MEET THE CEO
Toiya Adair Sosa, Chief Executive Officer, Adair to Rise, LLC
Experience
Toiya Sosa is CEO of Adair to Rise, LLC, a specialized business consultancy that bridges the gap by fostering community-centric business strategies providing expert guidance and relationship brokerage that enables clients to build strong, sustainable partnerships that enhance community engagement and drive business growth.
Sosa has over 25 years of corporate executive and professional business experience. Sosa is formerly the Associate Vice President of Health Access and Community Partnerships at Riverside Health where she was responsible for leading Riverside Health’s strategic initiatives to enhance health care access, reduce disparities, and strengthen community partnerships. This role develops and implements programs that address social determinants of health, supports uninsured and underinsured populations, and advocates for policies that improve health equity. Sosa was previously Chief Diversity Officer at Riverside Health where she was responsible for the ongoing enhancement, development, implementation, and promotion of the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and strategy. Prior to her tenure at Riverside Health, Sosa was a community and public affairs leader at GEICO where she had oversight of partner relations and philanthropic investment, media relations, and government relations for the VA, NC, TN region.
Community Involvement
Sosa serves on the board of directors for the Urban League of Hampton Roads and is Parliamentarian for the National Urban League Council of Affiliate Board Chairs. Sosa serves on the Peninsula Chapter of the VA Center for Inclusive Communities, the Advisory Council for the Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce Women Who Lead program, and the Steering Committee for the Hampton Peninsula Health District. Sosa is a member of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), and Co-Chair of the UNCF Virginia Executive Council.
Sosa established the Virginia Organization for Inclusive Concepts and Equitable Solutions (VOICES) and the Hampton Roads Health Equity Collaborative to bring together health systems, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and municipalities to address social determinants of health and systemic barriers to quality health care for all.
Accolades and Achievements
Sosa has been recognized by Becker’s Health and Senior Executive as a DEI Leader to Know. Her article, Breaking Barriers: The Rise and Impact of Chief Diversity Officers, was featured in Sustainability Magazine’s July 2023 edition. Sosa was recognized with the 2023 YWCA Changemaker Award, 2022 UNCF M.A.S.K.E.D. Award, the 2020 Tidewater Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, the James V. Koch Award from the Urban League of Hampton Roads and was named to the Inside Business Power List from 2019-2021.
Sosa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University, a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University, and a Master of Arts in Law from Regent University. Sosa is a graduate of the American Hospital Association’s Executive Certificate in Diversity and Health Equity (ECDHE).
