VersAbility CEO Honored as Virginia Peninsula Chamber's First Citizen

Kasia Grzelkowski recognized for her 20 years of leadership and opening of VersAbility Tech Center.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Kasia Grzelkowski, the President and CEO of VersAbility Resources, has been unanimously voted as the 2025 First Citizen by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber. Grzelkowski has led VersAbility for 20 years, overseeing the opening of the VersAbility Tech Center to further workforce development in manufacturing and maritime trades for people with disabilities. The chamber cited Grzelkowski's leadership, advocacy, and commitment to progress and equity as key factors in selecting her for the honor.

Why it matters

Grzelkowski's recognition highlights the important work VersAbility is doing to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the region. The opening of the VersAbility Tech Center is seen as a game-changing initiative that will help address labor shortages in critical trades while empowering individuals with disabilities to find meaningful work.

The details

Under Grzelkowski's leadership, VersAbility has expanded its government contracts, becoming the prime contractor for provisioning Navy ships and delivering mail for the Air Force nationwide. The organization also contracts to help manufacture eyeglasses for the Department of Defense. Grzelkowski oversaw the launch of the VersAbility Tech Center, which currently offers programs in forklift training, welding, and IT/cybersecurity certification, with plans to expand to a dozen workforce training programs focused on manufacturing and maritime trades.

  • Grzelkowski has been the leader of VersAbility for 20 years.
  • The VersAbility Tech Center launched in the past year and a half.
  • Grzelkowski will be honored at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber's Annual First Citizen Gala on February 27, 2026.

The players

Kasia Grzelkowski

The President and CEO of VersAbility Resources, a nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities. She has led VersAbility for 20 years and oversaw the opening of the VersAbility Tech Center.

VersAbility Resources

A local nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities, organized as an employee-owned co-op and born out of a 1970s grassroots natural food movement calling for access to nutritious and organic food.

Bob McKenna

The President and CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber.

Casey Roberts

The Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development at VersAbility, who joined the team in 2024 to work with Grzelkowski on bringing the VersAbility Tech Center idea to fruition.

Paul Babcock

Grzelkowski's predecessor as the leader of VersAbility, from whom she learned to be more immersed in the field.

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What they’re saying

“This feels like the pinnacle of recognition, for which I am truly honored and humbled. I think this recognizes my work as well as the other things I've done in my career … and I hope that evidence is that I am very concerned about the opportunities we afford people with disabilities to live full lives of their choosing in our community, but also how the broader community thrives, grows and develops a deeper quality of life for all of its citizens.”

— Kasia Grzelkowski, President and CEO, VersAbility Resources (pilotonline.com)

“She's very deserving of this award. She breathes the mission and is people focused. … This is well-earned and well-deserved.”

— Casey Roberts, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development, VersAbility (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The VersAbility Tech Center plans to expand its workforce training programs to about a dozen offerings focused on manufacturing and maritime trades, including building maintenance, logistics, unmanned and marine systems, and non-destructive testing.

The takeaway

Grzelkowski's recognition as the Virginia Peninsula Chamber's First Citizen showcases how a mission-driven, community-focused nonprofit leader can drive meaningful change and create new pathways to employment for people with disabilities, addressing critical labor shortages while empowering an underutilized talent pool.