Victor McKenzie, Jr.

CEO of Virginia Health Catalyst

Greater Richmond Region

About

Non‑profit executive and public‑health advocate, I specialize in turning around and scaling mission‑driven organizations—building cultures that prioritize impact, accountability, and measurable results. I unite stakeholders across government, healthcare, and community sectors to secure funding, shape policy, and expand access to care. If you’re working to strengthen public‑health systems—or want to—let’s connect and amplify our collective impact.

Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer at Virginia Health Catalyst
    Aug 2025 - Present · 1 yr

  • Chair at Virginia’s Addiction and Recovery Council
    Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • Executive Director at SAARA of Virginia
    Jun 2020 - Aug 2025 · 5 yrs 3 mos

    Scaled the organization 3× in 36 months, driving top‑line revenue from $350 k to $1.1 M Launched a fee‑for‑service training division that hit 42 % margin and generated the organization’s first recurring, non‑grant revenue stream—payback period: two months. Diversified the funding mix to Government 55 %, FFS 20 %, Foundations 15 %, Individuals 10 % and built a 180‑day cash reserve, eliminating cash‑flow crises. Converted policy wins into revenue: secured bipartisan legislation expanding Medicaid reimbursement for peer‑recovery services, unlocking $600 k in new annual contracts. Built and coached a 13‑person cross‑functional staff (turnover < 5 %) and a coalition of 60+ regional partners, delivering statewide programs that doubled service reach. Installed organizational operating cadence—OKRs, KPI dashboard, and rolling 24‑month forecast—transforming a grant‑dependent nonprofit into a performance organization ready for scale. My advocacy delivered bipartisan wins—Recovery High School legislation, “Danny’s Law” to broaden naloxone access, and higher Medicaid reimbursement for peer‑recovery specialists—while the Voices for Recovery initiative trained 250+ storytellers, generated 150+ media hits, and shifted public opinion. A comprehensive rebrand capped these efforts, tripling digital engagement and positioning the organization as a statewide thought leader in behavioral‑health equity.

  • Secretary at Virginia's Opioid Abatement Authority
    Jul 2022 - Jul 2023 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Appointed by Governor Ralph Northam as an inaugural member of the Authority. The Opioid Abatement Authority is an independent body, the purpose of which is to abate and remediate the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth through financial support from the Fund, in the form of grants, donations, or other assistance, for efforts to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids in the Commonwealth.

  • Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton (2 yrs 7 mos)
    • Director, NRC Works (LISC Financial Opportunity Center)
      Jan 2018 - Mar 2020 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    • Acting Executive Director
      Oct 2019 - Dec 2019 · 3 mos

    • Financial Coach
      Sep 2017 - Jan 2018 · 5 mos