2022 Members
Chairman Aaron Bushong (Bushong Contracting)
Sarah Cohen (Route 11 Potato Chips)
Dennis Dysart (First Bank)
Jim Guisewhite (SVN Commercial Specialists)
Bill Holtzman (Holtzman Oil Corporation)
Jeff Manning (Shentel)
Dexter Mumaw (Cabin Hill Homes, LLC)
Vice Chairman Justin Pence (SC Farm Bureau & BluePoint ATM)
Kelly Sager (Sager Real Estate)
Keith Stephens (Gateway Hospitality)
Work of the EDC
EDC responds to Shenandoah County 2045 Comprehensive Plan letter (July 2022)
EDC responds to BoS Renewable Energy discussion - Letter (Feb 10, 2022) - Keith Stephens appointed to Solar Ordinance Review Committee (SORC)
EDC responds to BoS Busi Retention & Expansion Coord - Letter (Mar 11, 2021) - BoS hires Coord July 2022
EDC Resource Documents
SVP Manufacturing Workforce Needs Report
Photos from the 2019 EDC Breakfast held at Shentel and sponsored by Washington Gas
HISTORY OF EDC
During a Strategic Planning meeting in 2019, the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors identified Economic Development as a key priority. As a key priority the Board’s plan was to engage business leaders regarding economic development and to establish an understanding of what it means to Shenandoah County as well as the Shenandoah Valley region in general. The Chamber, working with the County and Towns, would like to work to create employment opportunities and expand the tax base to fund core community needs such as fire and rescue, public education and social services.
2019 Economic Development Council (EDC)
Dennis Dysart, First Bank and Chair of the EDC
Aaron Bushong, Bushong Contracting
Christopher French, Shenandoah Telecommunications
William ‘Bill’ Holtzman, Holtzman Oil Corporation
Keith Stephens, Gateway Hospitality
Mike Thome, Bowman Andros
Why launch an EDC?
Mr. Dysart shared that “The preliminary goals of the EDC will be to engage the Chamber membership regarding economic development; listen, learn and understand potential barriers; evaluate the current, local economic climate; study market-specific data versus regional and statewide metrics; interact with key community stakeholders; and most importantly promote, and advocate for, economic development.”