By Nate Delesline III
nate.delesline@insidebiz.com
Allen West, a decorated Army veteran and former congressman, is slated to open the 21st season of the Virginia Beach Forum on Wednesday.
Born and raised in the same Atlanta neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached, West served in the Iraq War and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.
West served 22 years in the military and briefly worked as a high school teacher before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 22nd District, according to a biography released by the speakers forum.
Three well-known media personalities are slated to take the forum stage early next year.
Ann Compton, a former ABC News White House correspondent, was the first woman assigned by a network TV news organization to cover the White House. Compton is scheduled to appear Feb. 10.
March 15, Leigh Keno and Leslie Keno, antique experts on the PBS program "Antiques Roadshow," are slated to take the stage. Between them, they have nearly 60 years of experience in helping people uncover hidden gems and antique treasures.
"There seems to be a good range of interest for each of the speakers on the bill this season, each with a somewhat different demographic makeup, which is exciting for us," Sarah Weinberg, a member of the forum's recently elected board of directors, said in an email.
"We have a number of loyal subscribers, many of whom have been supporters of the forum for years. Of course we'd love to have a full house every season, but we've been particularly challenged this season as we compete with so many speaker series-type events throughout Hampton Roads that have a similar format."
Tickets are $40, and all events begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Sandler Center. Tickets and additional information about the forum are available at vabeachforum.com.