New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board provides strategic leadership for the workforce development system serving the 13 localities of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area. This business-led Board brings together employers and leaders from workforce development, education, economic development, labor, and community organizations to address the workforce needs of businesses, workers, and job seekers throughout the region.

Regional Convener of the Workforce System

The Workforce Development Board is the designated Regional Convener for the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area. In this role, the Board is responsible for bringing together the organizations, resources, and expertise that comprise the regional workforce system to address shared workforce challenges and develop solutions to the current and future talent needs of the region’s employers.

As Regional Convener, the Board works to coordinate business, economic development, labor, regional planning, education, human services, and other workforce partners; strengthen collaboration across organizations and jurisdictions; align workforce strategies and resources with regional economic needs; and ensure that employers have a strong voice in shaping workforce solutions.

Working in partnership with the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board, which serves as the Chief Elected Official for the local workforce development area, the Workforce Development Board also carries out the planning, policy, employer engagement, workforce research, career pathway development, system oversight, and other responsibilities established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Virginia law.

Business Representatives

Michael Miller, Chair
CEO of Avolant LLC
475 Harkrader Street
Christiansburg, VA 24073
Phone: (540) 449-6603
mbmiller2@gmail.com

John T. Overton
Director, Physician Relations & Economic Development
Pulaski Community Hospital
2400 Lee Highway
P.O. Box 759
Pulaski, VA 24301
Phone: (540) 994-8309
Fax: (540) 994-8333
john.overton@hcahealthcare.com

Kelly DeBusk, Compliance Manger
Appalachian Plastics
34001 Glove Drive
Glade Springs, VA 24340
Phone:
kdebusk@appalachianplastics.com

Jake Leonard, HR& Training Coordinator
Real Performance Machinery
709 Powerhouse Road
Independence, VA 24348
jleonard@rpmmachinery.com

Jackie Fox, Owner
Senior Home Share
311 Country Club Lane
Galax, VA 24333
Phone: (276) 238-1448
jackiefox@seniorhomeshare.org

Jay Williams, Owner
LJ Williams Excavating
244 Smith Hollow Road
Pembroke, VA 24136
Phone: (540) 235-6086

Jeff Dunnack
GM-Supply Chain Management
343 E. Lee Trinkie Drive
Wytheville, VA
Phone: (276) 228-4307 ext.282
jeff.dunnack@somicamerica.com

Aaron Vaughan
Owner
158 Pioneer Way #4
Floyd, VA 24091
Phone: (540) 745-7947
aaron@annevaughandesigns.com

Thad Austin, Managing Director
Austin Consulting Services, LLC
8206 Pipers Gap Road
Galax, VA 24333
Phone: (276) 235-3432
austinthad82@gmail.com

Larry Wyatt, Plant Manager
Innovation Millwork Technologies, LLC
370 Deer Valley Road
Chilhowie, VA 24354
Phone: (276) 646-8336 ext.303

Martha Smith, HR Manager
Shears
24430 Ashley Cir
Bristol, VA 24201
Phone: (276) 591-5623
martha.rasnake@gmail.com

Kim Hernandez, Community Engagment Manager
Hitachi Energy
171 Industry Drive
Bland, VA 24315
Phone: (276) 245-8319
kim.hernandez@hitachienergy.com

Workforce Representatives

Labor

Jimmy Smith
NRV Central Labor Council
2937 Birdie Lane
Draper, VA 24324
Phone: (540) 674-5130
jssmith2nd@gmail.com

Jeff Carter
President USW Local 2-0002
610 Craghead Street Apt. 213
Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (540) 563-5022
jcarter@usw.org

Community Based

Bryan Phipps, President & CEO
People Incorporated of Virginia
1173 West Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 623-9000
Fax: (276) 628-2931
bphipps@peopleinc.net

Mary Anne Holbrook,
Vice President of Development at EO
1096 Ole Berry Drive
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 525-4075
Fax: (276) 628-8484
mholbrook@eoco.org

Apprenticeship

Cindy Robertson
Volvo
4881 Cougar Trail Road
Dublin, VA 24084
Phone: (540) 577-2903

cynthia.robertson@volvo.com

Job Corps

Jordan Loupe
Blue Ridge Job Corps
245 West Main Street
Marion, VA 24354
Phone: (276) 780-1283
loupe.jordan@jobcorps.org

Other Required Representatives

Institute of Higher Education

Perry Hughes
Wytheville Community College
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 223-4757
phughes@wcc.vccs.edu

Adult Education

Barry Yost
Mt. Rogers Regional Adult Education Program
1 Partnership Circle
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 274-6044
yost@wcs.k12.va.us

Economic and Community Development

Kathleen Boswell, Executive Director
Onward New River Valley
2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 2000
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: (540) 267-0007
katie@onwardnrv.org

Career and Technical Education

Summer Stone, Principal/Career & Tech Education Director
Wythe County Tech Center/Wythe Public Schools
620 S Main Street
Rural Retreat, VA 24365
Phone: (276) 620-3430
summer.stone@wythek12.org

Title I Rehabilitation Act

Christi Altizer, Human Services Manager
Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services
207 Abingdon Place
Abingdon, VA 24211
Phone: (276) 525-6273
Fax: (276) 676-5515
christi.altizer@dars.virginia.gov

TANF

Vicky Collins, Director

Radford City Department of Social Services
928 West Main Street
Radford, VA 24141
Phone: 540-731-3663
victoria.c.collins@dss.virginia.gov

State Employment Service

Christina Lowe, Manager
Virginia Employment Commission
100 E Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 613-0066

Fax: (276) 228-7399
christina.lowe@vec.virginia.gov

Individuals who plan to attend may join the meeting by Zoom within 10 minutes of the beginning of the meeting. Participants who would like to speak during the public comment period of the meeting may register in advance by contacting us. Registration is optional, but does provide the moderator a list of people who want to speak. Other participants who have not registered will still be given an opportunity to speak during the public comment period.

A. Nomination & Selection Process:

Members of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board are appointed by the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), federal regulations, Virginia workforce policy, and the Board’s governing documents.

When terms expire or vacancies occur, nominations are solicited from appropriate organizations and entities throughout the 13-locality New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area. Vacancies are filled using the same nomination and appointment process as original appointments.
Board membership is designed to bring together business leaders and key workforce system partners who can provide strategic leadership for the region’s workforce development system.

  1. Business Representatives
    A majority of Workforce Development Board members must represent businesses within the local workforce development area. Business representatives are selected from individuals nominated by local business organizations and business trade associations, such as chambers of commerce and industry or trade associations. Representatives must be business owners, chief executives, operating officers, or other business leaders with optimum policymaking or hiring authority and must represent businesses that provide employment opportunities in in-demand industries or occupations. Under the NR/MR Board’s local membership structure, each of the 13 jurisdictions is represented by at least one and no more than two business representatives.
  2. Workforce Representatives
    At least 20 percent of Board membership must represent the workforce within the local area. This includes representatives of labor organizations and registered apprenticeship programs, as required by WIOA, and may include representatives of community-based organizations with experience serving individuals with barriers to employment or eligible youth.
  3. Education and Training Representatives
    The Board includes representatives of education and training organizations serving the region, including adult education and literacy providers and institutions of higher education that provide workforce development activities. Nominations are solicited from eligible providers in accordance with WIOA requirements.
  4. Governmental and Economic Development Representatives
    Membership also includes representatives of governmental, economic and community development organizations and required workforce system partners, including economic development, Wagner-Peyser employment services, and vocational rehabilitation.

Additional members may be appointed when appropriate and consistent with WIOA, federal and state requirements, and the Board’s governing documents.

For questions about Board membership or the nomination process, contact Jenny Bolte, Executive Director, at jenny.bolte@nrmrworks.org or 540-838-9400.

B. Public Participation

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board provides public notice when nominations are sought for Workforce Development Board membership. Notices may be posted on the Workforce Development Board website and social media channels and distributed directly to business organizations, labor organizations, education and training providers, workforce system partners, and other organizations eligible to submit nominations.

Organizations and individuals interested in learning more about Board service or recommending a potential nominee are encouraged to contact the Executive Director. All nominations and appointments must meet applicable federal and state requirements for Local Workforce Development Board membership.

Additional Information

NR/MR Workforce Development Board Nomination Form

Membership, Responsibilities and Certification of Local Workforce Development Boards

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board represents the 13 local governments that comprise the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area (NR/MR WDA). Membership includes the Chief Local Elected Official or Chief Administrative Officer from the counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Washington and Wythe, and the cities of Bristol, Galax and Radford.

The Consortium Board provides policy oversight for the region’s workforce development system and works in partnership with the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board to support a responsive, effective workforce system. Among its key responsibilities is appointing members of the Workforce Development Board and helping ensure that regional workforce strategies reflect the needs of our communities, businesses and residents.

Meetings

Regular meetings of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board are held in person on the third Wednesday of every other month at 10:00 a.m. Please refer to the meeting schedule below for meeting dates, locations and other details.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Individuals who wish to speak during the public comment period may register in advance using our Contact Form. Advance registration is optional but helps the meeting moderator identify individuals who wish to provide public comment.

Regular Meetings:
Wytheville Community College
Johnson Lobby
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382

In Person Joint Meetings:
Wytheville Meeting Center
333 Community Blvd.
Wytheville, VA 24382

Information is coming soon.

Bland County
Cameron Burton
PO Box 510, Bland VA 24315
Phone: (276) 688-4622
Email: cburton@bland.org

Bristol City
Neal Osborne
300 Lee Street, Bristol VA 24201
Phone: (276) 469-9651
Email: neal.osborne@bristolva.org

Carroll County
Coming soon.

Floyd County
Joe D. Turman
293 Sugar Tree Road, Willis, VA 24380
Phone: (540) 285-0962
Email: jturman@floydcova.org

Galax City
Sharon Ritchie
201 Forest Ave, Galax, VA 24333
Phone: (276) 236-7669
Email: sritchie@galaxva.com 

Giles County
Perry Martin
728 Mountain Lake Road, Newport, VA 24128
Phone: (540) 599-4200
Email: pmartin@gilescounty.org

Grayson County
Michael S. Hash
PO Box 217, Independence, VA 24348
Phone: (276) 237-7934
Email: mhash@graysoncountyva.gov

Montgomery County
Mary W. Biggs, Chair
755 Roanoke Street, Suite 2E, Christiansburg, VA 24073
Phone: (540) 382-6954
Email: biggsmw@montgomerycountyva.gov

Pulaski County
Laura Walters
6718 Dunkard Road, Dublin VA 24084
Email: lwalters@pulaskicounty.org

Radford City
David Horton
Radford, VA 24141
Email: david.horton@radfordva.gov

Smyth County
Jason Parris
121 Bagley Circle, Suite 100, Marion, VA  24354
Phone: (276) 759-2557
Email: ryevalley@smythcounty.org

Washington County
Charlie Hargis
250 Bogey Drive, Abingdon, VA 24211
Email: chargis@washcova.org

Wythe County
Brian W. Vaught
200 Mountain View Avenue,Rural Retreat, VA 24368
Phone: (276) 250-2109
Email: supvr_blacklick@wytheco.org

Roster