COUNCIL MEMBERS

Public Sector

Dennis Carter, Superintendent, Smyth County Public Schools
Hal Keene, Director of Facilities, Bluefield University
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

Chair- Steve Jones, VFP Inc.

Talent Development

Chair- Dennis Carter, Smyth County Public Schools

Economic Development & Infrastructure

Chair- John Jeter, Ballad Health

Economic Development & Infrastructure

Duane Miller, Chair

Josh Lewis, Chair

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.