Awards and honors
Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender, ranked Virginia Beach as No. 5 on the 2024 Best Cities for Veterans to Live list. Veterans United surveys veterans to analyze more than 500 metropolitan markets based on 25 factors, including cost of living, crime, housing affordability and a strong veteran community.
The Women Presidents Organization, in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, released the 17th annual ranking of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. Tracy Gregorio, CEO of G2 Ops Inc. based in Virginia Beach, ranked No. 45 on this year’s list.
Food Lion celebrated employees with more than 30 years of service, including 35 from stores in the greater Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News area. Those with 30 years of service are: Ida Payne, center store lead, Chesapeake;Teresa Eder, specialty merchandise associate, Exmore;Cheryl Hall, pricing coordinator, Gloucester;Irene Brandt, pricing coordinator, Hampton; Dale Diggs, manager customer service, Hampton;Tom Wright, center store associate, Oak Hall;Mike Haspert, perishable associate, Onley; Maxine Lowther, store manager sal ex, Poquoson; Jay Green, assistant store manager sal ex, Portsmouth; Kristy Groom, assistant deli bakery manager, Virginia Beach;Raymond Lebrun, sales associate, Virginia Beach;Joyce Measley, receiver, Virginia Beach;Betty Stephens, deli bakery sales associate, Virginia Beach; and Sandy Mayfield, sales associate, Windsor. Those with 35 years of service are: Vernell Robertson, assistant deli bakery manager, Chesapeake; Joe West, frozen food dairy associate, Chesapeake;Tanya Smith, pricing coordinator, Hayes; Jon Smith, store manager sal ex, Mathews;Margit “Colson” Colson, specialty merchandise associate, Newport News;Kristi Milton, manager customer service, Newport News;Michelle Sterling, pricing coordinator, Norfolk; Cordell Seymore, center store associate, Onley;Barbara Barrett, cake decorator, Portsmouth;Belinda Rupp, pricing coordinator, Portsmouth; Thomas Decker, center store manager, Virginia Beach; Pat Derosier, sales associate, Virginia Beach; Steve Gleason, quality assurance associate, Virginia Beach; Cathy Hinchee, specialty merchandise associate, Virginia Beach;Starr Stoneman, specialty merchandise associate, Virginia Beach;Josie White, manager customer service, Virginia Beach; Lisa Young, specialty merchandise associate, Virginia Beach;Russell Debolt, store manager sal ex, Williamsburg; and Russell Ward, perishable associate, Williamsburg. Those with 40 years of service are: Patricia Farrell, customer service leader, Portsmouth; and Melvin Fulgham, produce sales manager, Portsmouth.
Jerome Owens, maintenance supervisor at Navy Lodge Dam Neck, was awarded the 2024 Maintenance Excellence Award by the city of Virginia Beach at its National Travel and Tourism Week awards ceremony on May 2. The ceremony recognized individuals in the hospitality community who excel in their work and make Virginia Beach a first-class travel destination. Owens’ impact is apparent in every corner of the Navy Lodge, particularly in its high guest satisfaction rating, which topped 91% in 2023. Guests often call him by name and share stories of how he made their stay more comfortable and enjoyable. Owens also supports his fellow teammates, going above and beyond to ensure they have what they need to accomplish their daily tasks. Owens began his career with Navy Lodge Dam Neck in the housekeeping department in 2014 as a houseman before being selected for a position in the maintenance department. He was selected as the Maintenance Supervisor in 2022.
Emmett Moorhouse of Norfolk is the winner of the $3,000 Kenneth R. Scott Aviation Scholarship. He is an Eagle Scout, a competitive fencer and earned his private pilot’s license in 2023. Emmett wants to earn an aeronautical engineering degree and go on to be an airline pilot. Emmett has been accepted into engineering programs at University of Colorado Boulder, Purdue University and Michigan State University.
Grants and donations
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $30 billion in renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This funding will help public housing authorities continue to provide assistance to families and individuals who are in need of affordable housing options. Virginia was awarded $551.9 million. Local housing authorities were awarded funding: Portsmouth received $18.3 million, Newport News received $28 million, Norfolk received $47.2 million, Chesapeake received $17.4 million, Hampton received $29.8 million, Suffolk received $12.5 million, Virginia Beach received $23 million, James City County received $1.6 million, Franklin received $2.3 million and Accomack-Northampton received $2.7 million.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced the award of nearly $130,000 in literacy grants to Virginia nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools. They include $3,000 to Horizons Hampton Roads Inc. in Norfolk, $3,000 to Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads in Portsmouth, $9,000 to The Community Outreach Coalition in Portsmouth and $8,000 to Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Program in Williamsburg.
The Car Crash Experts at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers revealed the winners of their annual Vote for a Cause contest, which concluded on May 14. This community-driven event, which started on April 8, encouraged local residents to vote for their favorite nonprofits, sports teams or faith-based organizations. The first place winner receiving a $10,000 donation was Reck League, which focuses on creating and implementing unique programming for students from underperforming schools and those within known gang and gun conflict zones. Their T.R.A.I.N. (Targeted Redirection of Anger Issues in Neighborhoods) initiative addresses critical issues faced by children and young adults, ages 7 to 19, who are most susceptible to systemic low-income challenges. The second place winner receiving a $3,000 donation was SUFF Impact, a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to community-based violence intervention and prevention. This organization serves as a vital resource for at-risk youth and is a long-time friend of the firm. The third place winner receiving a $2,000 donation was Pandas Fight Against Cancer. Since 2015, the organization has held fundraisers for local cancer patients, hosting annual toy drives, canned food drives and back-to-school fundraisers. With a total of 9,641 votes cast and participation from 602 different organizations, this year’s contest highlights the robust community engagement in Hampton Roads.
Openings
Bob’s Discount Furniture celebrated opening its new store at Greenbrier Market Center in Chesapeake on May 24. The retailer presented a $2,500 check each to Virginia Supportive Housing and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Bob’s is the eighth largest U.S. furniture chain with 172 stores across 24 states and over $2 billion in annual sales.
Verizon stores in the Hampton Roads areas are hosting limited-time pop-ups to celebrate the release of the third season of Netflix’s hit series “Bridgerton.” The stores are hosting augmented reality and artificial intelligence experiences through June 26 and are selling exclusive phone cases. Fans scan a QR code on a “Bridgerton”-themed mirror. The QR code will launch an AR portal view of the mirror and a lavish, regency-era environment that virtually transports them to the famous Bridgerton estate. With an invitation to the Queen’s Ball, fans can take a selfie to see themselves adorned in elegant AI-generated regency-era outfits inspired by “Bridgerton” characters. Fans can save the image to their phone and share it on social media. The participating stores are:1812 W. Mercury Blvd., Hampton;4950 Monticello Ave., Williamsburg; 1224 Greenbrier Parkway, Suite 230, Chesapeake; 5899 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk;1628 Laskin Road, Suite 700, and 3996 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach.
Rebrand
Hanbury, a well-established architecture firm based in Norfolk, reimagined its visual identity. Developed in collaboration with international branding agency Base Design’s Geneva studio, this rebranding reflects Hanbury’s rapid growth and diversification, transforming from a 40-person team under one roof to a dynamic 160-member firm across eight offices. The change coincides with Hanbury’s expansion into new architectural typologies and scales, driven by organic growth and evolving aspirations. “As we grow, so does our narrative,” Hanbury CEO David Keith said. “Our rebranding is not just aesthetic; it’s a reaffirmation of our core values and a clear articulation of our unique architectural approach.” The brand overhaul includes a custom typeface and a revamped website that showcases the firm’s portfolio through dynamic storytelling and interactive content. At the core of the rebrand is the concept of “ideas with stretch” — an ideology that emphasizes continuous innovation and adaptability, such as with Hanbury’s self-initiated research to its experimentation with new materials and methods as well as its ongoing community engagements. For more information, visit www.hanbury.design.
Wellness challenge
Norfolk-based PRA Group Inc., a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, spent an entire month this spring on a Global Charity Pedometer Challenge.More than 160 teams and 820 individuals participated across 14 countries, including Switzerland, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Poland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. To compete in the challenge, PRA Group colleagues joined teams of five and tracked their steps daily. Reaching collective step milestones not only took them to virtual locations around the world, but it also earned donations from PRA Group to nonprofit partners worldwide. Individual milestones were also tracked and rewarded with trees planted in the Forest of PRA Group. The teams completed the month with 265 million steps, equal to 126,998 miles or 204,387 kilometers. This level of participation resulted in more than $7,200 raised for 15 charities around the world and over 120 trees planted for individual accomplishments. Some of the nonprofits who benefitted from the challenge were Doctors Without Borders, the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation and Alzheimer Scotland.
