For Liz Fillman, serving the Richmond region begins with listening.

As assistant director of the Virginia Tech Richmond Center, part of Outreach and International Affairs, Fillman works with employers, community organizations, alumni, and university partners to understand regional workforce needs and connect them with Virginia Tech expertise and resources.

“I work to make connections with our region, listen to the needs of our workforce, and connect the resources of the university to the region,” Fillman said.

That work can look different from one day to the next. Some days are devoted to emails, budgets, and program planning. Others may find her on-site for a training program or attending community and alumni events.

“No two days are the same,” she said.

Although people may recognize the Richmond Center for the partnerships it forms and the training it delivers, Fillman said they may not realize how much she enjoys the process of building the programs themselves. Working alongside instructors, she helps determine the right delivery format, identify opportunities for participant engagement, and shape content into an effective learning experience.

Fillman is especially proud of three projects that reflect the Richmond Center’s role as a connector and educational partner.

One is a judicial training program developed with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Supreme Court of Virginia. The project equipped judges, attorneys, case managers, and other judicial professionals with a contemporary, evidence-based understanding of substance use disorders as chronic medical and psychological diseases.

“It was a lengthy project and one with great impact,” Fillman said. “I really enjoy the process of creating meaningful and engaging educational opportunities for our partners.”

Another has taken her into newer territory. Fillman has become increasingly involved with AI Ready RVA, a community organization focused on artificial intelligence and its implications for the region. Since becoming involved about a year ago, she has served on the organization’s community engagement and education committees and will join its newly formed workforce development task force.

That involvement also led to an invitation to participate in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner about AI policy, education, and workforce development.

The third builds on a longer relationship. Fillman continues to strengthen the Richmond Center’s partnership with the Myers-Lawson School of Construction, an effort that dates to a 2022 collaboration with the Home Building Association of Richmond. A new lab space at HITT Construction’s headquarters in Falls Church is expected to create additional opportunities for programming with Virginia Tech faculty.

For Fillman, these projects demonstrate what can happen when the university listens closely to partners and responds with relevant expertise and education. Her connection to Virginia Tech, however, began long before she joined the Richmond Center.

“This is my second time with the university,” she said. “I am a Hokie through and through.”

Fillman earned her undergraduate degree [RM1] from the Pamplin College of Business in hospitality and tourism management and remained in Blacksburg after graduation to work for Continuing and Professional Education. Her current role has allowed her to return to the university while building relationships and programs in another part of the commonwealth.

Outside work, that same instinct for understanding what people need follows her home. Fillman enjoys cooking — a skill that has become especially useful while keeping up with her 16-year-old son’s sports schedule. Her family travels frequently for his games and activities, and Fillman tries to keep home-cooked meals available whenever possible.

“I have a 16-year-old athlete to keep fueled,” she said. “I am fluent in carb counts and protein goals and all the things now.”

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