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2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Lee Mariano
With more than 20 years in human resources, Mariano now heads the HR department at one of the largest regional public accounting firms, a job she has held since 2023. Before that, she started her own executive coaching firm and held executive HR positions at multiple companies, including AgEagle Arial Systems and LookingGlass Cyber Solutions. […]
McDermott to depart as Mary Washington Healthcare CEO
Dr. Michael McDermott, president and CEO of Fredericksburg-based Mary Washington Healthcare since 2015, will leave to become head of Montage Health in California, the health system announced Monday. Dr. Christopher Newman, MWHC’s chief operating officer and chief medical officer, will succeed McDermott starting in spring 2025. Newman joined Mary Washington in 2019. He previously served [&hel[...]
Cannabis authority chooses Shenandoah Valley provider
On Thursday morning, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority selected AYR Virginia, a wholly owned subsidiary of AYR Wellness, a cannabis operator in eight states, as the winner of a conditional approval that puts it on the path to become the sole licensed pharmaceutical processor of medical cannabis for a region of Virginia that includes the […]
Competition’s fierce for Shenandoah medical marijuana permit
UPDATE: State delays choosing Shenandoah medical marijuana provider The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) received 40 complete applications for conditional permits to operate as the state’s sole licensed pharmaceutical processor of medical cannabis for a region including the Shenandoah Valley, as well as Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford. A[...]
State delays choosing Shenandoah medical marijuana provider
At its June 26 meeting, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority was expected to announce which company, among 40 applicants, had been selected from a highly competitive process to become the sole licensed pharmaceutical processor of medical cannabis for a region including the entire Shenandoah Valley, as well as the cities of Charlottesville and Fredericksburg and […]
Fredericksburg econ dev director leaving after 10 years
Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg’s director of economic development and tourism, will leave his position Friday, he wrote in a farewell blog post on the economic development department’s website this week. A former Free Lance-Star reporter and editor, Freehling served eight years as the city’s economic development director and two years as assistant director. In an email […]
Lester Group acquires Williamsburg building supply company
The Lester Group, a Martinsville-based company with a diverse portfolio including lumber products and real estate development, acquired Williamsburg-based Custom Builder Supply on June 3, the company announced earlier in June. Lester Group CEO Jay Dickens declined to release financial terms of the deal. Randy Cooper founded Custom Builder Supply in 1988 and worked there […]
Forty applicants vying for Shenandoah medical marijuana license
Forty complete applications were received for conditional permits to operate as the state’s sole licensed pharmaceutical processor of medical cannabis for a region including the Shenandoah Valley, as well as the cities of Charlottesville and Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford, according to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Each company paid an $18,000 [&helli[...]
Fredericksburg warehouse leased by food bank sells for $2.9M
A warehouse leased by the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank has sold for nearly $3 million. Nellis, a Maryland-based private investment company, purchased the 24,000-square-foot industrial warehouse on 2.89 acres from Fredericksburg-based entity MDC 480 Central for $2.925 million, according to an April 25 news release from Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer. The Fredericksburg Regional Food [&hel[...]
Virginia Black Chamber to host first govcon conference
The founders of the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce decided to provide a venue for Black business owners to learn how to find success with government contracting. “We wanted to just bring together all of our business owners or people who are interested in potentially looking into local, state and government contracting,” said Tracey J. […]
Education 2023: TROY D. PAINO
It’s been a big year for Paino and the public liberal arts university he oversees. In March, UMW received the largest financial gift in its 115-year history — a $30 million bequest from a 1959 alumna to support undergraduate research and scholarships. The month before, Paino received the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ 2023 […]
Transportation 2023: CHARLES W. McDANIEL
As the third generation of his family to lead Hilldrup, McDaniel has been president and CEO since 2005. He started working at the now 120-year-old Fredericksburg-based moving, storage and logistics company at age 12. McDaniel also chairs the board for UniGroup, the Missouri-based parent company of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit. Under his leadership, […]
