Just when I thought I was out of the business of business for good, they pulled me back in to follow the money again. I have been asked and have accepted the exciting challenge to serve as editor of CoVaBIZ. I joined VistaMedia in 2025 as editor of Coastal Virginia Magazine and will continue in that role. I am used to wearing multiple hats. For Sumbadhat, my Virginia Beach-based movie production company, I am a screenwriter, producer, director, casting director, actor, location scout, production designer, costumer, cinematographer, music supervisor, editor, distributor, and publicist. And I do all that in my spare time.
My media career began in the ’90s, when I was in my 20s. Now, it’s the ’20s, and I am in my 50s. (I repeat to you what a longtime journalism colleague often advised me: “Don’t get old.”) After decades as a reporter, copy editor, and designer in numerous newspaper sports departments (The Boston Globe, The Plain Dealer, the St. Petersburg Times, The Virginian-Pilot, the Akron Beacon Journal, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and others), I pivoted to business news a dozen years ago.
I was editor-in-chief, associate editor, and an award-winning business reporter covering the Virginia Beach arena saga during my 2014-2017 stint at the Norfolk weekly business journal Inside Business. I pivoted again to teach business journalism at Hampton University from 2017 to 2021. One of my former students, Randall Williams, is a senior reporter for Bloomberg News. From 2022 to 2024, I managed reporters who covered federal tax news at Bloomberg Industry Group in Arlington.
Bloomberg’s mantra was the same as what a deep background source said to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward in All the President’s Men: “Follow the money.” (Programming note: All the President’s Men will play Aug. 3-4 at Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk. If you can look past the rotary phones and typewriters, it still holds up.) We will follow the money here, too, but instead of in the shadows of a parking garage, we will look at it in a positive light.
I will work to uphold the standard Beth Hester maintained as managing editor of this premier business publication. We will continue to highlight Coastal Virginia entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development, as well as professional achievements and industry trends.
In addition to following the money, we also will follow you—the businesspeople—and your businesses. What’s good, Coastal Virginia? Let me know what you know. You also can let our readers know what you know directly by writing a guest column. So, let me know what you want them to know and when you want to let them know what you know.
You know?
Now, back to writing song lyrics for my office comedy musical. What’s it about? Sorry. No spoilers. Mind your business!
Wait. That’s actually a good idea for a song!
Butch Maier, Editor
CoVaBIZ
bmaier@vistamediainc.com
