JOHN F. REINHART

John Reinhart is credited with transforming the Port of Virginia from a financial liability to a key economic driver for the state. Prior to his leadership from 2014 to 2021, the state was considering selling the port after it lost $120 million between 2009 and 2014.

But Reinhart made the port profitable again, as well as launching the nearly $800 million expansion of its terminals in Hampton Roads and the $450 million dredging project to create the deepest and widest port on the East Coast, which is set to be finished at the end of the year.

Reinhart, a graduate of Ohio University who earned his executive MBA from the University of Michigan, has said the key to his success was building a team aligned by values, listening to the customer and raising awareness of the port statewide.

Before joining the port, he worked for Maersk Line for 23 years and was its CEO from 2000 to 2014. Over the past decade, he was recognized as Virginia Business’ 2016 Business Person of the Year and was inducted into the Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

After retiring, Reinhart has been active with RVA757 Connects and the American Flood Coalition, among other organizations’ boards.