Bedford Area Chamber - Work Groups

Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG)

• The TAG supports Bedford City and Bedford County in their request for VDOT funding. Their goal is to support useful avenues of safe and efficient transportation for the businesses and residents of Bedford County. TAG seeks to support existing infrastructures such as the Roanoke Regional Airport and the Lynchburg Regional Airport and explore new opportunities for additional forms of transportation within the community.
• Attends pre-allocation hearings
• Participates in 501 Coalition, Lynchburg Regional Chamber Transportation Committee, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Transportation Advocacy Group.
• Supports TransDominion Express (Membership sponsored by Bedford Federal Savings Bank)

Chair: Ron Lovelace, Lovelace, Tibbs, Wyatt, Norvelle & Mathews

The Education Committee is interested in the following four initiatives:

• Connecting youth and business through a Youth Fair at Centerfest
• Rewarding students for good grades and good attendance through a Jr. Scholars Program
• The development of a mentoring program for students who do not learn by traditional methods
• The establishment of an off-campus learning center in the Bedford community.

Chair: Mary Jo Boone, Bedford Area Family YMCA

Trade Show Task Force: 

Plans and produces "Meet Bedford" Business Expo

Finance Committee: 

Oversees the fiscal status of the chamber, submits fundraising ideas and reviews and approves expenditures.

Chair: Terry Wood, Boxley Materials Company

Leadership Bedford 2007-2008

Sam Hartman, Certified Stephen Covey Trainer, AEP

Based upon the premise that leadership skills are learned skills, the curriculum focuses on Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Leadership Bedford offers a “birds-eye” view of the manner in which Bedford area organizations work together in order to create a cohesive community while developing important leadership skills.

Business Leads Groups

Four networking groups in Bedford, Forest and Smith Mountain Lake meet every two weeks with the goal of sharing business leads and increasing business for members. Members actively promote each other’s business through introductions, distribution of cards and through business referrals.