Leah Beard serves as the Director of Administration & Communications for the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority and Rivanna Solid Waste Authority. In this role, she leads initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness through strategic planning, workforce development, operational improvement, communications, and community engagement.

She holds a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Longwood University, and is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Before joining the Rivanna team in 2024, Leah was an Assistant Director for Inclusion Initiatives at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Outside of work, Leah enjoys attending sporting events, with her favorite being cheering on her daughter, who plays volleyball at Catawba College.

Leah believes that exceptional public service begins with investing in people, fostering collaboration, and continuously improving the way work gets done.

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