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Economic Development 2024: JONATHAN S. BELCHER
As leader of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority since 2006, Belcher has helped bring new jobs to Southwest Virginia through numerous economic development deals. Two notable job announcements in the past year have included 170 jobs at data center company Tate in its access floors division, announced in November[...]
Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2024: LT. GEN. JAMES B. LASTER (USMC, RET.)
While the Toys for Tots program is closely associated with Christmas, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has expanded its efforts and now provides year-round support for children in need, including children affected by natural disasters, kids in the foster care system and Native American children. In 2023, the organization dist[...]
Transportation 2024: P. DALE BENNETT
Bennett lost his father, Paul O. Bennett, this year, and the Virginia House of Delegates and the state Senate signed a joint resolution honoring him. Bennett adopted the love of trucking from his dad, a professional truck driver, and has advocated for the trucking industry for more than 40 years. The nation’s trucking indust[...]
Real Estate 2024: GERALD S. DIVARIS
Divaris co-founded his real estate firm 50 years ago in South Africa, where he earned degrees in accounting and real estate marketing, and then brought the company to Virginia in 1981. The following year, Divaris Real Estate, one of the companies now under the Divaris Group umbrella, opened its doors in Virginia Beach. Today, th[...]
Banking | Finance 2024: NIGEL MORRIS
In 1994, Morris co-founded Capital One Financial with Richard Fairbank, who remains the credit card giant’s chairman and CEO. Morris served as Capital One’s president and chief operating officer until 2004, when he decided it was time for something new. In 2007, Morris partnered with Frank Rotman to launch QED Investors, a f[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: JENNIFER BOYKIN
Since beginning her career in 1987 at Newport News Shipbuilding in the nuclear engineering division, Boykin steadily rose through the ranks, becoming its first female president in 2017. Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Fortune 500 military contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries and is the state’s top industrial emp[...]
Agriculture 2024: MATTHEW J. LOHR
With a combined annual economic impact of more than $105 billion, agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s largest private industries. Lohr’s office and its three agencies oversee these industries while also working to preserve farmland and forestland, promote access to safe and healthy food and support rural economic develop[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: KATHY WARDEN
After previously serving as its president and chief operating officer, Warden in 2019 was named CEO of Northrop Grumman, the world’s third largest aerospace and defense company. No. 38 on Forbes’ 2023 list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, Warden previously worked for General Dynamics and Veridian before joining Nort[...]
Economic Development 2024: BRYAN K. STEPHENS
Stephens took the helm of the Hampton Roads Chamber in 2013. The chamber promotes business concerns in the region, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval complex, as well as significant manufacturing and hospitality sectors. The chamber has maintained its U.S. Chamber of Commerce five-star accreditat[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: JUDI DOTSON
With over 35 years under her belt at Booz Allen Hamilton, Dotson has led the Fortune 500 global management consultancy’s national security and global defense business since 2022. Previously, she led the firm’s National Security Sector teams, and before that, its Joint Combatant Commands account that includes clients througho[...]
Media 2024: PAULA A. KERGER
As the longest-serving president and CEO in the 55-year history of PBS, Kerger has served as its leader for nearly two decades, and in June, PBS’ board extended her contract five more years. She has grown it from traditional TV broadcasting to multiplatform digital media, with 330-plus member stations. Before joining PBS, Kerg[...]
Law 2024: JONATHAN P. HARMON
In 2017, McGuireWoods’ board of partners elected Harmon to be the first Black chairman of the state’s largest law firm. In the role, Harmon is the face of the firm, responsible for its big-picture strategy and vision. In addition to leading McGuireWoods, Harmon continues to work as a trial lawyer skilled at communicating c[...]
