Diane Akers. Photo courtesy the Blacksburg Partnership
After 19 years as the founding leader of the Blacksburg Partnership, Diane Akers announced Friday that she will retire on June 30 from her positions as president of the private economic development group.
Akers was hired as the Blacksburg Partnership’s founding director in 2002, helping launch the organization that was established as a partnership between the town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech and the local business community. During her tenure, the partnership expanded from 22 membership organizations to more than 70.
“The past 18 years serving as president of the Blacksburg Partnership have been the most rewarding of my 30-plus year career,” Akers said. “I am so proud of all we have accomplished as an organization and all that we have done together to further the economy and quality of life in Blacksburg and the region.”
