About Christine Kennedy
Professional Highlights:
Christine is a leadership and transformation coach and the COO/Executive Vice President of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.
As a coach, she brings a straightforward yet supportive approach to her clients and specializes in working with individuals who need direction, clarity or feel like they’re in a “holding pattern” in some area of their life.
Her diverse background includes customer service, sales, leadership and non-profit management and ministry -- enabling her to relate to a wide array of clients and situations.
She is a frequent presenter at local, state and national conferences and enjoys coaching individuals to achieve success in all areas of their lives.
She and her husband run The Sanctuary, a farm and retreat center that offers day and overnight accommodations for respite and uninterrupted coaching in a space that beckons the soul to think, dream and pray about possibilities.
At the Alliance, Christine is responsible for many workforce and economic development initiatives at the Alliance including the nationally award- winning Leadership Lynchburg program which trains and equips high potential leaders from organizations throughout the region. With her leadership, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance succeeded with several visible projects in the region including the implementation of additional Amtrak Service to DC, starting the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (the first in the state of Virginia) and the Work Healthy Coalition and earning five star accreditation with the US Chamber, just to name a few.
She has spearheaded the creation of several initiatives at the Alliance including the popular women’s series, the Women of Worth event, the Worlds of Opportunity Career Expo, Business at Breakfast.
Education:
She is a graduate of Liberty University where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She is also a graduate of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executives Institute and the Dale Carnegie Course.
Christine is credentialed as a certified professional coach and a master practitioner of the Energy Leadership Index through the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). She also DiSC certified.
Board Service:
Christine has served or is serving on a number of local, state and national boards including:
Community Police Advisory Council, Workforce Development Board, the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Association of Leadership Professionals. She is also a faculty member for the Association of Leadership Programs Certification program and the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and serves on their curriculum committee.
She has served on the Governor’s Workforce Council, as a graduate coach for Dale Carnegie of Central Virginia, and is a previous board member of Sister Cities of Lynchburg, the Historic Avenel Foundation and the Young Professionals of Central VA.
Aside from professional leadership responsibilities she also finds time to serve in local and international ministry where she has served as youth leader, District Director of World Missions in Virginia and West Virginia and board member.
Awards & Honors:
- Named Best Business Coach/Mentor by Lynchburg Business Magazine, three consecutive years (2020-2023)
- She earned her IOM (Institute for Organization Management) designation from the US Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and her CCE (Certified Chamber Executive) designation in 2018.
- Preceptor Award by the Community Leadership Association for her work with Leadership Lynchburg, April 2008
- Leadership Achievement Award by Chamber Voices Toastmasters, May 2007
- “20 under 40” by the Blue Ridge Business Journal, 2006
- Vice-Mayor’s Award of Excellence for her work in the region, February 2005
- Emerging Leader by the Blue Ridge Business Journal in December 2003
- Area Outstanding Point Production, First Citizens Bank, 1998
- Best Attitude Award, First Citizens Bank, July 1997
Contact Christne Kennedy at 434.845.5966 x12
Email: Ckennedy@LynchburgRegion.org