The Virginia Rural Center Announces the 2026 Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Cohort

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2026

Contact: Kristie Proctor, Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center, varuralcenter@vt.edu

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Rural Center proudly announces the individuals selected for the 2026 cohort of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI), the Commonwealth’s leading leadership development program dedicated to preparing current and emerging leaders from rural communities across Virginia.

Now entering its fifth year, VRLI continues to bring together dynamic leaders from diverse sectors including economic development, education, agriculture, local government, healthcare, small business, and nonprofit organizations. The program equips participants with the skills, relationships, and insights needed to strengthen rural communities and advance economic opportunity throughout the Commonwealth.

“Each year, VRLI brings together an extraordinary group of leaders who are deeply committed to the future of rural Virginia,” said Kristie Proctor, Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center. “The program provides a unique opportunity for participants to build relationships, share perspectives, and develop ideas that strengthen their communities and the Commonwealth as a whole.”

Interest in the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute continues to grow as communities across the Commonwealth increasingly recognize the importance of investing in rural leadership development. Each year, the program attracts a strong pool of applicants representing a wide range of sectors all united by a shared commitment to strengthening rural Virginia. The competitive selection process reflects both the program’s strong reputation and the enthusiasm of leaders who are eager to collaborate, expand their leadership skills, and bring innovative ideas back to their communities. Through this growing network of over 100 engaged leaders, VRLI continues to foster partnerships and momentum that help advance economic opportunity and quality of life across rural regions of the Commonwealth.

“The strength of rural Virginia lies in its people and their commitment to their communities,” said Senator Creigh Deeds, Chair of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Jr Center for Rural Virginia. “VRLI is helping cultivate a network of leaders who are working together to move rural Virginia forward.”

A cornerstone of the program is the Community Impact Project, where each cohort member develops and implements an initiative that addresses a need or opportunity in their home community. These projects allow participants to apply their leadership training while creating tangible benefits for rural residents across Virginia.

“The Community Impact Project gives participants the opportunity to transform ideas into action,” said Bryan David, Chair of the Council for Rural Virginia. “By designing and implementing projects in their home communities, VRLI leaders are creating tangible improvements that benefit rural residents across the Commonwealth.”

The 2026 VRLI program will begin with its opening session in Southside Virginia with stops in Danville and South Boston and will include immersive learning experiences in rural regions across the Commonwealth. Participants will engage with local leaders, explore innovative community initiatives, and participate in leadership development sessions designed to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and rural systems thinking.

Support from the business community and sponsors is essential to the continued success of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute. Sponsorships help make the program accessible to leaders from across rural Virginia and support immersive learning experiences, leadership development programming, and the Community Impact Projects implemented in communities throughout the Commonwealth. Through their investment, sponsors play a direct role in strengthening rural leadership, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and advancing innovative solutions that improve the quality of life in rural communities.

Current VRLI sponsors include Virginia Housing, Dominion Energy, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, Microsoft, Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation, Commonwealth Fiber Services, the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, and the RiverLink Group. Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the next generation of rural leaders are encouraged to learn more and become a VRLI sponsor by visiting the Sponsorship page: https://www.cfrv.org/vrli. 

Meet the 2026 VRLI Cohort

Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name

Daniel Black

Winchester

Owner, Upward Tree Service

Philippe Bone

Staunton

Regional Planner, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission

Dr. Aariyana Britton

Sussex County

Community Health Practitioner

Marilynn Cabiness

Mecklenburg County

Owner/CEO, Cabiness Coaching & Consulting Group, LLC

Carl Caudill

Carroll County

Broadband Project Manager, VA Department of Housing and Community Development

Lane Chambers

Wakefield

General Manager, Commonwealth Fiber Services

Royce Coleman

Amelia County

Environmental Manager, Amelia County

Grace Cooper

Patrick County

Marketing Manager, Patrick County Tourism

Desiree Dyer

King William

Senior Director of Grant Operations, Upper Mattaponi Tribe

Catherine Fox

Abingdon

Director of Regional Destination Development, Friends of Southwest VA

Rachel Gardner

Richmond City

Senior Policy Analyst, VA Department of Housing and Community Development

Alexandria Gearin

Frederick County

Community Development Program Coordinator, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission

Shannon Goad

Hillsville

Chief of Police, Town of Hillsville

Amanda Gray

Martinsville

Tourism & Marketing Specialist, West Piedmont Planning District Commission

Ryan Hall

Winchester

Executive Director, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund

Amanda Hudgins

Radford

Director of Research and Innovation, College of Nursing, Radford University

Jeff Mutter

Lebanon

Conservation Specialist, Clinch Valley Soil & Water Conservation District (CVSWCD)

Amy Novak

Smithfield

Parks Director, Town of Smithfield

Eric W. Payne, Esq.

Martinsville

Executive Director, Economic Development Authority of the City of Martinsville, VA

Leo Priddy

Montgomery County

Economic Development Planning Specialist, New River Valley Regional Commission

Maria Saxton

Clifton Forge

Director of Planning & Community Development, Town of Clifton Forge

Jake Stewart

Christiansburg

Instructor, Radford University

Evan Stone

Franklin County

General Manager, Minute Markets

Ingrid Thompson

Quicksburg

Outreach Coordinator, Shen-Paco Industries, Inc.

Candice Turner

Richmond City

Strategic Housing Officer, Virginia Housing

Kelli Weaver

Rockingham County

Destination Development Manager, Virginia Tourism Corporation

About the Virginia Rural Center

The Virginia Rural Center is a collaborative partnership of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia. Together, these organizations work with federal, state, and local policymakers as well as private-sector partners to strengthen economic opportunities and preserve the quality of life in rural communities throughout the Commonwealth.

For more information about the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute or the Virginia Rural Center, visit www.cfrv.org.

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