Gracie Agnew has spent her entire professional life working with children including: serving as the Director of Instruction for the Henry County Schools, being the principal of four schools and the assistant principal at several others.

It is no wonder that one of her priorities as a Harvest Foundation board member is education. Her interests are closely aligned with the goals of the foundation including: providing a quality education; health and wellness; positive avenues for youth that focus on physical, mental, moral and intellectual growth; economic and cultural growth; and maintaining safe and drug free communities.

W. Christopher Beeler adds over 30 years of financial expertise to the Foundation Board. He is a Certified Public Accountant who also holds a Master's of Business Administration from Harvard University. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Virginia Glass Products Corporation and the Virginia Mirror Company, Inc. He also serves as Vice-Chairman of the EDC. Additionally, Chris is on the Hooker Furniture Board of Directors and is a Trustee and Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Martinsville, VA.

Leanna Blevins is the Associate Director of the New College Institute in Uptown Martinsville. She moved to Martinsville to help local and state partners in the initial work of bringing a new college to this region, but says that she has stayed here because it is a great place to raise her three children. She has become involved in various local organizations such as Charity League, Piedmont Arts Association, and Citizens Against Family Violence in an effort to contribute to the community in a variety of ways.

Leanna is accustomed to the small-town atmosphere of Martinsville-Henry County, having grown up in a similar rural Virginia community. As a first-generation college student who went on to earn her PhD with research on rural students' access and persistence in college, Leanna remains dedicated to exposing other first-generation college students to higher education opportunities.

Paul R. Eason, a physician with Carillion Medical Associates, works each day to keep area residents healthy. A native of eastern North Carolina, Paul has been a resident of Martinsville for nearly 20 years. He graduated from Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

He serves on numerous boards and organizations in our community, including the Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Foundation, the Library and Medical Education Committee at Memorial Hospital, and the Patrick Henry Medical Society.

While passionate about all areas The Harvest Foundation invests in, he is particularly concerned with the areas of disease prevention and health promotion.

Virginia Walker Hamlet, owner of Hamlet Vineyards, is keenly aware of our community's rich history and bright future. A native of the area, she returned to our community after graduating from the University of Virginia.

Virginia brings a wealth of nonprofit board experience to her work at The Harvest Foundation, having served on the boards of the Martinsville Area Community Foundation, the Patrick Henry Community College Foundation, the Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth, and Piedmont Arts Association. Currently, she is a member of the Board at Averett University and at Carlisle School. An architect by training, she is interested in the continued efforts around community revitalization and development.

Cynthia Ingram is the former Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Patrick Henry Community College. Before her retirement from this position in January 2008, she had served in the Virginia Community College System for 26 years.

Cynthia says she serves on the Harvest Foundation because it is a catalyst for change in this community. She believes by improving health, economic, and educational environments, we ultimately improve our community and offer others a place to visit, and hopefully to stay. She states, "education is the great equalizer in society and a gateway for upward economic mobility." Therefore, she enthusiastically supports this regions' effort to educate K-12, GED/High School through post-secondary.

Cynthia is passionate about promoting opportunities that stimulate creativity in music, arts, and crafts that are indigenous to this community, and is especially proud of her role in integrating these through the Artisan Center.

Amy Lampe is the Chief Executive Officer of Tacoma, Inc. in Martinsville, VA, which is a franchisee of 20 Taco Bells, 5 Pizza Hut Expresses, and 2 Long John Silver's restaurants. She also serves as the Family Financial Officer for the William G. and William L. Pannill families.

A self-described country girl with a pretty good education, Amy returned home to Martinsville in 1991 after an eight year career in public acounting. Throughout the years, she has lived in Stamford, CT, Atlanta, GA, and Greensboro, NC. Amy came home because she knew Martinsville and Henry County have the best people anywhere.

Amy brings financial and prior board experiences to the Harvest Foundation in addition to a passion for economic development and a huge belief in education. She formerly served on the Board of Directors of the M-HC Economic Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, C-PEG, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, and Carlisle School. Amy graduated from Laurel Park High School and has a B.S. from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce.

Gene Madonia, a Physician with a private practice, has been practicing medicine in Martinsville for 32 years. A graduate of Georgetown University Medical School, his practice is Martinsville Neurological Associates, Inc., for Adult Medical Neurology. He is a past Chairman of the Department of Medicine of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.

Gene brings a wealth of previous board experience to the Harvest Board, as he is also a member of the Medical Society of Virginia and serves as a Board Member for the Martinsville Area Community Foundation, and the MARC Workshop. Gene is also a past member of the Board for the TheatreWorks Community Players, Adult Day Care, and Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.

Gene feels it is, and has been, an honor to serve on these Boards. Doing so has allowed him to repay, in small measure, the community which has given him and his family so much.

James McClain is President and CEO of Southwestern Virginia Energy Industries which owns and operates the natural gas utility in Martinsville and Henry County as well as other energy-related businesses throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia. He was born and raised in Martinsville and returned shortly after graduating from Vanderbilt University.

James has served as Chairman of the Education Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, was a founding board member of the local Boys & Girls Club, a Trustee of Carlisle School, and a member of the local YMCA board. He has served as Chairman of the local Workforce Investment Board and was a member of the Virginia Workforce Council. He wants to do everything possible to provide a positive impact on the community and feels that The Harvest Foundation is a key avenue to accomplishing his goal.

Martha White Medley, a partner in Daniel, Medley & Kirby, P.C., has a history for giving back to community. Now, being a board member of The Harvest Foundation is a perfect fit.

Martha currently serves on the Board of the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund. Previously, she was on the Board for the Carlisle School and a former member of the Trustees at her church. She is a former member and president of the Charity League of Martinsville & Henry County and former board of director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation. Martha was recently inducted as a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, an honor conferred on one percent of the practicing lawyers in Virginia.

Jim Muehleck, a Doctor of Dentistry with over 30 years of experience, currently practices from his dental office in Martinsville. He has also served on various boards and organizations in the community, many of which are related to directly serving children and young adults such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martinsville-Henry County, the Piedmont Youth Soccer League, and the Patrick Henry Community College Educational Foundation.

A self-described outdoor enthusiast, Jim enjoys fishing, hunting, and gardening, and says that he enjoys being a part of the Martinsville community because of the beautiful area in which we live. Jim says that our community is truly blessed with its plentiful natural resources that allow him to participate in these hobbies.

E. Larry Ryder is the former Executive Vice President of Finance & Administration and CFO of Hooker Furniture Corporation. Before his retirement from this position in January 2011, he had worked at Hooker for 34 years. Larry has been involved with various foundations in Martinsville-Henry County. He is the Director Emeritus for the Patrick Henry Community College Foundation, and has served on the King's Grant Retirement Community's Regional Board and the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County's Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the Hooker Board of Directors. He also serves on boards for the Safetynet Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

In addition to his many civic commitments, Larry is passionate about his gardening and Virginia Tech football. He believes our community's best assets are its people, and is committed to helping our residents reach their full potential.