The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce regrets to announce the June 13 passing of Laurie Shelton Moran, Chamber President and CEO. Moran became President in 2002 when the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County chambers merged to become the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she had served as President of the Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce before she worked as the Communications Manager for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Danville plant. During her career, she became well known by legislative bodies at the local, state and national levels due to her advocacy for workforce development and for issues critical to businesses and industry in the Dan River Region of Southern Virginia.
“She has testified before local, state and national legislative bodies and has always been a spokesman for workforce development and its impact on economic development,” said Linda Green, director of economic development for the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. “She has worked tirelessly with business and industry and has been a leader in community support organizations that span the spectrum of civic, church, health, education, business tourism and workforce. She will long be remembered and have an impact that will span decades to come.”
Over the years, Moran played integral roles in workforce and chamber-related initiatives and organizations. She had chaired the Dan River Region Collaborative’s participation in the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and had been a member of ACT’s National Workforce Solutions Advisory Board. Laurie previously served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). She was a former president and member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) where she was named VACCE Executive of the Year in 2005. A past chair of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), she had served on the Board of Directors of NAWB and had previously held positions as vice chair and secretary. Moran had served on the Board and was a past president of the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board.

“Laurie was the hardest working professional I knew,” said Julie Brown, director of advanced learning at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and a fellow workforce development advocate of Moran’s. “The world is less vibrant today but will forever be brighter because of Laurie Moran.”
At the time of her death, Moran served on the Danville Regional Foundation Board of Directors and was a member and past president of the Danville-Riverview Rotary Club. She was a past Assistant Governor for Area 7 of Rotary International District 7570 and had served as the District Membership Chair.
Throughout the years, Moran served on a plethora of boards for organizations, including Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania, of which she was the immediate past chair; United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County, of which she was a past chair; and The Launch Place. Moran also served on the Council for Rural Virginia, the Workforce Advisory Board of Danville Community College, the advisory committee for the Barkhouser Free Enterprise Center at Danville Community College and the advisory committee for National College. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Danville Regional Medical Center.
A graduate of Lynchburg College, Moran was designated a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) in 2006. Prior to her Chamber and Goodyear work experiences, she served as editor of a weekly newspaper and as a consultant.
“Laurie’s commitment to the community, our area businesses and economic development was unwavering,” said Bert Eades, chair of the board of directors for Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. “In honor of her passion and dedication, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce will continue to fulfill its mission of serving our members and improving the business environment by providing leadership, products, programs, and services which promote the success of our members.”
Moran’s funeral service was held Friday, June 16, in Gretna, Va., her town of residence. She was survived by her husband, Bruce Moran; two sons, Jeffrey Bond and wife, Megan, and Austin Moran; three sisters; two grandchildren; and her mother-in-law.