Walter Gray
Two people recently joined the Chrysler Museum of Art’s philanthropy department. Lisa Domingo Sands is now senior development officer. She will oversee the museum’s individual major gift program, responsible for identifying, cultivating stewarding leadership gifts from individuals. A Virginia native and longtime Suffolk resident, Sands grew up in New York and is a graduate of Christopher Newport University. Most recently, Sands was the statewide director of development at Virginia Opera Company where she managed a portfolio of more than 200 donors at the $2,500 and above giving level, including $1.5 million in major gifts each season. Walter Gray, who brings extensive experience working with corporate partners in the nonprofit arena, is the museum’s corporate engagement manager. A native of Anchorage, Alaska, who grew up in the U.S. and Europe, Gray will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward leadership gifts from corporations. His most recent role was with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, where he worked with corporate partners and employee engagement volunteerism.
CV International Inc., a Norfolk-based freight forwarder and customs broker, and its subsidiary Capes Shipping Agencies, a port and vessel agency serving the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, has promoted Cary Hagen and Bobby Scott to key executive leadership positions. Hagen is now chief commercial officer of CVI, with responsibility for commercial strategy, sales, business development, marketing and customer success. He joined the company in 2024 as vice president of strategic partnerships and has more than 30 years of experience in global logistics, port operations and supply chain management. Scott, as president of Capes Shipping Agencies, will report directly to the CEO. He will lead the company’s efforts to expand its geographic footprint, broaden its service capabilities and deepen its partnerships across industry sectors that continue to drive significant vessel traffic. Scott has more than 27 years of port and vessel agency experience. Additionally, Peter Hansen was promoted to vice president of operations at Capes and Kevin Briggs was named vice president of technology for CVI and Capes.
James Stovall has been appointed executive director of WindsorMeade in Williamsburg. The community offers independent and assisted living, memory support and health care for seniors 62 years and up. Stovall joined parent company Pinnacle Living in 2019 and has served in leadership roles at Hermitage Roanoke and most recently as executive director of Hermitage Richmond. Stovall has been a licensed nursing home administrator since 2010. Stovall also serves on the Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders commission and is a longtime member of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee.
At its annual meeting on March 9, the Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association announced its new board of directors for 2026. Among those elected are president Nicole Pereira, general manager of Amber Ox Public House; vice president Ania Prowchowska, general manager of Food for Thought; and treasurer Greg Mincher, owner and chef at Saudade.
Awards and honors
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula recently hosted its first-ever Legacy Society Induction and Impact Awards. This year’s honorees included Conway H. Sheild III, who received the living legend award; Stephen C. Barrs, who received the legend in the making award; Sylvia Weinstein Craft, who received the archetype of inspiration award; and Newport News Shipbuilding, who received the changing our world award. The event recognized individuals and entities whose leadership and philanthropy continue to strengthen the Virginia Peninsula.
Grants and donations
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation completed specially adapted renovations and paid off the mortgage on the home of U.S. Navy Lt. Steven Simmons. In 2011, while deployed off the coast of South Korea, his ship responded to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that led to the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. During the mission, the vessel sailed through a nuclear plume, exposing Simmons to radiation. He faced long-term health complications as a result, ultimately leading to bilateral above-the-knee amputations. The foundation completed extensive renovations to ensure Simmons’ home meets his mobility and accessibility needs, including: redesigning the first-floor bathroom to ADA specifications, pouring a concrete ADA ramp into the main entrance of the house, and installing automatically opening front doors. The foundation also remodeled a formal dining room into a nursery so Simmons can spend more time with his grandchildren.
Virginia Living Museum board member Corinne Wassmer and Jeff Wassmer at the annual Bacchus Wine and Food Festival in February. (Courtesy/Fredericks Photo & Films and Virginia Living Museum)
The 22nd annual Bacchus Wine and Food Festival raised more than $114,500 to support environmental education. More than 580 people gathered at the Virginia Living Museum for the event, which supports local students. The fundraiser supports the museum’s educational programs, facilitates reduced admission fees for community members and supports native wildlife conservation efforts.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications for up to $1.4 million in recreational trails program grants through May 5. The federal matching reimbursement program supports the construction and rehabilitation of recreational land and water trails and trail-related facilities. The program provides 80%-20% matching reimbursement. Requests must be for a minimum of $25,000 with a minimum total project cost of $31,250. Grantees must be able to fund 100% of their project while seeking periodic reimbursements. Eligible applicants include: counties, cities and towns; park and recreation authorities; state or federal agencies; and nonprofit organizations with support from a governmental body. For more information, email recreationgrants@dcr.virginia.gov.
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans. (Courtesy image)
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., joined local education leaders, city officials and students at the Chesapeake Career Center to ceremonially present $1 million in Community Project Funding for the Chesapeake Career Technical Education Center Project. The funding will support the development of expanded career and technical education programming designed to strengthen local workforce readiness and provide students with career pathways. The project includes plans for a new facility that will expand current programs and introduce six new career pathways in high-demand industries. The overall project is expected to cost about $101.5 million. Chesapeake Public Schools previously received a $20 million grant from the Virginia Department of Education through the Commonwealth’s School Construction Assistance Program to support the initiative.
Mergers and acquisitions
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, a Norfolk-based accounting firm founded in 1989, is now part of Eide Bailly, a top 20 CPA firm. WEC serves a diverse client base, ranging from individual entrepreneurs and large organizations, across industries including as real estate, manufacturing, construction, government contracting and technology. This addition marks two milestones for Eide Bailly — its first office in Virginia and its arrival on the East Coast. WEC managing shareholder Angela Kerns stayed on as market leader for the Norfolk Eide Bailly location.
Openings
Elite DNA Behavioral Health, a comprehensive behavioral and mental health care provider, has opened its first Virginia location at 516 Innovation Drive, Suite 305, in Chesapeake. The local practice offers in-person and virtual mental and behavioral health services for adults, adolescents, and children 6 and older including psychiatry, psychotherapy, trauma therapy and medication management. The clinic is staffed by James Paul Callis, Katherine Thorton, Laura Cook, Regina Romera Sibal and Thomas Grady Bunch. They provide psychotherapy, psychiatry and medication management services alongside a team of care coordinators and staff.
A popcorn shop is set to open this spring in downtown Williamsburg. Fire Tried Kettle Corn Co., which currently operates at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, will open a storefront at 423 Prince George St. adjacent to Kilwin’s Ice Cream.
Don Chido, a new Williamsburg restaurant and cocktail bar specializing in Latin cuisine, opened at 515 Prince George St. in the space formerly occupied by The Hound’s Tale.
Mexican restaurant Mil Amores Taqueria, from the owners of Taqueria Maria Bonita, opened at 747 Scotland St. in the Williamsburg space formerly occupied by Culture Café.
Partnership
The Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute has begun a new community partnership with Thompson Restaurants’ Southern brunch concept, Milk & Honey, to support cancer patients through Hampton Proton’s Patient Access to Help program. PATH is designed to address non-clinical barriers that patients may face during their cancer journey, including food insecurity, transportation challenges, and housing needs. Through the three-year partnership, Milk & Honey will donate meals to patients enrolled in the PATH program. Each PATH patient will receive dining vouchers for two guests as part of the Milk & Honey Experience, which includes one appetizer, two entrées, one dessert, and two non-alcoholic beverages. Vouchers will be redeemable at Milk & Honey’s Hampton and Virginia Beach locations.
Chartway Credit Union recently hosted its 67th annual meeting. Following the meeting, the board convened its annual organizational sessions and confirmed its officers: Melinda Barbish (chair); Jim Bibbs (vice chair); Paul Annunziata (secretary); Curtis Price (treasurer); Ronald da Silva (director); Jerry Frostick (director); Jared Perry (director); Lara Shields (director); and Steve Warnecke (director). Pictured in the back row, from left are Frostick, CEO Brian Schools; Warnecke, Bibbs, and Price. From left in the front row are board member Wayne Foshay; Annunziata, Barbish, Shields and da Silva. (Courtesy/Chartway)