Board of Directors

President

CLUBWAKA, Co-Founder and Chief "Opportunity" Officer

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I got my start as an entrepreneur almost by accident. Just after college, my friends and I built what eventually became one of the first and largest social sports leagues in the country. What started as a fun idea with a few people turned into CLUBWAKA, a national community where thousands of adults make friends, stay active, and feel connected. I’ve been part of that journey for more than twenty-eight years, and I still love it. I’ve always been driven by building things that bring people together. I like finding opportunities, fixing problems, and creating experiences that make life a little better for the people around me. My focus is pretty simple. I want to build businesses that last, help other entrepreneurs grow, and keep creating a life that has room for family, adventure, and fun.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
For me being involved in leadership roles has made the most impact. It allows me multiple opportunities to improve my skills and more importantly I have made many more connections with other leaders that I would not have made without EO and without being actively involved.

President-Elect + Forum Chair

Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I’m a builder at heart. I got started as an entrepreneur by following a simple pull: the desire to create environments where people grow personally, professionally, and financially. My wife Maggie and I own and operate Fred Astaire Dance Studio Richmond, which we’ve grown into a multi-million-dollar business by focusing on culture, leadership, and systems that allow great people to do their best work. What began as a single studio has become a platform for developing leaders, creating meaningful careers, and delivering transformational experiences for our clients. Alongside the studio, I invest in real estate with a long-term focus on building durable, cash-flowing assets that support freedom, stability, and legacy. Across everything I do, I’m driven by the same question: How do we build something that works without burning people out and actually makes life better for everyone involved? Today, I’m focused on scaling self-managing businesses, mentoring leaders, and building a life that integrates growth, family, health, and purpose. EO has been a powerful part of that journey, both as a mirror and a multiplier.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
My favorite part of EO has been Forum hands down. There’s something powerful about being in a room where you don’t have to perform, explain, or carry the weight alone. The level of trust, confidentiality, and lived experience creates space for real honesty and real growth. Some of the most impactful moments for me weren’t big events or flashy wins, they were quiet insights that came from hearing how other entrepreneurs navigated similar challenges and realizing, I’m not alone in this. EO has helped me slow down, listen better, and make clearer decisions, not just in business, but in life. That sense of connection and perspective has been invaluable, and it’s what keeps me coming back.

Member Engagement Chair

Rehabilitative Services & Vocational Placement, Inc. (RSVP, Inc.), President

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I started out in my business as an intern. After working my way up, I had the opportunity to purchase it in 2018. RSVP, Inc. provides employment services for people with disabilities and families in poverty, and that’s what drives us. We want to help more people across Virginia and we’ve been fortunate enough to more than double our outreach in the last few years.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
My favorite experience so far was attending the global leadership conference in Macau, China. I knew EO was international, but getting to connect and learn with people from all over the world, on the other side of the world, was truly once in a lifetime.

Finance Chair

EDI Partners, CEO

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I started my career in public accounting but quickly realized it was not the field for me. I joined my family's software business shortly thereafter, and after 4 years was elevated to the role of VP and then CEO when my father grew ill and needed to retire. Through that experience I learned a LOT about how to best serve clients and how to cultivate high-performing team. When we ultimately sold the software company I knew I wanted to try my hand at another client-serving technology business, so I bought EDI Partners with two other business partners. Since the purchase we've doubled the size of the company by building the best possible team and providing the best customer service in the industry.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
I would say Forum has been my best experience so far - it has really helped me to reflect on my experiences on a monthly basis and be able to share and discuss those with people I trust.

Finance Co-Chair

CURE, Co-Founder & Partner

Governance Chair

SOLVARIA, CEO

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I own two technology companies....SOLVARIA (Database Services and Strategic Leadership) and EDI Partners (Electronic Data Interchange Consulting and Management). As the owner, I spend most of my time working on the biz vs. in it. I just finished two years as President of EO Richmond, and sit on a few other boards advising on technology and efficiency. I have been married 32 years to my wife Geri, and we have two kids...Zack (25) lives in Gaithersburg MD and Erin (19) is a Sophmore at VA Tech. I have Hobby ADD.....love to play bass in my band, go freshwater fishing from my pedal kayak around VA, play shitty golf, work with my hands, and generally take on new experiences through travel and relationships.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
Traveling to Cape Town, South Africa for EO Global Leadership Conference! The conference was amazing, and the experience with 1500 entrepreneurs from around the world changed my life.

Communications Chair

CURE, Co-Founder & Partner

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I was fortunate to get my first computer at seven, a hand-me-down from my dad’s office, and that early exposure to technology shaped everything that followed. By middle school I was building landing pages for local groups, and by high school and college, I was doing the same for businesses. Coming out of college, I served as director of a nonprofit focused on youth development, then co-founded Richmond’s first bean-to-bar chocolate company, Upchurch Chocolate.

We went from zero background in food production to profitability in four months and got accepted into the Lighthouse Labs accelerator, where I learned how to scale a scrappy idea into a real operation. That company eventually went through an acquisition. I then joined a Richmond marketing agency as digital director, which is where I connected with Kasey Hayes. In 2019, we co-founded CURE, a messaging strategy consultancy.

What drives me is the intersection of digital storytelling and organizational alignment. I’ve always believed that clarity of message is what separates companies that grow from companies that stall. CURE lets me do both: help organizations discover who they are and then build the systems to communicate it clearly, whether that’s a website, a brand platform, or a full messaging architecture. We call our core process the Messaging Alignment Plan (MAP).

More recently, I’ve been deeply focused on how AI is reshaping what’s possible for mid-sized and legacy organizations. At CURE, we’ve integrated AI into our own workflows to move faster, think more strategically, and deliver higher-quality work. But more importantly, we’re helping clients use AI to transform the experiences they provide to their own customers, from smarter onboarding to personalized content to streamlined internal communications.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
One of the main reasons I joined EO was witnessing a group of people so genuinely invested in growth, both within their companies and personally as leaders. There are other groups available to business owners, but EO’s focus on learning and personal development is evident in everything: the events, the community, the ethos of how members show up for each other. My favorite experience has been the steady rhythm of learning alongside people who are equally committed to getting better. Watching other members work through challenges, make bold moves, and thrive has pushed me to do the same. It’s less about any single moment and more about the culture of growth that runs through it all.

Membership Chair

Sklar Technology Partners, CEO/Owner

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I’m an entrepreneur building businesses across technology and hospitality. I founded Sklar Technology Partners, where we help growing companies manage risk through cybersecurity and strategic IT. Alongside my wife Halie, I also own Rock Spring Mountain Farm, a luxury wedding venue and hospitality brand rooted in thoughtful design, experience, and community. What drives me is building things that last—strong teams, scalable systems, and meaningful experiences. I joined EO to learn from other founders, share real-world lessons, and continue growing both personally and professionally.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
There are so many. Several member conversations have had profound impact on my journey

Membership Co-Chair

Transworld Business Advisors RVA, President/CEO

Transworld Business Advisors is the world leader in the marketing and sales of businesses, mergers and acquisitions, and franchises. Whether you represent an acquisition-minded corporation or are personally interested in owning your own company or new franchise. Transworld Business Advisors offers the professional services that successfully bring buyers and seller together.

Strategic Alliance Partner Chair

Weeded! Lawn Service

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I started mowing lawns when I was 10 years old. When I was 12, I convinced my mom to loan me $2,500 for my first commercial mower. After college and a brief stint in the restaurant business, which I love due to its customer service and process-driven nature, I returned to my roots and started Weeded! Lawn Service in 2002. Weeded! Lawn Service provides residential lawn mowing and yard maintenance. We currently mow almost 600 residential lawns per week. We began plowing snow in 2004, and we are now one of the largest, if not the largest, snowplow operations in the Richmond, Virginia area on commercial lots. Our mission at Weeded! Lawn Service is to be the best place to work. Our focus is on giving our team a great experience and using processes and systems to operate smoothly and efficiently.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
I can't pick out one moment, however I can share that being SAP Chair has been a fun and rewarding experience.

Strategic Alliance Partner Co-Chair

Dietitians On Demand, CEO & Co-Founder

Can you share a bit about yourself as an entrepreneur?
We are 20 years in and still going strong working to build a nationwide leader in clinical nutrition services.

What has been your favorite experience with EO so far?
I enjoy the learning events and the friendships made in forum.

Learning Chair

Laminin Coaching, President

Chad Gill is an entrepreneur, business coach and dynamic speaker. With a passion for construction, he founded Concreate in 2002, a custom concrete flooring company serving the East Coast. After over 20 years of success, he sold Concreate and established Laminin Coaching to guide fellow entrepreneurs in the construction industry. Chad’s expertise in technology and trades, combined with his innovative mindset, enables him to help clients streamline operations and achieve work-life balance. At Laminin Coaching, he provides comprehensive coaching and staffing solutions, empowering clients to reach their full potential.

Learning Co-Chair

Cornerstone Valuation, LLC, Managing Partner

EO Richmond, Chapter Manager

EO Richmond, Event Producer

Zachary McCrorey is a Production Designer and Event Producer with over a decade of experience in live events and production management across the entertainment, touring, and non-profit sectors. A Charlotte, North Carolina native, Zachary recently relocated to Richmond, Virginia, where he is excited to deepen his involvement in the local creative and entrepreneurial community. Known for his collaborative spirit and detail-driven approach, he brings a strong passion for curating meaningful experiences and supporting organizations that foster connection and growth. Zachary is thrilled to continue collaborating with EO Richmond while exploring all that the city has to offer!