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Economic Development 2023: TODD P. HAYMORE
Since 2018, Haymore has led Hunton Andrews Kurth’s global economic development wing, providing strategic advice to guide multinational and national companies to expand or relocate their businesses to Virginia. In July, he became rector of Virginia Commonwealth University. Formerly the state’s commerce and trade secretary and agriculture and forestry secretary under Govs. Terry McAuliff[...]
Economic Development 2023: LEONARD SLEDGE
Since 2019, Sledge has guided numerous economic development proposals in Richmond, culminating in the $2.4 billion Diamond District redevelopment project, approved by City Council this year. The site will feature a new baseball stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels Double-A baseball team, an 11-acre green space and mixed-income housing. Sledge was also instrumental in getting […]
Economic Development 2023: BUDDY RIZER
Head of Loudoun’s economic development since 2007, Rizer is best-known for helping build the county’s Ashburn area into the data center capital of the world. More than 70% of the world’s internet traffic comes through Data Center Alley in Ashburn, with data centers projected to pay $570 million in county taxes just in 2024. But […]
Economic Development 2023: CHRISTINA WINN
Winn, who became Prince William’s economic development head in 2019, is president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association. She came to the county after leading Arlington Economic Development‘s Business Investment Group, where she was a key member of the team that landed Amazon.com’s $2.5 billion-plus HQ2 East Coast headquarters. Last year, Prince William reported more [&h[...]
Economic Development 2023: VICTOR HOSKINS
Hoskins is well known in Virginia for the leading role he played in bringing Amazon.com’s $2.5 billion-plus HQ2 East Coast headquarters to Arlington County, where he previously led economic development. In 2019, he moved next door to lead Fairfax County’s authority. His wins so far have included last year’s announcement that hotelier Hilton Worldwide Holdings […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: ANDY EDMUNDS
When Hollywood productions like “Dopesick,” “Cold Mountain,” “Wonder Woman 1984” and others want to film in Virginia, they come to Edmunds to get the ball rolling. As director of the Virginia Film Office since 2011 — and the office’s locations manager for 14 years before that — Edmunds helps productions access economic incentives and works […]
Economic Development 2023: CAREN MERRICK
After 25 years as a Virginia business founder and leader, Merrick was appointed the commonwealth’s secretary of trade and commerce in early 2022, her first role in state government. She helped encourage Amazon Web Services to invest $35 billion to build multiple data center campuses across the state, an initiative announced in January. She also […]
Economic Development 2023: CORRIE BOBE
Bobe is sparking growth in rural Southern Virginia, which is still rebuilding from losing its textiles industry decades ago. In January, city officials participated in the groundbreaking for Dan River Falls, the $85 million public-private mixed-use redevelopment of the shuttered White Mill textiles factory building. And in May, Caesars Entertainment opened a temporary casino in […]
Economic Development 2023: JASON EL KOUBI
El Koubi has served as head of Virginia’s top economic development organization since March 2022, following a five-year stint as VEDP‘s executive vice president. Part of the team that helped bring Amazon.com’s $2.5 billion-plus HQ2 East Coast headquarters to Arlington County, El Koubi continues to land big economic wins for the commonwealth, such as last […]
Economic Development 2023: H. GARRETT HART III
A major success for Hart this year was the announcement of the Springline at District 60 mixed-use development project in Chesterfield County. Long in the making, it features apartments, office, entertainment and retail areas. Demolition of the old Spring Rock Green shopping center began in March, making way for a $210 million, 42-acre first phase […]
Economic Development 2023: JENNIFER WAKEFIELD
Assuming her current role in 2021, Wakefield served as interim president and CEO twice for the Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic development organization for Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico. She has also been the partnership’s chief operating officer and senior vice president of marketing. Previously, she served as Orlando Economic […]
Economic Development 2023: BARRY DuVAL
DuVal, who has led the Virginia Chamber since 2010, oversaw the launch this summer of the chamber’s WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, a multiple employer welfare association to offer health care plans for small businesses. Made possible through new state legislation, WiseChoice was the first such self-funded health insurance consortium in Virginia. A longtime advocate for Virginia’s [&he[...]
