Brian Canaday (He/him)

Job Title:

Chief Information and Business Solutions Officer

Hometown:

“I was born in Galveston, Texas. My parents were from Salem, VA, so we moved back to Virginia before I started elementary school. I grew up in Radford, VA, and after college, I eventually landed in Richmond. Radford was a fun place to grow up due to its proximity to the New River and Claytor Lake, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and easy mountain access. A great deal of my childhood was spent participating in local and traveling sports teams, so I developed many good friendships and bonds that still exist today. Sports competitions will always be a big part of my life.”

About Me:

“I enjoy traveling domestically and internationally with my wife, Sloan, and other family members. We document our travels on a map that is hanging in our house. We have been fortunate to visit six of the seven continents and 1/2 of the countries in Europe. I love fitness and sports and attempt to be active daily. I love my Peloton bike, which allows me to exercise my competitive demons. My first real job was teaching in the K-12 school system, where I was tasked with creating a self-contained alternative education environment for at-risk children. While teaching and coaching athletic teams in K-12 for three years, I decided it wasn’t the right fit, so I pursued a post-baccalaureate degree in Information Systems at VCU. This path eventually ended with a Master’s degree from VCU. Workwise, this is my second stint at the School of Dentistry, and I love the daily opportunities my team and I encounter. My work team is precious to me, and I am equally proud and motivated by their talents and accomplishments. They serve as my professional measuring stick, challenging me to improve every single day. In addition to my work team, my family is the team that I value, trust, and lean on more than anything. My wife is the most amazing co-pilot and my best friend. She is the person that I most admire in the world. She is an Executive Leadership Coach and has been the most valuable resource in my life and career. I can’t wait to see where my next journey takes me.”

Furry Friends:

“My wife and I had a toy poodle for nineteen years. She (Magen) passed away in 2021. We are planning on getting another poodle this year.”

Hobbies:

“Hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, golfing, swimming, lifting weights, anything active. I love following VCU and VT sports teams. I enjoy researching and studying leadership. I love reading about team building and team development. I follow the stock market, investing, and the overall economy. My wife and I binge-watch numerous shows on multiple streaming platforms. I am an avid reader, mostly fiction, which helps me disconnect and sleep better. Lastly, I am very passionate about technology and how it can be used to make our lives more efficient, connected, and streamlined.”

Musical Interests:

“I love hip-hop/rap music and fell in love with rhyming in elementary school. I can listen to almost any genre and have numerous musicians in my Apple Music playlist.”

Favorite Books, Movies, and/or Video Games:

“I don’t have a favorite book, but I love Grisham, Baldacci, Meltzer, and Khaled Hosseini. My favorite movie may be Good Will Hunting or Wedding Crashers; however, I typically don’t watch a movie more than once. I really enjoyed Air: Courting a Legend and Top Gun: Maverick, both of which I watched in the theater.”