Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Professional Services 2024: LAURA SPROUSE
In June, Sprouse was named CEO of Brown Edwards, the accounting firm where she has spent more than 25 years of her career. She succeeds Jason Hartman, who retired after 38 years. Sprouse’s expertise focuses on accounting information system services. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance and decision support systems from Ferrum College […]
Real Estate 2024: MATTHEW GANNON
Gannon joined Colliers International as executive managing director and Washington, D.C., market leader in 2019, taking on responsibility for the strategic direction and performance of the firm’s offices in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland. He had spent the previous five years at Paramount Group, leading leasing efforts for the company’s greater Washington office portfolio. [&h[...]
Agriculture 2024: JOHN KING
After multinational food company Pilgrim’s Pride announced it was closing a Hinton poultry processing plant in 2004 — constituting a major hit to the local economy — Shenandoah Valley turkey growers formed the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative. The co-op employs roughly 500 people and has nearly 200 grower members; 100% of VPGC’s profits go back to […]
Banking | Finance 2024: JOSEPH W. ‘JOE’ MONTGOMERY
Montgomery went to work at an investment firm in December 1975 — meaning he’s enjoying his 49th year in the industry. Montgomery credits the power of relationships and his alma mater, William & Mary, for his career success. “The trajectory of my life was determined, really, by lining up where I went to school,” he […]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: TERRY RYAN
With more than 20 years of executive experience in the federal technical services market, Ryan was named CEO of global risk management firm Constellis Holdings in 2021, having previously served as its lead director. Before coming to Constellis, Ryan was CEO of Adroit Systems, VT Group and Tenax Aerospace. He also held senior executive positions […]
Government | Politics 2024: KHALID JONES
Following his appointment by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in April, Jones took the helm of the Virginia Lottery, an agency whose responsibilities continue to grow as the state embraces more forms of gambling. Besides overseeing traditional scratch and draw games, the state lottery has been charged with regulating casinos — legalized in Virginia through a 2020 […]
Government | Politics 2024: TIM KAINE
Labeled by supporters as “America’s Dad” for his level-headed, folksy and sometimes wonky demeanor, Democrat Kaine has been a fixture in Virginia politics since his 1994 election to Richmond City Council. From there, he became Richmond mayor, then Virginia’s lieutenant governor and governor. His 2006-10 term in the Executive Mansion was marked by both the […]
Transportation 2024: LAKSHMI WILLIAMS
In her role since 2012, Williams oversees all legal areas for the North American branch of the Australian $40 billion-plus transportation infrastructure company with 3,000 employees worldwide. Among its other projects worldwide, Transurban operates the Interstate 495 northern extension and Interstate 95 express lanes between Fredericksburg and Washington, D.C. In February 2023, Williams led the [&[...]
Economic Development 2024: JENNIFER WAKEFIELD
Before assuming her current role in 2021, Wakefield served as interim president and CEO twice for the Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic development organization for Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico. She has also been its chief operating officer and senior vice president of marketing. The partnership works closely with the […]
Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2024: CHARLES D. ‘CHUCK’ HENDERSON
Henderson joined the American Diabetes Association in January 2020 and was named permanent CEO in May 2022 after serving as interim CEO for six months. He previously worked in the private sector for 24 years, most recently as president and CEO of Texas-based emergency services company Champion Fire & Security. In 2023, the ADA partnered […]