Best Places to Work
Recruitment pitch
Model workplaces overcome tight labor market with pay, perks
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The lowest U.S. unemployment rate in 50 years isn’t slowing down the companies honored as this year’s Best Places to Work in Virginia. The winners find plenty of applicants are attracted to their good pay and supportive cultures. For example, Burns & McDonnell, a global architecture, engineering and construction company with four offices in Virginia,
‘We’re all Dynamites’
Government contractor gives workers a sense of belonging
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When employees join Dynamis Inc., they gain a new family. “We’re very supportive of each other,” Dynamis Recruiter Macaya Yao says. “I find that I’m really able to go to anyone in the company and ask for help and they’re willing to jump in and help out with whatever it is.” This familial vibe, an
The cherry on top
From Day 1, staffing firm builds team spirit
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The camaraderie that makes Accounting Principals different is evident on an employee’s first day as they’re greeted by a desk decorated with bright, colorful signs trumpeting personalized welcoming messages. This “cherry-on-top” culture is what makes Accounting Principals a great place to work, says Jennifer Dodge, managing director of the Jacksonville, Florida-based professional recruitment and staffing
10th Annual Best Places to Work list
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This is the 10th year that Virginia Business has compiled the Best Places to Work in Virginia list in collaboration with Pennsylvania-based Best Companies Group. Nearly 200 companies applied for inclusion on the 2020 list. A hundred companies were chosen in three categories: small (15-99 U.S. employees); midsize (100-249); and large (250 or more). Best
Business Person of the Year
By the book
The 7 habits of the highly effective Stephen Moret
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On a sunny, crisp fall morning in late October, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam stood at a lectern in the atrium of Danville’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, announcing to the assembled reporters and dignitaries that van manufacturer Morgan Olson LLC would be taking over a local factory about to be abandoned by Swedish furniture
Health-care visionary
The innovative leader of Inova Health System has embarked on his most ambitious project
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Knox Singleton, CEO, Inova Health System, Fairfax is the 2015 Virginia Business Person of the Year
Turnaround CEO
Nassetta transforms ‘sleeping giant’ into the world’s largest hotel company
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2014 Virginia Business Person of the Year
Christopher J. Nassetta
President and CEO Hilton Worldwide, McLean
2013 Virginia Business Person of the Year
Tonya Mallory wants to revolutionize the practice of medicine in the U.S.
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Tonya Mallory, Chief executive officer of Health Diagnostic Laboratory in Richmond is the 2013 Virginia Business Person of the Year.
CEO Pay
Virginia CEO pay report
Compensation of CEOs at Virginia’s major public companies
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Nothing to complain about
Average Va. CEO pay fell in 2019, but the top earner still made $21.37 million
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Virginia’s top-paid CEOs brought home an average total compensation of $6.68 million each in 2019. That’s not too shabby, considering their average annual base salary was $900,218. Conducted by Redwood City, California-based executive compensation firm Equilar, Virginia Business’ most recent top executive pay report examined the earnings of 50 CEOs from 49 public companies with
Bringing in the big bucks
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Virginia’s CEOs received an average pay increase of 12.5% last year, with the top earner reaping $39 million
Coronavirus 2020
Applications open Tuesday, Jan. 19 for new PPP round
Some small businesses that already received funding eligible for additional funding
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The relief loan floodgates will reopen Tuesday, as the U.S. Small Business Administration opens the latest $284.5 billion round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding available. This time, borrowers who received allocations during the initial rounds of PPP funding in 2020 can reapply under Second Draw PPP Loan applications. First Draw PPP Loans are for
Va. nears 10k COVID cases in single day
Meanwhile, public health officials deal with expected U.S. vaccine shortfall
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The state hit a new one-day record of nearly 10,000 COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The rise in coronavirus infections comes amid a significant increase in coronavirus-related deaths, with approximately 49 fatalities a day, or two deaths per hour, occurring in the commonwealth last week. Meanwhile, Virginia public health officials said they expect a decrease in
State anticipates fewer COVID vaccine doses due to U.S. shortfall
Federal reserve exhausted; state is ‘scraping and clawing’ for doses
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Virginia public health officials said Saturday that the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses sent to the state is likely to decrease — possibly by a significant amount — because the federal government does not have the reserve of doses it had said were being held back for second shots. Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine
State opens COVID-19 vaccinations for Virginians 65 and older
With immediate expansion, half of Va. is now eligible for COVID-19 shot
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Updated Jan. 18: A vaccine dose shortfall in the federal stockpile will likely lower the weekly number of doses Virginia receives, but state officials say they will continue with expansion of group 1b. Earlier: As part of a federal push to speed up the pace of vaccinations, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the state
Fantastic 50
Veterans helping veterans
Vet-owned tech firm contracts for U.S. Veterans Affairs
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September 2019 was a big month for B3 Group Inc. The Herndon-based information technology services company was among the contract winners for a $686 million task order from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Digital Transformation Center. The same month, it was selected for a 15-year, $59.9 million contract to provide the VA with
2020 Virginia’s Fantastic 50
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A list of Virginia’s fastest-growing companies, the 2020 Fantastic 50. Subscribe to Virginia Business. Get our daily e-newsletter.
A catalyst for change
Alpha Omega Integration focuses on customers, workers
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An unhappy customer was the engine for change at Alpha Omega Integration LLC — and is a major factor the Vienna-based information technology solutions company attributes to its success. Alpha Omega won an IT contract from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Information Resource Management in 2018. But three weeks later, the agency said
Charting growth
Fairfax County is home to state’s fastest-growing companies
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As the Virginia Chamber of Commerce marks its 25th year of celebrating the commonwealth’s 50 fastest-growing companies, this unfortunately will be the first year that Virginia’s Fantastic 50 award winners haven’t been recognized with an in-person event. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Fantastic 50 awards banquet, which had been scheduled for April 30,
Generous Virginians Project
Gifts of healing
Virginians counter COVID-19, racial injustice via philanthropy
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When tech entrepreneur Pete Snyder and his wife, Burson, returned home to Charlottesville from taking their 5-year-old daughter to Walt Disney World this spring, they came home to a business community struggling after COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. “Our view is we’re at war right now,” Snyder says. “It has two fronts: One is a health and
Donations by companies and corporate foundations
A sample of donations of at least $100,000 made to Virginia nonprofits in 2019.
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The 50 largest Virginia charities
A list of the commonwealth’s major charities as ranked by GuideStar USA Inc.
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Donations by independent foundations and groups
A sample of gifts, grants or pledges of $100,000 or more made or announced to Virginia nonprofits in 2019.
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Hampton Roads Business Guide
Change in the air
Dominion debuts offshore wind farm
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After almost a decade of planning, Dominion Energy Inc. will begin harnessing offshore wind power this fall as two massive test turbines go into operation off the coast of Virginia Beach. Standing about 600 feet tall, the 12-megawatt turbines are the cornerstone of Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project. The company, the first
Good deeds
Commercial real estate moves forward in pandemic
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The pandemic hasn’t seemingly slowed down commercial real estate development and transactions in Hampton Roads. Despite significant financial hits to the hospitality industry, the $125 million, 305-room Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront opened in June, the second phase of Gold Key | PHR’s three-phase, $350 million renovation and expansion of The Cavalier Resort. Also in June,
A healthy outlook
Region’s hospital systems growing through partnerships
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Even as the COVID-19 pandemic stresses Virginia hospitals, Hampton Roads’ health care sector continues to grow. Richmond-based VCU Health System is making inroads in the region through partnerships with Riverside Health System and Sentara Healthcare. In March, VCU Health System announced a formal affiliation with Newport News-based Riverside. The two organizations have identified areas “of
On the fast track
Local Fantastic 50 companies have seen big growth
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Six Hampton Roads-based companies, including two newcomers, landed on the Virginia Chamber’s 2020 Fantastic 50 list of the state’s fastest-growing privately owned businesses. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the winners were recognized during a virtual event held in May. To qualify for the Fantastic 50, nominees’ fiscal revenues had to exceed $200,000 and be less
Legal Elite
The 21st edition of the Virginia Business Legal Elite
Legal Elite recognizes top Virginia attorneys across 20 specialties
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Launched in cooperation with the Virginia Bar Association, the Legal Elite polls lawyers licensed to practice in Virginia each year, asking them to identify which of their peers are the top attorneys in a variety of legal specialties. Virginia Business’ Legal Elite has 20 categories of legal specialties, double the number featured on the first
2020 Legal Elite — Taxes/Estates/Trusts Profile
Christine Nguyen Piersall, Williams Mullen, Norfolk
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Title: Partner/chair of Estate Planning: Private Client & Fiduciary Services Practice Other legal specialties: Business succession, commercial real estate Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Virginia; law degree, University of Richmond Spouse: Von L. “Trey” Piersall III Children: Liliane, 14; Benjamin, 12 First job as a lawyer: Associate at Cooper, Spong & Davis PC Fan of:
2020 Legal Elite — Real Estate/Land Use Profile
Clark H. Worthy, Gentry Locke Attorneys, Roanoke
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Title: Partner Other legal specialties: General business practitioner Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Virginia; law degree, Washington & Lee School of Law Spouse: Mary “Kate” Robey Worthy Children: C. Hatcher Worthy Jr.; Alexandra A. Worthy; Reagan R. Brown First job as a lawyer: Clerk for the Hon. H. Emory Widner Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals
2020 Legal Elite — Legislative/Regulatory/Administrative Profile
Daniel C. Summerlin III, Woods Rogers PLC, Richmond, Roanoke
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Title: President, principal Other legal specialties: Employment law Birthplace: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; law degree, William & Mary Spouse: Laura Summerlin Children: Taylor, 20; Cabell, 20; Callie, 19; Tye, 18; Caroline, 17; and Lane, 15 First job as a lawyer: Woods Rogers PLC — I
Maritime Guide
Maritime Guide 2020
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Welcome to the Virginia Maritime Guide 2020! Below is a table of contents to direct you to all articles that appear in the guide. On deck — With the Navy rebuilding its fleet, maritime industry is hiring thousands Executive profiles — We asked leaders in Virginia’s maritime and logistics industry for their thoughts on the
Viral load
Port feels effect of coronavirus early but remains busy
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Like a canary in a coal mine, the Port of Virginia felt the impact of COVID-19 well before others in Virginia started to feel it. In February, the port saw a 9% drop in cargo compared with February 2019, a decrease attributed in part to the outbreak’s origins in China. In 2018, China was the
Executive profiles
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We asked leaders in Virginia’s maritime and logistics industry for their thoughts on the Port of Virginia expansion and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shipping. Click to expand photos. Interviews follow. VB: How will the Port of Virginia expansion impact Virginia’s economy? Adams: The Central Chapter encompasses the area around Richmond and is
In the big leagues
Port’s expansion projects put state in a leading position
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Virginia is strengthening its claim as a leading port on the East Coast. The Port of Virginia is midway through a $700 million project to expand its two largest terminals, which will allow the port to handle an additional 1 million container units per year. The $320 million expansion of Virginia International Gateway in
Regional Report
Scott Ukrop joins New Richmond Ventures
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He has been named director of business development.
New normal in downtown D.C.
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Consistent rental rate growth appears unlikely, says Studley report.
James Madison teams rise to Google challenge
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James Madison University students helped businesses and nonprofits promote themselves as part of Google’s Online Marketing Challenge.
Site Locator
2020 Virginia Business Site Locator
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Welcome to the 2020 Virginia Business Site Locator Guide! Inside you’ll learn how Virginia stacks up, how Virginia companies rank and learn about big deals in all regions of the commonwealth. The guide includes: A list of Virginia companies on the Fortune 500 list Lists of public universities and colleges A list of big deals
Super CPAs
Commonwealth formally transfers Fort Monroe land to National Park Service
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Historic site will become national monument.
Top CPAs offer insights on their accounting fields
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Introduction to a special report of
the 2013 Super CPAs as well as
twelve Super CPAs profiles and lists by category
The Big Book
Chambers of commerce
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Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Richmond 804.644.1607 vachamber.com CENTRAL VIRGINIA Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce Altavista 434.369.6665 altavistachamber.com Amherst County Chamber of Commerce Amherst 434.946.0990 amherstvachamber.com Appomattox County Chamber of Commerce Appomattox 434.352.2621 appomattoxchamber.org Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Bedford 540.586.9401 bedfordareachamber.com Buckingham County Chamber of Commerce Dillwyn 434.983.2372 buckinghamchamberofcommerce.com Caroline County Chamber of Commerce
Great expectations
Virginia has a host of ambitious projects underway
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There was perhaps no greater portent last year of Virginia’s rising fortunes than the news that the Old Dominion had regained its perch as the nation’s No. 1 state for business. After eight years, CNBC once again ranked Virginia No. 1 in its annual Top States for Business study. The business news network cited Virginia’s
Winds of change
Virginia Beach’s $8 billion offshore wind farm moves forward
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In September, Dominion Energy Inc. unveiled an ambitious, $8 billion project to erect the nation’s largest offshore wind farm off the Virginia Beach coast. If all goes to plan, it will power 650,000 Virginia homes by 2026. This year, Dominion expects to bring its offshore wind pilot project online and start ocean survey work on
Cyclical patterns
Volvo Group’s New River Valley employment ebbs and flows
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Last June, Volvo Group announced plans to invest nearly $400 million, add 350,000 square feet to its Dublin complex in Pulaski County — already the largest Volvo truck plant in the world — and hire 777 new workers over the next six years. Five months after that announcement, though, Volvo said it would lay off
Virginia CFO Awards
2020 Virginia CFO Awards winners
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In an annual special report, here are the four outstanding chief financial officers nominated by their peers and chosen by a group including the editorial staff of Virginia Business magazine and previous CFO award recipients. Also: Read more about how CFOs in Virginia are keeping their ships steady in unprecedented financial turmoil. Large Nonprofit: Julie
Smooth sailing
CFO overhauls law firm’s IT infrastructure
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Small business | Mark Baumgartner, CFO Pender & Coward PC, Norfolk It’s safe to say Mark Baumgartner knows the ins and outs of Virginia Beach-based law firm Pender & Coward PC, where he has served as chief financial officer since 2017. Prior to becoming the firm’s CFO, Baumgartner had 20 years of experience working as
Growth mode
Harbor Group International CFO instrumental in $1.8B acquisition
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Large Business | Carla Stoner, CFO Harbor Group International LLC, Norfolk Carla Stoner doesn’t come from a typical CFO background of working strictly as an accountant or CPA, but she had the chops to grow Norfolk-based real estate investment and management firm Harbor Group International LLC (HGI) from $3.8 billion in assets under management to
Essential workers
With the pandemic’s disruption, CFOs have taken on more duties
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The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted business models. It has forced employees to seek new office sites in their kitchens, bedrooms and basements. It has ushered in hybrid educational models involving in-person and virtual learning, and imperiled funding for colleges and universities. And nobody really knows what’s coming next or when. Meanwhile, who’s minding the store?
Virginia Meetings
2020 Virginia Meetings
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Welcome to the second issue of Virginia Meetings. Below you’ll find content about how hotels have reopened with caution during the pandemic and how virtual conferences have become the new norm for meeting planners. Also included is a list of Virginia’s largest conference hotels. Checking in: Hotels reopen with caution following economic downfall Rising to
Virginia’s largest conference hotels
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Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2021 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey
CPAs discuss the economic health of their regions in 2020
A Q&A with five members of the Virginia Society of CPAs
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We asked five certified public accountants for their take on the state of their regions. This is what they had to say. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. HAMPTON ROADS Maruja Evangelista Pabalan, CPA CEO | EDMARS and Associates CPA LLC | Chesapeake What are your favorite parts about living and working in
A taxing time
Amid pandemic, CPAs are concerned about health, safety
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In early March, Ryan Losi just arrived home after traveling around the world for 10 of the past 13 weeks. He probably won’t be doing that again for a while. The executive vice president of Piascik, a Henrico County CPA firm with global clients, Losi had been paying attention to reports of a new virus
The Results of the Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2021 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey
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To download the results as a PDF click here Related Articles We asked five certified public accountants for their take on the state of their regions. This is what they had to say. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. The Results of the Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2021 Virginia Economic Expectations