director of Operations at Feeding Southwest Virginia Community Solutions Center. Cheryl joined the food bank in July 2019. Prior to joining Feeding Southwest Virginia, Cheryl was employed with VA Cares, Inc. as Mentor Coordinator and assisted in the development of the WINGS program for women re-entering the community after incarceration. She served as Director of LIFES Academy (K-12 Private Day School for students with special needs) at STEP, Incorporated in Franklin County for 10 years. While at LIFES Academy, Cheryl was responsible for ensuring the school obtained its full accreditation through VAISEF (Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities). Cheryl’s non-profit service also includes Total Action for Progress (TAP). Cheryl is the co-owner of a small business located in Roanoke, VA, Delish! Sweets & Treats that she has co-owned with her daughter for 11 years. Through her business, Cheryl has led instructional sessions and workshops on entrepreneurship and community building. Cheryl also mentors other small business owners through an organization that she developed in 2019 named, Inspired to Create. Cheryl is currently on the Leadership Team of The Hill Church located in NW Roanoke. She has (or currently participates) participated on several committees, EX-OUT; MOTA; Interwoven Equity for the City of Roanoke; FAPT; Regional Food System Partnership; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Ending Hunger; Community of Practice; and Job Training Cohort for the Feeding America National Organization to name a few. She is currently on the board of the Roanoke Cultural Endowment and serves as a development committee officer on the Acts 2 Ministries Board of Directors. Most recently she became a member of the Restoring Hope Roanoke Board of Directors. |
Elizabeth Cranwell
Private Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: April 2019 – April 2024 Elizabeth Cranwell is a 22-year resident of Roanoke, VA. A former public relations professional, Ms. Cranwell was the publicist for the Virginia Festival of American Film, now known as the Virginia Film Festival; Press Secretary for former Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia; and Communications Director for former Congresswoman Leslie Byrne of Virginia. She also provided private sector consulting in public relations and worked in several political campaigns. In addition, Ms. Cranwell taught Spanish at New Vista Montessori School in Roanoke, Virginia, a school she co-founded, and worked as a substitute teacher in every division of North Cross School, an independent, private college preparatory school, also located in Roanoke. Recently, she began a second career in real estate and has joined MKB, REALTORS of Roanoke. Always active in the community, Ms. Cranwell was the President of the Arlington Community Temporary Shelter, Inc. (now Doorways for Women and Families), Arlington County’s only domestic violence shelter and short-term homeless shelter for women and families. Upon moving to Roanoke, Ms. Cranwell served as a Commissioner on the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission and as a Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair for the Science Museum of Western Virginia. In recent years, Ms. Cranwell has focused her time in the area of education. She co-founded and served as President of New Vista Montessori School in Roanoke, Virginia. She was President of North Cross School’s Parents Association, a Trustee of the North Cross School Board of Trustees, and a Commissioner on Governor Tim Kaine’s Start Strong Council, which worked to expand pre-kindergarten education in the Commonwealth. She is currently a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors where she serves as Chair of the Committee on UVA Wise, Vice Chair of the Academic and Student Life Committee and a member of the Building and Grounds Committee. Additionally, Ms. Cranwell is a member of the Board of Directors of Emerge VA, an organization that trains Democratic women to run for public office. Ms. Cranwell is married to C. Richard Cranwell, an attorney and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates. They have two sons, both of whom attend the University of Virginia. Ms. Cranwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government and Spanish from the University of Virginia in 1986 and a Master of Arts in Public Communication from American University in 1996. She resides in Vinton, Virginia. |
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Curtis ThompsonPrivate Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Board Chair Term: January 2017 – January 2022 Mr. Curtis Thompson is a native of Roanoke, VA. And is a resident of the City of Roanoke. He attended Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, VA. He completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Minor in Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation at Seattle University in 1990. He currently serves as Director of Financial Services at Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke VA. He focuses upon products and services to assist small business owners become successful entrepreneurs in the TAP service area (lending & micro-financing). In a previous position, Mr. Thompson was founder, and Executive Director of New Vision Youth Services, a for-profit youth service organization serving the Roanoke and Alleghany Highlands. New Vision Youth Services provides a wide array of direct service programs serving the youth most in need. Mr. Thompson is also deeply engaged in public service. He has served as President of Inner City Athletic Association (ICAA) for four years and helped the organization develop & write many successful grant applications to support its many programs. He also served on the Board of Directors for The Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership (RHAP) for two terms. |
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Damon Williams
Private Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Ad Hoc Executive Committee Member Term: September 2016 – September 2021 A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Damon Williams is a graduate of William Fleming High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Virginia Military Institute. While a cadet at VMI, Mr. Williams was a stand-out basketball player. Damon and his twin brother, Ramon, are the highest scoring twin duo in NCAA history. Along with his brother, he was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He remains involved in the game as a NCAA basketball official at the Division I level. Employed by First Citizens Bank for more than sixteen years, Damon now is the bank’s Regional Community Development Officer. In that role, he is responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and retail development efforts in the communities the bank serves throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Carilion Medical Center and served as a member of the Carilion Clinic’s Governance Task Force. Mr. Williams is an active citizen in the Roanoke area. He has been the chairman of both the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley and the Economic Development Authority for the City of Roanoke. Damon also has served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwestern Virginia and was a member of the Community Health Assessment Team for Healthy Roanoke Valley. His involvement with Total Action for Progress includes being a member of its Property Committee and serving on the board of its Business Seed Capital, Inc. Damon has served his alma mater as member of the VMI Keydet Club’s Board of Governors and currently is a Director of the VMI Alumni Association. Mr. Williams has been devoted to giving back to his community, especially its youth. Annually, he and his brother conduct summer basketball camps for both boys and girls in the Roanoke area which are sponsored by their non-profit group, Youth Sports, Inc. In 2001, Damon and brother received the “Key to the City” from Roanoke’s Mayor, Noel C. Taylor, in recognition of their service to the area’s young people. |
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Leslie Matney
Private Representative (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: January 2017 – January 2022 Leslie Fields Matney, is a retired Chief Probation and Parole Officer who served the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia Department of Corrections for 31 and one half years. She graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1982 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology. She initially worked for a local Community Service Board in Christiansburg, VA for two years as a Case Manager for New River Community Sentencing, working with offenders through the General District Court system. In June 1985 she was hired by the DOC as a Probation Officer in Williamsburg and worked there for approximately one year. She transferred to the Roanoke office in 1986 where she worked in a multitude of positions and interests for 23 years. During that time, she received her CSAC certification (Certified Substance Abuse Counselor) and spent much of her career working with chemically addicted state responsible offenders. She was involved in the first Drug Court in the State of Virginia, Roanoke and proudly served as one of the first Probation Officers, establishing it as the premier program in the state. The Drug Court at one time was based in the intensive supervision Day Reporting Center which focused on high needs offenders and their rehabilitation efforts in the community. She worked with the Roanoke based DOC Transitional Therapeutic Community programs through Bethany Hall and Hegira House, developing her position as a specialized Probation Officer. This position was involved in transitioning offenders from the institution to the program and then work on stabilizing the offender in the community before eventual release from supervision. During this time, she was promoted to Senior CSAC Probation Officer as well as an Administrative Senior Probation Officer. Through these positions Chief Matney was not only able to work with offenders, but also work with the new Probation Officers, as a Training Officer and assisted in developing their career in the Virginia DOC. In 2009, she was promoted to Chief Probation Officer in Botetourt supervising a staff of 11 people and a responsibility for 400 plus offenders in the Botetourt, Allegheny and Craig County area. She served that community for 7 years. During that time she assisted in the development of the BAC Home Re-entry Council, assisting in placement of difficult offenders in the community. She also worked with the teacher in the local Botetourt Technical Education Center (BTEC) to establish a mentorship program with the local students enrolled in the criminal justice curriculum. Utilizing the highlights of the institutions and community based elements, students were exposed to a variety of careers and opportunities within the Virginia DOC. She also worked on the Virginia DOC Directors Future Search program to review the direction of the department and assist with development of long term goals. She also served on the initial Healing Environment Council to implement a department wide communication initiative. In 2016 she transferred to the Bedford Probation office where she served that community until her retirement in September 2016 Chief Matney served in several capacities on the Bethany Hall Board of Directors for over 25 years. She currently serves as one of the Representatives from Bethany Hall on the current ARCH Board of Directors. She was recognized as Virginia’s Probation Officer of the Year. She has served her faith as an Elder and Deacon in the Presbyterian Church. She was a Core Group Council member and Sunday School teacher for her class. |
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Linda MoyerLow Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: January 2019 – January 2024 Linda Poindexter Moyer was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. After graduating from William Byrd High School, she entered the work force and pursued vocational training. She has obtained numerous certificates of completion from a wide range of training amenities such as: Opportunities Industrialization Center, University of Virginia Extension, Mary Baldwin College, Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Virginia Department of Social Services, Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute, and City of Roanoke Leadership College. Throughout her life she has served in her community by holding several positions and volunteering her time in church, with inner-city youth, senior citizens and community action groups. Linda’s passion and desire in life has always been to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Growing up with strong role models (mother, grandmother, father and religious leaders) has developed many of her enthusiasms. She not only came to love the excitement of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new, but came to understand the idea of giving back to the community in exchange for a new sense of life, love and spirit. Working at Total Action Against Poverty (TAP), for over 25 years, enhanced her life immensely. She provided technical and administrative work in a variety of assignments, which directly supported the operations and activities within the agency. Her most rewarding assignment was assisting the participants enrolled in the programs. Linda left TAP to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. She found delight in AmeriCorps VISTA’s mission, to assist in building permanent infrastructure and capacity in nonprofit organizations and communities, which helped bring individuals and communities out of poverty. While she continues to serve the LORD, Linda finds endless happiness enjoying the company of her sister, husband, children, grand children, great-grand children, family and friends. |
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Rosana AndersonLow Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: January 2019 – January 2024 Rosana Anderson was born in Cross, South Carolina to the late William and Elsie Mack, the ninth of ten children. She moved to Roanoke, Virginia, in 1961 where she met her husband of 43 years, James Anderson. She is the proud Mother of Lori A. (Eric) Otey; proud Grandmother of LaQuanda (Marko) Bell, Erick Jr., Jessyka, James, Akeem, and Rosetta; and equally proud Great-Grandmother of Erica, Jamaica, Jamyia and Malaka. Ms. Rosana is a very active member of Central Baptist Church where she is a faithful member of the Gospel, Mass and Senior Chorus; Sunshine Missionary; and Sunday School Outreach Coordinator. Presently she is volunteering at the Western Virginia Regional Jail conducting a Life Skills group for the female inmates. She is retired from TAP after 32 years of dedicated service. Rosana began her journey as a trainee community organizer. Through the grace of God she became the co-director of Families in Transition, Virginia CARES, Access and Visitation and Fatherhood and Families Programs. With more than twenty-five years experience in training and consulting in human relationships, personal development, and group design skills, she is a trainer of trainers and has worked with grass-roots issues, students, prisoners, ex-prisoners, families in transition, and families in difficulty. As a result of Ms. Anderson’s hard work and commitment to a healthy family environment, the Fatherhood Facilitation program was established. Out of the Fatherhood program, the Access and Visitation program was developed. As a direct result of Ms. Anderson’s persistence, TAP was awarded a grant from the Mott foundation for a three-year national demonstration program with non-custodial fathers under the age of 30. The only state in the south to be a part of this demonstration – Fathers at Work. 1979 – The Executive Director of Total Action Against Poverty sent all five Virginia CARES staff to the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) training conference in Philadelphia, PA. Afterwards Rosana joined the Richmond, Virginia Chapter. 1983 – She co-founded the Roanoke/Lynchburg NABCJ chapter and later rejoined the Richmond Chapter after the disassembling of the Roanoke chapter. 2000 – Rosana was instrumental in starting the Western NABCJ Chapter. 2004 – Ms. Anderson received the Martin Luther King “Drum Major for Justice” award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) 2007 – She became a lifetime member of NABCJ. This was bestowed by the Virginia NABCJ Chapter. Rosana’s motto is: “I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody that they don’t know who sent me – GOD uses ordinary people and I am just an ordinary person trying to do God’s Will” |
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Kemba SmithLow Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: July 2019 – July 2024 Kemba is a Richmond native and formerly incarcerated person. She has been a national advocate and public speaker in the criminal justice arena for over 20 years. She has spoken nationally and internationally about the devastating social, economic and political consequences of drug policies. She has met with officials at the White House, testified before Congress and the United Nations regarding a variety of criminal justice issues including crack cocaine sentencing, mandatory drug sentencing, women and mass incarceration, felony disenfranchisement, and re-entry. April 2019, Kemba began a position with the ACLU of Virginia as their State Advocacy Campaign Director. Her goal is to build restorative and transformational movements centered around criminal justice reform and ending mass incarceration. Kemba is a graduate of Virginia Union University with a B.S. in Social Work, former Soros Justice Fellow, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and is a 2019 Just Leadership, Leading with Conviction Fellow. |
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Stephen Alan Musselwhite
Low Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Secretary/Treasurer Term: January 2015 – January 2020 Stephen A. Musselwhite is married to Billie Sue. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Stephen is the President of Musselwhite & Associates, Inc. He is the Chair of Jefferson College of Health Sciences and also the President of Jefferson College Foundation, Inc. Stephen serves as Chair for Roanoke Counts Economic Development Authorities. He is also the State Chair for Kairos Prison Ministry. Stephen is the Past President for the Local Office On Aging. He is also the President for Regency Towers HOA. Stephen is a Board Member for Foundation for Roanoke Valley and also the Vice President for Foundation for Downtown Roanoke, Inc. Stephen is the Past Chair for Total Action for Progress. |
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John LaFlamme, Jr.Low Income Representatives (5/10 Term)
Board Position: Term: April 2017 – April 2022 John LaFlamme came on the Virginia CARES Board of Directors in 2017 and serves on the Planning and Personnel committees. John is employed as Assistant Manager with Stop In Food Stores. John volunteers with Gift of Deliverance which prepares meals for those who are low income or shut-in at Thanksgiving and Christmas. He is a member of Christian Motorcyclists Association. |