Housing Summit 2025
The City of Danville was proud to host the fourth annual Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit on October 9, 2025.
This year’s summit brought together leaders and innovators to spark new opportunities for residential housing development across the region—including Halifax, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania counties, as well as the cities of Danville and Martinsville.
Whether you were a developer, builder, contractor, home renovator, architect, financial professional, or community advocate, this event offered valuable insights, networking, and resources to help drive housing growth in Southern Virginia.
We worked together to create strong, sustainable communities and meet the region’s growing housing needs.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Update to SOVA Housing Strategies
- Introduction | Dana Cowart, President, The Lester Group
- Presentation | Ken Danter, CEO, Economic Development Strategies, LLC
The Housing Market in Virginia/Southern Virginia
- Introduction | Linda Green, Vice President of IALR and Executive Director of SVRA
- Presentation |Sejal Naik, Deputy Chief Economist, Virginia Association of Realtors
Regional Opportunities for Development
- Update on Regional Growth| Linda Green, Vice President of IALR and Executive Director of SVRA
- City of Danville | Susan McCulloch, Division Director of Housing and Development
- Halifax County IDA | Brian Brown, Executive Director
- City of Martinsville | Robert Fincher, Interim City Manager
- Patrick County | James Houchins, Director of Economic Development and Tourism
- Henry County | Lee Clark, Director of Planning, Zoning & Inspection
- Pittsylvania County | David Arnold, Deputy County Administrator
- Mecklenburg County | Keli Reekes, Town Manager, South Hill
Success Stories: Housing Growth Across the Region
- Introduction | Brian Brown, Executive Director of Halifax County IDA
- City of Danville | Dave Vos, The Alexander Group
- Halifax County | Brian Brown, Executive Director Halifax County IDA and
- Matt Candland, South Boston Town Manager
- City of Martinsville | Kendall Davis, Director of Communications and Engagement
- Mecklenburg County | Jeff Jones, Town Manager, Clarksville
Investing in Housing for a Greater Future in Southern Virginia
- Introduction | Mark Talbert, Senior Associate, Dewberry
- Keynote | Tammy Neale, CEO, Virginia Housing
Financial Resources – State and Regional
- Introduction | Kelvin Perry, Assistant Director, Danville Office of Economic Development and Tourism
- Chris McNamara, Strategic Housing Partner, Virginia Housing
- Cindy Green, Relationship Manager, Locus
Financial Resources – Local
- Introduction | Kelvin Perry, Assistant Director, Danville Office of Economic Development and Tourism
- Joy Wood, Vice President and Senior Loan Officer, Atlantic Coast Mortgage
- Tracie Gallahan, Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, First National Bank
- Jim Minear, Senior Vice President, Lynchburg Market Leader, First National Bank
- Ted Laws, Danville Market President and Commercial Relationship Manager, Atlantic Union Bank
- Jay Brown, Mortgage Area Sales Manager, Atlantic Union Bank
- James Cabler, Community Development Lender, Carter Bank
For more information, contact the Danville Office of Housing & Development 434-799-5260.
Click to view 2024 Housing Summit
Click to view 2023 Housing Summit
Click to view 2022 Housing Summit
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
If you are interested in being a sponsor, please reach out to Danville Community Development | 434.799.5260 ext: 2505