MEET OUR 2026 PRESENTERS

VEBA is pleased to announce its lineup of presenters for this year’s Annual Meeting. We appreciate their taking time to participate and look forward to hearing from them as they provide timely information for the administration of our elections.

GUEST PRESENTERS

James “Jamie” Finney

Supervisory Protective Security Advisor (CISA)

Jamie Finney is the Supervisory Protective Security Advisor for CISA’s Integrated Operations Division in Western Virginia, covering VDEM Regions 3, 6, and 4. Previously, he held PSA roles in Indiana and the National Capital Region. As Western Virginia’s PSA, Jamie advises Commonwealth and local leaders and oversees a team focused on physical and cybersecurity preparedness for all critical infrastructure sectors.

A Virginia native and Longwood College graduate, Jamie retired as a Ranger-qualified Infantry Major after 22 years in the Army, earning the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge during deployments to Iraq. He holds a bachelor’s in Sociology with a Criminal Justice concentration, certifications in Security Engineering, CPTED, Security+, and completed the Physical Security Training Program. With over twenty-six years’ experience, Jamie has served in both the private sector and various Department of Homeland Security roles.

He has been married to his college sweetheart for more than 25 years and is the father of twin 12-year-old boys.

Alan Gernhardt

Executive Director, Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council

Alan Gernhardt is the Executive Director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. He began working with the Council as a staff attorney in 2004, was promoted to senior attorney in 2008, and became executive director of the Council in 2017. He earned a B.S. degree from Indiana University and a J.D. from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law. The Council issues formal and informal advisory opinions, publishes educational materials, provides training presentations, and serves as a legislative forum regarding access to public records and meetings under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Kevin Johnson

Election Reformers Network

Kevin Johnson is co-founder and executive director of Election Reformers Network (ERN). Since 2017, Kevin has led ERN’s research and advocacy programs focused on impartial election administration, independent redistricting, and voting reform. Kevin draws on decades of experience supporting emerging democracies overseas and advancing reforms in the US.
Kevin is a member of the National Steering Committee on Trusted Elections, and an advisor to The Carter Center, Rank the Vote, and American Promise. He formerly served on the Board of Common Cause Massachusetts. Kevin earned a BA from Yale, and an MBA from Wharton and lives with his wife and three children in Newton, MA.

Donald Palmer

Chair, United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC)

Donald Palmer currently serves as Chair of the EAC and the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Local Leadership Council (LLC). During his term as EAC Chairman, Mr. Palmer and the Commission instituted a process to establish security testing standards for electronic poll books. The initiative resulted in the Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) for the testing of election supporting technology.

As a former Bipartisan Policy Center Fellow, he advanced recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Mr. Palmer is a former Secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections and served as the Commonwealth’s Chief Election Official from 2011 to 2014.

VEBA PRESENTERS

Lynette Clements

Chesterfield County Electoral Board

Lynette Clements currently serves on the Legislative Committee of the Virginia Electoral Board Association. She is also the Secretary of the Chesterfield County Electoral Board.

Rick Herrington

Fairfax City Electoral Board

Richard “Rick” Herrington is the Secretary of the City of Fairfax Electoral Board. Appointed to the Electoral Board in 2013, he has served as Secretary since 2014. He has an eclectic background; aviation, project management, finance, risk mitigation, and specialized training for law enforcement personnel.

Rick is a jealous adherent to the election laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and supportive of the effort of electoral boards to ensure general registrars of their localities have the necessary resources to faithfully execute the election laws of the Commonwealth.

Paul Kitchen

VEBA District Director

Paul Kitchen is an English born Canadian who became a naturalized United States citizen in 1996. Since taking the oath of citizenship and pledging allegiance he has never failed to exercise his constitutional right to vote.

After more than ten years traveling our amazing country in an RV, Paul settled in Floyd, Virginia. Since then, he has served as an election observer, an Officer of Elections, and was appointed to the Floyd County Electoral Board, which he chairs.

At the 2024 VEBA conference Paul was elected to Director of the Southern District. Paul is a detailed oriented person who has helped VEBA revise our bylaws and create our new ethical principles and code of conduct. As an active VEBA member he looks ahead believing in a bright future for our association.

John Nunnally

VEBA Executive Board

John Nunnally is the outgoing President of the Virginia Electoral Board Association. He is also an electoral board member of Caroline County.

Roger Omwake

Accomack Electoral Board

Roger Omwake currently serves as the Secretary of the Accomack Electoral Board.

Marcy Reedy

Augusta County Electoral Board

Marcy Reedy currently serves on the Electoral Board of August County.