Appointed/elected
Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced the following appointments: Thomas M. Bates of Virginia Beach, chairman and advisor of RK Chevrolet, was appointed to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. Lauren Bryant of Virginia Beach, a disability advocate, was appointed to the Statewide Independent Living Council. Roger Cheeks of Chesapeake, senior director of outreach for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, was appointed to the Task Force for the Identification of the History of the Formerly Enslaved African Americans in Virginia. Angelina Campbell of Virginia Beach, a career transition and veteran support manager with the Navy SEAL Foundation, was appointed to the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations. Timothy Wyatt, director of information technology for York County, was appointed to the Cybersecurity Planning Committee. Will Fediw of Virginia Beach, senior vice president of the Virginia Maritime Association, was appointed to the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. Siva Velappan of Chesapeake, programming development manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, was appointed to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board. Kyle Sturgis of Cape Charles, co-owner and operator of Sturgis Family Farms and Southern Shore Farms, was appointed to the Potato Board. Kyla Leggette, a Newport News student, was appointed to the Student Advisory Board. Shayla Hayward-Lundy of Virginia Beach, of Art Therapy With Shayla, was appointed to the Advisory Board on Art Therapy.
Armada Hoffler has appointed Shawn J. Tibbetts as board chairman effective Jan. 1. This move completes the last phase of previously announced leadership changes initiated in 2024. Tibbetts will continue leading the company as president and CEO. As part of the leadership transition, former CEO Lou Haddad will step down as chairman on Jan. 1. Haddad will remain a member of the board of directors.
Qantm Creative, a Norfolk-based marketing agency, has appointed Nicole Newsome as its new CEO . Newsome succeeds Jean Matacunas, who is moving into an advisory capacity. Newsome was formerly chief strategy and growth officer. Newsome played a key role in the 2023-2024 merger of WB Marketing — where she was director of digital marketing—and The Meridian Group, a Virginia Beach-based agency, to form Qantm Creative.
Tim Taylor, director of nuclear test engineering, has been appointed vice president of engineering, technology and design at Newport News Shipbuilding. A Navy veteran, Taylor has worked at NNS for nearly 30 years. Taylor will assume the new position on Jan. 1 upon the retirements of Dave Bolcar, vice president of engineering and design, and Brian Fields, vice president and chief technology officer. In Taylor’s new position, the chief technology officer role will become part of engineering and design.
Jennifer Davena has been promoted to assistant general manager of Rivers Casino Portsmouth. Davena has more than 20 years of industry leadership experience. As part of the casino’s opening team, she previously served in several executive roles, including director of gaming, and interim general manager. Before joining Rivers Casino Portsmouth in 2022, Davena held several management roles at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, California.
Awards and honors
Tara Preston, president and owner of Preston Homes Inc., received Scouting America’s North Star Award. Preston, her company and contractor connections have served the youth of the Tidewater Council by supporting the construction of the new Fred W. Beazley Aquatics Center at Pipsico Scout Reservation in Surry County. Her efforts defrayed costs and advanced the project with minimal disruption to camp operations. The North Star Award honors volunteers who have made a significant contribution to scouting. The Tidewater Council presents the award on behalf of the Scouting America National Court of Honor.
In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, Black BRAND, the Hampton Roads Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, recently announced its inaugural Hidden Figures Honors, which celebrate Black women in groundbreaking public, corporate and cultural leadership positions. The honorees are: Charvalla West, the first female and first Black CEO in the more than 80-year history of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula; Tiffany Richardson Harrell, the first African American female racecar driver at Langley Speedway in Hampton; and the late Jessie M. Rattley, the first woman and first African American to lead the city of Newport News as mayor.
Valkyrie Enterprises has secured four prime task orders totaling $34 million to design, procure, install and maintain electronic security systems for various Army command posts in the U.S. The performance period for the orders ranges from two to five years. The company supports the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Department of State with electronic security system technical services.
Grants and donations
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers donated $10,000 to St. Matthews Catholic School following its annual community-led Vote for a School contest. The law firm also donated $5,000 to Indian River High School in Chesapeake and $2,500 to Pembroke Meadows Elementary School in Virginia Beach.
The Beazley Foundation awarded Scouting America Tidewater Council a $200,000 grant to support updates to the Fred Beazley Aquatics Center at Camp Lions on Pipsico Scout Reservation in Surry County. The grant consists of two $100,000 payments — the first paid in May, with the second scheduled for next May. The renovations to the pool facilities include individual shower rooms with sinks and toilets, separate changing areas and outdoor rinse showers. The project also includes the replacement of pool pumps, a new staff room and exterior updates. To recognize the foundation’s support Pipsico’s summer camp program will be named the Beazley Scouts BSA Summer Camp through the end of 2030.
Smithfield Foods recently donated $150,000 to 30 food banks in its 22-state footprint, including the Hampton-based Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Norfolk-based Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
The Virginia Beach Development Authority granted $309,800 under the Economic Development Investment Program to Groundworks. The funds will go toward the expansion of the company’s Virginia Beach headquarters and operations. The company’s services include foundation stabilization, basement waterproofing and crawl space repair. Groundworks employs nearly 900 people in Virginia, and 543 in Virginia Beach, and plans to hire 75 more employees in the next three years.
Opening
Mr. Rogers Windows and Doors opened a new office and warehouse building in Dominion Commerce Park at 2100 Scenic Parkway in Chesapeake. In business for over 39 years, the company, starting in 1999, was based in the Greenbrier area with a showroom across from Greenbrier Mall and a warehouse facility 2 miles away at Professional Place. The company outgrew both locations. Groundbreaking for the new facility was in July 2024. The new 52,000-square-foot building can accommodate all 130 employees together for the first time. It also includes warehouse spaces for future tenants.
The Golf Galaxy Performance Center store is now open at 220 Constitution Drive, Suite 105, in Virginia Beach. The center features state-of-the-art hitting bays, a putting green, golf services desk, instruction by a PGA professional and golf gear from top brands.
Anchor Innovation Inc. plans to invest $213,000 to expand its operations in Virginia Beach and create 86 jobs. Anchor provides specialized training, maintenance, and operational support for the commercial and federal maritime sectors. The company has expanded its footprint by leasing additional boatyard space and opening a new 1,800-square-foot office in the Lynnhaven area of Virginia Beach. The new office will serve as the hub for administrative functions, including human resources, payroll and finance.
IBS of America Corp. recently began operation of a CNC 28/29 5-Axis Gantry grinding and milling machine at its Chesapeake location. The company said the machine, designed and built by Berger Steel Works in Knittelfeld, Austria, significantly enhances its capabilities.