Angie Chewning became Executive Director of the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce in the fall of 2010. Her passion for the community leads her to take an active role in promoting business, industry, and tourism in the area. She believes that growth starts with people who are willing to share their ideas and ask questions.
Chewning has three children, Cydney, Drake, and Abbie, and two grandchildren, Kellen and Lainey Bell
She serves on the Roanoke Regional Partnership Board, the Urban Development Advisory Committee, and the Vinton Women of the Moose #2466 as Treasurer. She also serves on the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors as VP of Development. . She served as Chair of the Vinton Relay for Life from 2012-2016.
Angie has served as a Board of Directors of the Vinton Moose Lodge #1121.She served on the Town of Vinton Revitalization Committee and the Preventive Council Committee. She loves promoting all things Vinton and is always encouraging folks to “Shop Local.” She loves volunteering for events and organizations that help people and make our community a better place to Live, Work, Shop and Play.
Kathryn Sowers works part-time for the Vinton Chamber of Commerce as Executive Assistant and Financial Coordinator. She is a native of Vinton. She has one son, Todd, and three grandchildren, Christiaan, Austin, and Hannah. Volunteering is an important part of her life.
Sowers was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Vinton/Roanoke County “High Ground” Veterans Monument on the grounds of the Vinton War Memorial. She is the Treasurer of the Arnold R. Burton Scholarship Fund who award two scholarships each year to William Byrd High School students.
She serves on the Board of Directors for General Federation of Women’s Club International, serving as a committee member of the Elections Committee, as Southeastern Region Budget & Finance Chairman, and Past Region President, GFWC Virginia Meeting Chairman for the 2025 meeting and Past State President, Blue Ridge District Advisor and Past District President, and GFWC Woman’s Club of Vinton Co-President.
Sowers is the Vinton-appointed representative on the Roanoke County/Salem Social Services Board. She is also very involved in her church, Vinton Baptist as Church Clerk, Secretary of the Sunday School, and co-chair of the Hostess Committee. She served the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association on the Executive Director Search Team and as Past Moderator, the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association WMU as Treasurer and Past Director (President), and the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
Chamber President Jason Boothe is a realtor at Mountain View Real Estate in Vinton. He is very active in the Vinton community where he has served as a board member and coach for the Vinton Booster Club and Vice President and President of the William Byrd Baseball Booster Club from 2017-2020. Along with his board positions, Boothe has also coached in the Vinton community for over 15 years. His “love for the kids and parents” has made him lifelong friendships. He has also served as a deacon at Lynn Haven Baptist Church.
Boothe has been married to his wife Nicole for 26 years. She works at William Byrd High School. They have two children. His daughter Taylor and son-in-law Collin reside in Georgia where Collin serves in the Army. His son Bryce works for Roanoke City’s Stormwater Department.
“I am the very proud Pappi to my new granddaughter, Rylan, who lives with Mommy and Daddy in Kansas,” Boothe says.
“I can’t express how excited I am to be able to work with such an amazing group of people who truly care about the town,” said Boothe. “I look forward to serving the members of this great Chamber, and we will do everything we possibly can to make Vinton the place to bring your business.”
Allison Finney will continue serving as First Vice President of the Chamber. She is a graduate of William Byrd High School and Virginia Tech where she majored in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management with an option in Residential Management. She manages several family-owned residential properties (apartments and single-family homes) in Roanoke, Salem, and Vinton. Finney also manages American Efficiency Inns, an extended stay motel located in downtown Vinton, as well as two other commercial properties. She has been involved with many organizations over the years. She is a founding member of the Square Society, serving on their board for many years and eventually becoming president. While serving as president, she also served on the Center in the Square Board of Directors. She has proudly served on the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 13 years and on the Executive Board for going on 11 years. Finney enjoys planning and volunteering for the various events hosted by the Chamber to promote and showcase the beautiful thriving Town of Vinton. She enjoys life with her partner of 13 years, Randall Walters.
Page Stovall Lovern has been named President of the Vinton Chamber of Commerce for 2025. She is a 2007 graduate of William Byrd High School and a 2012 graduate of Radford University with a Bachelors’ degree in Science.
She is currently the Revenue Specialist at Twenty/20 Management. In this role, she oversees the financial operations of multiple assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities spanning from West Virginia to South Carolina.
Lovern, a fourth generation Vintonite, is passionate about engaging with the Roanoke Valley through various networks to highlight what Vinton has to offer; she is excited to contribute to the area’s growth.
“My goal is to continue to see economic growth within the community, advocate and engage with our current members to represent their interests and be present in the community to encourage new memberships by showing the value of our chamber.
“I believe we can achieve this by attracting new businesses, supporting existing businesses, and promoting economic stability by showing citizens, business owners, and visitors that Vinton truly is the best place to be.”
She is married to Brian Lovern and stepmother to Kayla.
Pete Peters has served as Vinton Town Manager since January 2021. He served as Assistant Town Manager and Economic Development Director for the Town of Vinton for almost five years prior to that. He spent 10 years as Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism for Botetourt County, two years as Athletic Director at Roanoke Catholic School, and seven years with the City of Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation as Athletic Programmer. Peters graduated from William Byrd High School in 1993. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Administration from Ferrum College, and earned his Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from Virginia Tech. He and his wife Cameron have two children, Cadence (a student at Appalachian State) and Falan (a student at Virginia Tech). His hobbies include mountain biking, kayaking, tent camping, and home remodeling.
Chris McCarty graduated from William Byrd High School in 1985 and from Radford University with a BS in Business Management in May of 1989. McCarty worked in the family businesses– McCarty’s Hardware and Grand Rental Station– in 1989 and 1990 and managed Grand Rental Station from 1990 until 2008 when the business was sold to Aztec Rental.
In addition to managing Grand Rental Station, McCarty ran Grand Storage of Vinton from 1998 until the rental store was sold in 2008. Grand Storage of Vinton was a family business started in 1998 by Chris’s father, Charles McCarty. McCarty managed Grand Rental Station/Grand True Value Rental for Aztec Rental and managed Grand Storage of Vinton from 2008 until he retired from Grand True Value Rental in October of 2022. He currently runs Grand Storage of Vinton.
Anthony Conner is a financial services professional with The Conner Group, a locally owned financial practice. He works with a wide variety of clients including business owners and pre-retirees.
Prior to his start in the financial services industry, Conner earned his B.S. Degree from Carson-Newman University in 1982.
He is proud to be a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) since 2004. He also is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).
When he is not working, Conner enjoys serving the community as a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and in the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club. He also enjoys traveling, playing golf, and spending time with his three children, 4 grandchildren and two miniature schnauzers, Remy and Rigby, who are the current office mascots at The Conner Group.
Libby Patterson Criss is a young and upcoming professional with a zest for life and a drive to make a difference. She has recently taken on the role of the Director of New Business at The Conner Group, a prominent business in Vinton. Being raised in this charming town, Libby’s strong sense of community fuels her desire to give back and make a lasting impact.
Joy Rierson joined Neely’s Accounting Services, Vinton, in September 2021 as the Office Manager and Staff Accountant. She received a Bachelor of Science in Management with a minor in Accounting from Saint Mary’s College of California. She is a QuickBooks® Pro Advisor and brings over 20 years of accounting experience in business accounting, payroll, taxes, and audit prep. Originally from California, Rierson loves spending time on the lake with family enjoying water sports and making memories.
Chrissy Walton, Board Member
Chrissy Walton grew up in Vinton and graduated from William Byrd High School in 2002 (where she played softball). She has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, working with some of Roanoke’s most well-known establishments. In 2023 she teamed up with restaurateurs Todd Lancaster and Jonathan Pate to help open Pollard 107 South where she oversees marketing and operations for all three of their local restaurants with one more opening soon. She is passionate about the restaurants, the people they employ, and making Vinton a great place to eat, drink and spend time with friends and family. She married Josh Walton in April 2024 and is happy to soon celebrate her one-year wedding anniversary.
Tim Greenway is a native of Vinton and a 1982 graduate of William Byrd High School. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Radford University. He was elected to the Roanoke County School Board in November 2015 where he continues to serve.
Greenway has been involved in the private sector of business his entire career. He worked for a local recycling company as Assistant Controller-Controller for 16 years and then started Greenway Construction Company in 1995, specializing in single family residential housing, as well as developing a portfolio of investment real estate.
He has always had a strong interest in his community and wants to make a positive intellectual investment in the continued growth of the Roanoke County School system. Greenway is currently involved in the Chamber, Vinton Baptist Church, the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club, and the school system.
Christopher Wheeler has been working full-time for Wells Fargo Bank for 25 years. He grew up in Bedford County but has lived in Vinton for the past 20 years.
“I became friends with the owners of Twin Creeks Brewing Company when they were still brewing in Barry’s garage,” Wheeler says. “Once they decided to start a business, I was there from the beginning helping with construction, painting, and, of course, taste testing. Once the brewery was up and running, I was there so often they offered me a job to make a little extra money on the side.”
He has now worked part-time at the brewery for six years.
“For the past year and half, I’ve been running the social media and booking the music for the brewery,” said Wheeler. “My goal was to showcase what the brewery has to offer and to partner with other local businesses to cross promote and grow the Vinton community as a whole. I hope being part of the Chamber gives me those connections and opportunities.”
He is a single dad with two boys who have grown up around the brewery and who love to play bingo, trivia, and listen to the music there.
“My sons are both musicians and get to hang out and talk to the bands we have in, which encourages them to pursue their dreams. We enjoy the outdoors, fishing, kayaking, and going to concerts. They are at the center of everything I do and I hope being on the Chamber board helps us be more connected with our community.”
Julie Wheeler works at the Vinton HomeTrust Bank and has nine years of banking experience. She grew up in Fredericksburg but has been a Vinton resident since 2008. She is an Army veteran who served six years and has been stationed all over the country, including Hawaii. She is passionate about volunteering, blood donation and supporting local businesses. She is also very active with Showtimers community theatre in Roanoke. She enjoys reading, extreme adventures, spending time with her grown children, traveling and going to see live music, theatre and sporting events.
Donald Childress is a life-long resident of the Town of Vinton. He attended William Byrd High School where he played basketball and baseball, graduating in 1994. He attended Emory and Henry College and graduated with a BS degree in Business Management.
After college, Childress began his career in the insurance industry. He has spent over 20 years helping his clients make decisions with Medicare benefit plans, Final Expense plans and Annuity Planning. He decided to start his own business in 2009, Coastal Insurance Planning of Va. His growing office is in the Town of Vinton behind the Farmers’ Market.
He is the proud father of one adult son, Damon. He also has one granddaughter, Aleaya.
Tim Nininger, Board Member
Tim Nininger is the owner of Star City Pest Control and Wildlife Services. He is from Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta. He attended Northside and Christiansburg High Schools, Arizona State University, and Clemson University. He has three children Tori (18), Tanner (18), and Taylor (15). Nininger says he joined the Vinton Chamber because his friend Jason Boothe invited him, and he became impressed with all the things the Chamber does for the Town of Vinton.
Jason Peters, Board Member
Jason Peters is a 1994 graduate of William Byrd High School. He was Vice President of First Citizens Bank for 24 years and proudly served as the Board of Supervisors member for the Vinton District from 2014 to 2023. He is currently serving as the Commissioner of the Revenue for Roanoke County. He also serves Roanoke County on the Audit committee and the Towing Advisory Committee. He serves the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia on the Legislative, Veterans, and Finance committees. He was the Capital Co-chair of the Vinton/Roanoke County Veterans “High Ground” Monument. He is an Active Life Member (32 years) with the Vinton First Aid Crew, currently serving as President. Peters lives in East County “with my bride of 16 years, Candye, and our two minor children. We have been blessed with a total of eight children.”
Chamber Ex-Officio representatives to the Chamber board from the Town of Vinton include Town Council member Mike Stovall, Town Manager Pete Peters, and Director of Cultural Placemaking and Events Mandy Adkins.
Mike Stovall has served on Vinton Town Council since 2018. He represented the Vinton District for almost 20 years on the Roanoke County School Board prior to serving on council. Stovall served as an investigator for the Vinton Police Department for many years, beginning his career as a dispatcher at age 19. He is a third-generation Vintonite and a graduate of William Byrd High School. Stovall and his wife Patsy have three children and three grandchildren.
Mandy Adkins has been the Director of Cultural Placemaking and Events in Vinton since April 2024. A graduate of James Madison University, Mandy holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports & Recreation Management and a Master of Science in Sport & Recreation Leadership. Her career began as the Director of Recreation for Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club, where she spent two years serving the Harrisonburg community. In 2013, she relocated to Texas and took on the role of Director of Youth and Community Programs for San Antonio’s local sports commission, San Antonio Sports. There, she managed a variety of health and wellness programs that reached over 200,000 participants annually, increasing participation by 90% during her tenure.
Her work with San Antonio Sports also included significant contributions to high-profile events such as the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four, multiple Rock and Roll Marathons, the 2016 Summer Olympics Team Processing, and several other large-scale events.
In January 2021, she returned home to Virginia, becoming the Director of Parks and Recreation for Botetourt County, where she served for three years before joining the Town of Vinton. In her current role, Adkins develops, manages, and promotes special events, recreational programs, and cultural initiatives tied to the town’s community facilities. She also works closely with local businesses and the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce to foster a thriving, welcoming downtown environment.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Taylor, and their two sons.
