PEOPLE AND BUSINESS CHANGES IN COASTAL VIRGINIA
Compiled by Butch Maier / Photo above: Phil Kazmierczak and Shavonne Miles
Merger
In an attempt to strengthen the voice of Realtors across the region, the memberships of the Hampton Roads Realtors Association (HRRA) and Virginia Peninsula Realtors (VPAR) voted overwhelmingly in favor of merging their organizations. The strategic partnership represents a significant step forward in creating a stronger, more unified regional association that will provide enhanced value to members through increased operational efficiencies, expanded educational opportunities, and a more powerful collective voice on issues impacting the real estate industry. By combining resources and expertise, the new organization will be better positioned to deliver unparalleled housing advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels while continuing to provide exceptional member services. The merged association will be led by HRRA President Phil Kazmierczak, who emphasized the collaborative effort that made this possible. “This partnership has been in the works for nearly 18 months,” Kazmierczak said, “and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to VPAR President Shavonne Miles and the five dedicated workgroups that invested countless hours to make this vision a reality.”
Appointments
Emily Archer was appointed as director of the Virginia Beach department of economic development by city manager Patrick Duhaney. Archer had served as the acting director for six months, providing steady leadership and guiding several initiatives. She brings more than 20 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, with extensive expertise in planning, project management, and community collaboration. During her 11 years with the city, Archer has authored several counciladopted plans, overseen major capital improvement projects, and worked across numerous departments and with community stakeholders on critical initiatives and publicprivate partnerships….Langley Federal Credit Union appointed Melissa Hartzell-Galileo as chief lending officer. Hartzell-Galileo, who brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in banking and credit unions, will lead enterprise lending strategy across consumer, mortgage, and specialty portfolios, driving disciplined loan growth and credit governance….Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg appointed Candace Montgomery as its new director of development. Montgomery, a lifelong Coastal Virginia resident, brings a diverse background in nonprofit fundraising, community engagement, fitness leadership and organizational administration to the organization’s development efforts….Dr. Karen Studer has been named the inaugural executive director of the Joan P. Brock Institute for Nutrition Science and Health at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University.
Launch
Joe Takach, former co-founder and CEO of Meridian Group, is launching the consulting firm JT Marketing Advisors. Takach sold Meridian Group to a former partner and a third party in early 2022. The sale included a non-compete clause which has now expired. Takach’s new organizational model: He will be the primary advisor with a team of more than a dozen senior level marketing professionals, each with more than 25 years of regional, national, and international experience within their respective areas of marketing based on the clients’ needs and wants.
Promotions
Avery Rouse was promoted to director of asset management of Breeden Property Management, a division of The Breeden Company. He will oversee the company’s multifamily and commercial real estate portfolios and report directly to the vice president of asset management. Rouse joined The Breeden Company in 2021 as a regional maintenance director….Breeden Property Management also promoted Heather Fuller to regional vice president, multifamily. Fuller, who had been regional director, will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for a portfolio of multifamily communities while supporting the continued growth and success of the company’s property management operations….S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. announced the promotion of Christopher Hucke to assistant director of shopping center leasing.
Additions
William E. “Billy” Kass joined Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers as Of Counsel. Kass brings nearly five decades of distinguished legal experience and a record of advocacy to the firm’s personal injury and litigation practices. At Cooper Hurley, Kass will focus his practice on personal injury, automobile accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability….Cameron Dunnavant joined Kaufman & Canoles’ Williamsburg office as a member of the firm’s litigation practice group. He received his MBA from William & Mary Business School and his J.D. from William & Mary Law School.…Atlantic Park Surf welcomed Mike Wallace as vice president of sales. Wallace previously was global marketing director at Roark, an adventure-lifestyle and technical-apparel brand based in California….Tony Rowe was named the new manager of the Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg’s ReStore in Williamsburg. Rowe, a Gloucester native, brings more than 30 years of retail leadership experience to the position, including a long career with Lowe’s.
Honors
R. Bruce Bradley will receive the Individual Darden Award for Regional Leadership, and W.M. Jordan Company will receive the Corporate Darden Award for Regional Leadership at the 21st annual Darden Awards, CIVIC Leadership Institute announced. The event will be Nov. 18 at Hilton Norfolk The Main. Bradley, a 1996 CIVIC alumnus, is a distinguished public servant, U.S. Navy veteran, and former publisher of The Virginian-Pilot. W.M. Jordan Company is a nationally recognized construction firm with deep roots in Coastal Virginia.
Executive Program
CIVIC Leadership Institute also announced its executive program class of 2027: Dr. Nabeel Akram, executive director, Lawrence J. Goldrich Institute for Integrated NeuroHealth, EVMS; Todd Babcock, vice president of business development and shared services, Fairlead; Jarrett Beeler, founder and CEO, Sway Creative Labs; Gregg Benton, director of public works, City of Suffolk; Gaurav Bhatia, president and CEO, Langley Federal Credit Union; Dr. Kuntal Bhattacharyya, Beazley professor and director, School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations, Old Dominion University; Jeremy Bridges, president and CEO, chief negotiator, Hampton Roads Shipping Association; Alison Byrne, executive director, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art; Daniela Cigularova, vice president, enrollment management and student success, Virginia Peninsula Community College; Capt. Jeffrey Creighan, executive officer, Naval Air Station Oceana; Jennifer Crittenden, president and CEO, Retail Alliance; Tracy Fick, CEO, Catholic Charites of Eastern Virginia; Nate Fine, asset manager, The Runnymede Corporation; Kelli Fox, managing director, KPMG LLP; Dr. Michael Genco, chief medical officer, Sentara Health; David Hackbirth Jr., CEO, Balicore Construction; Alan Hagerman, chief technology officer, Yellow Dog Software; Amy Harman, attorney, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.; Steve Harrison, COO, Hampton Roads Alliance; Dr. Crystal Haskins, chief learning officer, An Achievable Dream; Lauren Hill, director, supply chain procurement, Newport News Shipbuilding/HII; Peter Holmes, comptroller, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Capt. Katie Jacobson, commanding officer, JEB Little Creek-Fort Story; Courtney Johnson, chief information officer, United States Fleet Forces Command; Elijah Johnson Jr., Esq., VP and general counsel, Rivers Casino; Whitney Katchmark, water resources principal, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; Brent Kyler, principal/director, Booz Allen Hamilton; Victor Leite, CEO, Dwell; Kenneth Magee, director, growth and organizational effectiveness, Virginia Natural Gas; Sharon Manana, director of community engagement, Work Program Architects; Amy McCarthy, director of construction accounting, W.M. Jordan Company; Jeremy McGee, CEO, Radiant Digital; Mike Milligan, founder and chairman, 1.oak Financial; Marcellus Nixon, executive director, Southside Network Authority; Christopher Pierson, COO, Franklin Group; Jim Purekal, director, Advanced Energy United; Tyler Rosá, partner, Williams Mullen; Amelia Scott, chief experience officer, YMCA of South Hampton Roads; Michael Slaughter, VP of information technology—international, Amentum; Elizabeth Smith, executive VP, director of marketing, TowneBank; Robin Smith, deputy chief financial officer of programs, NASA Langley Research Center; Sarah Taylor, VP, The Blocker Foundation; Sheila Traficante, senior VP, CRE relationship manager, Atlantic Union Bank; Stacie Walls, CEO, LGBT Life Center; Kathy Walsh, director of planning and community development, City of Virginia Beach; Dr. Aurelia Taylor Williams, provost and VP for academic affairs, Norfolk State University; Dr. J. Adam Williams, VP for student life and dean of students, Regent University.
Fellowship
Virginia Humanities, the state humanities council, awarded a 2026-27 fellowship to Hampton University’s Dr. Zina McGee for the project Structural Violence and Black Youth Resilience: A Focus Group Inquiry Among Urban Youth in Virginia.
Boards
TowneBank announced the appointments of William A. “Billy” Gwaltney, Jr. and John O. Wynne, Jr. to its corporate board of directors. Gwaltney is president of Indika Farms Inc., a family-run agribusiness enterprise that traces its roots back to the 1800s and which specializes in farming operations and peanut buying, shelling, processing, and storage. Wynne is the founder, former CEO and current chairman of Fortis Solutions Group, a leading provider of printed packaging solutions servicing customers across the United States and Canada from 22 manufacturing locations…. The Old Dominion University Board of Visitors added four from the region: Peter Decker of Norfolk, partner, Decker Law; Mark Fleming of Norfolk, genitourinary oncologist, Virginia Oncology Associates; Charlene Morring of Suffolk, principal owner and attorney, Morring Law PLLC; and Keith Newby of Norfolk, chair of cardiology, Bon Secours Mercy Health….The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation named John Uhrin as board chair. Uhrin, director of operations at Burlage Management, was joined by five new foundation board members: Brad Beach, Beach Enterprises; Peter Leddy, Otto Design Group; Desiree Mitchell, Geico; Darrick Wickre, Fulton Bank; and Mike Sifen, Sifen Development….The Virginia Living Museum elected Brian Skinner as president of its board of trustees. His service with the museum has included previous terms on the board.
