People – October 2017

EASTERN VIRGINIA
Carolyn Carpenter has been named vice president and chief operating officer of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Carpenter is an experienced health-care executive who had a 20-year career with Duke University Health System, according to a news release. For the past three years, she has served as chief operating officer for the system’s flagship, Duke University Hospital. (Daily Press)

Don Godwin has been named the CFO and vice president of business management of the Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. He most recently was CFO of Hitachi Data Systems Federal, which is based in Reston. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Howard P. Kern, president and CEO of Sentara Healthcare, was recently recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 most influential people in health care. The 16th annual Modern Healthcare ranking is based on voting by the publication’s readers and editorial staff. (News release)

The Norfolk Forum named Maura Murchake as its executive director. Murchake joined the forum in June 2014 as membership manager, overseeing all aspects of subscriptions, ticket sales and direct mail. (Daily Press)

SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University, has been appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Millennial Civic Engagement. (Augusta Free Press)

Michael Creech has been named director of sales for the recently created data center business at Waynesboro-based Lumos Networks Corp. Creech was a senior consultant at TierPoint in Charlotte, N.C. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Dr. Philip O’Donnell, Shenandoah University’s physician assistant studies program medical director, received the Physician Assistant Preceptor of the Year Award from the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants.  (News release)

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
Tammy K. Brown has joined Martinsville-based Carter Bank & Trust as a vice president and commercial relationship manager. She will be based at the Bank’s Graves Mill Road office in Lynchburg. (News release)

Robert Mills Jr. of Briar View Farm in Pittsylvania County has been named the 2017 Virginia Farmer of the Year. Mills is one of 10 finalists for the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo award that will be announced in October at the Sunbelt Expo farm show in Moultrie, Ga. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Connie Nyholm, the owner and CEO of Virginia International Raceway in Alton, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research board of trustees. Nyholm also serves on the board of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Roadracing Industry Council. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Diana Schwartz is the new executive director of Danville’s River District Association. She was director of business retention for the Ocala/Marion Chamber and Economic Partnership in Florida. She also served as director of the Ocala Main Street Program.  (Danville Register & Bee)

Carlyle Wimbish has been named the Halifax County representative on the Danville Community College board. Wimbish is retired from the North Carolina Community College System. (Danville Register & Bee)

CENTRAL VIRGINIA
   Richard G. Spiro    has been named CEO of The Hilb Group, a fast-growing middle market insurance brokerage based in Richmond. He succeeds Robert J. “Bob” Hilb, a co-founder, of the company, who has left “to pursue other interests.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

   Paul A. Levengood    has joined the Virginia War Memorial Foundation in Richmond as vice president for development.  He was a consultant with The Lyndhurst Group. Levengood served as president and CEO of the Virginia Historical Society from 2008 to 2016. (News release)

   Dan O’Neill    has been named president of the Mid-Atlantic Division at SunTrust Banks Inc., with oversight of Greater Washington, Maryland and Virginia. He was president of SunTrust’s Greater Washington and Maryland Division. (News release)

The Richmond-based accounting firm Mitchell Wiggins has announced four promotions.    Lea Rasmussen   , CPA, and   Melissa Sikes  , CPA, have be en promoted to partner.  Carman Faison , CPA, and Robert Saur,   CPA, have been named   senior managers, and Josh Morrison, CPA, was promoted to manager. Mitchell Wiggins has more than 50 employees, including 28 CPAs. (News release)

John Stallings has been named president of Richmond-based Union Bank & Trust. He was president and CEO of the Virginia Division of SunTrust Banks Inc. John C. Asbury, president and CEO of the parent company, Union Bankshares Corp., remains CEO of the bank. (News release)

NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Northwest Federal Credit Union’s board of directors has selected Jeff Bentley as president and CEO. Bentley began his career at Herndon-based Northwest Federal in 2014 as the senior vice president of lending/chief lending officer. (News release) 

Biniam Gebre has been named managing director of Accenture Federal Services’ management consulting group. Gebre joins the Arlington County-based group from Oliver Wyman, where he was a partner. Before that, he served as acting assistant secretary and commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration. (VirginiaBusiness.com) 

Chantilly-based Atomicorp has added Rick Gordon as an independent board member and Dan Woolley as a formal adviser. Gordon and Woolley were both most recently at the Mach37 Cyber Accelerator in Herndon before being ousted on July 1 in a management shakeup following a failed attempt to spin the accelerator out from the Center for Innovative Technology. Gordon and Woolley oversaw Atomicorp through the accelerator program. (Washington Business Journal)  

Valerie Mondelli has been named chief revenue officer at Alexandria-based Verisys. She was formerly with McKesson, leading the sales and marketing functions at RelayHealth. (News relase)

Larry Prior has been named a board leadership fellow by the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is president and CEO of Falls Church-based CSRA Inc. (News release) 

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
Harry Haynes, manager of Saltville’s Museum of the Middle Appalachians, retired July 31 after almost 17 years in the position. Haynes has agreed to stay on as a volunteer and will continue to share his knowledge with those who want to learn more about Saltville and its colorful past. (SWVAToday.com) 

ROANOKE/NEW RIVER VALLEY
Nancy Howell Agee, president and CEO of Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic, was ranked No. 23 on this year’s list of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare compiled by Modern Healthcare. The publication cited her roles in transforming Carilion and collaborating with Virginia Tech in the creation of a medical school and research institute. Agee will chair the American Hospital Association board of trustees in 2018. (Modern Healthcare)

Abney S. Boxley of Roanoke has been named to the board of directors of Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. Previously, Boxley served on the board of BNC Bancorp, based in Highpoint. N.C. Bancorp merged with Nashville-based Pinnacle in June. (News release) 

Robert Smith, associate dean for engagement in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and head of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, has been named president of the Society of Wood Science and Technology. (The Roanoke Times)

Lauren Sells Walker is the new director of alumnae relations at Hollins University. Walker is a 2004 graduate of the school. For the past six years, she served as director of catering at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. (News release)