2025 Virginia C-Suite Awards: Small Nonprofits

PETER SCHMIDT

PRESIDENT AND CEO, NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN, NORFOLK

Created by a group of about 200 Black women and 20 men in 1938 through the Works Progress Administration, the Norfolk Botanical Garden has a long history in Hampton Roads — a legacy Schmidt is working to extend through the $40 million Garden of Tomorrow project set to open this fall. Schmidt, who joined the garden in 2019 as its chief financial officer and vice president of human resources, was named its president and CEO in 2023.

A CPA who worked for a global wine company and has more than 20 years of experience in finance, operations, strategy and team development, Schmidt is now overseeing NBG’s largest ever expansion, including a new entry pavilion and parking area, as well as a 26,000-square-foot conservatory for rare and threatened plants. He has also been instrumental in raising money for the Garden of Tomorrow expansion, reaching more than 1,700 donors.

Before joining NBG, Schmidt held executive positions at Treasury Wine Estates, including leading the $600 million integration of the Diageo wine brand after acquisition, and he was interim vice president of finance for Gymboree as it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018.

A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Schmidt moved to Virginia when his wife took a job as a psychologist supporting the Navy.

On my organization and our role in the community: At Norfolk Botanical Garden, our focus is on creating experiences that nurture environmental learning, personal well-being and a deeper connection to the natural world. I also believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to help position Hampton Roads as a destination of choice.

BRYAN K. STEPHENS

PRESIDENT AND CEO, HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER, NORFOLK

A retired Army colonel, Stephens joined the Hampton Roads Chamber as its leader in 2013. With a five-star accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the organization ranks among the top 1% of all chambers in the nation. Stephens is deeply involved in the coastal community, both through his job and serving 13 current appointments on boards, commissions and authorities, according to his nominator, Robert Pizzini, CEO of iFLY Virginia Beach and chair of the chamber’s board.

“The impact Bryan has goes beyond the Hampton Roads Chamber, as he is able to positively enact meaningful change through selfless service,” Pizzini writes. Stephens’ accomplishments at the chamber include developing Lead757, a civic leadership program, and creating a military advisory council to assist active duty and transitioning military members and their families.

A graduate of West Virginia University, the U.S. Army War College and Golden Gate University, Stephens was appointed by the governor to the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. Before joining the chamber, he was president and CEO of Kalmar, a material handling equipment manufacturer in Texas. Before that, he had a distinguished 28-year career that included commands in Suffolk and Fort Drum, New York. Stephens is also a Lead Virginia alumnus.

Best advice I’ve ever received: Never settle for average! My favorite quote is one of Vince Lombardi’s: “The quality of an organization is in direct proportion to its commitment to excellence.” We’ve inculcated that philosophy into our culture.

MICHEL ZAJUR

CEO AND FOUNDER, VIRGINIA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY

Born in Mexico City, Zajur landed in Richmond with his family in the 1960s and worked at his family’s restaurant, La Siesta, which stayed in business for more than three decades, becoming a hub for Hispanic community life in Richmond. In 2000, Zajur founded the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which he still leads.

“I’m committed to building strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors to tackle challenges and uncover new opportunities,” he says. “Through our chamber, we empower Hispanic-owned businesses and professionals by providing access to knowledge, education, mentorship and vital connections that open doors.”

Zajur, who has been appointed to numerous commissions and task forces by several governors, also started the Virginia Hispanic Foundation in 2003 to provide resources to the Latino community. For 24 years, the Hispanic chamber has hosted Richmond’s ¿Qué Pasa? Festival, a free event featuring music and dance performances, food and artisans, and last year, the chamber held a second festival in Herndon. The chamber also started Trabaja VA, a workforce initiative to connect employers with bilingual workers.

The chamber’s 2024 annual report notes that there are more than 42,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in Virginia, with Latinos making up more than 11% of the state’s population and 10.7% of its labor force.

Best advice I ever received: “Never forget where you come from.” As an immigrant, a business owner and now president of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber, I carry the values, struggles and resilience of my roots. I lead with empathy because I’ve walked in the shoes of many of the people we serve.