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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
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[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: SHOCKLEY, CHRISTOPHER M. ‘CHRIS’
Following its August 2024 acquisition of Roanoke-based Member One Federal Credit Union, Virginia Credit Union plans to fully integrate all Member One’s operations into VACU by spring 2026. Shockley remains president and CEO of the combined credit union. Last year, VACU reported about $6.85 billion in assets and nearly 490,000 members, making it the third largest […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SPROWLS, RYAN C.
In April, after 25 years with Wells Fargo Advisors, Sprowls founded 114 Private Wealth, which has 11 team members managing $2.5 billion in assets. The firm is affiliated with Wells Fargo Financial Network, an independent broker channel. Ranked third among Virginia’s top wealth advisers, according to Florida’s SHOOK Research, Sprowls is also included on Barron’s 2025 list of t[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: RANSOM, THOMAS
Ransom has spent a quarter century in the banking industry. He started as a commerial banker in 2000 at BB&T, going on to become market president for the greater Washington, D.C., region. After the 2019 BB&T-SunTrust merger that formed Truist, Ransom moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, as an executive vice president before returning to the […]
