100 People to Meet in 2026: Showstoppers

From Arthur Ashe and Tiki Barber to Edgar Allan Poe and Missy Elliott, Virginia has cultivated athletics and the arts, a rich tradition that these leaders continue to promote.

ALISON BYRNE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, VIRGINIA BEACH

Alison Byrne was appointed executive director of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in September 2024, following two decades with the museum and leadership roles dating back to 2012. In the role, she guides the museum’s vision, educational initiatives, general operations, finance, external relations and planning. She now leads the museum in a period of growth, as it prepares to relocate in 2026 to the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University, which is rebranding as Batten University.

Described by the museum as “a passionate advocate for contemporary art and its power to spark dialogue and inspire creativity,” Byrne has curated numerous exhibitions and has served on various art panels and committees. A native of Dublin, Ireland, she has a master’s degree in humanities from Old Dominion University and a bachelor’s in craft design from the National College of Art and Design.

MARK CLOUSE

PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS, ASHBURN

Previously president and CEO of soup maker Campbell’s, Mark Clouse became the Commanders’ new team president in January, replacing Jason Wright. This was part of a wholesale change in personnel after majority team owner Josh Harris purchased the NFL franchise in 2023 from former owner Dan Snyder.

Clouse’s hiring came after Campbell’s partnered with Harris and David Blitzer’s sports management company in October 2024 as an official corporate partner to the company’s four pro teams. A former military helicopter pilot and retired Army captain, Clouse was CEO of Pinnacle Foods before moving to Campbell’s in 2019.

Since the change in ownership, Commanders’ ticket sales have skyrocketed, racking up 12,000 new season ticket holders, and the team is planning to build a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site, which Clouse called the Commanders’ “spiritual home” in a May speech.

AIDEN HARRIS

INFIELDER/OUTFIELDER, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BASEBALL, CHARLOTTESVILLE

Chesterfield County native Aiden Harris, 19, is in the catbird seat as far as baseball is concerned. In 2024, he was the No. 1 high school baseball recruit in Virginia, and instead of going pro or out of state, Harris picked the University of Virginia’s baseball team, where he will return for a second season. Mostly serving as a pinch hitter, Harris batted .400 for U.Va. in the 2025 season.

Speaking in October, Harris said that he’s been busy meeting the new players and team staff, as well as studying — just like any other college student. He decided to wait to go pro because he was only 17 during the Major League draft period. “I gave myself a chance and just bet on myself to do well in college and get to where I want to be,” he says. At 6-foot-4, Harris says his height gives him an advantage as a hitter and as a runner.

Harris takes the field in February to start the 2026 season, when he hopes the Cavaliers will perform well in ACC games and possibly host a regional final in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

COLIN HITSCHLER

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY DUKES FOOTBALL, HARRISONBURG

As of early November, JMU’s football team was at the top of the Sun Belt Conference East Division, with an overall 7-1 record. The Dukes are ranked 8th nationally in total defense.

Some of that success could be attributed to Hitschler, who became the team’s defensive coordinator in February, replacing Lyle Hemphill. He spent the previous season as Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator before being fired in the offseason. (Describing Hitschler as “overqualified,” JMU Sports News chalked up his dismissal from Alabama to “likely … too many cooks in the kitchen.”)

Hitschler is a prolific recruiter, building an impressive 2024 class for the Wisconsin Badgers, who ranked 23rd nationally that year.
He’s also known for getting spicy on the field: Hitschler had to be held back at an October game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. But JMU player Jacob Thomas said it’s just that Hitschler “has passion and he cares about us a lot.”

SHANNON KELLY

PRESIDENT AND CEO, VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, NORFOLK

Shannon Kelly was appointed this summer as president and CEO of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 105th season. She previously served as vice president of development since January 2023, overseeing a 20% jump in annual donations.

She has a “track record of securing the necessary funding to bring world-class classical music to Virginia,” says the symphony’s board chair, Regent University Chancellor and Christian Broadcasting Network CEO Gordon Robertson.

Prior to joining the symphony, Kelly was on the senior leadership team of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, where she oversaw government relations and doubled public support for the foundation’s education programs.

Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory and a master’s degree in public policy from American University.

TED VAN ZELST

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER, RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS, RICHMOND

Ted Van Zelst serves in the C-suite of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) during a massive period of change: This summer, Richmonders waved goodbye to the beloved Diamond stadium, which had been home to Richmond baseball for 40 years, awaiting next season’s opening of the new CarMax Park.

Van Zelst joined the Richmond Flying Squirrels in May, and is also the president of 804Live, a new full-service events company dedicated to making CarMax Park a year-round entertainment venue — not just during baseball season. He oversees revenue generation for both entities.
Before joining the Flying Squirrels, he held leadership positions with the Detroit Pistons, New York Islanders, Nascar and Formula 1. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Bloomington.

MICHAEL VICK

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY, NORFOLK

In December 2024, Norfolk State Spartans football caught a wave of attention after legendary NFL and Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick was tapped as the team’s next head coach.

A native of Newport News, Vick has an impressive résumé as a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, although his run in the NFL was interrupted following his 2007 conviction on federal dogfighting charges, resulting in his serving 21 months in federal prison. As a Hokie, Vick was the nation’s No. 1 draft pick in 2001 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year. After retiring from the NFL in 2017, he was an analyst for Fox Sports.

As of mid-November, the Spartans were squarely in rebuilding mode, with a record of 1-10, scoring a single overtime win against Virginia State in September. “We’re treating the first seven games like preseason,” Vick said in an October media call. “Now we get to make adjustments and focus on what’s ahead.”

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