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Living Legends 2024: WILLIAM G. ‘BILL’ CRUTCHFIELD JR.
A lifelong entrepreneur and self-described “electronics nerd,” Crutchfield was only 13 when he built what he believes to be the first stereo system in Virginia. By age 15, he formed his first business, installing stereo equipment in homes throughout Charlottesville. The war in Vietnam put a hold on his business plans when he[...]
How we assemble the Virginia 500
Welcome to our fifth annual edition of the Virginia 500! For those who aren’t familiar with the Virginia 500, we like to say that it’s like the Fortune 500 but instead of companies, it’s about people — specifically, the most powerful Virginia executives and officials in business, nonprofits, higher education, government [...]
Education 2024: MAJ. GEN. CEDRIC T. WINS (U.S. ARMY, RET.)
A 34-year U.S. Army veteran and 1985 VMI alumnus, Wins became the first Black superintendent to lead “the West Point of the South,” the nation’s oldest state military college, following his predecessor’s resignation. With master’s degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology and the National War College, he served [...]
Transportation 2024: PERRY J. MILLER
Miller started with the Richmond International Airport’s commission in 2019, just a few months before the pandemic upended air travel. This summer, he concluded his one-year term as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives. Meanwhile, the airport marked record-breaking passenger traffic and cargo volume in 2023 [...]
Manufacturing 2024: CHARLES ‘CHARLIE’ LUCK IV
Representing the third generation of the Luck family at the helm, Charlie Luck IV became president and CEO of the 101-year-old crushed stone company in 1999. Luck’s first stint at the family business was as a summer trainee while studying at Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1983. He then was a professional NA[...]
Real Estate 2024: STEVE E. LAWSON
Chairman of his family’s real estate company since 2016, Lawson is focused on the strategic direction, mission and long-term goals of the 52-year-old firm. A third-generation builder and developer, Lawson has long been a passionate advocate for equitable and affordable housing, testifying before Congress and using his leadersh[...]
Law 2024: DANIEL C. SUMMERLIN III
For more than 25 years, Summerlin has advised businesses — from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 names — in environmental matters. Summerlin also assists employers with employment laws and regulations, including investigations with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A Roanoke native, Summerlin returned to the [...]
Banking | Finance 2024: FREDRICK D. SCHAUFELD
After graduating from Lehigh University in 1981, Schaufeld sold extended warranties to auto dealers while going to law school. When he learned his employer hadn’t actually taken out policies on all his clients, Schaufeld dropped out of law school and went into business for himself, creating National Electronics Warranty. In 20[...]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2024: ERIK H. NEIL
Since joining the Chrysler Museum in 2014, Neil has guided the museum’s growth. In 2022, his position was endowed through a $34 million donation from Virginia Beach philanthropist Joan Brock that also included donated artwork. From December 2023 through April, the Chrysler hosted the U.S. debut of Sir Paul McCartney’s photog[...]
Retail 2024: VINCE SHEEHY IV
Sheehy carries on his father’s legacy as an auto dealer, manning the largest dealership group in Virginia and No. 33 in the nation, according to Auto News’ list of Top 150 dealership groups. His late father, Vincent Sheehy III, founded Sheehy Ford in Maryland in 1965 as a suburban business near the newly built Capital [&hell[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: MEHUL P. SANGHANI
Reston-based federal contractor Octo was founded in 2006 by Virginia Tech alum Sanghani, who remains its CEO after IBM purchased Octo in 2022 from Arlington Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. Octo is now part of IBM Consulting’s U.S. public and federal market arm, employing about 1,500 workers. Sanghani was born in India[...]
Energy 2024: DAVID E. SCHLEICHER
One of the largest power distribution cooperatives in the nation based on sales and revenue, NOVEC last year reported operating revenue totaling $864 million, net margins exceeding $27 million and assets totaling $1.4 billion last year. Energy sales grew 17% to more than 10.1 billion kilowatt-hours sold. Since 2022, Schleicher h[...]
