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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Banking | Finance 2025: BERNERT III, LAWRENCE ‘LARRY’
After Clearstead Advisors, an Ohio-based financial advisory firm, acquired the assets of Norfolk-based Wilbanks Smith & Thomas Asset Management last year, Bernert’s job evolved from WST’s principal to senior managing director for Clearstead Advisory Solutions. Prior to the acquisition, WST boasted more than $5 billion of assets under management, which it added to Clearstead’s[...]
Manufacturing 2025: IBAÑEZ, JESUS
Ibañez joined Lego Manufacturing Virginia in January to oversee hiring and construction of the Danish toymaker’s $1 billion Chesterfield County facility, bringing two decades of executive leadership in multiple countries. He previously served as vice president of operations at Lego’s plant in Monterrey, Mexico, and was executive operations director for tire company Bridgestone. Before[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: FAIRBANK, RICHARD
After earning an economics degree and an MBA from Stanford University, Fairbank landed at Virginia’s Signet Bank, where he co-created the business that became Capital One, the Fortune Global 500 credit card giant. Fairbank became CEO in 1994 during Capital One’s initial public offering. In 2024, the bank reported $39.1 billion in revenue, a 6.3% […]
Banking | Finance 2025: ASBURY, JOHN C.
With more than 35 years of experience in banking, Asbury has led Atlantic Union since 2016. The Virginia Tech and William & Mary alumnus is also the 2024-25 chair of the American Bankers Association. In April, Atlantic Union Bankshares, the holding company for Atlantic Union Bank, completed its $1.3 billion acquisition of Sandy Spring Bancorp, […]
Manufacturing 2025: WILKIN JR., NEIL D.
Wilkin was named Optical Cable’s chairman and CEO in 2003, two years after joining the company as its chief financial officer. Optical Cable, which manufactures fiber optic and copper communication cables and connectivity products, reported a profit of $18.2 million for fiscal 2024, down 18.3% from the previous year. In July, Optical Cable announced it […]
Real Estate 2025: HELMIG, TIMOTHY
After joining Monday Properties in 2005, Helmig has led the company to capital investments of more than $16 billion, expanded its multifamily portfolio to 6,500 units, and executed transactions totaling more than 36 million square feet. Monday Properties has expanded its footprint into high-growth markets along the East Coast, from the greater New York City […]
Banking | Finance 2025: BENTLEY, JEFF
With more than three decades of experience in consumer and commercial lending, Bentley came to Northwest Federal Credit Union in 2014 from Florida’s Achieva Credit Union as senior vice president of lending. Three years later, the board promoted him to lead Virginia’s sixth largest credit union. Northwest, which has some 250,000 members, reported about $4.07 […]
Manufacturing 2025: KEFFER, CHRIS
Keffer took over leadership of U.S. operations in 2023 for German outdoor power equipment manufacturer Stihl. He has been leading the company’s transition toward battery-powered equipment, a $60 million-plus investment that included converting warehouse space to make room for battery tool manufacturing. Keffer joined the company in 2022 as vice president for sales and marketing […]
Manufacturing 2025: BROADFOOT, HOWARD
Founded in Bristol in 1958, Electro-Mechanical is an electrical equipment manufacturer that sells its products under the Line Power, Federal Pacific, Mafesa and Mirus International brands. In 2024, the company announced plans to invest $16.55 million to add a 200,000-square-foot facility in Washington County that is expected to create 109 jobs. Electro-Mechanical also has three manufacturing [&he[...]
Manufacturing 2025: CODINA, ESTER
Codina started in her current position with Swedish company Alfa Laval in 2022 after serving as senior vice president of its U.S. service and marine divisions. Founded in 1883, the company is a global manufacturer of heat transfer, separation and fluid-handling products, mainly for the energy, environment, food and marine industries. In October 2024, Alfa […]
