The Chamber’s Small Business Committee visited 27 Chamber businesses to distribute marketing materials for Small Business Saturday® that happened on November 28! This provided an opportunity to touch base with our members on their importance to our economy and to our organization.

Partnered with Google and Small Business Development Center on a workshop at Central Virginia Community College to help businesses complete their online information ensuring accuracy and improved analytics when consumers search their business using Google. Plans underway to do a workshop in the first quarter of 2016.

Hosted Workforce Roundtable of Area Employers for Delegate Kathy Byron Provided key data on workforce hiring and training challenges that aide in development of legislation to address Central VA workforce needs. Gave members an opportunity to express their needs and discuss possible solutions.

Recommended changes that would assist with workforce recruitment and retention and overall economic development. Executive Forum Launched by Leadership Lynchburg Provides a high level “think tank” and training for executive level leaders in a confidential environment. Young Entrepreneurs Academy Committee Created by Leadership Lynchburg Formed a committee of teen graduates of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy to foster their development as civic leaders, teach them volunteer leadership best practices and get them involved in the Chamber at a young age. Wage and Benefit Survey LaunchedSurvey will identify what local employers are paying for over 180 job classifications. Participation will make this survey a reliable source of wage data for our region.

Assisted Members with Online Visibility “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map” Google Workshop

Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion

Work Healthy Coalition Drafted Changes to City’s Zoning Ordinance

Workforce Assistance for Chamber Members

For my term as Chairman, the Chamber established three priorities: 1.TofinishfundraisingforthenewChamberbuildingandtobeginconstruction. 2.TofocusChambereffortstohelpstartupandexistingsmallbusinessestogrow. 3.Andlast,tohelpfacilitateregionalcollaborationforeconomicdevelopment. There isanoldsayingthatpeopleplanandGodlaughs.Veryshortlyafterconfirmingthesepriorities,collaborationdis-cussionswiththeRegion2000Allianceturnedintodiscussionsofmerger,whichbynecessityalteredsomewhattheorderofpriority.Collaborationquicklytookcenterstage,resultingintherecentannouncementofthesuccessfulvotesbyboth

organizationstomergebeginningJanuary1,2016andbecometheLynchburgRegionalBusinessAlliance. However,ourotherprioritieswerenotforgotten.TheChamberconcludedasuccessfulfundraisingcampaigntothepointofbeingreadytobeginconstructiondrawingsforthenewbuilding.Becausethemergerdiscussionswerebythensofaralong,itwasdeterminedthattheneworganizationshouldtakeoverthedecisionsregardingthebuildingandtheprocessofobtainingconstructiondrawingsandconstructionbidsisbeinglefttotheboardofthenewcombinedorganization. Smallbusinessesandstart-upswerenotforgotteneither.TheChamberanditsBizForwardTaskForceheldanumberofwellattendedandsuccessfulsmallbusinessforumstodeterminewaystheChambermightbeafacilitatorofsmallbusinessgrowth.Wemadesomeimmediatechangestomembercommunicationsandarecurrentlyworkingoninitiativestoimplementsomeoftheotherideasandprogramsthatthesmallbusinesscommunitythoughtwouldbemosthelpfultothem. Aswelooktoward2016andbeyond,weinviteyourcontinuedparticipation.Ournamewillchange,butourcontinuedpriorityonfreeenterprise,businesssupportandeconomicgrowthwillremain. Sincerely, JimRichards,Chairman

CHAIRMAN’S 2015 REFLECTION

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT & ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH

EDUCATION, WORKFORCE & TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Worked with Lynchburg businesses that were closing operations find new opportunities in the region for their employees & hosted a job fair in conjunction with our Connection Expo.

Workforce Assistance for Chamber Members

REGIONAL COLLABORATION Coordinated Regional Collaboration Meeting Met with officials from CTB, MPO, VDOT, LRTAG and area Chambers of Commerce to discuss transportation issues, funding and the new prioritization process outlined by HB2 and HB1887.Resulted in the formation of the Blue Ridge Economic Coalition

Hosted inter-city trip to Lexington, KY Held conference with regional business, government and economic development leaders in Lexington. First inter-city trip conducted by our Chamber/regional economic development in over 15 years.

Brought together regional education and business stakeholders for a dialogue Discussed dialogue with state and local leaders entitled ”EDUCATION INNOVATION IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA” about education reform. Business leaders discussed how we can collaborate on education reforms to

ensure that our students are prepared for the 21st century workforce and how you can engage to provide solutions.TransDominion Express (TDX) Website EnhancementsWorking with Chamber member Blair Marketing to make the TDX site more useful by adding links to Convention and Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce of each of the proposed stops in Virginia. Once completed an email will be sent out to these organizations informing them of our collaborative effort to be inclusive of localities impacted by future passenger rail. Annual ACCRA Data Report on Cost of Living Compiled data for the Lynchburg MSA and compare us to other MSAs. Used for marketing the region. Information used in presentations for marketing the region. Information also helps with our ranking in U.S. for Best Places for Business and Careers by Forbes, MSA profile used by City Data.com as well as Sperling Best Places.

VOICE OF BUSINESS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY Opposed EPA’s Proposed Rule on Carbon Pollution EmissionsSigned on VA Chamber letter opposing the EPA’s proposed rule on Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources (the Clean Power Plan) as it would fail to credit VA’s investments to improve air quality, would compromise energy reliability and would have economic impacts to Virginia due to implementation costs.

Funding for Regional Projects Advocated for funding and lent support for construction of the new entrance to Poplar Forest. Advocated for funding and lent support for the designation of an Enterprise Zone for the City.

Conference call with Goodlatte representatives to discuss members impacted by import/export regulations.Calls with VDOT, Congressmen Goodlatte, Hurt and Senator Newman regarding federal transportation infrastructure funding.Legislative Series Events Hosted Pancakes & Politics series bringing our state legislators together with our members to discuss state legislative priorities Hosted Goodlatte and Hurt for “Coffee with your Congressmen” and presented federal legislative priorites.

Advocacy for Free Enterprise

2015 BY THE NUMBERS

4500+ Number of peopleattending Chamber events

830 Members belong to the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce

99+Business sectors we represented through our advocacy work

500+Visits that our staff and CHAT team madeto member employers to identify and help solve workforceand business development needs

52People participating in our global awareness trips

17Students graduating from our Young Entrepreneurs Academy resulting in 13 new businesses launched in the region

43Ribbon cuttings and grand openings

12Co-sponsoredmember events

45+Business and advocacy events hosted for our members and the business community

10,481Certificates of Origin Processed for our exporting members

30 One-on-one consults with small businesses for coaching & strategy5

Focus groups hosted by Chamber Chairman and Biz Forward

PEAKABC13WSET-TVAREVAInc.BB&TCENTRAFirstNationalBankGenworthFinancialTheNews&Advance SUMMITBankoftheJamesDelta Star GenerationsSolutionsU.S. Pipe CRESTBWXTechnologies,Inc.LibertyUniversitySunTrustBankWellsFargoRIDGEAmericanNationalBankAppalachianPowerApple FordBoxleyCampbellCountyCentury21All-Service-ForestHolidayInnDowntownLynchburgLibertyMountainSnowflexCentreLibertyRidgeHealth&RehabilitationMemberOneFCUMoores&GilesParkerHannifinProgressPrintingPlusSuccessfulInnovationsTheSummitUnionBank&TrustWestminsterCanterburyWLNIWoodsRogersPLC

BASEBankerSteelCompany,LLCBankersInsuranceLLCBelvacProductionMachineryBlueRidgeBeverageCampbellCountySchoolsCareersInCareCaskie&FrostCentralVirginiaCommunityCollegeCentralVirginiaOrthodonticsCherryBekaertCityofLynchburgColeman-AdamsConstruction,Inc.ColumbiaGasofVirginiaComcastSpotlightCommWorldCentralVirginiaConnerProduce CountsRealty&AuctionDawsonFordGarbeeLynchburgRegionalConvention& VisitorsBureauEconomicDevelopmentOffice- CityofLynchburgFirstCitizensBankFirst Piedmont Corporation FleetLaboratoriesGastroenterologyAssociatesofCentral Virginia,Inc.GentryLockeHanwhaAzdelHCI–EBS,Inc.HeritageGreenAssistedLivingHurt&Proffitt,Inc.iHeartMediaInnovativeWirelessTechnologyJamerson-LewisConstructionJamesT.DavisPaintCenter

JoeH.ColemanConstruction,Inc.LUAthleticsLynchburgCitySchoolsLynchburgCollegeLynchburgDentalCenterLynchburgHillcatsLynchburgReadyMixLynchburgRegionalAirportOrthopaedicCenterofCentralVAPeridontalHealthAssociatesPetty,Livingston,Dawson&RichardsPhase 2PiedmontEyeCenterPollyWooldridge-RealtorPropertyOnePhotographyRandolphCollegeR.W.BairdRoseComputers&NetworksScott&StringfellowScottInsuranceSonnyMerrymanInc.SouthernAir,Inc.SweetBriarCollegeTerryVWSubaruTomlin&Associates,LLCVirginiaTechnicalInstituteVirginia’sRegion2000Businessand EconomicDevelopmentAllianceWDBJTelevision,Inc.WhittenFuneralHomesWIQO100.9Zaxby’s

James R. Richards - ChairPetty, Livingston, Dawson & Richards, PC Stefanie Prokity - Chair ElectSuccessful Innovations, Inc.Aubrey “Todd” H. Hall III - TreasurerFirst National Bank John S. Capps - Secretary Central Virginia Community College Tulane Patterson - Past Chair Generation Solutions Anthony B. Andrews Twenty23Bradley W. Bateman Randolph CollegeLee Beaumont Liberty UniversityScott S. Brabrand Lynchburg City Schools

Alton Brown The News & AdvanceBill Bryant Counts Realty & Auction Co. Inc.Ed Craighill BoxleyLauren B. Dianich Atelier 11 Architecture, LTDLisa Grishaw American National Bank and Trust Company Michael HicksThe Babcock & Wilcox CompanyRick A. Huff CPA/PFSHSC Wealth AdvisorsDarryl Huften Apple FordLarry E. Jackson Appalachian PowerSteve Jones Delta Star, Inc.

George KayesABC 13 WSET-TV Ryan A. McEntire C.P.A.Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P.Patrick S. McNamara LLCMaxPlayFit, LLCL. Kimball Payne IIICity of LynchburgTray Petty Moore & Giles, Inc.Patrick C. Proffitt P.E.Hurt & Proffitt, Inc.John M. Stone, CFA Stifel NicolausMichael Elliott CENTRALuke Towles Wells FargoDenise WoernleAREVA Inc

2015 CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2015 PREMIUM INVESTORS