Education 2023: GORDON P. ROBERTSON
In addition to succeeding his famous and controversial late father, the evangelical Christian leader Pat Robertson, as president and CEO of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network and host of its flagship weekday news magazine show, “The 700 Club,” Robertson became Regent’s chancellor in July. Pat Robertson[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: RYAN ANGOLD
Angold, a former Navy SEAL who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, wore one of ADS’ wetsuits when he was deployed on missions. In 2005, Angold left the Navy and joined Blackbird Technologies, a solutions provider for the intelligence community that became part of Raytheon Technologies (now RTX). He joined ADS in 2010 as Nav[...]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: CLIFFORD B. ‘CLIFF’ FLEET
A corporate executive and college professor, Fleet became the ninth president of the world’s largest living history museum in 2020. He is charged with sharing America’s enduring story with new and diverse audiences, while improving its financial health. Before joining the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Fleet served as CEO[...]
Economic Development 2023: ROBERT J. ‘BOB’ STOLLE
Editor’s note: Stolle announced his resignation on Aug. 31, after publication of the Virginia 500. A former state secretary of commerce and trade under Gov. George Allen, Stolle brings years of experience in economic development and public policy to his role leading VIPC. Formerly the Center for Innovative Technology, VIPC is [...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: JENNIFER FELIX
As head of Reston-based ASRC Federal, Felix leads a family of companies serving government IT customers in the defense and civilian sectors. ASRC Federal is a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional, an Alaska Native corporation, and employs about 8,000 people in 44 states and territories, with 861 employees in Virginia. In May, ASR[...]
Transportation 2023: REAR ADM. WESLEY McCALL
McCall became the Navy’s mid-Atlantic commander in May after Rear Adm. Christopher “Scotty” Gray was promoted to lead the Navy Installations Command in Washington, D.C. McCall previously commanded Navy Region Southeast, which includes operations in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and much of the Southeastern United States. He was [...]
Professional Services 2023: TIMOTHY H. GILLIS
Gillis joined Big Four accounting firm KPMG as a partner in 1998, bringing a wealth of experience as an auditor, lawyer and tax professional for Fortune 500 and mid-market companies in a variety of industries. As the Chesapeake region’s managing partner since 2019, Gillis is responsible for leading market strategy, supervising[...]
Education 2023: BRIAN O. HEMPHILL
Hemphill arrived at Old Dominion in 2021 with big goals for the 93-year-old public R1 research university, like the April opening of the Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium, a partnership among ODU, Norfolk State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Sentara Health. The consortium aims to jumpstart scientific [...]
Media 2023: PAULA A. KERGER
Kerger holds the distinction of being the longest-serving president and CEO in PBS’ 54-year history. During her 17-year tenure, Kerger has helped deepen and increase the organization’s reach and impact by moving it from traditional TV broadcasting to multiplatform digital media. As the country’s largest noncommercial media[...]
Government | Politics 2023: SCOTT A. SUROVELL
A Democrat representing parts of Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties, Surovell is one of several state senators who could land top leadership roles in next year’s General Assembly. A trial lawyer with degrees from the University of Virginia and James Madison University, Surovell won election to the House of Delegates[...]
Economic Development 2023: ANTHONY ROMANELLO
In the past year, Romanello was instrumental in growing Henrico’s data center footprint, as QTS Data Centers announced a 1.5 million-square-foot expansion to be completed in 2024, and the DE-CIX Richmond internet exchange opened in November 2022. In other sectors, education research firm EAB announced it was bringing 200 more [...]
Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2023: WARREN THOMPSON
Thompson’s start as an entrepreneur came as a teen, when he purchased and ran his family’s hog farm in Windsor. He now heads the largest minority-owned food and facilities management corporation in the nation, a company he founded in 1992 with the purchase of 31 Bob’s Big Boy restaurants. Thompson Hospitality provides dini[...]