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Inside Business List Honors Several Members Of NA Community For Service To Region
Inside Business Power List

Several members of the Norfolk Academy family, including many alumni and trustees, were honored in this year's Inside Business Power List.

The annual list highlights those who contribute to the Hampton Roads community's strength. “The Power List is our way of saluting people at the heart of the Hampton Roads economy. We all benefit from the work of the esteemed members of our Emeritus List, the Top 10 and the 75 other movers and shakers noted in this issue," Inside Business writes in an article introducing the honorees. 

Among the top 10 (which was not presented in any numerical order) was Doug Smith '80. Inside Business wrote: “As leader of the Hampton Roads Alliance, Doug Smith has become the point man for an ambitious dream: That the many parts of Hampton Roads can work together as a region and come out of the coronavirus funk with a stronger, more vital economy. He helped develop and is vigorously promoting the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework. In the darkness of a global pandemic, a lot of talented people dreamed of a way for Hampton Roads to come out of it ahead. We hope they succeed."

Among the next 75 (again in no numerical order):

  • Scott Adams '84, President of Colliers Virginia & Raleigh, NC, is leading the expansion of the global real estate services and investment management company in North Carolina, specifically the Raleigh market. His volunteer efforts focus on service to the military community as national board member of The Honor Foundation and chairman of Old Dominion University’s Veteran Support Services Committee. He also is on the ODU Dean’s Executive Advisory Council.
  • Lawrence Bernert III '81, a trustee, is a principal and portfolio manager at Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management, sits on the firm’s investment committee. He is active as a board member for the Employees’ Retirement System of the city of Norfolk, where he chairs its investment committee. He also serves as the board chair of the Children’s Health Foundation, which supports the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.
  • Richard H. Ottinger '87 is on the executive board of Vandeventer Black LLP, the Norfolk-based law firm. He’s also President of the Virginia Bar Association and was selected for the 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers list. A recipient of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association’s Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award, he serves on the board of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority and the Downtown Norfolk Council.
  • Rony Thomas, a trustee, is President and CEO of LifeNet Health, Virginia’s federally designated Organ Procurement Organization, which coordinated a record 616 organ transplants in 2020. In all, 237 organ donors saved the lives of 555 patients. Thomas is leading the Virginia Beach-based group to new advances in medial, organizational and outreach capabilities. He also serves on the boards of Reinvent Hampton Roads and RVA757 Connect.

On the Emeritus List:

  • Frank Batten Jr. '76, president of The Landmark Foundation, chairman of Landmark Media Enterprises.
  • C. Torrey Breeden '93, executive vice president, The Breeden Co.
  • Dr. LD Britt, a trustee, Brickhouse Chair in Surgery and chairman of the Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School.
  • Helen Dragas '79, president and CEO of The Dragas Cos.
  • Conrad Hall, a trustee, retired president and CEO of Dominion Enterprises.
  • Paul O. Hirschbiel Jr. '71, vice chairman of The Memory Center.
  • C. Arthur “Brother” Rutter '82, managing partner at Rutter Mills, arts advocate.
  • E.J. Strelitz '78, president and CEO of Haynes Furniture.
  • John “Dubby” Wynne '63, former chairman of Landmark Communications, spearheaded GO Virginia.

There are dozens of other women and men on these lists with ties to the Academy family, including parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, former trustees, and more. 

To see the full lists, visit the Inside Business website. 

 

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