Appointed/elected

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced additional board appointments. Tracy Bowdish of Norfolk, a music therapist with Sentara Neurology Specialists, was appointed to the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Timothy Stromberg of Virginia Beach, principal of Stromberg Garrigan & Associates, was appointed to the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Paris D. Turner of Norfolk, a retired teacher from Norfolk Public Schools, was appointed to the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Awards Committee. Sam Bass of Suffolk, chief emeritus of the Nansemond Indian Nation, was appointed to the Fort Monroe Authority Board of Trustees. Elizabeth Andrews of Williamsburg, a distinguished law and policy fellow at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, was appointed to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District Commission. Scott Watson of Virginia Beach, CEO of Phoenix Group of Virginia, was appointed to the A.I. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership board of trustees. Arthur Lee Talley of Portsmouth, managing partner, chief engineer and founder of Ambientmuse Studios, was appointed to the state Rehabilitation Advisory Council. Ryan Horsley of Virginia Beach, co-owner and operator of Land of Promise Farms, was appointed to the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation board of trustees.

Jeremy Jeffreys, vice president and COO of Fairlead. (Courtesy/Fairlead)

Fairlead, a systems engineering, modular shipbuilding and integrated defense infrastructure company, recently announced two leadership appointments. Jeremy Jeffreys is now senior vice president and chief operating officer. In that role, Jeffreys will oversee the company’s operations across all business units. Fairlead also appointed Adam R. Zydron as vice president and general manager of structures. Zydron will oversee operations, strategy and growth initiatives across the company’s structures division. He succeeds Jeffreys, who was promoted.

Antonio Perez Jr. is general manager of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Rush Street Gaming announced. Before joining Rush Street, Perez was general manager of Rolling Hills Casino Resort in California, where he led operations for a property that included multiple restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and gaming facilities.

Marty Irvine (Courtesy/Old Dominion University)

Marty Irvine Jr. is Old Dominion University’s inaugural associate vice president for National Security Initiatives. In that role, Irvine oversees ODU’s national security strategic research. Most recently, Irvine was the executive director of the Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers. In that capacity, he managed more than 30,000 personnel and $16 billion in research, development, testing and evaluation programs for the Navy, in which he served for over 27 years. Irvine holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and degrees in ocean engineering from Virginia Tech.

Awards and honors

Sharon Owen, the founder and longtime volunteer manager of the Gallery at York Hall, has been awarded volunteer of the year for 2024 for York County. The gallery provides display and sales space for over 300 artists whose work is sold on consignment. The income generated supports programs of the Celebrate Yorktown Committee of the Yorktown Foundation.

Ray Toll has received the Caraid Award from the Integrated Ocean Observing System Association. The national award is the association’s highest honor. It recognizes people for extraordinary leadership and lifelong contributions to ocean and coastal observing. Toll, a retired Navy captain, was an oceanographer from 1978 to 2004, providing ocean and atmospheric insights for submarines, ships, aviation, intelligence and missile operations.

Grants and donations

Tidewater Community College received a $519,558 grant from the Department of Labor  Apprenticeship Building America. Overall, the college is the recipient of over $1.6 million in grant funding targeting the growth of its Office of Apprenticeships and Employer Partnerships. The grants focus on work-based learning and on-the-job training in of advanced manufacturing, health care, IT, maritime, clean energy, offshore wind and skilled trades. TCC also received grants from Virginia Works and The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership.

Forty-four local apartment communities joined together to collect donations for Samaritan House through the Stock the Shelves initiative, organized by the Virginia Apartment Management Association Hampton Roads chapter. The communities encouraged their residents to contribute essential items that will directly benefit individuals and families served by Samaritan House, which supports people leaving violent relationships. This year, the donation drive included 14 property management companies.

Virginia Natural Gas recently commemorated 175 years of business and community partnerships with a $175,000 grant to The Union Mission in Norfolk. The mission provides emergency shelter, meals, clothing, job training, counseling and recovery programs. In 2024, it served nearly 190,000 meals and provided more than 72,000 nights of shelter. Virginia Natural Gas employees also participated in a day of service alongside Union Mission employees.

Former NFL player Robert Griffin III recently visited Norfolk for a community engagement campaign in partnership with USAA. Griffin visited Waterside District for a Positive Steps, campaign, which focuses on how simple steps can contribute to living a healthy life. As part of his visit, Griffin, who played for the Washington, Cleveland and Baltimore NFL teams, did a surprise meet and greet with Junior Achievement students at the William H. Ruffner Academy in Norfolk. (Courtesy/Mitch Marier)

Cox Communications has awarded a total of $60,000 in grants to local nonprofits, through its Cox Charities Community Investment Grants. The program provides employee funded grants of up to $5,000 to support programs that benefit local residents. This year’s recipients are: Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads; Elizabeth River Trail Foundation; Care For Me Youth Initiatives; Connect With a Wish Inc.; Elizabeth River Project; Equi-Kids therapeutic horse riding program; ForKids education programs; Friends of Foster Care; Hampton Education Foundation; Jamestown 4-H Educational Center; the Virginia Beach Library Foundation; and the Woodstock Elementary School PTA, where the grant will help support STEAM-focused enrichment programs for all K–5 students during the 2025–2026 school year.

Health care

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center was recently granted provisional status as a Level III adult trauma center by the state health commissioner. That designation means the hospital offers 24/7 emergency physician coverage with a full range of surgical specialties available at all times. The medical center is further authorized and equipped to rapidly assess, stabilize and treat injured patients from the time of injury to rehabilitation. Chesapeake Regional has over 57,000 annual emergency room visits, 15 operating rooms and 310 beds.

Opening

Dogtopia, a dog wellness franchise, recently opened in Norfolk at 118 W. 21st St. It offers dog daycare, boarding and spa services. The 7,500-square-foot business also features a store offering high-quality pet foods and wellness products. The Sutelan family owns and operates the business.

Chase has opened its first bank branch in Suffolk. Located at 6249 College Drive, the bank expects to employ about 25 people.

Partnership

Regent Craft, the developer and manufacturer of Seaglider vessels, and Fairlead, a ship repair, fabrication, and systems integration company, have entered a strategic partnership to advance the development, production and deployment of Regent’s Seaglider technology for defense and logistics applications. The partnership’s goal is to accelerate delivery timelines, strengthen U.S. industrial capacity and provide the U.S. military and allied partners with new options for contested logistics and naval resupply.

Retirement

Avalon Center executive director Teresa Christin recently announced her retirement. Christin was executive director of the organization, which works to end domestic and sexual violence, for over 13 years.

Workforce Development

Camp Community College has opened a new Workforce Trades and Innovation Center at 612 Carolina Road in Suffolk. The 10,000-square-foot center houses the college’s marine trades programs and other high-demand skilled trades programs. Plans for a second phase addition at the site will add 6,000 square feet of classrooms and office space.

The Paul D. Camp Community College Oliver K. Hobbs Campus in Suffolk. (Staff file)

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