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Economic Development 2024: DOUG SMITH
In the first few months of 2024, freight business Total Quality Logistics announced it would open a new location in Norfolk, and Australian company Quality Maritime Surveyors said it was expanding to the Hampton Roads area. The announcements continue momentum from 2023, when the Hampton Roads Alliance’s 13 new project announce[...]
Professional Services 2024: RUTH ‘PAIGE’ CLAY
In January, Clay became global sales and client engagement leader for Marsh McLennan in addition to being a senior partner for its Mercer subsidiary. In her new role, she develops sales and client engagement strategies for the Fortune 500 professional services firm’s four businesses, which collectively have more than 85,000 em[...]
Real Estate 2024: STEPHEN BALLARD
Working from home, Ballard and his sister, Brenda, founded S.B. Ballard Construction by completing small projects for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and minor renovations for their neighbors. Over the course of the past 40 years, Ballard has served as a project manager, superintendent, estimator, carpenter and l[...]
Economic Development 2024: NANCY GRDEN
A longtime economic development and maritime leader in Hampton Roads, Grden was key in overseeing the 2023 merger of Reinvent Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable, resulting in the creation of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable, which she now leads. Previously, she was director of the Hampton Roads Maritim[...]
Law 2024: THE HON. MARK STEVEN DAVIS
As chief judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, Davis hears the stories of people’s lives, stories that are often terribly sad. There are armed carjackings and gang violence. Last summer, Davis listened to allegations that police officers had retaliated against a man for accusing a police officer of lying by putting false[...]
Real Estate 2024: T. RICHARD LITTON JR.
Litton oversees the day-to-day operations of the commercial real estate and management company, which currently boasts $19 billion in real estate investment properties, with diversified property portfolios including office, retail and multifamily properties. Additionally, he manages Harbor Group International’s transaction gro[...]
Real Estate 2024: C. LEE WARFIELD
First joining Thalhimer as an associate broker in 1995, Warfield now leads the real estate firm’s seven offices and 450 associates in Virginia. In 2016, he became Thalhimer’s fourth CEO since its 1913 founding, adding to the role of president, which he has held since 2011. Warfield has been chairman of Thalhimer’s board si[...]
Manufacturing 2024: BRIAN D. PALIOTTI
Paliotti was named president of Afton Chemical in January 2023, succeeding Gina Harm, who retired at the end of 2022. The Richmond-based subsidiary of NewMarket produces and sells petroleum additives. Before assuming his role at its subsidiary, Paliotti had been with NewMarket since 2008, most recently as its vice president and [...]
Banking | Finance 2024: THEODORE L. ‘TED’ CHANDLER JR.
Chandler has decades of business and legal experience to share with entrepreneurs as one of NRV’s founders. In 2011, he co-founded the startup investing firm — then known as New Richmond Ventures — with fellow Richmond business leaders Jim Ukrop and Bob Mooney. Today, the firm financially contributes to the Farmer Focus o[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: RAUL FERNANDEZ
In February, Fernandez was named president and CEO of Fortune 500 IT services and consulting company DXC Technology after serving in an interim capacity since December 2023 and on the company’s board of directors since 2020. He succeeded Mike Salvino following three years of declining revenues. Headquartered in Ashburn, DXC ha[...]
Manufacturing 2024: G. DAVID OAKLEY JR.
Serving as president of Strongwell, Oakley joined the company in 2011, when its president for nearly 40 years and majority stockholder, John Tickle, transitioned to chairman of the board. Oakley previously served as president of Abingdon’s HAPCO Pole Products for nearly four years, and before that, was its vice president of pr[...]
Education 2024: SCOTT FLEMING
After a nationwide search, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) found its next leader under its nose — Fleming was serving his first term on SCHEV’s governing board when he was hired. Fleming began his new duties in May, replacing interim director Alan Edwards, who served after longtime SCHEV director [...]
