Economic Development 2023: TELLY TUCKER

A graduate of James Madison University, Tucker previously was director of Arlington Economic Development, and also served five years as director of economic development for Danville, before returning to Southern Virginia in May 2022 to head up IALR, a regional hub for advanced manufacturing training initiatives and economic development.

This year, IALR’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program graduated its fifth cohort, training workers for defense industry manufacturing jobs. Other IALR initiatives include Next generation of Work (NOW), which gives teams of high school students real-world experience in working on solutions to problems for area businesses.

During his tenure in Danville economic development, Tucker helped attract step-van manufacturer Morgan Olson and vertical agriculture producer AeroFarms. At the end of his two-year stint in Arlington, defense contractors Boeing and Raytheon Technologies (now RTX) announced they would relocate their global headquarters to the county.

Also an accomplished concert pianist, Tucker began his professional life as a middle school math and Spanish teacher in Lynchburg, where he grew up.

HOBBY/PASSION: Playing music and cooking delicious food

TRAIT(S) I ADMIRE: Humility and gratitude

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Work hard, gain knowledge and treat people right.