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Recent Articles from Robyn Sidersky
WaveDancer to acquire Herndon SaaS firm for $90M
Fairfax-based software company WaveDancer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Herndon-based software-as-a-service platform company Knowmadics Inc. for $90 million. Approximately $56.5 million in cash and $33.5 million of stock at a price of $6.50 per share comprise the $90 million total. WaveDancer intends to raise approximately $67 million […]
RIR president to head Henrico sports/entertainment authority
Henrico County officials on Wednesday named longtime Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier to lead its new sports and entertainment authority. Bickmeier’s last day with the raceway, where he has led for more than a decade, is April 15. He will begin working in his new role on April 18. “With Dennis Bickmeier serving as our executive […]
Norfolk Tourism Foundation names new director
The Norfolk Tourism Foundation and VisitNorfolk announced Thursday that Kelsey Backe is the foundation’s new director. “I am thrilled to be able to join the Norfolk Tourism Foundation and to put my skills to use supporting our current hospitality workers, our future hospitality workers and tourism research initiatives that will help our community invest wisely […]
Roanoke College selects next president
Roanoke College’s next president will be Frank Shushok Jr., the college announced Tuesday. Shushok, Virginia Tech’s vice president for student affairs, will succeed Michael C. Maxey, who served as president for 15 years and is retiring in July, to become the school’s 12th president. “I am thrilled to welcome President-elect Frank Shushok to the Maroon […]
Cameron Foundation president to retire
The Cameron Foundation’s president, J. Todd Graham, will retire Dec. 31, the Petersburg foundation announced Monday. Graham has served as the foundation’s president since fall 2012. Under his leadership, the foundation has supported projects that have established school-based health clinics in Petersburg and Hopewell high schools, a teacher residency program in Petersburg schools to recruit, [[...]
Fertilizer shortage hits Va. farmers
Lewis Everett farms cotton, peanuts and small grains in Southampton County, on the Virginia-North Carolina line. He expects to take a loss this year due to the rising costs of fertilizer and crop protectants, which include herbicides and fungicides. Farmers have already negotiated some contract prices, he said. “A lot of those decisions were made […]
Bank of America grants VUU $1M
Bank of America granted Virginia Union University $1 million for its new banking and financial services workforce development program, the university announced Monday. VUU’s Sydney Lewis School of Business will lead the program, called MORE for My Opportunity is Real Essential, in partnership with the university’s workforce development division and its Evelyn Reid Syphax School […]
Va. Beach insurance agency taps CFO
Shawn McArdle is Choice Financial Group’s new chief financial officer, the Virginia Beach-based insurance agency announced Wednesday. “Shawn’s ability to provide financial leadership allows Choice’s senior management team to focus on identifying the right partners for the platform,” Choice President Richard Braun said in a statement. “Shawn’s experience will b[...]
HOME of Virginia announces next president and CEO
Richmond-based nonprofit Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia Inc. announced that Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick will serve as its next president and CEO starting April 6. “I am profoundly honored to have been selected to lead this storied organization, and I look forward to continuing in the proud tradition of aggressive enforcement of fair housing […]
Feb. statewide hotel revenues were 6.1% lower than 2019
February hotel revenues in Virginia were 6.1% lower than those recorded in February 2019, according to data released Monday by STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Hotel rooms sold decreased by 5% last month, compared with 2019 levels. The average daily rate (ADR) paid […]
Davenport Energy promotes Harold Thornton to president
Chatham-based Davenport Energy Inc. has promoted Harold E. “Hal” Thornton Jr. to president, the company announced Tuesday. Thornton has been with Davenport, a provider of gas, diesel fuel propane and petroleum products, for 27 years. He was initially hired as human resources director in 1995, rising through the ranks to supervisory and management positions. Most […]
Smithfield Foods donates $2M to Ukraine relief efforts
Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc. announced a $2 million donation to relief efforts in Ukraine Monday. The nation’s largest pork processor and hog producer donated $250,000 each to the Global Red Cross Network, Mercy Chefs, Save the Children and World Central Kitchen. “Like the rest of the world, we are humbled and moved by the resilience […]
CowanGates opens Williamsburg office
Richmond-based law firm CowanGates has expanded to Williamsburg and opened a new office, the firm announced March 17. The new office is located at 439 W. Duke of Gloucester St., and will initially focus on real estate law, including contract and closing negotiations, construction and permanent financing, easement agreements, covenants and other real estate matters. […]
LewisGale Medical Center names new COO
Salem-based LewisGale Medical Center has named Willie Payton Jr. its new chief operating officer, the hospital announced March 17. Payton comes to the 506-bed acute-care medical and surgical facility from Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, where he was vice president of operations. “We are excited to welcome Willie to our executive team and leverage his experience […]
Capital Square promotes James Brunger to CSO
Henrico-based real estate firm Capital Square has promoted James Brunger to chief sales officer, the firm announced March 17. Brunger joined the firm in 2019 as executive vice president and national sales manager. Under his leadership, Capital Square launched 49 investment programs that have raised more than $1.2 billion in equity. “James Brunger brings an […]
Rising interest rates not enough to deter homebuyers
Even the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates likely won’t be enough to cool down the hot real estate market in Virginia, experts say. In an attempt to slow the highest inflation rates in 40 years, Fed officials voted on March 16 to raise the benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a […]
Jason El Koubi named VEDP’s permanent president, CEO
Jason El Koubi will stay on as the permanent president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the state economic development authority announced Friday. El Koubi was named interim president and CEO at the beginning of the year after Stephen Moret left the organization to become president and CEO of Indianapolis-based Strada Education Network. […]
Salem names new economic development director
Salem’s new economic development director, Tommy Miller, says he has “the entrepreneurial gene,” a trait that should come in handy with his new role. Miller established Richmond Brewery Tours, a venture he ran from 2012 through 2020 to highlight the burgeoning craft beer industry. “Any entrepreneurial venture should be both calculated and gut driven,” he […]
Action sports festival coming to Va. Beach
One of Canada’s largest action sporting events, the Jackalope Festival, will make its U.S. debut in Virginia Beach in June 2023, Mayor Bobby Dyer announced Wednesday at the annual State of the City address. “Get ready for Jackalope!” Dyer shouted enthusiastically before a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. […]
BIO-CAT plans $35M expansion in Troy
BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, part of BIO-CAT Inc., will invest $35 million in a fermentation facility in Troy, southeast of Charlottesville, creating 20 jobs, the company announced March 3. The biotech company is a producer and wholesaler of enzymes, probiotics and microbials. Founded in 1988, BIO-CAT Microbials will expand its facility to include fermentation capabilities. That […]
