Virginia Business sales manager named sales professional of year

Virginia Business won 12 awards in the Virginia Press Association‘s 2024 News & Advertising Contest, and Sales Manager Toni McCracken was named Outstanding Sales Professional of the Year, the state organization announced during an awards banquet held Saturday at the Omni Richmond Hotel.

“Toni’s career in Virginia media sales is remarkable. She is a mentor, a leader, and a driving force in our organization, and her dedication to her clients and the broader Virginia business community is evident in the trust and relationships she has built,” said Virginia Business Associate Publisher and Editor Richard Foster. “Toni exemplifies excellence, integrity, dedication and success in her field.”

“It was quite an honor to be recognized alongside the tremendous editorial and design talent at Virginia Business,” said McCracken, who tied for 2024 Outstanding Sales Professional of the Year with Sherry Quinley, sponsorship sales manager for Cardinal News.

The state press association’s annual contest recognizes excellence in design, writing, photography, illustrations and advertising among participating publications across Virginia for the previous calendar year. This year’s contest was judged by members of the Oregon Press Association. As a monthly business magazine, Virginia Business competes in the VPA‘s specialty publications category, which includes publications published less frequently than weekly as well as targeted and niche publications.

Virginia Business also received a first place award for in-depth or investigative reporting award for freelance writer Courteney Stuart’s feature story about a federal False Claims Act investigation into Sentara Health’s 2018 and 2019 insurance rates for Charlottesville-area residents on the Affordable Care Act health marketplace. Director of reporting for the Indianapolis-based Audiochuck podcast network, Stuart is a former news anchor and reporter for CBS19 News in Charlottesville and was editor in chief for C-ville Weekly.

“This is dense, sophisticated reporting, both explanatory and investigative. It’s tough to deliver an actuarial narrative, but this story does so deftly, and packs a big outrage factor,” the contest judges wrote in choosing Stuart’s story. “It’s nicely structured and paced. It provides the historical sweep and context on the ACA that’s necessary to understand the more detailed reporting on area rate factors, morbidity, certification language and risk adjustment payments that comes later. Very impressive.”

Additionally, Foster received a first-place award for commentary and column writing, and Deputy Editor Kate Andrews took first place for headline writing.

A photo of University of Virginia student protesters by freelance photographer Jay Paul won first place for general news photo, and a dynamic picture of student welders training at Tidewater Community College won pictorial photo first place for freelancer Mark Rhodes.

Virginia Business Art Director Joel Smith received first place awards in the Lifestyles and Professional Services advertising design categories.

Smith, Andrews, and photographers James Lee and Ashley Cowan also received a joint second place award for the magazine’s cover art, which included the magazine’s July 2024 Women in Leadership Awards cover. Smith also took third place for the magazine’s overall design and presentation.

“I know one thing, I want to read every issue of Virginia Business, but especially to explore the wonderful photography that demands attention from the covers presented!” the judges wrote.

“I’ve always thought it would be fun to flip the traditional cover from a vertical view to the horizontal landscape and Leading Ladies gets five gold stars! A great deal of planning goes into such a fabulous cover, beginning with the conversation stage of the subjects so they know what the overall finished concept would look like. Such a sharp cover! Silver Tsunami – wow! The shipbuilder gets his moment and this probably generated some buzz. Excellent photography. As for the Milestones edition – that is the way to recognize a historical family-owned business. Congratulations on 2nd place!”

Other VPA awards Virginia Business received this year included:

• Second place for business or financial writing, freelance writer Rich Griset
• Second place for sports feature photo, freelancer Shannon Ayres
• Third place for special sections/special editions for the 2024 StartVirginia annual issue, Virginia Business staff, including former Associate Editor Robyn Sidersky