Sherri Thrift

Experienced program developer and manager with solid skills in partner-building, project management, writing, marketing, presenting, and research. Always striving to use my skills to make a positive impact on the community around me!The skinny:I currently serve as the Division Career Coach for Williamsburg-James City County Schools. In this role, I develop partnerships and programming to make sure our students are college- and career-ready. This includes working with local businesses in creating the Career Connections Fair, Mock Interview Event, Senior Hiring Event, Health Careers Day, work-based learning opportunities, and more. I also meet with students to help them plan for their post-high school life.Prior to WJCC Schools, I served as the Williamsburg Program Coordinator for Workforce Credentials & Continuing Education at Thomas Nelson Community College in Virginia. In this position, I was responsible for developing and implementing programs ranging from entrepreneurship to culinary arts to dementia training. I am a Certified Ice House Entrepreneurship Program instructor and periodically taught the course to entrepreneurs and small business owners. I hold a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech and a Bachelors in Business Management from Marshall University. I have served as a Business Analyst for the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center providing assistance to small business owners, worked in real estate in North Carolina, spent time in state government and higher education with economic development, partnership building, and project management, and once owned my own real estate marketing company.