Sign In
Free Newsletter
Va. Tech’s College of Business dean to retire
Robert T. Sumichrast, the Richard E. Sorensen Chair and dean of Virginia Tech‘s Pamplin College of Business since 2013, announced his retirement Tuesday. Sumichrast will stay through the end of the current academic year. Virginia Tech will start an international search for his successor this fall. He began his academic career as an assistant professor […]
Virginia Tech names chief administrative officer
Virginia Tech has hired Charlene Casamento as its associate vice president for enterprise administrative operations, effective July 30, the university announced Wednesday. Casamento will work alongside Virginia Tech‘s leadership, serving as the university’s chief administrative officer and executing university operational initiatives. She reports to Dwayne Pinkney, the university’[...]
Va. Tech Graduate School appoints next dean
Virginia Tech has named Aimée Surprenant of Memorial University of Newfoundland as the next dean of its graduate school, effective Sept. 1. Surprenant will lead the Graduate School’s budgetary, admissions and program development operations. She will serve as a member of the executive vice president and provost’s leadership team and as an adviser to graduate […]
Draper Aden Associates names new CIO
Richmond-based engineering, surveying and environmental firm Draper Aden Associates promoted Lud Eng to chief information officer on July 1. Eng, who is based in Blacksburg, previously served as the firm’s director of information technology. He has been with Draper Aden for more than 25 years. “We are pleased to announce Lud’s new position with the […]
Three Blacksburg housing complexes sold for $146M
Three off-campus housing complexes in Blacksburg geared toward Virginia Tech students have been sold for $146 million in a deal closed May 5, Berkadia announced Friday. The buyer, California-based Reliant Group, added the portfolio to its earlier purchase of a student housing property near Virginia Tech. According to Montgomery County property records, Reliant Group-connected CAP […]
Blacksburg Partnership president retiring
After 19 years as the founding leader of the Blacksburg Partnership, Diane Akers announced Friday that she will retire on June 30 from her position as president of the private economic development group. Akers was hired as the Blacksburg Partnership’s founding director in 2002, helping launch the organization that was established as a partnership between […]
Torc Robotics names chief transformation officer
Blacksburg-based Torc Robotics has hired Eddie Amos, a former Microsoft and GE Digital executive and software developer, as its chief transformation officer, the company announced Thursday. In a statement, Amos said his new job is to “translate the lessons learned in 35 years of software disruption into best practices for commercializing self-driving trucks.” Torc is […]
Virginia Tech replaces economic development office
On Wednesday, Virginia Tech announced that it was replacing its Office of Economic Development with a new Center for Economic and Community Engagement, as part of its commitment to improving the lives of others. The new university-level center will engage with internal and external partners to drive economic growth, address workforce needs and interact with […]
Roanoke, New River Valley organizations form tech alliance
The Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) have formed an alliance called Verge. In July 2020, the three groups announced they were developing the alliance, which is aimed at supporting the region’s technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs. VIC focuses on research commercialization and [...]
U.K. software company acquires Blacksburg firm
Nottingham, England-based software company Ideagen plc announced Tuesday it has acquired Blacksburg-based Qualtrax. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This marks the 21st acquisition for Ideagen, which provides quality management software for aviation, financial services, life science, health care and manufacturing industries. Founded in 1993, Qualtrax provides software that he[...]
Dominion Energy makes $1M donation to Virginia 4-H
Dominion Energy Inc. has donated $1 million to Virginia 4-H, a nonprofit educational program for youth hosted by Virginia Tech, the university announced Thursday. The donation marks the largest cash gift in the history of the state’s largest youth organization. Virginia 4-H educational centers serve more than 13,000 campers each summer, nearly 18,000 youth participate […]
Va. Tech says ‘Cheers!’ to Fightin’ Hokies Lager
Although Hokie fans couldn’t fill Lane Stadium this year decked in maroon and orange, there’s a new tailgating trophy they can look forward to obtaining this coming spring — a licensed Virginia Tech beer, Fightin’ Hokies Lager. Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announced Tuesday it has partnered with Richmond-based Hardywood Park Craft […]
