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Agriculture: CHAD BALLARD III
Ballard helms a bivalve farming legacy that’s more than a century old. But you’re unlikely to find him in chest waders. “I am largely a desk-based farmer,” he told Washington and Lee University’s alumni magazine in 2018. Ballard graduated with a business administration degree from W&L and worked in investment banki[...]
Energy: ROBERT DUVALL
In 2020, Duvall returned as president of Virginia Natural Gas after serving in the role from 2014 to 2016. In between, he worked as senior vice president of customer operations for Southern Co. Gas, VNG’s parent company. In his role, Duvall is responsible for the delivery of natural gas to more than 300,000 customers in [&hell[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: ANEESH CHOPRA
The co-founder of CareJourney, which has an open-data membership service with a rating system for doctors, Chopra was the nation’s first chief technology officer under President Barack Obama and served as Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine’s technology secretary. In 2014, he helped found CareJourney, a year after running unsuccessfully[...]
Government/Politics: JANET HOWELL
After serving as a legislative assistant in the House of Delegates for three years, Howell was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 1991 and is the first woman to chair the Senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee. She’s also served on the Judiciary Committee. As a member of the Privileges and Elections Committee, sh[...]
Finance/Insurance: JEFF GRINSPOON
Over a decade has passed since Grinspoon, along with advisers John Verfurth and Richard Weeks, left Morgan Stanley to create their own firm, VWG Wealth Management. The three decided to launch a registered investment adviser (RIA) firm following the 2008 Great Recession. RIA firms have a fiduciary responsibility to act in their c[...]
Hospitality/Tourism: CLIFF FLEET
Fleet’s grandfather was passionate about history and his enthusiasm was contagious. “As a child, I would spend hours discussing the issues of the past and how they shape the world today,” Fleet says. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation appointed Fleet to serve as its ninth president and CEO at the beginning of 2020. Fleet[...]
Retail/Wholesale: DAVID GUM
While the apple product company officially does business as National Fruit Product Co., everyday folks are more likely to know the name of its subsidiary, White House Foods, its brand carried east of the Mississippi River. Co-founded in 1908 by Frank Armstrong Sr., National Fruit Product stayed in the Armstrong family for 98 yea[...]
Transportation: JOHN E. ‘JACK’ POTTER
More than two years after the pandemic stalled air travel at Virginia’s two largest airports, passengers have surged back. Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports reported a 117.9% increase in domestic and international passengers in April, compared with April 2021. Concessions, too, are [...]
Law: JOHN M. RAMIREZ
Ramirez has headed Troutman Pepper’s Virginia Beach office for six years. He joined the 125-year-old, global law firm in 2005, handling mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and limited liability company matters, joint ventures, private equity, and licensing transitions. He serves as general outside counsel for multiple [...]
Professional Services: MARK EUBANKS
Eubanks was appointed president and CEO of The Brink’s Co. in May, after Doug Pertz, who had held the positions since 2016, transitioned to executive chairman of the board. Eubanks previously had been executive vice president and chief operating officer for the security company. Known for its armored trucks transporting cash a[...]
Manufacturing: FREDRIK HÖGBERG
Högberg became president of Volvo Penta North America in May. He joined the Volvo Group in 1994, holding a broad range of leading positions, in areas such as digital services, retail development and aftermarket sales. Prior to becoming president, he served as senior vice president for services and solutions, digital, and inform[...]
Living Legends: FREDERICK NAPOLITANO SR.
New York native Napolitano moved to Virginia Beach in 1955, going on to make a major regional impact in commercial real estate and development. In 1966, he co-founded and developed Pembroke Mall, which is currently undergoing a $200 million redevelopment by his company. He is a past president of the National Association of Home [...]
