Stuart Mease (Pamplin MBA, Virginia Tech) is currently working with the City of Roanoke to create programs and events aimed at retaining and attracting young adults to the city and region. In addition, he is also a liaison between the Roanoke business community and the institutions of higher education in the NewVa region.

Previously, he served in several roles at Virginia Tech, including job placement, office of the Executive VP, government relations, and for the Presidential Fellow.

Mease’s primary focus is “connecting people�. In 2005, he created a blog ConnectingPeople.typepad.com that provides a bridge of communication between individuals (primarily young professionals) seeking employment opportunities in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. He also connected over 200 students to local internship opportunities through a program and course he created while in the Department of Management.

Mease also made a run for Blacksburg Town Council in 2002 and has worked extensively in the sports industry at different levels, most noticeably as a volunteer member of the ISP/Virginia Tech radio network.

He is active in his community through organizations such as the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, Rotary, and the NRV Planning District Commission – among others – and he was instrumental in creating the New River Nucleus/Network for young adults. Finally, Mease is an avid golfer and fan of North Carolina basketball. He is married to his wife Allison and has two cats.