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-[...]
Economic Development: ANTHONY J. ROMANELLO
In 2021, Romanello helped Henrico attract multiple major investments totaling $489 million, including a giant Amazon.com Inc. robotic fulfillment center near Richmond Raceway and expansions of SimpliSafe, Mondelez International Inc. and Red River Foods Groups Inc. This July, QTS Data Centers announced it would be embarking on a [...]
Finance/Insurance: TRISTAN M. CAUDRON
In 1995, Caudron went to work at the business that today is a Wells Fargo Advisors firm, where he is a certified financial planner and managing director for investments. A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Caudron is an accredited asset management specialist, and a chartered retirement planning counselor. Every year since 20[...]
Living Legends: BENJAMIN J. ‘BEN’ DAVENPORT JR.
Davenport is chairman of Davenport Energy, the company his late father started as Chatham Oil Co. in 1941. Davenport Jr. also founded and leads waste management business First Piedmont Corp. Davenport Energy employs 150 people and supplies propane and fuel oil to more than 30,000 customers in Virginia, North Carolina and West Vi[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: TIMOTHY J. ‘TIM’ McBRIDE
When Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., or ST Engineering, announced its new North American president in October 2021, group President and CEO Vincent Chong leaned on McBride’s credentials, which include more than 30 years at multinational companies and in the public sector. An Eastern Michigan University alum, McBride s[...]
Government/Politics: LARRY J. SABATO
A threat across multiple platforms, Sabato is a New York Times best-selling author, a four-time Emmy winner for his PBS television documentaries, and one of social media’s most prolific political prognosticators. No one who knew Sabato in his days as U.Va.’s student government president would be surprised. A Norfolk-born Rho[...]