For Joshua Blount, the opportunity to contribute to his community comes as part of his job each day.
The Virginia Peninsula Community College graduate proudly serves as manager of the Newport News Real Estate Assessor’s office after four years with the city’s Commissioner of the Revenue office. Now in the fourth year of his current role, Blount doesn’t take the responsibilities lightly. The position involves helping maintain assessments for every property in the city and coordinating with departments throughout the city’s government.
“The best part is talking to citizens and working with other departments,” said Blount. “It’s wonderful being able to work as a team with different departments for the entire city.”
For his service to the City of Newport News, Blount received special recognition. Among awards are a prized Going the Extra Mile award and selection as a Newport News Hospitality Ambassador. He also completed the Leadership Development Academy.
Go-getter aptly describes Blount, who has worked since he was 16. His first job, “tossing pizzas” at a popular takeout chain, established his strong work ethic.
“For my 16th birthday, my present was a job, because I kept bugging my mom. I wanted a car. So she got me a job at Domino’s,” Blount remembered.
He balanced full-time employment with his studies at Bethel High School, where he graduated in 2004. Blount said he knew the future held many opportunities, and college was a perfect way to open doors. But he also realized paying for college would be a challenge.
“I had to dig into my resources and say, ‘Well, how much can I afford? How many classes can I afford…’ It took a while to get my degree, but I held fast and steady,” he said, noting he was raised in a single-parent home.
Persistence worked in his favor. Blount, who enrolled at VPCC straight out of high school, earned an associate degree in business administration in 2011. Earning a degree set him up for the next phase of his professional life.
“I started working in an office doing accounting and payroll. Then, when the opportunity came to work for the city, I took it. Now, here I am,” he said, noting his career choice was inspired by a book he read as a teen.
“My grandfather gave me a book called ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad,’ and it really hit home for me with me … how I grew up and wanting to move past where I was in life. It showed this is how I can do it … accounting, business, economics classes,” he explained.
Continuing his education, Blount earned certification in land use education through Virginia Commonwealth University’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.
For Blount, the credit goes to VPCC, where the roadmap to his career was charted.
“The wonderful thing about (VPCC) is it caters to an entire community … people who work full time, people who are straight out of high school, people who just want to take their core classes and move on, people who are in the workforce, trying to get trade certifications,” said Blount.
“(The College) helps people from all walks of life,” he added.
When the chance to reconnect with VPCC arose, Blount stepped up without hesitation and joined the Alumni Association.
“Virginia Peninsula gave me opportunities that I might not have had otherwise,” he said. “Being involved as an alum is a way to help others find those same opportunities.”
Blount also takes an active role in the community where he lives, serving on the Poquoson Board of Zoning Appeals. Other civic affiliations include serving on the Board of Land Use for the Virginia Appraisal Officers and the City of Newport News Working Parents Resource Group.
“Whether it’s through my work with the City of Newport News, serving on boards, or volunteering, I want to keep growing and helping my community,” he stressed. “I always want to give back in some way.”
That intense passion plus some flows into his home life. Blount recently embraced fatherhood, a new role that’s deeply meaningful that now defines him. He and his wife, Tina, are foster parents for an 11-year-old they aim to adopt.
“She’s my top priority,” he said, noting the preteen joined them this year after their four-year process to become foster parents. “I want to grow our relationship and help her grow. This kid deserves everything.
“I want to show her what it’s like to help your community. When people and communities invest in you, giving back is one of the best ways to say thank you,” Blount added.
In all things, he’s grateful for his wife’s support and influence.
“She’s definitely always been in my corner, telling me to go forward, work harder,” he emphasized, noting they’ve been married for eight years.
Whether serving residents, supporting his alma mater or building a family, Blount counts it all rewarding. He believes making a difference in other people’s lives strengthens communities.
