About Greg



Greg Werkheiser & his wife, Marion, live in the Charlestown neighborhood of Springfield.

They are expecting their first child this winter.

Greg Werkheiser will bring responsible, thoughtful and results-driven leadership to Richmond for his neighbors in the 42nd district. After running a small business in Northern Virginia and practicing law in Virginia courts, Greg started a non-profit to help Virginians in need. As our next Delegate, Greg will help put the “public” back in public service, by reminding the Richmond politicians that the Assembly belongs to us, not to them. A graduate of the UVA School of Law, Greg was a successful litigator for two of the nation’s most prestigious law firms. Having represented Fortune 500 companies in complex litigation, Greg understands the competitive challenges of today’s economic climate.

 

COMMUNITY LEADER

Greg has been an active community leader and advocate in his community of Springfield and Fairfax County.
  • Founder and Executive Director, The Phoenix Project*
  • Past Co-Chair, Fairfax Citizen’s Bond Committee
  • Columnist, Chronicle Newspapers of Northern Virginia
  • Adjunct Professor of Government, George Mason University 

  • Founder and Past Exec. Dir., Virginia Citizenship Institute
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Greg and his wife, Marion

For five years, he supplemented his work for paying clients with free counsel to Native American tribes, securing a nationally acclaimed victory to protect culturally significant land, for which he was recognized as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year and awarded the Governors Award for Historic Preservation. In early 2006 Greg left his lucrative law practice to co-found The Phoenix Project, a not-forprofit corporation with a mission of crafting new strategies to ameliorate severe poverty in Virginia.* The Phoenix Project promotes social entrepreneurship and the idea that social challenges can be addressed by innovative market-driven solutions that are not dependent on government funding.

CIVIC EDUCATOR

Greg is a nationally recognized leader in the field of civic and entrepreneurship education.
  • Vice Chairman, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
  • Chairman, Governor's Commission for National and Community Service
  • Columnist, Chronicle Newspapers of Northern Virginia
  • Advisory Council , Generation Engage 

  • Founder and Board Member, Harriman Foreign Service Fellowships

As Executive Director, Greg has guided the growth of The Phoenix Project to employ twenty full and part-time staff members and produce programs in communities throughout Virginia with support from foundations, individuals and corporate sponsors. Greg understands the challenges and responsibilities of running a small business, meeting payroll, and responding to changes in the economy. Greg also founded and for seven years directed the bipartisan youth civic education programs now run by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia to prepare college and high school students for government service. He also accepted an appointment from Governor Mark Warner to chair Virginias Commission for National and Community Service, which is charged with overseeing Americorps and other public service programs. As Chair, he instituted business-minded reforms that saved taxpayer dollars delivering positive results. Through these experiences, Greg affirmed his belief in the importance of policy over politics, of ideas over ideology, and the potential of thoughtful leaders to improve life for their neighbors.

LEGAL ADVOCATE

While at two of the nation’s top law firms, Greg put his legal skills to use to preserve America’s culture and history.
  • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year and Recipient of the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation
    In a five-year case, Greg secured precedent-setting legal and legislative victories on behalf of client, a New Jersey Native American tribe of 1500 families, resulting in preservation of 40 acres of land containing an estimated 2 million artifacts left by 500 generations over 10,000 years.
  • Founding Board of Directors Member, Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation 

    Greg, with his wife, Marion, helped establish the national association of attorneys working to protect America’s cultural and historical heritage.

Greg has taught Government at George Mason University and has served as a mentor and advisor to dozens of Mason students. He chaired Fairfax Countys Citizens Bond Committee that resulted in $325 million in investments in local transportation projects, libraries, parks and human services. Greg and his wife, Marion, have worked hard to register more of their neighbors to vote and to elect forward-thinking leaders to represent them.

*The Phoenix Project is a tax exempt organization that does not lobby, endorse candidates or engage in partisan political activity.