Leigh Anne Losh, MBA, has built an exceptional career through a series of progressive leadership roles and entrepreneurial ventures, each reflecting her unparalleled commitment to resilience and growth. Since 2023, she has found success as the operations manager at the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship at James Madison University, a position in which she manages daily operations, mentors students in a one-on-one capacity, leads experiential learning classes and oversees student competitions that provide scholarships and cash prizes. Her responsibilities at James Madison University also include supporting local nonprofits in the valley through student-led projects. The aforementioned center’s remarkable 300 percent growth over the past three years stands as a testament to her dedication and influence. Ms. Losh’s professional efforts have not only fostered entrepreneurial skills among students but have also created meaningful community partnerships.
Since 2008, Ms. Losh has additionally excelled as the principal broker and operations lead at Help-U-Sell Direct Savings Real Estate. In this role, she operates as a generalist in residential real estate, having previously specialized in foreclosures and short sales. Her work involves handling client communications, scheduling property showings, responding to inquiries and managing time effectively to address client needs during evenings and weekends. Ms. Losh’s achievements in this field are underscored by multiple Presidential Awards for sales within her local association.
From 2015 to 2023, Ms. Losh was active as the owner and operator of Country Concessions LLC, a mobile beverage business featuring a vintage soda wagon that offered old-fashioned sodas from barrel taps. This entrepreneurial endeavor allowed her to further develop her business acumen while engaging with the community in unique ways. Her experience as a real estate instructor with Colibri Group from 2022 to 2023 provided her with a further opportunity to share her expertise with aspiring professionals, although she ultimately found greater fulfillment in her current role supporting entrepreneurship education. From 2005 to 2008, Ms. Losh contributed as the acting operations manager, senior title underwriter and certified commercial title underwriter at Virginia Financial Title Agency.
Ms. Losh has been affiliated with several professional organizations that reflect her commitment to excellence and leadership development, including the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers since 2023, the National Association of REALTORS since 2008, and Virginia REALTORS since 2008. Beyond her primary responsibilities, she has demonstrated civic engagement through service with the Swoope Volunteer Fire Department from 2007 to 2013, including appointments as vice president for one year and secretary for two years.
To support her ambitions in her field, Ms. Losh pursued an education at James Madison University, from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in marketing in 2004. She ultimately concluded her studies at Louisiana State University in 2025, graduating with a Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurship. A graduate of the REALTOR Institute in 2017, Ms. Losh has attained several certifications that complement her career pursuits, including Level 1 Wine Award from Wine & Spirit Education Trust in 2025 and Notary Public certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2005.
Throughout her life, Ms. Losh has attributed her success to persistence and resilience, qualities that have enabled her to overcome setbacks and continually strive for improvement. She was drawn to her present position upon learning about the revitalization of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship at James Madison University, her alma mater, having recognized the opportunity perfectly aligned with both her personal interests and professional aspirations. She believes there is always more to learn from others and values mentorship highly.
As a first-generation college graduate, Ms. Losh credits influential colleagues such as an inspiring retired executive director who encouraged her to embrace greater challenges and pursue leadership roles. Looking toward the future, she aspires to pursue doctoral studies in entrepreneurship while seeking new opportunities that align more closely with operations or startup-focused roles within the field of entrepreneurship education or business development.