MELINA DAVIS
Throughout her 35-year career, Melina Davis says that her favorite — and greatest — challenge has been learning to understand people’s motivations and goals. “Whether we are in a family room or a boardroom, women have to command a leadership position to make sure progress continues,” she says. “Creative solutioning i[...]
MAGGIE REED
Maggie Reed is a registered architect, but she found fulfillment in construction. “I’m not great at sitting,” she says, and working for Gilbane Building Co., as she has done for her entire 19-year career, not only suited what she describes as her “ability to run around,” but was “the right mix of cerebral and problem[...]
KELLY TILL
In its nearly 175-year history, the Richmond Times-Dispatch had never had a female publisher until Kelly Till arrived in Richmond in June 2022. Till also serves as regional vice president of sales for the newspaper’s parent company, Lee Enterprises Inc., coming off of a 24-year career as an advertising executive with Tribune P[...]
TERRIE L. SUIT
During the past decade, Suit has served as CEO of the largest trade association in Virginia, advocating on behalf of more than 38,000 Realtors across the state. In addition to lobbying and advocacy work, the association produces economic research and offers continuing education opportunities. A Republican state delegate from 200[...]
LIZA WILSON DURANT
Liza Wilson Durant is determined to help Arlington be counted among the nation’s top technology innovation hubs. She has played a pivotal role in the development and ongoing expansion of George Mason University’s Arlington campus and the vision for FUSE at Mason Square, a building scheduled to open by summer 2024 that will s[...]
RITA McCLENNY
Rita McClenny, who grew up on a Southampton County farm, has always been an advocate for nature and a believer in the state’s famed 54-year-old tourism motto, “Virginia is for Lovers.” As head of the Virginia Tourism Corp., she proudly represents the state and all of its tourism offerings. “I grew up always wanting to [&[...]
The cost of leaning in
In 1982, the comic strip “Frank and Ernest” noted that Ginger Rogers — standing in for all women — did everything Fred Astaire did but “backwards and in high heels.” Even 41 years ago, that sentiment felt like a well-known acknowledgement, and it still holds true now. This issue, in our third annual Women in Leaders[...]
DR. MELINA R. KIBBE
Since the start of Dr. Melina Kibbe’s five-year appointment as dean of University of Virginia School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer of UVA Health, both organizations have seen tremendous growth and new funding. In January, U.Va. announced the launch of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, seeded[...]
GHADA IJAM
As executive sponsor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Women in Technology group, Ghada Ijam focuses on outreach, development and advancement of women in technology roles. This position is a natural fit for Ijam, who oversees the central bank’s tech and cybersecurity employees and has held similar positions with Amtr[...]
COURTNEY MOATES PAULK
Not only is Courtney Moates Paulk the first woman president of Hirschler law firm and ranked among the top construction lawyers in Virginia, but she is a record-setting ultra-distance, open-water marathon swimmer. In 2021, Paulk became the first person to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel, a two-way crossing of [...]
Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Construction could begin this summer on a $30 million, 7,500-person amphitheater overlooking the James River. On June 12, Richmond City Council approved a 20-year performance grant that gives Red Light Ventures LLC the green light to build its proposed amphitheater on four acres of land it will rent from NewMarket Corp. behind t[...]
CBN, Regent University founder Pat Robertson dies at 93
Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, a one-time GOP presidential hopeful and also chancellor, founder and CEO of Regent University in Virginia Beach, died June 8 at age 93. Robertson started CBN in 1960, revolutionizing religious broadcasting with its flagship program “The 700 Club,” a syndicated evangelical[...]