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2026 Virginia Power 50 List: C. LEE WARFIELD

First joining Thalhimer as an associate broker in 1995, Warfield now leads the firm’s seven offices and 450 associates in Virginia. In 2016, he became Thalhimer’s fourth CEO since its 1913 founding. He has been chairman of Thalhimer’s board since 2017.

Last summer, Eric Robison succeeded Warfield as company president, after having led Thalhimer’s capital markets team. Warfield retains his chairman and CEO titles, and he serves on VCU’s Real Estate Circle of Excellence.

Thalhimer Realty Partners, one of the company’s subsidiaries, is now the sole principal of the team developing the commercial and residential portions of Richmond’s $2.44 billion Diamond District project, which are being built around the new CarMax Park baseball stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

In 2024, Thalhimer completed more than 1,800 transactions with a total volume of more than $1.96 billion.

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2026 Virginia Power 50 List: MARK WARNER

Virginia’s Democratic senior senator and the state’s 69th governor, Warner has been best known for his efforts to reach across the aisle in the U.S. Senate and his work as chair (now vice chair) of the Senate Intelligence Committee. However, after President Donald Trump took office in 2025 for a second term, Warner has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump’s economic agenda and his massive cuts to the federal workforce. He also called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign over classified information mishandling.

Warner is running for his fourth Senate term and as of mid-February had one Democratic primary opponent and one declared GOP general election challenger.

The co-founder of Nextel and Capital Cellular, with an estimated net worth of $215 million, Warner got involved in in the 1990s, when he managed former Gov. Doug Wilder’s gubernatorial campaign. In 2001, he was elected Virginia’s governor.

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2026 Virginia Power 50 List: POUL WEIHRAUCH

Since taking the reins at the candy and pet food giant in 2022, Weihrauch has been aiming to double its sales by 2033. In late 2025, made a big move in reaching that goal, closing its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, which produces Cheez-Its, Pringles and other snacks. Now they’re under the Mars Snacking umbrella. Announced in 2024, the acquisition was delayed until December 2025 due to a 90-day probe of the deal by the European Union’s antitrust watchdog agency.

In July 2025, Mars announced it would invest $2 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations by 2027. It also launched a $250 million innovation fund focused on sustainability in the food industry.

Weihrauch, who joined Mars in 2000, has degrees from Denmark’s Aalborg University and Scotland’s Strathclyde Business School. He serves on Henkel AG & Co.’s shareholders committee and The Consumer Goods Forum’s board.

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2026 Virginia Power 50 List: LINDSAY BERRY WINTER

A Hampton Roads native, Winter oversees the e-commerce giant’s economic and community investments in Virginia, where has its East Coast HQ2 headquarters in . Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $135 billion in Virginia through infrastructure and compensation for its 42,000 employees in the state.

In November 2025, the company said it planned to invest up to $50 billion more in the state to expand artificial intelligence and supercomputing capacity for Amazon Web Services’ federal cloud customers.

In the past year, Amazon announced a Goochland County robotics fulfillment center and launched new delivery stations in Virginia Beach, Hampton and Roanoke. In July 2025, the company canceled plans for a third data center in Louisa County, following local backlash, but its data center arm purchased 189 acres in Prince William County for $700 million in November.

Before joining Amazon in 2021, Winter worked for Anthem, Amerigroup and firm Kaufman & Canoles. She is a James Madison University graduate.

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The Hidden Cost of Outdated Phone Systems, And What Smart Businesses Are Doing Instead

In today’s rapidly shifting business landscape, communication has become more than just a basic operational need, it’s a strategic advantage. Whether you’re running a small business, managing a healthcare practice, supporting students in an educational setting, or keeping a hospitality operation running smoothly, the ability to connect quickly and reliably has never mattered more. It’s vitally important for a successful business.

Yet many organizations are still relying on outdated phone systems that weren’t built for the way we work today. Hybrid schedules, remote teams, customer expectations, and the need for real‑time collaboration have pushed traditional systems to their limits. We all have instant communication at our fingertips and expect that same connectivity with the businesses we work with and for on a daily basis. That’s where cloud‑based communication solutions are stepping in to transform the way businesses operate.

Cox Business, through RingCentral, is helping organizations modernize their communications with tools designed for flexibility, mobility, and growth. Instead of being tied to a physical phone line or location, teams can call, message, meet, and collaborate from anywhere, all through a single, unified platform.

For small businesses, this shift is especially powerful. Owners can stay connected to customers whether they’re on‑site, on the road, or working from home. Calls can be routed intelligently, customer interactions can be tracked more easily, and teams can respond faster, without the cost or complexity of traditional systems.

In the hospitality industry, where guest experience is everything, cloud communications help staff coordinate seamlessly across all departments. Whether it’s housekeeping, front desk, maintenance, or management, everyone stays aligned in real time, improving service and reducing delays.

Education environments benefit from the ability to connect faculty, staff, and families through secure, reliable channels. With communication tools that work across devices, schools can streamline operations, support hybrid learning models, and ensure that important information reaches the right people quickly.

Healthcare organizations, meanwhile, are navigating a world where patient communication is increasingly digital. Cloud‑based systems help practices manage appointment reminders, telehealth interactions, and internal coordination with greater efficiency while maintaining compliance and reliability.

Across all industries, the common thread is clear: businesses need communication tools that adapt as quickly as they do. Cox Business and RingCentral offer a scalable, cloud‑based solution that grows with your organization, reduces downtime, and supports the modern workforce.

As continues to evolve, the organizations that invest in smarter communication tools today will be the ones best positioned to thrive tomorrow and in the future. Cloud communications aren’t just a trend, they’re becoming the new standard for operational excellence and sustained success.

To explore how Cox Business and RingCentral can support your organization’s communication needs, visit our website: www.cox.com/business/collaboration/ringcentral.html

About Cox

Cox Communications is a family-owned company committed to creating more meaningful moments of human connection through technology.

As the largest private broadband provider in the United States, we’re proud of our continued investments in our people, our communities and our network.

 

Stocks fall as investors mull AI disruptions, oil prices rise

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Global stocks edged lower on Friday, weighed down by persistent concerns about high valuations and the disruptive force of AI, while the potential for oil supply disruptions due to tensions between the U.S. and Iran lifted crude prices.

Market sentiment has weakened as investors worry about the broader impact of artificial intelligence on companies, even after AI chipmaker posted better-than-expected results. Shares in Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, were down 3.5%, extending losses from the prior session.

Wall Street ended lower, with the benchmark S&P 500 dropping 0.43%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1.05% and the Nasdaq Composite off by 0.92%.

“We’re just in a stage in the market cycle where not just the market but that particular industry group – semiconductors, that’s up more than 100% in a year – have priced in a lot of good news. And now it’s time for a breather,” said Talley Leger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group.

Semiconductor stocks lost 1.2%.

“I love semiconductor companies,” Leger said. “As a group, the share prices have achieved my return objectives so at this stage I have locked in and protected the gains in these stocks since the April lows.”

MSCI’s All Country World Index fell 0.25% on Friday but was up 0.35% for the week and nearly 1.2% in February.

Europe’s STOXX 600 added 0.11%.

U.S.-IRAN TALKS CONTINUE

Markets were also watching developments in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks as Washington amassed more military resources in the Middle East.

An Omani mediator gave an optimistic summary of the latest negotiations but there were no obvious signs of a breakthrough that could avert potential U.S. strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he was still unhappy with Iran, threatening to use force if necessary to reach an agreement.

The U.S. and Iran plan to resume negotiations after consultations in their countries’ capitals, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X after meetings in Switzerland.

U.S. crude rose 2.78% to settle at $67.02 a barrel and Brent settled up 2.45% at $72.48.

In the bond market, the yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes fell 6.3 basis points to 3.96%. The 2-year note yield fell 6.3 basis points to 3.385%.

In Europe, the yield on the benchmark German 10-year Bunds fell 1 basis point to 2.644%.

STARMER FALTERS

Sterling was down 0.07% at $1.34471 after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered an election defeat in the Greater Manchester area, where it has dominated for almost a century.

Japanese data showed cooling inflation in Tokyo and weaker-than-expected factory output, complicating the case for policy rate increases by the central bank.

The yen pared gains and was down 0.03% at 156.18 against the dollar.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was down 0.06% at 97.67. The euro rose 0.14% to $1.1813 against the dollar.

Spot gold rose 1.5% to $5,263.59 an ounce. Spot silver rose 6.1% to $93.74 an ounce.

(Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Hugh Lawson, David Gaffen and Edmund Klamann)

Virginia sees notable spike in pending home sales in January

Virginia’s kicked off the year with rising buyer activity, expanded inventory and stable home prices, according to a report released this week.

According to the report, there were 5,881 homes sold statewide in January, up 2.1% from last year’s 5,758, although down 30.7% from December 2025’s 8,482 sales. The trade association attributed sharp decline from December’s heights to typical seasonal patterns.

There were 6,723 pending sales in January, up 14.4% from last year and up 16.4% from December 2025. The association attributes the surge in pending sales to an increase in seller activity paired with stabilizing rates.

“We saw a notable jump in pending sales this month, which is a strong indicator that more buyers are stepping back into the market,” Virginia Realtors’ Chief Economist Ryan Price said in a statement. “With inventory expanding and mortgage rates holding steady in the low‑6% range throughout January, conditions have improved for buyers. Price growth has softened, days on market are rising and the average sold‑to‑list price ratio just hit a six‑year low — all signs of a market offering more options and breathing room than we’ve seen in recent years.”

Virginia Realtors reports that 48% of city and county markets had more sales to start the year, while 52% had a slowdown in  January. The regions with the largest increase in sales from January 2025 were the New River Valley, the Danville area and Hampton Roads. On the other hand, the sharpest slowdown in sales for January occurred in parts of the Greater Piedmont region, the Lexington/Rockbridge area and the Staunton/Waynesboro market.

The $397,790 statewide median sales price was essentially flat year-over-year, dipping just 0.3% from January 2025.

The association reports an continued upward inventory trend, with 19,207 active listings on the market in January, 9.4% more than January 2024. The state had 10,071 new listings last month, a 6.8% increase from the previous year and a 49.3% increase from December 2025.

“More listings and more buyers are what we want to see as we head toward spring,” Virginia Realtors 2026 President Curt Reichstetter said in a statement. “Realtors across the commonwealth are reporting renewed energy from clients who feel they finally have choices again. This early momentum positions us for a busier, more balanced spring market than we saw last year.”

Based in Glen Allen, Virginia Realtors represents about 34,000 Realtors and is the state’s largest trade association.

Justice Department settles with Va. company accused of excluding U.S. workers from jobs

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has reached a settlement with a Virginia IT company accused of posting in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

According to a Feb. 25 news release from the , Inc., an IT services provider, posted job advertisements generated by an artificial intelligence tool that contained in violation of the INA, including restrictions to consider only applicants with H-1B, OPT or H-4 visas. 

Settlement terms released by the Justice Department stated that Elegant Enterprise-Wide Solutions is due to pay $9,460 to the U.S. Treasury in two installments. Elegant Enterprise-Wide Solutions is also required to review and revise existing employment policies within 60 days and ensure no policies contain discrimination based on citizenship status, immigration status or national origin in the employment process. 

“It is unconscionable for companies to illegally exclude U.S. workers when recruiting and hiring,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said via press release. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminating against U.S. workers, no matter who – or what – drafts a job advertisement, or whether it is an employee, a recruiter, or an AI tool.” 

The settlement agreement, dated Feb. 23, marks the eighth settlement since the Justice Department relaunched its Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative in 2025. The initiative enforces “the INA’s prohibition on citizenship status discrimination against companies that illegally discriminate against U.S. workers in favor of those with employment visas.” 

Emerald AI raises $22.7M, new SEC filing reports

A focused on the fast-growing data center industry and with a major presence in has raised about $22.7 million in new funding, according to a Feb. 20 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

, which was incorporated last year in Washington, D.C., but has its primary offices in , raised the capital from 20 investors. The company declined to comment on the investment.

Founded in 2020, Emerald AI aims to address the growing concern that are consuming too much energy. Its Emerald Conductor software platform enables data centers to adjust and reduce energy consumption during peak grid demand, supporting grid stability while maintaining acceptable AI computing performance.
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The company emerged from stealth in summer 2025 with $24.5 million in seed funding and is backed by major investors like and Google executive Jeff Dean. The company’s founder and CEO is Varun Sivaram, formerly chief strategy and innovation officer for global offshore wind energy company Orsted and also former chief officer for ReNew, the largest renewable energy company in India.

Last year, Emerald AI released results from a May 2025 demonstration conducted in Phoenix as part of the Electric Power Research Institute’s DCFlex Initiative. Nvidia reported that Emerald AI’s Conductor platform reduced AI workload power consumption by 25% for three hours in response to a grid stress event, such as a hot summer day when energy demand is high, while maintaining computing service quality.

Sivaram previously stated that the company’s long-term objective is to strengthen America’s position in the AI race by freeing up the power needed to drive innovation, while ensuring energy remains sustainable and affordable for customers.

Warner Bros signs $110 billion deal with Paramount, its executive discloses in townhall

Summary:
  • submitted a $31-per-share offer to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, surpassing ‘s $27.75 bid.
  • Netflix declined to raise its bid, citing financial discipline, causing its shares to jump over 10%.
  • The merger faces regulatory scrutiny from US federal and state authorities, including California’s Attorney General.

Feb 27 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to be acquired by Skydance in a $110 billion deal signed Friday morning, according to an audio clip of a global townhall by the company, which was reviewed by Reuters.

“Netflix had the right to match the PSKY offer. As you all know, they ultimately decided not to do that. That then resulted in a signed agreement with PSKY as of this morning. So that’s where everything stands,” Bruce Campbell, Warner Bros’ chief revenue and strategy officer, said in the townhall.

Paramount and Warner Bros did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The deal – which includes some $29 billion in debt – is among Hollywood’s biggest media shake-ups and will create one of the largest film studios in the world, allowing Paramount to tap Warner’s trove of intellectual property, including franchises such as “Fantastic Beasts” and “The Matrix”.

It will also allow Paramount to bolster its streaming efforts, with a potential combination of and Paramount+, enabling it to gain market share and tussle with market leader Netflix.

The agreement caps a bidding war after Netflix declined to match Paramount’s latest $31-per-share offer, which was deemed superior by Warner Bros to the streaming pioneer’s $27.75-per-share agreement for its assets.

Paramount was in pursuit of Warner Bros since late last year when it launched a hostile campaign to wrestle the company from the streaming giant by consistently raising its offer.

The company, led by billionaire ‘s son David Ellison, enticed Warner’s board back to the bargaining table by raising the possibility of an improved cash offer.

In its revised bid, Paramount raised the termination fee it would pay should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval to $7 billion from $5.8 billion.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, had also stepped up pressure on the HBO owner to engage more with Paramount.

Still, the merger is likely to draw antitrust scrutiny in Washington, foreign countries and U.S. states, including California, despite the Ellisons’ ties to President Donald Trump.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have raised concerns that any deal to acquire Warner Bros could result in fewer choices and higher prices for consumers.

Cinema operators are also concerned that combining large Hollywood studios could cost jobs and reduce the number of movies released in theaters.

 

(Reporting by Karol Badohal in Poland and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)