about us

Leigh joined the Rockingham County team in February 2019. She brings extensive experience in economic development from the State of Virginia in addition to entrepreneurial success. She is the founder and chief executive officer of RaesWear, LLC, where she invented and patented the 360 degree waistband pocket for leggings and other athleisure wear clothing. Since the company’s founding in 2013, Leigh increased sales by 178 percent through the development and implementation of an independent workforce of women across the United States. She led the business to win the Under Armour Future Show Innovation Challenge in 2015, with mentions in Good Housekeeping, Women’s Running, WWD, Women’s World, Runner’s World, NBC News, and others.

Prior to that, Leigh served as director of Research and Business Development for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Virginia. She was also founder and executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, where she identified new prospects for the region and led the marketing of the four-county, two-city organization. Her other relevant experiences include: vice president of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation; sales associate and then sales manager for Commonwealth Laminating & Coating; and marketing assistant with Martinsville Speedway. Leigh has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia-Charlottesville, and she has an Economic Development Institute Certificate from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. She serves as chair of the Henry-Martinsville Dept. of Social Services; advisory board member for the BB&T Local Chapter; member of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce; and adjunct faculty member at Patrick Henry Community College.