The 2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: The Achievers

Black business leaders have played a pivotal role in shaping modern Virginia’s economic and cultural landscapes and driving progress across industries and communities. From the entrepreneurial spirit of pioneers who built thriving enterprises during times of immense adversity amid segregation and civil rights battles to today’s leaders breaking boardroom barriers, their stories are a testament to resilience, innovation and excellence.

Virginia Business is proud to continue celebrating this remarkable legacy with the 2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards. This year’s 28 honorees exemplify career excellence, community impact and mentorship, representing diverse industries including health care, finance, energy, education, professional services and more.

Additionally, Virginia Business has named Science Applications International Corp. CEO Toni Townes-Whitley to our Virginia Black Business Leaders Hall of Fame, recognizing her achievements as a Fortune 500 leader in government contracting. Talking with Virginia Business, she discusses her rise to becoming one of the nation’s two Black, female Fortune 500 CEOs and one of the most powerful women in business.

This year, we asked our honorees, who were nominated by our readers and editors, to answer questionnaires in their own words. On the following pages, you’ll hear them talk about their first jobs, what they learned from their mentors, their advice to others entering their industries and how they give back.

Join us as Virginia Business honors these extraordinary, high-achieving executives who are making a major impact on Virginia’s business community, paving the way for future generations.

2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Hall of Fame honoree

Toni Townes-Whitley
CEO, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Reston

PAST HONOREES LIST: VIRGINIA BLACK BUSINESS LEADERS HALL OF FAME

2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards winners 

Yvonne Allmond
Financial Engagement Officer, TowneBank, Norfolk

Zenith Barrett
Vice President of Advancement, Goodwill Industries of The Valleys, Roanoke

Xavier Beale
Vice President of Human Resources and Trades Administration, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News

Elwood Boone III
President, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Virginia Beach

Jeff Bourne
Chief Legal Officer, The Branch Group, Richmond

Jeremy Bridges
President and Chief Negotiator, Hampton Roads Shipping Association, Norfolk

Carlos M. Brown
President, Dominion Energy Services; Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Dominion Energy, Richmond

Shaun Buford
Vice President and Director of Sales, Audacy, Virginia Beach

Melissa Cade
Chief Experience Officer, Chartway Credit Union, Virginia Beach

Denise Chadwick Wright
CEO, Birmingham Green, Manassas

Clyde Clark Jr.
Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager of Commercial Banking, Blue Ridge Bank, Norfolk

Regina Johnson Elbert
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Dominion Energy, Richmond

Michael Elliott
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, VCU Health, Richmond

Deirdre C. Gonsalves-Jackson
Vice President of Global Campus, Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach

Dana Weston Graves
President, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, Virginia Beach

Torrece Gregoire
Owner, Union 41, Bristol

Ernisha M. Hall
President and CEO, Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, Fredericksburg

Rahni N. Jenkins
Chief Human Resource and Operations Officer, The Geller Law Group, Fairfax

Mark Johnson
Senior Vice President and Community Development Manager of Virginia Region, Truist Financial, Norfolk

Jerrine Lee
Vice President of Sales, Visit Richmond VA, Richmond

Lee Mariano
Chief People Officer, YHB, Fredericksburg

Perry J. Miller
President and CEO, Capital Region Airport Commission, Richmond

Jennifer V. Montague
President and Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Gas of Virginia, Chester

Myra Goodman Smith
President and CEO, Leadership Metro Richmond, Richmond

Toni Stubbs
Field Engineering and Operations Vice President, Cox Communications, Virginia Beach

Benita Thompson-Byas
Senior Vice President and Board Vice President, Thompson Hospitality, Reston

Roberta Tinch
Senior Vice President, President of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and Administrator of Inova Musculoskeletal Services, Inova Health System, Alexandria