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
.
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.
