Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Living Legends: W. HEYWOOD FRALIN
A lawyer, healthcare executive and philanthropist, Roanoke native Fralin has been working since age 13, when he started out as a paperboy. Fralin is chairman of Retirement Unlimited, which owns and operates 19 senior independent living, assisted living and memory care communities in Virginia and Florida. He previously chaired Roanoke-based Medical Facilities of America, a […]
Federal Contractors/Technology: TERRY RYAN
Ryan’s best advice for others is “to never stop being a student of your industry,” he told WashingtonExec in April. Ryan has led the private, global risk management firm since early 2021, after serving as its lead director. It was established as a holding company for a portfolio of contracting firms that provide security, construction, […]
Transportation: RANDY CLARKE
Clarke took over Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in July, succeeding Paul. J. Wiedefeld, who retired in May amid news that 250 train operators had not been recertified as required. Before leading WMATA, which manages Metrorail and Metrobus, Clarke was president and CEO of Austin, Texas’ Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he oversaw a multibillion-dollar […[...]
Transportation: PAUL HOELTING
Since becoming president of TForce Freight in May 2021, Hoelting has focused on people, equipment and facilities, including a program in which dockworkers can earn their commercial driver’s licenses while having their tuition and wages covered. A subsidiary of Canadian transport company TFI International Inc., TForce earned more than $3 billion in revenue in fiscal […]
Finance/Insurance: ELENA EDWARDS
In February, Edwards was promoted from the French travel insurance company’s North American CEO to chief markets officer for the parent company. She continues as the chief executive of the North American region and has also been named to Allianz Partners Group’s management board. Formerly a mechanical engineer, Edwards started her 30-plus-year career at General […]
Finance/Insurance: G. ROBERT ASTON JR.
In December 2021, Aston, who has logged more than 50 years in banking, accepted the Hampton Roads Chamber’s 2021 First Citizen of Hampton Roads Award, recognizing an individual who demonstrates exceptional regional leadership. “The philanthropic culture he has established at TowneBank is emblematic of what all businesses should strive to achieve,” said Bryan K. Stephens, […]
Professional Services: GARY G. WALLACE
Wallace has been managing partner of the accounting firm since January 2019 and has more than three decades of finance experience. Also serving on the firm’s executive committee, Wallace oversees Keiter’s growth strategy and provides tax services to public and private entities across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, real estate and financial services. […]
Telecommunications: DAVID WAJSGRAS
Wajsgras became CEO of Intelsat in April following Stephen Spengler’s retirement. Shortly before that, the company, which operates 50-plus satellites and has more than 1,800 employees, announced its emergence from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and financial restructuring. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Wajsgras earned his MBA at American University. He was executive vice […]
Manufacturing: WILLIAM F. ‘BILLY’ GIFFORD
Gifford has served as the tobacco products manufacturer’s chief executive for two years but has ties going back more than 25 years, having served as president and CEO of subsidiary Philip Morris USA. This year has been a challenging one for Altria, with the Food and Drug Administration announcing its intention to reduce nicotine levels […]
Manufacturing: JONATHAN JENKINS
Jenkins graduated from East Carolina University, where he was an All-American on the baseball team. After college, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, spending seven years pitching in the minor leagues before continuing as a coach and scout. He’s worked at Culpeper Wood Preservers, one of the nation’s largest producers of pressure-treated lumber, […]