Tygarts Valley Collective is an independent Virginia-based business bringing together professional services, books, art, antiques, and other distinctive finds under one name.
The Collective was built around a simple idea: worthwhile work and worthwhile things do not always fit neatly into a single category. Our professional services focus on helping organizations communicate clearly and thoughtfully, while our collections reflect an appreciation for history, craftsmanship, art, and objects with character.
Through Tygarts Valley Services, we provide research, narrative, website, and communications support to organizations and small businesses. The Collection offers a rotating selection of original art, antiques, vintage pieces, and other carefully chosen finds. Books bring together our own publications alongside occasional vintage and collectable titles.
About the Name
Tygarts Valley Collective takes its name from Tygarts Valley in Greenup County, Kentucky, where Tanner Willis grew up. The area is shaped by Tygarts Creek, whose banks and surrounding hills were a familiar part of his childhood and remain closely tied to his sense of home.
The name reflects that connection to place. While the Collective's work and collections extend well beyond the valley, Tygarts Valley remains its namesake and a reminder of where it began.
About the Founder
Tanner Willis is a writer, nonprofit leader, and founder of Tygarts Valley Collective. His work has crossed international affairs, nonprofit leadership, historical research, and organizational development, with a consistent interest in how people, places, and institutions tell their stories.
He is a published author whose writing draws heavily on Appalachian history, family, and place. He also serves as Managing Director of Global Appalachia, a nonprofit organization connecting Appalachian students and communities with opportunities in international affairs, public service, and global engagement.
Tanner and his wife Atikah have been married for three years and share an appreciation for travel, culture, and finding distinctive pieces along the way. His longstanding interests in antiques, original art, historical documents, genealogy, and objects with a story helped shape the broader visions for Tygarts Valley Collective.