Central Virginia
John Tyler Community College renamed Brightpoint
Slaveholding, Confederacy-supporting namesake didn't reflect institutional values, college said
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John Tyler Community College will become Brightpoint Community College after receiving unanimous approval from the Virginia Community College System state board in its Thursday meeting. On July 8, John Tyler Community College President Edward “Ted” Raspiller announced that he had recommended Brightpoint Community College as the school’s new name to the state board. The Chester
UnitedLex still faces $128M lawsuit from LeClairRyan trustee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge rules lawsuit can move forward
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UnitedLex’s motion to dismiss a $128 million lawsuit filed by LeClair Ryan PLLC trustee Lynn Tavenner was denied by a U.S. bankruptcy judge on Tuesday, according to The American Lawyer. In 2018, Richmond-based LeClairRyan struck a deal to outsource about 300 of its support workers through a partnership with enterprise legal services provider UnitedLex, which
Kroger Co. names new president of mid-Atlantic division
Lori Raya was SpartanNash chief merchandising and marketing officer
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The Kroger Co. has named Lori Raya as the president of its mid-Atlantic division, the grocery chain announced Tuesday. Raya was previously the chief merchandising and marketing officer for wholesale grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash, which is headquartered in Michigan. From 2015 to 2018, Raya was division president for Albertsons Cos. Inc. From 2012 to
Va. hotel revenues still lagging pre-pandemic levels
June revenues decreased 22% compared with June 2019
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Virginia hotel revenues for June 2021 were down 22% compared with pre-pandemic levels in June 2019, according to newly released data from STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the same period, rooms sold decreased by 14%. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for hotel rooms
Eastern Virginia
Va. Beach apartment complex where Pharrell lived sells for $24.5M
Atlantis Apartments will undergo $15M overhaul
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The Virginia Beach apartment complex where music superstar Pharrell Williams lived until he was 7 has been sold for $24.5 million to Fairstead, a New York-based real estate company focused on sustainable development and affordable housing. The company announced Thursday that it plans a $15 million overhaul of the Atlantis Apartments in Virginia Beach’s Seatack
Yorktown’s Duke of York Hotel sells for $3M
Built in 1965, hotel will receive renovations, name change
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The Duke of York Hotel in Yorktown sold for $3 million, M.A. Bowry & Co. announced July 2. Built in 1965, the 57-room, 26,084-square-foot, limited-service hotel is located on the York River. It will remain open as the company renovates it. Crockett Enterprises LLC sold the hotel to a limited liability company connected to M.A.
James City County industrial building sells for $2.67M
Design Masters building will house The Drying Co.
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The Design Masters building in James City County sold for $2.67 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Wednesday. Tetreault Holdings Inc. bought the 40,000 square-foot-building from Friendship Partner as an investment for their contracting business, The Drying Co./ThermalTec, according to the news release. The industrial building is located in Toano at 3005 John Deere
Old Point National Bank appoints VP operations
Christopher Hobbs comes from U.Va. Community Credit Union
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Hampton-based Old Point National Bank has appointed Christopher Hobbs as its vice president of operations, the bank announced Wednesday. “We are so pleased to have Chris Hobbs join the Old Point family,” said Susan R. Ralston, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Old Point, in a statement. “His expertise will be instrumental as
Northern Virginia
Arlington federal contractor acquires Alexandria tech firm
Planned Systems International purchases ProSphere Tek
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Arlington-based IT services federal contractor Planned Systems International Inc. acquired Alexandria-based technology company ProSphere Tek Inc., it announced Thursday. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2006, federal contractor ProSphere designs and maintains mission-critical systems, supports data center operations and migrates business services to public clouds. PSI valued its network/cloud operations and
Northrop Grumman names chief sustainability officer
Michael Witt was Dow's corporate director of environment, health and safety and sustainability
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Northrop Grumman Corp. has named Michael Witt its vice president and chief sustainability officer. He will assume the role on Aug. 9, according to the Falls-Church based Fortune 500 aerospace and defense contractor. Witt will lead Northrop Grumman’s sustainability initiatives, creating business practices for carbon reduction, resource efficiency and materials management. Witt previously held leadership
DISYS names CFO and treasurer
Philip Monti will oversee finances for McLean-based staffing firm and Florida subsidiary
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McLean-based staffing firm Digital Intelligence Systems LLC named Philip Monti as its chief financial officer and treasurer of the combined enterprise of DISYS and Signature Consultants, DISYS announced Wednesday. He will oversee financial operations and management of the enterprise, building on his former position at Signature Consultants, a Florida-based IT staffing firm that DISYS acquired
George Mason hires chief diversity officer
Sharnnia Artis is assistant dean for access and inclusion for two UC Irvine schools
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Sharnnia Artis will be George Mason University’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, beginning Sept. 1. Artis currently serves as the assistant dean for access and inclusion in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. George Mason
Roanoke/New River Valley
Northam appoints members to newly created cannabis boards
Boards will regulate cannabis market and manage equity fund
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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has appointed members to three newly created oversight boards for the legalization of recreational marijuana, his office announced today. On July 1, Virginia’s adult-use cannabis legislation changes began going into effect. This year, the General Assembly legalized possession of up to one ounce in public and home cultivation of up to
Plastics equipment manufacturer to reopen Pulaski facility
Xaloy Holdings to produce 35 jobs, investing $1.75 million
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Plastics industry equipment manufacturer Xaloy Holdings LLC will move its barrel manufacturing operation from Ohio back to Virginia, reopening its former facility in Pulaski County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Xaloy will invest $1.75 million in its 100,000-square-foot, 30-acre site in Pulaski to produce bimetallic barrels, which are formed by bonding metal linings to the
Draper Aden Associates names new CIO
Lud Eng was firm's director of IT
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Richmond-based engineering, surveying and environmental firm Draper Aden Associates promoted Lud Eng to chief information officer on July 1. Eng, who is based in Blacksburg, previously served as the firm’s director of information technology. He has been with Draper Aden for more than 25 years. “We are pleased to announce Lud’s new position with the
Valley Wealth Group buys former Truist office in Roanoke
$1.9M deal closed in late June
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A Truist Bank office in Roanoke was sold for $1.9 million in late June, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced. VWG/RNK Properties LLC purchased the 6,715-square-foot office building at 3119 Chaparral Drive from Truist. The property will be the future location of Valley Wealth Group, a Roanoke-based financial management firm. Barry Ward and Price Gutshall
Shenandoah Valley
JMU entrepreneurship center hires new director
Suzanne Bergmeister comes from the University of Louisville
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James Madison University announced Thursday that Suzanne Bergmeister has been named the next executive director of its Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. She comes from the University of Louisville’s Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship in Kentucky, where she has been the full-time entrepreneur in residence for the past 15 years and assistant director for four. Bergmeister, who
Shenandoah Growers taps ex-Starbucks exec as new CEO
Indoor agriculture company also hires new CFO
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Rockingham County-based indoor agriculture company Shenandoah Growers Inc. has appointed former Starbucks Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Ryan as the company’s new CEO. And Mike Buckley, former senior vice president of business for Postmates, has been hired as Shenandoah Growers’ chief financial officer, the company announced Wednesday. Former Shenandoah Growers CEO Tim Heydon, who stepped
Clouds gathering over big solar farms in Va.?
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In recent years, many solar farms have been approved by local governments across the state, but the outlook in some areas isn’t so sunny anymore. In Frederick County, the Board of Supervisors’ rejection of a utility-scale solar project has led to a lawsuit. In April, Hollow Road Solar LLC and property owners National Fruit Orchards
Shenandoah Growers taps new chief science officer
Tessa Pocock joins Rockingham-based greens grower
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Tessa Pocock has been named Shenandoah Growers Inc.’s new chief science officer effective immediately, coming to the Rockingham County-based indoor agriculture company from San Francisco-based Plenty Unlimited Inc., where she was director of lighting optimization. Pocock, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental stress biology and master’s degrees in plant biochemistry and biology from Western University
Southern Virginia
Danville apartment complex sells for $7.85M
100-unit Turnpike Townhomes is on Franklin Turnpike
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Danville Investors LLC sold the 100-unit Turnpike Townhomes for $7.85 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Capital Markets Group announced Tuesday. Turnpike Townhome Apartments LLC purchased the apartments at 1300 Franklin Turnpike, as well as parcels of adjacent vacant land, on June 21. Clay Taylor, a certified commercial investment member, of Cushman & Wakefield |
Commercial truck, van floor manufacturer to build $12.8M plant in Patrick County
Prolam LLC will create 58 jobs at new facility
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Prolam LLC, a Canadian manufacturer of hardwood floors for commercial trucks and dry van trailers, will invest $12.8 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing plant at the former Ten Oaks satellite facility in Patrick County, creating 58 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The facility will increase Prolam’s manufacturing capacity by 50%, and
Pittsylvania officials hope to spur brownfields development
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Pittsylvania County’s growth trajectory received an added boost in May when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the county a $600,000 grant to conduct environmental due diligence on 18 brownfield sites in the county. Five of the sites are considered high priorities. They include the former Southside Manufacturing mill site in Blairs; Pat’s Place in
UK manufacturer to build $6.4M facility in Danville
MEP Ltd. will locate new U.S. operation at Danville-Pittsylvania Cyber Park
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MEP Ltd., a manufacturer of complex plastic and metal components for the aerospace and defense sectors, will invest $6.4 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Danville, creating 45 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. The company, which will operate in the U.S. as Making Everything Possible LLC, will locate in the Cyber
Southwest Virginia
United Way of SW Va. names marketing, communications director
Scott Robertson was managing editor of The Business Journal of Tri-Cities
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The United Way of Southwest Virginia named Scott Robertson as its director of marketing and communications. He will assume the role on Aug. 9, according to the Abingdon-based nonprofit. Robertson will direct strategic marketing and promotions, provide communications project management and oversee digital services. President and CEO Travis Staton said in a statement, “The work
Virginia to spend $700M on universal broadband by 2024
Federal stimulus funding will help cut 10-year goal to three years
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Ahead of the General Assembly’s August special session, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday he wants to spend $700 million of Virginia’s federal relief funding on expanding broadband access to all of Virginia. Virginia received $4.3 billion in federal funds through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed in March. Joined by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner at
Region hopes for jolt from batteries, electrification
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Adam Wells is charged up about a plan to create a “battery and electrification economy” in Southwest Virginia. “This is the most exciting thing that I’m working on,” says Wells, Appalachian Voices’ Norton-based regional director of community and economic development. The environmental nonprofit led the effort that persuaded GO Virginia, the state-funded economic development initiative,
People Inc. names next president and CEO
Bryan Phipps will be promoted to replace Abingdon nonprofit's retiring CEO
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Bryan Phipps has been named the next president and CEO of Abingdon-based nonprofit People Inc., the organization announced in a news release. The 17-year veteran of the community action agency will serve as senior vice president until current President and CEO Robert G. Goldsmith retires at the end of December. Phipp has more than 21
