Economic Development 2023: NANCY L. GRDEN
In April, Grden oversaw the merger of Reinvent Hampton Roads, which she had led since 2022, with the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable to form the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable. Grden will lead the new organization, which is focused on realigning the region’s economic development initiatives to boost growth. For the past [...]
2023 Virginia 500: Hospitality | Tourism
Neil Amin CEO, SHAMIN HOTELS, RICHMOND Thomas J. Baltimore Jr. CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PARK HOTELS & RESORTS, TYSONS Doug Bradburn PRESIDENT AND CEO, GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON, MOUNT VERNON James Carroll PRESIDENT AND CEO, CRESTLINE HOTELS AND RESORTS, FAIRFAX Christy S. Coleman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION, […][...]
Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2023: JACK DYER ‘J.D.’ CROUCH II
Following a long and distinguished diplomatic and national security career that included leadership roles in the public and private sectors, Crouch became the USO’s 23rd president and CEO in 2014. Since 1941, the USO has served as an American nonprofit charitable corporation supporting the men and women in the U.S. military an[...]
Transportation 2023: NISSIM YOCHAI
Zim American Integrated Shipping Services, a subsidiary of Israeli cargo shipping company Zim Integrated Shipping Services, announced in June its plans to move its headquarters from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, an expansion expected to create several hundred jobs over the next five years in Virginia. Yochai, who joined Zim’s par[...]
Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2023: JERRY MURRELL
Five Guys founder Murrell’s mother always told him, “If you can give a good haircut, or if you can serve a good drink at a bar, or if you can serve a good hamburger, you can always make money in America.” His mom was right. Husband and wife Jerry and Janie Murrell opened a carryout […]
Government | Politics 2023: GLENN YOUNGKIN
Oft rumored to be considering a presidential run, Youngkin led a CNN education town hall in March. But he’s said he’s focused on state legislative races this fall, with control of the General Assembly at stake. Youngkin voiced frustration this summer as state legislators wouldn’t compromise on an amended state budget that [...]
Government | Politics 2023: LARRY J. SABATO
A Norfolk native and University of Virginia stalwart with a national profile as a political commentator, Sabato founded and leads the 25-year-old U.Va. Center for Politics. His Crystal Ball newsletter, which handicaps political races, had a 99% accuracy rate in 2004 and was up in the high 90s at other times, although Sabato had [...]
Real Estate 2023: BARBARA M. WOLCOTT
A five-decade Hampton Roads real estate veteran, Wolcott now leads a company created by the merger this March of Rose & Womble Realty and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty. The combined firm has more than 750 agents and the backing of Suffolk-based TowneBank, as well as being part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire H[...]
Agriculture 2023: WAYNE F. PRYOR
Pryor was elected in November 2022 to his ninth two-year term as president of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “Advocating for Virginia’s farmers is extremely important to me,” says Pryor, who has a hay and grain farm in Goochland County. “We make up a relatively small portion of the overall population, but we are pr[...]
Government | Politics 2023: KELLY T. GEE
Editor’s note: Gee was appointed secretary of the commonwealth Aug. 29, after the Virginia 500 print deadline. She was selected for the 2023 Virginia 500 list based on her prior position as the Virginia Lottery’s executive director. Director of the state lottery since June 2022, Gee leads an agency that generated $3.75[...]
Manufacturing 2023: SCOTT KEOGH
In 2022, Keogh left his position as president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America to serve as head of Scout Motors, the German automaker’s new electric truck and sport utility vehicle division. Scout is a revamp of the iconic Scout all-terrain vehicle brand produced by International Harvester in the 1960s and ’70s. In 202[...]
Real Estate 2023: EUGENE J. BREDOW
In March 2022, Bredow was appointed president and CEO of NVR after Paul C. Saville transitioned to executive chairman. Bredow has worked for NVR since 2004 and became president of NVR Mortgage in April 2019 after holding several executive positions in accounting and administration. Founded in 1980, NVR is one of the nation’s l[...]