By Debbie Adams
Vinton Town Council welcomed three new employees to the town staff at the council meeting on October 19.
Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Nathan McClung introduced the newest employee in his department—Associate Planner Fayula Gordon.
Gordon is a geography major who also explored Geographic Information Systems. Through her education and previous work history, she has gained experience building relationships with team members, handling projects with minimal to no oversight, and strategic planning initiatives. She possesses extensive experience in assisting clients with their needs and building and mentoring high-performing teams. She has been a vital contributor to the success of her past employers by identifying opportunities for growth to improve market share and positioning.
Gordon previously attended the University of the West Indies, where she completed courses in geography, geology, and anthropology. She transferred from the University of the West Indies to Park University where she also pursued a minor in Urban Planning. Her education has helped her become the dedicated professional she is today, with the ability to understand maps and graphs, work in the field, and manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
Recently, Gordon participated in a scientific research project that utilized UAV photogrammetry to augment traditional mapping techniques for a coastal section of the Carboniferous Parrsboro formation near West Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. The research she conducted was published and presented at the Atlantic Geoscience Society Abstracts 45th Annual Colloquium & General Meeting in 2019. This was done while she was on Academic Exchange at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada.
Gordon is a Scotiabank Foundation Scholar as well as an Emerging Leaders in Americas Scholar. She hopes to add value to the Town of Vinton while continuing to promote the town as a place to live, work and play.
Public Works Director Bo Herndon introduced Tobbie Russeau, the new Inventory and Facilities Manager. He resides in Stewartsville and is a graduate of Virginia Western Community College. Russeau holds multiple trades-related certifications and has a background in maintenance and construction with an emphasis on project management and safety. In his off time, he enjoys homesteading, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, and playing with his 7-year-old daughter Mikaela, along with “all of her pets and critters.” He says she has plans to become a veterinarian when she grows up.
Chasity Barbour, the Director of Community Programs, introduced Shaye Hicks, the new Administrative Assistant of Community Programs. Hicks and her husband of 29 years are residents of Vinton. In fact, they were married at the Vinton War Memorial. Hicks enjoys spending time with a “great family full of nieces and nephews.”
