* Who We Are
  + 
    - Celebrating 140 Years
    - 
* What We Do
  + Special Programs
  + Trips
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* Resources
  + Media
# Meet Our Ambassadors
The amazing members of the Ambassador Team serve in a public relations capacity to welcome new members, assist in member retention, and fill key volunteer roles at an assortment of Alliance events. If you are already an Alliance member and would like to become an Alliance Ambassador, please email Heath Barret.
!
#### Robert Pyle
*Chief Solutionist**Pyle Solutions LLC*
***2025 Chair***
#### Dan Ebersold
*Regional Sales Manager
Gates Flag & Banner Co., Inc.*
**2025 Chair Elect**
#### Wendy Adams
*Executive Leadership Coach**Cultivate For Good*
***2025 Secretary***
#### Steve Brisson
*Business Development Manager
Minuteman Security & Life Safety*
#### Corey Calloway
*Brand Ambassador
Fortress Foundations Soultions*
#### Luke Dykeman
*Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Commercial Read & Co.*
#### Justin Engmann
*Electric/Generator Salesman
Wooldridge Heating Air Electrical*
#### Derek Fowler
*Account Executive
Sharp Business Systems*
#### Sheena Gillispie
*RetailTraining Officer
First National Bank*
#### Robert Goodman
*Senior Associate Athletic Director
Liberty University Athletics*
#### Butch Jefferson
*Business Development**Hickey Electric, Generators, Heating & Air*
#### Matt Klein
*Commercial Risk Advisor
Campbell Insurance*
#### Tim Lee
*Principal SM
CloudFit Software*
#### Ruth Martineau
*Owner
Community Maps*
#### Kevin Maples
*Publishing Partner
Good News Magazine*
#### Seth Mullen
*Business Development Representative
Proforma*
#### Nelson Schacht
*Loan Officer
First Bank & Trust Company*
#### Mike Roach
*Sales Manager
Bright Images*
#### Keeley Tuggle
*Director of Corporate and Donor Engagement
HumanKind*
#### Byrrl Sheppard
*Senior Account Executive
BMS Direct*
#### Chris Wright
*Sales Representative
Foster Fuels*
© 2025 Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
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Site by 
434-845-5966
info@lynchburgregion.org
Open:  Monday - Friday: 9 AM - Noon
& 1 - 4:30 PM
##### Important Links
##### Membership
© 2024 Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. All Rights Reserved. |  |
The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance focuses on developing homegrown talent, attracting new talent, promoting the region's sites and buildings, existing business retention and expansion, assisting entrepreneurial start-ups, business advocacy, and cultivating a rich, local business culture. **Building Our Future** is an aspirational five-year plan that builds into the future on the momentum of recent successes.
## Building Our Future Five-Year Strategic Plan
##### **Goal 1 │ Develop, Retain, And Attract A Talented Workforce**
* Align the Region's Talent Pipeline
* Grow and Promote the Career & Technical Education
* Retain the Region’s College Graduates
* Launch a Targeted Talent Marketing Campaign
##### **Goal 2** **│** **Grow And Attract Diverse, Wealth Creating Jobs**
* Intensify Regional Business Attraction and Retention Efforts
* Establish the Regional Center for Entrepreneurship
##### **Goal 3** **│** **Ensure A Competitive Supply Of Industrial Sites & Buildings**
* Create a Regional Industrial Shell Building Program
* Build and Develop Industrial Sites
##### **Goal 4** **│** **Create A Sense Of Place To Welcome New Residents And Retain Existing Ones**
* Promote and Connect a Dynamic Regional Core
* Encourage Placemaking Throughout the Region
* Develop a Nationally Renowned Regional Trail System
##### **To learn more about Building Our Future download the campaign brochure.**
#### Consider joining this growing list of businesses making an investment in the continued growth of the Lynchburg Region through the Building Our Future Campaign!
!")
###### **To schedule a meeting or receive additional information on making an investment in Building Our Future, contact:**
**Megan Lucas**
meganlucas@lynchburgregion.org
434.845.5968 x18
Schedule An Appointment
# Enhancing the Business Climate
The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance is dedicated to strengthening our region’s long-term competitiveness and advocating for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy. We focus on jobs, growth and opportunity for the entire region which includes: The Counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg, Towns of Altavista, Amherst, and Appomattox.
The Alliance’s Government Relations Committee consists of approximately 15 volunteer leaders along with Alliance staff, who represent a broad spectrum of Alliance membership and regional interests including members from local government, large and small businesses, construction, education groups, energy, banking and health care. The Committee meets monthly and establishes the legislative agenda for the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance for the upcoming General Assembly Session.
The Government Relations Committee, along with the Director of Government Relations, Barry Butler, identifies and monitors local and state policy issues of importance to Alliance members and the business  in our region.  We evaluate the issue from a broad prospective, develop a position, educate and communicate with our members, and advocate our position to public policy makers.
The Alliance’s constructive and pro-active efforts at the local, state and federal level are directed toward building a positive climate for job and investment growth in the Lynchburg region. The Alliance also has a partnership with the Virginia Chamber and VAWEST Business & Legislative Coalition.
### Our Legislative Statement
The Alliance's Board of Directors have adopted this guiding statement, along with 9 issue-areas (10/11/2019), and provided a guiding statement for each:
*On behalf of the 750+ members and more than 43,000 employees that comprise the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance,
the Government Relations Committee shall advocate for reasonable, well researched and debated legislation
that is favorable to businesses; complements economic development initiatives; encourages Free Enterprise;
and, continues to elevate the business competitiveness of the Lynchburg region.*
* + **Workforce & Education:** The Alliance is **committed** to legislative proposals that increase the potency of the Lynchburg graduate, either from higher education, high-school, or any other certification program or pipeline that impacts the workforce.
* + **Energy & Environment:** The Alliance is **committed** to keeping Virginia competitive in the energy market through use of coal, natural gas, and nuclear resources that allow for timely development of needed energy infrastructure investments across the Commonwealth, and continuing the development of cost-effective, renewable energy sources.
* + **Free Enterprise:** The Alliance is **committed** to the spirit of Free Enterprise and business-centric, pro-economic development policies that improve the business climate for the Lynchburg region, and, foster a culture of economic prosperity.
* + **Healthcare:** The Alliance is **committed** to policy that promotes accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of the healthcare system, providing the workforce and business community with high-quality healthcare.
* + **Infrastructure:** The Alliance is **committed** to advocate for legislation that bolsters the physical foundation (sites, water and gas connections, broadband, utilities etc.) of doing business in the region and improves the potential for businesses to come to and expand in the region.
* + **Labor:** The Alliance is **committed** to legislation that maintains the Commonwealth’s competitive workforce and enhances job creation, while nurturing an environment that promotes growth and expansion.
* + **Regulatory Reform:** The Alliance is **committed** to policies that that are more conducive for conducting business in the Lynchburg region.
* + **Taxation:** The Alliance is **committed** to reducing unreasonable financial barriers to business development and growth, and support measures that strengthen Virginia’s business climate.
* + **Transportation:** The Alliance is **committed** to advocating for transportation policies that are fair and equitable to all of the regions in the Commonwealth; increase the ability for investment in transportation projects; and, provide organizations the transportation network needed to do business in the modern era.
## Thank you to our Government Relations Partners!
AEP
Boxley
Liberty University
Centra
Lynchburg Ready Mix
Heas Energy
PLDR
Southern Air
Hurt & Proffitt
American National Bank & Trust Company
PCM Industrial Services
YMCA
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### General Assembly Issues We’re Watching on Your Behalf
1.) **Central Virginia Training Center- Defeasance of Bonds budget amendment**
2) **Association Health Plans**
3) **Virginia TAG** - Click on the link below for more information on the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)
## Partner Programs & Initiatives
### LRTAG
The Lynchburg Region Transportation Advocacy Group (LRTAG) is a private-sector umbrella organization representing the area’s major employers and other industries (including construction, manufacturing, and retail) that rely on a viable, sustainably and equitably-funded multi-modal transportation network for the success of their business and the strength of the region’s overall economy.
### BREC
The Blue Ridge Economic Coalition (BREC) is a coalition of business, chambers of commerce, economic development, government and transportation leaders from the Lynchburg and Salem VDOT Districts unified with the goal of creating a high level, larger voice advocating for goals and projects that increase economic activity across our jurisdictional boundaries.
### Virginia West Coalition
The Alliance is a member of VA WEST, a business and legislative coalition comprised of 16 chambers in central, southside, Shenandoah Valley, and western Virginia, representing over 4,500 businesses and covering over 8,000 square miles. VA WEST supports public policies that strengthen free enterprise and regional collaboration efforts that promote economic development.
**Coalition Members**
* Bedford Area Chamber
* Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber
* Greater Augusta Regional Chamber
* Halifax County Chamber
* Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber
* Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge Chamber
* Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
* Martinsville-Henry County Chamber
* Montgomery County Chamber
* Roanoke Regional Chamber
* Salem-Roanoke County Chamber
* Shenandoah County Chamber
* Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber
* Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
* Chamber of the Two Virginias
* Wytheville, Wythe, Bland Chamber