Executives in Residence

Chairman Emeritus at The Martin Agency Contact: jadams3@richmond.edu

John Adams has spent 41 years at The Martin Agency, an award-winning advertising agency based in Richmond, Virginia. The agency has been included on the Advertising Age "A-List" five out of the six years it has been published, and most recently, The Martin Agency won an Emmy for an interactive documentary created for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Adams plays a key role on the team that continues to bring national attention to Martin, representing such brands as Discover Financial Services, GEICO, Mondeléz, Walmart, Hanes, Kraft Foods, and BFGoodrich.

Adams is an active leader both locally and nationally. He is chairman of the board of directors at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter, and also serves on the boards of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. He is a past rector of Longwood University and has served on the boards of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia Historical Society.

A member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame, Adams lectures frequently on marketing and business issues throughout the U.S.

Co-founders of Absurd Snacks Contact: eli@absurdsnacks.com, grace@absurdsnacks.com

Absurd Snacks creates unique and delicious snacks that will leave you happy and healthy. Munchy, crunchy, and ridiculously good - we hope to make you feel good about the foods you eat and the mission you support - that food allergies should not get in the way of that anytime nosh. Absurd Snacks elevates your every day with trail mixes that are free of top food allergens and consist of crunchy and roasted, wholesome ingredients. Founded by Grace Mittl (CEO, UR RSB ’22) and Eli Bank (COO, UR RSB ’22), Absurd Snacks can be found in numerous stores in the Mid-Atlantic as well as on their website. Click here to subscribe to the mailing list. 

Founder & Ceo of Tutoring Platform Contact: john.failla@richmond.edu

John Failla graduated from the University of Richmond, where Trilogy Mentors began as an in-person mentorship program that matched university students with K-12 students for academic support and mentorship. With a deep personal connection to academic mentorship, Failla expanded Trilogy Mentors online to increase access and build support networks for students. Knowing that meaningful relationships with instructors and tutors can inspire students to reach personal and academic success, Failla is dedicated to partnering with parents, schools, nonprofits, and other educational organizations to reach students when and where they need academic support most. Failla was named one of Richmond’s 25 most influential innovators under 25 by Richmond Innovation.

Consumer Products, Healthcare, and Manufacturing Leader Contact: rkelly2@richmond.edu

Richard Kelly’s career has spanned three decades in the Consumer Products, Healthcare, and Manufacturing sectors. As a Fortune 50 executive, management consultant, and startup entrepreneur in the food and agricultural sector, he has led both large-scale and early-stage organizations. Kelly is a Board Member for both private and public Food and Wellness companies and advises CEOs in the areas of finance, strategy, operations, and innovation. He has served on the Executive Board of Directors of World Pediatric Project, a nonprofit linking worldwide pediatric surgical, diagnostic, and preventive resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. His current passion is to improve individual wellness by making healthier food choices available and affordable.

Kelly is the former CEO and co-founder of Nutriati, Inc, a plant-based Food Ingredient Technology company that helped leading brands and food manufacturers develop great-tasting, healthy products with its patent-protected proprietary processes that do not require water. Nutriati was acquired by Tate & Lyle PLC of London in April 2022. Prior to founding Nutriati, he served as CEO of Worldwide Sourcing Advisors LLC (WSA), an advisory firm he founded to provide procurement, supply management, and business development expertise to public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. WSA’s clients included food & beverage, packaging, and life science companies. Kelly also served as a Vice President at consumer products giant Altria Group. Under his leadership, Fortune 50 Altria Group was ranked as a leading company by AT Kearney’s Assessment of Excellence in Procurement and Supply Management™. Kelly co-sponsored the Altria Worldwide Strategic Sourcing Team, which involved synergy activities with Kraft, General Foods, Oscar Mayer, Miller Brewing, St. Michelle Winery, and Philip Morris International. A thought leader and speaker in the area of supply management and partnerships, he was a contributing author to the acclaimed book "Next Level Supply Management Excellence: Your Straight to the Bottom Line Roadmap." He was responsible for Altria’s Supplier Diversity Program and involved in numerous ESG initiatives. He was a key architect in developing corporate support for the University of Richmond Minority Business CEO Leadership Program to enhance minority businesses’ success.

Kelly earned an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a B.S. with honors in Health Policy and Management from Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Former CEO & Co-founder, William Murray Golf Products, Healthcare, and Manufacturing Leader Contact: kerry.michaels@richmond.edu

Kerry Michaels is a dynamic leader and entrepreneur with deep expertise in brand development, marketing, business strategy, and capital raising. As the CEO and co-founder of William Murray Golf, Michaels transformed a bold idea into a thriving lifestyle brand, revolutionizing the traditional golf apparel industry through innovative design and storytelling. Under her leadership, the company has achieved remarkable success, earning recognition as one of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Women-Led Companies by JP Morgan and the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) in 2022. Michaels has also been honored as part of WPO’s Women 2 Watch in both 2022 and 2023.

Michaels’ professional journey reflects a unique ability to blend creative vision with strategic execution. Prior to founding William Murray Golf, she held leadership roles at Waterworks and Oakley, where she sharpened her expertise in managing premium, consumer-focused brands. Michaels’ early immersion in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) revolution provided her with invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of e-commerce and social media. This experience has fueled her success in building brands that resonate deeply with today’s digitally connected audiences.

Known for fostering creativity, building high-performing teams, and mentoring emerging leaders, Michaels exemplifies how innovative thinking and adaptability can drive growth—even in traditional industries. She holds an MBA from The University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in business from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Investments Management Executive Contact: john.reifsnider@richmond.edu

John Reifsnider has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry, most recently serving on the Global Executive Committee (GEC) of Australian Stock Exchange-listed Pendal Group (PDL). As a member of the GEC, Reifsnider developed and executed the global strategy. Pendal Group had global funds under management of more than $125 billion. 

Reifsnider has deep knowledge of investment management distribution, product development, client service, and advisor due diligence across a diverse set of asset owners, geographies, and channels. He is known for a disciplined approach to strategic client prospecting and engagement. Proven long-term sales success across equity asset classes, products, and channels. A leader with the skills to develop, coach, and mentor colleagues at all levels.

Today, John brings that depth of executive insight to his role as a Success Strategist, helping executives and emerging leaders bridge the gap between leadership transition and sustainable, impactful growth. His commentary, frequently shared via Substack and social media, reflects his passion for guiding individuals through complex career and organizational challenges.
 
Reifsnider graduated with a BBA from The University of Toledo and resides in Richmond, Va.

In what ways do students usually collaborate with you? 

• Developing their individual story and what makes them unique.
• I use a three-step approach to help them better understand their motivators, their story, and areas of interest.
• If they’re willing to put in the work and effort, I will open my Rolodex to them.

Sr. Principal Consultant (ret.) Contact: vicki.warren@richmond.edu

Vicki Warren’s background is a testament to the power of resilience, continuous learning, and pursuing your passions. Whether you’re interested in software, consultancy, or leveraging data to drive management decisions, her journey shows that with determination and innovation, you can pave the way for amazing opportunities.

With a career spanning four decades in the financial services and software industries, Vicki has carved a niche as a trusted consultant, guiding Fortune 500 companies and federal agencies through complex digital transformations. As a key player at ServiceNow, the leader in AI-enabled workflow optimization, Vicki has spearheaded hundreds of successful software implementations, helping organizations streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Her experiences include pivotal customer-focused roles at companies like Siebel Systems and Oracle Corporation. In a daring leap into the startup world, she delved into commodity optimization software in the bustling innovation hub of San Francisco, further broadening her expertise.

In her latest role at ServiceNow, Vicki supported key federal divisions, including Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, guiding agency executives through their digital transformation journeys. Her consulting work helped executives align strategic goals with federal modernization mandates and establish effective software governance.

Vicki holds a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of International Management and an M.B.A. from the Cox Business School at Southern Methodist University. Additionally, she was awarded a Fulbright/German Academic Exchange Service grant for research in cross-cultural communications.

In what ways do students usually collaborate with you? 

• Career exploration
• Networking