Heather holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Mary Washington and a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law. While living in New Haven, Connecticut, she directed the region’s welfare to work one-stop center and served as Assistant to the Mayor for Policy Analysis where she worked on workforce development and homeownership issues.

In New Haven, she also oversaw a large investigation to assess the region’s compliance with the Fair Housing Act, conducting analyses of impediments and making recommendations to improve the education, outreach, and enforcement of fair housing laws. After moving to Honolulu, Hawai’i, Heather served as the Chief of Staff to a Hawai’i state senator and the Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of Hawai’i, where she oversaw all external relations and advocated for the University’s legislative agenda in the state legislature. Returning to Virginia in 2009, Heather oversaw the bipartisan policy projects for the Miller Center at the University of Virginia for former Governor Gerald Baliles. She also served as the Staff Director of the Goode National Transportation Policy Project, and did significant work on Higher Education, among other areas.

Currently she serves on the Board of Directors for Housing Virginia and as Rector at the University of Mary Washington. She has been admitted by examination to the State Bars of Connecticut, Hawai’i, and Virginia.

Senta Gorrie has worked in the field of affordable housing and homelessness for more than 15 years. Her roles in our sector include serving as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, where she led statewide policy, community organizing and strategic communication efforts. She has also served as Program Developer for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s supportive housing division which serves approximately 30% of the homeless families in St. Paul, MN. Prior to joining DHCD, Senta worked at Minnesota’s largest Legal Aid office as their Director of Philanthropy. 

As a girl, Senta’s family accessed many of the programs she has spent her career strengthening and protecting. She is a graduate of Mills College in Oakland, California and recently relocated to Virginia with her two young daughters after becoming engaged.

In her free time, Senta loves spending time in the forest behind her house with her fiancé Matt and their three daughters. 

RKG Associates is an economic, planning, and real estate consultancy with offices in Washington, DC, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Durham, NH.

Since its founding in 1981, RKG has built a track record of sound planning advice rooted in data, creativity, and realistic, implementable strategies.

RKG’s strength is in a diverse range of experiences that have helped hundreds of cities, towns and private firms make the most of spaces that matter to them.

Mark Nantz is president and chief executive officer of Valley Health System, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, services and providers based in Winchester, Virginia.

Prior to joining Valley Health, Nantz served in executive roles with Bon Secours Mercy Health, including most recently as Chief Administrative Officer and Atlantic Group President; before then, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Bon Secours. He has also held executive positions at Carolinas Healthcare System (now Atrium Health) and Carolinas Medical Center ‐ NorthEast, and leadership roles in the audit practice of a Big 5 accounting firm. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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Nantz is a visionary executive with a record of improving patient satisfaction, quality metrics, and physician and employee engagement. During his 30-plus year tenure in health care, his professional accomplishments include building advanced clinical programs and successful physician and community partnerships, and instituting organizational effectiveness and strategic business plans at the local, regional, and system levels.

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Nantz earned a Master of Health Administration from Pfieffer University, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Carolina ‐ Charlotte. An engaged community leader, he has volunteered in leadership roles with numerous non‐profit and civic organizations, including chambers of commerce, the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes, and organizations supporting the fine arts. He and his wife, Courtenay, reside in Winchester.