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Economic Development 2025: RIZER, BUDDY
After a career as a radio DJ, Rizer reinvented himself as an economic developer. He has headed Loudoun County’s economic development for 18 years and is best known for helping build the county’s Ashburn area into Data Center Alley, marketed as the world’s largest concentration of data centers. Loudoun collects nearly $1 billion dollars in […]
Economic Development 2025: WINN, CHRISTINA
Before taking the reins in Prince William County in 2019, Winn was director of Arlington Economic Development‘s Business Investment Group, where she played a major role in recruiting Amazon.com’s $2.5 billion-plus HQ2 East Coast headquarters. Under her leadership, Prince William last year reported 51 project wins (including new projects, expansions and redevelopments) representing mor[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: WOODRIFF, JAFFRAY
Last year, the University of Virginia opened the School of Data Science building, which was funded with a portion of a $120 million gift made in 2019 from the Quantitative Foundation, the family foundation of Woodriff and his wife, Merrill, who are both alumni. It still marks the largest individual private grant in U.Va.’s history. In […]
Economic Development 2025: TUCKER, TELLY
Tucker spent six years as Danville’s economic development director before leaving to serve the same role in Arlington County, where he helped land Boeing’s corporate headquarters relocation. But the pull of Southern Virginia is strong for Tucker, who left in 2022 to become president of Danville’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, a regional economic […]
Economic Development 2025: EL KOUBI, JASON
Leader of the state’s economic development arm since 2022, El Koubi oversees numerous initiatives designed to attract business expansions and relocations in the commonwealth. El Koubi joined VEDP as executive vice president in 2017 under his predecessor, Stephen Moret. During his time at VEDP, El Koubi has played key roles in landing blockbuster deals like […]
Economic Development 2025: BELCHER, JONATHAN S.
Leader of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority since 2006, Belcher has helped bring new jobs to Southwest Virginia through numerous economic development deals. In April, VCEDA announced it closed a $1.3 million loan with Lawrence Brothers, a Tazewell County manufacturing company, for an expansion expected to create several dozen new jobs. Last year, VCEDA […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SCHAUFELD, FREDRICK D.
After graduating from Lehigh University in 1981, Schaufeld sold extended warranties to auto dealers while going through law school. When he learned his employer hadn’t actually taken out policies on all his clients, Schaufeld quit his classes and went into business for himself, creating National Electronics Warranty. In 2008, the company was acquired by Asurion. […]
Economic Development 2025: LANGSTON, JAY A.
Langston has led the Shenandoah Valley’s regional economic development organization since 2018, after previously serving in multiple roles at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for more than 13 years. For fiscal year 2024, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership notes, the region saw $297 million in investment and 667 jobs created. Since 2019, the organization has helped create more [[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: HUGHES, THOMAS ‘T.J.’
Hughes became regional president for greater Washington and Maryland in October, succeeding Evelyn Lee, who took a role at Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Maryland. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Hughes launched his banking career at Ohio-based Fifth Third Bank, holding roles in Ohio and Florida. In 2011, Hughes joined SunTrust Banks in Naples, […]
Economic Development 2025: HART III, H. GARRETT
Hart has more than four decades of experience in economic development and currently serves as vice president for the Virginia Economic Developers Association’s board of directors. Under his leadership, Chesterfield has landed big deals such as the $1 billion Lego Group manufacturing facility under construction in the county’s Meadowville Technology Park. In 2024, his department assis[...]
