Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: BILL MONET
With more than 9,500 worldwide employees, 24% of whom are veterans, Akima is an Alaska Native corporation that handles federal contracts for the for-profit NANA Regional business owned by Indigenous Iñupiat shareholders. Monet, who serves as chief operating officer of NANA in addition to his duties as CEO and president of subsi[...]
Finance | Insurance 2023: JEAN STACK
In 2018, Stack, John Song and Alex Sevilla left the government services sector at California-based investment bank Houlihan Lokey to lead government services investment banking for Wisconsin-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Stack had worked 23 years at Houlihan Lokey, where she was a founding member of its Aerospace, Defense &[...]
2023 Virginia 500: Government | Politics
Richard Cullen COUNSELOR TO GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND Winsome Earle-Sears LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND Kelly T. Gee SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND C. Todd Gilbert SPEAKER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, WOODSTOCK Charniele L. Herring HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR, VIRGINIA […][...]
Real Estate 2023: BENJAMIN SCHALL
Before becoming CEO in 2022, Schall was AvalonBay’s president, joining the company just the year before. Previously, Schall was CEO of Seritage Growth Properties and chief operating officer of Rouse Properties. At Rouse, he oversaw the redevelopment and operations of a $2.5 billion portfolio of 35 regional malls across the[...]
Finance | Insurance 2023: LAWRENCE ‘LARRY’ DI RITA
Di Rita, who had already had an impressive 25-year career in the Navy and federal government, embarked on a second career as a banking executive when he joined Bank of America in 2006. He was named market president for Greater Washington, D.C., in 2019. From 2001 to 2006, Di Rita served as special assistant to […]
Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2023: RICK DREILING
It’s been a wild ride at the discount retailer this past year, with a shakeup in Dollar Tree’s C-suite toppling much of its top brass. Mike Witynski, who had held leadership roles at Dollar Tree since 2010 and was CEO of the Fortune 500 discount retailer since 2020, left in January. He played a key […]
Health Care 2023: RONY THOMAS
During its 40 years, not-for-profit LifeNet Health has assisted with more than 8 million organ, tissue and cell transplants. It employs more than 1,400 people globally, including 991 in Virginia. Thomas has led LifeNet since 2004. He earned an executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University and a master’s degree in engi[...]
August 2023 Virginia 500 Spotlight: BYRON L. BOSTON
FIRST JOB: From my freshman year of high school through my senior year of college, I worked as an usher in St. Louis. It was a great first job — I worked major sporting events and at the Gateway Arch. HOBBY/PASSION: I’m very passionate about physical fitness, and kayaking is one of my favorite hobbies. […]
Virginia 500 Spotlight: TODD ‘PARNEY’ PARNELL
FIRST JOB: Pumping gas at a Gulf gas station in high school NEW LIFE EXPERIENCE: Eating good during baseball season WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Eating well while busy is not hard when prepared WHAT MAKES ME PASSIONATE ABOUT MY WORK: Making such a wide-ranging impact on people in the Richmond region on a daily basis, 365 days a [&[...]
Virginia 500 Spotlight: JENNIFER CHRONIS
FIRST JOB: Retail salesperson at The Fashion Factory in Burke HOBBY: Exercise in any form —walking, hiking, biking, swimming PERSON I ADMIRE: Abraham Lincoln, for leading our country through one of its darkest times, ending the Civil War and signing the Emancipation Proclamation WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Stay calm and keep ever[...]
Virginia 500 spotlight: AMY GILLILAND
For Mental Health Awareness month, Virginia Business is spotlighting Gilliland, who launched the “How are you, really?” campaign within GDIT in 2021 following an employee’s death by suicide. In an industry in which many workers depend on security clearances, the campaign aims to destigmatize mental health issues and en[...]
Virginia 500 Spotlight: M. SANJAYAN
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO OTHERS: To drive change, focus on what’s possible — despair doesn’t drive action; it drives apathy. HOBBY/PASSION: If you’ve lived in Africa, you’ve seen plenty of elephants, rhinos and lions. The real fun is in birding. I’ve got a copy of “Birds of Kenya and Nort[...]