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Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2023: SHANE SMITH
Smith became CEO of Smithfield Foods in 2021, just as Smithfield, the world’s largest pork product manufacturer and hog producer, said it would end slaughter operations in its hometown of Smithfield, the country’s self-proclaimed “ham capital.” Now, Smith is trying to navigate tricky financial waters as conservative politicians have been talking tough about Chinese holdings [&hel[...]
Government | Politics 2023: ROB WITTMAN
Elected to Congress in 2007, Republican Wittman represents parts of Richmond‘s suburbs, as well as the Peninsula and regions east of Fredericksburg on the Chesapeake Bay. As of January, he chairs the House Armed Services Committee, and serves on the Natural Resources Committee. Although Wittman has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation (such as a workforce training bill […]
Real Estate 2023: BRIAN F. BORTELL
Bortell has been with Timmons Group for over three decades, starting his career with the company as an entry-level engineer and working his way up into his current role. He sets the strategic direction for the 1,000-plus-person firm and oversees its four operating divisions and 18 offices across the U.S. Under Bortell’s leadership, Timmons Group […]
How we assemble the Virginia 500
When I give my elevator speech about the Virginia 500, it usually starts this way: It’s like the Fortune 500, but instead of companies, it’s about people. Unlike the Fortune 500, which ranks companies by gross revenues, this is a more subjective list. Compiled via staff research, we catalog Virginia’s 500 most powerful leaders across […]
Energy 2023: ROBERT M. ‘BOB’ BLUE
Dominion’s CEO since 2020, Blue leads the Fortune 500 utility’s 17,000 employees, serving nearly 7 million customers in 13 states. Dominion also is powering ahead on its $9.8 billion, 176-turbine offshore wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach. Upon its projected 2026 completion, it will produce 2.6 gigawatts of energy, support 1,100 direct and […]
Energy 2023: ANDRÉS GLUSKI
A native of Venezuela, Gluski was a leader in renewable energy production and carbon emission reduction, even before 2011 when he became head of AES, a Fortune 500 global electric utility that generates power to 2.6 million customers in 14 countries. In fiscal year 2022, AES reported $12.6 billion in revenue, up from $11.1 billion […]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: CLAYTON TURNER
Turner reaches for the stars every day. A 30-year NASA veteran, he is at the helm of NASA’s celebrated Langley Research Center as scientists work to send astronauts back to the moon by 2025 and prepare for the momentous manned mission to Mars. For the past three decades, Turner has served in various engineering and […]
Health Care 2023: EDWARD A. PESICKA
Under Pesicka’s leadership since 2019, Fortune 500 health care logistics and supplies company Owens & Minor employs more than 1,400 people in Virginia and about 20,000 worldwide. The company reported $9.95 billion in 2022 revenue, but its net income was $22 million, down from a pandemic high of $222 million when the company was selling […]
Real Estate 2023: DERRICK SWAAK
Swaak became a partner at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007 and now holds the positions of co-chief operating officer and managing broker for the company’s Virginia offices, with more than 500 agents covering McLean and The Plains. His professional background extends to hotel development, acquisitions, and franchise sales for renowned national lodging chains. He […]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: KAREN DAHUT
Last year, Google announced it was standing up a subsidiary focusing on government and educational contracting. In October 2022, Dahut left Booz Allen Hamilton, where she led its $4 billion global defense business, to become CEO of Google Public Sector, based out of Google’s Washington, D.C., and Reston offices. She replaced founding CEO Will Grannis, […]
Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2023: JENNIFER MORRIS
For more than 25 years, Morris has dedicated her life to protecting the environment. She brings decades of global leadership, management skills and a passion for conservation to her role as CEO at The Nature Conservancy, which she joined in May 2020. She began her career in conservation while working with the Ovambo people in […]
Telecommunications 2023: VINCE APRUZZESE JR.
AT&T Virginia’s president since 2010, Apruzzese took on the additional role of president of external affairs for Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C., in April. His expanded duties include leading the company’s public policy, legislative and philanthropic activities in the three states and D.C. In a post for the AT&T Connects website, Apruzzese noted that the […]
