As the founding CEO of Invest Appalachia, Andrew directs the organization’s overall strategy and impact, furthering his lifelong commitment to a sustainable and equitable Appalachian region.
In his role with IA, Andrew works to develop innovative capital strategies that address critical gaps and enhance collaboration across the region’s community development ecosystem. With a community-first mindset, Andrew ensures that IA’s investment activities are directly aligned with the needs and aspirations of local stakeholders. Andrew was instrumental in shaping Invest Appalachia from its inception, supporting the process that led to the organization’s creation.
Andrew draws on a deep history of community development work and regional relationships to embody Invest Appalachia’s motto – an organization by and for the people of Central Appalachia. Before launching Invest Appalachia, Andrew worked for nine years with Rural Support Partners to advance community economic development in Appalachia, leading major initiatives related to local food systems development, clean energy, impact investing, network development, non-profit management, and strategic planning. Andrew was born and raised on a family farm in the mountains of rural Western North Carolina. He has a BA in History and Political Science with Honors from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Masters in Sociology with a focus on Rural Development from the University of Granada, Spain. Andrew was a BALLE/Common Future Local Economy Fellow, a member of the inaugural Center for Community Investment’s Field Catalyst cohort, and a member of the FutureGood Rural Futurism cohort. He serves on the Advisory Boards of the Center for Community Investment and The Innovate Fund. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors, traveling, sports, time with family, and doing enough farm work to keep his hands calloused.
“The bright future our region deserves won’t happen without new approaches to investment – approaches that prioritize community interests and focus on unlocking inclusive opportunities. It is a privilege to be part of the movement, and daily work, of empowering a locally-rooted, resilient, and equitable Appalachian economy.“
