Onward NRV Board of Directors Conducts 2021 Annual Elections

Onward New River Valley is proud to announce the newly elected members of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Officers.

The Board of Directors is made up of thought-leaders and community stakeholders that are passionate about Virginia’s New River Valley and the mission of Onward NRV. They are committed to improving the economic vitality of the region and work hard to bring industry expertise to the table while simultaneously representing the best interests of the NRV.

This year, seventeen seats on the Board of Directors had expiring terms. After an open solicitation process, the Governance & Nominations Committee (GNC) met on May 7, 2021, to discuss the candidates and formalize its slate of nominees to fill these seats. At the May 19th Board meeting, the Board of Directors officially accepted and elected the candidates for a two-year term beginning on July 1, 2021.

We are delighted to have five new representatives serving on the Board of Directors as well as 12 returning board members. They include:

NEW BOARD MEMBERS:
Alan Fabian | HCA LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
Marty Holliday | Floyd County EDA
Linda Millsaps | Floyd County
Andrew Morris | Citizens Telephone Cooperative
Tay Taylor | Montgomery County EDA

RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS:
Scott Blankenship | Carilion NRV Medical Center
Keith Boyd | Hurt & Proffitt
John Cox | Radford University
April DeMotts | Montgomery County
John Gardner | Branch Builds
Chris Lawrence | Town of Blacksburg
Brian Lubin | 1901 Group
Craig Parrent | Atlantic Union Bank
Kim Repass | City of Radford
Ginny Taylor | Lawrence Companies
Abram Williams | City of Radford EDA
Randy Wingfield | Town of Christiansburg

These 17 individuals and the 13 existing members comprise Onward NRV’s 30-person board of directors for FY2021-22. You can view a full list of members on the board of directors at: www.onwardnrv.org/our-board.

Every two years, the Board of Directors also conducts elections to the Executive Committee. Based on the slate of candidates proposed by the GNC, the Board of Directors also elected their 2021-2023 Executive Committee and Officers. They include:

2021- 2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Scott Blankenship, Chair | Carilion NRV Medical Center
Mark Woolwine, Vice-Chair | Brown Edwards
April DeMotts, Treasurer | Montgomery County
Cora Gnegy, Secretary | Giles County
Joseph Guthrie | Pulaski County
Brian Lubin | 1901 Group
Linda Millsaps | Floyd County
Richard Mitchell | Celanese Corporation
Kim Repass | City of Radford
Ginny Taylor | Lawrence Companies

Click here to see the current list of Onward New River Valley’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Officers.

Onward NRV would also like to thank the former members of the Board of Directors for their service to the organization. These members had terms which ended on June 30, 2021, and include:

Jon Beegle | Floyd County EDA
Stephen Chandler | HCA LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
Tommy Loflin | Montgomery County EDA
Terri Morris | Floyd County
Lori Saltus | Citizens Telephone Cooperative
Jon Wyatt | Pulaski County EDA

Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.