Kristie Helmick Proctor 

Executive Director

Center for Rural Virginia & Council for Rural Virginia

 

Kristie Helmick Proctor is a rural Virginia native and experienced organizational leader who has served as Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center since 2017. Under her leadership, the Center has expanded its impact through innovative initiatives that strengthen and support rural communities across the Commonwealth.

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In 2022, Proctor successfully launched the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI), the Commonwealth’s first and only leadership development program dedicated to attracting and retaining leaders in rural Virginia. A cornerstone of the program is its required community impact project, ensuring each graduate delivers a meaningful return on investment to their community. VRLI continues to grow in both participation and measurable outcomes each year.

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During her tenure, the Center also introduced the Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard, a comprehensive digital platform providing data-driven insights into key sectors such as demographics, housing, education, business, and health. Featuring interactive asset mapping, the tool equips local leaders with the information needed to identify opportunities and address challenges in their regions.

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Prior to joining the Center, Proctor worked at the National Federation of Independent Business, where she managed grassroots operations across 17 states.

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She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Longwood University and a Master of Arts in Government from Regent University. She also studied at University of Oxford and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.

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Proctor serves on several boards, including the Board of Visitors at Longwood University, the Virginia Broadband Advisory Council, the Virginia Rural Housing Advisory Council, and Virginia Ed Strategies. She is also Vice President of the PTA at Battlefield Park Elementary School.

 

Her honors include recognition by Virginia Business Magazine as one of the “100 People to Meet,” Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40,” and inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who in America.

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Proctor and her husband, Aaron, both grew up in rural Virginia and now reside in eastern Hanover County, Virginia with their three children, hunting dogs, and chickens.