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Nonprofits/Philanthropy: JENNIFER MORRIS
Morris has spent roughly 25 years working to protect the environment, most recently as CEO for The Nature Conservancy; before that, she was president of nonprofit Conservation International. She recently weighed in on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling curbing the power of the Environmental Protection Agency. “This case may be comple[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: STU SHEA
Shea started his career in national security by building some of the CIA’s earliest computer systems. Today, he’s leading the integration of three businesses into one, as well as moving into a new corporate headquarters in Reston Town Center. A national security contractor formed in 2017 after private equity fund Veritas Cap[...]
Finance/Insurance: RIC EDELMAN
It’s been a year of change for popular financial adviser Edelman. In 1986, Edelman and his wife, Jean, founded Edelman Financial Services. In 2018, the firm merged with a West Coast firm to form Edelman Financial Engines. Edelman walked away from his leadership role in that company in June 2021. In December 2021, the last [&he[...]
Education: MAJ. GEN. CEDRIC T. WINS (U.S. ARMY, RET.)
Wins has had one of academia’s toughest jobs since returning to his alma mater as its interim superintendent in 2020. The public military university has been under fire for a “racist and sexist culture,” a charge laid at its doorstep during an independent, state-ordered investigation last summer. Wins, a 1985 alumnus, also[...]
Real Estate: KIM ROY
When Roy was a child, her mother had a post-church Sunday ritual: eating chocolate doughnuts and touring model homes for fun. That piqued an interest in building in Roy, who went on to take drafting classes in high school and studied building construction in college, setting her on her life’s path. With a degree in […]
Hospitality/Tourism: CLYDE STACY
In 2018, Stacy purchased the failed Bristol Mall for $2.6 million, intending for it to become an economic driver for the depressed region. He partnered with high school friend and United Co. Chairman Jim McGlothlin on a high-stakes gamble to transform the vacant property into a casino and resort. The two hired Richmond lobbying [...]
Transportation: DAVID C. WHITE
White’s best advice is to follow the Golden Rule, a lesson handed down to him by his parents. He joined the VMA in 2003 and advocates for its 500 member companies before state and federal leaders. The association’s priorities include encouraging investment in education and training, increasing the inventory of shovel-ready s[...]
Government/Politics: L. LOUISE LUCAS
If you didn’t recognize Democratic Party stalwart Lucas for her bright wardrobe and the fact that she’s been in the Virginia State Senate for 30 years, you may recognize her as one of the biggest online critics of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Virginia Republicans. The first woman and Black person to serve as the […[...]
Law: COURTNEY MOATES PAULK
Paulk is a construction lawyer who has led Hirschler’s 90 attorneys since 2018 as the firm’s first woman president. Her focus has been on growing the firm, known for its real estate and construction law practices. In addition to leading the firm, Paulk also heads Hirschler’s litigation section. The University of Mary Washi[...]
Arts/Entertainment/Sports: PHARRELL WILLIAMS
Virginia Beach’s city manager and mayor were unable to persuade Grammy-winning star Williams to keep his Something in the Water Festival in the city where it debuted in 2019, with $24 million in economic impact. In June, Williams moved the three-day music festival to Washington, D.C., citing his dissatisfaction with how Virgin[...]
Law: JOHN ‘JACK’ LAVOIE
Lavoie leads the Reston office of an international law firm that employs 1,500 attorneys in 17 offices in the United States, Asia and Europe. The location puts this office in the “technology hotbed in Northern Virginia,” says Lavoie, who heads the firm’s real estate practice group. Lavoie’s clients include institutional [...]
Education: DONNA PRICE HENRY
In addition to serving as chancellor of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (a post she has held since 2013), Henry teaches in its biology department. She also launched the school’s largest fundraising campaign, aiming to raise its endowment by $100 million. Additionally, a 2019 state law opened in-state tuition ra[...]
