By Tim Ryan
In a significant development for the Hampton Roads innovation and entrepreneurship community, the newly established Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable has announced the election of four distinguished board members. This milestone event at the January meeting marks a pivotal moment in our region’s journey toward a more interconnected and robust economic landscape.
The addition of William “Bill” Murray, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communication at Dominion Energy; Towuanna Porter Brannon, President of Virginia Peninsula Community College; Matthew Swartz, Executive Director and Chief of Staff for U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and Stuart Henderson, Director of the Newport News-based Jefferson Lab, to the board, underscores the breadth and depth of leadership committed to propelling our community forward. Innovate Hampton Roads (IHR) warmly welcomes these regional leaders, whose diverse backgrounds and expertise are poised to make an indelible impact on our collaborative efforts to foster innovation and growth.
Dennis Matheis, co-chair of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable and President and CEO of Sentara Health, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to have these regional leaders join the Roundtable.” This sentiment is echoed by Cliff Fleet, co-chair of the Roundtable and President and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, who highlighted the vital role these organizations play in our economy and the value of their perspectives.
The Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable emerged from the April 2023 merger of two key regional economic development entities: the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable and Reinvent Hampton Roads. This strategic unification aims to streamline and enhance the region’s economic development efforts, with a primary mission to align economic development organizations, strategies, and initiatives. By doing so, the Roundtable seeks to bolster the region’s economic growth and competitiveness, creating a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovate Hampton Roads is excited about the opportunities this new leadership brings to our collective mission. The expertise and vision of the newly elected board members are invaluable assets as we continue to build a more inclusive, innovative, and thriving regional economy. Through collaboration and shared goals, we are confident in our ability to drive meaningful change and prosperity for all stakeholders in the Hampton Roads area.
For more information about the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable and its initiatives, we encourage our community to visit Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable. Together, we stand on the brink of a new era of innovation and growth, ready to leverage our collective strengths to improve Hampton Roads.
Virginia Business also covered the story here.
