Laura Mills, M.A. – President
City of Manassas
Laura Mills is the Chief Deputy Registrar of the City of Manassas. She is a lifelong resident of Manassas and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University and Master’s in Management from Liberty University. She served as an Academic Registrar for many years before transitioning to local government where she now facilitates free and fair elections for the City of Manassas. Laura is also a jazz and contemporary singer and performs with groups including Silver Tones Swing Band, StageCoach Theatre Company, Thrive Worship Team, Upper Room Theatre Ministry, Gainesville Community Choir, and Prince William Little Theatre. She is a contributing writer for DC Theatre Arts and covers theatrical events and special performances in the DC Metro Area. She frequently works with schools, non-profits, and local performing arts groups through her business Manassas Marketing. Laura is passionate about the Arts and Civic Engagement and is thankful to be able to serve her community doing both. www.laurarosemills.com
Dr. James Carr, Ed. D., – Immediate Past President Prince William County Police (retired)
After serving the citizens of Prince William County for over 35-years, Dr. Carr retired from the Prince William County Police Department at the rank of Captain. In his most recent assignment, Dr. Carr served as the Commander of the Personnel Bureau, with direct leadership and oversight of Recruiting and Selection, and the Co-Responder Unit. Dr. Carr is a transformational leader and believes that effective leaders are forged in honor, integrity, compassion, ethics, and commitment to public service. In addition, Dr. Carr is an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University and New England College. Moreover, he has the ability to inspire and empower people through his business management, team building, mentoring, and coaching skills. Dr. Carr was conferred with a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University’s Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. Dr. Carr has a passion for art, literature, and music and plays guitar. His first volunteer experience when he joined the Board was to play guitar for Rooftop Productions’ Godspell (2012). Dr. Carr was elected to serve as President of the Board effective July 1, 2021, until June 11, 2023. Dr. Carr currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors.
Jan Alten – Secretary
Opera House Gourmet, Retired
Jan Alten retired in 2015 after 18 years of owning and running Opera House Gourmet, a wine and specialty food and gift shop located in Old Town Manassas. She is a native of Richmond, VA and attended George Mason University. Jan and her husband, Peter moved to Manassas in 1973. They have two children and five grandchildren. She was a member of the board of directors for the Old Town Business Association for 15 years. In retirement, Jan is an active member in the local chapter of the American Wine Society, chairman of the Architectural Review Board for Manassas, a member of Manassas Landmarks, volunteer with Virginia National Ballet and Ordway Conservatory of Classical Ballet, and a volunteer at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Catherine Croft – Director
Farrell & Croft, PC
Catherine Croft has a lifelong passion for and background in the performing arts including ballet, jazz, and singing. Her vocation has been providing legal representation to the Prince William County, Manassas community since 1989. She is a founding partner of Farrell & Croft PC. Ms. Croft is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as AV Preeminent and recognized by Virginia Business Magazine as Legal Elite. She remains on the faculty, and has taught the undergraduate upper-level course “Family Law in Society”, as an adjunct professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University. Ms. Croft’s passion for family law is longstanding and predates her legal training. As an undergraduate, Ms. Croft obtained her B.S. in Administration of Justice and Public Safety, Juvenile Option, from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to law school, Ms. Croft worked as a paralegal for the Veteran’s Administration. From there, Ms. Croft began her law school and law career.
Gina Dabney – Director
LLE Education Group, Inc
Since 1998, Gina has served as the Director of Marketing for the LLE Education Group, a family of Early Childhood Education schools in Virginia, including Minnieland Academy, The Merit Schools, Manassas Christian School, and Skipwith Academy. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport and received a master’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland University College. Gina began her career as a radio news reporter for the Mutual Broadcasting Network and served as Producer of the Larry King Show. She serves on the advisory board of Youth for Tomorrow and is a proud former Pied Piper mom.
Debbie Jones – Director
Prince William Chamber (retired)
Debbie is a connector of people and a community leader, having recently retired after her long career as President & CEO of the Prince William Chamber. She currently serves on numerous Boards; the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the PWC Police Citizen Advisory, Benedictine Sisters of Virginia Advisory Board, Center for the Arts, Novant Health Board of Trustees and George Mason University Science & Technology Campus Advisory Board. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts from George Mason University in 1978, LEAD VA in 2007, and Leadership Prince William in 2010. She received recognition for her contributions & leadership including Leadership Prince William 2018 Kathy Ellington Leadership Award, the Catholic Business Network of NOVA and the George Mason University Alumni Association 2019 College of Visual and Performing Arts, Thomas W. Iszard IV, Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2021, Debbie was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Prince William by Prince William Living and in 2022, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE). She and her husband Lynn live in Nokesville and they love to travel the world together.
Pamela Lea – Director Navy Federal Credit Union
Pamela received her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Communications Art & Design. After several years as a graphic designer for various design studios in Northern Virginia she moved her career to the corporate world. She worked for Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) as an Art Director followed by First American Bank as Design Manager. She has now been with Navy Federal Credit Union for 25 years. She has held positions from Design Manager, Art Director and Digital Asset Manager. She has been a resident of Manassas City since 2002 and raised her son and daughter here. Her children also participated in Pied Piper Theatre for a number of years. Her children now both reside nearby in Prince William County.
Charles Leopold – Director
LLE Education Group, Inc
Charles Leopold is the C.E.O. of the Minnieland Academy chain, a series of private day schools for kids. Ranging from three weeks to twelve years old, the schools provide high-quality education to the local area. Chuck and his wife Jackie founded Minnieland in 1972 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Today, Minnieland has over 100 locations in the Northern Virginia area.
Gina Michak – Director
From Gina’s Kitchen and I Book Travel 4 U
Gina Michak is a native of Pittsburgh, PA but has been a Manassas resident since 1994. Gina married her high school sweetheart in 1991 and together they share three amazing adult kids, a wonderful son-in-law and two dogs that live for their walks around town. Gina is a culinary instructor at the Manassas Park Community Center in the kids department and owner of “From Gina’s Kitchen” which she opened in 2017 out of her love of baking, cooking, and entertaining family and friends. It started as a custom baking business and has since transitioned into a cupcake class/cupcake party business. Gina’s love of family and travel also inspired her career as the travel agent specializing in Disney Destinations with “I Book Travel For U”. Gina enjoys volunteering, cooking, baking, travel, and exercising – especially RunDisney races.
Suhail Mir – Director
Attorney & Suhail Mir Photography
Suhail Mir is an attorney at the Law Office of Suhail Mir, LLC. Suhail graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a Master of Laws degree. Suhail is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, member of Virginia State Bar, and member of the American Bar Association. His practice primarily focuses on Immigration matters, Federal Tax Exemption matters, and on Non-Profit Corporate matters. Suhail is also an award winning photographer. He was voted the Best Artist of Prince William County 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, Best Photographer 2017, and Best Events Photographer 2017.
Andrea Oswald – Director
Head Costumer and Volunteer
Andrea Oswald has been a costumer at the ArtFactory for Pied Piper Theatre and RoofTop Production for over 17 years. Having costumed over 30 theatre productions, trained rising costumers, and helped backstage, she is currently focusing on fundraising events to help with the broadening scope of the ARTfactory. She has volunteered in Manassas for many years including events with Historic Manassas, the Manassas Museum Youth Program, and as a docent leading tours at the historic Liberia house. She is a local accountant who enjoys making Historical attire for Victorian Era living history, volunteers with the CWDF Victorian Dance Ensemble, and is also on the Board of Directors for Volunteer Prince William.
Meghan Phillips – Director
Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. Immigrants First Practice Group
Meghan M. Phillips is an Associate Attorney with the VFN Immigrants First Practice Group at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. She is from an American military family, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame where she majored in Political Science and French and spent one year as an exchange student at Sciences-Po in Paris, France. She then attended William and Mary Law School, and also earned a Master of Laws degree from Queen Mary University of London. During her education, she interned in Cape Town, South Africa, Atlanta, Georgia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and London, U.K. Upon returning to the United States,Meghan began working as an immigration attorney. Her practice focuses on family and humanitarian immigration, Special Immigrant Juvenile custody, and removal defense cases and immigration appeals. When she is not working, Meghan enjoys traveling internationally, and attending concerts, plays, and musicals.
Ric Segovia – Director
George Mason Mortgage (retired)
Mr. Segovia grew up as an Air Force “brat” before his family was transferred to the Washington DC area. He graduated from James Madison University then pursued a Civil Service career with the Department of the Navy as a Training Program Manager. Ric then moved into Mortgage Banking where he’s worked as a Loan Officer, Branch Manager and Senior Vice President. He has been with George Mason Mortgage since 1995 and has served in various positions including President, Virginia Mortgage Bankers Association; Virginia Housing (formerly V.H.D.A.) Advisory Board; Habitat for Humanity (Fauquier) Selection Committee; and Prince William Association of Realtors (various Committees). He now enjoys being a member of the ARTfactory Board of Directors.
Sandra Surabian – Director
Surabian PC
Sandra Surabian, CPA, has dedicated her career to the accounting profession. In 2009 she transitioned from the corporate world to owning her small business. Now she helps other small businesses thrive by giving them the accounting tools they need to manage their money and taking the headache out of tax season for them. She holds two degrees along with her CPA license, including a Bachelors of the Arts in Economics and Communications from University of Michigan and a Masters of Public Accounting from Weber State University.
Sarah Weaver – Director
City of Manassas Public Schools
Mrs. Weaver graduated from Sweet Briar College with a BFA in Studio Art and an M.Ed from Regent University in Education. Mrs. Weaver began her career working as a graphic designer for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In 2007, she decided to pursue a teaching career and began her journey as an educator for Osbourn High School teaching art. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator of the Fine Arts, Library, and World Languages for Manassas City Public Schools. She works diligently to connect with the community and provides experiences beyond the classroom for MCPS Students. She coordinated projects with the ARTfactory, Manassas Museum, and City Hall; and helped forge Manassas Reads, a summer arts symposium, and National Young Readers week. Recently, Mrs. Weaver received the Arts Educator award at the 2023 Seefeldt Award Ceremony.