Economic Development: BUDDY RIZER
Under Rizer, Loudoun attracted $6.55 billion in new commercial investment in 2021, and in June, Irish energy management company Hanley Energy announced an $8 million expansion of its electrical division in Ashburn, a move expected to create 343 jobs. The self-styled “godfather of data center alley,” Rizer, who became Loudoun[...]
Law: THE HON. MICHAEL F. URBANSKI
Born in Italy when his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army, Urbanski went to high school in Newport News and was previously a principal at the Woods Rogers law firm in Roanoke. In 2004, he was appointed to be a U.S. magistrate judge and was appointed to the Western District court’s bench in […]
Finance/Insurance: FRANK LUCIA
For almost five years Lucia has led Delta Dental of Virginia, a nonprofit that is the largest dental benefits carrier in Virginia. The company has about 300 employees and reported $750 million in revenue for fiscal year 2021. Through its foundation, Delta Dental of Virginia has contributed more than $6 million to organizations t[...]
Education: TROY PAINO
This summer, Paino was recognized with a president’s award by a national student affairs administrators’ organization in recognition of his approach to strategic planning with students in mind. Since his appointment as Mary Washington’s president in 2016, Paino has focused on student and faculty diversity at the public lib[...]
Finance/Insurance: RICHARD R. ‘RICHIE’ WHITT
After working at Markel Corp. for 31 years, including six years as co-CEO of the Fortune 500 financial holding company, Whitt plans to retire by the end of March 2023. After he steps down, Thomas S. Gayner will become the company’s sole CEO. “Throughout his career at Markel, Richie has represented Markel’s culture and valu[...]
Economic Development: STU SOLOMON
Solomon spent 30 years at Accenture before leaving in 2017 as location managing director for metropolitan Washington, D.C., and forming Connected DMV two years later. The public-private nonprofit regional economic development organization promotes collaboration between Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In June, Connected [...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: CAREY A. SMITH
Smith joined Parsons, a Fortune 1000 federal defense contractor, in 2016 as president of its federal solutions business, leading the acquisition and integration of four companies and helping take the company public in 2019. She was tapped as the defense contractor’s new CEO in 2021, a promotion from her previous post as presid[...]
Finance/Insurance: MARK A. FRANTZ
In December 2021, Frantz’s venture capital firm launched and closed a new $215 million investment fund, its third, which offers $10 million to $50 million to qualified growing businesses. The firm, which Frantz co-founded with Kevin Robbins in 2009, added former Perspecta CEO Mac Curtis last year as a venture fellow, after Per[...]
Hospitality/Tourism: JIM McGLOTHLIN
McGlothlin and high school friend Clyde Stacy rolled the dice and successfully lobbied the Virginia General Assembly to legalize casinos in select Virginia cities, a gamble that seems to be paying off. On July 8, a temporary version of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol debuted at the old Bristol Mall, which will operate until[...]
Retail/Wholesale: CHARLES E. TYSON
In 2022, Tyson is overseeing a rapid acceleration of LL Flooring, expecting to open between 20 and 25 new retail locations by the end of the year, in addition to the chain’s existing 431 stores. Previously known as Lumber Liquidators, LL Flooring moved its headquarters from Toano to Richmond in 2019. Tyson, who joined the [&he[...]
Government/ Politics: STEPHEN E. CUMMINGS
With more than 40 years in the banking industry, Cummings now serves as Virginia’s secretary of finance, appointed in January by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. His duties include oversight of the state’s departments of accounts, taxation, treasury, and planning and budget. His most recent position was president and CEO of Mitsubi[...]
Federal Contractors/Technology: TOM ARSENEAULT
When asked what makes him passionate about his work, Arseneault restates part of BAE Systems’ mission: “We protect those who protect us.” Arseneault, whose first job was as a farmhand in Connecticut, added CEO to his title in 2020, after becoming president and chief operating officer in May 2019. He’s spent more than two[...]