Launching pad
When COVID-19 hit in spring 2020, Cindy R. Earl lost her job as a furniture company’s sales rep. But the Portsmouth resident’s sudden unemployment came with a positive side effect: She had time to assume care of her ailing grandmother after the pandemic had shuttered the assisted living facility where her grandmother had lived. It […]
Hotel revenues continue to outpace 2019, but only slightly
The commonwealth’s hotel industry is continuing its recovery, though the Northern Virginia market continues to be a drag on its performance, according to data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. The latest data show rooms sold decreased by 4.6% in Virginia through August […]
A stitch in time: ODU, EVMS eye potential merger
At the end of 2020, Eastern Virginia Medical School firmly rejected a study recommending that the medical school merge to become part of Old Dominion University. But time passes, minds change, and sometimes there’s turnover at the top. In August 2021, Dr. Richard Homan, who’d led EVMS for nearly a decade, retired. By December, Dr. […]
TOP FIVE STORIES AUGUST 2022
The top trending stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from July 15 to Aug. 14 were led by an exclusive update on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront surf park, which is being developed by music icon Pharrell Williams and Venture Realty Group. 1 | A new look at Va. Beach’s Atlantic Park Starting construction in October or November, […]
Va. hotel revenues up slightly over 2019
Northern Virginia’s hotel market continues to be a drag on the lodging industry’s performance in the commonwealth as a whole, according to recently released data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. The latest data show rooms sold decreased by 4.6% in Virginia through […]
ODU names biz school dean
Old Dominion University has appointed Kenneth B. Kahn as dean of its Strome College of Business, effective Sept. 1. He succeeds Jeff Tanner, who served as dean for eight years. “Please join me in thanking Dean Jeff Tanner for his outstanding service and extending our best wishes on his retirement and welcoming Dean Kenneth Kahn […]
ODU names exec director of research foundation
Old Dominion University has named Shannon Robinson as associate vice president of research and executive director of the ODU Research Foundation. Robinson comes to ODU from Clarkson University, her alma mater, where she has worked since 2017. She was associate vice provost for research and technology transfer at the private research university in Potsdam, New […]
PRA Group hires communications exec
Norfolk-based PRA Group, a $1.1 billion debt-purchasing company, has hired Giovanna Genard as vice president of external affairs and marketing leader. Genard will develop and oversee PRA Group’s global external communications, public relations and brand strategy. Before joining PRA Group, Genard served as Old Dominion University’s assistant vice president for public relations and strat[...]
Statewide hotel revenues continue to lag 2019
Hotel revenues in Virginia for the first half of 2022 continued to lag behind 2019, and reduced business travel is still the culprit. That’s according to data released this week from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Hotel rooms sold decreased by 4.6% in Virginia through June […]
Va. Tech business school dean retires, interim named
Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business has named Roberta “Robin” S. Russell as its interim dean, effective July 1. Russell, who heads Pamplin’s Department of Business Information Technology, succeeds Robert Sumichrast, who has retired. Russell will serve while the college conducts an international search for a new dean. In May, Tech hosted in-person and virtual [&helli[...]
Economic growth to continue slowing, ODU experts say
The U.S. economy will continue to slow in the second half of 2022 and a recession is increasingly likely, according to the Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economy Analysis and Policy’s mid-year economic forecast released Friday. Increases in inflation are expected to slow as well but harden, leaving costs elevated, report Robert McNab and […]
ODU to create supply chain, logistics, maritime school
Old Dominion University will create a School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations, pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the university announced Friday. In its June meeting, the university Board of Visitors approved a resolution to create the school, effective Oct. 15. “Coordinating our academic and research initiatives through […]