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Real Estate: JOHN R. LAWSON II
A Newport News native, Lawson has been with construction firm W.M. Jordan for more than 45 years. Lawson’s late father co-founded the company, which reaped more than $649 million in revenue for 2020. He started there in 1975 as a field engineer after graduating from Virginia Tech and took over as president and CEO in […[...]
Real Estate: MILES LEON
A University of Georgia and University of Miami graduate, Leon co-founded First Commercial Real Estate Services, which was purchased in the early 1990s by S.L. Nusbaum — a realty company founded in 1906. When the late Alan B. Nusbaum, great-grandson of the founder, became the company’s chairman in 1991, Leon was named presi[...]
Economic Development: NANCY L. GRDEN
In June, Grden became the leader of this regional economic development organization, stepping into the shoes of Jim Spore, who retired after six years. Grden’s name is familiar to Hampton Roads residents, as she was previously executive director of the Hampton Roads Maritime Collaborative for Growth & Innovation, as well a[...]
Living Legends: THOMAS R. FRANTZ
Former Williams Mullen President and CEO Frantz’s legal acumen has earned consistent accolades from peers. He is among a small group of attorneys who have made Virginia Business’ Legal Elite list for 22 consecutive years. Frantz is a triple graduate of William & Mary, from which he received his law degree, as well as a [[...]
Education: TRACY FITZSIMMONS
Fitzsimmons is the first woman president in Shenandoah University’s nearly 150-year history. Since 2008, she has led the private, liberal-arts university, which she joined in 2001 as dean of arts and sciences. Noting that it is unusual to hold multiple administrative positions at one university, Fitzsimmons said in an intervie[...]
Energy: EDWARD H. ‘ED’ BAINE
It was a long journey from his childhood on a tobacco farm in Lunenburg County to October 2020, when he became the first Black executive to head a Dominion Energy unit. Baine credits his family for the support and sacrifices they made to get him there. “I can recall times where [my mother] left the […]
Finance/Insurance: EVELYN LEE
On a rainy June day, Lee joined other Truist bankers to volunteer at The JK Community Farm, a Purcellville nonprofit that produces fresh, organic food for the hungry. “We planted bok choy, cucumbers and cabbage and harvested kale that will be on the shelves of area food pantries tomorrow morning!” Lee wrote on her LinkedIn [[...]
Nonprofits/Philanthropy: SISTER DONNA MARKHAM
In June 2015, when Markham was named the first female president in Catholic Charities USA’s 100-year-plus history, she said: “There can be no greater call than to serve and advocate on behalf of persons who struggle to get by in a world where they are all too frequently relegated to the margins of society and […]
Transportation: CHARLES ‘CHUCK’ KUHN
Four decades ago, at age 16, Kuhn started the nation’s largest independently owned moving company out of his parents’ garage. Today, the company — named after his father, Jim Kuhn — employs more than 1,100 people, most of whom are based in Virginia, and posted $168 million in fiscal 2021 revenue. In May, Kuhn relinquishe[...]
Professional Services: GREG WALLIG
An alumnus of William & Mary, Wallig describes himself as “a people-first leader, who believes deeply that diverse perspectives produce better outcomes.” He has championed the Chicago-based global accounting firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and has more than 25 years of management consulting experience in[...]
2022 Virginia 500: Government | Politics
RICHARD CULLEN COUNSELOR TO GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND STEPHEN E. CUMMINGS SECRETARY OF FINANCE, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND WINSOME EARLE-SEARS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND KELLY T. GEE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA LOTTERY, RICHMOND C. TODD GILBERT SPEAKER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, WOODSTOCK […][...]
Arts/Entertainment/Sports: BRENT PRY
Brent Pry was named the Hokies’ head coach in November 2021, after his predecessor, Justin Fuente, left the school before the end of the 2021 season, following two seasons of losses in three years. Pry came with eight seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State under his belt. Pry graduated in 1993 [&h[...]
