News Articles

CHAMBER HIRES DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

New position plays an integral role in delivering high value to Chamber members.

[DANVILLE, VA] – The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that Crystal Hairston has been hired as the Director of Operations, a newly created position that will play an integral role in delivering high value to Chamber members.

Hairston will be responsible for the management and coordination of operational activities which are vital to the execution of Chamber programs and initiatives. Hairston will also collaborate with Christy Harper, the Director of Member Engagement, to develop and oversee membership recruitment, retention, and engagement for the Chamber and manage administrative tasks related to communication with vendors, partners, board members, and event coordination.

Hairston brings a strong background in community engagement and workforce development. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management from Patrick Henry Community College and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society. Hairston is also a Certified Career Coach. 

Hairston most recently held positions with Piedmont Community Services as an Employment Specialist/Case Manager and with Goodwill Industries of the Valley as a GoodCare Regional Coordinator.

The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce accelerates business growth by connecting its members to dynamic resources and networks. The Chamber’s number one goal is to help area businesses of all sizes to grow and prosper.

BUSINESS@BREAKFAST EVENT TO FOCUS ON THE REGION’S FUTURE

Business@Breakfast, a regular program of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, will focus on the Partnership for Regional Prosperity on Thursday, August 25 from 8 - 9:00 a.m. at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The session will focus on the region’s economic future and solicit ideas from attendees on what they might want the future of Danville and Pittsylvania County to look like.

The region has announced more than 4,000 new jobs and $1.1 billion in investment since 2018 including high profile projects such as the 500 room Caesars casino resort and AeroFarms, the largest indoor vertical farm of its kind. This unprecedented growth begs the question of whether the region is ready for the challenges and opportunities that will come from this success.

Beth Doughty, senior fellow with the Danville Regional Foundation, which is funding the start-up of the Partnership, will talk about the group’s origins, mission, and program of work. The event is also designed to solicit responses from attendees on what kind of future they want for the region.

“Since the closing of Dan River Mills and the decline in the tobacco industries, our region has worked hard to rebuild its economy and we’ve seen tremendous progress,” said Danville City Manager Ken Larking. “I believe our community needs to refocus its energy on how to best manage the change that comes from growth. We are confident that our area is poised for significant change. Planning for that change will produce the best outcome.”

“This is just one opportunity to better understand the future of our region and how we all can start to help shape its direction,” said Doughty. “The Chamber is the perfect partner to host this event.”

Business@Breakfast is one of the Chamber’s signature events and provides access to the most current regional and state information impacting the business community. The cost to attend is $15 for members and $25 for non-members and includes a continental breakfast. Registration is required – www.dpchamber.org.

HARPER PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce [Chamber] is thrilled to announce that Christy Harper has been promoted to the role of Director of Member Engagement, effective immediately.

LEADERSHIP SOUTHSIDE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Apply now for the 2022-2023 program!

CHAMBER AWARDS $50,000 IN THE 2022 REV UP DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA PROGRAM

Four businesses in Danville and Pittsylvania County received funding for expansion.