Julie Grimes

Julie Grimes is communications manager — for a second time — at the Virginia Department of Education. Julie first joined VDOE in 2000, but took a 17-month detour to the Office of the State Inspector General, where she set up the agency’s communications program, before returning to VDOE at the end of 2016. With her return, Julie has added managing VDOE’s social media, along with her usual interactions with the media.

Julie first became a member of Virginia Press Women — at the urging of Sue Bland and Martha Steger — when she worked for the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

“I’m delighted to return to the fold and the opportunity to renew professional contacts and friendships,” she said. “I’m still getting used to the organization’s new name, but the quality of the resources that VPC offers continues to be the same!”

In addition to state employment, Julie has daily newspaper, corporate and non-profit communications and ad agency experience. She holds an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications/Speech and a master’s degree in Library & Information Science.

Robert Jeffrey

New VPC member Bob Jeffrey is a public relations and marketing specialist at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. He manages the historyisfun.org website providing up-to-date information about the Foundation’s two museums, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and the organization’s social media presence, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. He promotes museum events, exhibits and special programs with news releases and writes other materials for agency publications. Jeffrey is the Foundation liaison for film and television.

Before coming to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in 2003, Jeffrey filled a number of positions at the College of William and Mary, including assistant director and director of special programs, director of conference services, and manager of marketing and publications for auxiliary services. He wrote features for the W&M Alumni Gazette and the William & Mary Magazine, and wrote a column for the Virginia Gazette.

Brianna Jiménez

Brianna Jimenez, a 2014 Virginia Commonwealth University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, is marketing and communications coordinator for Lane Homes & Remodeling in Richmond.

“I have been at Lane Homes for almost two years as their marketing and communications coordinator. I especially enjoy writing for the website’s blog and working with InDesign,” she says.

“The communications industry allows me to play a part in connecting people to ideas, stories, events and other people. It is what makes the field so special. The world is enormous, but communicators can make it a little smaller and more personal.

I became a VPC member this year, and it has already enriched my knowledge base and network of professionals. It is important to me to be part of a community of professionals from all walks of life. Having access to everyone’s insight and expertise is invaluable.

Annie Tobey

Annie Tobey has been plying her trade as a writer and editor for more than 25 years, scoring early bylines in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and a book of humor and inspiration, “For Any Young Mother Who LIves in a Shoe” (Judson Press, 1991).

During the interim, she’s worked as a book editor, managing editor for magazines and a freelance writer focusing on craft beverages and active travel.

Besides serving as editor of Richmond-based Boomer magazine, Tobey regularly writes for regional and national publications, including All About Beer, Virginia Craft Beer, Style and Spirited Virginia, and was the “First Drafts” craft beer columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Annie’s slogan sums up the top interests she’s passionate about sharing with readers: “A breeze on my face and a draft on my lips!”