The public is welcome to our meetings. The meetings are held at The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901, the second Wednesday of the month from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is no charge, although we suggest you join our group which has been in existence for 25 years. The membership dues are only $25 per year and can be paid online on the ‘Join SSV’ page. Your dues will help us continue to deliver top-quality presentations. If you have questions, please email info@seniorstatesmen.org. Click the tab above to see samples of our newsletter.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

This will be a robust discussion revolving around the many economic opportunities that are being cultivated in the City and Albemarle County. Join us for a chance to ask questions and understand the economic initiatives that are in place and the vision that the City Council and Board of Supervisors are embracing with their Directors of Economic Development.

Emily Kilroy

Director of Economic Development, Albemarle County

Emily Kilroy is the Director of Economic Development for Albemarle County, VA, and has more than 15 years of local government experience, working in legislative affairs, communications, public engagement, and urban planning. Emily has a master’s in urban planning from UVA and a bachelor’s in international development from American University.

Chris Engel

Director of Economic Development, City of Charlottesville

Chris Engel is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Charlottesville, VA. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in geography from Mary Washington College and a master’s degree in planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. Over the past two decades, Chris has been instrumental in the development and implementation of Charlottesville’s comprehensive economic development program, including a series of award-winning workforce development programs, the Cville Match initiative and the establishment of the Parking Enterprise Fund.

The program will be moderated by SSV Board Member, Frank Friedman 

SSV IS ASKING ALL ATTENDEES TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
Senior Statesmen of Virginia | The Center Charlottesville (thecentercville.org)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Past Programs

Past programs are arranged in inverse chronological order.  Speaker bios and links to videos and podcasts are given, with a program summary written by SSV board members