Company Leadership

The Virginia United Methodist Housing Development Corporation mission and long term business direction is overseen by a Board of Directors. Day to day operations and corporate affairs are handled by the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee are also members of the Board of Directors.

Officers & Directors

** Designates Board members that are clergy.

Executive Committee

Lawrence B. Dickenson – President

Larry was elected President in 2016. He has served on the Board of Directors since 1996 and previously served as Vice President and Secretary. Larry grew up in Roanoke, VA where he has been a long-time member of Raleigh Court United Methodist Church. Following graduation from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Architecture, he embarked on a 41-year career in the construction industry featuring broad experience in management of projects and companies, serving as Executive VP f The Branch Group, Inc. before retiring in 2017. The major project sectors included educational facilities (K-12 & university), commercial, apartments & assisted living, industrial, courthouses and highways, with contract values up to $350M. Larry also served as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association from 1990 to 2000.

Jim O’Quinn – Vice President

Jim was elected to the Board of Directors in 1987, and Secretary and/or Vice President of VUMHDC during that time. He is an ordained minister and elder of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, where first began serving as pastor in 1976.
Jim’s educational background includes B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College, M.Div from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a D. Min from United Theological Seminary. Beyond serving as pastor Jim was appointed to specialized ministries in pastoral counseling and working with victims/perpetrators of sexual abuse. In this capacity, he is certified at the state and national level as a counselor and expert witness. Currently Jim is continuing to serve as a local church pastor and as the Director of Congregational Excellence for the James River District.

Randy Spears – Treasurer

Randy was elected to the Board as Director in early 2018 and elected Treasurer of the corporation in November 2018.  Rany is a graduate in Business/Finance from Virginia Tech in 1976. Following graduation , he was employed for 25 years with Ernst & Young, becoming a Partner and providing tax, audit & consulting services to major international corporations.  Before joining VUMHDC, Randy served for 12 years as the Chief Financial Officer of the consolidated YMCA’s of greater Richmond.

Ernest T. (“Tommy”) Herndon – Secretary

Tommy was elected Secretary in 2016. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2003.
He received his B.S. in Chemistry & Biology from Methodist University and a M.Div from Duke University. Prior to being called to the ministry, Tommy worked in the chemical industry. Tommy has served as pastor and ordained elder in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1973. He is currently the District Superintendent of the Harrisonburg District, supervising 66 pastors and 82 churches. In addition, Tommy has been president of the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center in Blackstone, VA and recently appointed to the Virginia Conference agency handling charitable gifts to the Conference.