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Real Estate 2024: WILLIAM A. ‘BILL’ PAULETTE
In 1975, armed with $1,000 to invest, Paulette laid the foundation for what would become KBS. What started as a one-person company with an office in a sheet-metal shop has grown to a top-ranked construction firm in the mid-Atlantic, with a reach extending from its Richmond and Virginia Beach offices to Roanoke and Washington, D.[...]
Retail 2024: ELIZABETH ‘LIZA’ MYERS BORCHES
Founded in 1924 by Borches’ great-grandfather, Carter Myers Automotive is Virginia’s fifth largest car sales group, with 24 dealerships selling 18 brands. It currently ranks No. 87 on Automotive News’ Top 150 Dealership Groups list, down 12 spots from 2023. Borches became CEO in 2012. The company employs more t[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: MAHFUZ AHMED
In the mid-1990s, Ahmed founded what’s now Dexian as a side venture while working as a consultant for Northrop Grumman and a senior technical manager for Mobil Oil. Today, the McLean-based provider of staffing, IT and workforce solutions employs about 12,000 workers across 70 locations worldwide. Originally known as Digita[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: CRAIG P. ABOD
Since Abod founded Carahsoft in 2004, the privately owned IT and cybersecurity solutions provider has grown to land the No. 45 spot on Forbes’ 2023 list of the nation’s largest private companies, with $11 billion in revenue and 2,470 employees. Abod is a University of Maryland alum who previously worked for DLT Solut[...]
Real Estate 2024: BARBARA M. WOLCOTT
A five-decade Hampton Roads real estate veteran, Wolcott leads a residential real estate and property management company created by the 2023 merger of Rose & Womble Realty and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty. With more than 750 agents across southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, the firm has the[...]
Professional Services 2024: DANNY ROBINSON
In January, after serving as The Martin Agency’s chief creative officer since 2020, Robinson became the advertising agency’s CEO, succeeding Kristen Cavallo, who retired. Robinson joined Martin two decades ago and has overseen campaigns for national clients like Geico, UPS and Old Navy. During his tenure as chief cre[...]
Professional Services 2024: STEPHANIE R. PETERS
Peters has led the state’s professional association for CPAs since 1997, representing nearly 13,000 members in both the public and private sectors. Last year, VSCPA announced an investment in the Center for Audit Quality’s Accounting+ program, a national campaign that aims to attract a new generation of diverse stude[...]
Economic Development 2024: TELLY TUCKER
Tucker previously was director of Arlington Economic Development, and also served five years as director of economic development for Danville before returning to Southern Virginia in May 2022 to head IALR, a regional hub for advanced manufacturing training initiatives and economic development. In February, IALR launched its Na[...]
Education 2024: KEVIN F. HALLOCK
A labor market economist with a doctorate from Princeton, Hallock joined the private University of Richmond in 2021. One of the school’s long-term goals has been affordability. Need-based aid packages at UR average $60,740 toward the roughly $80,000 annual costs for tuition and room and board. In September 2023, UR’s[...]
Media 2024: JIM VANDEHEI
VandeHei co-founded Axios in 2016; it launched in 2017. Five years later, Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises acquired it for a reported $525 million. However, VandeHei remains at the helm as CEO. Communications software business Axios HQ became an independent company. A University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumnus, VandeHei began on his e[...]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2024: KEVIN W. LEMBKE
Set on a new track and fully restored, the famous Loch Ness Monster roller coaster roared back into action in May for its 46th year of operation. According to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Nessie was the world’s first interlocking loop coaster. In addition to the Loch Ness coaster’s reopening, the park launched a new e[...]
Hospitality | Tourism 2024: BRUCE L. THOMPSON
One of Hampton Roads’ most prominent developers and hoteliers, Norfolk native Thompson is best known for developing the Cavalier Resort, which includes the restored historic Cavalier Hotel as well as two new hotels, restaurants and residences on 21 acres at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The $435 million project is the cul[...]
