Sign In
Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Virginia Business
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 […]
Retail 2024: POUL WEIHRAUCH
Since taking the reins at the candy and pet food giant in September 2022, Weihrauch has been aiming to double its sales by 2033. In service to that expansion, Mars acquired six candy and veterinary companies in 2023 and 2024. These include Hotel Chocolat, the United Kingdom’s largest chocolate maker, and ownership stakes in Cerba […]
Transportation 2024: CAPT. JANET H. DAYS
In February 2023, Days made history as the first Black commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base, after serving as executive officer since 2021. Naval Station Norfolk supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and employs 89,000 military personnel and 52,000 civilians. A Chicago native, Days graduated from Old […]
