Patrick Patrong

Patrick Patrong is currently engaged at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as the Chief Diversity Officer, Chief Diversity Officer, and Assistant Deputy Director for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Human Resources Strategic Initiatives. With over 25 years of experience as a public service leader, Patrick has an extensive background in implementing organizational and employee development programs at several agencies, cities, and universities. Patrick is also the president of Patrong Enterprises, Inc., an organizational and employee development consulting firm established in 1996. 

Patrick served as Training Manager for Virginia’s Department of Transportation on the Workforce Development team. In this capacity, he oversaw the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of apprenticeship programs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Patrick was a training division director for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Under his leadership, this thirteen-member team developed and implemented training, education, and exercise initiatives.

Patrick also served as Director of Organization and Employee Development for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Workforce Planning and Development Director for the Virginia Social Services Administration. Additionally, Patrick led the Employee Development Divisions for the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. Patrick was also an adjunct professor at the University of Phoenix, recognized in the summer of 2011 by Faculty Matters Magazine.

Patrick was one of the lead writers of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, which provides $140M annually to assist foster care teens’ transition to adulthood. In addition, Patrick led the initiative to pass the Maryland Foster Care College Tuition Waiver legislation. Patrick had received many awards, including a senate resolution from the State of Maryland and recognition by two US Presidents. 

Professionally, Patrick is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Academically, Patrick attended Grambling State University to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Design Engineering. In addition, as a life learner, Patrick has earned a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Morgan State Unversity, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University, and 45 hours of postgraduate studies in Child and Youth Studies from Nova Southeastern University. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, which he plans to complete on December 16, 2022, at 11:59 pm (EDT).

Over the past 25 years, Patrick has enthralled audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean with his keynote speeches, seminars, workshops, and lectures. His unique presentation style, “Magic with a Message,” translates poignant messages into a palatable form - challenging audiences to think and act differently, resulting in the transformation of organizations – one employee at a time.