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Economic Development 2025: SMITH, DOUG
PRESIDENT AND CEO, HAMPTON ROADS ALLIANCE, NORFOLK
Virginia Business //September 2, 2025//
Economic Development 2025: SMITH, DOUG
PRESIDENT AND CEO, HAMPTON ROADS ALLIANCE, NORFOLK
Virginia Business //September 2, 2025//
Since 2019, Smith has led the Hampton Roads Alliance, a regional economic development organization representing 15 municipalities and numerous private sector investors. Before that, he served as city manager for Norfolk and as deputy city manager in both Virginia Beach and Portsmouth and is also a past president and CEO of Kaufman & Canoles Consulting.
The region has seen some big wins lately. LS GreenLink USA broke ground in Chesapeake in April on its $700 million cable manufacturing facility. And Texas-based financial services company USAA announced in June it’s expanding in Chesapeake and plans to add more than 500 employees over the next two years. Smith called it “a win for the entire Hampton Roads region.”
A University of Virginia alum, Smith serves on several regional boards, including the Hampton Roads Chamber, Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable.
ON INTEGRATING AI: AI is not a replacement for the relationships and political acumen that drive economic development. However, it is absolutely a force multiplier that is making our team more efficient and competitive.
Return to the full list of Economic Development recipients.
