Chesapeake Bank CFO appointed COO
Chesapeake Financial Shares Inc. has appointed its chief financial officer, Rebecca Andrick “Becky” Foster, to the additional post of chief operating officer, the Kilmarnock-based parent company of Chesapeake Bank and Chesapeake Wealth Management announced Monday. Foster, who has has been with the company for 27 year[...]
Fairfax solar/roofing contractor aims to add 400+ jobs
McLean-based solar energy and roofing contractor SmartRoof is relocating to Reston, with plans to add 410 jobs during the next five years, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. Founded in 2006, SmartRoof is a residential and commercial roofing contractor that also offers solar energy systems. It serves customers in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Eastern Pennsylvania, […]
United Way of SWVA promotes exec to VP of community impact
The United Way of Southwest Virginia named Mary Anne Holbrook, who has been with the nonprofit since 2016, to the newly created position of vice president of community impact, the nonprofit announced Monday. Holbrook assumed the role on Nov. 1. She is providing strategic leadership for UWSWVA’s programs and community initi[...]
Chesapeake Walmart shooting raises workplace violence concerns
UPDATED NOV. 27 Late Tuesday, a Chesapeake Walmart manager shot and killed six people, wounded at least six more and then killed himself, police said. According to police and media reports, all six of those slain were Walmart employees and two were killed in the break room. On Wednesday, Walmart’s corporate office released[...]
TowneBank president and COO retiring
TowneBank President and Chief Operating Officer Brad E. Schwartz will retire on Dec. 31, the Suffolk-based bank announced Wednesday. Schwartz will also step down as a director when his current term expires at the 2023 annual shareholder meeting. He will serve as a senior adviser through 2025 to assist with the transition. “Our[...]
Va. Tech’s real estate program becomes department
Virginia Tech’s real estate program has earned approval from the State Council for Higher Education to become the Blackwood Department of Real Estate. Becoming a department housed under the Pamplin School of Business will offer the former program more resources, enhance its academic and experiential learning offerings and [...]
Skip Barber Racing School relocating to Halifax County
Skip Barber Racing School will relocate from Connecticut to Halifax County, building an $8.9 million performance driving school at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) that’s expected to create 24 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday. VIR will build a 25,000-square-foot facility to be leased to Skip Barber Racin[...]
Truist invests $7M in Virginia Community Capital
Virginia Community Capital received a $7 million investment from Truist Financial Corp. to support the organization’s Economic Equity Fund, a loan fund to expand access to capital and technical assistance for women- and minority-owned small businesses. VCC’s equity fund was launched in 2021 in response to the disprop[...]
Bacon named executive director of Jefferson Council
James A. Bacon Jr., the Richmond-based founder of conservative political blog Bacon’s Rebellion, has been named executive director of The Jefferson Council, a University of Virginia alumni association “devoted to upholding the Jeffersonian legacy,” Bacon announced Monday. A U.Va. alum, Bacon was Virginia Busine[...]
Rivers Casino Portsmouth plans Jan. 15 opening
Rivers Casino Portsmouth will open to the public Jan. 15 at 3 p.m., according to an announcement Monday. The $340 million venue, part of a planned entertainment district along Victory Boulevard off Interstate 264, will feature 1,448 slot machines, 57 table games and 24 poker tables as well as 10 bars and restaurants and an even[...]
Boeing defense unit announces leadership shifts, reorganization
Arlington-based Boeing Co. Thursday announced a series of top leadership changes and a reorganization to consolidate its eight divisions within the Boeing Defense, Space and Security unit into four. Boeing said the changes, effective immediately, are aimed at accelerating its operational discipline, quality and performance and [...]
Coworking hub for entrepreneurs opening in Harrisonburg
The brains behind the Staunton Innovation Hub are working on bringing a new hub to a new city: the $4.5 million Harrisonburg Innovation Hub is expected to open in late 2023, investors and partners announced Tuesday. Harrisonburg “has a very vibrant and growing startup ecosystem in place already, and there’s just a need f[...]



















