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Staff

Marco A. Grimaldo, CEO and President
Marco most recently served as a Regional Organizer for Bread for the World in the Mid-Atlantic and South Central Regions and previously served as Director of Bread for the World Institute and as National Organizer for the Alliance to End Hunger.  He has more than 20 years of experience in politics and non-profit advocacy, including work on national campaigns related to international development assistance, HIV/AIDS and debt relief, and a range of domestic hunger and poverty concerns. His educational background includes an undergraduate degree in political science from Southwest Texas State University and a graduate degree in public policy from Georgetown University. Send Marco an email.


Holly Coy, Director of Programs
Holly earned her B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and M.S. in Justice, Law and Society from American University in Washington, DC. Previously, she worked at the American Bar Association's Governmental Affairs Office as a Legislative Assistant and Editor and as the Senior Program & Research Assistant. Holly joined the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy in late 2010 as the Advocacy Coordinator, and became the Director of Programs in the spring of 2011. Holly is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the city of Richmond. Send Holly an email.


Trey Eggleston, Director for Advancement
Trey earned a bachelor's degree in  political science with a minor in business administration from the University of Richmond in 2009. After graduation he enrolled in the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Sport Leadership within the school's Master of Education program. A collaborative research project with two fellow CSL students on the slump theory of slugger performance is set to be published in the fall 2011 edition of the peer-reviewed baseball journal, NINE. Send Trey an e-mail.


Trieste Lockwood, Director, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light
Trieste is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, with a Geography B.S, Integrative Arts B.A, and International Studies minor.  As an undergraduate she worked at the National Geographic Society to develop environmental resources.  She launched and managed multiple, successful environmental campaigns with the non-profit organization Green Corps prior to working at Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.  This led her to Southern Virginia where she organized around creating clean energy jobs through federal climate legislation. Trieste enjoys the thrill of winning competitive campaigns, hosting large events, and incorporating creativity into her work.  Outside of politics, she enjoys traveling, and mastering new chili recipes.  Send Trieste an e-mail.

Amanda Pohl, Policy Fellow
Amanda earned her B.A. in both Political Science and Philosophy from Virginia Tech and worked as an insurance underwriter for several years.  She later earned her M.S. in Patient Counseling from VCU and her M.Div. from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.  She is currently a second-year MSW student at VCU. In addition to being an intern, she is also serving as a weekend chaplain at Chippenham Johnston-Willis Medical Center.  She completed her chaplain training at VCU in the Patient Counseling program, specializing in acute psychiatric care.  From her experiences at the hospital and in seminary, Amanda discovered a passion for social justice ministry and being a “voice for the voiceless.” Her primary areas of interest are poverty, housing, predatory lending, and faith-based policy interventions.  Send Amanda an email.

Melanie Smith, Community Health Organizer, New River Valley
Melanie grew up in England, trained as a RN in Guys Hospital, London, and then became a State Certified Midwife. Later she had training in project management and  Life Coaching. After a few years of hospital practice she went to work in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. There she learned the importance of community health rather than curative health, including diet in childhood development, where malnutrition was rampant.

She spent 20 years in Bangladesh, Nepal and India together with her American  husband, and four children, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA).  They worked with communities to analyze and  implement effective change. Her passion for organizing around  justice issues were cemented during these years, as an effective way to make the world a better place. In 2009 she chose to settle in  Blacksburg  because of the opportunity to live in a co-housing development. Since then she has been involved in the local VICCP Chapter, other advocacy groups and is an active member of the Presbyterian Church.  After work she likes to sit on her front porch, drink tea and chat with her neighbors. Send Melanie an email.

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