About
The Next Move Program
The Next Move Program, a 501 (c)(3) organization, partners with businesses to create guided internship experiences for young adults with disabilities.
Our organization aims to combat the 70% unemployment rate for young adults with diverse needs in the Commonwealth. Through education and job training, we empower these individuals to achieve their goals. 80% of our graduates have gained employment or acceptance to post-secondary programming.
Together, we can give all young people—regardless of different abilities—hope for the future.
Our History
The Next Move Program started in 2010 as an internship program at a large medical organization, led by an executive who wanted to help his child with a developmental disability find vocational education and training opportunities after high school. The internship program was a huge success, increasing productivity, and improving the company’s culture. Two special education teachers were later hired to run the program on behalf of the company in-house. Within within a few years, it was established as a separate 501 (c)(3) organization in the Greater Richmond area by those same educators.
2010
The very first cohort was started at a large bio-tech company. It was facilitated by a school system throughout the labs.
2013
Mary Townley and Elizabeth Redford, two special educators, were hired by the bio-tech company to run the program in-house and expand its partnerships to major school systems in the Greater Richmond Area.
April 2015
Mary Townley and Elizabeth Redford combined their experience running the program on behalf of the bio-tech company and spun off to launch Next Move Program as a separate non-profit.
Spring 2016
Next Move Program led its first two independent pilots as a non-profit, running internships at The University of Richmond and YMCA of Greater Richmond.
2017
Tablespoons bakery program started as a vocational culinary training program with the support of the Virginia Department of Education and professional baker Britt Falabella.
Spring 2019
Satellite programming at the College of William and Mary began, thanks to a grant from The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities.
Our Leadership Team
Elizabeth Redford
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER, Next Move
Founder, Tablespoons Bakery
One of the nonprofit’s Co-Founders and the fearless Executive Director of all things Next Move, Elizabeth has worked in the field of Special Education for the last 14 years—splitting her time between teaching in a traditional school setting and transition. She has a B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University and a M.A. Ed. in Special Education from The College of William and Mary.
A speaker, consultant, advocate and curriculum developer, Elizabeth was named the 2017 Change Agent of the Year by Chamber RVA and was recognized on the 2018 Top 40 Under 40 list by Style Weekly. Elizabeth was also named the 2019 Distinguished Young Alumna by St. Catherine’s School and was featured on the 2020 and 2022 Bold Women of Richmond Lists by Richmond Magazine. When she’s not busy managing all things Tablespoons, Elizabeth enjoys kayaking, antiquing, and walking her adorable Pit Bull, Violet. She lives with her family in Forest Hill, very close to the Bakery.
Board Members
Devon Smith, Swedish Match
Elizabeth Redford, Next Move Program
Eric Turner, Tru Build
Charlotte Dean, Dominion
Paul Hendricks, Virginia Credit Union
Shelley Lantz, Tablespoons Bakery
Advisory Council
Amber Sheridan, Kinsale Insurance
Britt Falabella, Sugar Britches Sweets & Treats
Carly Alford, Chesterfield County Public Schools
Caroline Coleburn, CBS 6
Casey Thomas, Westwood Club
Cat Corso, Altria
Catherine Rey, Parent
Cathy Redford, Synergy Technical
Jaime McClure, The YMCA of Greater Richmond
Laura Beaudet, Exceptional Education Teacher
Lu Clark, Retired School Nurse
Suzanne Burns, Humble Haven