Diane Akers, president of the Blacksburg Partnership, will retire from her role after almost 19 years at the helm. As its first director, and later as president, Akers helped launch the public private economic development group in 2002.
Founded as a partnership between the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and the local business community, the partnership and Akers have been a driving force in local economic development and quality of life initiatives for almost two decades.
Helping to put Blacksburg on the regional events map, Akers developed major signature gatherings such as wine tasting Fork and Cork, Brew Do for beer lovers, the Virginia Cheese Fest, Blacksburg Restaurant Week, and the Blacksburg Partnership Collaborative for the Arts.
Under Akers’ leadership the partnership helped guide increased communications between local government, Virginia Tech, retailers and the larger business community and non-profits.
She launched merchants’ groups for South Main, North Main, and University Center Boulevard. Acting as the economic development arm for the town, she developed the Step Into Blacksburg marketing initiative and associated ongoing business recruitment and retention programs.
Akers created and launched the whimsical Gobble de Art program in 2005, gaining publicity for Blacksburg. Along the way it also supported dozens of regional artists and added to Blacksburg’s distinctive flavor and culture. More than 100 large Hokie birds were sold, and many grace homes and businesses throughout the region.
During her tenure, the Blacksburg Partnership has grown from 22 member organizations to more than 70.
Akers, who plans to continue her volunteer work on local non-profits, said, “The past 18 years serving as president of the Blacksburg Partnership have been the most rewarding of my 30+ year career. I am so proud of all we have accomplished as an organization and all that we have done together to further the economy and quality of life in Blacksburg and the region.”
Prior to working with the Blacksburg Partnership, Akers ran her own consulting firm, ComBiz Solutions in Roanoke and worked for the City of Roanoke, including Acting Assistant City Manager, Director of Economic Development, and Budget Administrator.
The Blacksburg Partnership has an active search underway for Akers’ replacement after she retires effective June 30.
