Governor Warner Names Interim Executive Director of Virginia Lottery
Governor Warner Names Interim Executive Director of Virginia Lottery
Finance Director VanCleave to temporarily fill position vacated by Penelope Kyle
Governor Mark R. Warner today named Donna VanCleave to the post of interim Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, effective June 1, 2005. Formerly the Director of Finance for the Virginia Lottery, VanCleave will assume the role vacated by Penelope Kyle, who will succeed Dr. Douglas Covington as President of Radford University.
"The Virginia Lottery has an excellent track record under two outstanding directors," said Governor Warner. "Donna VanCleave has been a key part of the team that has increased sales, increased compensation to retailers, increased money turned over to Virginia's public schools - and done it all with integrity. Penny Kyle is a tough act to follow. I have confidence Donna's the right person to do it."
VanCleave joined the Virginia Lottery in 1997, serving as Budget and Planning Manager before assuming the position of Director of Finance in 2000. She has previously served as University Budget Director for Virginia State University, and as an Education Budget Analyst for the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. VanCleave has a B.A. in Communication Studies from Virginia Tech, and a Masters in Business Administration from the College of William & Mary.
Now in its 17th year, the Virginia Lottery has contributed nearly $5 billion in profits to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since FY99, when all Lottery proceeds were specifically appropriated for K-12 education, the Lottery has turned over more than $2 billion for Virginia's public schools, creating thousands of educational opportunities throughout the state.
In Fiscal Year 2004, the Virginia Lottery delivered $408 million to Virginia's public schools, a record amount for the third straight year. Also last year, the Lottery paid out more than $720 million to players in prizes, and the businesses that sell Virginia Lottery products earned nearly $71 million in commissions.
Approximately 270 people are employed by the Virginia Lottery. This number includes employees at the Richmond headquarters, the data center in Henrico County, and six regional offices located throughout the state that serve the public. The Virginia Lottery currently offers five online games and more than 70 scratch games.
Every state that borders the Commonwealth except North Carolina now has a state-run lottery. Forty-one lotteries exist throughout the United States. If North Carolina decides to launch a lottery, the Virginia Lottery will face even stiffer competition, especially along the southern border.
The Lottery has achieved sales records above the $1 billion mark for the past four fiscal years, and as of April 6, has already passed the billion-dollar mark in sales for this fiscal year, assuring a 5th consecutive year of sales above $1 billion.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Apr05/0414b.htm