Board of Visitors

Mr. Brad Hobbs

For over 25 years, Brad Hobbs has served as the President and CEO of Hobbs & Associates, a family-owned, independent commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business founded in 1984. Hobbs & Associates works with its business partners to create enduring community infrastructure such as schools and colleges, hospitals, military and municipal structures, entertainment venues, hotels, and multi-family housing. Brad led the company to become one of the nation’s largest engineered product distribution companies with ten offices serving Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, and Washington DC employing over 170 employees. In addition to managing Hobbs & Associates, Brad has launched several other successful businesses in the Southeast. As a prolific fundraiser and generous donor, Brad continues to invest in the communities where Hobbs’ families and customers live and work. He supports numerous philanthropic organizations through Board service and leadership including the American Heart Association - Hampton Roads, Neptune Festival Board of Directors, Norfolk Christian Schools, Salvation Army, Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, and the Virginia Tech Athletic Foundation. He is also very active in the HVAC industry serving on Boards with key HVAC manufacturing partners. Brad was honored to serve on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s transition team and delighted to be appointed to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1990 with a degree in Finance. Brad is committed to his faith, family, business, and community and enjoys attending family events with his wife Molly in support of their five children as well as playing tennis and golf.

Mr. Hobbs was appointed on July 1, 2022 by Governor Youngkin.

Ms. Anna James

Ms. Anna James of Suffolk, Virginia, is the Director of Business Development and Academic Affiliation at Sentara Healthcare. A Virginia Tech alumna, she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management in 2002 before continuing on to complete her M.B.A. at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010. After graduating, she became Director of Government Relations for Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System. From there, she assumed the role of Manager for State Government Affairs for Troutman Sanders Strategies, before serving as Special Assistant to Governor Mark Warner. While working with Governor Warner, Ms. James established the Governor's Healthy Virginians initiative, and advised the Governor on issues such as teacher quality, K-12 education, procurement, capital outlay, healthcare and higher education. She subsequently was named Policy Director to Governor Terry McAuliffe, a position she held from 2014 to 2016.

Ms. James was appointed on July 1, 2017 by Governor McAuliffe and reappointed on July 1, 2021 by Governor Northam.

Ms. Sharon Brickhouse Martin

Ms. Martin is Founder and President of Brickhouse•Martin Healthcare Engineering (B•MHE). In this capacity, she is responsible for the management and information technology services that the firm provides to its healthcare clients. Prior to starting B•MHE in 1991, Ms. Martin served in senior positions in the healthcare consulting practices of Ernst & Whinney, Coopers & Lybrand, and Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc. An experienced facilitator and trainer, Ms. Martin has been a frequent speaker and author on the subjects of project management, reengineering, teambuilding, and process improvement for healthcare organizations. Ms. Martin currently serves on several boards including the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholars Program in Charlottesville, VA, and both the HSC Foundation Board of Directors and the HSCSN Board of Directors in Washington, DC. Previously she served on the Advisory Board of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, the Board of Directors of the Comprehensive Health Investment Project of Virginia, the Advisory Council for the Medical Care for Children Partnership of Fairfax County, Virginia, the Industrial Advisory Board of the CEED program for the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, and as President and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Capital Chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research as well as an M.S. in Engineering Administration, both from Virginia Tech. She is also a qualified Myers Briggs Type Indicator instructor and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Ms. Martin was appointed on July 1, 2019 by Governor Northam.

Dr. Melissa Byrne Nelson

Dr. Melissa Byrne Nelson earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech in 1992. While at Virginia Tech, she was elected president of her class and president of the Student Government Association. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a medical student, she served as the president of the Student Government Association and the student member of the Board of Visitors at VCU. Dr. Nelson completed her residency at Cornell University Medical Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. She also pursued advanced training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Albert Einstein University and served on the faculty at New York Presbyterian Hospital and the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Nelson is currently a partner and practicing physician with Pediatric Associates of Richmond, and has been voted by her peers a “Top Doc” by Richmond Magazine multiple times. She served as a leader of PACKids, advocating for the creation of a free-standing children’s hospital in Richmond. For this work, she was named Outstanding Woman for Health and Science of 2015 by the Richmond YWCA and a 2015 Person of the Year honoree by the Richmond Times Dispatch. Dr. Nelson continues to advocate for children and serves on the board for Child Savers and as an advisor to the Faison Center for Autism. Since 2017, she has served on the Governor’s Department of Health PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council. Dr. Nelson has served on the VCU-MCV Alumni Association Board and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board.

Dr. Nelson was appointed on July 1, 2019 by Governor Northam.