Appointed/elected

Edmond E. Hughes, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of HII in Newport News, was elected vice chair of Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

Edmond E. Hughes, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of HII in Newport News, was elected vice chair of Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. (Courtesy of VECF)

ForKids in Chesapeake announced new board members: Angie Bice, Dr. L.D. Britt and Enrique Figueroa.

Old Dominion University’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation appointed B. Danette Allen as executive director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center. Allen is a pioneering senior leader in autonomous systems, with 30 years of experience working at NASA managing the agency’s strategic direction for such systems to meet current and future mission needs across aeronautics, space, robotics and human exploration.

Old Dominion University’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation appointed B. Danette Allen as executive director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center. (Courtesy of ODU)

Hope House Foundation announced its 2025-26 board of directors. The officers include President Tom Moss III, consultant at Atlantic Benefit; Vice President Bryan Fowler, chaplain at Architectural Graphics Inc; Secretary Scott Guirlinger, senior manager for User Experience at Hexagon; and Treasurer Angela Ianni, Capital Group. Other board members include Andrew Vakos, Dorothy Clark, DiAna White, David Edelen, Jeff Fritz, Joseph Wilson II, Pam Katrancha, Richard C. Mapp III, Dr. Tom McCune and Victor Pope. Recent awards presented at the agency’s annual dinner included Dorothy Clark for the Board Achievement Award, Sandra Diggs for Direct Support Professional of the Year, Southern Bank for the Jeff Miller Award and the Beach Ambassadors for the Community Award.

Virginia Aquarium Foundation welcomed four new members to its board of trustees: Jacob Carasella, external affairs representative, Dominion Power; Adam Chase, vice president and general manager, WTKR; Michelle Gluck, retired senior executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond; and Jenni Tynes, family law attorney, Kaufman & Canoles.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced additional administration and board appointments. Nancy Stern of Belle Haven, retired CEO of Eastern Shore Rural Health System Inc., and Elizabeth Taraski of Suffolk, retired CEO of Nansemond River Preservation Alliance, were appointed to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District Commission. Thomas Turner of Suffolk, Virginia state director of Conservatives for Clean Energy, was appointed to the Clean Energy Advisory Board. Ildiko Baugus of Chesapeake, co-owner of Meraki Midwives, was appointed to the Advisory Board on Midwifery. Alexis Gerdes of Virginia Beach, executive neuroscience sales specialist with Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., was appointed to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. Gregory L. Duncan Sr., of Accomack County, pastor with Bloxom Mission/House of Prayer UMC and St. Johns UMC in Atlantic and deputy director with Accomack County Solid Waste, and Thomas Meehan of Newport News, president of C.D. West & Co. Real Estate, were appointed to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission. S. Mario Lorello of Virginia Beach, attorney with Zoby & Broccoletti, and Kristi A. Wooten of Chesapeake, managing partner with Wooten Law Group, were appointed to the Indigent Defense Commission. C. Andrew Rice of Virginia Beach, senior commonwealth’s attorney in Virginia Beach, and Penny Schultz of Virginia Beach, assistant director of safety and security for Chesapeake Public Schools, were appointed to the Board of Juvenile Justice. Dara Watson of Chesapeake, warden with Virginia Department of Corrections, was appointed to the Corrections Oversight Committee. Allan Evans of Gloucester, Town of Kilmarnock police officer and former forensic evidence specialist at Eastern Laboratory, was appointed to the Forensic Science Board. Retired New Kent Sheriff John McLaughlin Jr. of New Kent and Ryan Moore of Williamsburg, co-owner of Mission Mind Wellness, were appointed to the State Board of Local and Regional Jails. Frederick T. Stant III of Virginia Beach, retired attorney, was appointed to the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Jeff Ryer of Williamsburg, executive director of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, was appointed to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board.

Norfolk State University named the most iconic landmark on its campus after an NSU alumnus, former NSU board of visitors rector and a Richmond-based entrepreneur who epitomizes the mission of the institution. As of July 14, the university’s tower, which sits in the middle of the campus quad, is officially the Devon M. Henry Communication Tower. Henry is CEO and president of Team Henry Enterprises, LLC.  Pictured are Henry (standing at the podium), and back row, from left: Shana James, assistant vice president for development; Freda Sewell Thornton, Devon Henry’s mother; Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, Norfolk State president; and Angela Henry, executive vice president of Team Henry Enterprises LLC. (Courtesy of Norfolk State)

Awards and honors

Langley Federal Credit Union Chief Experience Officer Deb Vollmer received the Professional of the Year Award at The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates’ 2025 Engage Conference. The award recognizes exceptional service and contributions to the credit union system through innovation, leadership and advocacy. Vollmer’s leadership with the Credit Union Service Company of Virginia, including terms as chair, secretary and now vice-chair, has guided meaningful movements for credit unions across the commonwealth.

This year, nearly 300 Drucker + Falk team members volunteered 1,111 hours across 18 clean-up events in seven states (including Virginia), removing over 325 bags of trash. This community stewardship resulted in the multifamily management company being named a Great American Cleanup Ambassador for Keep America Beautiful.

The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions awarded Hampton Roads Planning District Commission/Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Executive Director Robert A. Crum Jr. its 2025 Gordon N. Dixon Award. The award was presented at the Hampton Roads Caucus meeting, hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber. The award recognizes Virginia commissioner who has provided leadership and made outstanding contributions to promote the concept of regionalism in Virginia. From left, HRPDC Chair and Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover, Crum, and Hampton Roads Chamber President and CEO Bryan Stephens. (Courtesy of HRPDC)

Grants and donations

The Peninsula SPCA was awarded a $5,000 grant from national nonprofit Petco Love.

In the first half of 2025, Rosie’s Hampton contributed a total of $44,469 through its Rosie’s Gives Back program to support trusted community partners serving veterans, at-risk youth, families in need, educational music programs, and violence prevention in Hampton Roads.

Chesapeake Bank unveiled in June what is believed to be the world’s largest crabcake in celebration of its 125th anniversary. Handcrafted in collaboration with Richmond seafood market Shoreline, the colossal crabcake tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. It measured a 37 inches in diameter and stood 9 inches tall, making its dramatic debut at The Diamond just before the Richmond Flying Squirrels game. (Courtesy of Chesapeake Bank)

Mergers and acquisitions

Virginia Beach defense contractor RMGS Inc., a provider of security and advisory services, acquired Virginia Beach-based Linxx Global Inc., a nationally recognized leader in training and security solutions. As part of this merger, Linxx will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of RMGS, preserving its strong brand identity, culture and customer relationships.

The Hampton Roads Realtors Foundation joined Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads for a day of service during the 2025 Women Build Weeks. The homes under construction will provide safe, affordable housing for two local mothers who have overcome significant challenges and are working toward a better future for their families. This initiative is powered by volunteers — 85% of each home is built by community members. (Courtesy of HRRA)

Opening

Bon Secours opened the first dedicated women’s imaging facility in Portsmouth, improving access to breast health services in a community with the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the region. Located at 5600 Portsmouth Blvd. in the Elmhurst Square Shopping Center, the new center brings mammography, breast ultrasound, breast biopsy and bone density testing to local women in a convenient, compassionate setting.

Bon Secours opened the first dedicated women’s imaging facility in Portsmouth, at 5600 Portsmouth Blvd. in the Elmhurst Square Shopping Center. (Carrie Stump/Courtesy of Bon Secours)

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/09/15/business-notes-norwegian-cruise-line/