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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 […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SCHENCK, JAMES
Over the course of his military career, Schenck flew Black Hawk helicopters in Korea and trained others as a night vision goggle instructor pilot. He also worked on the Army staff in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, a post with responsibilities for overseeing the flying hour program, which […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SCHOOLS, BRIAN
Over the decade that Schools has led the Virginia Beach-based credit union, Chartway has grown to nearly $3.1 billion in assets and 260,000 member-owners. With locations in Utah, Texas and Virginia, the credit union has more than 600 employees. Among new developments: Chartway opened a new East Beach branch in Norfolk in December 2024 and […]
Banking | Finance 2025: NOEL, TYRONE
Noel became president of Bank of America’s Hampton Roads market in 2023. In this role, Noel leads 500 employees across eight business lines. Additionally, Noel continues to serve as Merrill Wealth Management market executive for Greater Virginia, a role he’s also held since 2023. Noel joined Merrill, Bank of America’s investment and wealth management division, […]
Banking | Finance 2025: ROBBINS, KEVIN
When considering whether to invest, Robbins takes a long look at the entrepreneur behind the venture. “We have to get the read right on partnering with exceptional founders who want to get better and who will welcome our advice, counsel and experience,” he says. Robbins has had a while to figure out this recipe for […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SMITH, GREGORY S.
An Arizona native, Smith moved to Virginia in 1994. After completing a master’s degree in psychology at George Mason University, he earned a certificate in financial planning from the Florida Institute of Technology’s Virginia campus. Later, he received a master’s degree from the College for Financial Planning. Smith put together the Wise Investor Group’s financial [&hellip[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: JOHNSON, JERMAINE
Johnson leads operations in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro area for Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group, one of the nation’s 10 largest banks, with assets of about $554.7 billion. In May, Johnson, who joined PNC in 2005 as a vice president, joined in a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the Fortune 500 bank […]
