A pipe dream is a dream until action is present. Hope cannot be the basis for change without a strategy or plan. Creating job opportunities for underrepresented groups involves devising a strategic career pipeline that is not based on hope, but rather on hands-on training, community accountability, and employer networking. 

During a Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual presentation, Shannon Pierce, president and CEO of Virginia Natural Gas and Josh Jones, co-founder and CEO of Neighborhood, discussed in tandem their strategy to bridge the gap between overlooked talent in underserved communities and employers in need of a strong, equitable workforce.

>>Watch the complete presentation on Youtube

Pierce and Jones stressed the need for innovative workforce development to reshape economic opportunity. “Hope is not a strategy,” said Jones, “In fact, I think it’s the worst kind of design for unleashing the full potential of low-income communities.” To reframe a narrative, Virginia Natural Gas partnered with Neighborhood, an economic empowerment non-profit that works with leaders and organizations to  create an effective pipeline to long-standing careers, connecting the underserved to powerful, lasting job networks. 

Through a six-month experience rooted in identity transformation, industry-aligned skill building and life-changing relationships, Neighborhood and its affiliate organizations prepare adults not just for jobs but for stable, dignifying careers that lead to generational opportunities. “Virginia Natural Gas has been one of those organizations that I believe is on the forefront of community development,” said Jones.

Under Pierce, the Southern Company Gas subsidiary invested $620,000 into Neighborhood and its workforce development plans. However, Pierce and Jones agree it’s not just about funding.

“For businesses looking to move more into this kind of training and workforce development, it takes more than just writing a check. I think it really takes showing up at the table where workforce systems are being built and then helping and being a part of the conversation in designing them.” 
– Shannon Pierce

Virginia Natural Gas and Neighborhood united to strategize an effective course for low-income individuals to not only gethired but to have their existing experiences and financial situations considered during the hiring process. “At Virginia Natural Gas, we believe that a strong workforce not only supports a thriving economy but offers access to opportunities in great industries like ours that can change lives for the better,” Pierce explained.

The future is bright for Virginia Natural Gas, Neighborhood, and its constituents. Neighborhood is currently scaling out initiatives in three primary areas:

1. Internally increasing class sizes, expanding the number of cohorts offered, and placing training hubs inside of underserved neighborhoods to eliminate the barriers of transportation and access. 
2. Building clear, credentialed career pathways that combine technical instruction with coaching and real-world preparation.
3. Partnering with companies to improve the hiring pipelines and reimagining job descriptions, background check policies and onboarding practices that closely align with today's workforce realities.

Virginia Natural Gas backs these initiatives to fortify a coordinated system linking skilled workers to employers seeking a workforce that is efficient, reliable and scalable.

About Shannon Pierce

Shannon Pierce is president and CEO of Virginia Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas. She previously served as Vice President, Strategy, and Chief Administrative Officer at Virginia Natural Gas, where she was responsible for delivering clean, safe, and reliable natural gas service to over 310,000 customers in southeastern Virginia. In addition, Pierce is also the Senior Vice President of Southern Company Gas. Her involvement in the community and professional associations includes membership in the Virginia State Bar, the American Association of Blacks in Energy, and the Workforce Development Executive Council of the Center for Energy Workforce Development.

Pierce served on boards for various nonprofit organizations focusing on education and economic equity. She is a member of LEAD, a member of the Virginia Class of 2024, a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and currently serves on the boards of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Elizabeth River Project, the Hampton Roads Executive Business Roundtable, RVA 757 Connects, and the Blueprint Virginia 2035 Steering Committee. Furthermore, she is a member and former board member of the Energy Bar Association’s Southern chapter, where she previously served as president.

Since joining Southern Company Gas in 2004, Pierce has held leadership roles with increasing responsibility in legal, regulatory and external affairs, and commercial and utility operations. Pierce became one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 in 2014. In 2020, she became one of Quad County, Illinois's Urban League's Women of Power, and in 2023, Pierce was honored as an Atlanta Business Chronicle Leader and Corporate Citizenship. She was also noticed as one of Atlanta Business League's 100 Women of Influence.. Pierce is a member of the 2015 class of Leadership Georgia and a 2018-19 fellow at the International Women's Forum Foundation Leadership Fellows Program, which includes executive education at Harvard Business School and the National Society for Education in Art and Design.

Pierce began her career as a lawyer with McGuire Woods in Richmond, Virginia. She received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, where she serves as an emeritus member of the Board of Managers for the Alumni Association. She then continued her executive education at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Executive Education program.

About Josh Jones 

Josh Jones is the founder and CEO of Neighborhood, a career and community development non-profit committed to creating economic opportunities for individuals and families in low-income communities. Prior to, he served as executive pastor at Redemption Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. He attended Northland International University before receiving a Masters of Biblical Studies at Virginia Beach Theological Seminary.