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Education 2023: TIMOTHY SANDS
Known among Hokies as “the Sandsman” — a nod to the Hokies’ football anthem, Metallica’s “Enter the Sandman” — Sands joined Virginia Tech in 2014 after serving as interim president at Purdue University. Sands signed a contract in August 2022 to stay on as president through the 2027 academic year. During h[...]
Law 2023: MELANIE D. WILSON
Dean of Washington and Lee University’s law school since July 2022, Wilson is a prolific writer and author who also holds the Roy L. Steinheimer Jr. Professorship in Law. Her experience spans multiple schools, states and awards: She was an associate professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and a visiting profe[...]
Law 2023: T. VADEN WARREN JR.
A personal injury attorney since 1997, Warren is the 2023-24 president and chairman of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, a professional organization for litigators statewide, offering advocacy and education. In addition to having served on the VTLA’s board for several years, Warren founded his Charlottesville firm in[...]
Manufacturing 2023: ANDY GIRVIN
As plant manager for New Jersey chemical manufacturer AdvanSix’s largest factory, Girvin has navigated some challenges this year. In April, 340 union workers went on strike at the Hopewell plant, seeking wage increases. The strike ended in May, but that didn’t end troubles at the plant, which annually produces 400,00[...]
Manufacturing 2023: BRYAN FAIRBANKS
In 2020, Fairbanks became president and CEO of publicly traded composite decking and railing manufacturer Trex, one of Fortune’s 100 fastest-growing companies that year. For fiscal year 2022, benefiting from a pandemic-era increased demand in home improvement, Trex brought in more than $1.1 billion, expanding distribution [...]
Finance | Insurance 2023: JOHN C. ASBURY
Discovering an affinity for banking during a summer job while still in college, Asbury began his 30-year-plus career as a commercial credit officer at Wachovia Bank & Trust. He would serve in a variety of executive roles, including as president and CEO at New Mexico’s First National Bank of Santa Fe, before landing in [...]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: BRUCE L. THOMPSON
A Norfolk native and Virginia Business’ 2021 Person of the Year, Thompson is one of Hampton Roads’ most prominent developers and hoteliers. He 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 [...]
Economic Development 2023: BUDDY RIZER
Head of Loudoun’s economic development since 2007, Rizer is best-known for helping build the county’s Ashburn area into the data center capital of the world. More than 70% of the world’s internet traffic comes through Data Center Alley in Ashburn, with data centers projected to pay $570 million in county taxes [...]
Real Estate 2023: ALBERT G. ‘BEAU’ VAN METRE JR.
Van Metre’s late father founded his family real estate development company in 1955, partnering with B.B. Wills to build the first Van Metre Homes in Burke, a Fairfax County suburb. Like Northern Virginia, Van Metre Cos. has grown exponentially in the decades since. Beau Van Metre joined the company in 1963. In 2002, he was[...]
Education 2023: JAMES E. RYAN
Ryan, who became the University of Virginia’s ninth president in 2018, has spearheaded several growth initiatives at the state’s flagship university, including the School of Data Science, a new performing arts center and the Karsh Institute of Democracy — all projects funded by donors, including a record 2019 gift [...]
Education 2023: DAVID DORÉ
A newcomer to Virginia, Doré arrived in April as the Virginia Community College System’s new chancellor. It was quite the jump in scale from Doré’s previous role as president of campuses and executive vice chancellor for student experience and workforce development at Tucson, Arizona-based Pima Community College, w[...]
Government | Politics 2023: MARK WARNER
Like his junior colleague, Tim Kaine, Warner served as governor of Virginia before being elected to the U.S. Senate. He is now in his third term as Virginia’s senior senator. A moderate Democrat, Warner chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and is vice chair of the Senate Democratic caucus. He also serves on Finance sub[...]
