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COUNCIL MEMBERS

Public Sector

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  • Dennis Carter, Smyth County Public Schools

  • Nichole Hair, Executive Director, Mount Rodger Regional Partnership

  • Joe Kiser, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Operations, UVA-Wise

  • Thomas Lawson, Regional Planner, LENOWISCO

  • Becky Nave, Mayor, City of Bristol

  • Wes Poole, Superintendent, Wythe County Public Schools

  • Kris Westover, President, Mountain Empire Community College

  • Scotty Wampler, Executive Director, Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission

Private Sector

  • Andy Smith, Smithfield Farms

  • Browning Wynn II, Powell Valley National Bank

  • David Graf, American Mine Research, Inc., Custom Manufacturing Services, Inc., East River Metals, Inc., & The PEMCO Corporation

  • John Jeter, Ballad Health

  • Mark Eschle, Wize Solutions - Chair

  • Freddie Mullins, President, Freddie E. Mullins P.C.

  • Melanie Protti-Lawrence, Lawrence Brothers Inc. & Anytime Fitness, LLC

  • Will Payne, Managing Partner,  Coalfield Strategies

  • Moir Beamer, Virginia Produce Company

  • Pamela Collie-Price, EarthLink - Vice Chair

  • Rodney Halsey, Skyline National Bank

  • Bryan Phipps, President and CEO, People Incorporated

  • Steve Jones, VFP, Inc.

  • Todd Elswick, Paul's Fan Company

  • Will Wampler, Attorney, Kilgore Law Office

Committees

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Small Business

TBA

 

Talent Development

TBA

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Economic Development & Infrastructure

TBA

Economic Development & Infrastructure

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Duane Miller, Chair

Josh Lewis, Chair

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Support Organization

A regional council must be affiliated with or supported by a new or existing organization whose purposes and competencies include collaborative planning, economic development or workforce activities within the region. Region One is supported by the University of Virginia's College at Wise, led by Shannon Blevins, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives. The purpose of the support organization is to provide fiduciary oversight and administrative services for the activities funded by monies received from the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund (VGOF). The support organization operates with the advice and consent of the regional council.

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