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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Education: GREGORY WASHINGTON
When Washington started as GMU’s president in July 2020, he made history as its first Black leader, joining during a particularly challenging time, after the COVID-19 pandemic moved classes online. Under Washington’s leadership, Mason has seen enrollment increase, and the university is expanding in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties, as well as at its […]
Government/Politics: TIM KAINE
After the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, Kaine and his congressional colleagues worked to respond with measures like passing a stimulus package, the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Act. After battling the virus himself and facing long-term effects, Kaine introduced the CARE for Long COVID Act this year. Kaine’s political career spans many public offices […]
Finance/Insurance: MONIQUE S. ADAMS
Born out of recommendations from a group seeking to make Hampton Roads less dependent on federal defense spending, 757 Angels matches a network of more than 100 business and community leaders in the Hampton Roads region with Virginia-based entrepreneurs who need funding and mentoring to develop their early-stage companies. So far, the group’s investors have […]
Health Care: WILLIAM B. ‘BILL’ DOWNEY
Since 2012, Downey has led Riverside Health System, where he oversees 9,000 employees and shepherds major projects to expand health care services in the Hampton Roads region. Earlier this year, Riverside broke ground on a building that will house the region’s first standalone 24-hour psychiatric emergency department, scheduled to open in 2023. Also under Downey’s […]
Transportation: ADAM COHEN and ELAN COHEN
The body that oversees ships flagged from the west African nation of Liberia is not the country’s government, but a company based in Virginia. Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, founded by Yoram Cohen and run by his sons, totals more than 5,000 vessels, comprising more than 200 million gross tons, and represents 14% of […]
Transportation: STEPHEN A. EDWARDS
At what everyone hopes is the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no longer a surprise to read another headline declaring that the Port of Virginia has shattered a previous cargo record. The port did so again in May 2022, when it handled more than 340,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), breaking the previous record set […]
Transportation: W. SHEPPARD ‘SHEP’ MILLER III
A lifelong Norfolk resident, Miller was appointed state transportation secretary by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in January. He was previously appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to serve on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, a body he now chairs. In 2017, Miller retired as chairman of Virginia Beach defense contractor KITCO Fiber Optics, which was acquired by Berkshire […]
Telecommunications: MATTHEW J. DESCH
Desch has led Iridium for 16 years and serves on its board. The satellite communications company connects clients around the globe, reporting more than 1.72 million subscribers and $614.5 million in 2021 revenue. Iridium operates 66 low earth orbiting satellites and works with partner companies to provide voice and data communications services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, […]
Manufacturing: TOM HAYES
Hayes has worked at Swedish Match since 2006 and was promoted to group chief financial officer in 2018. In August 2020, he took over as president after Richard Flaherty retired. Swedish Match’s U.S. Division is based in Richmond, while Swedish Match AB is based in Stockholm. The company develops, manufactures and sells smoke-free oral tobacco products that […]
Manufacturing: ASHLEY B. SMITH
Although Smith became CEO in 2018, he did not become Smith-Midland Corp.’s board chairman until January 2022, after his father, Rodney I. Smith, stepped down after 62 years. The family company, founded in 1960 by David G. Smith (Ashley Smith’s grandfather), manufactures, licenses, rents and sells precast concrete products. The company was originally known as […]
