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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Real Estate: DERRICK SWAAK
A first-generation American whose family hails from the Netherlands, Swaak joined TTR Sotheby’s International Realty as a partner in 2007 and is managing broker for the firm’s offices in McLean and The Plains, as well as chief operating officer. With 485 employees, about 350 of whom are in Virginia, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty had $5 […]
Living Legends: TESSA GOWEN ADER
Ader’s influence on the Charlottesville arts community and beyond took a leap in September 2021 with a $50 million gift to the University of Virginia to help build an 1,100-seat performing arts center. A university official said the gift — made in the name of Ader and her late husband, Richard — was the largest […]
Federal Contractors/Technology: MAX PETERSON
Peterson has run Amazon’s cloud computing business for the government, health care, education and nonprofit sectors since April 2021, after spending four years as vice president for international sales within the worldwide public sector. He replaced Teresa Carlson, who left to become president of a San Francisco tech company last year. After working in various […]
Health Care: DR. MICHAEL P. ‘MIKE’ McDERMOTT
Since 2015, McDermott has led the not-for-profit hospital system that includes two hospitals in Fredericksburg and Stafford County, three emergency departments and about 50 clinics and other outpatient facilities, as well as more than 5,000 health care professionals, including 600 doctors. McDermott is a past chair of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, which advocates […]
Nonprofits/Philanthropy: STACEY D. STEWART
Great leaders inspire others to be their best, says Stewart, and young women especially benefit from managers who value their input and opinions and encourage them to express both. “Believing in yourself, knowing your self-worth and leaning on those who have succeeded before you can be so vital,” says Stewart, recalling a conversation she had […]
Law: F. DOUGLAS ROSS
Ross’ practice focuses on banking, real estate, title insurance, shareholder and partnership disputes, and defamation. His notable courtroom victories include a summary judgment that favored a national underwriter on a title insurance claim, which was upheld by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also defended a client in a substantial defamation case, in which […]
Real Estate: TONY FIORILLO
Fiorillo started his career at ECS in 1993 as a field technician, serving as chief operating officer before he was promoted to president in 2020. Founded in 1988, ECS focuses on geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities engineering. It has more than 80 offices and testing facilities in the U.S. and more than 2,200 employees. […]
Real Estate: ROBERT C. ‘BOB’ KETTLER
Kettler comes from a real estate family. He attended the University of Miami with an interest in architecture. But after taking a year off to sail to South America with a friend, he switched his focus to real estate and business. He also studied at George Washington and American universities, though he didn’t finish his […]
Living Legends: MORTON G. THALHIMER JR.
In 1926, Thalhimer’s father started Neighborhood Theatre Inc. (branded as Neighborhood Theaters), which grew to a chain with 25 locations and a combined 76 screens, stretching from Virginia to Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The junior Thalhimer took over the family movie theater business, becoming CEO in 1948. He also served as chairman of the National […]
Government/Politics: CAREN MERRICK
As Virginia’s current secretary of commerce and trade, Merrick came to the job with prior experience working with the governor. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, she became the founding CEO of the Virginia Ready Initiative — a public-private partnership that Gov. Glenn Youngkin co-founded with his wife, Suzanne. VA Ready partners with community […]
