Apprenticeship Consultant Biographies
Maynard Stowe – Norfolk
Maynard Stowe has been with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Registered Apprenticeship Department since November of 2015. He is currently a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant in their Tidewater Region. Mr. Stowe has a long career history focusing on Adult Education and Training providing adults with career and educational opportunities.
He, along with the Department of Labor and Industry will assure that companies seeking to develop career and training development for their employees through Registered Apprenticeship will have the highest quality of service and dedication. Combining both on the job training and related instruction, Mr. Stowe will assist companies in focusing specifically on how Registered Apprenticeship can meet their long term growth needs.
Localities served: Franklin City, Isle of Wight, James City, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Southampton, Suffolk, Surry, Wakefield, Waverly, Williamsburg
Delores Ferrell – Norfolk
Delores Ferrell is a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant in the Tidewater Regional Office. She has been employed with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry since 1986 and working as a consultant with the Division of Registered Apprenticeship since 2004. She has extensive experience in providing employers with a proven strategy for employee training and development to include on-the-job training along with related technical instruction and quality customer service. She looks forward to discussing Registered Apprenticeship and how it may benefit your company with you.
Localities served: Gloucester, Hampton, Mathews, Middlesex, Newport News, Poquoson, York
Diana Lyons – Roanoke
Diana comes from a background in organizational and quality system management. Throughout her career, she has held several leadership positions centered on customer service, auditing and compliance; previously serving as the Operations Director for a local Chamber of Commerce, a licensed Realtor, Internal Auditor and Commercial Property Inspector. Guided by experience, Diana knows that a single approach to workforce training is not the right answer for every business and understands when it comes to hiring and retention, Registered Apprenticeship is not merely a program, but a workforce strategy. That is why she is excited to serve as a liaison to local businesses by helping address needs that will lead to building a stronger and more thriving local economy.
Localities served: Blacksburg, Bland, Buchanan, Christiansburg, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Norton City, Pulaski, Radford City, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem City, Tazewell, Wise, Wythe
Kara Joyce – Roanoke
Kara Joyce recently joined the Virginia Department of Labor and Industries as a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant working out of the Roanoke office with Diana Lyons. Kara’s background is varied: she has worked as a caterer, a college instructor, a tutor, a hairstylist, and most recently, in human services and workforce development. Kara views the apprenticeship model as not only an effective way to help employers meet their skilled staffing needs, but also as an opportunity for interested workers to attain their occupational goals. She understands that each apprenticeship is unique, and she emphasizes customer service and relationship-building in fostering apprenticeships. With a non-profit background, Kara has a particular interest in working with young adults and traditionally underserved populations in Southwest Virginia; however, she looks forward to working with all potential employers and apprentices to achieve successful outcomes.
Localities served: Abingdon City, Bedford City, Bedford County, Botetourt, Bristol City, Carroll, Fincastle, Franklin County, Galax City, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Martinsville, Patrick, Rocky Mount, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Washington
Faith Clayton – Verona
Faith Clayton is a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant with the Department of Labor and Industry. She graduated from BRCC with a degree in Applied Science: Human Services. Her background has included social work, Human Recourses, and payroll. Faith is a product of Registered Apprenticeship, as she was an apprentice herself with the Department of Labor and Industry.
Localities served: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, Harrisonburg, Madison, Rockingham
Marco Pineda – Manassas
Consultant /Regional Supervisor, Division of Registered Apprenticeship
Marco believes that Registered Apprenticeship opens the door to opportunities of skill development, increased wage earning potential and quality of life improvement. He sees Registered Apprenticeship as a transformative process made up of multiple elements. Not everyone starts this process at the same step; Marco works to fully understand the situation and then assists each individual to map out a plan providing them with consistent steps of action towards their goals. He has a deep appreciation of diverse cultures and passion to make Registered Apprenticeship accessible to all.
Localities served: Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren, Winchester
Crystal Thrower – Manassas
Crystal Thrower has served the Commonwealth since 2006 as a Registered Apprenticeship Consultant. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where her family worked as Registered Apprentices and Journey workers, Crystal never realized the amount of commitment her family members put forth as they achieved their goals of completing their programs until she came to our office. Through her growth and knowledge of what makes a Registered Apprenticeship work, she has become extremely passionate about Registered Apprenticeship. Crystal received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from George Mason University in 2000 and she earned a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Business Administration in 2006 and 2007 from Strayer University.
Localities served: Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Clifton, Fairfax Station, Falls Church, Ft. Belvoir, Lorton, McLean, Mount Vernon, Springfield, Tysons, Vienna, Woodbridge
Donna Carvana – Richmond
Donna Carvana is a 10-year veteran Registered Apprenticeship Consultant for metropolitan Richmond and the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, Orange, and Louisa. She completed a B.S. Degree at East Carolina University and obtained a Master Degree of Divinity from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Her duties as an Apprenticeship Consultant provide an opportunity to network in the public business arena providing customer service to existing and new sponsors and apprentices; marketing apprenticeship programs to potential companies for employment training and development; and developing apprenticeship program which area high schools through co-op efforts with guidance counselors.
During 2017, Donna developed and implemented a pilot youth apprenticeship program in Louisa County. Working with Louisa County High School Career and Technical Education staff, she assisted in creating a model for Youth Registered Apprenticeship programs, which can be duplicated across Virginia. Ms. Carvana continues her commitment to building strategic partnerships between local/state government agencies and commercial/private industries to build work force development opportunities for those seeking skilled employment opportunities.
Localities served: Caroline, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, New Kent
Diana Leyva – Richmond
My name is Diana Leyva, I am the bilingual Registered Apprenticeship Consultant in the Central Virginia Region. Coming from a background in customer service and management, I am dedicated to helping people find all the resources and information possible to achieve their goals. One of my passions is helping Hispanic Communities to obtain occupational training and assistance on workforce development opportunities. Registered Apprenticeship is a remarkable program that not only helps individuals but also strengthens communities and creates a pipeline for future workforce.
Mi nombre es Diana Leyva, soy la Consultora bilingüe de aprendizaje registrado en la región de Virginia Central. Con experiencia en administración y servicio al cliente, me dedico a ayudar a las personas a encontrar todos los recursos e información posibles para lograr sus objetivos y sus metas. Una de mis pasiones es ayudar a las comunidades hispanas a obtener capacitación y asistencia ocupacional en oportunidades de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. El aprendizaje registrado es un programa valioso que no solo ayuda a las personas sino que también fortalece a las comunidades y crea un camino para la futura fuerza laboral.
Localities served: Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa, Powhatan, Richmond City
Miguel Granillo-Córdova – Manassas
My name is Miguel Granillo-Córdova, I work out of the Manassas Office. I consider The Registered Apprenticeship Training Model to be a viable life changing opportunity. People will point to their lack of opportunities and say that they just didn’t get their fair share to succeed. The reality is that we create our own opportunities. Registered Apprenticeship is that, an exceptional opportunity, presented to you – employers and employees – to succeed.
Mi nombre es Miguel Granillo-Córdova, trabajo en la oficina de Manassas.Considero que el Modelo de Entrenamiento de Aprendizaje Registrado es una oportunidad de cambio de vida viable. Las personas señalarán las faltas de oportunidades y dirán que simplemente no tuvieron suficientes oportunidades para tener éxito. La realidad es que nosotros creamos nuestras propias oportunidades. Aprendizaje Registrado es eso, una oportunidad excepcional, presentada a usted – empleadores y empleados – para poder tener éxito.
Localities served: Bristow, Charles City, Culpeper, Dumfries, Essex, Fauquier, City of Fredericksburg, King George, Lancaster, Manassas, Manassas Park, Montclair, Nokesville, Northumberland, Orange, Prince William, Quantico, Richmond County, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland