March 16, 2026
Richmond, VA – Governor Abigail Spanberger’s office has announced key leadership appointments at Virginia Works, the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. Commissioner Nicole Overley has been reappointed to lead the agency, joined by two senior officials: Nicholas Toth as Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Strategy and Dana Westgren as Senior Policy Advisor.
“I am grateful for the Governor’s confidence and am honored to continue serving the Commonwealth,” said Commissioner Overley. “In addition, Nicholas Toth and Dana Westgren bring exceptional experience in workforce development and public service. Their leadership will support our mission to strengthen Virginia’s talent pipeline and expand opportunities for workers and employers across the Commonwealth.”
Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman underscored the significance of the appointments. “These leaders bring substantial experience in workforce development at the state and national levels,” said Secretary Looman. “Their combined expertise will support Virginia Works as it advances innovative strategies that improve access to high‑quality careers for Virginians and help our employers meet essential talent needs.”
Nicholas Toth, Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Strategy, is a career-long public servant with extensive experience in state and federal workforce policy. He most recently served as Advisor to the New Jersey Labor Commissioner, providing strategic guidance on statewide workforce development, economic policy, and enforcement initiatives. His prior roles include Deputy Assistant Commissioner for New Jersey’s Division of Workforce Development and founding State Director of the New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship, where he oversaw substantial expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. At the federal level, he served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor and as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy. Toth holds both a Bachelor and Master’s degree from Cornell University and a Master in Public Policy from Princeton University.
Dana Westgren, Senior Policy Advisor, brings ten years of workforce policy experience across federal, nonprofit, and state-focused organizations. Most recently, she served at the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, supporting national workforce initiatives. Her prior service at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration included data and policy leadership within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program office and serving as Unit Chief for WIOA governance. Westgren specializes in using outcomes data to inform policy and expand access to high‑quality employment opportunities, particularly for underserved populations. She previously worked at the National Governors Association and as a Job Developer with Academy of Hope in Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign and a Master of Public Administration from the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy.
Nicole Overley has served as Commissioner of Virginia Works since September 2024. Under her leadership, Virginia Works has delivered measurable results for the Commonwealth while building the infrastructure for long-term impact. In 2025, Virginia Works placed over 20,000 Virginians into jobs, supported more than 3,500 returning citizens with career coaching, and earned Virginia the #1 national ranking in active programs and employer sponsors among state apprenticeship agencies, all while implementing internal process modernizations, technology enhancements, and talent development initiatives that have built a high-performing, responsive agency ready to serve Virginians at every point in their workforce journeys. Commissioner Overley joined Virginia Works with more than a decade of experience at Deloitte Consulting, where she established and scaled the firm’s Future of Work practice for government, higher education, and nonprofits and was named to Consulting Magazine’s “35 under 35” and was given Deloitte’s “Good, Good, Good” award for responsible leadership and public sector impact. She holds two degrees from Johns Hopkins University, and her combination of private-sector innovation and public-sector expertise continues to guide Virginia Works’ approach: workforce strategy grounded in execution, and outcomes grounded in people.
Virginia Works, the Commonwealth’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, is dedicated to serving both job seekers and employers with a wide range of workforce services and talent strategies. Virginia Works is an equal opportunity employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. VRC/TDD VA Relay 711.
PDF of Press Release 
