2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Regina Johnson Elbert

Elbert was named to her current post in January 2024, having held human resources and legal leadership roles at Dominion since 2011. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia and law degree from Harvard and was an associate at McGuireWoods previously. Elbert serves on boards for the Center for Energy Workforce Development and the Richmond YWCA.

FIRST JOB: Crew member, Little Caesars Pizza

MY MOST MEANINGFUL JOB: The job I have today, because I get to spend 100% of my time and effort figuring out how to best support a phenomenal team of dedicated, highly skilled professionals doing work that is absolutely critical to our society and to our collective futures.

HOW I GIVE BACK: One of my favorite ways to give back is to support the Richmond YWCA. I’ve volunteered with them for years, and the work they do to support women and children in our community never ceases to inspire. The YWCA meets people where they are and provides resources that are truly transformative — from child care to housing to counseling.

PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Leading HR during the COVID-19 pandemic, which repeatedly challenged us to find novel solutions that both protected our essential workers and kept the lights on for customers. I was extremely proud of both the role that my HR team played in supporting our people through that unprecedented situation and of the professionalism and dedication of our entire workforce.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: To be both successful and happy, you must first be true to yourself. Learn from other people you admire, but don’t seek to emulate a style that doesn’t fit your own.