I Came to Lynchburg, VA, for College and Stayed for My Career
Lynchburg offers a range of education, job and recreation options.
There are plenty of reasons to love Lynchburg, VA. Appropriately nicknamed the “City of Seven Hills” for its seven original hills, LYH offers ample outdoor activities, affordable housing, excellent eateries, five institutions of higher learning and abundant career opportunities.
While perfect for people of all ages, this city is a great spot to enter the workforce and grow a career. In fact, over the years, several students who moved to Lynchburg for college have stayed to start their careers.
Asa Keimig, for example, moved from Maryland to Lynchburg in 2009 to attend Liberty University, where he obtained an undergraduate and graduate degree. Today, he remains in Lynchburg, where he works as the media and public relations manager for Delta Star, the largest, American-owned medium transformer manufacturer in the United States.
Read on to learn more about what drew him to the area and ultimately persuaded him to stay long term.
What made you want to relocate to Lynchburg for your education?
Leading up to attending Liberty University in 2009, I had family both in and around the Lynchburg region, which further supported my decision to relocate to the area and pursue higher education.
After graduating, what made you want to stay in Lynchburg for your career?
Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I received a full-time position at Liberty University, which afforded me the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree. This heavily influenced my decision to remain in Lynchburg because of the opportunity to get a free education while gaining valuable work experience. It was too valuable of an opportunity to turn down.
What local resources or networking opportunities benefited you when looking for a job in Lynchburg?
I was a member of the Liberty University Men’s Lacrosse team for the entirety of my college career, and because of the strict regimen of academics and athletics, I couldn’t fully pursue an internship or networking [opportunities] in the area during the school year due to my schedule and time availability.
I was fortunate to obtain a degree in which I was able to learn a plethora of skills that ranged from photography and videography to graphic design, speech writing, event planning and social media management.
Having a strong, diverse skill set that could realistically support any function in the marketing, advertising, public relations or communications space gave me confidence to start knocking on doors of local businesses in the Lynchburg area. The conversations always began with, “How can I help?” This unique approach allowed me to support local businesses in the Lynchburg region with their marketing needs while building an incredible network of like-minded business professionals.
Aside from career opportunities, what do you love about Lynchburg?
I truly believe Lynchburg’s best-kept secret is that it can be molded and shaped to meet the needs of anyone who lives here or is visiting. From hiking trails and outdoor adventures to sports, entertainment or restaurants, there is a wide array of activities and things to enjoy.
For those hoping to find enjoyment outside of Lynchburg, there are major cities and hot spots all within driving distance (Charlotte, NC; Knoxville, TN; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, VA; Virginia Beach, VA). Since moving here, I have yet to meet someone – local or visiting – who hasn’t been able to find something to do that they enjoy.
Do you find Lynchburg affordable?
I don’t think I can say it enough, but Lynchburg provides opportunity, whether that is to the incoming college freshman or the retired couple relocating to Lynchburg from across the country to be closer to family. Housing, for example, is very reasonable in the city itself but also in the multiple counties surrounding Lynchburg, providing you with plenty of opportunities to either rent or own.
Having previously lived in Austin, TX, I watched friends and families, young and old alike, struggle when it came to affordable housing, groceries, education, entertainment, child care and other essentials that you factor into a cost-of-living discussion. There is opportunity for those moving to this area – opportunity that might not be possible to someone moving to a bigger hot spot of a city like Austin, Nashville or Raleigh.
What makes you want to stay in Lynchburg for the foreseeable future?
I am fortunate enough to have a job doing what I love, working with an incredible team at a company that is making an impact not only in Lynchburg but throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and across North America. To be able to work and raise a family in an area like Lynchburg is just incredible. Lynchburg is a great place to raise a family, [as it has] great schools, plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, but at the same time, [it’s] relatively close to major cities like Charlotte, D.C., or Richmond. Lynchburg is truly an incredible place, and for me, it’s home.
This article is sponsored by the City of Lynchburg offices of Economic Development & Tourism and Communications & Public Engagement.