Christopher Price, AICP - Executive Director

Chris has over ten years of professional planning experience with a variety of county, city, town, and regional planning organizations.  His primary areas of expertise include regional cooperation, long-range planning, data analysis, economic development planning, policy analysis, and program evaluation.  Prior to joining the NSVRC staff in November 2007, Chris was the Assistant Director of the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office in Bellefonte, PA.  He has also held Senior Planner positions with the Centre Regional Planning Agency in State College, PA and with the City of Chesapeake, VA.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree from Penn State University, a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Michelle Owens, Finance Director

"Shelley" joined the NSVRC in August of 2006 with over 12 years of experience in municipal government.  As the Finance Director of the Commission, Shelley is responsible for directing the internal financial aspects of the organization including financial planning and administration, budgeting, development of accounting procedure, financial reporting, grant compliance monitoring, and payroll/benefits processing.

Shelley graduated from Sanford Brown College in Des Peres, Missouri in 1988 with Certifications in Accounting and Business Administration.  Prior to coming to the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission, Shelley served as the Deputy Town Clerk of Luray, Virginia and Human Resources Director and Executive Assistant to the Council and Mayor of the City of Union, Missouri.

Wendi Stine, GIS Specialist

Wendi is currently the GIS Specialist for the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission.  She oversees data analysis and map production for the various projects throughout the region.  Wendi is responsible for the data gathering, analysis and production of the yearly Regional Housing Report.

Mrs. Stine is a 1995 B.S. graduate in Technical Geography of the University of Radford, in Radford, Virginia.  She has worked for Michael Baker Jr. Inc., HNTB Corporation and Frederick County, Virginia.  She has experience in GIS applications in local and regional planning, land use planning, aviation planning, environmental justice, disaster planning and transportation.

Karen Taylor, Transportation Program Manager

Karen is currently the Transportation Program Manager for the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission.  She manages the administrative operations of the Winchester-Frederick County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Rural Transportation, the Valley Commuter Assistance Program and various programs within the NSVRC.  

 Prior to working for the Commission, Ms. Taylor worked for Warren County, Virginia. 

Jill Keihn, Natural Resources Program Manager

Jill is responsible for management of the Commission's natural resource programs including regional water supply and air quality initiatives, solid waste planning, and hazard mitigation programs.  She has over thirteen years of environmental and public outreach experience in consultant and government positions including management and preparation of Environmental Reports and Assessments; intensive interaction and negotiations with permitting agencies; coordination of public meetings with community groups and the general public. She also has eight years of teaching biological and ecological principles to college and high school students as well as outdoor education to elementary and middle school grades.
 
Jill holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biology from George Mason University, a Bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, and has earned numerous awards and certifications in environmental resource management. 

Martha Shickle, Community Development Program Manager

Martha works with localities and community organizations to develop strategies for affordable housing and community development.  At the Commission, Martha coordinates activities through the HOME Investments Partnerships Grant Program and the Continuum of Care totaling over $1 million in resources for homeless and permanent affordable housing in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, works with the Disability Services Board and is responsible for developing the needs assessment, housing market analysis and action plan for the Consolidated Plan for housing and community development activities for the Northern Shenandoah Valley.  Martha has experience in administering state and federal block grants, facilitating community partnerships and providing technical assistance to community organizations. 

Martha has a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary with a Concentration in Sociology and a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University, concentrating in State and Local Government.  Prior to joining NSVRC in August, 2008, Martha was Director of the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Development in the City of Winchester.

Tiffany Tran, Regional Planner

Tiffany is the Regional Planner for the NSVRC, providing technical assistance to local planning programs and staff members, coordinating regional land use and transportation planning initiatives, and managing projects including the Win-Fred Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long Range Transportation Plan Update and the Public Mobility Report for the region. 

Tiffany has a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from James Madison University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to joining the Commission in January 2009, she had worked as an intern at the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission in their Transportation Division.

The Commission office is located at 103 East Sixth Street, Front Royal, VA.  Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.  We can be reached at 540-636-8800 and by fax at 540-635-4147.  You can also contact us by email, simply click on the name of the person above that you wish to contact.  The Commission meets monthly on the third Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Warren County Government Center.  All meetings are public and accessible.