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byline: Sydney Lake

Lynchburg software firm names federal biz VP

Lynchburg-based CloudFit Software LLC in February hired Tom Sampson as its vice president for federal and regulated industries. 

Sampson previously served as the chief information officer of the U.S. Navy’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO). He has 22 years of leadership experience in Navy active and reserve service and 15 years of tech experience. In his new role, he will focus on services for the Department of Defense, the federal government and regulated industry customers.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his master’s degrees in ITM management and business administration from American University. 

Founded in 2018, CloudFit works to implement, manage and secure critical services and applications to the cloud.

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Booz Allen names global defense group senior VP

McLean-based Fortune 500 global management consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. announced Tuesday that Matice Wright-Springer has rejoined the firm as a partner and senior vice president of the firm’s global defense group as part of its aerospace account. 

Wright-Springer most recently served as vice president of government and corporate responsibility with ManTech International. In her new role, the former Naval officer will also lead the company’s efforts supporting the Department of Defense’s Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2).

Before her time with ManTech International, she served as a vice president at L3 Harris and as a principal director in the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy. She previously served as a senior associate and program manager with Booz Allen.

 

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SAIC hires space biz senior VP

Reston-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced Tuesday it has hired David Ray as the senior vice president of its space business unit. 

Most recently, Ray served as president of government and defense at Flir Systems. In his new role, he will lead the team focused on space programs such as SAIC’s GPS, space-track.org, NASA’s Omnibus Multidiscipline Engineering Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climate modeling capabilities. He will report to Michael LaRouche, president of SAIC’s national security and space sector.

“The government market continues to demand a more interconnected offering,” LaRouche said in a statement. “As we expand, David’s extensive market experience is just what we need to deliver an integrated approach for our customers.” 

Ray earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the United States Air Force Academy and his master’s degree in systems management and strategy from Central Michigan University.

SAIC employs more than 25,000 people and has pro forma annual revenues of $7.1 billion.

 

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The Hilb Group acquires Medicare-focused firm

Henrico County-based insurance company The Hilb Group LLC announced Tuesday it has acquired West Greenwich, Rhode Island-based Compass Planners (CP).

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Led by Jim Soucy, CP is an insurance company that specializes in Medicare Advantage. Soucy and his three colleagues will join THG’s Cranston, Rhode Island office. Soucy will lead the Medicare practice for all Hilb offices and run THG’s Indianapolis-based Medicare wholesale operation.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” Soucy said in a statement. “We are eager to align our goals with those at THG and help build a bigger and better Medicare practice.”

THG was founded in 2009 and has been a portfolio company of Washington, D.C.-based investment management company The Carlyle Group since late 2019. Across its 90 offices in 21 states, the company employs more than 900 people. THG has acquired more than 100 companies.

“Jim and his team will bring growth to an important business segment of THG,” THG CEO Ricky Spiro said in a statement. “We welcome them and the success they are sure to bring to our national benefits practice as it grows and develops.”

 

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Baltimore company acquires Richmond architecture firm

Baltimore-based MCA Architecture announced Tuesday it has acquired KOP Architects of Richmond.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MCA already has offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. It will close its current Reston location and consolidate the two Virginia offices in Richmond.

MCA will gain clients including Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Health, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Founded 35 years ago, MCA provides architecture, planning, interior design and facilities support services to institutional, government and corporate clients.

“With the boost that MCA will be able to provide to the Richmond location in terms of design savvy, technology, thought leadership, project management process, staffing and business development and the specific expertise and talent brought on board by our expanded Virginia team, MCA Architecture expects to make great strides in how we can continue to improve professional service to our clients across our entire geographic footprint,” MCA President Stephen Bates said in a statement.

KOP Architects Principals Don Guthrie and Ed Gillikin will join MCA as principals and stockholders.

 

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Roanoke, New River Valley organizations form tech alliance

The Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) have formed an alliance called Verge. 

In July 2020, the three groups announced they were developing the alliance, which is aimed at supporting the region’s technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs. VIC focuses on research commercialization and the regional economy, RBTC promotes the growth of the technology community and RAMP provides resources for tech startups.

“By aligning the efforts of three distinct but synergistic entities, we will all more effectively develop external resourcing [and] more efficiently implement new programs ensuring each reaches the right audiences at the right moments and in the right contexts to provide maximum value,” CEO Greg Feldmann said in a statement. “It’s all about comprehensively supporting the many people and organizations who are investing in and shaping the economic future of our region.”

Under the alliance, the three groups will continue day-to-day operations under their current brands. John Phillips will lead RBTC, Mary Miller will lead RAMP and Feldmann will lead VIC.

The Verge brand name was selected following a six-month process that included interviews, focus groups, feedback sessions and workshops. Local marketing and growth strategy firm Eddy Alexander developed the brand.

“As technology converges at lightning speed, the idea that three of our most successful regional entities are actively evolving to continue to meet the needs of our regional community is really exciting,” Jennifer Eddy, president and chief strategist of Eddy Alexander, said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see what this group does next.”

 

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U.K. software company acquires Blacksburg firm

Nottingham, England-based software company Ideagen plc announced Tuesday it has acquired Blacksburg-based Qualtrax.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This marks the 21st acquisition for Ideagen, which provides quality management software for aviation, financial services, life science, health care and manufacturing industries.

Founded in 1993, Qualtrax provides software that helps companies with managing documents and training. Its 340 clients include Walmart, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, SABIC Innovative Plastics and the Arkansas State Crime Lab. Qualtrax, which employs 40 people, reported approximately $5.2 million in 2020 revenue. 

“Qualtrax’s product, customer base and reputation in the market will enhance our existing compliance offering and provide us with an excellent springboard from which to grow in this sector,” Ideagen CEO Ben Dorks said in a statement.

All current Qualtrax employees will remain with the company under the acquisition. Its Blacksburg location will become Ideagen’s U.S. headquarters, where approximately 80 people will be based. 

“The plan is to grow the U.S. operation from this base and expand the business throughout the U.S.,” according to Ideagen. Further expansion details were not disclosed.

 

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Springfield company wins $570.9M DOT contract

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Springfield-based engineering and technology company Ensco Inc. a potential 20-year, $570.9 million contract to help the Federal Railroad Administration operate and maintain a department-owned facility for rail system research, development, testing and training. 

Services will be performed at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado, according to a SAM notice posted Friday. The TTC includes 52 square miles of space for testing freight platforms, passenger rolling stock, railway vehicles, track components and safety equipment.

Founded in 1969, Ensco provides engineering, science and advanced technology services to the aerospace, avionics, national security, rail and cybersecurity sectors. 

 

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HCA Healthcare Capital Division names senior VP

Richmond-based HCA Healthcare Capital Division announced Monday it has promoted Shaila Menees as its senior vice president of strategy and business development, effective March 22.

Menees for the past six years has served as HCA Healthcare’s associate vice president of cardiac and vascular service lines in Nashville, Tennessee. With more than 15 years of health care leadership experience, she also served as vice president of cardiovascular services with HCA Healthcare Capital Division after serving as an associate administrator at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

“Her wealth of experience, business acumen and strategic leadership will drive our division’s 19 hospitals throughout Virginia, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Indiana to provide industry leading health care options to the communities we serve, and will support the development of our robust and collaborative health system,” HCA Healthcare Capital Division President Tim McManus said in a statement.

Menees earned her bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree in health services in health finance and management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

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Richmond convenience store operator to acquire 61 locations in Mich., Ohio

Richmond-based convenience stores owner and operator GPM Investments LLC announced Monday it has signed an agreement to acquire 61 ExpressStop convenience stores with gas stations in Michigan and Ohio.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will add to GPM’s existing 165 stores in Michigan and nine in Ohio. GPM Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of Richmond-based holding company Arko Corp. 

“Our model of growing through acquisition while keeping the local banners in place has delivered significant value for all of ARKO’s stakeholders,” Arko Chairman, President and CEO Arie Kotler said in a statement. “Michigan and Ohio are important geographies for us, and we believe that ExpressStop is a highly regarded brand there.” 

In total, GPM operates 1,350 stores. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2021. Fifth Third Securities served as financial adviser to ExpressStop.

 

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