Virginia 500 Spotlight: ANEESH CHOPRA
FIRST JOB: Bellhop at a Ramada Inn outside of Princeton, New Jersey MOST VALUED POSSESSION: My wedding ring HOW I UNWIND FROM WORK: Playing tag with the kids in the backyard HOW I CHOSE MY CAREER: I was inspired by President Clinton to solve national problems through better use of technology. HOW I BALANCE MY […]
Old Dominion, new data
As available land for data centers in Loudoun County — home to Data Center Alley, the world’s largest concentration of data centers — has become scarcer and more expensive, the industry has expanded into other Northern Virginia localities and beyond. In Virginia, Prince William County has become the other heat map for the [...]
Va.’s Largest Companies: Emergency landing
As the U.S. economy showed signs of unexpected strength and inflation slowed throughout 2023, most of Virginia’s largest publicly traded companies held their own, with some riding high. Reston-based General Dynamics saw its highest-ever quarterly revenue, while Performance Food Group, headquartered in Goochland County, made th[...]
Philanthropy: Accelerating advances
Over the past year, Virginia philanthropists continued to support medical research and higher education, with several demonstrating their commitment through subsequent donations. Northern Virginia philanthropists Dwight and Martha Schar carried on their longtime support of Falls Church- based Inova Health System, providing a $75[...]
Leadership: On the move
Patrick Bain, president and CEO, The Long & Foster Cos., Chantilly In March 2023, Bain was promoted to lead the real estate giant after joining Long & Foster in 2010 as president of its insurance and home warranty businesses. Along the way, he took the reins of the property management and rental service center branches, […]
Amentum secures $591.6M Navy contract
Chantilly-based federal contractor Amentum Services has won a $591.6 million contract from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to support eligible allied naval forces, the company announced Tuesday. Under the contract from the NAVSEA International Fleet Support Program Office, Amentum will provide life-cycle support and [...]
Charlottesville’s Astraea acquired by Fla. satellite company
Astraea, a Charlottesville-based geospatial analytics firm, has been acquired by Nuview, a Florida-based company developing a satellite imaging constellation, the companies announced Tuesday. Financial terms of the deal were not available. Founded as a for-profit benefit corporation in 2016, Astraea applies data science and artificial intelligence to analyze imaging and sensor data gathered from Earth-observing […][...]
Lawmakers swat down bill to increase THC level in industrial hemp
RICHMOND, Va. — Industrial hemp farmers were disappointed to see a measure killed in the House that would have increased the percentage of THC allowed in hemp grown for fiber and grain cultivation. Del. Nicholas Freitas, R-Culpeper, introduced House Bill 1485 with Del. Tony Wilt, R-Harrisonburg, as a co-sponsor. Legislators vo[...]
Atlantic Union acquisition of American National approved
Richmond-based Atlantic Union Bank’s parent company announced Monday that the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors has approved its acquisition of Danville-based American National Bankshares, holding company of American National Bank and Trust. The Fed’s signoff was the last regulatory approval needed for the m[...]
United Way of SWVA spins off workforce programs
The United Way of Southwest Virginia is spinning off its workforce development programs by establishing a new nonprofit, EO, to oversee them, UWSWVA announced Feb. 20. EO, which stands for Endless Opportunity, is also Latin for “go.” The new nonprofit will manage what has been the UWSWVA’s $10 million portfolio of [...]
Lawmakers signal more support for electric vehicles, charging network
RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers advanced legislation to expand electric vehicle infrastructure throughout the state, which could help meet a looming mandate that sales of new gas-powered vehicles be phased out by 2035. More infrastructure, such as electric chargers, is needed to meet the deadline and growing EV demand. Del. Richard [...]
Va. college sports betting proposal off the books for another year
RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers struck out again with a proposal to allow betting on Virginia college sports teams. Virginia law since 2021 has allowed sports betting through casinos and online sports books like FanDuel and BetMGM, with the exception of wagers on state youth and college sports. Some legislators have gone to bat to c[...]