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Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Banking | Finance 2025: SJOLUND, MARTIN
In June, Sjolund began his tenure leading PRA Group, a global business that acquires and collects on nonperforming loans. Earlier this year, a PRA spokesperson noted that Sjolund planned to split his time between London and PRA’s Norfolk headquarters. He succeeds Vikram Atal, who retired after serving as PRA’s president and CEO since 2023. Sjolund […]
Economic Development 2025: COONS, JULIE
Coons has led the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce since 2018, prioritizing efforts to support the region’s economic health and growth. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the chamber originated in 1925 as a Fairfax County- focused business advocacy organization. Today, it represents about 400 member businesses across a region that represents nearly 42% of […]
Banking | Finance 2025: MONTGOMERY, JOSEPH W. ‘JOE’
Montgomery went to work at an investment firm in December 1975 — meaning he’s enjoying his 50th year in an industry for which he is ranked as Virginia’s top wealth management adviser on Forbes’ 2025 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list, with $1.6 billion in assets under management by his team. He credits the power of relationships and […]
Economic Development 2025: SEGURA, JUAN PABLO
In March, reports circulated that Gov. Glenn Youngkin had tried to shift then-Commerce and Trade Secretary Caren Merrick to secretary of natural resources so that Segura, then Merrick’s deputy secretary, could have her post. Merrick left the administration instead. The son of billionaire ENSE Group Chairman Enrique Segura, Juan Pablo Segura ran as the GOP candidate in […]
Banking | Finance 2025: WILBANKS, WAYNE F.
Wilbanks developed an interest in stocks and bonds at the age of 14. As a 16-year-old, he formed an investment partnership with other students. “I was hooked,” Wilbanks has said of his career trajectory. A Duke graduate, Wilbanks co-founded Norfolk’s Wilbanks Smith & Thomas Asset Management in 1990, serving as the firm’s managing principal and […]
Economic Development 2025: STEPHENS, BRYAN K.
A 2025 Virginia C-Suite Awards winner, Stephens took the helm of the Hampton Roads Chamber in 2013. The organization advocates for business in the region, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval complex, as well as significant manufacturing and hospitality sectors. With a five-star accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, […]
Banking | Finance 2025: HUTCHINS, MICHAEL T.
It’s musical chairs at Freddie Mac, Virginia’s top-ranked company on Fortune’s U.S. and Global 500 lists. In March, Hutchins became the government-sponsored home mortgage company’s interim CEO for the second time in a year after the Trump administration fired Diana Reid, who’d served as CEO just over six months. It’s a pivotal time for Freddie […]
Banking | Finance 2025: MCLAUGHLIN, SHANE
In 2024, McLaughlin quietly stepped into the role of regional bank president for Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and much of Maryland, following the exit of John Allen, who had been the region bank president for D.C. and Maryland. Allen is now executive vice president and chief banking officer of City First Bank. A Virginia Tech alumnus, […]
Economic Development 2025: BENEVENTO, JOE
Benevento was named Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp.’s permanent leader in April 2024. He’d served as interim leader since September 2023, succeeding Bob Stolle. The nonprofit arm of a state entity established by the General Assembly, VIPC provides strategic commercialization and funding support for Virginia- based tech startups. VIPC’s Virginia Invests initiative is expect[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: GOETZMAN, NEIL
Goetzman’s father worked for Merrill Lynch for nearly four decades before retiring in 2000, according to AdvisorHub. At first, it seemed the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree. Goetzman started with Merrill Lynch in 1987. But, in 2020, he took a different path. That year, Goetzman, along with partner Jeffrey A. Nau, left Merrill’s […]
