MBC Welcomes Tommy Saunders as Network Locator Supervisor

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) is pleased to announce that Tommy Saunders has joined our team as Network Locator Supervisor.

Tommy brings more than two decades of experience in the utility locating industry, having started his career in 2000 with the Western Virginia Authority and later joining S&N Locating. He has held several positions in and around the industry, including Damage Investigator, Safety & Compliance Field Supervisor, and construction.

With OSHA 10 and 30 certifications, as well as confined space and Smith Driver training, Tommy brings a strong foundation of safety knowledge and leadership to our organization. He is also a proud U.S. Army veteran.

Tommy met his fiancée while serving in the Army and spent time living in Germany before settling in Roanoke, Virginia, where he currently resides. Outside of work, he enjoys great food, live music, and beach vacations, where he especially enjoys surf fishing. He loves spending time with his three sons and five grandchildren (three grandsons and two granddaughters).

Please join us in welcoming Tommy to the MBC team!

MBC Welcomes Jobeth Weddle as ISP Operations Manager

SOVA Innovation Hub Begins Renovation to Expand Downtown South Boston Campus

The Hub @ 801 will feature a Fab Lab, podcast studio, coworking spaces, and flexible meeting space

SOUTH BOSTON, VA — January 20, 2026 — The SOVA Innovation Hub announced today that renovation work is underway on The Hub @ 801, a major expansion of its downtown South Boston campus. The project extends the organization’s footprint beyond its flagship building at 715 Wilborn Avenue and includes a full renovation of the adjacent 12,000 square foot property at 801 Wilborn Avenue, formerly home to the South Boston Fire Company Support Center.

The Hub @ 801 will expand the SOVA Innovation Hub’s capacity to serve entrepreneurs, students, businesses, and community members across Southern Virginia. The renovated facility will feature flexible coworking areas, private offices, and two large meeting rooms that can be combined into an event space accommodating up to 148 people. Additional amenities will include a podcast studio to support content creation and storytelling, as well as the SOVA Fab Lab (short for Fabrication Laboratory), a regional makerspace and digital fabrication facility.

The SOVA Fab Lab is being developed in partnership with the Fab Foundation, a Boston-based nonprofit that supports Fab Labs worldwide. As part of a global network of more than 3,000 Fab Labs, the SOVA Fab Lab will connect Southern Virginia to an international community of technologists, makers, educators, and innovators through virtual training and information sharing. The facility will offer advanced digital fabrication tools—including 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining—to support workforce development, entrepreneurship, and applied learning. A dedicated Fab Lab Manager will be hired in Spring 2026 to lead the launch and ongoing growth of the makerspace.

“This expansion represents the next chapter in our work to contribute to a thriving innovation ecosystem for Southern Virginia,” said Lauren Mathena, Director of Economic Development and Community Engagement for MBC and the SOVA Innovation Hub. “The resources that will be available at The Hub @ 801 will empower people of all ages and experience levels to imagine, design, and build innovative products and solutions.”

The renovation project is partially funded by the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and Mid‑Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC), with construction financing from Benchmark Community Bank. Funding for Fab Lab equipment and startup operations is provided by grants from Microsoft and GO Virginia Region 3. GO Virginia is a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.

Renovation work will be completed by J.E. Burton Construction, with architectural design and construction administration led by the Richmond‑based firm PSH+.

Additional information and project updates are available at www.sovainnovationhub.com/.

MBC Welcomes Jamie Lynn Anderson Lindley as Human Resources Coordinator

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) is pleased to announce that Jamie Lynn Anderson Lindley has joined our team as Human Resources Coordinator.

Jamie Lynn brings over 15 years of human resources experience across diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing, and service. She specializes in strategic HR leadership—aligning people strategies with business goals, shaping future-ready talent pipelines, and cultivating values-driven workplace cultures. Her work emphasizes not just hiring and training but designing systems that drive organizational performance and sustainable growth.

Throughout her career, Jamie Lynn has led recruiting, training, and workforce development initiatives, championing community partnerships and employee engagement. She’s passionate about ethical leadership and creating people-first workplaces where individuals and teams thrive.

A Halifax County native, Jamie Lynn spent several years living and working across Virginia and North Carolina before returning home to raise her family and invest in the region she loves. She’s especially committed to building opportunity in rural Virginia—connecting students, schools, and local businesses to strengthen the future workforce and uplift the community.

Drawn back to Halifax County by deep family roots, Jamie Lynn finds joy in the everyday moments—spending time with her two young children,  her husband, and extended family. Outside of work, she embraces the beautiful chaos of motherhood and gives back to her community through her church, local initiatives, and involvement in youth sports. She also visits what she will always consider her beloved second home, the Outer Banks—a place of peace, inspiration, and salty air adventures—as often as she can.

Please join us in welcoming Jamie Lynn to the MBC team!

MBC Announces Recipients of the 2025 MBC Wanda B. Jeffress Memorial STEM-H Scholarship

June 17, 2025 (South Boston, Virginia) – Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 MBC Wanda Bostick Jeffress Memorial STEM-H Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding Halifax County High School students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and achievement in high school and have a goal of pursuing a career in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Health Sciences (STEM-H).

MBC is pleased to recognize Gabby Conners and Malia Mitchell as this year’s scholarship recipients. These individuals have displayed commitment to academics, extracurricular activites, and volunteerism, and have demonstrated a vision to making a positive impact on the world through their academic pursuits and career goals.

MBC congratulates Gabby and Malia on their remarkable achievements and wishes them continued success in their academic journeys and future endeavors.

About the scholarship

A very active community leader, Wanda served on numerous boards and organizations including the Board of Directors for Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation. MBC established this scholarship in memoriam to honor her legacy by reinvesting in the STEM-H education of Halifax County students. To date, this scholarship has awarded $40,000 to Halifax County students pursuing careers in STEM-H fields.

To learn more about Wanda Jeffress and the scholarship, please visit mbc-va.com/jeffressscholarship/.