Sign In
Free Newsletter
Arts/Entertainment/Sports: PHARRELL WILLIAMS
Virginia Beach’s city manager and mayor were unable to persuade Grammy-winning star Williams to keep his Something in the Water Festival in the city where it debuted in 2019, with $24 million in economic impact. In June, Williams moved the three-day music festival to Washington, D.C., citing his dissatisfaction with how Vi[...]
Education: DONNA PRICE HENRY
In addition to serving as chancellor of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (a post she has held since 2013), Henry teaches in its biology department. She also launched the school’s largest fundraising campaign, aiming to raise its endowment by $100 million. Additionally, a 2019 state law opened in-state tu[...]
Government/Politics: L. LOUISE LUCAS
If you didn’t recognize Democratic Party stalwart Lucas for her bright wardrobe and the fact that she’s been in the Virginia State Senate for 30 years, you may recognize her as one of the biggest online critics of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Virginia Republicans. The first woman and Black person to serve as the [[...]
Health Care: DR. ERIC EDWARDS
Edwards and his team at Phlow are pursuing a monumental goal. In May 2020, just four months after Edwards co-founded Phlow, the Trump administration awarded the company $354 million to create a domestic supply chain for COVID-19 drugs and other essential drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients in short supply. Phlow has partnered w[...]
Transportation: DAVID C. WHITE
White’s best advice is to follow the Golden Rule, a lesson handed down to him by his parents. He joined the VMA in 2003 and advocates for its 500 member companies before state and federal leaders. The association’s priorities include encouraging investment in education and training, increasing the inventory of shovel[...]
Law: JOHN ‘JACK’ LAVOIE
Lavoie leads the Reston office of an international law firm that employs 1,500 attorneys in 17 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe. The location puts this office in the “technology hotbed in Northern Virginia,” says Lavoie, who heads the firm’s real estate practice group. Lavoie’s clients include instit[...]
Law: COURTNEY MOATES PAULK
Paulk is a construction lawyer who has led Hirschler’s 90 attorneys since 2018 as the firm’s first woman president. Her focus has been on growing the firm, known for its real estate and construction law practices. In addition to leading the firm, Paulk also heads Hirschler’s litigation section. The University o[...]
Real Estate: LAURA DILLARD LAFAYETTE
Lafayette has been with the Richmond Association of Realtors for nearly 16 years, representing more than 6,800 Realtors in Central Virginia. She also serves as CEO of the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service. An advocate for affordable housing, Lafayette previously was executive director of regional nonprofit The P[...]
Education: JAMES E. RYAN
A first-generation college student who graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and graduated first in his University of Virginia law class, Ryan previously served as dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and clerked for the late U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. Ryan came to Mr. Jeffers[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: BRIAN KENNER
In 2019, Amazon lured Kenner away from his role as Washington, D.C.’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development, after a little more than four years at his previous job. As head of HQ2 policy, Kenner supports the massive e-tailer’s economic development throughout the region, including D.C., Maryland and Virg[...]
Finance/Insurance: JERMAINE JOHNSON
Bringing more than 25 years of experience in banking to the table, Johnson just completed two years as head of greater Washington, D.C., and Virginia operations for Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group Inc. In addition to working to grow PNC’s banking business, Johnson strives to strengthen the region’s co[...]
Health Care: JAMES D. DAHLING
As president and CEO of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters health system since 2003, Dahling is passionate about pediatric mental health services. Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, CHKD put plans in motion to address increasing demands for mental health services among children, and between 2018 and this ye[...]
