REINVENT HAMPTON ROADS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
101 W. Main Street, Ste. 4500 Norfolk, VA 23510
AGENDA
Friday, January 27, 2017 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
John O. “Dubby” Wynne, Chair, Presiding
____________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order and Welcome New Board Members Dubby Wynne
II. Status of GO VA Program Dubby Wynne
III. Formation of Hampton Roads Regional Council (TAB 1)
a. Requirements (Attachment ‘A’)
b. Schedule
c. Membership (Attachment ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’)
d. Chair/Vice-Chair
e. Authorization to file GO VA Regional Council Intent Form (Attachment ‘E’)
Jim Spore
IV. Status of NASA Collaboration: Commercialization of Research John Lawson/ Dubby Wynne
V. Phase II of Industry Cluster Process: Scale-Up Chuck Richards
VI. Quarterly Financial Report: December 31, 2016 (TAB 2) Jim Spore
VII. Meeting Schedule for 2017 (TAB 3) Jim Spore
VIII. Other All
IX. Adjourn
Next Meeting: March 9, 2017 Noon-1:30 p.m.
HRFC Office: 101 W. Main Street, Ste. 4500, Norfolk, VA 23510
January 19, 2017
Memorandum
TO: Reinvent Hampton Roads Board of Directors
FROM: James K. Spore, President and CEO
RE: Formation of Hampton Roads Regional Council
The following contains a general overview of the state’s requirements for the establishment of a
Regional Council and, in addition, provides specific attachments for the categories listed under Agenda
item III:
a. Requirements – For a description of GO Virginia Regional Councils, highlighting membership
requirements, formation and governance, please see Attachment A.
b. Schedule –
February 17, 2017 – Deadline to submit GO Virginia Regional Council Intent to Form
Statement and supporting documents to the Virginia Department of Housing and
Community Development for their review.
March 14, 2017 – GO Virginia Board meets to review submissions.
c. Membership – A letter was sent to the Executive Directors of eight regional organizations
requesting the names of individuals for consideration to serve on the Hampton Roads Regional
Council. Additionally, a request was made at our two Call To Action events held in the region on
December 13, 2016. Over 600 participants received feedback cards that included a request to
provide names of individuals to consider for service on the regional council.
Attachment B contains the list of 105 names provided to date for your information and
review.
A recommended Regional Council membership list is provided for the Board’s consideration
on Attachment C, using a matrix format intended to reflect how individuals recommended
meet the State’s required membership criteria.
The GO Virginia Regional Council Intent to Form Statement requests a narrative that
provides background information and justification as to why each member is representative
of the region. Brief biographies for each member of the recommended Regional Council are
contained in Attachment D.
d. Chair/Vice-Chair – The GO Virginia Regional Council Intent to Form Statement calls for the
proposed leadership (name of the individual and role) for the Regional Council. It is
recommended that Tom Frantz serve as Chair and Anne Connor serve as Vice Chair of the
Regional Council.
TAB 1
e. Authorization to file GO VA Regional Council Intent to Form – A copy of the completed form is
provided as Attachment E. The draft Form is completed reflecting the recommended Regional
Council Membership. Adjustments can be made depending upon final Board action if necessary.
Board authorization to submit the form by February 17, 2017 is requested.
Following the Board discussion and action on the proposed membership of the Regional Council
and prior to submitting the “Intent to Form” letter to the State, staff will coordinate contacting the
suggested membership to confirm their willingness to serve. At this writing we are attempting to
secure potential membership from Norfolk Southern and a representative from the Eastern Shore.
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Regional Councils The Regional Councils are the entity through which the State Board will receive project recommendations and reports as well as ensure accountability for the use of funds used to support projects endorsed by the Council. The intent of the regional structure is to provide an incentive for regions to collaborate in order to diversify the economy and create high paying jobs in the region. Before a region may apply for grant funding, the Board must certify the Council for that region. The following requirements apply to certification of Regional Councils:
Membership Requirements: The intent of the membership requirements is the creation of Regional Councils that are broadly representative of their unique regions, ensuring that key stakeholders are brought together in an organized and efficient manner in order to encourage collaboration, and to strategically focus on economic diversification in their region. In considering what is “representative” for a Regional Council, each Region needs to consider its own unique factors including, but not limited to, economic sectors, education, geography, and demographic makeup.
1. The following sector group representatives should serve as members of the Council:
a. Business i. Representation should include both small (up to 50 employees) and large
businesses ii. Representation should include entrepreneurs, innovators in growing industries,
and experienced professionals iii. Leadership/management experience required
b. Education i. Representation should include public higher education institutions and private
higher education institutions as appropriate, VCCS and PK-12 should be represented
c. Civic or community leaders d. Local and/or regional economic development professionals
e. Workforce development professionals
i. A private citizen member of the local workforce development board
f. Local government representatives (elected officials, administrators)
g. Regional planning entities
h. Non-profits and other organizations that impact economic or workforce development in
the region
2. A majority of members must be private sector with significant business experience (5 or more
years in private business, entrepreneur).
3. The chairman, vice chairman, and majority of members must have significant private sector business experience. Included among the business members should be persons experienced in managing small and large enterprises.
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4. The Regional Council shall have no fewer than 15 members and no more than 25 members upon
formation. If the number of members is outside of this range the Council must make a
justification to be approved by the Board.
a. In recognition that many regions will have multiple entities with similar missions, care
should be taken to select one that will be representative of the group and will be
responsible for communication within that network.
b. Councils should propose a policy on how vacancies will be filled and whether a
member’s service is tied to the individual member or the service on the council is
related to the position the member holds at the time of appointment.
c. If a regional council proposes a change in structure, leadership, or membership, that
change will be included as part of the annual report reviewed by the Board. The Board
may then approve the change.
5. The Council will ensure gender and ethnic diversity in its membership.
6. Member nomination shall be initiated with a slate of candidates being put forth by the region to the Board which will certify the proposed Council. Submissions will be accepted beginning on December 6, 2016. Submissions for review at the March 2017 Board meeting should be submitted by February 17, 2017. If an application is not received by April 1, 2017, the Board may initiate efforts to form a Regional Council consistent with the language below.
7. If a Regional Council is not able to form by April 1,2017, then Board members may assist in the
development of the Regional Council. Per the Growth and Opportunity Act, the Board will designate a formation committee chairman and two members from the region. The formation committee is responsible for such consultation and recruitment within the region that is likely to result in certification of a Regional Council for the region. The formation committee chairman and members may serve as officers and members of the Regional Council.
Regional Council Formation/Governance:
1. Upon approval of the regional boundaries by the GO VA Board, each region shall submit a Letter of Intent to the GO Virginia Board through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Failure to submit a letter of intent by April 1, 2017 may lead to the Board assisting in the development of the Regional Council. A template from Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be provided for the Letter of Intent. The Letters of Intent will include:
a. A statement of intent to organize. b. Proposed membership and the member selection process; demonstrate that members
are representative of the Region. c. Proposed leadership and how leadership was selected. d. The sector each proposed member represents. e. Provide a list of stakeholders and/or other methods of public input that were consulted
in selecting a diverse and representative Council. Demonstrate that the selection was an inclusive and open process.
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f. These requirements apply when new members are selected for the Regional Council.
2. Public comment will be received by the Board prior to certification of each Regional Council.
The Regional Council will also receive public comment during its formation process. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will post potential Regional Council membership on the GO VA website prior to the Board meeting at which Regional Councils will be considered and provide comments received to the Board. The Board will also have a public comment period at its meeting.
3. Each Regional Council will adopt bylaws (following certification by the Board) that will outline sector group representation, member selection process, meetings schedules, and governance. The bylaws will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Board following the Regional Council’s certification.
a. The bylaws will address the relationship with the Council’s support organization which will oversee programs funded by the Council.
b. The bylaws will also indicate the length of members’ terms, and how a member is removed or replaced.
c. Bylaws will include guidance for the Conflict of Interest Act (COIA), and indemnification/liability as a public body as well provisions for compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
d. Bylaws may include a structure for advisory councils to assist the Regional Councils.
4. The regional council must demonstrate, in form and content satisfactory to the Board, its
capacity and commitment to develop, validate, and implement an economic growth and diversification plan as described in the guidelines. The plan will facilitate regional collaboration to diversify the economy and create jobs by addressing gaps in workforce and infrastructure and identifying opportunities to create high paying jobs. The plan should not duplicate other plans.
5. As economic diversification issues are identified, Councils may need to add other members to ensure adequate representation of economic issues for the region; the formation of advisory groups may also be utilized to assist the Council.
6. The regional council must demonstrate, in form and content satisfactory to the Board, its processes for organizing and supporting the implementation of grant funded projects and programs in the region. This includes the ongoing review of regional activities that receive VGOF grants, including audit and performance assessment functions.
7. A Regional Council must be affiliated with or supported by a new or existing organization whose purposes and competencies include collaborative planning, economic development, or workforce activities within the region. This “support organization” may support the Regional Council through data analysis, review of best practices, review and analysis of project proposals, and other duties as determined by the Regional Council.
a. Existing organizations that may satisfy this requirement include but are not limited to planning district commissions, higher education institutions, economic or workforce development partnership organizations, and community foundations, and other nonprofits that have regional purview.
b. A new organization can be established for the specific purpose of supporting the Regional Council.
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c. A contractual relationship between the Regional Council and support organization must provide for fiduciary oversight and administrative services for the activities funded by monies received from the VGOF and other sources of matching funds by the Regional Council. In matters related to the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act, the support organization operates with the advice and consent of the Regional Council.
d. The support organization will demonstrate good accounting practices, grant administration, project management experience, tracking and reporting of performance metrics and audit protocols. DHCD will be responsible for the review of audits, contracts and performance metrics from the Regional Council and affiliated support organization.
6. Regional Councils will meet all of the Code of Virginia Public meeting requirements (§2.2-3707).
Regional Councils should articulate how they will advertise meetings including where they will post meeting notices. (website, administrative offices).
7. The Board and Regional Councils are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act (COIA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); Regional Councils should be familiar with the relevant COV sections relating to COIA and FOIA. A signature from the Council Chair will be required to certify the Council’s compliance with FOIA/COIA.
a. Title 2.2 Chapter 31 of the Code of Virginia i. http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter31/
b. Title 2.2 Chapter 37 of the Code of Virginia i. http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/
Regional Council Member – Recommendations Received
1. Scott Adams, President, CB Richard Ellis (Norfolk) 2. Kenneth C. Alexander, Mayor, City of Norfolk 3. G. Robert Aston, Chairman & CEO, Townebank 4. Shawn M. Avery, President, Opportunity, Inc. 5. Roland “Butch” Bailey, Small Business Owner in Exmore (Eastern Shore) 6. Eyre Baldwin, Partner, The Eastern Shote Land Company (Eastern Shore) 7. Sara Baldwin, President of New Ravenna (Eastern Shore) 8. Chad Ballard, Cherrystone Aquafarms (Eastern Shore) 9. Pam Barefoot, Blue Crab Bay Company (Eastern Shore) 10. Larry Bernert, CFA, Wilbanks, Smith and Thomas (Norfolk) 11. Alvin Blow (no details) 12. John R. Broderick, President, Old Dominion University (Norfolk) 13. Joseph F. Bouchard, Independent Strategic Planning Consultant and former member of the
Virginia House of Delegates (Virginia Beach) 14. Dr. Fay Bell 15. Bob Boyd, Vice President of Strategic Growth and Development, Colonna Shipyard (Norfolk) 16. Cathy Callahan, President, Light Rail Now (Virginia Beach) 17. Ross Cherry, Cherry Carpet & Flooring (Portsmouth) 18. Will Christopher, Past-President, Hampton Roads Public Transportation Alliance (Norfolk) 19. Lynn Clements, Executive Director, The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center (Virginia
Beach) 20. Bill Cofer, President, Virginia Pilot Association and Commissioner, Virginia Port Authority 21. Keith Colonna , CPA – former President of Bayshore Concrete (Eastern Shore) 22. Anne C. H. Connor, President, Public Finance & Community Investment, TowneBank (Suffolk) 23. Donald W. Comer, Jr., President, Portsmouth Partnership (Portsmouth) 24. Donald R. Crigger, Executive Vice President, CBRE (Norfolk) 25. Robert A. Crum, Executive Director, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (Chesapeake) 26. John T. Dever, President, Thomas Nelson Community College (Hampton) 27. Deborah M. DiCroce, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Community Foundation (Norfolk) 28. William B. Downey, President, Riverside Health System (Newport News) 29. Elizabeth Dietzmann, Director of the Gov2Com Program at ODU (Norfolk) 30. Ben Davenport, Virginia Beach City Council (Virginia Beach) 31. Dr. Lawrence G. Dotolo, President of Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education (Norfolk) 32. Marty Einhorn, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer (Norfolk) 33. Jack L. Ezzell, Jr. President, Zel Technologies (Hampton) 34. George Faatz, Director of External Affairs, Virginia Natural Gas (Virginia Beach) 35. Mark Fletcher (no details) 36. Dr. Landis Faulcon, Director of Economic Development, City of Petersburg, VA 37. Thomas R. Frantz, Chairman-Emeritus, Williams Mullen (Virginia Beach) 38. David France, Vice President, Kimbly Horne & Associates (Norfolk) 39. Sarah Golden, President, Advanced Internet Marketing, Inc. (Virginia Beach) 40. Shannon Glover, Partner, Commonwealth Employee Benefit Solutions (Portsmouth) 41. James Grey (no details) 42. Richard Hall, Commercial Realtor (Eastern Shore) 43. The Honorable Donald L. Hart, Chairman of Accomack County Board of Supervisors (Eastern
Shore) 44. Jeff Holland, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (Eastern Shore) 45. Stu Harris, Retired, NASA Langley Research Center/ Co-Op Program Director (Hampton)
Attachment B
46. Charles “Brad” Hunter. Mortgage Broker, TowneBank (Portsmouth) 47. Sharon Durrette Hunt, Founder and President of Enspyr/Management Consulting Firm
(Hampton) 48. Michael Hanger, Partner, Dixon Hughes Goodman (Norfolk) 49. Adam James, Xenith Bank (Eastern Shore) 50. Shannon Kane, Virginia Beach City Council 51. Angel Kellam, Executive Director of The Planning Council (Norfolk) 52. Tracy Keller, CEO, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (Norfolk) 53. Michael F. Kuhns, President & CEO, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (Hampton) 54. Maureen Lawrence, Chair of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation (Eastern
Shore) 55. The Honorable Lynwood Lewis, Virginia State Senator (Eastern Shore) 56. Nathan Leonard, Client Solutions Manager, Hourigan Construction Corporation (Chesapeake) 57. J.R. Locke, Director, Hampton University Incubator (Hampton) 58. Michael H. Levinson, Michael H. Levinson & Associates (Virginia Beach) 59. Lamond Maddox, Attorney, Guidance Law Firm (Norfolk) 60. Stephen J. McNulty, TowneBank (Virginia Beach) 61. Chuck McPhilips, Partner, Kaufman & Canoles (Norfolk) 62. Carolina Massey, NASA Wallops Island (Eastern Shore) 63. Gary McCollum (Virginia Beach) 64. Bob McDonnell, former Governor of Virginia 65. Ashley McLeod, Virginia Maritime Association (Norfolk) & Virginia School Board 66. Jerrold L. Miller, CEO, The Miller Group (Virginia Beach) 67. J. D. Myers, Jr., Senior Vice President & Regional Manager, Cox Communications (Chesapeake) 68. Tom O’Grady, Business Development, Clancy & Theys Construction (Norfolk) 69. Renee Olander, Associate Vice President for Regional Higher Education Centers, ODU (Norfolk) 70. Ellen Pelstring, President, The Bow Group (Virginia Beach) 71. John Peterman, Rivershore Memorial Hospital (Eastern Shore) 72. McKinley L. Price, Mayor, City of Newport News 73. Karen Philion, President & CEO, Virginia Symphony Orchestra (Norfolk) 74. Jennifer K. Palestrant, President, Palestrant Consulting (Norfolk) 75. Beth Patterson, President, Waypoint Advisors (Virginia Beach) 76. Bryan Plumlee, Attorney (Norfolk) 77. Frank Roach, CEO Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News) 78. John F. Reinhart, CEO & Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority (Norfolk) 79. Craig Reilly, EVP, Waypoint Advisors (Virginia Beach) 80. Robert Rea, Axel Innovation LLC (Portsmouth) 81. C. Arthur “Brother” Rutter, Rutter Mills Law Firm (Norfolk) 82. Burrell Saunders, Architecture and Planning Professional (Virginia Beach) 83. Dr. Jim Shaeffer, Old Dominion University (Norfolk) 84. Jesse Scaccia, AltDaily (Norfolk) 85. William D. Sessoms, Jr., Mayor, City of Virginia Beach 86. Bryan K. Stephens, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (Norfolk) 87. Joashua Schulman, Business Attorney (Virginia Beach) 88. Sharon Shoff, Vice President, Pre-development Services, Second Act Communities (Norfolk) 89. Karen Scherberger, Executive Director of Festevents, City of Norfolk (Norfolk) 90. Leonard Sledge, Economic Development Director, City of Hampton ( Hampton) 91. Marcia Stewart-Downing, Senior Instructional Designer and Business Consultant (Virginia Beach) 92. Bert Schmidt, President and CEO, WHRO (Norfolk) 93. Heather Terry, Sewansecott Seafood (Eastern Shore)
94. Peter Terry, Aquaculture in Willis Wharf (Eastern Shore) 95. Addie Wright Thomason, CEO, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation (Virginia
Beach) 96. Bruce Thompson, CEO, Gold Key/PHR (Virginia Beach) 97. Herman Valentine, Sr., CEO of SMA Microsystems of Virginia (Norfolk) 98. Erica Viola, Business Development Manager, E.V. Williams (Norfolk)
99. Charity Volman, President Suntrust Bank of South Hampton Roads (Norfolk) 100. Wendy Walker, T & W Block (Eastern Shore) 101. Tom Walker, J. C. Walker Brothers (Eastern Shore) 102. Rick L. Weddle, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (Norfolk) 103. Deran R. Whitney, Superintendent of Suffolk City Schools 104. Dr. Deborah Wright, Thomas Nelson Community College (Hampton)
Recommended Hampton Roads Regional Council Members
Name Representing
Sectors Geography Ethnicity Gender
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1. Kenneth Alexander Local Government X X X X
2. Bob Aston Business X X X X
3. Shawn Avery Workforce X X X X
4. John Broderick Public Higher Education X X X X
5. Bob Crum HRPDC X X X X
6. Anne C. H. Connor Business X X X X
7. John Dever VCCS X X X X
8. Deborah DiCroce HRCF X X X X
9. Bill Downey Business X X X X
10. Wendy Drucker Business X X X X
11. Jack Ezzell Business/Entrepreneur X X X X
12. Tom Frantz Business X X X X
13. Mike Kuhns Peninsula Chamber X X X X
14. J.D. Meyers Business X X X X
15. Jerry Miller Business/Entrepreneur X X X X
16. McKinley Price Local Government X X X X
17. John Reinhart Business X X X X
18. Frank Roach Business X X X X
19. Will Sessoms Local Government X X X X
20. Bryan Stephens HR Chamber X X X X
21. Bruce Thompson Business X X X X
22. Rick Weddle HREDA X X X X
23. Deran Whitney Public K-12 (Supt.) X X X X
24. Eastern Shore Business X
25. Norfolk Southern Business X X
Attachment C
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Regional Council Membership Information (Section 9.2.): Below is information detailing why each
member (listed in #2) was selected.
1. Kenneth C. Alexander is the Mayor of Norfolk and will serve as a local government
representative on the Regional Council.
Mr. Alexander was elected Mayor of the City of Norfolk on May 3, 2016. A native of
Norfolk and president of Metropolitan Funeral Service, he began his public service career
more than two decades ago.
Before his election as mayor, Mr. Alexander served in the Senate of Virginia where he was a
member of the committees on Commerce and Labor, Finance, Transportation and Privileges
and Elections. He also served on the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability
Commission, the High Speed Rail Compact Commission for Virginia and North Carolina, the
Special Joint Subcommittee to Consult on the Plan to Close State Training Centers and the
Joint Commission on the Future Competitiveness of Virginia Higher Education.
Before his election to the Senate, he represented the 89th District in the House of Delegates
from 2002 until 2012, serving on the committees of Commerce and Labor, Education,
Privileges and Elections and Rules.
Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Mr. Alexander was a member of the Norfolk
Economic Development Authority, City Planning Commission (vice chair), Human Services
Commission and a City Council-appointed blue ribbon commission that studied the direct
election of the office of mayor.
He is a member of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, the Norfolk Chapter of the FBI Citizens
Academy Alumni Association and an alumnus of the Sorensen Institute for Political
Leadership. Mr. Alexander began his community service as president of Berkley’s Beacon
Light Civic League and the Beacon Light Community Development Corporation. Mr.
Alexander is proud that his first full-time job was with the City of Norfolk as a Cemetery
Manager I with the Department of Parks and Recreation from 1989 to 1990.
A 1985 graduate of Lake Taylor High School, Mr. Alexander holds a Bachelor’s degree in
political science from Old Dominion University and a Master’s degree in diplomacy from
Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the country. Presently, he is
working on his doctorate in Leadership and Change with Antioch University.
2. G. Robert Aston, Jr. Aston has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer since the founding of TowneBank in 1998. He will represent the large business sector
group on the Regional Council.
Attachment D
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Before starting TowneBank, Mr. Aston served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
BB&T of Virginia from January 1995 to June 1998 and as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Commerce Bank from April 1985 to January 1995.
Mr. Aston currently serves as Chair of the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Board of Directors.
He is a member of the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable and the Reinvent Hampton
Roads Board of Directors.
3. Shawn Avery is President and CEO of Opportunity Inc. and will represent the workforce
development professional sector group on the Regional Council.
As President of Opportunity Inc., Mr. Avery provides leadership for strategic initiatives,
business and industry engagement, government and community relations, educational
initiatives, and management for the largest Workforce Development Board in Virginia.
Prior to coming to Opportunity Inc., Mr. Avery served as Vice President for the Peninsula
Council for Workforce Development, where he provided leadership for the Council’s
Private/Public Partnership Division.
Mr. Avery is the recipient of an Inside Business Top Forty under 40 in Hampton Roads
award, as well as an Expanding Workforce Opportunities Award in 2011 and a Chancellor’s
Award in 2013 from the Virginia Community College System. In 2014, he received the
Outstanding Business Partner of the Year Award from the Virginia Association of Career and
Technical Education.
Mr. Avery holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Florida Tech and a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Christopher Newport University
and has received Certificates of Study in Economic Development from Virginia Tech and the
University of North Carolina. Mr. Avery currently serves on various Boards and
Commissions, including the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Tidewater Community
College Workforce Solutions Advisory Committee, Future of Hampton Roads and the
Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.
4. John. R. Broderick is the eighth president of Old Dominion University and will represent the
public higher education institution sector group on the Regional Council.
Under Mr. Broderick’s leadership since 2008, Old Dominion has emerged as an innovative
research powerhouse in fields from cybersecurity to bioelectrics. The establishment of the
Center for the Study of Sea Level Rise elevated Old Dominion to the top tier in addressing
one of the most pressing environmental and economic dilemmas in Hampton Roads - and the
world. Illustrating the University's belief in the value of collaboration, Old Dominion recently
opened the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, a joint effort with the
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College of William and Mary and the college's Virginia Institute of Marine Science to expand
research. During his tenure, Old Dominion received more than $660 million in new resources.
Mr. Broderick's honors have included the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities'
Humanitarian Award, the Urban League of Hampton Roads' Marian Palmer Capps Award, the
New Journal & Guide's Impacting Lives award and a Visionary Award from the Hampton
Roads Chamber of Commerce. Inside Business journal ranked President Broderick No. 6 on
its 2016 Power List of Hampton Roads.
He is past chairman of the Virginia Council of Presidents of colleges and universities and the
Virginia Space Grant Consortium. He is the only college president to serve as a member of the
Virginia Space Flight Authority board.
Mr. Broderick also is a board member of organizations including the Urban League of
Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and General Douglas MacArthur
Foundation.
He was a faculty member in the University of Pittsburgh system and an administrator at St.
Bonaventure University in New York. His previous jobs at Old Dominion have included vice
president of institutional advancement and admissions and chief of staff to the president.
5. Anne C. H. Connor is President of Public Finance and Community Investment at
TowneBank. Ms. Connor will represent the large business sector group on the Regional
Council.
Prior to joining TowneBank Ms. Connor served 18 years in various leadership positions at
Bank of America.
Ms. Connor currently serves as Chairman of the Board for ivWatch, LLC, a medical device
company based in Williamsburg and is a board member of 757 Angels, a local investment
capital group.
She is a graduate of the CIVIC Leadership Institute and is a past Chair of their board of
directors.
Ms. Connor received her BS Degree in Finance from Christopher Newport University.
6. Robert A. Crum is Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
(HRPDC) and will represent the regional planning entity sector group on the Regional
Council.
Mr. Crum joined the HRPDC in July 2015, bringing considerable experience in community
and transportation planning as well as economic development strategies.
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Prior to joining the HRPDC, he served over six years at the Richmond Regional Planning
District Commission (RRPDC) as its Executive Director. Among his many accomplishments
at RRPDC, Mr. Crum oversaw the formation of Capital Region Collaborative, a strategic
partnership between the RRPDC and Greater Richmond Chamber; guided the preparation of
the community's first regional Economic Development Strategy; worked to establish the
regional emergency management planning program; and guide the restructuring of the
Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization as a transportation policy planning
board.
Mr. Crum has 30 years of professional community planning experience, beginning with his
time at the Centre Regional Planning Agency in State College, Pennsylvania, where he was
responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Agency’s regional planning program. In
addition, he completed planning and consensus building for a nationally recognized water
reuse project and an award winning inter-municipal zoning effort. Prior to his work in State
College, he was Chief of the Planning Division for Indiana County, Pennsylvania where he
coordinated County-wide community and solid waste management planning activities. He
holds a bachelor’s degree from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in Geography and
Regional Planning.
7. John T. Dever, Ph.D. is the President of Thomas Nelson Community College. Dr. Dever will
represent the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) sector group on the Regional
Council.
Dr. Dever began his tenure as Thomas Nelson Community College’s eighth President on
October 1, 2011. His career as an educator and administrator spans more than 40 years. Dr.
Dever most recently served as Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Services at
Northern Virginia Community College (2004 – 2011). His background in higher education
also includes service as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Tidewater
Community College (2000-2004); Dean of Instruction and Student Services at Blue Ridge
Community College (1995- 2000); and Professor of English and Chair of the Communications
and Humanities Division at Thomas Nelson (1975-1995).
As a community college administrator, Dr. Dever has pursued research and has been involved
in major projects dealing with community college transfer, diversity, enhanced general
education, workforce development, developmental education, strategic planning,
organizational leadership, and distance learning. He serves on the boards for the Peninsula
Council for Workforce Development, the Urban League of Hampton Roads, WHRO, the
Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education, GENEDGE, and Riverside Lifelong
Health.
Dr. Dever received his bachelor’s degree in history from Bellarmine College in Louisville,
Kentucky, a master’s degree in English from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. in
English from the University of Virginia.
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8. Deborah M. DiCroce, Ed.D. is the President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community
Foundation. Dr. DiCroce will represent the non-profit sector group on the Regional Council.
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is committed to making a significant impact on
improving the region’s economic prosperity.
Before joining the staff in 2012, Dr. DiCroce was president of Tidewater Community College
for 14 years. Previously she was president of Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville
for nine years.
Dr. DiCroce serves on the board of visitors of Norfolk State University and is secretary of the
Hampton Roads Community Foundation board of directors. She serves on the boards of the
Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, Future of Hampton Roads, Greater Norfolk
Corporation, Virginia Beach Vision and the Town Point Club. She serves on the United Way
Children's Zone Steering Committee and Norfolk State University's Business and Economic
Development Advisory Council. In 2012, the Chesapeake Rotary Club named her First
Citizen of Chesapeake.
Dr. DiCroce previously chaired the Hampton Roads Partnership board, Urban League of
Hampton Roads board and the regional board of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
She is a former member of the Christopher Newport University board of visitors, Sentara
Healthcare, Portsmouth Partnership and the Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads boards
of directors. She also served on Governor Bob McDonnell’s Commission on Economic
Development & Job Creation. She earned bachelors and master’s degrees from Old Dominion
University and a doctorate in education from The College of William & Mary.
9. William B. Downey has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Riverside Health
System, Inc. since January 2012. Mr. Downey will represent the large business sector group
on the Regional Council.
Mr. Downey served in various roles with Riverside Health System from 2001 to 2011. Mr.
Downey joined Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC) as assistant administrator in
1985 and served as vice president and administrator of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital from
1986 to 1991, returning to RRMC as Senior Vice President in 1992.
From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Downey served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lewis-
Gale Medical Center in Roanoke and from 2000 to 2001, served as Chief Executive Officer of
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Florida.
Mr. Downey has been involved in many community service projects. He has been a Director
of Premier, Inc. since June 01, 2015. He serves as Director of Riverside Health System, Inc.
He serves on the Board of the Virginia Living Museum, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare
Association, the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula and the Newport News Educational
Foundation. He serves on the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University and the
Boards of Directors of An Achievable Dream, Hampton Roads Economic Development
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Alliance , Virginia Health Network, Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation, Inc. and TowneBank -
Peninsula.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University and a Master’s degree in
Health Administration from the Medical College of Virginia. He is a Fellow in the American
College of Healthcare Executives.
10. Wendy C. Ducker, a Managing Director with Drucker & Falk, began her career in 1981 in
the company’s Raleigh Office, and later moved to Newport News, VA. Ms. Drucker will
represent the large business sector group on the Regional Council.
A Certified Property Manager® through the Institute of Real Estate Management, Ms.
Drucker focuses on new business development, multifamily management, the supervision of
new construction and rent-up, and older apartment community renovations.
Ms. Drucker is considered a leader in adopting emerging technology as a means to work
within an ever changing multifamily and commercial real estate landscape. Wendy currently
serves on multiple community Boards and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Virginia and
North Carolina. She also holds licenses in South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, and is a
Certified Property Manager as designated by the Institute of Real Estate Management.
In 2015 she served as chair of the Hampton Roads Academy Board of Trustees and chair of
the school’s $6.5 million capital campaign.
She holds a degree in experimental psychology from Wheaton College in Norton,
Massachusetts.
11. Jack L. Ezzell, Jr. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zel Technologies, LLC
(ZelTech), one of the nation’s premier professional services firms. Mr. Ezzell will represent
the large business sector group on the Regional Council.
Mr. Ezzell is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and holds an MBA degree
from the Ohio State University. Mr. Ezzell is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel who was
recognized as a leader in applying advanced technology solutions to critical defense
problems. He served in a number of significant military posts in the United States and Asia.
Under Mr. Ezzell’s dynamic leadership, ZelTech grew from a small consulting firm into a
multi-faceted engineering and Information Technology corporation. ZelTech is a recognized
leader in the introduction of leading edge technologies to support critical national and
homeland defense activities. Headquartered in Hampton, VA, ZelTech has operations in
multiple locations throughout the United States and abroad.
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Mr. Ezzell believes that the private sector should give back to the community. He established
an innovative technology laboratory geared to children from kindergarten through the fifth
grade and to senior citizens, named KidTech. He also spends a considerable amount of his
personal time mentoring small business owners in all aspects of business operations.
Mr. Ezzell has received numerous awards, one of the most notable being the National
Technical Association’s (NTA) prestigious Technical Achievement award in the small
business category where he and his company were cited for innovative approaches to software
systems integration. The US Small Business Association (SBA) recognized Mr. Ezzell as the
Commonwealth of Virginia’s Small Business Person of the year. Additionally, Mr. Ezzell
received the KPMG Peat Marwick and Hampton Roads High Tech Entrepreneur Award and
was selected as the Daily Press newspaper Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Old Dominion
University has presented him with its Distinguished Entrepreneurial Award and the SBA
awarded ZelTech its prestigious Prime Contractor of the Year for Region Four. He has
received numerous Community Service Awards from local and national organizations to
include the Urban League and several fraternities and sororities.
In May 2006, he was named by the Governor and Science Museum of Virginia as the State’s
Outstanding Industrialist. Active in numerous Virginia civic and community organizations,
Mr. Ezzell has held leadership and Board positions with Norfolk State University, Hampton
Roads Partnership, Hampton Industrial Development Authority, WHRO Public Broadcasting,
Jamestown/Yorktown, Inc. Foundation, and Versability Resources, among others.
12. Thomas R. Frantz currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board for Williams Mullen
and previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm from 2010 to
2015. Mr. Frantz will represent the large business sector group on the Regional Council.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Frantz was an original principal with Clark & Stant, which
merged with Williams Mullen in 1999. He became General Counsel to Tidewater Health
Care, Inc., the parent company of Virginia Beach General Hospital, in 1989. He currently
serves as Outside Corporate Counsel to Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc., a NYSE REIT. He is
admitted before the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Fourth Circuit
Court of Appeals and all Virginia courts.
Mr. Frantz is a member of the American College of Tax Counsel, the American College of
Trust and Estates Counsel, the Virginia Bar Association’s Taxation Section, the American
Association of Attorney CPAs, the Virginia Society of CPAs, and the American Academy of
Hospital Attorneys. He is also a member of the Corporate, Banking and Business Law,
Taxation and Health Care Sections of the American Bar Association. He is a past president of
the Hampton Roads Tax Forum and is a director of the William & Mary Annual Tax
Conference.
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Mr. Frantz has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for each year of publication since
1983 and was named the Best Lawyers’® 2011 Norfolk Area Corporate Lawyer of the Year
and 2012 Norfolk Area Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year. He has also been named
to Virginia Business magazine’s list of “Legal Elite” (2008-present). Mr. Frantz has been
recognized as a leading Corporate/M&A attorney in the U.S. by Chambers USA (2004-
present) and named a “Super Lawyer” for Business/Corporate by Virginia Super Lawyers
magazine (2006-present). Virginia Super Lawyers magazine listed him as one of the "Top 50
Attorneys in Virginia" every year from 2006 to 2011, and in 2008, he was listed as one of the
“Top 10 Attorneys in Virginia.” In addition, Martindale-Hubbell has rated Tom an AV
attorney, its highest rating available.
Active in numerous civic and educational organizations, Mr. Frantz is a former Chairman of
the Board of Cape Henry Collegiate School, the Virginia Beach Foundation, the Hampton
Roads Partnership and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation. He is
the former President of Virginia Beach Vision. He is a member of the board of directors and
the executive committee of the Neptune Festival, having served as King Neptune in 1996.
Mr. Frantz was appointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell and re-appointed by Governor
Terence R. “Terry” McAuliffe to serve on the College of William & Mary Board of Visitors,
where he is also a member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, he is on the board and
executive committee of the Mason School of Business Foundation at the College of William
& Mary and the advisory board of the William & Mary Business Law Review. He is also an
adjunct professor at the William & Mary Law School, where he teaches a class on
Entrepreneurship and the Law.
He serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Hampton Roads Business
Roundtable and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. He is also on the board of
directors of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. He currently chairs the Mayor of the
City of Virginia Beach’s Bio-medical and Healthcare Taskforce, and he serves on the board of
directors of Virginia Bio. He was appointed by Governor Mark R. Warner to the Hampton
Roads Sports Facility Authority in 2003 and was honored by the Virginia Beach Jaycees as
the 2004 First Citizen of Virginia Beach. In 2010, he received the VOLUNTEER Hampton
Roads’ Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding leadership in
community service.
Mr. Frantz graduated from the College of William & Mary with an accounting degree in 1970
and from the Marshall Wythe School of Law in 1973. He obtained his license as a Certified
Public Accountant in 1973 and received his Master’s in Law and Taxation from William &
Mary in 1981. He is a former Captain in the U.S. Army.
13. Michael F. Kuhns became President and CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of
Commerce (VPCC) on November 1, 2010 after having served the organization as Vice
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President for Government Affairs. He will represent the non-profit sector group on the
Regional Council, having led an organization that continues to impact the regional economy.
Mr. Kuhns is responsible for the management and operation of the VPCC, which serves a
population base of 530,000, with over 15,000 business entities, 4 large military facilities, a
NASA research facility, a Department of Energy laboratory, various National Park Service
sites, and more. He oversees the development of public policy, develops strategic alliances,
and serves as liaison with local military commands and installations. He also serves as the
Chamber’s registered lobbyist and maintains working relationships with local, state and
federal elected officials.
The VPCC serves the business communities in the region including the Cities of Newport
News, Hampton, Poquoson, James City County, and York County and has over 1400
members and affiliates representing over 84,000 employees.
Prior to his work at the VPCC, Mr. Kuhns served seven years as Director of Chamber
Relations for Chamber Solutions, a consulting organization serving forty-eight Chambers of
Commerce in Virginia. Chamber Solutions provides consulting services in strategic planning,
long range planning, mergers and consolidations, information management system
development, fiscal administration, web site development and utilization, and more.
14. J.D. Myers, II was named Senior Vice President and Region Manager of Cox Virginia
operations after serving in the interim role since 2015. Mr. Myers will represent the large
business sector group on the Regional Council.
In his role at Cox, Mr. Myers is responsible for leading more than 2,400 employees and the
day-to-day operations across Virginia, including Hampton Roads, Roanoke, Fairfax County
and Fredericksburg.
Mr. Myers, who previously served as the market leader for Cox’s Northern Virginia service
area, has extensive operations experience within the telecommunications industry and has
been with Cox since 2006. He is actively engaged within the telecommunications industry and
in the community and has been recognized with a number of awards.
Mr. Myers currently serves as chair-elect for the Virginia Cable Telecommunications
Association, and is a board member for several other prominent organizations, including the
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and the George Mason University Foundation. He is
former co-chair of the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM)
Business Services Council.
Before being named market leader for Northern Virginia operations, Mr. Myers served as the
vice president of Cox Business and led Cox’s fastest growing commercial services business
division in Northern Virginia. Prior to joining Cox, Mr. Myers served as vice president,
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channel development and international sales for P-COM Corporation; chief marketing officer
and vice president, Sales for IMC Worldcell; vice president and general manager, for Arch
Wireless, Inc. and vice president and general manager, for BellSouth.
In 2015, 2014 and 2011, he was named by CableFAX as one of the Most Influential
Minorities in Cable; in 2009 he was named on CableFAX Magazine’s National List of the Top
35 Regional Executives and in 2008, he was recognized by CableFAX as one of the Top
Minority Executives in Cable Communications.
Mr. Myers holds a MBA in finance and marketing from American University. He also holds
a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American University, and an associate’s
degree in electrical engineering technology from Regis University.
15. Jerrold L. Miller is CEO of The Miller Group and will represent the small business sector
group on the Regional Council.
Since founding the company in 1998, Jerry Miller has guided the growth of The Miller Group
and its affiliated companies. A 1977 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he also
served seven years as a Surface Warfare Officer.
Mr. Miller co-founded Earl Industries in 1985 and purchased the company outright in 1989
leading the company through many years of success and ultimately to its sale to General
Dynamics in 2012.
16. McKinley L. Price is the Mayor of the City of Newport News and will represent the local
government sector group on the Regional Council.
Dr. Price is a native of Newport News, VA. He graduated from Huntington High School in
1967 and then received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Hampton Institute (now
Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia, in 1971.
Dr. Price was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1972 as 1st Lt. In 1976,
he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C.,
and performed his general anesthesia residency at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Price has received numerous honors and awards from various professional associations. In
1989, he was elected by his peers as President of the Peninsula Dental Society; he was the
first black president of this organization. He was also named “Dentist of the Year” by the Old
Dominion Dental Society. Dr. Price is a Fellow in the Virginia Dental Association, the
American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.
Dr. Price’s community service was highlighted by his being appointed chair of the Newport
News School Board for two years, during his eight years of service, from 1984-1992.
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In 1994, Dr. Price received the President’s Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Peninsula
Chapter of 100 Black Men and in 1996 he received the Presidential Citizenship Award from
Hampton University. The Peninsula Chapter of the National Conference for Community and
Justice presented him with their Humanitarian Award in 1996. In 1998, Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Incorporated honored him as Citizen of the Year during the Mid-Atlantic 44th
Annual Regional Conference. The Daily Press Newspaper awarded him “Citizen of the Year”
for 2005, which highlighted his Co-Chairmanship of the organization People to People whose
mission is to improve race relations and the quality of life in Newport News. It also
commended him for being a founding member of the Virginia Peninsula Chapter of 100 Black
Men. They recognized him as the Role Model of the Year in April 2011. Thomas Nelson
Community College awarded him their TNCC Medallion Award during commencement
exercises in May 2011. The Price Family was the Honored Family during the 2010 Hampton
University’s Black Family Conference and he was the Founder’s Day speaker at Hampton in
2011.
In addition to the commitment he makes to his professional activities and meeting the
demands a successful dental practice, Dr. Price devotes untiring energy and time to the
Hampton and Newport News community. He has served as Chairman of the Board for
Riverside Health System Foundation, Vice Chair of the Riverside Health System Board, and
Immediate Past Chairman of the Thomas Nelson Community College Board. He was also
appointed to the Newport News City Council for a five-month period in 2004. In addition, Dr.
Price was appointed by Governor Warner to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Board. In May 2010, he was the first black elected as Mayor of the City of Newport News.
17. John F. Reinhart is the CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA).
Because of this vast experience in the private sector, Mr. Reinhart will be representing the
large business sector group on the Regional Council.
At the VPA Mr. Reinhart is responsible for the broad programmatic areas of business
development and growth, strategic marketing, finance, and operations of Virginia’s marine
terminal facilities: Virginia International Gateway, Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk
International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Richmond Marine Terminal and the
Virginia Inland Port.
Prior to joining the VPA, Mr. Reinhart worked for the Maersk organization for 23 years. He
served from 2000-2014 as CEO of Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) and a member of the board
of directors. During his career with Maersk, he held the positions of President, UMS, senior
vice president and regional director. After retiring from Maersk, Mr. Reinhart began his
tenure with VPA in February 2014.
Mr. Reinhart currently serves on multiple regional boards including the Hampton Roads
Transportation Accountability Commission, Marine Transportation System National Advisory
Council, Hampton Roads Business Roundtable, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Regional Board and Nauticus Foundation.
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His awards and honors include: 2015 Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement,
2014 Colgate W. Darden, Jr. Scouter Citizen of the Year, 2009 Seafarer’s International
House, Outstanding Friend of the Seafarer and the 2007 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award.
Mr. Reinhart received his bachelor’s degree in general studies and political science from Ohio
University and later earned his Executive MBA from the University of Michigan.
18. Frank Roach was appointed CEO for Wolseley's North American operations in January
2006, and in August 2009, he assumed additional responsibilities as CEO of Ferguson. Mr.
Roach will represent the large business sector group on the Regional Council.
Mr. Roach is responsible for combining the strength and resources of all Wolseley businesses
in North America to drive growth and development. He joined Ferguson in 1976 and
throughout his career has been responsible for a number of operational roles, including branch
manager in Richmond, Va., vice president of the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, and senior vice
president of the Residential Business Group.
In 1995, Mr. Roach was appointed to Ferguson's board of directors. A decade later, he
assumed responsibility for North American business groups. In this role, he played a
significant part in further developing and expanding Wolseley's North American businesses
including Plumbing, Waterworks, Industrial and HVAC. He is a member of the Wolseley
board of directors, as well as a key member of the Wolseley plc Executive Committee.
Originally from Warrenton, Va., Mr. Roach received a Bachelor of Arts from Hampden-
Sydney College and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and
Mary. He also attended Executive Management programs at the University of North Carolina,
Duke University and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
19. William D. Sessoms, Jr. is the Mayor of Virginia Beach and will represent the local
government sector group on the Regional Council.
Mr. Sessoms began his political career in 1988 as an at large member of City Council. In
1992, his fellow council members selected him to be Vice Mayor, a position he held for 10
years. He was elected Mayor in 2008, and re-elected in 2012. Following a 35-year career in
banking, Mr. Sessoms retired as President/CEO of Towne Financial Services Group in 2014.
In 2012, Mr. Sessoms was recognized as Elected Official of the Year by the Association of
Defense Communities "for critical role he played in leading and gathering support for Virginia
Beach's effort to turn back encroachment" threatening Naval Air Station Oceana.
Mr. Sessoms serves on the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission and
the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University. He is on the executive committee and
board of directors of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance and served on the
executive committee and board of the Hampton Roads Partnership. He is the past chairman of
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the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) the Hampton Roads
Military & Federal Facilities Alliance, and the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee. As
chairman of the HRTPO, Mr. Sessoms effectively led the region to prioritize its major road
projects, resulting in significant state funding.
During his first two terms in elected office Mr. Sessoms established the Virginia Beach
Biomedical and Health Sciences Task Force to explore the creation of a bio-medical and
healthcare hub in the Princess Anne Commons area of Virginia Beach (2014); created
Envision Virginia Beach 2040 , a group of bright, passionate and dedicated community
activists charged with providing a thoughtful vision for Virginia Beach to achieve by 2040
(2011); launched the Mayor's Action Challenge for Children and Families, a community-wide
approach to providing youth and families with accessible, affordable and sustainable
opportunities to improve their quality of life (2010); and. created an Alternative Energy Task
Force to explore new energy sources for the city, region and commonwealth.
20. Bryan K. Stephens is President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. Mr.
Stephens will represent the non-profit sector group on the Regional Council, leading an
organization that greatly impacts the regional economy.
Mr. Stephens returned to Hampton Roads in 2013 with extensive leadership and business
experience having most recently served as President & CEO of Kalmar LLC in San Antonio,
Texas; a $250M/year major manufacturer of material handling equipment. As President &
CEO Mr. Stephens led the entire spectrum of research and development, product
improvement, marketing, sales, supply chain management, production, quality control,
distribution, and aftermarket parts, servicing and maintenance of Kalmar’s products
worldwide.
Prior to Kalmar, Mr. Stephens served as Vice President of Military Programs for Allison
Transmission, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana; the largest manufacturer of military transmissions
in the world. Before leaving Hampton Roads, Mr. Stephens served as a Senior Account for
SAIC in Suffolk, Virginia where he supported USJFCOM and U.S. Army TRADOC.
Mr. Stephens, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, served in a variety of progressive leadership
roles over a distinguished 28-year career. His last assignments included Infantry Brigade
Commander and Division Chief of Staff for the 10th
Mountain Division (LI) and Chief of
Operations and Chief of Staff at the Joint Warfighting Center, USJFCOM in Suffolk,
Virginia. His military qualifications include Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, Air Assault and
Joint Staff Officer.
Coming from a military family, Mr. Stephens is a graduate of West Virginia University with a
degree in Political Science. He also received a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S.
Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from
Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
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21. Bruce Thompson is CEO of Gold Key/PHR and will represent the large business sector
group on the Regional Council.
Mr. Thompson has been a leader in the travel industry for more than 25 years. His first
venture grew to become the largest ski operator on the East Coast. That company evolved into
Professional Hospitality Resources (PHR), as Mr. Thompson expanded into hotels and
restaurants. In 1986, he entered the vacation ownership industry, co-founding the highly
successful Gold Key Resorts. Today, his companies generate annual revenues exceeding $170
million and employ over 2000. Mr. Thompson’s companies own and manage hotels, resorts,
commercial real estate and restaurants in Virginia and North Carolina.
Mr. Thompson has been an ardent supporter of the travel industry, serving as a director of the
American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and on the board of many tourism and
development organizations. He served for seven years on the Governor’s Travel Advisory
Committee, American Resort Development Association Board, Resort Area Advisory
Commission, Resort Leadership Council, Virginia Beach Festivals Committee and the
Virginia Small Business Financial Authority. He was chairman of Virginia Governor Bob
McDonnell’s Transition Team for Film and Tourism and was appointed to the Governor’s
Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission. In July 2010, Mr. Thompson was
appointed by the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) Foundation Board of Trustees to
serve on the EVMS Board of Visitors. In recognition of his accomplishments in the timeshare
industry, Mr. Thompson was awarded “Best Industry Leader” in 2012 by Perspective
Magazine, the leading trade publication for the timeshare and fractional ownership industry.
Mr. Thompson is a vocal proponent of community service. Since 2008, he has organized the
largest Walk to Defeat ALS in that organization’s history, raising more than $5 million to
support the ALS Society, patient care and medical research. In 2009, he designed and secured
funding for the world’s first fully accessible oceanfront park for the disabled, JT’s Grommet
Island Beach Park and Playground for EveryBODY, which opened on the Virginia Beach
oceanfront in May 2010. Mr. Thompson received the 2009 ARDA Ace Philanthropic Award,
the 2009 Outstanding Community Visionary Award from Amerigroup Foundation, the
Virginia Center of Inclusive Committees Humanitarian Award and Gold Key Resorts (a
company piloted by Mr. Thompson) received the 2010 ARDA Ace Community Service
Award. After many years in support of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, Thompson was
crowned King Neptune XXXVIII in 2010. He is a member of the Hampton Roads Chapter of
the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. In April 2012, Mr. Thompson received the
Lenora B. Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award from Volunteer Hampton Roads,
recognizing his continued commitment to the community.
22. Rick L. Weddle is President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Economic Development
Alliance and will be representing a non-profit organization that greatly impacts regional
economic development on the Regional Council.
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Mr. Weddle joined the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance as President and
CEO in April 2016. In his role, he leads the operations of a regional marketing organization
with a 9-person staff that represents 11 municipalities and over 75 private sector investors in
the Hampton Roads region.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Mr. Weddle spent five years as President and CEO of the
Orlando Economic Development Commission. Over the course of his tenure, he created more
than 17,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $800 million, more than $1 billion in capital
investment and 5.3 million square feet of space absorbed.
Before leading Orlando’s ED Commission, Mr. Weddle spent seven years as President and
CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, owner and developer of The
Research Triangle Park. Under his leadership, the Research Triangle Park has generated
successful development projects with projected capital investment of over $800 million and
the projected creation of over 6,300 new, high-quality jobs. During his tenure, the Foundation
assisted in recruiting 18 new firms and facilitating four expansions to the Park, compared to
the historical average of one to two locates per year.
Before North Carolina, Mr. Weddle led the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) from
1997-2004. During his tenure at the GPEC as President and CEO, he assisted 170 companies
with expansions and/or relocations to Greater Phoenix, creating over 26,000 jobs with a total
payroll of $1 billion. The average salary for jobs created under Rick's leadership increased
from $33,597 to $41,945 from 1997-2004. The companies in the Greater Phoenix region
generated $1.8 billion in capital investment, approximately $224 million in annual state,
county and community revenues, and resulted in the absorption of 13 million square feet of
industrial and office space.
Prior to arriving in Phoenix, Mr. Weddle spent four years in Toledo, Ohio, where he served as
President and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP). Under his leadership, RGP
assisted 119 companies with expansions and/or relocations, creating 4,016 jobs and generating
$1.5 billion in capital investment. From 1991-93, Mr. Weddle was President and CEO of the
San Joaquin Partnership & Business Council in Stockton, California. In two years, the
partnership brought 1,200 jobs and $100 million in capital investment to the area. From 1987-
91, he was in North Carolina where he was President and CEO of Winston-Salem Business
Inc. This organization brought 1,200 new jobs and $58 million in capital investment to the
region.
An active speaker and leader in numerous economic development and science park
organizations, he currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the International
Association of Science Parks (IASP). From 2007-09, he served as the President of IASP-
North American Division. During his two-year term as N.A. Division President, he served on
the IASP's International Board of Directors, and The Research Triangle Park hosted the 2009
IASP World Conference on Science and Technology Parks.
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Active in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) since its inception, Mr.
Weddle, a Fellow Member, was awarded the designation of Honorary Life Member in 2007
and received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic
Development in honor of Edward de Luca. In 2002, he was elected as the first Chairman of
the Board of the IEDC, an organization formed by the merger of the American Economic
Development Council (AEDC) and the Council for Urban and Economic Development
(CUED). He was elected to AEDC's Board of Directors in 1995, and in 1998 was appointed
Western Regional Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee. Mr. Weddle chaired AEDC's
Education Board (1994-96) and the Preeminence Task Force (1994-96). In addition, he has
served on numerous gubernatorial-appointed task forces and working committees, including
the Arizona Partnership for the New Economy (2000-01), the Ohio Economic Development
Advisory Committee (1996) and Co-Chair of Reality Check, a joint effort of the Urban Land
Institute and Triangle Tomorrow (2007-10). He was also a policy board member of the Team
Florida Marketing Partnership, LLC.
23. Devan R. Whitney, Ed.D is Superintendent of Suffolk City Schools and is chair of the
Region II School Superintendents. He will represent the K-12 education sector group on the
Regional Council.
Dr. Whitney was named the Region II Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association
of School Superintendents (VASS). He was one of eight regional finalists considered for the
organization’s state-wide recognition.Region II encompasses the counties of Accomack, Isle
of Wight, James City, Northampton, Southampton and York, and the cities of Chesapeake,
Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach
and Williamsburg.
Dr. Whitney has been Superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools since 2011. Through
partnerships with families and the community, Dr. Whitney strives for all students to become
life-long learners equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to succeed as productive
citizens in a local, national and global society.
Starting as an elementary school teacher and principal before assuming division-wide
responsibilities in elementary education and K-12 instruction, Dr. Whitney has served Suffolk
Public Schools for 18 years.
During that time, Dr. Whitney has strengthened early childhood education programs,
enhanced professional development, reshaped the Leadership Academy for Potential
Principals, and helped start an International Baccalaureate program. As a champion of
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives, he initiated the start
of two high school focus programs, one in engineering and another in biomedical sciences.
In recent years, Dr. Whitney has also:
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Spearheaded a City-Wide College & Career Readiness Fair, which offered middle and
high school students and parents a series of workshops on preparing for high school,
planning for college, and transitioning to the workforce.
Revived the staff recognition program – now called the Superintendent’s Star Awards –
which honors each semester both the top-scoring honorees at a reception as well as city-
wide winners for both support staff and instructional staff;
Implemented recommendations of a comprehensive compensation and pay study, which
provided teachers their first pay raise or step increase in 5 years, which increased teacher
retention. Likewise, the implementation brought salaries for SPS employees in line with
like positions in similar and surrounding organizations;
Opened a new elementary school in 2014 in the southern part of the city;
Negotiated the construction of a new elementary school and new middle school in the
city’s fast-growing northern end to open in 2018.
Most recently, Dr. Whitney demonstrated his strong leadership for learning with the award-
winning elementary summer program called Learning and Enrichment for Academic Progress
(LEAP), which is designed specifically to prevent “summer slide” for students with low
socioeconomic status. LEAP kicked off in 2015 as a collaborative, community-based
approach between the school district, United Way’s United for Children campaign, and more
than 20 other funding partners and service providers. LEAP expanded the remedial summer
school from a 4-week half-day program to an 8-week full-day program that combined
academics and enrichment.
Besides his leadership of Suffolk Public Schools, Dr. Whitney is also an adjunct professor at
Old Dominion University, and has previously been an adjunct profession at the University of
Virginia. He is Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity chapter education director, a member at Canaan
Baptist Church, the husband of an elementary school reading specialist, and the father of a
rising junior at Radford University.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport University, his master’s degree
from Old Dominion University, and his doctorate degree in education leadership & policy
studies from Virginia Tech.
GO Virginia Regional Council Intent to Form Statement Section 1: REGIONAL COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION
1. Region Number
2. Region Name (optional)
3. Phone | Fax
4. E‐mail
5. Mailing Address
6. Contact Name and Role
Section 2: REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
1. How many members?
2. List of Members, Organization, and Sector being Represented
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Section 2(continued): REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
3. Per the regional council guidelines, if you have less than 15 members or more than 25, please provide justification as to why.
4. Are the majority of members from the private sector?
☐Yes
☐No
5. Please describe the member selection process. Please include how the proposed membership is representative of the region and ensures geographic and ethnic diversity. (if additional space is needed, please attach a word document)
PLEASE SUBMIT COMPLETED STATEMENT WITH ALL ATTACHMENTS BY MAIL OR EMAIL TO: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
600 E. Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219 [email protected]
DateDate
Section 2(continued): REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
6. Please describe in detail how stakeholders and other methods of public input were consulted to select members. Address how it was an inclusive and open process (If additional space is needed, please attach a word document).
7. Proposed Leadership (Name of individual and role)
8. Please describe why these individuals were selected to fill the leadership role.
9. Please attach a narrative detailing why each member (listed in #2) was selected. This narrative should provide background information and include justification why the member is representative of the region.
We, the undersigned, proposed leadership of the Regional Council, duly authorized to act on
behalf of the Regional Council for which this statement is made, certify that this statement and
including any accompanying appendices have been examined by us and are, to the best of our
knowledge and belief, true, correct and complete pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
Signature of Proposed Chairman
Print Name
Signature of Proposed Vice Chairman
Print Name
DSM R1/18/17
BUDGET TO ACTUAL FY16 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2016
Revenue Approved Budget FY16
Actual as of 12/31/16
Available
1. Hampton Roads Community Foundation $ 325,000.00 $ 325,000.00
2. Hampton Roads Business Roundtable 100,000.00 100,000.00
3. Port of Virginia 50,000.00 50,000.00
4. Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance 50,000.00 50,000.00
5. Peninsula Now 50,000.00 25,000.00
Total Revenue $ 575,000.00 $ 550,000.00
Operating Expenses
1. Personnel
President/CEO1 $ 220,000 215,540.45 4,459.55
Administrator2 0 0 0
Support Staff3 60,000 37,441.83 22,558.17
Total Personnel $ 280,000 252,982.28 27,017.72
2. Office Operations
Office Space—Renovation Cost4 $ 30,000 $ 26,257.37 $ 3,742.63
Office Space—Furniture5 15,000 15,185.86 (185.86)
Office Sublease4 0 0 0
Telecommunications Services6 3,900 2,764.97 1,135.03
Managed IT Services7 17,924 16,608.60 1,315.40
Accounting Services8 7,500 1,547.50 5,952.50
Payroll Services 2,500 54.25 2,445.75
Legal Services 9,000 15,267.92 (6,267.92)
Website Hosting & Maintenance9 3,000 0 3,000.00
Insurance10 3,100 4,537.00 (1,437.00)
Supplies 5,000 4,227.41 772.59
Travel/Meetings11 12,500 11,327.75 1,172.25
Miscellaneous 2,500 1,795.80 704.20
Total Office Operations $ 111,924 99,574.43 12,349.57
Total Operating Expenses $ 391,924 352,556.71 39,367.29
Uncommitted Balance $ 183,076 197,443.29 Notes 1. Reflects position filled at an annual salary rate of $200,000, with a starting date of January 4, 2016. Remaining
$20,000 covers benefits initially as set by HRCF, to include parking.
TAB 2
DSM R1/18/17
2. Reflects HRCF loan of Donna S. Morris, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, to fill this position for up to the initial twelve months of operation. Cost of position if filled for FY16 estimated at $125,000 for salary and benefits.
3. Reflects position filled at an annual salary rate of $40,000, with remaining $20,000 covering benefits initially as set by HRCF, to include parking. Position filled April 11, 2016.
4. Reflects office space as provided in the World Trade Center in Downtown Norfolk in Suite 415 which is leased to JOW, Inc. Reinvent Hampton Roads subleases 617 assignable square feet with an additional 1,133 square feet of common area from JOW, Inc. Associated cost of sublease (valued at $31,510 for 2016) is donated by John O. Wynne. A one-time cost estimated at $30,000 will cover renovation of the sublet space.
5. Reflects one-time cost of office furniture.
6. Reflects annual cost of internet, telephone, and television services.
7. Reflects $11,000 for computer hardware, with remaining $6,924 covering annual contractual IT services with Mode 5.
8. Reflects accounting services which include preparation of 990’s, audit, and consulting.
9. Reflects annual cost of hosting and maintenance of RHR website by WHRO.
10. Reflects annual cost of both renter’s insurance (estimated at $600) and director/officer liability insurance (estimated at $2,500).
11. Of the total in expenditures for travel and meetings, $ 6,752.59 reflects the expenses associated with two Call To Action events held on December 13, 2016.
TAB 3
REINVENT HAMPTON ROADS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Proposed Meeting Schedule for 2017
____________________________________________________________
Following a poll of the Reinvent Hampton Roads Advisory Cabinet last fall it was decided to schedule the newly expanded Reinvent Hampton Roads Board meetings bi-monthly from noon to 1:30 p.m. Unless otherwise noted the meetings will be held in the offices of Hampton Roads Community Foundation (101 West Main Street, Suite 4500, Norfolk, VA 23510). Listed below is the remaining meeting schedule for 2017.
March 9, 2017
May 11, 2017
July 13, 2017
September 14, 2017
November 9, 2017