Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce Announces Leadership and Major Initiatives for 2024

NEWS RELEASE
Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce
4100 Oaklawn Blvd., Hopewell, VA 23860 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             Media Contact:
February 24, 2023                                                                 Becky McDonough, CEO
                                                                                                           O: 804.541.2461
                                                                                                           M: 804.731.0902
                                                                                                           becky@hpgchamber.org
 
Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce Announces Leadership and Major Initiatives for 2024
 
Emerging from the Pandemic into a Rapidly Changing Economy, the Chamber Opts to Reappoint Dana Newcomer for Second Term to Continue the Reset that Began in 2022
Hopewell/Prince George, Va. – The Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce announces the appointment of Dana Newcomer, Associate Vice President for the Community College Workforce Alliance as the returning Board President. Her new term began January 1, 2024.
 
Newcomer is the Associate Vice President of Sector Strategies and Programs for the Community College Workforce Alliance, the workforce development division of J. Sargeant Reynolds and Brightpoint Community Colleges. As a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Program Planner (CPP) and Scrum Master (CSM), she strategically guides her teams to build robust, affordable, and flexible educational pathways for jobseekers to gain skills and credentials that serve as a runway to obtaining family-sustaining careers.  As the President of the Chamber, and a partner to economic development organizations and workforce development boards, she is experienced in collaborating with our local businesses and community organizations to develop solutions and talent pipelines for our region’s in-demand jobs, as well as evolving programs to better support jobseekers and businesses to help remove barriers to their success. Dana is accomplished in program and grant management, including multimillion-dollar initiatives focused on work-based learning and supporting minority and at-risk populations, and the military. Prior to joining the workforce development profession, she was a Career and Technical Education Teacher for 14 years, guiding and developing our youth to enter the workforce as well. Dana is passionate about helping others better position themselves to grow their professional selves and to live a healthier life. 
 
Her primary office is located at Brightpoint Community College. Her skills in program management, workforce development, and knowledge of the needs of employers in the chamber, make her an ideal choice for guiding and leading our board to collaborate with and help champion for our business community.
 
“It is inspirational to see the excitement and engagement from our board and members in relation to us growing as a more inclusive and collaborative organization, “Newcomer offered, “to be a stronger voice for our members, and to support our region’s needs to be a prosperous and healthy community. I am proud to continue to lead the H/PG Chamber as we continue serving businesses, improving lives, and strengthening our communities, our region, and our state.”
 
Also, joining Dana on the executive committee are:  Nicole Fernandez, AVP Business Banker, Touchstone Bank-Board VP; Robin Moore, CPA-Board Treasurer; Andrew Parker, Government Relations Director, AdvanSix Inc.-Board Secretary; Colin Romanick, Executive Director, Pamplin Historical Park-Board Past President. Joining the board as new directors in 2024 are Brandon Butterworth, VP Philanthropic Services, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond; Hal Hamner, Business Development Executive, Atlantic Constructors, Inc.; Terelle Robinson, Associate Director of Government Relations & Student Life, Richard Bland College of William & Mary.
 
“We are building on a strong 2023 where we had high participation in events, strong collaboration with local government and tourism partners, and stability with staff, vendors, and volunteers,” HPG Chamber CEO Becky McDonough added.  We have new initiatives such as the launch of a new regional military affairs council, the Capitol Region Military Alliance, which opens the way for broader collaboration on issues that are important to business and our defense installations; also, we signed onto the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance which was created by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of offering employer-based group insurance to members of affiliated local chambers and associations; and we are offering a quarterly member meetups.”
 
About the Chamber:
The H/PG Chamber is a voluntary federation of business and professional people working together to build a healthy economy and to improve the quality of life of the area. The Chamber also operates the Virginia Certified Hopewell/Prince George Visitor Welcome Center and serves as the local Destination Marketing Organization for Hopewell and Prince George County.
Chamber Affiliations:

• Member - Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Partner – Virginia’s Gateway Region
• Advisory – Hopewell and Prince George Public Schools Career and Technical Education Programs; Crater Economic Development Strategy Committee
• Member – Fish Virginia First
• Partner – 5 & Dime Tour Promotion
• Founder – Capitol Region Military Alliance (CaRMA-VA)

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