Chasity Barbour has been the Event and Operations Manager for the Town of Vinton for almost five years, working mainly with the Vinton War Memorial.

With the retirement of Special Programs Director Mary Beth Layman, Barbour’s job has been combined with Layman’s and her title updated to “Vinton Programs and Facilities Director.” The department has been rebranded as “Community Programs and Facilities.”

Barbour will be overseeing the Vinton War Memorial, the Vinton History Museum, the Vinton Farmers’ Market, and the Charles R. Hill Community Center. Dana Boyd was recently hired to assist her full-time as Programs and Facilities Supervisor.

The department employs several part-time staff as well who work limited hours including Penny Beyer, Sherri Winkler, Gary Houff, Amanda Payne, Linda Mahoney, Dan Hernandez, and Judy Cunningham.

Assistant Town Manager Pete Peters says there are plans to hire a third full-time employee for the department by spring.

Barbour is originally from Gretna and moved to the Cave Spring area when she was 13. She graduated from Cave Spring High School and studied Business Management at Virginia Western.

She was fortunate to be able to spend several years as a stay-at-home mom for older daughter Skylour, who is 19 and in her freshman year at West Virginia University. Barbour and her husband Sean Stores also have a10-year-old daughter, Kaidence, who attends Herman L. Horn Elementary and is a member of the traveling all-star cheerleading squad, the Fame All-Stars.

Prior to accepting the position in Vinton, Barbour worked for Blue Ridge Catering for eight years, doing everything from “prep to cooking to set-up, break down, and coordinating events.”

In her time at the War Memorial, Barbour has facilitated and hosted a myriad of events, both large and small, public and private, from weddings to festivals to conferences and graduations, banquets, family parties for special occasions, church services, and community meetings for Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton.

One of her most noticeable accomplishments is the design and installation of the LOVEworks sculpture on the front lawn of the War Memorial in collaboration with the Virginia Tourism Corporation and Vinton Public Works.

Barbour was a member of the prestigious Leadership Roanoke Valley (LRV) Class of 2018 sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. The LRV was established in 1983 “to build leadership skills and enable participants to make a difference in business and the community.” She was asked to serve as an advisor for the LRV for 2018-2019. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce as well.

She has received high praise for her efforts from town staff and was recently nominated by town employees for the Town of Vinton Employee of the Year award. Those who nominated her commented that:

• Chasity has a “Can-Do” attitude and always has a smile on her face.
• “If there is a mountain in her way, she is going to figure out a way to move it.”
• She “thinks outside the box to see a task through.”
• She “gives a great face to the War Memorial.”
• “With her help, the Town of Vinton will have a better tomorrow than the day before.”
• “Chasity has a unique gift in that she can interact with anyone at any time.”
• “She has a unique combination of being able to operate with a practical awareness of her clients’ needs, while balancing the financial management of her facility, and also being technically proficient with the building’s mechanical systems and service contracts.”

“I’m excited to watch the town flourish and I’m blessed to be considered for the job of Programs and Facilities Director,” said Barbour. “I have some big shoes to fill, but I’m confident and up for the challenge.”