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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
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 […]
Transportation 2024: KEITH HALL
In September 2023, Hall tasked Bob McGonigal, TFI International executive vice president, with helping turn around TFI’s U.S. less-than-truckload operation, which saw an operating ratio downturn last year, from 99% to 90.1%. TForce, previously owned by UPS, was purchased by Montreal-based TFI in 2021 for $800 million, and lost revenue in the past two years. […]
Law 2024: JEFFREY A. BREIT
A Hampton Roads native, Breit is known for representing plaintiffs in high-profile personal injury cases. In recent months, Breit’s name frequently has shown up in news articles for being part of the legal team representing Abby Zwerner, the Newport News elementary school teacher shot by a 6-year-old student in January 2023. In November, a Newport […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2024: BRIDGETTE C. BYWATER
Under Bywater’s leadership since 2021, the 49-year-old Kings Dominion theme park continues to seek out new concepts and ideas to entice and excite guests. The 400-acre amusement park is home to more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, including 13 roller coasters and Soak City, a 20-acre waterpark. The latest thrill is a new ride, […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2024: DWAYNE ‘THE ROCK’ JOHNSON
Known as “The Rock,” Johnson shot to fame as a professional wrestler and is now one of the nation’s most popular and prolific movie and TV actors. He’s also been a relatively quiet resident of Virginia for several years, he acknowledged on social media posts in 2019. Johnson owns a horse farm in Orange County […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2024: NICK PATEL
Born in West Bromwich, England, Patel relocated to the United States in 1982. He earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992, but his entrepreneurial spirit led him in a different direction. He opened a Sleep Inn in Richmond in 1996 with his parents’ support, and Kalyan Hospitality was born. Kalyan, […]
Government | Politics 2024: LARRY SABATO
Virginia’s most notable political pundit, Sabato is the founding director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, breaking ground on a $10 million expansion. Widely quoted by national media, Sabato’s Crystal Ball newsletter, which handicaps political races, has maintained a high accuracy rate, although its prediction of […]
