The Virginia Rural Center Announces 2024 Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Graduates

28 members graduate from the Commonwealth’s only leadership program that focuses on developing rural Virginia’s existing and emerging leaders 

November 16, 2024 (Staunton, VA) The Virginia Rural Center is excited to celebrate the graduation of 28 participants from the third cohort of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI). This program is designed to cultivate and support dedicated, skilled leaders who are passionate about driving positive change and revitalization in rural communities throughout Virginia. 

During the 2024 program, VRLI members participated in a series of in-person sessions that featured expert-led discussions on key topics such as economic development, housing, healthcare, education, and agriculture. These sessions were held in five distinct rural regions of Virginia: Southside Virginia, the Middle Peninsula, the Northern Neck, the Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest Virginia. A core aspect of VRLI is its emphasis on immersion in these diverse rural areas, allowing participants to learn directly from local leaders about the challenges they have faced and the innovative solutions they’ve implemented to transform their communities. 

"I'm thrilled to see that in its third year, the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute continues to make a real impact for both participants and our rural communities," said Senator R. Creigh Deeds, Chair, Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia (CFRV). "The program equips rural leaders with practical leadership skills, drawn from experts and peer collaboration, while also highlighting swaths of rural Virginia that have stories of success." 

In addition to the in-person sessions, each participant in the program is required to complete a Community Impact Project upon graduation. These projects are designed and carried out with support from VRLI mentors, Virginia Rural Center staff, and the VRLI Advisory Committee. For the third cohort, the projects addressed a variety of critical issues, including food security, youth involvement, senior services, mental health, workforce development, entrepreneurship, the arts, agritourism, and developing future leaders. 

VRLI’s graduation event, held in Staunton on November 16th, included leaders from across the Commonwealth. Graduation program speakers included Senator R. Creigh Deeds, Chair of the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia, and Bryan David, Chair of the Council for Rural Virginia. 

"Over the last several months, VRLI Cohort members have had the opportunity to travel through rural Virginia, expanding their knowledge, collaborating with others, and strengthening their abilities to address local challenges and support community growth. In addition to this unique learning experience, each cohort member’s Community Impact Project will contribute to lasting change and help shape the future of rural Virginia over the next year," said Kristie Proctor, Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center 

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The success of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute can be attributed to the dedicated partners who have worked alongside the Virginia Rural Center to bring together the best and brightest for the VRLI program. These partners have supported the initiative by providing funding, recruiting rural leaders from across the state, and playing an essential role in shaping the curriculum. Current sponsors include the Appalachian Power Foundation, Danville Community College Foundation, Dominion Energy Foundation, The RiverLink Group LLC, Microsoft, Mid Atlantic Broadband Corporation, Virginia Housing, the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative the Virginia Rural Health Association. As interest in VRLI continues to grow, the Center is actively expanding its network of partners for future years. 

"The 2024 VRLI Cohort is made up of a dynamic group of leaders from the non-profit, public, and private sectors, hailing from 24 counties and cities across Virginia. Together, they are spearheading 24 unique Community Impact Projects that span the entire Commonwealth," said Bryan David, Chair of the Council for Rural Virginia. "With such a wide mix of backgrounds, skills, and experiences, this cohort is primed to tackle the complex issues facing rural communities and drive meaningful change across the state." 

The application window for the 2025 VRLI Cohort will open soon! Contact varuralleadership@cfrv.org for more information!  

Graduates of the 2024 VRLI Cohort 

Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name  

Shanetta Beck, City of Emporia 

Community and Economic Development Director, City of Emporia 

Lincoln Boykin, Lancaster County 

Director of Affiliate Foundations, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond 

Jonathan Comer, Page County 

SVP - Commercial Lender, The First Bank & Trust Company 

J. David Conmy, City of Richmond 

Deputy County Administrator & Economic Development Director, Sussex County 

Michael Crouse, Roanoke County 

Business Development Manager, ECS, Mid-Atlantic 

Matthew Culbreath, Dinwiddie 

Director of Planning and Zoning, City of Emporia 

Brian Falin, Wise County 

Industrial Development Supervisor/Executive Director, Wise County 

Heather Fay, Botetourt County 

Business Advisor + Regional Program Director, Greater Roanoke & NRV Small Business Development Center 

Brandy Flint, Rockbridge County 

Director of Economic Development, Rockbridge County 

Andrew Franzyshen, Dinwiddie County 

Director of Environment, Housing, and Economic Development, Crater Planning 

District Commission 

Ian Ginger, City of Richmond 

Economic Development Program Director, George Washington Regional Commission 

Gerald Goad, Hillsville 

Clerk of the Circuit Court, Carroll County 

Jess Gray, Chatham 

CEO, Gray’s Lambscaping LLC 

Matt Herron, Christiansburg 

Business Development Manager, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services 

James Houchins, Patrick County 

Director of Tourism and Marketing, Patrick County 

Katelyn Jordan, Pungo 

Local & State Advocacy Specialist, Regulatory Coordinator, Virginia Farm Bureau 

Kellie Lipscomb, Dinwiddie 

Drug Abuse Treatment Specialist, Federal Correctional Institution 

Brooke Love, Carroll County 

Tourism Director, Carroll County 

Jacob McCaleb, Warsaw 

Business Services Representative, Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board 

Stephanie Norris, City of Richmond 

Senior Research Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond 

Kristen Pudlow, Prince George County 

Deputy County Administrator, Prince George County 

Holley Scheffel, Bedford County 

Business Programs Coordinator, Bedford County 

Giles Scott, Warsaw 

Youth Program Influencer, Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board 

Jennifer Stevens, South Boston 

President and CEO, Virginia Ed Strategies 

Josh Taylor, Alleghany 

Executive Director, Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism 

Tara Tuck, Clarksville 

Economic Development & Tourism, Town of Clarksville 

Jack Wall, Floyd 

Board Chair & Senior Executive, Wall Residences 

Zachary Whitlow, City of Richmond 

Community Vitality Program Administrator, Department of Housing & Community Development 

About the Virginia Rural Center: 

The Virginia Rural Center is a collaborative partnership of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia. These two organizations established a collective services agreement to work jointly toward the mission of economic prosperity for rural communities throughout Virginia. Together, the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia work with federal, state, and local policymakers and regulators as well private sector stakeholders to improve economic opportunities and preserve the quality of life throughout rural Virginia. Learn more about the Virginia Rural Center or the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute online at www.cfrv.org or on Facebook at @VirginiaRuralCenter, Twitter at @VARuralCenter, and Instagram at @varuralcenter or using the hashtag #VRLI & #GrowRuralVA.