Chamber Spotlight: Andrew Sides, Defense Affairs Committee

In one or two sentences, what does your organization do?
The mission of the Chamber Defense Affairs Committee (DAC) is to foster economic vitality by further strengthening the alliance of relationships among the Chamber, the Chamber network, the Central Virginia community, the regional defense & intelligence community, and our veterans.

What do you like about being a Chamber member?
I really value the opportunities the Chamber provides for a wide variety of businesses to collaborate and drive economic growth in central Virginia.

What is unique about your organization and the work you do in our community?
The DAC is uniquely positioned to strengthen the relationship between the Central Virginia community and the local defense community/veterans.

What was your first job?
My first job was working in the Plow & Hearth warehouse in Madison in 1998.

What is your greatest skill that you have learned or developed in your career?
Relationship building; every job out there, whether civilian or military, management or individual, can be better accomplished through building strong relationships. No one can go it alone as well as they can with a network to lean upon.

What's your favorite thing about the Charlottesville area?
The Blue Ridge mountains

What is one of your favorite local businesses, and why?
Mission BBQ is my favorite restaurant because of its delicious food and respect for our veterans and first responders.

How do you like to spend your days off?
Spending time with my wife and three sons

What is your favorite quote or piece of advice?
Our children spell the word "love" as "t-i-m-e".