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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 [...]
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[...]
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 [...]
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[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: JOHN WASSON
Wasson has spent his 36-year career at ICF International, where he has led the global consulting and technology services provider through a series of acquisitions and growth. The company has doubled in size every five years over the past two decades and in fiscal year 2022 reported $1.78 billion in revenue. Wasson joined ICF as [...]
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[...]
Economic Development 2023: LEONARD SLEDGE
Since 2019, Sledge has guided numerous economic development proposals in Richmond, culminating in the $2.4 billion Diamond District redevelopment project, approved by City Council this year. The site will feature a new baseball stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels Double-A baseball team, an 11-acre green space and mixed-inc[...]
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[...]
Real Estate 2023: JON JENNINGS
The third generation to lead the general contracting firm started as a masonry firm in 1952 by his grandfather, bricklayer Lawrence Floyd Jennings, Jon Jennings oversees about 350 employees and a large portfolio of projects in the Richmond and Washington, D.C., regions. Larry Jennings, L.F.’s son and Jon’s father, jo[...]
Health Care 2023: AMY CARRIER
Since arriving at Centra in 2021, Carrier spearheaded the development of the health system’s strategic plan and this year launched an ambitious $500 million, four-year modernization plan. Established in 1987 through the merger of Lynchburg General Hospital and Virginia Baptist Hospital, Centra Health serves more than 500,0[...]
Telecommunications 2023: DAVID C. WAJSGRAS
Wajsgras took over as CEO of Intelsat in April 2022 soon after the McLean-based satellite operator’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and financial restructuring. A little more than a year later, in June 2023, news surfaced that merger talks between Intelsat and its Luxembourg-based competitor SES had been called off.�[...]
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[...]
