COVER STORY
Devin Tobin
Chief operating officer at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery Roberta Tinch, was the Chief Operating Officer at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center when I was completing my administrative residency. Roberta was confident, poised, and expertly balanced the challenges of being a new mother and influential executive. She continually provided me with the opportunity to see all aspects of our organization, challenging me to take ownership of large projects and initiatives. She provided real-time candid feedback and helped me to outline a career path that would help me reach my short- and long-term goals. She was recently recognized by Modern Healthcare as a Top 25 Emerging Leader for 2023 and I could not think of someone more deserving.
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Devin Tobin
Noelle Lane
Elementary school teacher Eric Fisher, the principal of Preston Park is the most trustworthy person and best boss I have ever worked for. He is the captain of a ship that has been sailing tumultuous waters from things like Covid, student trauma, and the interesting dynamics of being a predominantly EL [English Learner] school. He has only ever shown compassion and understanding towards all he has encountered. There are so many times I know what his week has looked like that I just know he must feel flustered, but he calmly carries on and I suspect he will for many years more. He is also a great poet, friend, and mentor.
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Noelle Lane
Eric Fitzpatrick
Artist My favorite mentors have all been painters. At Tech, I was an art major for the short time that Joni Pienkowski was teaching. She was the perfect professor, in that she had no ego, and yet could paint in any style imaginable. She taught us a "no limits" approach (i.e. paint anything you want in any medium you want. The only thing required is that you feel a passionate connection with what you are creating). That principle has been my compass ever since.
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Eric Fitzpatrick vbFRONT.com / AUGUST 2023 u
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