Shawn Avery

Shawn Avery serves as the President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council since September 2014, leading the premier workforce development organization in the Commonwealth to enhance economic prosperity and quality of life in the region. Previously, Shawn held the position of Vice President at the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development from September 2006 to August 2014, where collaboration with private sector and education partners was key to addressing regional workforce needs. Additional experience includes roles such as Senior Manager of Development and Community Affairs at Opportunity Inc. of Hampton Roads, Manager at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center and Grants Specialist at Thomas Nelson Community College, and Vice-President of Development at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Peninsula. Shawn Avery holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Christopher Newport University, an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology, and certificates in Basic Economic Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Community Economic Development from Virginia Tech.