DAVE HENDERSON

Dave Henderson is a native of Lynchburg and current Garland Hill resident, local business owner, nonprofit leader, and civic volunteer who believes deeply in the future of the city he calls home.

Born and raised in Lynchburg, Dave graduated from Brookville High School in 1997 and earned a degree in political science with a concentration in law from Virginia Tech in 2002.

Early in his career, he worked as a campaign manager for Virginia Delegates Ben Cline and Watkins Abbitt, Jr. before moving into the corporate finance world with Wachovia Securities. His work took him to Richmond, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Charlotte, where he helped lead national brand and growth initiatives through the Wachovia and Wells Fargo merger.

In 2016, driven by a desire to return home and build something meaningful in his own community, Dave and his family moved back to Lynchburg and opened The Water Dog downtown. Since then, he has helped grow multiple locally-owned businesses. Together, these businesses employ more than 100 people and contribute to the vitality, culture, and economic resilience of downtown. Like many local businesses, they weathered the challenges of COVID with the support of the Lynchburg community, an experience that deepened Dave’s commitment to giving back.

Actively involved in civic and nonprofit leadership across the city, Dave serves as President of Central Virginia United Soccer, Secretary of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, past Vice Chair and current board member of Lynchburg Grows, and past Vice Chair and current board member of the Downtown Lynchburg Association. He also volunteers his time as Vice Chair of the Lynchburg Planning Commission, where he has gained a deeper appreciation for both citizen investment and the dedicated work of city staff.

Dave and his wife Jessica live downtown and are raising two children who attend Lynchburg City Schools. As an LCS parent, Dave’s believes that public education is foundational to a strong, thriving city and that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed here.

At his core, Dave believes that a meaningful life is built through contribution. Like many, he faces growing frustration with the lack of progress, collaboration, and civility in local leadership. After years of engaging, advocating, and showing up, he realized that simply voicing concerns was no longer enough. He believes Lynchburg is ready for steady, pragmatic leadership focused on solutions rather than division. When a city invests thoughtfully in fundamentals, from public education to economic development to housing and public safety, it creates opportunity, attracts new investment, and improves quality of life for everyone.