Forum Speakers

Donna P. Henry Ph.D., Chancellor of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Donna Price Henry Ph.D. was elected the eighth Chancellor of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise by the University of Virginia Board of Visitors on December 7, 2012, and assumed office on January 18, 2013. As the College’s eighth Chancellor, she is responsible for leading UVA Wise and its constituents in fulfilling its mission of student success and service to Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth. A biologist with extensive experience in higher education, Chancellor Henry spent 16 years in a variety of positions at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), including founding faculty member, faculty senate president, member of the University Board of Trustees, and dean of the FGCU College of Arts and Sciences. Chancellor Henry earned a bachelor’s degree in biological basis of behavior from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also minored in Spanish, and a doctorate in physiology from Thomas Jefferson University. Chancellor Henry is a professor of biology on the UVA Wise faculty.

Josh Mancuso, Actor, Comedian & Filmmaker

Josh Mancuso is an award-winning actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for viral comedy videos centered around sports, especially football. With over 650,000 followers and well over 150 million video views across social media, Josh has become a fan favorite in the sports and entertainment industries.

Josh has starred in multiple commercials, TV shows, and indie films, as well as entertained live audiences across the country with his unique style of motivational comedy. 

He has been featured on ESPN and CBS Sports, and has collaborated with top universities such as Tennessee, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Clemson, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame and the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation's top college quarterback.

Christine Chmura Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Chmura Economics & Analytics

In 1999, Chmura founded Chmura Economics & Analytics where she serves as chief executive officer and chief economist. Previously, she served as the chief economist at Crestar Financial Corporation and worked as an associate economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. A member of the Governor’s Economic Advisory Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Governor’s Commission on Economic Development & Job Creation, Chmura holds her Ph.D. in business with a major in finance and a minor in economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in economics from Clemson University.

Hamilton Lombard, Estimates Program Manager for the Demographics Research Group, The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

Hamilton Lombard is a demographer at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, where he specializes in analyzing and interpreting the demographic trends that shape Virginia’s communities. Raised in Williamsville, on the Bath and Highland County border, Hamilton has worked in local and regional planning in Virginia and the United Kingdom. For over a decade, he has helped produce Virginia’s county and city population estimates and projections, which are used for guiding planning and funding decisions in the Commonwealth.

Michelle Rozen, Ph.D., Researcher & Author

Dr. Michelle Rozen is a game-changing, revenue-building, performance-boosting change expert, keynote speaker, and highly respected authority on the psychology of change. She is a researcher, an author, and a frequent guest expert on the most prominent media networks. Dr. Michelle's rare blend of audience engagement, alongside her ability to make takeaways simple and actionable, and her instant connection with the audience, have made her one of the most sought-after speakers on the stage today. 

Her latest work is around The 6% Club, which is also the name of her new book and is rooted in her recently published research in the prestigious Journal of Social Sciences. The results of her research are jaw-dropping. Out of 1,000 people that Dr. Michelle has surveyed in January, only 6% stuck with their goals past... February. What it is that those 6% did differently that got them to the results in leadership, business, and life that they want and deserve, is among the secrets that Dr. Michelle shares with her attendees around the world.

Dr. Michelle consistently speaks for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and her clients include some of the most recognizable companies in the world, including Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch, Coca Cola and Pfizer. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Psychology and resides in the greater NYC area with her husband, three kids, and two dogs.

Juan Pablo Segura, Virginia Secretary for Commerce and Trade

Juan Pablo Segura is the Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He oversees 13 agencies with 1,300 team members and a $3B budget. Juan Pablo leads economic growth through a variety of initiatives and agencies to generate an environment that makes Virginia the best place to start, grow, or relocate a business. Agencies include the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, Virginia Housing, Virginia Energy, Activation Capital, Small Business Finance Authority, and Virginia Tourism. 

Juan Pablo is a Virginia native and has spent a majority of his career focused on starting businesses and transforming antiquated industries. Juan Pablo is one of the founders of Babyscripts, a next generation maternity monitoring company that over the last 10 years has become one of the largest maternity management platforms in the world, recently being named one of the 150 most innovative healthcare technology companies in the world by CB Insights.

Since 2014, Juan Pablo has been named a Healthcare Transformer by the Startup Health Academy in New York, a Wireless Lifechanger by CTIA for his work in detecting problems in pregnancy faster, selected as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Mid-Atlantic Award, and named to the inaugural class of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Hall of Fame. Juan Pablo is the architect of the first "Prenatal Care Moonshot" focused on eliminating maternal mortality by 2030 through mobile/digital technology, and Babyscripts has been named a Champion of Change in Precision Medicine by Barack Obama and the White House. Juan Pablo has raised more than $40 million in venture/strategic financing for furthering his vision of a data centric model in prenatal care. He has orchestrated large partnerships that include investments from Cigna Healthcare, Philips International, General Electric and their Healthymagination initiative and the March of Dimes, specifically targeting the elimination of premature birth. 

Juan Pablo is also involved locally in the nonprofit space. He is on the board of Youth for Tomorrow, was on the board of Volunteers of America, the Business School at Catholic University, and the Spanish Catholic Center in Washington DC. 

Juan Pablo is a CPA holder and a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He currently resides in Henrico, Virginia with his wife Cecilia and sons Luca and Teodoro.

Rita McClenny, President and CEO, Virginia Tourism Corporation

Rita D. McClenny serves as President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, a state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination and film location. The mission of VTC is to expand domestic and international in-bound travel and motion picture production to generate revenue and employment in Virginia.

She has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Virginia Business magazine’s Top 500 Leaders for four consecutive years and a 2025 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

Tourism and film are instant revenue generators for Virginia. In 2023, tourism in Virginia generated $33 billion in direct spending, supported more than 224,000 jobs, and provided $2.4 billion in state and local taxes, that same year Virginia was named a top state to both vacation and retire.

A proud native of Southampton County, Ms. McClenny holds a degree in Economics from Fisk University and resides in Richmond.

Doug Jackson, Capacity Development Specialist, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

If he hadn’t chosen a career as a capacity development specialist with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Doug Jackson would have gone to back to school to become a game show host. For the past 18 years, he’s provided facilitation and strategic support to Virginia communities and their placemaking partners. A former officer in the US Navy Supply Corps, he holds degrees from UC Irvine, Hollins, and Duke University. (Fun fact: Regis Philbin, the late host of Million Dollar Password, was also a former supply corps officer. Today, the password is “regional investment.”)

Becky Nave, Director of Destination Development and Advocacy, Virginia Tourism Corporation

Becky Nave serves as the Director of Destination Development and Advocacy for Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC). In this role, she leads the Destination Development team who works with tourism industry partners statewide to facilitate the development of community-based tourism programs, tourism strategic planning, technical assistance, product development guidance, and cooperative marketing assistance to communities and tourism-oriented businesses. Becky is responsible for the educational outreach on the economic role of tourism to local, state, and federal officials.  

Before joining VTC, Becky held the position of Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Her previous experiences include roles at People Incorporated, and the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Lead Virginia Class of 2020. 

Becky is a native of Bristol, where she has served on the City Council since 2021 and was elected Mayor in January 2024. She serves on the GO Virginia Region One Council and Ballad Health Community Board of Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from King University and Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.  

Chris Thompson, Director of Strategic Housing, Virginia Housing

Chris Thompson is the Director of Strategic Housing at Virginia Housing. He leads a team charged with developing and managing relationships with the Commonwealth’s Housing Services Delivery Network. Mr. Thompson coordinates the design and delivery of trainings intended to strengthen the ability of local officials, land use planners, planning entities, and housing developers to better address local affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization issues. He also identifies strategic opportunities to provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations seeking to undertake transformational revitalization projects. Prior to joining VHDA he served as Deputy Director for Housing at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Kim Davis, Executive Director, Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation

Kim Davis is the Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation, Friends of Southwest Virginia, and ‘Round the Mountain Artisan Network—three organizations dedicated to celebrating and strengthening the region’s rich culture, creative economy, and outdoor assets. 

A proud Bristol native, Kim brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, communications, marketing, event planning, and community development. Before returning to her hometown in 2014, Kim served as Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Visit Knoxville, where she led major destination marketing efforts. Back in Bristol, she took the reins as Director of Marketing for the Birthplace of Country Music, overseeing branding and communications for the Museum, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and Radio Bristol. 

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and an MBA from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. She’s also a graduate of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s prestigious Appalachian Leadership Institute and serves on several regional boards. 

In her current role, Kim leads a dynamic team dedicated to driving regional collaboration, tourism development, and creative economy growth throughout Southwest Virginia. Her true passion lies in destination development of Southwest Virginia, creating places where culture, creativity, and community come together to inspire both residents and visitors.  

Whether she’s working with local artisans, launching new community development initiatives, or partnering with state and federal funders, Kim is passionate about telling the story of Southwest Virginia and building a vibrant future for the region she proudly calls home. 

Tanya Denckla Cobb, Director, The University of Virginia’s Institute for Engagement & Negotiation

Tanya Denckla Cobb is a seasoned environmental and public policy mediator. With roots in community mediation, and as a former nonprofit director, she brings understanding of the dynamics of community collaboration to her work. At IEN since 1997, she works with people across all sectors to address challenging, complex issues through equitable collaboration, seeking sustainable solutions in the context of social equity. Her work spans community-based research, innovative and robust community engagement, consensus building, strategic planning, and equitable collaboration. She also develops customized training around all of these skills. Her more recent work includes coastal resilience, environmental justice, public health and tobacco harm reduction, contested public spaces and legacies of harm, and agricultural, food system, and food justice issues. 

Brianna Hickman, Community + Business Resilience Initiative (CBRI) Project Director, The WV Community Development Hub

Brianna Hickman (she/her) is the Community + Business Resilience Initiative (CBRI) Project Director at The WV Community Development Hub, where she works with communities to build capacity, cultivate community leadership, and develop resilience plans that help communities navigate 21st century economies. Prior to landing at The Hub in 2023, Brianna worked in the higher education and nonprofit sectors, serving as a program manager, professor of American National Government, and development director.

Brianna graduated from West Virginia University in 2017 with a Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Administration and in 2014 with a BA in Political Science. She served on Moundsville City Council in 2020 and 2022-2024 and is actively involved in the community, serving as Vice Chair of the Arts & Culture Commission, Chair of the Economic Vitality On-Trac Committee, At-Large Member of Association of Junior Leagues International Governance Committee, and member of the Junior League of Wheeling. When not volunteering, she’s most likely to be found kayaking the Ohio River or with her golden retriever, Atlas, in the woods somewhere.

Joshua Ball, Chief Operating Officer, Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR)

Joshua Ball is the Chief Operating Officer of Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR), a nonprofit think tank serving all 54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky. A relentless champion for Appalachia and a proud Appalachian optimist, Joshua is committed to unlocking the region’s full potential through bold cross-sector collaboration, grassroots leadership, and opportunity-centered transformation.

At SOAR, Joshua leads day-to-day operations and provides strategic oversight of several major initiatives. He directs SOAR’s Business and Innovation unit, Office of Jobs — a comprehensive workforce initiative encompassing the Eastern Kentucky (EKY) Talent Network, digital skills training, and the organization’s Remote Worker Attraction Program. He also manages SOAR’s events portfolio, including the annual SOAR Summit — Appalachia’s Premier Event — drawing over 1,200 attendees and 100+ exhibitors.

Joshua is not only a practitioner of regional development but also an emerging scholar of it. He is currently writing his dissertation, “The Role of Leadership in Workforce and Economic Development: A Qualitative Study of Strategies and Challenges in Eastern Kentucky,” as part of his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at the University of the Cumberlands. This research reflects his lived experience and professional passion, examining how local leaders navigate complex systems to drive real, lasting change in rural communities.

Previously, Joshua served as Director of Strategic Communications at Big Sandy Community and Technical College and led the early Kentucky Teleworks initiative (now Teleworks USA). He has held leadership roles in health care, higher education, and journalism.

A native of Martin County, Kentucky, he holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morehead State University and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He serves on several advisory and nonprofit boards dedicated to education, entrepreneurship, and community development across the region.

Kristie Proctor, Executive Director, The Virginia Rural Center

Kristie Helmick Proctor is a rural Virginia native and organizational leader who was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center in 2017. The Center is partnership of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia, which collectively work together on a joint mission to advocate for rural policy and create innovative solutions in rural Virginia. The Center was created by the Virginia legislature in 2004, and the Council is associated with the National Rural Development Partnership, created out of the 2002 Farm Bill.

Before joining the Virginia Rural Center, Kristie worked at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s largest small business association, where she managed a team of staff that implemented and oversaw grassroots activities in 17 different states.

Proctor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Longwood University in 2004 and a Master of Arts degree in Government from Regent University in 2007. She studied abroad at Oxford University and is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

Kristie sits on a number of boards, including her 2022 appointment to the Board of Visitors at Longwood University. She has received numerous awards including, Virginia Business Magazine “100 People To Meet”, Style Weekly’s “Top 40 under 40” and she was a recipient of Marquis “Who’s Who in America” 

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

Chandler Vaughan, Project Coordinator, Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard, The Virginia Rural Center

Chandler Vaughan serves as the Planning and Facilitating Consultant for the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) and as the Project Coordinator for the Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard, both initiatives of the Virginia Rural Center. 

VRLI is dedicated to retaining, attracting, and developing rural Virginians into innovative, responsible, and civic-minded leaders who contribute to building strong communities. The program takes a cohort of up to 30 rural leaders to rural regions and communities, culminating in Community Impact Projects that address local needs.  

The Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard is a data-driven platform designed to highlight the strengths of rural areas and provide information on funding opportunities. It offers insights into demographics, housing, education, business, and health, along with interactive asset maps and a Rural Resource Index to guide stakeholders toward relevant funding sources.  

In his role, Chandler facilitates these programs of the Virginia Rural Center, working to empower rural communities through leadership development and accessible resources. 

Kalen Hunter, Director of Destination Development, Virginia Tourism Corporation

Kalen is a Senior Destination Development Manager at Virginia Tourism Corporation, covering the Blue Ridge Highlands Region. She works with regional stakeholders, state partners, local elected officials, and entrepreneurs to build and promote assets in vibrant communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Kalen previously served as the Director of Economic Development and GO Virginia Region One at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. In this role, she collaborated with business leaders, nonprofit organizations, government officials, and economic development professionals to build innovative projects around energy, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and workforce development. Specifically, she assisted with the expansion of the GO TEC program in K12 systems throughout Southwest Virginia. She also assisted Mountain Empire Community College with the development of Project WELD, which assists those reentering society with attaining a Level 1 Welding Certification to qualify them for employment upon release. 

Kalen also serves as a board member for the Civil War Trails, United Way of Southwest Virginia, and Johnston Memorial Hospital’s Community Board. She participates in the Virginia Tech Southwest Advisory Council and the City of Bristol Virginia’s Planning Commission. 

Chris Bell, Town Manager, Damascus, VA

Chris Bell, Town Manager of Damascus, VA, combines a strong technical background with a dedication to community service and business leadership. A native of Northern California, Chris's interest in music, science, and technology led him to a degree in Acoustic Engineering from the University of Hartford. He began his career in the early 1990s in Atlanta, GA, designing and installing sound systems for local churches and houses of worship.    

Chris broadened his expertise to encompass video and control systems, creating innovative technology solutions for major clients like Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1998, he established his own company, providing audio-visual integration services to corporations, universities, and government entities for more than 20 years.    

In early 2024, Chris retired from the industry and moved with his wife to Damascus, VA, to be closer to their son at Virginia Tech. Driven by a desire to contribute to his new hometown, he became Town Manager just two months before Hurricane Helene struck. This unexpected challenge has undoubtedly been a "baptism by fire" (or more specifically by flood), testing his leadership and resilience while showcasing his commitment to the town's recovery. 

Mike Gutter Ph.D., Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Associate Dean, Virginia Tech

Mike Gutter is Associate Dean and Director for Virginia Cooperative Extension; he holds the rank of Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics. Prior to this he served as professor and Associate Dean for Extension at the University of Florida. His Ph.D. is from The Ohio State University; he began his career as an applied researcher Extension Specialist over two decades ago at the University of Wisconsin in and then moved to the University of Florida in 2007 as a state specialist where he earned tenure and was promoted to Professor. His research focuses on the interconnectedness between financial resources and health outcomes. His own Extension work was rooted in creating interventions and resources for those who are facing financial burden or complex economic situations. Some of his major programs have included: Florida Master Money Mentor, Farm Succession Planning and Taking Control of Your Cancer Diagnosis addressing financial toxicity in rural cancer patients through an extension financial counseling program. His research and outreach projects have been funded by FINRA, Bank of America, National Endowment for Financial Education, Department of Defense, USDA, National Institutes of Health, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the UF Health Cancer Center, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He aspires for increasing opportunities for all the citizens we are meant to serve to benefit from the valuable programs we provide. His work has been recognized consistently for awards most recently being part of a collaboration winning the American Association of Medical Colleges Innovations that Bolster Community Trust in Science Award.

Steve Critchfield, President, MOVA Technologies, Inc.