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Federal Contractors/Technology: MEHUL P. SANGHANI
Sanghani described a college career filled more with hijinks than academics when he delivered the commencement speech to Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering in May. A 1998 VT graduate with bachelor’s degrees in systems engineering, finance and psychology, he moved with his family from India to Blacksburg, where they opera[...]
Government/Politics: C. TODD GILBERT
A member of Virginia’s House of Delegates since 2006, Gilbert served as House majority leader before the chamber flipped to Democratic control in 2020. Now that it has flipped back to Republicans, he has been elected speaker. A staunch conservative, Gilbert has received ‘A’ grades on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s an[...]
Nonprofits/Philanthropy: LAWRENCE A. ‘LARRY’ SELZER
Since 1985, The Conservation Fund has aimed to protect historically significant lands and ensure healthy outdoor spaces in underserved communities. That includes facilitating the return of tribal lands to Indigenous communities, which the fund’s longtime president and CEO says is in keeping with the nonprofit’s mission to en[...]
Retail/Wholesale: STEVE PRESLEY
In January, following a reorganization of the Swiss food company, Presley went from serving as president and CEO of the U.S. division of Nestlé to leading its North American zone and landing a seat on the company’s executive board. North America is Nestlé’s largest market, with annual sales of $26.59 billion. It’s the la[...]
Law: DOUGLAS S. GRANGER
Granger spends his days working through billion-dollar multinational acquisitions with companies in the United Kingdom. He spends his down time volunteering at church or coaching his kids’ sports. Work is a priority, he says. But so is his family and faith. “Life is more fun when you serve others and don’t take yourself to[...]
Telecommunications: VINCE APRUZZESE JR.
A year after graduating from Georgia State University in 1986, Apruzzese began his career at AT&T. He started in accounts payable, worked in corporate security and then worked his way up to regulatory and external affairs. Apruzzese became AT&T’s Virginia president in 2010, overseeing public policy. He’s also the phi[...]
Living Legends: BRUCE COBB GOTTWALD SR.
Gottwald is the former CEO of NewMarket Corp., the $2.4 billion parent company of Afton Chemical Corp. and Ethyl Corp. NewMarket’s history goes back to 1887 as Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Co., which Gottwald’s father, the late Floyd D. Gottwald Sr., led starting in 1941. Two decades later, he acquired Ethyl in a move that [...]
Energy: JOHN HEWA
For more than 15 years, Hewa has worked for electric cooperatives in Florida, Texas and Virginia. He holds “a deep appreciation for the cooperative business model,” which, unlike a traditional utility, are nonprofits owned by the members they serve. Hewa joined Rappahannock, which serves nearly 172,000 members, in 2017 as vi[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: JOHN S. MENGUCCI
In high school, Mengucci focused on music. He was one of two students from New York state chosen to play in the 1980 McDonald’s All-American High School Band and he also played drums at Carnegie Hall. But his father suggested a more stable career, so Mengucci earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Clarkson [&helli[...]
Hospitality/Tourism: AKHIL JAIN
Since 2010, Jain has been at the helm of Landmark Hotel Group LLC, a hospitality company specializing in the management, ownership and development of hotels. Landmark’s portfolio includes 11 properties, including the new Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott at Virginia Beach’s Town Center. Landmark’s chair is Akhil’s f[...]
Real Estate: STEPHEN BALLARD
Ballard, the company’s founder, has more than 37 years of construction experience and has worked as a project manager, superintendent, estimator, carpenter and laborer. In May, his company raised the first steel beam in the construction of the Rivers Casino Portsmouth as part of a joint venture with Mississippi-based Yates Con[...]
Real Estate: MARK D. EIN
An investor and entrepreneur, Ein has created, acquired, invested in and built companies across a diverse set of industries. Founded in 1972, Kastle is a provider of building and office security systems. The company may be most recognized lately for the regular reports it releases tracking how many companies have returned to in-[...]
