Amanda Painter Forrester

About Amanda Painter Forrester

Amanda is an experienced small business owner with a multi-disciplinary background and proven results in:• Strategic Growth• People and Culture• Systems Integration• Change Management • Brand Strategy• Customer Experience • Building Community• Human ResourcesThe many hats (preferably a green one, she says) Amanda wears has lead her to work with exciting cross-functional teams and adapt to various roles as situations arise. She is one that likes to get her hands dirty (but keeps her nails short) and looks every new challenge in the eye and gives it a wink. She is a changemaker with extensive ideation and can relate to and engage even the most skeptical. She has an aesthetically sensitive eye that is both sophisticated, forward-thinking and always honest. Her work is simultaneously beautiful and purposeful whether she is creating something physical or leading in the board room. She believes everything is a story and whatever form used to express it should first be honest and just also happen to be entertaining. After living in El Salvador for a brief period to adopt her son, Kevin, she returned to her hometown and built a fitness brand through storytelling, building community and empowering a strong staff to carry out her vision. Seven years and two building expansions later she negotiated and managed the sell of her affiliate for 80% goodwill. Amanda is a George Washington University graduate. She is married to the hunk you see in the attached published article, mother to a son studying at the University of Lynchburg, and giddy eyed for her pups, Duke and Holly. She currently lives in Roanoke, but remains a nomad at heart.*Amanda believes small businesses that focus on brand engagement and culture are the heart of our community and leads to strong economic impact for our region. She is the Marketing Director for the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network.

Experience

1. Director of Marketing

   Virginia Sbdc

   Jul 2025 — Present

Education

• Hollins University

  Art History and Studio Art

• The George Washington University

  Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Commercial Interior Design

  2002 — 2004

Skills

• Social Media Integration
• Branding & Identity
• Strength Training
• Life Coaching
• Interior Design
• Small Business Consulting
• Web Design
• Construction Management
• Interior Architecture
• Crossfit
• Public Speaking