Newport News Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany III has been elected to serve a one-year term as vice president of the Virginia Municipal League (VML) board of directors. The VML represents the Commonwealth’s cities, towns, and counties, advocating for strong local governance and providing training, resources and legislative support to municipal leaders across Virginia. In addition to his work with VML, Bethany also serves on the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental and Council committees, where he collaborates with municipal leaders nationwide to address shared challenges and develop innovative policy solutions.
Gaurav Bhatia has been named president/chief executive officer of Langley Federal Credit Union, succeeding Tom Ryan, who is retiring after 13 years leading Langley. Bhatia brings more than two decades of executive experience in financial services, technology and business transformation. Most recently, he served as chief marketing, digital and experience officer and head of retail deposits at PenFed Credit Union. He has also held senior roles with AARP, Capital One, NewDay USA, Sabre Holdings (parent of Travelocity.com) and NIIT Technologies, serving clients in the travel and financial services sectors.
Julie Duregger has been named interim executive director of FirstSpark, the lead agency for collaborative early childhood education initiatives in Ready Region Chesapeake Bay. Duregger formerly served as deputy director.
The Rotary Club of Warwick at City Center recently participated in a build-a-bed project, Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Pictured above sanding boards at the event are, left to right, Holly Koons, Davetta Rhinehart, Laura Huss and Stephanie Paine.
Rotarian Sharyn Fox is shown accepting the Rotarian of the Year award from club president Kevin Lyles (of blessed memory).
New members of TowneBank’s Peninsula Regional Board are Stephen Abbitt, president, Abbitt Realty and Abbitt Management; Sylvia Weinstein Craft, publisher and editor, Oyster Pointer; John Cabot Ishon, president, Hampton Stationery; Catherine Jumper, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; Stephen Parker, president and COO, Warwick Mechanical Group; Jamie Shoemaker, partner, Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, LC; Troy Smith, president, Smith Brothers Enterprises, Inc.; Mario Stellute, attorney, The Stellute Law Firm; and Timothy Trant, partner, Kaufman & Canoles. Rob Shuford, Jr., former chairman, president and CEO of Old Point National Bank, has been named TowneBank senior executive vice president and incoming chair of the Peninsula Regional Board.
Top September agents for Coldwell Banker Traditions’ Peninsula office were Angela Lee, top selling agent, and Lelani Clayton, top listing agent.
Michelle Cruz, one of 15 recent Harvard University graduates awarded the prestigious Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship, has been selected to work with Alan A. Archer, Newport News city manager, and the city’s leadership team to strengthen local government capacity and support the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown and enhance the quality of life for residents. This two-year fully funded program will allow Cruz to help develop and refine a pathway and actionable strategy to support downtown revitalization in close partnership with public, private and community stakeholders. Cruz, a policy strategist, arts and veterans’ advocate, and award-winning jazz vocalist, blends creativity with civic impact. At the Harvard Kennedy School, she served as co-chair of the Arts and Culture Policy Design Council, co-director of content and strategy for the Black Policy Conference. She was selected for the Harvard to Oval Office program which prepares women for leadership in public service. Now in its fourth year, the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship places emerging leaders in selected city halls across the United States to help advance mayoral priorities and address pressing municipal challenges.
Top October agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula office were Jamie Coldsnow, top listing and top selling agent; Chaz Fiscella, top closing agent; Angelena Hankins, top producing agent; and Nicole Pappas, top referral agent.
