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Banking | Finance 2025: HUGHES, THOMAS ‘T.J.’
Hughes became regional president for greater Washington and Maryland in October, succeeding Evelyn Lee, who took a role at Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Maryland. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Hughes launched his banking career at Ohio-based Fifth Third Bank, holding roles in Ohio and Florida. In 2011, Hughes joined SunTrust Banks in Naples, […]
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[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: SHOCKLEY, CHRISTOPHER M. ‘CHRIS’
Following its August 2024 acquisition of Roanoke-based Member One Federal Credit Union, Virginia Credit Union plans to fully integrate all Member One’s operations into VACU by spring 2026. Shockley remains president and CEO of the combined credit union. Last year, VACU reported about $6.85 billion in assets and nearly 490,000 members, making it the third largest […]
Banking | Finance 2025: SPROWLS, RYAN C.
In April, after 25 years with Wells Fargo Advisors, Sprowls founded 114 Private Wealth, which has 11 team members managing $2.5 billion in assets. The firm is affiliated with Wells Fargo Financial Network, an independent broker channel. Ranked third among Virginia’s top wealth advisers, according to Florida’s SHOOK Research, Sprowls is also included on Barron’s 2025 list of t[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: RANSOM, THOMAS
Ransom has spent a quarter century in the banking industry. He started as a commerial going on to become market president for the greater Washington, D.C., region. After the that formed Truist, Ransom moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, as an executive vice p commonwealth in 2021 to become president of the bank’s Virginia region. The […]
Banking | Finance 2025: GRINSPOON, JEFF
In a 2022 nomination for the Savvy Ladies’ Male Ally award — which recognizes men in the financial field who value equality — VWG CEO Elana Fine talked about how Grinspoon created a culture at the firm that attracts, retains and promotes women. “Jeff gave me the room to lead and placed his trust in […]
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[...]
Banking | Finance 2025: KARP, DAVID W.
In 2011, Karp and Paul Pagnato left Merrill Lynch to launch their own firm: PagnatoKarp. Initially, the outfit was part of Hightower Advisors, but PagnatoKarp dropped the affiliation in 2016. Four years later, Illinois-based investment firm Cresset Asset Management announced it had acquired PagnatoKarp, which then had $2.3 billion in assets under management. At Cresset, […]
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 […]
Banking | Finance 2025: KUHLMANN, DIETRICH
Last year, Kuhlmann took the helm of the world’s largest credit union, with $180.8 billion in assets and more than 14 million members, succeeding former leader Mary McDuffie. After retiring from the U.S. Navy as a rear admiral, Kuhlmann joined Navy Federal in 2019 as head of branch operations. He later worked as chief real […]
Banking | Finance 2025: HODGES, CECILIA A.
Hodges has worked in banking for nearly four decades. Leading M&T Bank’s greater Washington, D.C., and Virginia regions since 2018, she manages teams across more than 55 branches. A Virginia Tech graduate, Hodges grew up in Rocky Mount, where her parents ran a construction supplies store. In 2009, M&T Bank acquired Provident Bank, where Hodges was […]
