Our History
The Rural Planning Caucus of Virginia (RPCVA) was founded in 1978 by a group of planners who recognized the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural communities across the Commonwealth. Their vision was to create a professional network focused on small towns, rural counties, and the people who serve them. In 1980, RPCVA hosted its first annual conference — a tradition that has continued for over four decades. What began as a small gathering has grown into a vital statewide forum for education, collaboration, and advocacy on rural planning issues. Today, RPCVA remains committed to supporting planners, local leaders, and community members as they work to shape vibrant and resilient rural places across Virginia.
1980 Rural Planning Caucus Executive Committee
Front Row (left to right): Larry Jennings, David Clabo, Robert Paciocco, Bruce Drummond, Steve Chipok and Robert Watkins.
Back Row (left to right): Elizabeth Moran, Sharon Angle, Carol Britt, Joe Cross and John Sheffield.
Past Chairs
Since 1979, there have been 20 men and women whom have led the the RPC Executive Committee.
2019 - 2025 Tripp Little
2016 -2018 Christy Straight
2013 - 2015 Andy Sorrell
2009 - 2012 Rodney Rhodes
2006 - 2008 Rhonda Cooper
2003 - 2005 Diana Utz
1996 - 2002 Jerry Lovelace
1995 Bill Duncanson
1993 - 1994 Greg Brittingham
1991 - 1992 Wayne Cilimberg
1990 John McCarthy
1987 - 1989 Mary Beth Marek
1986 Wayne Strickland
1985 Larry Jennings
1984 Ed Appling
1983 Sharon Angle
1982 Elizabeth Moran
1981 Joe Cross
1980 David Clabo
1979 Bob Pacioicco
Past Committee Members
Since 1978, there have been 64 men and women who have served on the RPC Executive Committee. Current members are in bold.
Nora Amos 2020 – Current
Sharon E. Angle 1981 – Current
John A. Anzivino 1984 – 1986
Edgar A. "Ed" Appling, Jr. 1984 – 1986
Norman L. Auldridge 1986 – 1988
Paul F. Berge 1979 – 1981
Matt Bolster 2022 – Current
Benjamin W. "Ben" Blankenship 1995 – 2003
Gregory L. "Greg" Brittingham 1987 – 1999
W. Douglas "Doug" Caskey 1987 – 1989
Carol Chapman 1979 – 1980
Stephen W. Chipok 1979 – 1980
V. Wayne Cilimberg 1987 – 2012
David A. "Dave" Clabo 1979 – 1985
Darren K. Coffey 2012 – 2017
Rhonda Henderson Cooper 1997 – Current
Ann Neil Cosby 2003 – 2005
Sam Crickenberger 2003 – 2012
Joseph M. "Joe" Cross, Jr. 1979 – 1985
Bruce Drummond 1980 – 1982
William E. "Bill" Duncanson 1990 – 1996
Kenneth D. "Kenny" Eades 2000 – 2005
Deborah Kirk Flippo 2009 – 2016
William D. "Bill" Fritz 1997 – 2018
Marybeth Marek Glaser 1983 – 1993
Richard L. Halpern 1991 – 1993
Robert A. "Bob" Hammond 1987 – 1989
Shea Hollifield 1990 – 1995
Katherine L. "Kat" Imhoff 1985 – 1988
Ronald E. "Ron" James 1980
Edward L. "Larry" Jennings 1979 – 1986
Christopher H. "Chris" Jett 2006 – 2008
Deborah S. "Debbie" Kendall 1996 – 2005
Kelli LeDuc 2015 – Current
Joe Lerch 2006 – 2008; 2017 – Current
Tripp Little 2009 – Current
Robert "Robbie" Love 2013 – 2015
Gerald V. "Jerry" Lovelace 1985 – 2012
Keith Mabe 1983 – 1984
William W. "Bill" Martin 1997 – 1999
John W. McCarthy 1989 – 1994
Edward C. "Ned" McElwaine 1984 – 1989
John P. Moore 1989 – 1991
Elizabeth J. Moran 1980 – 1990
Gary M. Oliveri 1991 – 1996
Darla Orr Odem 2000 – Current
Robert "Bob" Pacioicco 1979 – 1982
Steve Player 1979 – 1980
Memory Porter 1981 – 1983
Rodney S. "Rod" Rhodes 2006 – 2014
Steve Sandy 2018 – Current
Bret Schardein 2016 – 2021
John E. Sheffield, Jr. 1979 – 1983
Helen Smythers 1992 – 1995
Andrew V. "Andy" Sorrell 2008 – 2022
Christy Straight 2013 – Current
Wayne G. Strickland 1982 – 1990
William H. "Bill" Strider 1990 – 1995
Diana Utz 1994 – Current
William L. "Billy" Vaughan 1996 – 2007
Robert W. Watkins 1982
R. David Whittington 1981 – 1985
Timothy L. "Tim" Wilson 1993 – 2002
Larry R. Wood 1981 – 1983
Gregg Zody 2018 – 2019
Past Conferences
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Making Connections
October 16-18, 2023
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia -
Rethinking Housing, Development, & Energy in Rural Virginia
October 18-20, 2023
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia -
Investing in Rural Virginia: A Sure Bet!
October 19-21, 2022
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia
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Post-Pandemic Rebirth: New Opportunities for Rural Communities
September 29 - October 1, 2021
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia
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The Pandemic Shutdown
Conference cancelled
due to the Pandemic -
October 16 - 18, 2019
Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center
South Boston, Virginia
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October 17 - 19, 2018
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Future of the Rural Economy"
October 18 - 20, 2017
Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center
South Boston, Virginia
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Theme: "Utilizing Resources"
October 19 - 21, 2016
Mountain Lake Lodge and Conference Center
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Rural Resiliency"
October 14 - 16, 2015
Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center
South Boston, Virginia
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Theme: "Cultivating Self-Sustaining and Innovative Rural Communities"
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Emmett W. Hanger, Jr., Virginia Senate, 24th District
October 15 - 17, 2014
Mariners Landing Resort & Conference Center
Bedford, Virginia
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Theme: "35 Years of Serving Rural and Small Town Communities"
October 9 - 11, 2013
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Revisiting, Revisioning, and Revitalizing: Planning for the Old and the New"
Keynote Speaker: Dan Casey, Roanoke Times
October 17 - 19, 2012
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Home Grown Prosperity and Vitality In Your Community"
Keynote Speaker: Ed McMahon, Senior Resident Fellow, Urban Land Institute
October 19 - 21, 2011
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Planning Pathways: Trails, Trials, Tributaries"
Keynote Speaker: Preston Bryant, National Capital Planning Commission & former Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
October 20 - 22, 2010
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Keeping Virginia Communities $eeing Green"
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Matt Lohr, Virginia House of Delegates, 26th District
October 21 - 23, 2009Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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30th Anniversary Conference
Theme: "Energy and Environmental Responsibility"
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Mary Margaret Wipple,Virginia Senate, 31st District
October 15 - 17, 2008
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "New Directions for Planning in Virginia"
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Creigh Deeds, Virginia Senate, 25th District
October 17 - 19, 2007
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "New Directions for Planning in Virginia"
October 18- 20, 2006
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 20 - 22, 2005
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 20 - 22, 2004
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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25th Anniversary Conference
October 16 - 17, 2003
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 17 - 18, 2002
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 18 - 19, 2001
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 19 - 20, 2000
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 21 - 22, 1999
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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20th Anniversary Conference
October 21 - 23, 1998
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 22 - 24, 1997
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 17 - 18, 1996
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 1 - 3, 1995
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 16 - 18, 1994
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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15th Anniversary Conference
November 3 - 6, 1993
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 4 - 6, 1992
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 6 - 8, 1991
Keynote: Bill Shelton, Director, Center on Rural Development
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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November 1 - 2, 1990
Orkney Springs Hotel
Orkney Springs, Virginia
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November 1 - 3, 1989
Doe Run Resort
Fancy Gap, Virginia
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10th Anniversary Conference
November 3 - 4, 1988
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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October 29- 30, 1987
Bernard's Landing - Smith Mountain Lake
Moneta, Virginia
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October 15 - 17, 1986
Mountain Lake Resort
Pembroke, Virginia
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Theme: "Planning Perspectives"
Keynote: Richard Burton, Director, State Water Control Board
October 24- 25, 1985
Windmill Point Marine Resort
Windmill Point, Virginia
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Theme: "What You Have to Offer - Community Assessment"
Keynote: Richard Cranwell, Virginia House of Delegates, 8th District
October 18 - 19, 1984
Bernard's Landing - Smith Mountain Lake
Moneta, Virginia
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5th Anniversary Conference
Theme: "Community Promotion: From Start to Finish"
Keynote: David G. Dickson, Manager, Community Development, Virginia Division of Industrial Development
November 3 - 4, 1983
Skyland Lodge - Shenandoah National Park
Luray, Virginia
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Theme: "Rural Planning - New Direction"
Keynote: Scott Eubanks, Director, Virginia Division of Industrial Development
October 21 - 22, 1982
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
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Theme: "Rural Development Issues"
Keynote: John McCarthy, Deputy Director of the Office of Rural Development Policy,
Management, and Coordination, Farmers Home Administration
October 29 - 30, 1981
Skyland Lodge - Shenandoah National Park
Luray, Virginia
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Theme: "So That's a Subdivision"
November 14 - 15, 1980
Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center
Natural Bridge, Virginia
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