Name: Charity Waldron
Company/Organization: Virginia Amateur Sports
Job Title: Director of Operations and Media Relations
How long have you been in Lynchburg? About 20 Years
Tell us about your professional role: My position incorporates a lot of different pieces and then depending on what event we are hosting or planning the pieces may shift a little. I am responsible for day to day operations of the company, but also overseeing all of our events - something as simple as a 5K or as detailed as the Virginia Commonwealth Games. I love my job because there are so many pieces to it, that it never truly gets boring - there is always something going on. I also love what we provide to the community, our participants and the area - seeing the participants come to an event so excited to participate and be a part of it, really fills my cup! Building relationships with our participants is something that is really important to me, we may only speak once a year, but I want them to have a great experience and want to come back. Some of them email me throughout the year checking on things (especially this year) and remember us when they see us and to me that is just really cool - the impact we have on people for just a short period of time. I have worked for VAS for almost 11 years, I started as an in Summer 2009 and was given the opportunity to come on full time while I was in Graduate school - in 2012. I worked some with Bristol Motor Speedway in Graduate School (which was super fun), served as a graduate assistant in the FIT Kids program at ETSU - which helped manage and provide healthy and active opportunities for kids in low income/rural and disadvantaged areas surrounding Johnson City.
What do you enjoy in your spare time? I am a major nerd - I love reading, learning new things, watching documentaries, all the things! I am a High School Track & Field Coach and a USATF Certified official - so I love and am passionate about Track & Field. Cooking and baking is truly my calm happy place, I especially enjoy cooking for others as I see that as an act of love and care. I love to hang out with my family and I absolutely LOVE to travel!!! I volunteer with Kids and Youth Ministry at my church and to say that has stolen my heart would be an understatement.
Who or what inspires you? Dr. Jen Welter, Ju'Riese Colon, Kim Ng, and it's weird to say but my future self - I want to be a woman that I can personally look up to and I want to help create a culture in sport and society as a whole that helps girls and women realize there is a safe space for them at the table too.
What's a fun fact about you? I would LOVE to visit all of the Disney Parks in the world. I would also love to attend all of the Division 1 NCAA National Championships (all sports) and Professional League Championships.
Why did you join YPCV? I love growing, learning, giving back and meeting new people - YPCV checked those boxes for me.