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Jamie Goodin has been named one of two 2023 Outstanding Young Virginians by the Virginia Jaycees for his accomplishments and leadership in the community as well as in academia and his career. He was honored Feb. 18 alongside state Sen. Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach during a banquet in Virginia Beach.
Since graduating from Washington and Lee University in 2010, Goodin has been actively involved in the civic and business affairs of the Rockbridge area. He played a key role in helping to reestablish the defunct Lime Kiln Theater as one of the top music venues in Virginia, serving as the board’s president. He helped to establish Main Street Lexington as the city’s economic development organization.
Goodin helped to attain and administer two Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development grants – one for a community business launch and one for building entrepreneurial economies. This led to the creation of more than seven new businesses in downtown Lexington. He assisted in creating and coordinating the local business-training program, Destination Retail.
As a member of the Lexington Planning Commission for four years, including a term as its chair, he helped write and update the city’s most recent Comprehensive Plan. He helped to create The Walker Entrepreneurship Program to help train, fund and mentor Black entrepreneurs in the Rockbridge area.
Goodin also successfully managed a $1.7 million real estate revitalization project in downtown Buena Vista. He founded and served as the first executive director of Main Street Buena Vista.
His record of community involvement includes serving as president of the Lexington-Rockbridge Jaycees, president and executive director of Main Street Lexington, founder and coordinator of Lexington Collaboratory and vice president of the United Way of Rockbridge. Accolades he has received over the years include CASE Higher Education Circle of Excellence Award, Virginia Jaycees Most Innovative Project and a Paul G. Harris Fellow from the Lexington Rotary Club.
A Lexington resident who was born in South Korea in 1987, Goodin was raised in Amherst County. He graduated from W&L with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with special attainments in commerce. He is currently a real estate developer and CEO of Shenandoah Small Business Solutions.
“I have been committed to helping young citizens in Rockbridge County to realize that, rather than be passive/negative about our community, we each have the capacity to actively shape our community for the better,” commented Goodin, upon being named an Outstanding Young Virginian by the Virginia Jaycees.
JAMIE GOODIN accepts the award for Outstanding Young Virginian at a Virginia Jaycees banquet in Virginia Beach last month.
