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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[...]
Economic Development 2025: SMITH, DOUG
Since 2019, Smith has led the Hampton Roads Alliance, a regional economic development organization representing 15 municipalities and numerous private sector investors. Before that, he served as city manager for Norfolk and as deputy city manager in both Virginia Beach and Portsmouth and is also a past president and CEO of Kaufman & Canoles Consulting. […]
Economic Development 2025: TOUHILL, RYAN
Since joining Arlington County in 2022, Touhill’s efforts have included helping launch the Arlington Innovation Fund, which helps support local tech startups. Recipients have included SportAI, which provides analytics for fantasy sports and sports betting, and GenLogs, an AI company specializing in ground freight supply chains. Amid the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workfo[...]
Economic Development 2025: ROMANELLO, ANTHONY J.
Romanello announced in August that he plans to leave his post as Henrico’s economic development leader, a position he’s held since 2019, after working as a deputy county manager. He previously was county administrator for Stafford County and worked in local government for Richmond and West Point. In April, the Henrico EDA filed a lawsuit […]
Economic Development 2025: WAKEFIELD, JENNIFER
Before assuming her current role leading the Greater Richmond Partnership in 2021, Wakefield twice served as interim president and CEO for the regional economic development organization representing Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico. She has also been its chief operating officer and senior vice president of marketing. Wakefield previously served as Orlando […]
Economic Development 2025: GRDEN, NANCY
A longtime regional economic development and maritime leader, Grden was key in the 2023 merger of Reinvent Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable. That resulted in the creation of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, a support organization for GO Virginia Region 5, the regional arm of the statewide economic development initiative. Before leading […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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[...]
Economic Development 2025: HOSKINS, VICTOR
Following the second Trump administration’s federal workforce and spending cuts, Hoskins has worked hard to help displaced federal workers and government contracting employees. “We’re doing everything that we can, but the scale may outpace us pretty soon,” Hoskins told The New York Times in June. Nevertheless, Fairfax County has enjoyed notable economic development wins in [&hellip[...]
Economic Development 2025: HAYMORE, TODD P.
Since 2018, Haymore has led the global economic development consultancy within Hunton Andrews Kurth, the second largest Virginia-based law firm. He previously served as Virginia’s secretary of commerce and trade under Gov. Terry McAuliffe and secretary of agriculture and forestry for Gov. Bob McDonnell. A Danville native, Haymore is a former executive for tobacco companies […]
