
Shane Simmons
Profession:
Director of Community Economic Development
Five Words About Me:
Passionate, driven, curious, funny, optimistic
One Surprising Skill:
I possess is the ability to make corn husk dolls
I am currently the Director of Community Economic Development for People Incorporated in Abingdon, Virginia, co-founder of The Appalachian Project, and a published author. My prior experience includes a stint as a Vice President at BB&T bank where I served as a district manager over 18 retail branches.
My book “Legends & Lore of East Tennessee” won the Award of Distinction from the East Tennessee Historical Society in 2017. I recently co-authored a children’s book headed for publication entitled “Petey the Pink-Tailed Possum: A School Tail” as part of my work with The Appalachian Project (TAP).
I have a passion for sharing my experience and knowledge with others so they can learn from my successes and failures. I feel that having a mentor who can give you a solid foundation for learning can go a long way toward reaching your goals and dreams while avoiding some of the pitfalls.