ABOUT FRED
 

I was born in Danville and lived here until I was accepted to the engineering college at Virginia Tech. After graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, I worked as a civil engineer with consulting firms in Richmond and Roanoke. I am a rare “dual-registrant,” having passed State and National exams to earn a license to practice both professional engineering and land surveying. In 1987, I founded the engineering and land surveying firm, Shanks Associates, P.C., in Roanoke.

In 1991, I opened the Danville office of Shanks Associates. In 1994, I chose to move to Danville to raise my children. Four years later, I purchased two surveying companies in Martinsville and merged them into a subsidiary company, J.A. Gustin and Associates, which is now located in Collinsville.

In 1996 I was appointed by City Council to serve on Danville’s Planning Commission.  During my twelve years on the Commission, I served as Chairman four years and Vice Chairman five years. During this time, the City’s Subdivision Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance, and 20-Year Comprehensive Plan were re-written and adopted.

I currently serve on Danville City Council, where I was elected to serve in May of 2008. As a member of City Council, I serve on the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Danville-Pittsylvania County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Danville Utility Commission. Prior to being elected to City Council, I served twelve years on the Danville Planning Commission. 

I have been a member of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce since 1993. I graduated from Leadership Southside in 1995 and have served on the Chamber’s Transportation and Legislative Committees for many years.

I served as Legislative Chairman and Liaison for the Virginia Association of Surveyors from 1997 until 2009. During the twelve years in that position, I appeared before House of Delegate and Virginia Senate committees and members to introduce, promote and shape many bills affecting private sector employment, competitive bidding, the construction  industry, environmental regulations, negineering and land surveying, and the real estate and homebuilding industries. 

I held every Chapter and Statewide office in the Virginia Association of Surveyors, including state President in 1999. That same year, I was also elected Chairman of the Virginia Surveyors Foundation, a position I held for seven years. I was awarded the Surveyor of the Year award by the Virginia Association of Surveyors (VAS) in 2001. The award was based on his statewide efforts as Legislative Chairman and Past President of the association. I received the coveted VAS Certificate of Recognition in 2003. 

My family and I returned to Danville in 1993. I am the proud father of two sons, Fred, 21 who attends Hampden Sydney College, and Anderson, who attends George Washington High School. My wife, Kathy, is a teacher with Danville Public Schools and is International Baccalaureate Coordinator at Galileo Magnet High School.

The family enjoys college and professional sports, especially Virginia Tech athletic events. I currently serve as President of the local Virginia Tech Hokie Club, a position previously held by both my father and brother. My grandmother was a member of the class that included the first five females to attend Virginia Tech.

I have coached Optimist League Football, youth basketball and Little League baseball over the past 12 years. 

My interests include blues and bluegrass music, surf fishing, college football and basketball and Virginia Politics. I am a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, where I served as Pre-School Chairman, Congregational Council member, and Congregational Council President.