Jonathan Whitt, President and CEO
Jonathan Whitt is the President and CEO of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. He works closely with leaders from the business, local government, and higher education sectors to connect and unite the region’s technology community, improve access to talent, develop high-impact startups, and market the Roanoke-Blacksburg region as a competitive destination for launching or growing a technology venture.
Prior to his current position, Jonathan served as Executive Director of the Region 2000 Technology Council. During his time there he was a key player in the development of several regional technology-based economic development projects; including the creation of the Region 2000 Partnership, the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research, the Future Focus Educational Foundation, and the Lynchburg Regional Governor's STEM Academy.
Prior to his position with the Region 2000 Technology Council, Jonathan was co-founder and CEO of NetWave Internet, a pioneer in the deployment of wireless broadband networks. Jonathan is a long-time advocate for broadband deployment and STEM education initiatives, having served on numerous organizations and workgroups related to these issues. Jonathan has also been an entrepreneur and technologist, with three business startups to his credit, two of which were technology companies. He has also worked for the following advanced manufacturing firms: Babcock & Wilcox, First Brands, Parker Powertrain and Waytec Electronics.
Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude in Applied Management from Ranken Technical College and holds professional certification as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).
Heather Baum, Director of Member Engagement
Heather brings a varied background to the Roanoke - Blacksburg Technology Council. She excels in the arena of management and events planning, customer service, marketing and management. Heather has a background that includes but is not limited to: Recruiting, Customer Service, Event and Facility Management and much more.
Prior to joining the RBTC team she was a Marketing & Sales consultant for Integrated Technology Group. Previously, she served as the Administrative Coordinator and Event Manager at the Center for Advanced Engineering & Research.
Heather earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from William Woods University and a Master’s in Higher Education from Capella University.
She is excited to combine her skills and talents to assist current and prospective RBTC members in the greater Roanoke – Blacksburg region. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching football (Go Hokies!) traveling and instructing Indoor Spin Classes.
Contact Heather at [email protected].
Rebecca Holland, Director of Marketing and Communications
Rebecca is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. In this position, she thrives on positive and open lines of communication with members of the RBTC and the tech community. Rebecca represents the council on social media, through the Get Plugged In newsletter and at events.
Prior to coming aboard the RBTC team Rebecca spent five years in journalism. She’s a graduate of Clemson University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in writing and publication studies. You can still find her in Death Valley on game days in the fall.
Rebecca looks forward to using her skills to spread the word about the region’s impressive tech scene, and being an advocate for companies on the rise.
Contact Rebecca at
[email protected].