Suffolk Connects Farmers with City, Opportunity
By Beth Hester CoVaBIZ: What was the impetus for establishing this position in 2025? Julia Hillegass: “That’s a great question. Agriculture has always been a major part of Suffolk’s identity. What’s changed is the level of complexity farmers are dealing with today. Between development pressure, shifting markets, and generational transitions, there’s a real need for […]
Founders Elevate Communities, Not Just Companies
By Wally Schmader Founder, The Leader Lab One of Coastal Virginia’s most important assets is almost never talked about: our wealth of successful and impactful business founders. This issue is an exception, and you’ll see many of these amazing people recognized here. In this article, I’ll share a few thoughts about the importance of business […]
Editor’s Note: August/September 2026
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 […]
Hardhats & Hearts
by Brandy Centolanza For two weeks each year, women from all walks of life gather to bond while constructing new homes for a cause through the Women Build club, an offshoot of Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads. The program, which Habitat for Humanity first launched in 1991, provides volunteers with the opportunity to […]
Brain Inclusive
by Kristen De Deyn Kirk One Definition Of Neurodivergence “Neurodivergent refers to natural variations in how people think, process, communicate, and experience the world. This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other cognitive differences. But that definition only scratches the surface. Neurodivergence isn’t just what someone has; it’s how they move through the world. It shapes […]
The Future of Arts in Hampton Roads
Photo above: Opening of art instalation “Harbor of Stories” Kempsville. CoVaBIZ: Michael, you’ve been described as a tireless advocate for the communities you serve. Could you share a bit about your background, and what led you to dedicate a good part of your career so far in the service of the fine arts in Hampton […]
Skilled Trades and the Labor Gap
By Michael VanderWerf, Skilled Trades Program Manager, TCC The Tidewater Community College (TCC) Skilled Trades Academy was created in response to a clear need voiced by employers across Hampton Roads, due to a growing shortage of trained workers in the construction, maritime, and industrial sectors. Local industry partners, city leaders, and TCC came together with […]
Bringing the World Back Home: Global Insight, Local Impact
by Beth Hester / Photo above, Tiffany Boyle CoVaBIZ: Your father worked for Boeing when you were young, and your family lived in Saudi Arabia for a time. You later attended boarding school in Germany. These experiences gave you an early, global perspective that not every young person has the opportunity to develop. How did […]
Constitutional Law, Fundamental Rights, and Policymaking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
by Beth Hester Among her many professional achievements, Hu is a Faculty Affiliate with the Global Research Institute and Data Science at W&M, and a Research Affiliate with Pennsylvania State University’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of civil rights, national security, cybersurveillance, and AI. She is author of […]
Reflections on the Crossings That Connect Us
by Tom Fulton, Senior VP Operations, Skanska USA Civil Southeast Photos courtesy of Skanska Skanska USA Civil Southeast’s roots in coastal Virginia go back to the founding of Tidewater Construction Corporation in Norfolk in 1932. In the early 1930’s the owner/operator of the Gloucester-Yorktown ferry, William T. Ashe, purchased equipment that belonged to the […]