Appalachian Council for Innovation taps exec director

John Bebber has been hired as executive director of the Appalachian Council for Innovation, its board announced earlier in January. He was previously district director for U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Abingdon.

ACI is a nonprofit regional economic development organization founded in 1999 as the Southwestern Virginia Technology Council. It includes businesses and organizations in 16 Southwest Virginia cities and counties, including Bristol and the counties of Wythe, Russell, Wise and Buchanan. ACI created IN Appalachia to connect businesses, health care providers, customers and organizations to drive growth and regional collaboration.

“I am excited for this opportunity to promote regionalism, cooperation and growth among our businesses, localities, schools and communities,” Bebber said in a statement. “Promoting these ideas in our region is vital to long-term success and sustainability, as well as showing our youth that they can grow up and build a life here without having to sacrifice prosperity, or any level of success or happiness. I believe that ACI will be a driving force behind building this model of sustainability and changing the way we look at ourselves as a region. I am thrilled that I get to be a part of that.”

A U.S. Navy veteran, Bebber has degrees from King University and Appalachian State University.