Region 3 Director

Joe DiStefano

Joe DiStefano is president of the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), a community-driven, nonprofit organization offering opportunities for small-business owners to grow, thrive and sustain success. REDCO’s primary focus is facilitating the SBA 504 Program, which affords business owners a low-cost avenue to acquire commercial real estate, transition out of renting and, thus, build wealth. 

Prior to joining REDCO, Joe served as senior vice president and market president for a regional commercial bank headquartered in McLean, Virginia, from 1999-2015, and was primarily engaged in commercial and small-business lending. 

Joe also served 10 years in the U.S. Army on both active duty and in the Virginia Army National Guard. In his last military role, he served as an infantry team leader during Operation Enduring Freedom from 2004-2005. He was responsible for coordinating joint combat operations, presence patrols, and local security details with squad- and platoon- sized units from various branches of the military, to include the Marine Corps, Navy, and Army, as well as the Afghan National Army. 

Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from George Mason University and is a graduate of the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management. He is also a graduate of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fredericksburg program and has served on the Chamber’s Finance Committee since 2019. He also serves on the board of Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation, as well as the advisory board for Riphaean Investments.