Best Places to Work
A healthy balance
Ashburn-based Sriven Technologies puts employees first
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For Ashburn-based IT company Sriven Technologies LLC, an emphasis on work-life balance and leading a healthy lifestyle, as well as a strong benefits packages creates a stress-free place for employees to focus on their careers, CEO Raj Kilaru says. And that makes it a place where people want to stay. Founded in 2009, Sriven Technologies
A shot in the arm
Best practices help winning companies fight pandemic
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Virginia’s Best Places to Work were hit by the consequences of COVID-19 just like every other business this year. But characteristics that won them the “best places” title — including flexibility, great benefits and distinctive cultures — are sustaining them through the lengthy pandemic. Since 2011, Virginia Business and Pennsylvania-based Best Companies Group have collaborated
11th Annual Best Places to Work list
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This is the 11th year that Virginia Business has compiled the Best Places to Work in Virginia list in collaboration with Pennsylvania-based Best Companies Group. More than 200 companies applied for inclusion in the 2021 Best Places to Work in Virginia cohort. A hundred companies were chosen, divided into three categories: small (15-99 U.S. employees);
On even ground
Female leaders are mission critical at Patriot Group International
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Marlana Fraser joined Warrenton-based Patriot Group International Inc. (PGI) with a special insight into the people on the ground carrying out PGI’s special operations. Her husband had served in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan performing the “exact same work” that PGI does now, says Fraser, the company’s vice president of business operations. As a contractor
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
All about the Benjamins
Despite pandemic, Va. CEO pay was up in 2020
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After a tumultuous and unpredictable pandemic year, the executives leading Virginia’s largest publicly traded companies still brought home sizable pay increases in 2020. While median salaries for Virginia’s top CEOs were down 0.7% in 2020, and their median bonuses were down 10.6%, last year Virginia’s top executives saw a huge increase in pay coming from
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
Va. had record 328,000 job openings in September
Va. had 8,000 more job openings than record set in July
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Virginia had 328,000 job openings in September and 123,000 quits, 4,000 fewer quits than the April 2021 peak, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Nov. 19. The September job openings number set a record previously set in July, when there were 320,000 openings. The
Va. hotel revenues continue to lag from 2019 levels
October overall revenues decreased 20% from 2019, but Hampton Roads revenues 8% higher
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Virginia hotel revenues for October were 20% below pre-pandemic levels in October 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, hotel rooms sold decreased by 13% compared with 2019 levels. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for
Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in October
October marks 17th month of declining rate
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In October, Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, 0.2 points below September’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The state’s unemployment rate has declined for 17 months straight. In October 2020, the jobless rate was at 5.3%, 2.5 points higher than last month. The labor force increased by 5,918 to almost 4.26 million, and the number
Va. new employment claims rise slightly
New claims up by 200, continued claims down by 6,600
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Virginia’s new unemployment claims rose by about 19% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Friday. For the filing week ending Nov. 6, Virginians filed 1,290 new claims, an increase of 202 from the week before. Continued claims totaled 24,922, a decrease of 6,642 from the previous week. Compared to the same week last year,
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
The best of times?
Year of pandemic and civil strife also saw transformative giving
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The past year or so in America has often seemed a dark time, with headlines dominated by COVID-19, the tumult surrounding social justice issues and our deeply politically divided nation. Yet, it also has been a time of breathtaking generosity, as uber-wealthy philanthropists and well-heeled corporations have opened their wallets to fund groundbreaking initiatives, especially
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.
Published
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Hampton Roads Business Guide
Flood warning
Sea-level rise predictions become more dire for region
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Situated on a bank of the Hague, the Y-shaped inlet off the Elizabeth River that shares a name with the city in the Netherlands, Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art is no stranger to the impacts of high tides, as well as flooded streets and parking lots during heavy rainfalls. Right now, flooding is mainly a
Climbing the ladder
Four regional companies make Inc. 5000’s top 1,000
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Four Hampton Roads companies made it into the elite top 1,000 of this year’s Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, based on revenue growth during the past three years. Although many industries were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the region’s top-ranked Inc. 5000 businesses are in government contracting and real
All hands on deck
Military has outsized economic impact on region
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The military’s impact on Hampton Roads is unmistakable. Drive along the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and it’s nearly impossible to miss the hazy gray of U.S. Navy vessels docked at Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station. A few minutes spent in Virginia Beach and one is likely to hear the roar of a Navy
Opportunity floats
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Read the feature on sea level rise in Hampton Roads. Although local, state and federal government officials are leading coordinated efforts to combat flooding, other groups in Virginia see business potential from the crisis. The OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Old Dominion University and William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, is
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
A fair trade?
U.S.-China tensions still impact Va. economy
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While President Joe Biden will likely strike a more diplomatic tone with China than his predecessor, economists and other observers believe the United States’ rocky trade relationship with its biggest economic rival will remain contentious — which will impact Virginia’s economy. Under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. and China were immersed in a grueling
Making it rain
Increased e-commerce fuels wave of distribution centers
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For Hanover County Economic Development Director Linwood Thomas, things couldn’t get much better. “It’s really been a perfect storm,” Thomas says. That storm — the good type — is a deluge of distribution centers and warehouses that have opened recently or are currently in the pipeline for the county of about 108,000 residents, located about
The largest yard
Newport News Shipyard steams ‘full speed ahead’
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In a year when the world stood still, forcing businesses to adjust, the shipbuilding industry in Hampton Roads was told from the start to keep working. In early spring 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic raised the question of who qualified as “essential personnel,” the U.S. Navy made one thing clear — that designation definitely included
The Port of Virginia
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By 2024, the Port of Virginia expects to be the deepest port on the East Coast at 55 feet, with room for two-way traffic for some of the world’s largest vessels. The port has six terminals and has invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure since 2015, producing 390,000 port-related jobs across the state, $23
Regional Report
A Roanoke reawakening
Regional revitalization strategies gain traction
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The Roanoke area is anything but sleepy when it comes to economic development these days. In fact, “the opportunity for Roanoke is greater now than it has been in quite some time,” says John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, a public-private joint venture that works to attract new business to the region.
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.
Site Locator
2021 Virginia Business Site Locator
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Welcome to the 2021 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
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
What’s next?
Pandemic reveals strengths, vulnerabilities of state’s economy
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This time last year, Virginia’s fortunes seemed as high as Clemente Development Co. Inc.’s proposed 600-foot Iconic Tower. Part of Clemente’s long-planned, 3-million-square-foot The View at Tysons mixed development, the Iconic Tower was to be the tallest commercial structure between Philadelphia and Charlotte, North Carolina. But then the coronavirus pandemic hit and now Clemente has
Double play
Two casinos, just miles apart, will debut in Hampton Roads
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Hampton Roads will be home to two Las Vegas-style casino complexes after Norfolk and Portsmouth voters overwhelmingly approved November 2020 referendums greenlighting the projects in their cities. The referendums passed with 64.4% of the vote in Norfolk and 66.7% in Portsmouth. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is working with Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough to build the
A bright spot
Despite pandemic, tech ventures flourish
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The coronavirus pandemic divided Loudoun County into two worlds in 2020 — tech and touch, says Buddy Rizer, the county’s executive director for economic development. While the pandemic devastated in-person “touch” businesses such as restaurants, shops and service providers, Northern Virginia’s tech-related companies continued to forge new deals. The number of major announcements in Northern
Legal challenges
Virginia’s law firms go virtual amid pandemic
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In any other year, the merger that formed Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP would have gotten top billing in the year’s legal news. But 2020 wasn’t like any other year for the legal profession. The pandemic’s economic fallout caused some law firms to enact cutbacks and temporary salary reductions; some senior staffers took voluntary furloughs.
Virginia CFO Awards
2021 Virginia CFO Awards: The winners
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Large business CFO: John C. Zeheb, Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods LLC, Richmond Large nonprofit CFO: Clifford Yee, Northern Virginia Family Service, Oakton Small business CFO: J. Robert Mooney, Phlow Corp., Richmond Small nonprofit CFO: Kim L. D’Errico, Special Olympics Virginia, Richmond Plus: The 2021 nominees list Amid pandemic, CFOs positioned businesses for recovery
Preparing for the worst
Amid pandemic, CFOs positioned businesses for recovery
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Read about the 2021 Virginia CFO Award winners. John Brocato’s coveted tickets to the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament suddenly became void in March 2020 after the ACC canceled the tournament as the COVID-19 pandemic began turning the world on its head. And as the chief financial officer of a small building supply company
Going with the Phlow
Veteran CFO aids pharma startup that has big mission
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Small Business | J. Robert Mooney, CFO Phlow Corp., Richmond Without Bob Mooney, Phlow Corp. might never have gotten off the ground. “I do not believe I would’ve had the courage or the willingness … to start up Phlow if it weren’t for Bob,” says Dr. Eric Edwards, co-founder and CEO of the Richmond-based company
In the bag
Ukrop’s CFO worked his way up from bagging groceries
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Large Business | John C. Zeheb, CFO Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods LLC, Richmond When John C. Zeheb landed his first job bagging groceries at a Ukrop’s supermarket at age 16, he certainly didn’t think it would lead to a career. “At the time, I would never have imagined that,” says Zeheb, vice president and chief financial
Virginia Meetings
Rolling with the punches
Meeting planners adjust in pandemic’s second year
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Flexibility is once again the name of the game for meeting planners in 2021. In 2020, most planners’ clients postponed or canceled conferences, while others decided to go virtual instead of meeting in person. This time around, it’s somewhat safer to meet due to COVID-19 vaccines, but outbreaks are still occurring in Virginia because of
Virginia’s largest conference hotels
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Related: Despite pandemic, hotels press forward Meeting planners roll with the punches
Be our guest
Despite pandemic and staff shortage, hotels press forward
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It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is hurting from the ongoing pandemic. Although widespread shutdowns are in the past, hotel executives are now challenged by the sector’s labor shortage and the slow recovery of business travel. In July, hotel revenues were down 3% compared with the same month in 2019, according to data from
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 Society of CPAs’ 2021 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey
Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2022 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey interviews
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HAMPTON ROADS Richard E. Groover, CPA Shareholder | Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer PC Norfolk What local industries/sectors do you think have potential for growth? Continued growth around the Port of Virginia and green energy. … Entrepreneurs and local leaders have made substantial investments to tee up this area as part of a wind turbine corridor
Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2022 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey results
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Read more: Virginia Society of CPAs’ 2022 Virginia Economic Expectations Survey interviews and post-pandemic work models
Remote possibilities
Companies examine post-pandemic work models
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Before the coronavirus pandemic, LaToya Jordan regularly missed small moments in her children’s lives — like seeing her young son getting off the bus each day. She commuted to downtown Richmond or to a client site and arrived home after her children. The state agency where she works allowed telecommuting one day a week, and
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
