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Newport News Shipbuilding promotes three execs

Newport News Shipbuilding has announced several leadership changes as the shipyard attempts to optimize and speed operations.

Matt Needy is now vice president and chief transformation officer, after previously serving as vice president of programs. In his new role, Needy is responsible for executing ‘ strategies, advanced development of business growth — including the next-generation attack submarine — enterprise-wide improvement, operational health and risk-opportunity management. He has worked for the shipyard for more than three decades.

With Needy’s promotion, the shipyard named Bryan Caccavale as vice president of Navy programs, a promotion from vice president of material and manufacturing. Caccavale’s leadership and financial experiences will benefit program execution and financial performance of the ships built and maintained by Newport News, the shipyard said in a news release Wednesday. Caccavale has worked in several roles at Newport News since joining in 2012, including director of business management for submarine programs, director of business management for Navy programs and vice president of supply chain management, according to his LinkedIn account.

Along with the leadership shifts, the shipyard is restructuring its material and manufacturing parts back into separate stand-alone divisions. , who has served as director of supply chain management, has been promoted to vice president of supply chain management. He is responsible for all procurement, outsourcing and material logistics for the shipyard. Glass joined the shipyard in 2019 as corporate director of enterprise after spending 18 years at Honeywell.

will remain in her position of vice president of manufacturing.

The changes build on the shipyard’s multi-year modernization efforts to safely and efficiently deliver aircraft carriers and submarines to the Navy. That includes an integrated digital shipbuilding program, which Newport News said has been critical in the completion of the recent completion of modernization of the county’s newest aircraft carrier, the — built at Newport News — as well as the launch of Virginia-class submarine and construction of the first digitally designed and built Ford-class carrier, the upcoming .

“We have been on an aggressive journey to transform the way we run our business. Accomplishing this transformation while running our complex business is not a simple task,” , president of , said in a statement. “Our Navy customer expects us to deliver ships on time and on budget so they can meet the evolving demands of the global security environment. Our ultimate success depends on the acceleration of these efforts led by experienced leaders.”

Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Newport News-based Fortune 500 contractor . HII is Virginia’s largest industrial employer with a workforce of more than 44,000 people, including Newport News Shipbuilding.

HeadWaters temporary casino changes course in Norfolk

HeadWaters Resort & , the ‘s $500 million gaming project planned for , announced Wednesday it is abandoning its temporary casino plans at Harbor Park, instead locating the facility on the same property as the permanent casino.

“Issues were recently raised about the address of the proposed initial gaming facility,” the tribe said in an announcement Wednesday, noting an error in paperwork that led Norfolk officials to table a vote on the casino this week. “While the tribe does not believe the ballpark address to be an issue since it was approved by the city, any delay due to a potential challenge is unacceptable.” The tribe also added, “Contrary to media reports, the address of the stadium was never changed.”

The Virginian-Pilot reported that the city changed the baseball stadium’s address last month to match the casino’s permanent address of 200 Park Avenue, “in an apparent attempt to circumvent language in the casino referendum that Norfolk voters approved in 2020.” In May, the Norfolk Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to open a temporary casino.

Instead of the baseball field, the tribe says it is submitting a site plan for city approval east of Harbor Park Stadium on the location designated for the permanent casino, and it could be as open as soon as March 2023. Plans for the temporary facility will be provided to the city in a few weeks, the tribe said.

Former Va. finance secretary Layne named port authority chair

Former state finance and transportation secretary has been named chair of the , the ‘s administrative body announced Wednesday.

Layne is a veteran of Virginia government, having served as secretary of finance under Gov. Ralph Northam and secretary of transportation under Gov. Terry McAuliffe. He currently serves as senior vice president and chief of staff for Healthcare and was appointed to a five-year term on VPA’s board in July 2021.

Port of Virginia spokesperson Joe Harris said Layne was named chairman during the board’s July 12 meeting. He replaces John Milliken, who joined the board in 2002 and has served on it intermittently, becoming chairman in 2014. Milliken led the board’s hiring search to replace former port authority CEO John Reinhart; Stephen A. Edwards became the authority’s CEO and executive director in January 2021.

“His leadership is going to be invaluable because of his experience in this port and his wider understanding of an integrated transportation system and its benefits to the state,” Edwards said in a statement. “Equally important is knowledge he gained from working under two governors and the relationships he developed in during that time. This is an important moment for the Port of Virginia, and a forward-thinking board with strong leadership is going to be vital in our success.”

Layne takes over as the port is investing $1.4 billion to continue a modernization and growth campaign aimed at generating more business and to accommodate trade shifts to the East Coast. During his time as transportation secretary, the port invested more than $800 million to modernize and expand its two primary container terminals, International Terminals and Virginia International Gateway. 

The VPA also announced the appointment of to the board’s vice-chair position. Serving on the board since 2014, her current term will expire in 2026. Power has served as CEO of Winchester-based Ambriel Technologies and is a visiting professor of entrepreneurship and an assistant professor of management at Shenandoah University.

“They know each other and have a lot of experience together during our expansion years,” Edwards said of Layne and Power. “That relationship and their oversight is important to maintaining and building our momentum.” 

The board also added four new members appointed by during its July meeting. Their terms run from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027, at which time they will be eligible for reappointment.

New members include:

  • Shaza L. Andersen, Trustar Bank, CEO
  • James C. Burnett, W.M. Jordan Co., vice president and chief financial officer
  • Michael W. Coleman, CV International Inc. and Capes Shipping, president and CEO 
  • John W. “Bill” Kirk III, Associated Asphalt, chairman 
  • David L. Richardson, Virginia state treasurer (The state treasurer is a permanent member of the VPA board, per the Code of Virginia.) 

 

Volkswagen names new president, CEO of Americas Group

Volkswagen is shaking up leadership in the Americas as it launches a new company focusing on electric pickups and sport utility vehicles after acquiring the iconic Scout ATV brand.

, who has led -based as president and CEO and the since 2018, will become president and CEO of Scout, Volkswagen announced in a press release Tuesday. He will be replaced by , who currently serves as executive chair of Volkswagen’s South America region.

The leadership changes take effect Sept. 1. Di Si will be based in Herndon, said Cameron Batten, a Volkswagen spokesperson. Batten said he could not confirm where Scout’s headquarters will be located.

The shift comes as part of Volkswagen’s strategy to grow its portfolio of electric vehicles in the U.S., with more than 25 models planned by 2030.

Scout was an all-terrain vehicle manufactured by from 1961 until 1980. Keogh came across a restored Scout during a beach trip and began advocating for a new electric truck line after realizing the rights were available, Axios reported Tuesday. Volkswagen acquired the rights to the Scout name in 2021 when its commercial truck subsidiary, the , bought truck manufacturer , which succeeded International Harvester, for $3.7 billion in 2021. International Harvester went out of business in 1985.

Production of Scout will begin in 2026, with a goal of dealing up to 250,000 vehicles annually.

Keogh joined Volkswagen from Audi of America, where he served as president from 2012 to 2018 and as chief officer for six years before serving in that role. He previously worked for Mercedes Benz USA.

Di Si joined Volkswagen in 2014 as president and CEO of Volkswagen Argentina and became president and CEO of Volkswagen Brazil and Latin America in 2017. He was appointed to his current position in January. He previously worked in finance and business development in the U.S. and Brazil with the Fiat Chrysler Group, Kimberly-Clark and Monsanto. He graduated from Harvard Business School and has an MBA in international management and an accounting degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s from Loyola University of Chicago.

“Scott and Pablo have played key roles in turning around the businesses in North America and South America, respectively,” Herbert Diess, Volkswagen Group CEO and chairman of the Volkswagen AG board, said in a statement. “In their future positions, they will be pivotal in seizing the historic market opportunities in the U.S., taking our growth strategy in the region to the next level.”

ODU names new chief marketing officer and VP

Old Dominion University has named  to serve as in the newly created roles of vice president of university communications and chief officer.

The university announced the hire Wednesday. Hunt has worked since September 2020 as vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at Miami University in Ohio, where she oversaw the development and launch of a new brand platform and provided strategy to a campaign that helped attract the largest first-year class in the school’s history, said in a news release.

Hunt will start at ODU during the fall semester and will oversee its newly established communications team and work toward broader external engagement.

“ University is an institution that has a rich history of remarkable accomplishments and innovative efforts,” ODU President Brian O. Hemphill said in a statement. “In order to further solidify our reputation and standing in local communities and across the commonwealth of Virginia, as well as nationally and internationally, we need an energetic and proven leader with Jaime’s level of expertise and passion. I am confident that she will deliver an immediate impact to our critical and ongoing work.”

Hunt has more than 25 years of experience and previously worked at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina for five years, in roles including vice chancellor of strategic communications and chief marketing and communications officer.

The move to ODU also marks a return to Virginia for Hunt, who directed web strategy and interactive media at Radford University from 2010 to 2015, according to her LinkedIn account.

“At each university for which I have worked, I have been able to have a transformative impact,” Hunt said. “During my career, I have been part of four university rebrandings, five website overhauls and three magazine redesigns; rolled out mobile applications, wayfinding kiosks, podcasts and virtual tours; and implemented integrated marketing communications models at three institutions.”

Hunt is the second hire announced by ODU this week. On Tuesday, the university announced Dr. Alicia Monroe will join the university as chief officer and senior advisor to Hemphill to establish an academic health sciences center in with Eastern Virginia Medical School and Healthcare.

EY names eight Virginians mid-Atlantic entrepreneurs of year

Eight leaders from six Virginia businesses have been named winners of ‘s Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year for 2022.

The winners, named in early July by the Big Four multinational professional services company, include:

  • | Imran Aftab, co-founder and CEO, 
  • LLC | , founder and CEO,
  • ID.me | Blake Hall, co-founder and CEO, McLean
  • Iron Bow Technologies | , president and CEO, Herndon
  • KIHOMAC | Ki Ho Kang, founder and CEO, Reston
  • RHOBACK | Kevin Hubbard, Kristina Loftus and Matt Loftus, co-founders, Charlottesville

Altogether, presented Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year to 15 entrepreneurs from 13 companies based in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Awards were based on demonstration of long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, as well as other values.

Since its launch in 1986, the EY entrepreneurs award program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners will be considered by judges for the national award, which will be presented in November. That winner will compete for EY’s world entrepreneur award in June 2023.

Aftab, of 10Pearls, launched the digital development company with $2,000 in Pakistan in 2004 and now employs more than 1,200 people with offices around the globe. He was a finalist for the mid-Atlantic award in 2020.

“I am so honored and grateful to win this prestigious award and be recognized amongst such great entrepreneurs,” Aftab said in a statement. “It seems like yesterday when I was discussing with Zeeshan Aftab, my brother and co-founder, the idea of creating a better world through opportunity creation and giving back. The evolution and maturation of 10Pearls as a global enterprise while preserving our ‘double bottom-line’ culture and values is one of our proudest accomplishments. This recognition is a true reflection of the entire team’s hard work and passion. The team is unstoppable, and we cannot be more excited about the future.”

Aireon, a global air traffic surveillance company, was founded by Thoma in 2011.

“Although I was the face of the award, this is a tremendous recognition for Aireon,” Thoma said. “Nothing as innovative, global, and impactful as Aireon happens without a team of dedicated, innovative, and passionate professionals. That is what we have at Aireon and it is great to hear the judges’ comments recognizing our team for this big achievement.”

Tech company ID.me is known for its facial recognition software. In June, the company laid off 54 employees months after the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies said they would drop plans to require taxpayers to use their software. The firm has also been the subject of a House Committee on Oversight and Reform investigation.

Iron Bow Technologies provides information technology solutions to the government, commercial and health care clients.

“It is such an honor to be recognized alongside a list of so many outstanding individuals and by such a highly reputable brand such as EY,” Lavigne said. “The growth and maturation of Iron Bow has been my proudest accomplishment as an entrepreneur and receiving this award is just as much a reflection on my team and their hard work as it is mine. My time at Iron Bow has truly been a great ride and one that I look forward to continuing!”

KIHOMAC was founded in 2003 by Kang, an Air Force veteran, and works to extend military aerospace weapons systems.

RHOBACK is an activewear company founded by a couple who attended the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business along with another friend. The company won the 2016 EDENS Retail Challenge.

 

ODU, EVMS merger possibility arises with new officer hire

A high-profile hire announced Tuesday by University has raised questions about the possibility of a formal with Eastern Virginia Medical School, although statements from the two educational institutions say it’s “premature” to respond to questions about the prospect.

Dr. Alicia Monroe will join in a few weeks as chief officer and senior advisor to President Brian O. Hemphill to establish an academic health sciences center in with EVMS and Healthcare, the university announced Tuesday. The position will be in place for two years, and Monroe, who most recently served as provost and senior vice president of academic and faculty affairs at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, will start Sept. 6, according to ODU. 

An employee of ODU with an annual salary of $425,000, Monroe will have an office with at least two full-time employees, and she will also serve as an untenured professor in the School of Community and Environmental Health, pending approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) of the School of Public Health, an ODU spokesman told Virginia Business.

“[Monroe’s] expertise and leadership will be critical in providing needed direction and support to the integration management office across all facets of our planning and implementation efforts. This is a significant step forward in providing a robust framework and necessary resources for addressing our region’s health disparities,” Hemphill said in a statement Tuesday.

But the hire takes on additional significance after Hemphill sent a letter to ODU’s faculty and staff earlier this month stating a goal “to develop a comprehensive plan to integrate ODU and EVMS in 2023,” while also noting that “a formal agreement has not been reached as this merger is contingent upon the work of the functional teams, as well as securing additional resources to support this expanded effort.” 

Dr. Alicia Monroe
Dr. Alicia Monroe

A “joint response” by ODU and EVMS to questions sent by Virginia Business on Tuesday indicates that an agreement to merge the two institutions is not set and is in fact part of the task facing Monroe and her team over the next two years. “It is premature to respond to the question, ‘Is EVMS becoming an arm of ODU?'” spokesman Joseph T. Garvey responded by email. Monroe’s contract ends in two years, he added.

“Dr. Monroe has been selected for a two-year appointment to lead ODU’s Integration Management Office. Once the integration planning and related work are complete, the office and her position would no longer exist.  It is premature to respond to the question, ‘Is that when EVMS would become part of ODU?’ as that is the purpose of the current exploratory and planning work.”

Existing agreements

Hemphill’s letter lays out recent plans that have been in the works between the two institutions, which signed an agreement with Sentara to create a health center and are partnering with State University to create a School of Public Health.

In response to a question from Virginia Business about why there is currently no formal agreement for the merger of ODU and the privately run EVMS, Garvey wrote, “as the institutions are engaging in the beginning of a comprehensive planning effort …  the institutions are being very intentional and thoughtful in bringing together campus constituents and engaging with various stakeholders.”

“In recent months, cross-functional teams, including both ODU and EVMS officials have been working to develop strategies,” Hemphill wrote. Further down, he wrote that nine functional teams are being formed further explore areas including accreditation and faculty affairs, clinical affairs and medical group, communications and branding, development and philanthropy, enrollment management and student affairs and others. 

A website, www.odu.edu/exploration, will be updated in coming months, Hemphill wrote. 

These agreements are in addition to other regional health initiatives EVMS and ODU are part of. In January 2021, Sentara announced a $10 million investment split between ODU, NSU, EVMS and other organizations in Hampton, , Williamsburg and Suffolk. ODU and NSU each received $2 million to support the development of the School of Public Health, and another $3 million went to ODU, EVMS and NSU for public health and health equity initiatives. The remaining $3 million went to community organizations to address underserved communities. Sentara also donated $2 million to EVMS to support the development of the School of Public Health. In May, Sentara established two new collaborative grants at ODU, EVMS and NSU for collaboration among the three institutions, along with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, to decrease health disparities in underserved communities.

One point ODU officials emphasize every time another partnership between the university and EVMS is announced, including in the news release announcing Monroe’s hire, is the decades-long relationship between the institutions.

EVMS appointed Dr. Alfred Abuhamad from interim head to permanent president, provost and dean in June.

The two schools are “currently exploring ways to strengthen health-focused academic program offerings, world-class research in both existing and new specialty areas, and state-of-the-art clinical care, as well as expand the workforce pipeline for needed workers,” Garvey wrote in response to questions from Virginia Business.

“That academic health sciences center could take shape as the result of an integration of EVMS and ODU,” he added. “All of that work is contingent upon an internal planning process, as well as engagement and support with critical partners.”

Repeating a legacy?

One of Hemphill’s legacies at Radford University, where he served as president for five years, is a 2019 merger between the Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Carilion Clinic to create Radford University Carilion. The merger made Radford’s nursing program the second-largest in Virginia and 22% of Radford’s students are pursuing a degree in a health-related field.

For an April 2021 Virginia Business story, Kay Kemper, former rector of ODU’s board of visitors, commented on the possibility of history repeating itself as Hemphill left Radford to become ODU’s president last year.

“Dr. Hemphill’s successes range from enrollment management to fundraising, and many of his forward-thinking initiatives in such areas as health sciences and partnership-building mirror Old Dominion’s longstanding strengths and priorities,” Kemper said. “We believe he will write an exciting new chapter for ODU.”

Similarly, Abuhamad said Tuesday in a statement, “We are looking forward to great collaboration with President Hemphill, Dr. Monroe and all of our ODU colleagues. In meeting with Dr. Monroe, it is clear that she brings a great deal of energy, expertise and excitement to our growing partnership.”

Editor’s note: The story has been clarified to show that EVMS appointed Dr. Alfred Abuhamad from interim to permanent president, provost and dean.

Richmond’s Maymont wins $8M tourism grant

Updated July 20, 2022

Foundation, which maintains and runs ‘s Maymont park, was awarded an $8 million Tuesday to promote regional , the ‘s Economic Development Administration announced.

With an additional $2 million in matching funds from the foundation, the EDA grant will be used for infrastructure improvements to expand visitors’ access to certain areas, including rescued wildlife habitats, and restore the roof and upgrade airflow and safety systems at the historic Maymont Mansion, according to the foundation. The federal funding comes from the ‘s $240 million competitive travel, tourism and outdoor recreation program, and Maymont was among many organizations competing for funds. The federal EDA plans to $3 billion total for all of its American Rescue Plan grants on a rolling basis through Sept. 30.

“For years, Maymont has been a premier tourist destination in Richmond,” Virginia said in a statement. “This grant will be used to expand the amazing opportunities tourists have when they visit Virginia’s historic capital, making the commonwealth a more sought-after destination in the U.S.”

In 2020, Maymont received a grant from the state to create immersive audio tours and open a new welcome center and classroom, work that is being completed by this fall.

“Maymont is grateful for the strong support that our application received from so many local, state and regional officials,” said Parke Richeson, the foundation’s executive director. “It’s a testament to the enduring love for Maymont held by our local community and the many hundreds of thousands of tourists to Maymont each year. Particularly during the pandemic, many people turned to Maymont as an outdoor refuge to connect with nature and animals of the Virginia ecosystem and to learn about the lives of the people who lived and worked at this historic estate over a century ago.”

Maymont is a 100-acre estate situated on the James River that was once the Victorian- and Edwardian-era residence of James and Sallie Dooley, who lived there from 1893 to 1925, and is now home to wild animals, an arboretum, formal gardens, the Robins Nature Center and the Maymont Mansion, formerly the Dooleys’ home. The nonprofit has operated and maintained the park since 1975, and more than 800,000 guests visit annually.

“Virginia’s culture, history and natural treasures support our tourism industry, creating jobs and strengthening local economies throughout the commonwealth,” said . “This $8 million Economic Development Administration investment will support the Maymont Foundation’s efforts to ensure that more people have the opportunity to see what Virginia has to offer.”

GDIT receives $908M contract

Falls Church-based federal contractor General Dynamics Information Inc. has been awarded a $908 million contract to support IT and network systems operated by the .

The is for the single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity Europe-Wide Information Technology and Enterprise Network contract run by the 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, . It has a five-year base period with a three-year option.

Task orders include modernizing and supporting existing infrastructure, networks, systems, operations and maintenance, cybersecurity and managing new requirements and emerging technology, according to a news release from . The work will be done at various facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and other countries in Europe.

“This contract will equip airmen across Europe with the knowledge, tools and data they need to mobilize and operate at any place and any time,” Brian Sheridan, senior vice president for GDIT’s defense division, said in a statement. “Consolidating multiple mission-critical services under a single contract will also allow for greater speed, flexibility and accessibility of IT services needed across the region.”

GDIT is a business unit of -based Fortune 500 aerospace and defense contractor General Dynamics Corp., an aerospace and defense company that employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $38.5 billion in revenue in 2021.

Herndon-based ePlus acquires Texas company

Herndon-based solutions provider Inc. has acquired Future Com Ltd., a Texas-based tech company, ePlus announced Monday.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal closed on July 16.

Future Com offers hardware, software, support and consulting services.

“As we actively work to grow our security business, which now accounts for more than $500 million of our annual adjusted gross billings, we are confident that the expertise of the Future Com team across the cybersecurity landscape will be of great benefit to ePlus and our customers,” ePlus President and CEO Mark Marron said in a statement. “In addition to strengthening our security capabilities, it strengthens our geographic presence in Texas and around the entire region, allowing us to provide an expanded level of support to customers there with expertise spanning the entire security landscape.”

For fiscal year 2022, which ended March 31, the company reported about $1.8 billion in net sales, a 16.1% increase over the previous year.

“Fiscal 2022 marked a highly successful year for ePlus, as we generated strong financial results while investing in our people and capabilities to enhance long-term growth,” Marron said in a statement.

EPlus has more than 1,500 associates with offices in the United States, the U.K., Europe and Asia-Pacific. Future Com has about 25 employees.