Anna Bentson is the Assistant Director of Economic Development & Tourism for the City of Lynchburg. In her role, Anna leads tourism and economic development marketing, entrepreneurship and business development for the City of Lynchburg and its Economic Development Authority. Anna has a strong background in nonprofit management and cause marketing with a passion for urban revitalization and creative placemaking, having served as the marketing director for Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the director of the Downtown Lynchburg Association. In addition to supporting Lynchburg’s businesses to attract and retain jobs and capital investment, Anna has led place-based and entrepreneurial efforts for the City of Lynchburg including the development of Create Virginia, CO.STARTERS and Launched in Lynchburg. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina and has earned a Certificate in Creatives Cities and Economic Development at NYU and a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Lynchburg.