Staff/Board
EDA staff work to improve the economic well being and quality of life for the Amherst County community by working with current businesses and attracting new businesses to create and/or retain jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base.
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| Victoria Hanson Executive Director victoria.aeda@gmail.com Read more > |
Lori Saunders Assistant Director lsaunders.aeda@gmail.com Read more > |
District: 1
Email address: proctor.aeda@gmail.com
Andrew Proctor was born and raised on his family’s century farm along the James in Madison Heights. He is the director of category management for McKesson, a large healthcare distributor headquartered in Richmond, VA. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Andrew spent about 15 years in Richmond before returning to Amherst. He joined the board in August 2019 and is eager to identify new areas of growth for our county that contribute to improved prosperity for all our citizens.
District: District 3
Email: ckennon.aeda@gmail.com
Calvin Kennon is an Amherst County High School graduate (1990) and has spent 24 years working for Specialty Exterminating Company in various capacities from service to sales and currently serves as the general manager. He is an Associate Certified Entomologist though the Entomological Society of America. In 2012, Kennon served on the Business Task Force supporting local businesses and collaborated with Amherst County officials to create a more business friendly environment by reworking the sign and landscape ordinances. Kennon joined the Economic Development Authority of County of Amherst in 2014.
Position: Treasurer
District: District 5
Email: Sweeneylaw@outlook.com
Dan Sweeney has been a licensed practicing attorney since 1994 and has had a private legal practice in Amherst County for 10 years. He was also a trust officer for Crestar Bank, a corporate attorney for Colony Life, and an officer in the U.S. Army. Sweeney was raised in Amherst and Lynchburg and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute before receiving his law degree from Washington & Lee in 1983. He joined the Economic Development Authority of County of Amherst in 2018.
Position: Member at Large
District: District 2
Email: chadeby.aeda@gmail.com
Chad Eby is the President of Hermle North America located in the Zane Snead Industrial Park. He holds degrees from Northeastern University and Liberty University. In 1988, Chad served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve for four years before working in several maritime positions before moving to Amherst in 2005. He serves as an Amherst County Chamber of Commerce board member. Chad began serving on the EDA board in 2017.
Position: Member-at-Large
District: 2
Email: pkilgore.aeda@gmail.com
Paul previously served on the Town Council and as Mayor of the Town of Amherst from 2008-2016. He retired in 2011 after almost 30 years as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Lynchburg, the last five or so years as a shift Battalion Chief overseeing four fire stations and in charge of the Technical Rescue Team for the City.
In addition to the fire service career, since 1980 he has also been involved in the Amherst County business community as an Associate Broker with the Montague Miller REal Estate firm on Main St. Amherst. He also owns, along with his wife June, the Snap Fitness franchised gym operating at 203 S. Main Street in the Town of Amherst.
Individually and in various partnerships, he has developed over 100 single-family home sites in Amherst, Nelson, Campbell, and Appomattox Counties. However, his passion has been buying and re-purposing older commercial buildings in and around Amherst and saving them from physical and economic decline. He takes pride in knowing that every day numerous businesses
operate, and dozens of people work in these remodeled and repurposed structures.
District: District 4
Email: shelly.aeda@gmail.com
Shelly Hunt is a lifetime resident of Amherst County. She is one of the original founders of Caterpillar Clubhouse and has 30 years of experience as a Director. Caterpillar Clubhouse currently has 4 locations with close to 114 employees. Shelly has a certificate in Child Development from the CDA National Credentialing Program. She joined the Economic Development Authority of County of Amherst in 2021
Position: Member at Large
District: District 2
Christine Vrooman is a co-owner and the Marketing Director for Ankida Ridge Winery. Christine has served on the VA Wine Marketing office grant selection committee for the last 8 years. She is in the process of creating a new high-elevation, non-contiguous AVA (American Viticultural Area) that will include the high elevations of Amherst County.
Amherst County believes job creation and economic development are fundamental to the future prosperity of the County.
The mission of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Amherst County is to promote economic development policies and practices that help retain the county’s existing businesses and employment base; facilitate the growth of existing commercial and industrial enterprises; and attract new businesses and employment opportunities. Success in this mission will result in high-quality jobs and a stable and diverse tax base that increases the quality of life of Amherst County residents.
