James City County EDA elects 2005 Officers

James City County's Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently elected local businesswoman Virginia B. Hartmann as next year's Chair. Other 2005 officers include Mark G. Rinaldi, Vice Chair; James City's Economic Development Director Keith A. Taylor, Secretary; County Treasurer Ann Davis, Treasurer; and County Attorney Leo P. Rogers, General Counsel.

Hartmann, who has served on the EDA since 2000, was reappointed in June. Currently serving as the EDA's Vice Chair, she has served as the authority's liaison to the 2001 Secondary Schools Program Focus Group and co-liaison to the 2002-2004 Comprehensive Plan/Planning Commission.

A native of James City County, Hartmann is President of The Williamsburg Soap and Candle Company, which has been in business here since 1964. She is active in many community organizations, including serving on the boards of the Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the United Way. Hartmann is also Chairperson of the Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Historic Triangle program. 

Rinaldi is a Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager at LandMark Design Group. First appointed to the EDA in 2000, he has served on the EDA's Technology Initiatives committee and been co-liaison for the Comprehensive Plan/Planning Commission committee. A Yorktown native, he earned a bachelor's in land use from the College of William & Mary and a master's in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech. He is a certified planner who has earned the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) designation, is active in planning and development industry associations and was recently appointed to serve on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Peer Review Team.

The EDA is comprised of seven directors appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The EDA assists the County's Office of Economic Development in expanding the County's business tax base.