Originally from Vinton, Virginia, Morgan Romeo has served as executive director of the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board since 2018. In 2009, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in foreign affairs. She found her way into workforce development through an AmeriCorps VISTA position helping refugees that resettled in Charlottesville find employment. She then started work as a case manager for federal grants at the workforce development board in Charlottesville, before moving up to the Assistant Director position. In 2017, Morgan moved back to the area with her husband and son and settled back in Vinton, VA.

1. What is your favorite part of your job as executive director of the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board?

My favorite part is seeing the impact that our organization makes through the variety of grants that we receive. Being a non-profit, we're mostly grant-funded. We do have sustainable federal funds that come to us every year from the U.S. Department of Labor, but we've been able to adapt over the past few years and make sure that we have funding to fill in gaps. No day is the same at my job, which is super exciting for me.

2. What was the inspiration behind your GO Virginia Region 2 project?

Why we went after this grant – and we're so appreciative to GO Virginia – is because we really want to try some creative solutions to retain, develop, and attract our talent. We know a lot of people are stumbling upon the Roanoke area through Roanoke Outside events, and our websites are getting traffic from outside of our state. With this project, we're trying to create an electronic solution in the shape of a webbased talent portal that will get people excited about the Roanoke area. It well help people understand the jobs that are here, the great schools that we have, and the opportunities the region offers. We’re not only trying to attract people who don't live here, but also provide resources for the young people and their families who already call the region home.

3. What have you accomplished with your project so far?

We started our project in July 2022 and have hit all of our milestones for the first quarter. We released procurement for the web-based talent portal and are currently sifting through numerous proposals to award a contract. We will choose a vendor who is best equipped to develop the portal and connect it with our existing websites and resources. We have also hit our stride in getting businesses involved with the project and will soon be setting up business field trips with K-12 schools. Our schools are excited to further promote some of their apprenticeship opportunities and work-based learning and get their students connected with businesses to help them realize they can gain employment while they're still in school and can be guaranteed a job after they leave.

4. What activities/hobbies do you like to do outside of work?

I am a huge University of Virginia fan. I like to hang out with friends and family, enjoying everything Roanoke has to offer and watching our son grow up. I am also now a member of the Parent Teacher Association and am getting more involved with helping the elementary school here.

5. What is one of the most memorable places you’ve ever visited?

When I was in high school, I went on Appalachian Service Project trips with my youth group. We went to areas that had high levels of poverty, and we would typically rebuild or add on to people’s homes. I remember visiting this family in Harlan County, Kentucky, and they had six kids and five dogs and didn’t even have running water. Despite their circumstances, they were the happiest people. They were so appreciative and loved life, and that has always stuck with me. It was the first time I had ever seen poverty like that. I think that's what made me want to participate in service work and do something to help people in an impactful way.