byline: Virginia Business

Since joining IBM in 2002, Wedge has taken on roles of increasing responsibility. In 2022, she was tapped to lead IBM Consulting’s U.S. public and federal market, a portfolio worth more than $2.2 billion that supports more than 4,000 U.S.-based consultants.

She also has served as IBM’s head of federal operational transformation practice, senior partner of the health and civilian portion of federal market business, and senior consultant and program manager supporting an intelligence community customer. Before IBM, Wedge worked at American Management Systems, serving as a consultant, senior principal and leader of initiatives for public sector clients.

In August 2023, IBM announced that its IBM Federal HR Cloud platform to support federal agencies had secured its Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program certification. In March, it debuted its new IBM X-Force Cyber Range in Washington, D.C. The training facility is specifically designed to help federal agencies, their suppliers and critical infrastructure organizations respond to threats posed by cyberattacks and AI.

Earlier this year, Wedge was named for the first time to Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 list of the most impactful government contracting executives. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Sklaire says sharing the duties of running the Northern Virginia office with Laura Foote Reiff don’t involve the kind of constant tussles for power you see on television law shows. “When two people have [a] similar vision of how the office should be, it’s seamless,” he says. 

The job hasn’t changed much, Sklaire says, in the eight years he’s had it. “As we grow, we have a bigger presence in the Northern Virginia community, so recruiting gets a little easier, hiring gets a little easier, our name gets out there more.”

In April, Sklaire attended an event for first-year law students at his alma mater, American University, and talked to them about working at Greenberg Traurig, which is among the state’s 20 largest law firms. He describes recruiting attorneys from his former law school as “tremendously satisfying.” 

A litigator, Sklaire focuses on government investigations, business crimes, and financial litigation and regulation at Greenberg Traurig. Previously, Sklaire worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a trial attorney, a special assistant U.S. attorney and an assistant U.S. attorney, with experience handling securities and procurement fraud.

He has a cockapoo named Winnie.

Founded in 1987, CoStar Group, a real estate marketplace and analytics company, runs industry-leading businesses like Homes.com, Apartments.com, LoopNet and STR. In February, it announced its plans to move its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Arlington County, a $20 million investment on top of its $339 million purchase of the 560,000-square-foot tower on Wilson Boulevard. About 500 corporate employees are planning to relocate to Arlington by the end of the year, and CoStar said it plans to add 150 jobs at the new headquarters. 

CoStar reported $2.46 billion in revenue last year and employs more than 6,200 people in 14 countries. The company has already made significant inroads in Richmond, where it is building a
$460 million expansion of its downtown campus that is expected to house approximately 3,000 employees upon completion in 2026.

Florance started CoStar in 1986 in his Princeton University dorm room, and it went public in 1998. He serves on Virginia Commonwealth University’s board, and in 2023, CoStar made an $18 million donation to VCU, which will establish the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation in Richmond. The building is expected to open in early 2027.

Chairman of his family’s real estate company since 2016, Lawson is focused on the strategic direction, mission and long-term goals of the 52-year-old firm.

A third-generation builder and developer, Lawson has long been a passionate advocate for equitable and affordable housing, testifying before Congress and using his leadership positions with the National Association of Home Builders to raise awareness. This passion is also reflected in the firm’s work.

In the past year, Lawson Cos. purchased a 6.5-acre tract in Richmond, where it plans to build a $20 million, 144-unit apartment complex that will be affordable for people making at or below 60% of the area median income. The developer also announced plans to build 180 income-restricted apartments in the city’s South Side
in June.

Previously, Lawson served as president for 17 years, during which time the multifamily division acquired or developed more than 20 apartment communities valued at more than $160 million. The single-family home division closed on 340 homes totaling approximately $100 million.

Lawson earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Duke University.

A 34-year U.S. Army veteran and 1985 VMI alumnus, Wins became the first Black superintendent to lead “the West Point of the South,” the nation’s oldest state military college, following his predecessor’s resignation. With master’s degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology and the National War College, he served as interim superintendent from November 2020 until his permanent appointment in April 2021. 

When Wins joined, VMI was the subject of a state-ordered investigation that found instances of racism against Black cadets, as well as reports of sexual assaults and harassment of women cadets. Following demands for reform from alumni and Democratic state leaders, Wins oversaw the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson and hired VMI’s first chief diversity officer, Jamica Love, who resigned in June 2023 amid backlash to Wins’ changes.

In September 2023, VMI’s board of visitors voted to accept a Confederate memorial being removed from Arlington National Cemetery and house it at a Civil War site that VMI owns.

In June, a group of VMI alumni sued the institute’s alumni association, alleging their civil rights were violated and claiming that VMI now essentially controls the alumni association.

Miller started with the Richmond International Airport’s commission in 2019, just a few months before the pandemic upended air travel. This summer, he concluded his one-year term as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives.

Meanwhile, the airport marked record-breaking passenger traffic and cargo volume in 2023 —  4.75 million passengers and 206.6 million pounds in cargo — and aircraft operations increased 7.3% from the previous year. 

Three major airport projects are in development: a fully renovated Federal Inspection Services facility with the capacity to support international travel, a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station, and consolidated security checkpoints.

In June, the airport announced that Southwest Airlines has expanded summer service by adding twice-daily service to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and daily service to Nashville International Airport. In October 2023, the airport received a $1 million federal grant to help develop nonstop flights to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Miller worked for more than 25 years in management positions with William P. Hobby Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Ellington Airport,
all part of the Houston Airport System.

Representing the third generation of the Luck family at the helm, Charlie Luck IV became president and CEO of the 101-year-old crushed stone company in 1999.

Luck’s first stint at the family business was as a summer trainee while studying at Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1983. He then was a professional NASCAR driver in the 1980s. Luck’s son, Richard, is the company’s executive vice president.

Employing more than 1,100 people, Luck Cos. is best known for providing construction aggregates and decorative stone, but it also has interests in commercial real estate and tennis court products. The company’s footprint extends throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Luck Stone, one of three subsidiaries, is seeking a conditional use permit to expand operations at its quarry on the Henrico-Goochland counties line. In July, the Goochland County Planning Commission recommended the plans for approval. The county’s board of supervisors is scheduled to hear the case Sept. 3.

In 2015, Luck launched the InnerWill Leadership Institute, which trains executives in “values-based leadership,” a philosophy launched at Luck Cos. that aims to create happier, more engaged workplace leaders.

After another winning season, Bennett signed a contract extension in May that would take him through the end of the 2029-30 season, with an extra year added if he remains Virginia’s men’s basketball coach as of April 30, 2026.

A former point guard for the Charlotte Hornets, Bennett celebrated 16 years with the Cavaliers this year. Son of college basketball coach Dick Bennett, he is an institution among the Charlottesville faithful, having led the team to 10 NCAA tournament appearances, including the Cavaliers’ first-ever NCAA championship in 2019, as well as six ACC regular-season championships.

Bennett, who was AP National Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2018, boasts a record of 364-136 in his 16 seasons at Virginia.

The Cavaliers went 23-11 in 2023-24 and finished third in the ACC with a 13-7 record. U.Va. also earned its 26th NCAA Tournament berth and 12th consecutive postseason berth, although the Wahoos lost to Colorado State University by 25 points in the First Four play-in round in March.

Bennett is one of only four former NBA players to serve as head coach for an NCAA men’s basketball championship team.

Since joining the Chrysler Museum in 2014, Neil has guided the museum’s growth. In 2022, his position was endowed through a $34 million donation from Virginia Beach philanthropist Joan Brock that also included donated artwork. From December 2023 through April, the Chrysler hosted the U.S. debut of Sir Paul McCartney’s photography exhibit, which included pictures the former Beatle took during the band’s landmark U.S. tour in early 1964. While it wasn’t quite at the screaming heights of Beatlemania, the museum attracted about 60,000 visitors, some from as far as California.    

Meanwhile, Neil has been focused on the completion of the $55 million Perry Glass Studio expansion project that concluded in late summer.

In August 2023, “The Wounded Indian,” an 1850 statue by Peter Stephenson that had been on display at the Chrysler, was returned to Boston’s Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association following a decades-long ownership dispute and investigation by the FBI. Said Neil, “The Chrysler is pleased with the amicable resolution, and we wish the best for the MCMA.”

Neil received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree and doctorate in art and architecture history from Harvard University.

After graduating from Lehigh University in 1981, Schaufeld sold extended warranties to auto dealers while going to law school. When he learned his employer hadn’t actually taken out policies on all his clients, Schaufeld dropped out of law school and went into business for himself, creating National Electronics Warranty. In 2008, the company was acquired by Asurion.

In 2006, Schaufeld partnered with Cliff White and Tony Nader to form a company initially known as SWaN Investors. The venture capital firm’s investments have included Cava, Custom Ink and Kind Healthy Snacks. 

Schaufeld is also a partner in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards, and attempted unsuccessfully to move the NHL and NBA teams to Alexandria this year.

Additionally, Schaufeld is a partner in the dilapidated but historic Hill Top House Hotel in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. In May, members of the Jefferson County Commission filed an application with the state for the hotel to be considered a Tax Increment Financing District. If approved, the designation would provide financial incentives for the hotel’s redevelopment, which has been discussed for more than a decade.