Leadership &
Operations
The Alliance Board of Directors is comprised of mayors/county chairs, private CEOs/executives, and ex-officio directors who help provide strategic direction and guidance to the organization. Similarly, the Alliance’s Regional Economic Development (RED) Team includes one representative from each member locality, regional partners and utility companies, who work collaboratively with the Alliance to propel regional growth. The Alliance extends its sincerest gratitude to the following individuals for their service to the Alliance and the region at-large in 2023.
Board of
Directors
Mr. Keith D. VanderVennet, Chair
Ferguson Enterprises
Mr. J.D. Myers II, Vice Chair
Cox Communications Virginia
Ms. Diane Leopold, Treasurer
Dominion Energy
Mr. Darrell Williams
Hampton University
Mr. Aubrey Layne
Sentara Health
Ms. Buffy Barefoot
TowneBank, Virginia Beach
Mr. Robert Duvall
Virginia Natural Gas
PRIVATE SECTOR
Honorable Richard W. West
City of Chesapeake
Honorable Donnie R. Tuck
City of Hampton
Honorable Phillip D. Jones
City of Newport News
Honorable Kenneth C. Alexander, Ph.D.
City of Norfolk
Honorable Robert M. Dyer
City of Virginia Beach
Honorable Douglas G. Pons, At Large Representative ,
City of Williamsburg
Supervisor Richard L. “Dick” Grice, At Large Representative
Isle of Wight County
PUBLIC SECTOR
Mr. William R. Ermatinger, Past Chair
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Mr. Douglas L. Smith, Secretary
Hampton Roads Alliance
Ms. Mary Bunting, CAO Chair
City of Hampton
Ms. Florence Kingston, RED Team Chair
City of Newport News
Mr. Shawn Avery
Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Ms. Nancy Grden
Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable
Mr. Jimmy Wood, General Counsel
Willcox Savage
EX OFFICIO
RED
Team
Mr. Steven Wright
Chesapeake Economic Development
Mr. Karl Heck
Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc.
Mr. Steven Lynch
Hampton Economic Development
Mr. Chris Morello & Ms. Kristi Sutphin
Isle of Wight County Economic Development
Mr. Chris Johnson
James City County Economic Development
Ms. Florence Kingston
Newport News Department of Development
LOCALITIES
Mr. Sean Washington
Norfolk Economic Development
Ms. Charity Gavaza
City of Poquoson Economic Development
Mr. Nic Langford
Suffolk Economic Development
Mr. Chuck Rigney
Virginia Beach Economic Development
Ms. Yuri Adams
Williamsburg Economic Development
Ms. Kristi Olsen-Hayes
York County Economic Development
Mr. Bryan Smith
Dominion Energy
Mr. Bob Crum
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
Mr. Shawn Avery
Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Ms. Laura Swankler
Port of Virginia
Ms. Nancy Grden
Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable
Mr. George Faatz
Virginia Natural Gas
UTILITIES & REGIONAL PARTNERS
STAFF
Adelaide Gilmore — Senior Administrative Specialist
Doug Smith — President & CEO
Amy Parkhurst — Senior Vice President, Business Development
Jared Chalk — Chief Business Development Officer
Pictured left to right:
Cliff Copley — Director, Business Development
Michael Evans — Director, Business Intelligence
Olivia O’Bry — Director, Operations
Alisa Crider — Director, Investor & Public Relations
Jillian Goodwin — Director, Marketing & Communications
Matt Smith — Director, Energy & Water Technology
Steve Harrison — Chief Operating Officer
Not pictured:
Toi Hunter — Vice President, Business Retention & Expansion
Carmon Schietzelt — Marketing & Communications Specialist
Jim Noel — Director, EVRIFA/Real Estate Solutions
