Council

Representing the advanced manufacturing sector and the western portion of the region, Adam Birkett is the sales manager for a fourth generation family-owned lumber and flooring business, Ten Oaks, LLC. Adam is a graduate of Virginia Tech and at the local level, a graduate of Leadership Patrick County

Representing the health care sector and the eastern portion of the region, Scott Burnette has served as CEO since 1999 and has extensive local civic service including the South Hill Industrial Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce. He is also active in federal and state legislative advocacy in the health care field, including leadership service on state organizations such as the Virginia Hospital and Health Care Association.

Representing Region 3 West and the construction industry sector and the western portion of the region, Tim Clarke is the vice president of Blair Construction. Born in Maryland and currently raising a family in Virginia, Tim's professional background includes work with Smithfield Foods. His extensive involvement in youth and civic engagement organizations includes the Virginia Technical Institute and the Virginia 4-H Foundation Board.

Representing the public education sector and the eastern portion of the region, Barbara Johnson is the current superintendent of Prince Edward County Schools. Her experience includes urban, suburban and rural public school systems. A lifelong educator with classroom experience leading into executive-level experience, Dr. Johnson is known for her engagement of school teams, families and community partners to improve and increase opportunities for students.

Representing the commercial and retail industry and the eastern portion of the region, Randy Lail is currently an independent consultant with extensive experience in the retail and service sectors, including chief operating officer for Peebles Incorporated. A graduate of Lunenburg High School, his civic experience is continuous and deep, including service on the advisory board of the Longwood Small Business Development Center and chairman of the board of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation.

Representing the financial services sector and the western portion of the region, Charles Majors has served in various roles with American National Bank and American National Bankshares, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol AMNB. Charley's significant involvement in federal, state and community, civic, and professional leadership roles includes his former role as chairman of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors, chairman of the Virginia Bankers Association, and chairman of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve. He has previously served in leadership roles with Averett University, the Danville Regional Foundation, Future of the Piedmont, and Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania.

Representing the energy sector and the western portion of the region, James McClain II is the fourth president & CEO of Southwestern Virginia Gas and is also president and CEO of Southwestern Virginia Energy Industries, an energy holding company. A native of Martinsville, James is very active in community and state activities. He has served as president of the local Workforce Investment Board as well as an appointee of Governor Tim Kaine on the Virginia Workforce Council. He is a founding member of the local Boys & Girls Club, a board member of the local YMCA, and a member of the board of the Martinsville / Henry Economic Development Corporation.

Representing the local government / administration sector and the eastern portion of the region, Ronald Roark is a native of Halifax County. He has been the Nottoway County Administrator since 1974, overseeing unique development opportunities including the redevelopment of Fort Pickett. Ronald is active in the Blackstone Masonic Lodge #79 and is currently chairman of the Piedmont Regional Juvenile Detention Board.

Representing the workforce sector and the eastern portion of the region, Al Roberts has served in various leadership roles at Southside Virginia Community College. His previous professional experience includes leadership roles with the Sussex-Greensville-Surry Improvement Association and with the Community Youth Center in Emporia. At state and local levels, his civic experience is deep and varied and includes the Greensville County School Board, the Board of the YMCA, Old Dominion University Community College Leadership Program Advisory Board, and Benchmark Community Bank Board of Directors. He is the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions and a noted national speaker on topics such as African-American Males in Higher Education.

Representing the manufacturing sector and the western portion of the region, Larry Ryder is the former executive vice president and CFO for Hooker Furniture, based in Martinsville. He currently serves on the board of directors for the company. A native of Pennsylvania, Larry is the recipient of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as the CFO of The Year from Virginia Business magazine. He has held many leadership positions in civic service including current service on board of directors of The Harvest Foundation and director emeritus of the Patrick Henry Community College Foundation. Previous civic service includes chairman of the board of trustees of the Philpott Manufacturing Extension Service and president of the Martinsville Kiwanas Club.

Representing the manufacturing and wholesale industries and the eastern portion of the region, Roger Scott is a New England native who relocated to Virginia in 1991. He was previously general manager and COO for Weidmuller Inc., Paladin Tools in Ashland. He currently serves as a District 2 supervisor for Amelia County and is a board member for STEPS, Inc. in Farmville. He is also a member of the VA Council of CEOs and an instrument rated pilot who flies for PilotsnPaws and Angel Flight Patient Airlift Services.

Representing the non-profit sector and the western portion of the region, Karl Stauber is a native of Statesville, North Carolina, and has served as president of the Danville Regional Foundation since 2007. His previous Foundation experience for the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota grounded him in the areas of community poverty reduction. He also served as Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics for the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., providing linkages to federal programs and policy-makers. Karl writes and speaks extensively on economic and workforce issues affecting rural communities.

Representing the higher education sector and the eastern portion of the region, Sherry Swinson is the executive director for Hull Springs Farm, a Longwood University property located in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Her previous career focused on the practice of economic development in southern and central Virginia at both the local and regional levels. Sherry is currently active in several civic roles, including the Southside Virginia Community College Foundation, the Bon Secours/St. Francis Medical Center Community Advisory Board, the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of High Bridge Trail State Park, and the Farmville Womens' Leadership Network.

Representing the human resource function in advanced manufacturing and the eastern portion of the region, Denise Taylor-Forrest has been actively involved in workforce-related initiatives in southern Virginia. In her current role as Human Resource manager, she was the lead staff coordinator for a unique workforce training solution delivered in partnership with the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and Southside Virginia and Danville Community Colleges. Her civic experience also includes roles with Habitat for Humanity and the United Way.

Representing the local government sector and the eastern portion of the region, C.R. "Bob" Timmons has owned his own consulting firm since 2006, specializing in management and project control systems to performance systems in construction management. From the early 1970s until 2006, Bob worked for a variety of companies in various engineering roles. He is an active representative of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors.

Representing the professional economic development category and the western portion of the region, Telly Tucker is an experienced economic development practitioner at the local level, serving in Danville, James City County, and the City of Lynchburg. Previous state experience at the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development as a program manager brings that partnership as an added value. A graduate of James Madison University, Telly also holds the designation of Certified Economic Developer. Telly currently serves on the board of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, as well as the board of the Community College Foundation of the Dan River Region, and the Dan River Business Development Center.

Representing the financial sector and the eastern portion of the region, Lauren Willis is the BSA officer for the Bank of Charlotte County. She is a native of Charlotte Court House and returned to the county after finishing law school in 2012. Her husband's family owns and operates Roanoke Plantation, a natural beef cattle operation in Randolph.

Representing the local government sector and the western portion of the region, Dennis Witt is the retired superintendent of the Halifax County Public Schools and brings to bear his extensive knowledge of K-12 education as well as understanding the importance of K-12 connectivity to economic development. He is currently president of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation Board and is a past member of the boards of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority and the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce.

Representing the financial sector and the eastern portion of the region, Nicole Young is a graduate of Brunswick High School and Longwood University. She has been employed by Benchmark Community Bank for ten years and is currently serving as branch manager in Lawrenceville. Benchmark's territory is focused on southern Virginia and incorporating a growing footprint in north central North Carolina. Nicole is active in the Lawrenceville Rotary Club, serving as treasurer.