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DroneUp takes off
Virginia Beach’s DroneUp LLC is riding the leading edge of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry wave. Founded in 2016, the company, which specializes in commercial drone delivery, flight services and software, has grown its ranks from three to 530 employees. Retail giant Walmart Inc. is a new partner, and DroneUp is close to completing a […]
It’s back!
Of all those whom Pharrell Williams has made happy, Virginia Beach government officials and business owners could be at the top of the list with the return of the music superstar’s Something in the Water this spring. Williams’ three-day music festival debuted in April 2019 at the Oceanfront and was a smash hit, with 25,000 […]
10 Va. companies graduate VEDP export program
Ten Virginia companies are the latest to graduate from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, which helps companies work on international export growth strategies, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced this week. The two-year VALET program helps Virginia companies that have established domestic operations use international exporting as a gro[...]
Va. Beach office building sells for $15.5M
Charlottesville-based Seminole Trail Management LLC is the new owner of Pinehurst Centre, a 99,337-square-foot office building in Virginia Beach, Colliers announced Jan. 9. Virginia Beach-based real estate developer Robinson Development Group sold the four-story, Class A office building to Seminole Trail for $15.5 million. The office is located at 477 Viking Drive in the Lynnhaven […]
Franklin Johnston Group sees father-son succession
The Franklin Johnston Group, has promoted W. Taylor Franklin to CEO, succeeding his father, Wendell Franklin, who has become chairman, the Virginia Beach-based real estate development, investment and management firm announced last week. Taylor Franklin previously served as the firms’ chief operating officer and Wendell Franklin served as CEO for the past decade. The Franklins, […]
Va. Beach City Council approves $2M sponsorship of Something in the Water
Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water three-day music festival will get a $2 million sponsorship from Virginia Beach as part of an incentive package approved by the City Council Tuesday night. Something in the Water debuted in April 2019 at the Oceanfront and was called off in 2020 and 2021 due to […]
Pharrell brings Mighty Dream to Norfolk
In November, Grammy-winning music superstar Pharrell Williams hosted the three-day Mighty Dream forum in Norfolk and broke some news about his Something in the Water music festival and the status of his team’s proposal to redevelop Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall site. Mighty Dream, a sequel to his 2021 Elephant in the Room business conference at […]
Commonwealth Lodging hires corporate HR director
Virginia Beach-based Commonwealth Lodging Management has hired Claire Larkin as corporate director of human resources, the hospitality management and consulting firm announced Thursday. “Claire enjoys building strong relationships with clients and co-workers, often serving as a mentor and coach to help people grow in their career goals,” Commonwealth Lodging Managing Director Duane Gauthier sa[...]
Something in the Water will return to Va. Beach in 2023
Music superstar and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams announced Wednesday that his signature three-day music festival, Something in the Water, will again be held in Virginia Beach on April 28-30, 2023, after the festival moved to Washington, D.C., this summer. The inaugural Something in the Water festival was held on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in […]
Pharrell urges Norfolk to speed up Military Circle development
During a news conference before his three-day Mighty Dream forum kicked off Tuesday, music superstar Pharrell Williams said he is waiting for Norfolk to officially approve his development team’s Wellness Circle project at Military Circle Mall, noting, “I’ve been told many times that we won it. … You have to ask the city. The ball’s […]
Stihl names finance VP
Virginia Beach-based chainsaw and outdoor power equipment manufacturer Stihl Inc. has named Uwe Hirsch its vice president of finance, effective Nov. 7. Hirsch will plan, direct and control the company’s financial plans and will support IT operations and system implementations. He was most recently global vice president of finance, controlling and purchasing in the automotive […]
Fortis Solutions Group hires chief commercial officer
Virginia Beach-based packaging manufacturer Fortis Solutions Group LLC has named Steve Powers its chief commercial officer, the company announced Monday. Powers joins Fortis from HP Inc. and has been in the printing industry for 30 years, working on the manufacturing and supplier sides of the business. Most recently, he served as HP’s sales director for […]
