Appointed/elected
Timothy McCue and Deborah Breen have joined The Curtis Group as senior consultants. McCue has more than 25 years of experience across nonprofits, foundations and philanthropy. Before joining the firm, he served as assistant vice president at a national fundraising consulting firm, partnering with nonprofit organizations on engagement planning, strategic planning and campaign management. His experience also includes leadership roles with the National Association of Counties. Breen’s experience spans healthcare philanthropy, strategic planning, board engagement and organizational development. Over the past 25 years, she has served in senior leadership roles with the Aspen Valley Health Foundation and Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation. At Aspen Valley, she built the organization’s development program from the ground up and spearheaded a successful $60 million capital campaign supporting a $180 million modernization project.
Candice Curtis-Grimstead has been promoted to Breeden Property Management’s director of collections within its property management division. She began her career with the company in 2014 as a leasing consultant in Virginia Beach. In her new role, Curtis-Grimstead will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the company’s collections efforts and work with property teams to strengthen its operational effectiveness.
Awards and honors
Matt Bean, center, of Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen with Aimee Daily, Children’s Miracle Network president and CEO, and Frances Fu, CMN chief operating and financial officer, at CMN’s Elevate conference in April. (Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters)
Children’s Miracle Network named Matt Bean of Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen as its 2026 U.S. Local Corporate Person of the Year. The national recognition celebrates corporate leaders who go above and beyond to support children’s hospitals through fundraising, advocacy and meaningful partnerships. Under Bean’s leadership as director of marketing and public relations, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen has continued to demonstrate a deep commitment to helping children and families at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, raising $510,544 in 2025 alone. In 2020, the business made a $1.25 million commitment to CHKD’s mental health program. After seeing strong community engagement and fundraising success, the organization increased its commitment to $5 million in 2022. Through year‑round support via Dairy Queen’s Round Up campaign and signature events such as Miracle Treat Day, Free Cone Day, and Miracle Balloon campaigns, Bean and his team of local Dairy Queen stores have raised nearly $2.5 million toward the commitment through 2025.
Adele Diamond in Virginia Beach is the 2026 Hampton Roads Regional Small Business of the Year. The honor recognizes Hampton Roads’ best business leadership through innovation, growth and community impact. The award was presented during the chamber’s annual Small Business of the Year awards.
David Lannetti (Scouting America Tidewater Council)
Todd Corillo (Scouting America Tidewater Council)
Joel Nied (Scouting America Tidewater Council)
Todd Corillo, David Lannetti and Joel Nied have been recognized as National Outstanding Eagle Scouts for their local, state, regional or national service. Corillo, corporate manager of media relations at Huntington Ingalls Industries, is a member of the Eagle Scout class of 2005. He was previously a news anchor and military reporter at WTKR. Lannetti, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge, is a member of the Eagle Scout class of 1973. A Naval Academy graduate, Lanetti began practicing law in Norfolk after retiring from the military. He was elected judge in 2014 and continues in that position today. Nied, a corporate and intellectual property attorney, is a member of the Eagle Scout class of 1986. He also serves on the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority’s board of directors. All three were honored at a banquet in Chesapeake.
Rob and Dianne McKenzie, Ken Brown and Ed Stein have been inducted into the Rogallo Foundation’s hall of fame. The honor recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to hang gliding and paragliding through instruction, competition, safety, innovation and community leadership. The McKenzies were jointly honored for their partnership and decadeslong influence on hang gliding and paragliding instruction and community leadership. Together, they helped build and sustain Southern California’s flying culture through their school, High Adventure, and advocated for pilot access, safety and education. Brown’s four-decade career in hang gliding spans competition flying, glider manufacturing, product development, instruction, marketing, aerotowing and international competition. Stein is a pioneer in paragliding instruction, competition flying, site development and international outreach. He was a member of the U.S. paragliding team in 1991 and has helped expand paragliding access at sites that were formerly hang glider only. The honorees were publicly recognized at an event in Nags Head, North Carolina.
The York County Fire Department was recognized by the American Heart Association as the recipient of the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold achievement award. The honor recognizes pre-hospital agencies for excellence in heart attack and stroke care that consistently meet critical benchmarks designed to reduce the time from first medical contact to definitive hospital treatment. The fire department was also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll, focused on the system of care for patients. This award highlights the collaboration and contributions of both prehospital and hospital providers.
Petty Officer 1st Class Suzanna Schelchere Burton (Navy Office of Community Outreach)
Petty Officer 1st Class Suzanna Schelchere Burton, a resident of Hampton, recently received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal while serving at Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk. She received the award while serving as the Morale, Welfare and Recreation president and senior sailor of the quarter. Schelchere Burton led the command MWR representatives and executed 15 successful fundraising events, raising over $10,000 in support of the command’s fall fest and holiday party, directly impacting over 300 personnel, including government employees and military members. The medal is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps for meritorious service or achievement. Schelchere Burton has served in the Navy for 15 years and currently works as a logistics specialist.
TQI Solutions, a Chesapeake-based service-disabled veteran-owned small business, has been awarded a $9.1 million contract to support U.S. Navy aviation operations. Under the contract, TQI will support the planning and coordination efforts that help ensure Navy aviation units are properly prepared, resourced and ready for deployment. The company’s work focuses on aligning the people, training, equipment, and infrastructure needed to sustain aviation operations across multiple locations. The contract includes a five-year period of performance. Work will be performed in Norfolk and San Diego.
Grants and donations
The BayPort Foundation’s annual charity golf classic united community and business leaders to raise a record-breaking $232,920. Overall, the foundation initiative has raised $1.8 million in its first five years. Held at the James River Country Club in Newport News, the tournament hosted 112 players. The event was made possible through the support of 47 sponsoring businesses and individuals. The fundraiser included the third annual wine tasting and dinner, hosted at Circa 1918 in Newport News. At the event, BayPort President, CEO and foundation Chairman Jim Mears announced a major expansion of its annual $100,000 scholarship program. Beginning next year, scholarship funding will increase to $150,000 to better meet growing student demand and expand educational opportunities across the region.
Norfolk-based nonprofit Hampton Roads Pride has received a $15,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corp. Marketing Leverage Program for its Raising Pride-Pride 365 program. The program is a year-round organizational commitment dedicated to fostering inclusion, empowerment and cultural enrichment for members, allies and the broader community. Through a diverse array of programs and activities, Pride 365’s initiatives include history and community connection programs, cultural arts and performances, speakers and sponsored family activities. All programs and activities are intended to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, promote understanding and build lasting connections. In celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week, the Virginia Tourism Corp. awarded more than $2.2 million in matching grant and sponsorship funds to 143 tourism programs across the state.
Rebrand
Parks Zeigler has unveiled a new brand identity. The rebrand is intended to convey a modern visual identity that reflects the strength, professionalism and future. The firm has offices in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Practice areas include family law, estate planning, criminal and traffic defense, civil litigation and military-related legal matters for individuals.
Startups
Nominations are now open for 757 TechNite presented by JPMorganChase, a live celebration of the innovators, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders shaping what’s next for the region. This year’s awards include: the John “Dubby” Wynne Regional Innovation Champion; Dan Bell Innovative Tech Builder; entrepreneur of the year; emerging company; technical executive of the year; advancement in defense contracting; technical achievement in government; innovation in education; and the startup to watch. Innovate Hampton Roads, an event to honor the winners, is set for Oct. 29 at The Dome in Virginia Beach.
Workforce development
Hampton Roads Transit will host walk-in interviews for bus operators from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 22 at the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center, 150 35th St. HRT also has upcoming in-person career fairs scheduled for full- and part-time bus operator trainees and mechanics. The career fairs are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 14 in Hampton and Norfolk and on Sept. 14, Oct. 16, Nov. 13 and Dec. 9 in Norfolk. The Hampton career event is at 3400 Victoria Blvd. and the Norfolk sessions are at 509 E. 18th St., Building 4. Career fair participants may apply, undergo a brief screening and receive an on-the-spot interview. Professional attire is recommended. For more information, visit gohrt.com/recruitment.