Page 118 – Virginia Business

Bristol hopes for bigger share of casino tax

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol this November marked its first year in its permanent facility — a milestone that the city’s mayor says prompted officials to move ahead with trying to change how tax revenue from the casino is divided.

“We’re excited to have them here,” says Mayor Becky Nave, “but we just wish we had a bigger piece of that pie.”

The casino has operated in Bristol for three years, including two years in a temporary facility.

For the two other casinos currently operating in Virginia, Caesars Virginia in Danville and Rivers Casino Portsmouth, each host locality receives the entire local share of state gambling tax, which starts at 6% of a casino’s adjusted gaming revenue. For fiscal 2025, Portsmouth received $19.7 million, and Danville received $18.7 million, according to Virginia Lottery figures.

But in 2020, as the General Assembly approved a casino for Bristol, it endorsed a regional vision. Legislators set up a system where the local portion of gaming tax revenue from the Bristol casino is split equally between the city and 13 other localities.

They mandated that the money be used for public safety, education or transportation infrastructure.

In fiscal 2025, that local portion totaled $13.18 million with interest; the 14 localities each received $941,860 in casino taxes, says Jason Berry, Washington County administrator and a member of the commission that distributes the gaming tax money.

Bristol is battling financial hardships, and its city council approved a 16% real estate tax increase this year. Nave says that the city wants at least half of the local portion of gaming taxes. City officials agreed that after the casino’s first anniversary in its permanent home, they would gather figures on costs such as infrastructure and additional police that could be tied to the casino.

Then, officials will press legislators to revisit how the gambling tax money is split, Nave says. Changing the allocations would require General Assembly approval.

State Sen. Todd Pillion, a Republican who represents Bristol and nine of the 13 other localities that split the money, doesn’t support a change.

The gambling tax money has been “a lifeline to some of these struggling localities,” Pillion says. “If we try to tweak it now, I think we open Pandora’s box.”

100 People to Meet in 2026: Showstoppers

From Arthur Ashe and Tiki Barber to Edgar Allan Poe and Missy Elliott, Virginia has cultivated athletics and the arts, a rich tradition that these leaders continue to promote.

ALISON BYRNE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, VIRGINIA BEACH

Alison Byrne was appointed executive director of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in September 2024, following two decades with the museum and leadership roles dating back to 2012. In the role, she guides the museum’s vision, educational initiatives, general operations, finance, external relations and planning. She now leads the museum in a period of growth, as it prepares to relocate in 2026 to the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University, which is rebranding as Batten University.

Described by the museum as “a passionate advocate for contemporary art and its power to spark dialogue and inspire creativity,” Byrne has curated numerous exhibitions and has served on various art panels and committees. A native of Dublin, Ireland, she has a master’s degree in humanities from Old Dominion University and a bachelor’s in craft design from the National College of Art and Design.

MARK CLOUSE

PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS, ASHBURN

Previously president and CEO of soup maker Campbell’s, Mark Clouse became the Commanders’ new team president in January, replacing Jason Wright. This was part of a wholesale change in personnel after majority team owner Josh Harris purchased the NFL franchise in 2023 from former owner Dan Snyder.

Clouse’s hiring came after Campbell’s partnered with Harris and David Blitzer’s sports management company in October 2024 as an official corporate partner to the company’s four pro teams. A former military helicopter pilot and retired Army captain, Clouse was CEO of Pinnacle Foods before moving to Campbell’s in 2019.

Since the change in ownership, Commanders’ ticket sales have skyrocketed, racking up 12,000 new season ticket holders, and the team is planning to build a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site, which Clouse called the Commanders’ “spiritual home” in a May speech.

AIDEN HARRIS

INFIELDER/OUTFIELDER, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BASEBALL, CHARLOTTESVILLE

Chesterfield County native Aiden Harris, 19, is in the catbird seat as far as baseball is concerned. In 2024, he was the No. 1 high school baseball recruit in Virginia, and instead of going pro or out of state, Harris picked the University of Virginia’s baseball team, where he will return for a second season. Mostly serving as a pinch hitter, Harris batted .400 for U.Va. in the 2025 season.

Speaking in October, Harris said that he’s been busy meeting the new players and team staff, as well as studying — just like any other college student. He decided to wait to go pro because he was only 17 during the Major League draft period. “I gave myself a chance and just bet on myself to do well in college and get to where I want to be,” he says. At 6-foot-4, Harris says his height gives him an advantage as a hitter and as a runner.

Harris takes the field in February to start the 2026 season, when he hopes the Cavaliers will perform well in ACC games and possibly host a regional final in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

COLIN HITSCHLER

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY DUKES FOOTBALL, HARRISONBURG

As of early November, JMU’s football team was at the top of the Sun Belt Conference East Division, with an overall 7-1 record. The Dukes are ranked 8th nationally in total defense.

Some of that success could be attributed to Hitschler, who became the team’s defensive coordinator in February, replacing Lyle Hemphill. He spent the previous season as Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator before being fired in the offseason. (Describing Hitschler as “overqualified,” JMU Sports News chalked up his dismissal from Alabama to “likely … too many cooks in the kitchen.”)

Hitschler is a prolific recruiter, building an impressive 2024 class for the Wisconsin Badgers, who ranked 23rd nationally that year.
He’s also known for getting spicy on the field: Hitschler had to be held back at an October game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. But JMU player Jacob Thomas said it’s just that Hitschler “has passion and he cares about us a lot.”

SHANNON KELLY

PRESIDENT AND CEO, VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, NORFOLK

Shannon Kelly was appointed this summer as president and CEO of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 105th season. She previously served as vice president of development since January 2023, overseeing a 20% jump in annual donations.

She has a “track record of securing the necessary funding to bring world-class classical music to Virginia,” says the symphony’s board chair, Regent University Chancellor and Christian Broadcasting Network CEO Gordon Robertson.

Prior to joining the symphony, Kelly was on the senior leadership team of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, where she oversaw government relations and doubled public support for the foundation’s education programs.

Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory and a master’s degree in public policy from American University.

TED VAN ZELST

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER, RICHMOND FLYING SQUIRRELS, RICHMOND

Ted Van Zelst serves in the C-suite of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) during a massive period of change: This summer, Richmonders waved goodbye to the beloved Diamond stadium, which had been home to Richmond baseball for 40 years, awaiting next season’s opening of the new CarMax Park.

Van Zelst joined the Richmond Flying Squirrels in May, and is also the president of 804Live, a new full-service events company dedicated to making CarMax Park a year-round entertainment venue — not just during baseball season. He oversees revenue generation for both entities.
Before joining the Flying Squirrels, he held leadership positions with the Detroit Pistons, New York Islanders, Nascar and Formula 1. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Bloomington.

MICHAEL VICK

HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY, NORFOLK

In December 2024, Norfolk State Spartans football caught a wave of attention after legendary NFL and Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick was tapped as the team’s next head coach.

A native of Newport News, Vick has an impressive résumé as a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, although his run in the NFL was interrupted following his 2007 conviction on federal dogfighting charges, resulting in his serving 21 months in federal prison. As a Hokie, Vick was the nation’s No. 1 draft pick in 2001 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year. After retiring from the NFL in 2017, he was an analyst for Fox Sports.

As of mid-November, the Spartans were squarely in rebuilding mode, with a record of 1-10, scoring a single overtime win against Virginia State in September. “We’re treating the first seven games like preseason,” Vick said in an October media call. “Now we get to make adjustments and focus on what’s ahead.”

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100 People to Meet in 2026: Hosts

Nourishing and delighting us, these Virginians welcome us to their communities through food, hospitality and entertainment.

BRITTANNY ANDERSON

CHEF AND OWNER, BAR BUOY, BLACK LODGE, METZGER BAR & BUTCHERY, PINK ROOM, RICHMOND

In August, Brittanny Anderson announced that her successful Alpine fine-dining restaurant Brenner Pass would be closing, but it wasn’t your typical sad business story. She was replacing Brenner Pass with a new concept, Bar Buoy, a modern-day crab shack paying homage to her childhood home of Virginia’s Northern Neck, where her mother’s family made a living as crab fishers.

Bar Buoy debuted in October in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood with a menu of crab cakes, oysters on the half shell and other seafood delicacies; it joins Anderson’s German-influenced Metzger restaurant in Church Hill and two Scott’s Addition bars, the Pink Room and Black Lodge. Anderson also has a national profile thanks to occasional appearances on the Food Network and Bravo’s “Top Chef” series.

RON BAILEY

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, NORFOLK CASINO, NORFOLK

Ron Bailey brings over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry to his new role leading Norfolk’s forthcoming $750 million casino resort, a partnership between Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.

Since joining Boyd in 2012, he has held senior roles in Las Vegas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. Bailey now oversees the development of the 65,000-square-foot Norfolk casino, set to open in 2027 with a 200-room hotel, an outdoor deck and eight dining venues.

He also manages The Interim Gaming Hall, a new 7,200-square-foot temporary facility serving as a predecessor to the permanent Norfolk site. It accommodates approximately 100 players and features 132 slot machines. Next year, Bailey will focus on creating a welcoming experience.

“Our company is about building relationships,” he says. “So, it’s not just going to be a bunch of people coming in and out of here. We’re going to know our customers’ names.”

IAN BODEN

CHEF AND OWNER, MAUDE & THE BEAR, STAUNTON

Chef Ian Boden opened his restaurant, Maude & the Bear, in Staunton in 2024, bringing decades of culinary experience and deep regional roots to the venture. Named to The New York Times’ 2025 list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States, Maude & the Bear reflects both Boden’s Ashkenazi heritage and his wife Leslie’s Appalachian upbringing, weaving these influences with inspirations from their travels.

The restaurant and inn are housed in a restored 1926 Montgomery Ward kit house. The menu regularly evolves based on seasonality and the produce Boden and his wife can get from their trusted purveyors.

“It’s a true honor to be listed alongside so many fantastic restaurants,” Boden said in a statement. “We wouldn’t be here without our staff who ultimately help create the warm, welcoming atmosphere that Maude & the Bear has become known for, and our community for the ongoing support and trust.”

CHRISTINE CHOI

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO BRISTOL, BRISTOL

Christine Choi was hired as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s marketing leader in November 2023, at the same time her husband, Sunwoo, was hired as the resort casino’s vice president of food and beverage.

Since then, she’s helped oversee the 620,000-square-foot casino’s November 2024 grand opening and was a key player in helping the casino take a third-place win as Property of the Year in the Global Gaming Awards Americas 2025. The casino’s president, Allie Evangelista, also took third-place honors for Executive of the Year — not bad for a casino that was barely a year old.

In May, Choi helped promote a culinary event at the casino featuring contestants from NBC’s show “Yes, Chef!,” including Bristol’s own Torrece “Chef T” Gregoire. The event, Choi says, brought “world-class entertainment and culinary experiences to the region.”

NATHANAEL ‘NATE’ HARRIS

GENERAL MANAGER, GREATER RICHMOND CONVENTION CENTER, RICHMOND

Nate Harris took charge of the largest exhibition and meeting facility in Virginia, the 700,000-square-foot Greater Richmond Convention Center, in September 2024. With 15 years of experience, he’s no stranger to venue management or Central Virginia, having previously worked as general manager at the Virginia State University Multi-Purpose Center in Ettrick.

Since taking on his new role, Harris has overseen the completion of two capital projects — the installation of a self-service pay system in the convention center’s parking deck and an escalator upgrade — and is focused on additional upcoming improvements, like another escalator upgrade and a new roof.

In 2026, the convention center is expected to host nearly 200 events, attracting more than 430,000 attendees, up from around 350,000 this year. And Harris says his focus will be on “enhancing the client and guest experience through strategic facility upgrades and service innovations, helping position the greater Richmond region as a leading destination in the commonwealth’s growing travel and tourism landscape.”

KEVIN HEALY

OWNER, HOUSEPITALITY FAMILY, MIDLOTHIAN

Under Kevin Healy’s stewardship, what started in 1988 with one restaurant, Sunday’s Waterfront Restaurant in Chesterfield County, has grown into a restaurant group with four brands. Across greater Richmond, Housepitality Family has four The Boathouse locations (including the former Sunday’s), two Casa del Barco restaurants, an Island Shrimp Co. and Can Can Brasserie, its newest addition.

Housepitality Family bought Can Can, a Richmond staple offering French cuisine, in September 2024 and brought back private parties as well as the coffee house morning program. The group also opened the restaurant on Mondays and Tuesdays.

In 2026, Healy says, Housepitality Family plans to lead a wine and food tour in France, likely in the Provence region, kickstarting a program based on tours to southern Italy that his daughter, Paige, helped plan and lead for a previous program. His other children, Colin and Kyle, also hold leadership roles within the company.

RANDY and BRIAN PACK

MANAGING PARTNERS, PACK BROTHERS HOSPITALITY, SMITHFIELD

Randy and Brian Pack lead Smithfield Station and co-manage Pack Brothers Hospitality, a Smithfield-based restaurant, lodging and marina management company.

The president of Smithfield Station, Randy began his career at Ferguson Enterprises before returning to Smithfield in 2001 to join his family’s business — a hotel, restaurant and marina founded by his parents in 1986. He managed an expansion that doubled Smithfield Station’s size and revenue.

Brian, now vice president of Smithfield Station, also began at Ferguson Enterprises before joining Smithfield in 2003. Starting as a chef, he advanced to vice president, overseeing restaurant operations and marina leasing.

In 2018, the brothers launched Pack Brothers Hospitality with the acquisition of The Surry Seafood Co., a restaurant, hotel and marina in Surry County. Their portfolio has since grown to include popular dining destinations Decoys Seafood, River Stone Chophouse and Vintage Tavern in Suffolk. They plan to develop 37 North at Fort Monroe, a forthcoming waterfront resort featuring a 90-room boutique hotel, a marina and a 500-seat seafood restaurant.

Randy has served on Smithfield’s town council and planning commission, and Brian was named Virginia’s 2018 Dockmaster of the Year by Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

PENNY PARAYO

GENERAL MANAGER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL VIRGINIA, PETERSBURG

Gaming industry veteran Penny Parayo is taking the helm as general manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in Petersburg, where a 75,000-square-foot temporary gaming facility is set to open early next year. The interim venue will feature 900 slots, 33 live-action table games, a bar and a quick service restaurant — an early glimpse of the $1.4 billion destination casino planned for 2027.

With a career built on launching and growing major gaming properties, Parayo most recently served as senior vice president of property operations for Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover, Maryland, following five years as vice president of slot and beverage operations there.

Now she’s bringing that experience to Petersburg, aiming to shape a vibrant entertainment hub that will create jobs, draw visitors and build excitement ahead of the city’s permanent casino debut.

ANTONIO PEREZ JR.

GENERAL MANAGER, RIVERS CASINO PORTSMOUTH, PORTSMOUTH

With more than 20 years of experience in casino gaming and operations, Antonio Perez Jr. was tapped this fall to lead Rivers Casino Portsmouth. Since stepping into the role of general manager at Rivers Casino Portsmouth in September, he has been engaging with the property’s 1,100-plus team members as the casino marks a milestone of welcoming over 5 million guests.

Perez started out in the industry as a table games dealer and slot attendant in West Virginia, moving up to take various casino executive roles across five states.

He joins just as Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino move forward with plans for The Landing Hotel — an eight-story destination adjacent to the casino — and will support its development ahead of the hotel’s planned early 2027 opening.

BRIAN SHANLE

GENERAL MANAGER, KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY

Brian Shanle moved to Virginia in July to launch Kalahari Resorts’ $900 million mega-resort in Spotsylvania County, which is slated to open in mid-November 2026.

A few days after its planned grand opening, Kalahari’s Spotsylvania location is set to host the VA1 Governor’s Tourism Summit, an annual conference for the Virginia tourism industry. But Shanle isn’t worried about whether the property will be ready on time. “Stress is a choice,” he says. “I choose not to.”

Over the next year, Shanle’s work will center around creating the right type of culture at the facility.

“We’re a family business, and we’re deep in the culture of just being a family that works together and plays together,” says Shanle, who previously spent 16 years running the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions location in Sandusky, Ohio. “When you’re happy to go to work on Monday and happy to go home at the end of the day, that’s success.”

HENRY SMITH

OWNER AND FOUNDER, SMASHERS, NORFOLK

Henry Smith began cooking burgers at age 17 after a YouTube video featuring smash burgers caught his eye while he was hungry. After months of improving his burger-making skills and earning a “not half bad” from his father, he decided to turn his talent into a business.

In June 2022, Smith launched his first Smashers food truck in Cape Charles with a $40,000 loan from his parents, both of whom are entrepreneurs.

The venture’s success led to the opening of a Norfolk brick-and-mortar location on Sept. 1, 2024. Sales ultimately doubled over what Smith had projected, and the business has acquired a big social media following.

Smith, who hopes Smashers can potentially be turned into a franchise, believes that keeping the menu simple — burgers, fries, milkshakes, hot dogs and grilled cheeses — and ensuring the quality of products is what’s setting his restaurant apart.

NATE STEVENS

GENERAL MANAGER, ATLANTIC PARK SURF, VIRGINIA BEACH

Nate Stevens dove into his role at Atlantic Park Surf, the first North American facility with Wavegarden Cove artificial surf-lagoon wave-making technology, earlier this year. Atlantic Park Surf generates up to 1,000 waves per hour, offering various wave types for different skill levels. The park opened to the public this summer.

He brings with him 15 years in the recreation and leisure industry, from being a deckhand on fishing charter boats to owning a beach services and recreational equipment company to working on two Wavegarden projects. But his greatest professional fulfillment, he says, comes from the thousands of guest interactions he’s had over the years.

Atlantic Park Surf also includes onsite lodging, dining, shopping and community programs like Next Wave, which introduces young people from economically challenged communities to surfing.

“Building the team responsible for delivering world-class surf experiences is something I don’t take for granted,” Stevens says.

BETH WOODRUM

OWNER, CHRIS’S COFFEE & CUSTARD; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LOVABLE SERVICES, ROANOKE

On a recent afternoon, Chris Woodrum passed out custard sundaes and iced coffees to customers from the Chris’s Coffee & Custard food trailer, parked in South Roanoke. Many stopped for selfies with Woodrum, who has Down syndrome and has become a local celebrity in the Star City.

In March 2021, Chris’s mom, Beth Woodrum, opened Chris’s Coffee to provide jobs for local people with disabilities. She’s also executive director of LovABLE Services, a nonprofit that offers vocational training to that population.

Chris’s Coffee closed its original southeast Roanoke location in August. A new shop is slated to open in March in Roanoke County. Until then, business continues through the food trailer.

That’s possible thanks to Johnson Orthodontics and the community, which donated most of the $69,000 Chris’s Coffee needed to buy a food trailer to replace its food truck, which was destroyed by a fire in April.

DEBORA S. WRIGHT

CHIEF STRATEGIST AND VICE PRESIDENT, VISIT VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE, ROANOKE

When Debora Wright was a student at what was then Hollins College, her goal was to land a leadership role in marketing.

“I’m probably one of the few people that ended up doing what I planned on, and I’m still doing it,” she says.

Since 1993, Wright has worked at destination marketing organization Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, formerly known as the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. It leads tourism marketing efforts for Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke counties as well as the cities of Roanoke and Salem, where regional visitors collectively spent $923.1 million in 2024.

Currently, Wright is working with the region’s economic development leaders to launch a new “destination brand alignment.”

“We’re looking at how we can unify the brand to make a stronger regional identity, come up with a consistent narrative, and then position the region overall as a prime location for tourism, talent attraction and business investment,” Wright says.

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100 People to Meet in 2026: Rainmakers

These are the professionals who attract and grow businesses and industries, making the commonwealth wealthier.

BRIAN DONAHUE

DIRECTOR, PORTSMOUTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PORTSMOUTH

Having held multiple development roles in Portsmouth since 2009, Brian Donahue has developed a deep understanding of the city’s landscape and its business community. He became Portsmouth’s economic development director in 2022 and has since worked to strengthen the city’s reputation as a national leader in the maritime industry, build a thriving small business and startup ecosystem, and attract new housing developments across the city.

Looking ahead, Donahue expects to redevelop the downtown waterfront and revitalize Portsmouth’s new innovation district, dubbed the LINC, next to the Lincolnsville neighborhood. He also has his eye on expanding the city’s entertainment district, anchored by Rivers Casino Portsmouth.
“Portsmouth is a wonderful historic seaport community,” Donahue says, “but it’s also evolving, innovating and improving every day.”

Before joining Portsmouth’s economic development team in 2018, Donahue was the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s director of development, overseeing residential and commercial revitalization efforts.

ANGIE RODGERS

DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF RICHMOND, RICHMOND

Angie Rodgers took over as Richmond’s economic development director in August, migrating south from Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she oversaw 10 agencies as deputy chief administrative officer for economic development. Rodgers also previously served as chief of staff for Washington, D.C.’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development.

Rodgers is one of several new leaders in Richmond, including Mayor Danny Avula and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II, who has called Rodgers “a trusted leader who can harness [economic] opportunity in a way that uplifts our community.”

Rodgers has a bachelor’s degree in government and African American studies from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

MICHAEL STEELE

PRESIDENT AND CEO, ACTIVATION CAPITAL, RICHMOND

In August, Michael Steele was appointed head of Activation Capital, the Richmond-based support organization for startups in life sciences, a field expected to expand dramatically soon in Central Virginia.

The accelerator arm of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, Activation Capital developed the 34-acre Virginia Bio+Tech Park and launched Frontier BioHealth, an accelerator program.

A James Madison University graduate and Virginia native, Steele previously worked more than two decades in leadership roles for biotech companies, and he calls this era in Virginia’s life sciences industry a “pivotal moment.” In addition to the pharmaceutical hub expanding in Petersburg and Richmond, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca announced this fall they will build manufacturing plants in Goochland and Albemarle counties. The two pharma giants and Merck also have pledged $120 million to develop a workforce training center in Central Virginia.

SEAN M. WASHINGTON

DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF NORFOLK, NORFOLK

As Norfolk’s economic development leader, Sean Washington leads with a collaborative, partnership-driven approach. He joined the city’s economic development department in 2017 and advanced to assistant director before being named interim director in 2022.

The following year, he became the city’s permanent economic director, going on since then to announce 22 new projects expected to produce 1,449 jobs and more
than $295 million in capital investment.

A Hampton University graduate, Washington was an assistant vice president for Truist bank before entering the public sector. He also serves on the boards of Volunteer Hampton Roads and Parents Against Bullying VA. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, exercising and traveling with his wife, Jessica.

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100 People to Meet in 2026: Impact Makers

Whether expanding broadband access or leading celebrations of Virginia’s role in the United States’ birth, these impactful Virginians are changing the commonwealth for the better.

TAMARAH HOLMES

OFFICE OF BROADBAND DIRECTOR, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND

Based at the state Department of Housing and Community Development, Tamarah Holmes is the state’s broadband guru, focusing on expanding reliable high-speed internet access across the entire state.

Holmes is the chief architect of the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, started in 2017 to connect remote, underserved communities statewide — a massive project that has involved providing broadband to hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and other facilities. In 2026, Holmes expects to have connected 370,000 street addresses to the internet, and in the future, her office will focus on the remaining 133,000 unserved locations, using federal funding.

In addition to her broadband duties, Holmes is the state’s Appalachian Regional Commission program manager, representing 25 counties and eight cities in Southwest Virginia to spur economic growth there — a position she’s held for more than a decade. Holmes, who previously held administrative posts for Chesterfield County and the City of Richmond, earned her Ph.D. in public policy and administration at Virginia Commonwealth University.

STEVE HOPKINS

MAJORITY OWNER, RIVERVIEW FARMS CATTLE, LOUISA COUNTY

A retired 29-year Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, Steve Hopkins is a sixth-generation farmer whose 1,200-acre Riverview Farms Cattle operation in Louisa County annually runs 300 cows, develops 300 bulls and raises 153,000 turkeys, in addition to growing hay, corn and sorghum to feed its livestock.

In July, Hopkins was named the 2025 Virginia Farmer of the Year by the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition and competed in the Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest, although a Georgia farmer went on to win.

In 1998, Hopkins founded the Central Virginia Cattlemen Association, an organization of about 300 farmers that markets about 10,000 head of cattle annually. He continues to serve as the association’s marketing director and serves on the boards of his local co-op and Growmark.

Riverview Farms Cattle is also a nominee for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s 2026 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award, the winners of which will be announced in late January.

CHERYL McLESKEY

PRESIDENT AND CEO, McLESKEY, VIRGINIA BEACH

Cheryl McLeskey wears many hats, leading her family’s Virginia Beach real estate and leasing company and as a health care philanthropist.
She’s also a licensed pilot, champion fisher and accomplished swimmer who inherited her love of adventure and the ocean from her father, a World War II frogman.

She assumed leadership of McLeskey in 2012, following the death of her husband, F. Wayne McLeskey Jr., the company’s founder and an influential developer in the region.

Five years after her husband died from lymphoma, McLeskey was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. After overcoming this challenge, she donated funding this year for Sentara Health to purchase a new 3D mobile mammography van to perform tests and screen for breast cancer in underserved Hampton Roads communities.

She also co-founded the McLeskey Family Foundation, supporting organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, JT’s Camp Grom and the Military Aviation Museum.

KAREN SCHERBERGER

CEO AND PRESIDENT, SAIL250 VIRGINIA, NORFOLK

After decades of leadership experience in tourism, special events and nonprofit management, Karen Scherberger is now in charge of a massive maritime celebration for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Scheduled for June 2026, Sail250 will attract more than 60 tall ships and naval vessels from around the world to Virginia, eventually docking in Norfolk.

Scherberger, who served as CEO of event planning company Norfolk Festevents for nearly 40 years and is now its executive chairman, is overseeing all aspects of planning, partnerships and programming for the Sail250 event, which is anticipated to draw more than 3 million visitors next summer to the Chesapeake Bay region. The fleet of ships also will come to Boston, New York, Baltimore and New Orleans next year, and
10 Virginia cities will host some of the ships.

CHERYL WILSON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VA250, RICHMOND

Cheryl Wilson was a natural pick to lead the commission charged with celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday and highlighting Virginia’s pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War. A former deputy clerk for the Virginia House of Delegates, Wilson led a similar commission that planned the state’s Civil War sesquicentennial events in 2015. She also served as executive director of the state’s World Wars I and II commission, marking the 100th and 75th anniversaries of those conflicts.

Under Wilson’s leadership, VA250 already has a mobile history museum traveling the state and is shepherding numerous exhibits and events, such as the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Fifth Virginia Convention, which will be held in Williamsburg on May 15, 2026.
Created by the General Assembly, the VA250 Commission will last through 2031, when Virginians commemorate events that led the British to surrender at Yorktown in 1781.

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Family Law/ Domestic Relations 2025

Carolyn Abbate
The Irving Law Firm
Arlington County

Luis A. Abreu
Luis A. Abreu PLLC
Danville

Alice Ahearn
Eris Law Group
Alexandria

Debra C. Albiston
Albiston Brannon & Gilbert
Virginia Beach

Carmelou Aloupas
Aloupas Law
Chesapeake

Hannane Amanpour
McCandlish Lillard
Fairfax

Regina Amick
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Allison W. Anders
Chaing Anders
Virginia Beach

Carly M. Anderson
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Susan C. Armstrong
Armstrong Law Firm
Richmond

Erica Baez
Erica Baez Law
Chesterfield County

Nupur S. Bal
Bowen Ten Long & Bal
Henrico County

Edward D. Barnes
Barnes & Diehl
Henrico County

Kyle Bartol
Offit Kurman
Vienna

Mollie C. Barton
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

Yolanda Beasley
Invictus Law
Virginia Beach

Taylor Klauza Beckelman
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Scott Ivars Bemberis
Clifford Bemberis & Duke
Chesterfield County

Danielle R. Bergman
Parks Zeigler
Chesapeake

Dale Truitt Berrett
Kaufman & Canoles
Virginia Beach

Michelle A. Bieber
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Jeffrey R. Blair
The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller
Virginia Beach

Alexandra D. Bowen
Bowen Ten Long & Bal
Henrico County

Cassie Bowns
Troxell Leigh
Leesburg

Marc A. Boyko
BoykoNapier
Henrico County

Jennifer Bradley
Mullett Dove & Bradley Family Law
Arlington County

Mallory Taylor Brennan
Owen & Owens
Midlothian

Sarah G. Buitrago
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Cynthia L. Chaing
Chaing Anders
Virginia Beach

Mary B. Chamberlin
Chamberlin Law
Lynchburg

Peter V. Chiusano
Chiusano & Associates
Virginia Beach

Julie M. Cillo
Owen & Owens
Midlothian

David Rust Clarke
Blankingship & Keith
Fairfax

Joseph A. Condo
Offit Kurman
Vienna

Deanna D. Cook
Law Offices of Deanna D. Cook
Glen Allen

James Ray Cottrell
Cottrell Fletcher & Cottrell
Alexandria

Kristina A. Cruz
Premier Family Law Group
Reston

Julie Hottle Day
Culin, Sharp, Autry & Day
Fairfax

Dawn DeBoer
DeBoer South
Henrico County

Irene C. Delcamp
Florance Gordon Brown
Richmond

Lawrence D. Diehl
Barnes & Diehl
Henrico County

Jessica H. Dixon
Resilience Law Group
Virginia Beach

Laura Dove
Mullett Dove & Bradley Family Law
Arlington County

Michael S. Ewing
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

William T. Fitzhugh
Rosen & Fitzhugh
Chesterfield County

Lynn Fletcher
Lynn Fletcher, Attorney at Law
Arlington County

Sherry A. Fox
Fox Family Formation
Ashland

Melanie A. Friend
CowanGates
Chesterfield County

Richard E. Garriott Jr.
Garriott Maurer
Virginia Beach

Julie Gerock
Maddox & Gerock
Falls Church

David L. Ginsberg
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Brittany Gordon
Steidle & Gordon
Roanoke

Tashina M. Gorgone
Maddox & Gerock
Falls Church

Daniel L. Gray
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Carolyn M. Grimes
Friedman Grimes Meinken & Leischner
Alexandria
Ameet I. Habib

Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach
David Hagan

Friedman Grimes
Meinken & Leischner
Alexandria

Virginia C. Haizlip
McCandlish Lillard
Fairfax

Sandra L. Havrilak
Blankingship & Keith
Fairfax

Lynn E. Hawkins
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Brian M. Hirsch
Hirsch & Ehlenberger
Reston

Sarah W. Houck
PLDR Law
Lynchburg

Mary C. Huff
Blankingship & Keith
Fairfax

Mary Wilkins Hunt
Family Law Associates of Richmond
Henrico County

Joshua B. Isaacs
Redmon, Peyton & Braswell
Alexandria

Kristen Konrad Johnstone
Johnstone Law
Roanoke

Naveed Kalantar
Garriott Maurer
Virginia Beach

Julia E. Keller
Keller Law Group
Virginia Beach

Shannon Kroeger
Family First Law Group
Alexandria

Kristen L. Kugel
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Christian M. Lapham
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Kara Lee
Lee Lopez Law
Arlington County

Harris W. Leiner
Friedman Law Firm
Chesterfield County

Jessica L. Leischner
Friedman Grimes Meinken & Leischner
Alexandria

Bretta Z. Lewis
Pender & Coward
Virginia Beach

Richard Lewis Locke
Locke Family Law
Henrico County

Mikhail N. Lopez
Lee Lopez Law
Arlington County

Ann N. Luu
Kelly Byrnes Danker & Luu
Fairfax County

Linh H. Ly
Law Office of Linh H. Ly
Fairfax County

Erika E. MacCormac
Winslow McCurry & MacCormac
Midlothian

Christopher Macturk
Evolution Divorce & Family Law
Henrico County

Reeves W. Mahoney
Mahoney Richmond Thurston
Virginia Beach

Besianne Tavss Maiden
Tavss Fletcher
Norfolk

Patrick L. Maurer
Garriott Maurer
Virginia Beach

Michael C. May
May Law
Fairfax

Jennifer McCammon
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Tatiana E. Mendez
Artemisa Law
Virginia Beach

Player B. Michelsen
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

Heather Scott Miller
Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White
Leesburg

Marcus K. Mitchell
Pender & Coward
Virginia Beach

Lindsay Jefferies Mohler
Troxell Leigh
Leesburg

Sarah E. Morris
Morris Williams
Norfolk

Jennifer Mullett
Mullett Dove & Bradley Family Law
Arlington County

Mary A. Napier
BoykoNapier
Henrico County

Laurie Forbes Neff
Next Chapter Family Law & Mediation
Fairfax County

Sarah Nelson
Jackson Nelson
Virginia Beach

Nathan J. Olson
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Mary Burkey Owens
Owen & Owens
Midlothian

Kimberly Hughes Phillips
Jackson Nelson
Norfolk

Sarah A. Piper
Hicks Crandall Juhl
Fairfax County

Kelly A. Powers
Miles & Stockbridge
Washington, D.C.

Joy Lee Price
Caskie & Frost
Lynchburg

Dianya Pu
Livesay & Myers
Fairfax County

Colleen M. Quinn
Quinn Law Centers
Henrico County

Cynthia M. Radomsky
Powell Radomsky
Fairfax County

Seth J. Ragosta
Flora Pettit
Charlottesville

Kimberlee Harris Ramsey
Florance Gordon Brown
Richmond

Steven L. Raynor
Raynor & Farmer
Charlottesville

Nicholas D. Renninger
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Andrew T. Richmond
Mahoney Richmond Thurston
Virginia Beach

Janipher W. Robinson
Robinson & Greene Attorneys at Law
Richmond

Anne L. Roddy
Barnes & Diehl
Henrico County

Brooke C. Rosen
Woods Rogers
Roanoke

Philip L. Russo
Philip L. Russo Jr. PC
Virginia Beach

Craig W. Sampson
Barnes & Diehl
Henrico County

Douglas J. Sanderson
McCandlish Lillard
Fairfax

Sean P. Schmergel
Schmergel & Mersberger
Arlington County

Jill C. Seiferth
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Maria Simon
Geller Law Group
Fairfax County

Kate Skarvan
Ernest Law Group
Virginia Beach

Stephanie J. Smith
Cooper Ginsberg Gray
Fairfax County

Michelle Anthony Snell
Winslow McCurry & MacCormac
Midlothian

Briana A. Stevens
Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver
Harrisonburg

Andrea R. Stiles
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

Wyatt Taylor
Owen & Owens
Midlothian

Lori D. Thompson
Spilman Thomas & Battle
Roanoke

Nicole M. Thurston
Mahoney Richmond Thurston
Virginia Beach

Jessica N. Trotman
Mahoney Richmond Thurston
Virginia Beach

Jenni S. Tynes
Kaufman & Canoles
Virginia Beach

Richard Wexell
Wexell Milman
Fairfax

Craig Elliott White
Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White
Leesburg

Leslie A. Williams
Morris Williams
Norfolk

Gwen Massie Wind
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

Alexandra D. Wood
Chaing Anders
Virginia Beach

Christy J. Wood
Parks Zeigler
Virginia Beach

Shelly F. Wood
Parks Zeigler
Chesapeake

Clayton A. Worthington
Stiles Ewing Powers
Henrico County

Julia A. Yolles
Blankingship & Keith
Fairfax

David Zangrilli
Premier Family Law Group
Reston

Quillyn L. Zebedeo
The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller
Virginia Beach

Administrative/ Government/ Legislative 2025

Theodore F. Adams III
McGuireWoods
Richmond

David B. Albo
Williams Mullen
Tysons

Patrick T. Andriano
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Anthony H. Anikeeff
Williams Mullen
Tysons

Adam A. Bartolanzo
Miles & Stockbridge
Washington, D.C.

F. Jesse Bausch
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Michael R. Bedsaul
Sands Anderson
Christiansburg

Dylan D. Bishop
Willcox Savage
Norfolk

Daniel G. Bloor
CarMax Enterprise Services
Goochland County

Wilfredo Bonilla Jr.
Crenshaw, Ware & Martin
Norfolk

Christopher S. Boynton
Virginia Beach Office of the City Attorney
Virginia Beach

Nicole Brenner
Seven Hills Strategy Group
Richmond

Derek J. Brostek
Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver
Harrisonburg

John K. Byrum Jr.
Woods Rogers
Richmond

John F. Cafferky
Blankingship & Keith
Fairfax

Brett Callahan
Fairfax County Office of the County Attorney
Fairfax County

Ryan K. Callender
Squire Patton Boggs
Washington, D.C.

Gerald C. Canaan II
Byrne Canaan Law
Richmond

Nicole S. Cheuk
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Whittington W. Clement
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Richmond

Matthew M. Cobb
Williams Mullen
Richmond

Martin R. Crim
Sands Anderson
Manassas

James M. “Jim” Daniel
Hancock Daniel
Glen Allen

Darius K. Davenport
Crenshaw, Ware & Martin
Norfolk

Thomas K. David
Reston Law Group
Reston

John G. “Chip” Dicks
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Richmond

Stephen Vincent Durbin
Sands Anderson
Christiansburg

Will Egen
Virginia Commission on Youth
Richmond

Leonard L. Fleisig
Willcox Savage
Norfolk

Michelle G. Foy
Norfolk City Attorney’s Office
Norfolk

Brian Greene
GreeneHurlocker

Henrico County
Eric A. Gregory
Hefty Wiley & Gore
Richmond

Michael Tolley Gwinn
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Greg D. Habeeb
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Richmond

Rachael C. Haley
Berenzweig Leonard
Tysons

Jason J. Ham
Litten & Sipe
Harrisonburg

Erin M. Harrigan
Troutman Pepper Locke
Richmond

Paul Hawkins
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Norfolk

Max Hlavin
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Carlos L. Hopkins
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Richmond

David Husar
Vanderpool Frostick & Nishanian
Manassas

W. Scott Johnson
Hancock Daniel
Glen Allen

John-Garrett Kemper
Mezzanine Government Group
Chesapeake

Anne Leigh Kerr
Kerr Government Strategies
Richmond

Bradford A. King
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Kamala Lannetti
Virginia Beach School Board
Virginia Beach

Suzanne M. Lim
Byrne Canaan Law
Richmond

Vishwa Bhargava Link
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Thomas Alan Lisk
Cozen O’Connor
Richmond

Heather Hays Lockerman
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Alexander M. Macaulay
Macaulay Satterlund & Sessa
Richmond

Courtney M. Malveaux
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Anthony J. Mazzeo
Woods Rogers
Norfolk

Ashley G. Moss
Woods Rogers
Richmond

Dale G. Mullen
Whiteford Taylor & Preston
Richmond

Edward A. Mullen
Seven Hills Strategy Group
Richmond

Christopher R. Nolen
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Pamela Y. O’Berry
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Lysandra Pachuta
Pachuta & Kammerman
Reston

Jeff Palmore
Capitol Square Strategies
Richmond

Stephen C. Piepgrass
Troutman Pepper Locke
Richmond

Bernard Pishko
Norfolk City Attorney’s Office
Norfolk

Steven Popps
Office of the Attorney General of Virginia
Richmond

Joan Heishman Proper
The Law Office of Joan H. Proper
Manassas

Michael J. Quinan
ThompsonMcMullan
Richmond

Adam S. Rafal
Woods Rogers
Norfolk

Stephen P. Ramaley
Miles & Stockbridge
Richmond

Cliona Mary Robb
ThompsonMcMullan
Richmond

Elaine Sanderlin Ryan
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Robert L. Samuel Jr.
Pender & Coward
Virginia Beach

Adam Shall
Klein Rowell & Shall
Virginia Beach

Daniel M. Siegel
Sands Anderson
Richmond

Meade A. Spotts
Spotts Fain
Richmond

Mark D. Stiles
Virginia Beach Office of the City Attorney
Virginia Beach

Kerry K. Stolz
Pender & Coward
Virginia Beach

Joanna Suyes
Suyes Law
Richmond

Ashley L. Taylor Jr.
Troutman Pepper Locke
Richmond

John R. Tolle
Baker, Cronogue, Tolle & Werfel
McLean

Benjamin H. Traynham
Hancock Daniel
Glen Allen

Mark M. Viani
Bean Kinney & Korman
Arlington County

Daniel R. Weckstein
Woods Rogers
Norfolk

Leslie A. Winneberger
Harman Claytor Corriganb& Wellman
Glen Allen

HEARD AROUND VIRGINIA: December 2025

McLean government tech contractor BigBear.ai announced in early November it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Warren County startup Ask Sage for $250 million. Ask Sage is a fast-growing, secure generative artificial intelligence platform tailored for defense and national security. BigBear.ai expects the acquisition to close in the late fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026. Founded in 2023, Ask Sage supports more than 100,000 users on 16,000 government teams across hundreds of commercial companies. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Arlington County AI cloud computing company Corvex said in early November it is merging with California-based Movano Health in an all-stock deal that will create a public company. Movano is best known as the maker of the Evie Ring, a wearable health care device. As part of the deal, Movano is allowed to market its current assets, including the Evie Ring, for sale, as well as its cuffless blood pressure and noninvasive glucose monitoring technologies. The combined company, which will operate under the Corvex name and be based in Arlington, will solely focus on AI infrastructure. (DC Inno)

New York-based artificial intelligence software company Dataminr plans to acquire Arlington County-based cybersecurity firm ThreatConnect in a deal valued at $290 million, the former announced Oct. 21. Founded in 2009, Dataminr uses AI to detect and classify cyber threats. ThreatConnect, founded in 2011, is also focused on helping clients analyze and respond to cybersecurity threats. With 170 employees, ThreatConnect has about 250 major enterprise and government organizations as clients, including one-third of the Fortune 50, according to the company. Dataminr says that its clients include more than 100 U.S. government agencies, over 20 international governments and half of the Fortune 100. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Istari Digital, an Arlington County developer of infrastructure enabling AI-directed workflows across teams, tools and classification levels, announced in late October it had acquired Dgraph from San Francisco-based owner Hypermode. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Dgraph is a graph database most commonly used for building knowledge graphs. Founded in 2022, Istari said it plans to continue supporting Dgraph’s open-source community while integrating its graph capabilities into the company’s data fabric. (Potomac Tech Wire)

Lightshift Energy, an Arlington County battery energy storage project developer founded in 2019, landed a new $75 million credit facility from Ohio-based KeyBanc Capital Markets, it said in mid-October. The company will use the funds to support its pipeline of energy storage projects across the East Coast, at a time when the U.S. is experiencing increased demand for energy storage. The flexible credit facility, which includes a term loan, construction-to-term loan and tax equity bridge loan, will back six of Lightshift’s operational projects and advance another 10 that are under or nearing construction. (Potomac Tech Wire)

Sixteen University of Richmond students will work to bring Korra, a protein coffee containing electrolytes from coconut water and sea salt, to market. The product won the demo and pitch competition of the Robins School of Business’ Bench Top Innovations course, according to an early November news release. Four teams pitched canned coffee and tea beverages to a panel of judges in the fifth annual competition, dubbed the Great Bake Off, and all students in the course will work on launching Korra. The canned coffee will be available for sale in retail stores around Richmond and online in early 2026. (News release)

Virginia 500 Spotlight: WAYNE F. WILBANKS

FIRST JOB: I worked in a Baskin-Robbins in downtown Chicago. Lost my appetite for ice cream for at least a decade.

ADVICE FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADS: Several items of advice:

Choose your business environment or partners very carefully as it will reflect directly on your success.
Take entrepreneurial risks early in your career as you have plenty of time to rebound if you don’t succeed on the first try.
Study AI seriously as it will have a profound impact on a number of professions and will be critical to your career choices.

FAVORITE FASHION ACCESSORY: Floppy hat and arm protection to avoid skin cancer! Years in the sun are taking their toll, and I am my dermatologists’ favorite client.

WHAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT ME: I am an architecture and design enthusiast with interest in the art nouveau, art deco, Prairie School and midcentury modern periods.

DID YOU KNOW? As a student at Duke University, Wilbanks created an independent study course, for which he worked with a professor and the university’s treasurer to learn about equity portfolios and portfolio theory.

FOR THE RECORD December 2025

Central Virginia

Pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co. and Merck & Co. have committed a cumulative $120 million to develop a workforce training center for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Central Virginia. The companies, each of which plans to build major manufacturing facilities in Virginia; the state government, including Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp.; and multiple Virginia colleges and universities signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the MOU at an event announcing the partnership on Oct. 31. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Billionaire Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner Rob Citrone and his wife, Cindy, are donating more than $50 million to Hampden-Sydney College — the largest single gift in the school’s 250-year history — to launch a full-tuition scholarship program for top prospective students. The Citrone Scholars Program will offer four-year, merit-based scholarships to help Hampden-Sydney attract and educate more “young men of intellect, character and purpose,” according to an early November news release from the college. Rob Citrone, co-founder of hedge fund Discovery Capital Management, graduated from the college in 1987 and serves on Hampden-Sydney’s board of trustees. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Utah-based Civica will begin selling a type of long-acting insulin on Jan. 1, 2026, although it will not come from the nonprofit drug maker’s Petersburg facility. Civica has reached a multiyear agreement with Biocon Ltd. subsidiary Biocon Biologics, a pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in India, which will manufacture glargine-yfgn insulin in Malaysia under Biocon Biologics’ existing U.S. market approval. The agreement creates an exclusive distributorship arrangement in which Biocon Biologics will manufacture and supply the medicine to Civica, and Civica will distribute, promote and sell the medicine in the U.S. under a separate Civica label and trade dress. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Following five hours of public comment, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors approved in the early morning of Nov. 7 a technology overlay district plan that will allow the construction of data centers in undeveloped swaths of land in the county’s east end. Goochland currently has no data centers. The district along Route 288 will contain special zoning allowing certain businesses, including a small modular nuclear reactor, a natural gas peaking plant or a utility generating station. It will also require buffers between the buildings and the roads and certain design standards. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Amid forecasts of dismal third quarter earnings, Bill Nash is out as president and CEO at national used-vehicle retailer CarMax, even as its chief rival, Carvana, marked record quarterly results. Nash, who led the Goochland County-based Fortune 500 company for close to a decade, is also stepping down from the company’s board as of Dec. 1. CarMax board member David McCreight, who previously served as CEO of online retail platform Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Holdings, has been named interim president and CEO. Former CarMax CEO Tom Folliard, the current board chair, has been named interim executive chair of the board. He served as CarMax’s CEO from 2006 to 2016. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gifted $50 million to Virginia State University — the largest gift from a single donor in the school’s 143-year history, the Ettrick university announced Oct. 30. The record donation marks Scott’s second gift to VSU in five years. In 2020, she donated $30 million to the public historically Black land-grant university, which has about 5,000 students. VSU will use the money to “expand its efforts to transform lives through education and continue the mission outlined in the university’s strategic plan,” the university said. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Eastern Virginia

Amazon opened its massive 3.2 million-square-foot, highly automated fulfillment center in Virginia Beach at the end of September, hiring hundreds of workers to process customer orders alongside robots. According to spokesperson Sam Fisher, more than 700 people have been hired for the new facility on Dam Neck Road, with plans to hire an unspecified number of additional workers. Starting salaries begin at $19 per hour. The five-floor fulfillment center marks the second and final phase of a $350 million expansion in Virginia Beach that included a 219,000-square-foot delivery station, which opened last year at 2201 Harpers Road. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

An energy infrastructure manufacturer focused on data centers has established its first U.S. plant in James City County, a $5.225 million investment, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced in early November. Dublin, Ireland-based CEL Critical Power‘s new 400,000-square-foot facility will produce power systems that will serve data centers throughout the United States. CEL already has 50 employees at its new facility across engineering, research and development, finance, management and sales. The number of jobs is expected to rise to 250 within the next year and 500 by 2030. CEL has signed a long-term lease on a recently constructed building for the project. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

On Nov. 5, Newport News Shipbuilding laid off 167 employees who had been furloughed earlier this year. A company spokesperson said the decision came “after careful review of our salaried workforce and business needs.” The layoffs mark the latest step in a workforce realignment that began in May, when the company announced plans to furlough 471 salaried shipbuilders for up to five months starting June 2. About a third of the previously furloughed employees had been laid off. Other furloughed shipbuilders returned to NNS during the furlough period, while 99 left the company voluntarily, either through resignations or retirements. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

In a first for Virginia’s gaming industry, workers at Rivers Casino Portsmouth approved a three-year union contract with a 95% yes vote. Represented by Teamsters Local 822, 29 slot attendants at the casino are now the first casino workforce in the state to ratify a collective bargaining agreement. The contract covers pay, locks in employer-paid health care coverage, provides protections from at-will employment and grants additional paid time off. Union leaders, who announced the vote in late October, say the deal will set a precedent for wages and workplace protections as casinos continue to expand across Virginia. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Virginia Beach wants another major sports venue near the Oceanfront and recently issued a request for proposals seeking a developer to build and operate a sports venue on a 28.6-acre property directly adjacent to the convention and sports centers along 19th Street between Parks Avenue and Birdneck Road. Potential uses for the “action sports facility” include skateboarding, rock climbing, BMX, indoor water and ice sports or other compatible indoor sports uses. The proposed site is currently used for surface parking. Development proposals are due Dec. 5. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

PEOPLE

Langley Federal Credit Union in November announced that Gaurav Bhatia will be its new president and CEO. Bhatia will succeed Tom Ryan, who is retiring at the end of 2025 after 13 years leading the Newport News-based credit union, the fourth largest in Virginia, with $4 billion in assets. Bhatia has more than 20 years of executive experience in financial services, technology and business transformation. He was most recently chief marketing, digital and experience officer at Tysons-based PenFed, the second largest credit union based in Virginia. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Northern Virginia

McLean-based software company Appian presented arguments in late October before the Supreme Court of Virginia that it should receive a record-breaking $2.04 billion jury award in a trade secrets trial decided in 2022 — a jackpot overturned by three appeals court justices last year. In 2022, Appian won what was estimated to be the largest jury award in Virginia state court history from rival Pegasystems. The state’s high court agreed to hear a petition from Appian to reinstate the judgment, and the company raised four errors it believes the Court of Appeals made. The court also heard Pega’s cross-appeal issues. A ruling is expected in 2026. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

In late October, the Stafford County Planning Commission voted 6-1 to defer requests from Texas retail chain Buc-ee’s for a rezoning and conditional use permit to build a 74,000-square-foot mega travel center in the county off Interstate 95. The matter will be revisited Jan. 14, 2026. The Virginia Department of Transportation made 86 comments on the traffic impact analysis and generalized development plan for the center, causing the planning commission’s chair to ask why the body was considering the application at this time with transportation issues unresolved. Dozens of county residents also spoke, many airing worries about potential noise and pollution in their neighborhoods. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

A future data center campus in western Prince William County has sold for a staggering $700 million, ranking it among the top deals for raw land in U.S. history and proving again there is seemingly no price ceiling for fully entitled data center assemblages. Stanley Martin Homes sold Devlin Tech Park to Amazon Data Services, Amazon.com’s data center arm, according to two sources with knowledge of the deal, which closed Oct. 31. The Bristow site is entitled for up to 3.5 million square feet of data centers and up to three substations. (Washington Business Journal)

Vantage Data Centers plans to invest $2 billion to build a data center campus in Stafford County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Nov. 6. The investment is expected to create 1,100 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs after the campus reaches full capacity. The new campus, dubbed VA4, will house three data centers totaling about 929,000 square feet on 82 acres. The first building is scheduled to open in late 2027, and the project will bring the company’s statewide capacity to 782 megawatts. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

PEOPLE

Arlington Economic Development Director Ryan Touhill left his job Nov. 7 to move to Arizona, where he took a job as Phoenix’s community and economic director. Kate Ange, AED’s deputy director, was appointed acting director. Touhill joined the department in 2022, coming from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, where he was senior vice president and chief of staff. In Arlington, he and his team helped secure CoStar’s headquarters relocation from Washington, D.C., announced in 2024. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Toni Townes-Whitley is out as CEO of Fortune 500 government contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), the Reston-based business announced Oct. 23. Jim Reagan, former Leidos executive vice president and chief financial officer, has been installed as interim CEO, effective immediately. He has been part of SAIC’s board since 2023. Townes-Whitley joined SAIC in 2023 as its chief executive and was one of only two current Fortune 500 CEOs who are Black women. The company did not give a specific reason for her departure. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Roanoke/ Lynchburg/ New River Valley

The Blacksburg Partnership, in collaboration with the town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech and Downtown Blacksburg, announced Nov. 6 the completion of a five-year retail and downtown action plan. Developed through a partnership with Alabama-based consultancy Retail Strategies, the plan provides market-driven strategies across four focus areas: policy and administration, design, tourism and promotion, and economic vitality. Several major initiatives are already in motion, including advancing streetscape improvements, such as widened sidewalks, on Draper Road. The plan emphasizes measurable economic outcomes such as tracking the number of new retailers and restaurants. (News release)

Carilion Clinic President and CEO Steve Arner announced Oct. 28 that the health system has raised more than $105.6 million in its fundraising campaign for the Carilion Taubman Cancer Center, exceeding the campaign’s $100 million goal. The seven-story, 260,000-square-foot cancer center, to be located on Carilion’s Riverside campus, is expected to open in 2028. Carilion leaders also announced the launch of a new $50 million initiative to bring proton therapy — a radiation treatment that precisely delivers a beam of protons to destroy cancer cells — to the center. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Roanoke Vice Mayor Terry McGuire opposes placing a casino at the Berglund Center. McGuire said the city could benefit from the potential revenue a casino built at the events center would be expected to generate. However, he’s concerned about the possible negative impacts, including that it could hook customers on gambling. He also said such a project should have at least one Roanoke Valley state legislator backing it, but not one supports the plan presently. The project would require approval from the General Assembly and a local referendum. (Roanoke Rambler)

PEOPLE

Botetourt County announced Oct. 30 that it has hired Kyle Rosner as its new director of economic development. Rosner succeeds Ken McFadyen, who left in May to become Alleghany County’s administrator. A native of Frederick County, Rosner has a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Radford University. Before joining Botetourt, he was a senior adviser at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where he worked on the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant program. Before that, he was director of government affairs for All Points Broadband. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

After more than a quarter-century with the credit union that is now Freedom First, Paul Phillips will retire as president and CEO at the end of 2026, according to an Oct. 29 announcement. He will be succeeded by Linda Johnson, currently the Roanoke-headquartered credit union’s chief financial officer. Phillips joined Roanoke GE Federal Credit Union — which at that time served employees of Roanoke Electric Steel and General Electric — in 1998 as vice president of lending. In 2000, he was named president and CEO. Freedom First had 62,702 members at the end of 2024. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Julie Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen dean of Virginia Tech‘s College of Engineering and special adviser to the president, has been named the university’s next executive vice president and provost, Virginia Tech announced Nov. 4. The executive vice president and provost is the university’s second-highest official and serves as acting president in the president’s absence. Ross will assume the role Jan. 10, 2026. She succeeds Cyril Clarke, who will return to the faculty. Ross joined Virginia Tech in 2017 as the first female dean of the College of Engineering. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Shenandoah Valley

After repeated delays, All Points Broadband says initial fiber construction is underway in Rappahannock County, part of an eight-county regional broadband project launched with state funding in 2022. Crews are building the first network cabinet, with fiber-to-home trenching slated to begin in late October. County supervisors, frustrated by continued setbacks, have discussed possible exit plans if visible progress doesn’t follow soon. The $5.9 million county investment — funded by local foundations, federal relief money and the school board — includes a provision for unspent funds to be returned to the county if All Points fails to meet the state’s 2026 completion deadline. (Rappahannock News)

The Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 6 unanimously voted to reject a special-use permit for a travel center and truck stop that would have been built on 12 acres on a 32-acre tract on the corner of State Routes 11 and 340. Atlanta-based convenience store operator RaceTrac proposed a project with 20 car pumps, 12 truck and 32 passenger vehicle parking spaces and an 8,100-square-foot convenience store. Residents of Riverheads and the surrounding area opposed it, saying the area already had similar businesses and that the travel center would generate too much traffic in an already congested area. (WHSV 3)

James Madison University announced in October that nearly 66% of its 2024 graduates with known employment outcomes (1,542) are working in Virginia, many in teaching and nursing, two fields facing statewide shortages. Overall, 95.2% of graduates found employment, continued their education or entered military or fellowship programs within six months. JMU’s College of Business had the highest workforce entry rate at 84%, followed by the College of Integrated Science and Engineering at 79%. Most graduates found jobs in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and nearby states, with Northern Virginia employing the largest share. (News release)

In-home care provider Right at Home Winchester celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Launched in 2015, the company employs 90 people, including 83 certified nursing assistants who assist clients in the northern Shenandoah Valley with daily living tasks, enabling them to remain at home. The private provider offers free services to veterans through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Over the years, the company has faced numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it ultimately persevered, said owner Peter Lawrence, crediting his team for the company’s success. (The Winchester Star)

Starting on Feb. 3, 2026, Shenandoah Valley Airport, located in Weyers Cave, will offer Shenandoah Valley residents daily direct flights to Chicago. The airport announced that its new flight carrier, American Eagle, operated by SkyWest Airlines, will provide daily service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. SkyWest had previously served the airport from 2018 until 2022 before leaving due to a pilot shortage. The airline has since made significant investments in training new pilots, enabling it to resume serving smaller airports. (Daily News-Record)

At a presentation in Stephens City hosted by newly formed environmental advocacy group Winchester-area Interfaith Stewards of the Earth (WISE), Julie Bolthouse of the nonprofit Piedmont Environmental Council warned residents that Virginia’s data center boom, driven by generative AI, poses major energy and infrastructure challenges, and that costs would be passed to ratepayers. She said the world is racing to have the smartest AI possible, resulting in data centers increasing in size to try and achieve that goal. She said there are 60 million square feet of data centers built or under construction in Virginia and another 350 million square feet planned. (The Winchester Star)

Southern Virginia

The Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor, or BRIC, announced its official launch Oct. 31. A business-led nonprofit uniting leaders from Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke, Blacksburg and the counties in between, BRIC will work to transform what it calls a “megaregion” into the state’s fourth economic engine, joining Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. BRIC has a founding board of more than 40 of the region’s business leaders. The organization’s co-chairs are Heywood Fralin, chairman of Roanoke-based Retirement Unlimited, and Ben Davenport, chairman of First Piedmont Corp., a Chatham-based waste management and recycling company. (News release)

The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce recently announced its 34th Leadership Southside cohort, which includes 55 participants. Of those, 21 are from Hitachi Energy in neighboring South Boston. To make room for the boost in participation, the chamber had to adjust the leadership program. It will now follow a hybrid model: Half of the sessions will be joint experiences for the full cohort, and the rest will be divided between the general group and the Hitachi cohort. (Danville Register & Bee)

On Oct. 28, Henry County announced its Board of Supervisors awarded a $995,000 contract to Timmons Group, a Richmond-based engineering and technology firm, to provide engineering and design services for Lot 3 at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre. The project is supported by a $750,000 grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. The rest of the funding came from the county’s industrial park budget. Engineering work on the 118-acre lot will include grading, infrastructure planning and environmental permitting. (News release)

Mulberry Creek Assisted Living in Martinsville will close at the end of the year. Parent company Kissito Healthcare announced on its website that the company will be ceasing operations. The Mulberry Creek Assisted Living facility is licensed in Virginia as an assisted living facility with 60 beds. It is designed for residents who need help with daily activities and medication management but do not necessarily require constant skilled nursing care, according to Kissito Healthcare’s website. (Martinsville Bulletin)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Nov. 7 at the New College Institute (NCI) for its newest occupant, the Minority Business Consortium (MBC). A nonprofit with a mission to assist underrepresented and minority entrepreneurs in Martinsville and Henry County with tailored technical assistance, business development resources, mentorship and training, MBC was founded in 2019. Services provided by MBC include capacity-building workshops, access to capital networks and partnership development across public and private sectors. MBC’s new office at NCI will serve as a hub for business development, resources, programming, training and collaboration. (Martinsville Bulletin)

PEOPLE

Danville City Manager Ken Larking announced two additions to the government leadership
team Oct. 23 amid growth in the region, most notably with the new Caesars Virginia casino resort. Larking selected Michael Adkins and Briana Evans for the newly created positions of assistant city managers. Adkins, who was the city’s chief financial officer, will retain that role while overseeing the finance, information technology and human resources departments and the budget office. Evans, who will start Dec. 1, comes from Redwood City, California, where she was that city’s equity and inclusion officer. (Danville Register & Bee)

Southwest Virginia

Dickenson County has found a new operator for its substance abuse treatment center, which was completed in January but has yet to open. County officials announced Oct. 23 they’d signed an agreement with Momentum Recovery and Wellness, which has an office in Louisville, Kentucky. The announcement came one day after the initial operator and subject of an ongoing FBI investigation, Addiction Recovery Care of Kentucky, announced it is being acquired by Florida-based Ethema Health. The change in operators had been in the works for several months because it was taking ARC too long to get the necessary state license to get the facility up and running, said Dana Cronkhite, executive director of the county’s industrial development authority. (Cardinal News)

Two Southwest Virginia affordable housing projects will receive a combined $1.2 million in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, which announced grant recipients on Nov. 3. People Incorporated Housing Group is sponsoring both projects: Abingdon Green II, which will receive $584,807, and Norton Green II, which will receive $633,065. Abingdon Green II is a rehabilitation of 32 multifamily rental units and is expected to cost $7.18 million to develop. Norton Green II is rehabilitating 40 multifamily units in an $8.56 million project. The grants will be administered through Atlantic Union Bank. (Bristol Herald Courier)

VFP, a manufacturer of enclosures used to protect critical infrastructure like data centers, will invest $35 million to expand operations at its Scott County facility, a move expected to create 200 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Oct. 21. Founded in 1965 in Roanoke County, VFP began manufacturing products in Duffield in 1997. This is the company’s third expansion in five years, and it will help VFP meet demand from the data center and utility power industries. It’s expected to double production capacity. In 2024, the Duffield facility employed 350 workers. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

A modular housing production facility that will also provide construction workforce training will soon come to Russell County, where it is anticipated to create 89 jobs within five years. The project is supported in part by a $3 million loan, announced Oct. 29, from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to the Russell County Industrial Development Authority. The IDA will use the funding to purchase and renovate the former 92,000-square-foot Buster Brown Building in the Russell County Industrial Park. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Wellmore Energy Co. is again planning to lay off workers in Buchanan County. The metallurgical coal mining company plans to lay off 118 workers across several locations, according to notices sent in early October to the state government in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The company, a subsidiary of United Coal Co., expected the more recent round of layoffs to begin Dec. 6 and end by Dec. 19. Wellmore previously notified the state of the September layoffs of 72 workers in Buchanan. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

On Election Day, Wise County voters rejected a referendum that would have marked a first step toward creating a local electric authority to work with large businesses like data centers or advanced manufacturers that require lots of power. Officials had said the proposed authority would have focused on big commercial and industrial that use so much electricity that they would require new power plants, possibly next door to them. Residents who opposed the proposal had multiple objections. They said county officials failed to provide adequate information to voters and expressed concerns that an electric authority could be used to bypass public input on future project proposals. (Cardinal News)