Annette Lewis

Annette Lewis has worked at TAP for more than 30 years, starting her career with the agency as a summer youth counselor and later assuming a variety of positions, including supervisor of Head Start family and parent involvement, director of This Valley Works, vice president of programs, and senior vice president of programs, prior to becoming president. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Lewis led the agency in the growth of its education and employment programs that provide a wide array of career development opportunities for youth and adults. Some of the results of her efforts include: forming a statewide employment training network; organizing the first comprehensive regional job fair; establishing an annual football game featuring historically black colleges and universities that raised money for high school dropout retrieval; and honoring individuals who contribute to the success of African-Americans in the community by hosting an annual Black History Month celebration.

A tireless leader and force for good within the community, Ms. Lewis has been the recipient of numerous honors, including 2013 Regional Workforce Development Professional of the Year award; 2009 YWCA Woman of Achievement Award in Business; 2008 Psi Phi Citizen of the Year Award; and 2008 TAP Black History African American Achievement Award.

Ms. Lewis serves as a trustee on the Roanoke Higher Education Authority Board and is chairman of the City of Roanoke School Board. She is also a lifetime member of the NAACP; co-founder and member of the board of the domestic violence awareness organization Ladies of Vision (LOV); and has been a faithful working member of Morning Star Baptist Church for over 30 years.