Professional Staff
Photo by Franklin Knox Photography
Andrea Copeland, Chief Operating Officer
Andrea Copeland started her Chamber career in 2007, volunteering with the Chamber’s Ambassador Corps. Through the Corps, she provided frontline support for all the chamber events, connecting with and building relationships with our members, many of whom are still involved with the chamber today.
In 2012, Andrea joined the chamber professional staff as the Director of Member Education Services, bringing with her more than 15 years of experience in the preschool, public school, and private college sectors. Andrea was also hired to direct the chamber’s signature program, Leadership Charlottesville, successfully serving both roles until assuming the position of Committee Engagement Director in 2020. In June 2023, Andrea was named Chief Operating Officer.
Andrea is a graduate of Leadership Charlottesville, the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) Management Program, and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) Emerging Leaders Circle. She graduated from the US Chamber of Commerce's executive leadership development program with an Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation in August 2023 and the Business Leads Fellowship Program in January 2024.
An active member of her community, Andrea volunteers on several local boards and committees, and is the longtime emcee for the area’s favorite family holiday event, Charlottesville’s Grand Illumination. She is a graduate of Piedmont Virginia Community College and Old Dominion University.
Photo by Franklin Knox Photography
Ann Marie Hohenberger, Director of Community Engagement
Ann Marie Hohenberger is a professional communicator and organizer who believes in the power of communities to build a better future together. Most recently, she served as the Chamber's Marketing & Communications Director, highlighting the Chamber's mission and members across a variety of channels. Ann Marie is a 2023 graduate of the Leaders Lab of Greater Charlottesville and now serves as the Director of Leaders Lab.
Ann Marie learned essential skills for community engagement as a volunteer with Transition Charlottesville Albemarle and later joined the board of the Ridge Street Neighborhood Association, serving as president from 2016 to 2020. In 2015 she helped launch the Cville TimeBank Repair Cafe, organizing volunteers to keep hundreds of useful items out of the landfill. She graduated from the University of Virginia a while ago and has filled the years with interesting work in various industries – along with volunteer service, creative projects, enjoying the outdoors, and raising a family.
Photo by Franklin Knox Photography
Katie Schiwy, Administrative Coordinator
Katie Schiwy is passionate about community building, office management, and artistic engagement. Originally from the eastern coastal bay of Maryland, Katie is a lover of the environment, expanding into environmental stewardship after attending the Chesapeake Watershed Semester in 2018. She obtained her degree in Communication and a Minor in Sociology at East Carolina University. There she began working in non-profit administration, building off a 14-year career in Girl Scouts, equipping her with strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills as well as a desire to foster healthy workspaces. Beyond professional endeavors, Katie has a love for creating through a variety of mediums and bringing things such as well-loved furniture back to life, spending time engaging with nature, and more recently discovering the beautiful scenery of the Charlottesville region.
Andrew Sides, Defense Affairs Committee Program Manager
A Virginia native, United States Marine Corps Reserve officer, and community volunteer, Andrew is a passionate veteran advocate and defense industry supporter. He grew up locally and attended Piedmont Virginia Community College before transferring to Virginia Tech to complete his undergraduate degree. After working in North Carolina in various change management and information security roles, Andrew, his wife Emily, and their three sons permanently returned to the central Virginia area in 2021. His military background is in foreign security force advising and family program management. In addition to his routine Marine Corps Reserve commitments, Andrew has mobilized to active duty multiple times in order to attend Expeditionary Warfare School, attend Command and Staff College, lead security cooperation teams in the Kingdom of Jordan, and support COVID-19 operations domestically with Task Force Commitment.
Photo by Franklin Knox Photography
Sharon Engle, Accounting/Financial Services
Sharon Engle is a self-employed bookkeeper who works with several Charlottesville businesses. She’s been in business for herself for 17 years. She enjoys gardening, cruising, and volunteering with various local organizations. She has been with the Chamber since 2017.