Lionsbridge Football Club has signed an agreement with Cox Media to deliver live coverage of all home Lionsbridge FC games at Pomoco Stadium for the 2019 season. This includes approximately 10 games to be televised on Cox’s YurView channel, which is carried on basic cable in nearly a half million households across Virginia. Each game will be carried live in HD, plus a next day re-air.



Top January agents for CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty’s Peninsula Office were Jamie Coldsnow, top listing agent and top closing agent; Chris Pray, top selling agent and top producing agent; and Kimi Dornan, top closing agent.
Donna Tighe has been promoted to director of development at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. Tighe has been with the Foodbank since May 2009, most recently serving as community relations manager, working closely with community partners during food and fund drives as well as special events.

SOLitude Lake Management has been designated one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation” by the National Association for Business Resources. The 2018 national winning companies were chosen from 2,400 nominations. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competition identifies and honors businesses that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance. This competition scores potential winners based on regional data of company performance and a set standard across the nation. Kevin Tucker is CEO of SOLitude Lake Management.
After the successful opening of seven new stores in Hampton Roads, three of which are on the Peninsula, Kroger Mid-Atlantic began a month-long area-wide celebration by making a $25,000 donation to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and a $25,000 donation to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. The donations are part of the company’s commitment to its Zero Hunger Zero Waste efforts to end hunger in local communities and eliminate waste in stores. Shown above left are staff members from Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and Kroger corporate representatives.
As part of its area-wide celebration, Kroger held a “Shop To Stop Hunger” event for the two local food banks. The food banks were able to keep the food they collected during the race against time, as well as an additional $2,077 for a total value of $2,500 each. Shown above right is Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s Executive Chef Tyrone Carter, who won for gathering the most items in his cart. Also participating was Dr. Terry Morris of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s board of directors.
Danny Carroll has been named executive director of the Newport News Public Art Foundation (NNPAF). After more than 25 years, Carroll retired as the longest-serving CEO of the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA. With NNPAF, he will be responsible for administering the mission and projects of the foundation, maintaining the collection of 20 monumental-scale works of art and working to add new pieces for the enjoyment of all citizens and visitors to Newport News. NNPAF is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping make Newport News an appealing place to live, work and visit by installing major works of art by respected sculptors in accessible, highly visible sites around the city. Through outreach and educational programs, NNPAF also helps people enjoy and appreciate the art around them.
Brittany Heller has joined City Center Tax Group’s professional tax preparation staff. Formerly with an accounting firm in Williamsburg, she has two years of intensive tax preparation experience, specializing in individual and small business returns. Previously she was employed as a budget and accounting analyst with James City County. Heller is studying for the CPA and the enrolled agents exams.
Benjamin “Bo” Garner, CPA, MBA has been named partner in the Newport News office of PBMares LLP. Garner has more than 11 years of public accounting experience and is the youngest firm member to be named partner at PBMares. He started as an intern in 2007 and now leads the firm’s Not-for-Profit Team and chairs the firm’s Innovation Council. In addition to serving clients, he is an active member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Garner serves as the firm’s vice chair on the Accounting and Auditing Advisory Committee, the Young Professionals Advisory Council and is a Firm Ambassador. Garner was named Top 40 Under 40 by both CPA Practice Advisor and Inside Business in 2017 and was one of VSCPA’s Top 5 Under 35 in 2016. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business/economics from Randolph-Macon College and his Master in Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary.
Peninsula Fine Arts Center (PFAC) will be offering each month First Free Weekends of its Art Access Program through the support of Wells Fargo, Newport News Shipbuilding, Bank of America and Ferguson Enterprises. Art Access at PFAC endeavors to remove financial barriers from art, ensuring all families can seek inspiration in PFAC’s galleries. The exhibit that PFAC will feature in March will be Art of Africa: Power and Identity and Cash Crop.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula (BGCVP) honored George Wallace, former Hampton Mayor and board member, and Bud Porter, board member, for their exceptional leadership and years of service at its 73rd annual board meeting. Wallace received the 50-Year Gold Service Award to Youth for 50 years of service on the BGCVP board. He was instrumental in sustaining the Greater Hampton Roads Club, obtaining funding from the cities of Hampton and Newport News to support the clubs and merging the organizations in 2004. Wallace is shown above left with Board Member Dwayne Blake, board member (left) and Hal Smith, BGCVP CEO.
Porter, above right, a board member since 1982, was inducted into the club’s Wall of Fame and honored with a bronze plaque to be displayed at the Peninsula Club in Newport News. This award recognizes board members who have displayed leadership, advocated for the clubs, provided years of service and contributed generous financial support.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula will be receiving a new activity center at its Greater Hampton Roads Club at 629 Hampton Avenue, Newport News, through a donation of $60,000 from Dominion Energy.
Stephen Sibert, with Personal Training Associates, has successfully completed his studies and received his Advanced Certification as a senior fitness specialist (ACE). This qualifies Silbert to incorporate the modifications to prevent age-related muscle tissue loss, improve bone strength and balance.
Bill Eastburn, investment advisor representative with Langley Federal Credit Union, has achieved his Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant (ChFEBC) designation. Eastburn has been with Langley Investment Services for more than 23 years. His area of focus is to guide civil service and government contract employees to save and invest wisely before and during retirement. Eastburn is also a Certified Financial Planner, a consistent member of the Million Dollar Round Table for financial planners and was named one of the top 50 Bank Advisers in 2014.
Wanda Stevens has joined Abbitt Realty in its Oyster Point office as supervising broker. A graduate of Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology pre-med, Stevens worked for 30 years at Yorktown’s Oil Refinery. While there, she obtained her Masters of Science degree in quality assurance management, serving on the refinery’s senior management team for 15 years. Stevens began her second career in 2012 as a Realtor® in the Virginia Peninsula Association of Realtors. At Abbitt, she will be responsible for recruiting, training and development, and supporting business goals of 50 agents.
Visiting Angels has received both the 2019 Best of Home Care®–Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Home Care Pulse. These awards are granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on client and caregiver satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse. Visiting Angels is now ranked among a small handful of home care providers across the country, who have proven their ability to provide an exceptional working experience to employees and the highest quality care to clients. Rebecca Andresen is director of Visiting Angels.
The City of Newport News was awarded a grant through the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to increase workforce development activities in the Southeast area of the City. The $896,802 grant will support accessible workforce and training services at the Brooks Crossing Innovation and Opportunity Center opening in the spring. After the initial 18 months of the grant, four additional funding years are guaranteed. The grant was created at the request of Virginia First Cities, a coalition of Virginia cities that advocates for increased collaboration and enhanced policies from the state. To facilitate the grant, the City’s Department of Development will work with the Hampton Roads Community Action Program, the Greater Peninsula Workforce Board and Peninsula Regional Education Programs. The City will also partner with employers, non-profits and faith-based organizations to offer citizens customized approaches to career awareness, skill development, wealth-building, supportive services and case management support. To learn more, visit www.newportnewschoice.com.
Four Riverside skilled nursing and assisted living communities were showcased in the 2018–19 U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Home ratings. The Orchard, Sanders Retirement Village, Riverside Health Living Community–Smithfield and Riverside Convalescent Center–West Point each received “High Performing” marks in one or both of the rating categories overall and short-stay rehabilitation. The ratings were published as part of U.S. News’ Nursing Home Finders, a decision-support tool created to help consumers looking for a nursing facility for either short-term rehabilitation or long-term nursing care.
Riverside Health System has published its 2018 Cancer Care Annual Report, covering regional cancer statistics and updates on the advances and treatment innovations the system has implemented to benefit patients receiving treatment throughout Southeastern Virginia. To access the full report, visit riversideonline.com/cancer.



Belinda Donavant, Wilson Roane and Scott Sundberg have been promoted by Canon Virginia, Inc. Donavant has been named senior director of the product engineering division. She has been employed with Canon since 1992. Roane has been named director of the molding division. He has been employed with Canon since 1987. Sundberg has been named director of the product development division. He has been employed with Canon since 2011.
Christopher Newport University (CNU) has been named by the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for students seeking a superb education with great career preparation at an affordable cost. CNU is profiled by the education services company in the 2019 edition of its annual guide, The Best Value Colleges: 200 Schools with Exceptional ROI for Your Tuition Investment. The Princeton Review selected CNU as one of the top 200 after collecting data and conducting surveys at more than 650 colleges. The editors praised Christopher Newport’s focus on the study of leadership, its core curriculum in the arts and sciences and the commitment of its students to civic engagement through community service. Christopher Newport was one of only four public universities in Virginia (along with the College of William & Mary, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech) and one of only 63 public universities nationwide to be included in the “Best Value Colleges: 2019 Edition.”
In December, the Warwick at City Center Rotary Club distributed its monies from the club’s 2018 Bacon, Beer and Bourbon Bash fundraiser, donating $2,000 to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, along with sorting food for monthly distributions. Shown here are Davetta Rinehart, club president, and Sharon Martin, member, signing the Foodbank volunteer board.
The club also donated 12 bikes to the Salvation Army for deserving children in the Greater Hampton Roads area in addition to its annual stint of bell ringing at a local big-box store. A local real estate investor donated an empty Farm Fresh building for this year’s collection, serving more than 6,000 children in the area.
A donation of $1,000 went to the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and a donation of $500 to Megagenesis, a nonprofit organization that provides local programs and opportunities for students moving from high school into professions. Pictured at the check presentation are Stacy Nixon, philanthropy director of the Girls Scouts of Colonial Coast (left) and Davetta Rinehart, club president.



Ownership of City Center Dental Care has changed with Drs. Sonia Tao-Yi and Dr. Aaron Hayes as new owners. Dr. Tao has been practicing dentistry for 20 years, with 10 years at City Center Dental Care. Dr. Hayes has been practicing with the dental office for the past two years. He earned a Master’s degree in oral biology, which allows him to treat patients using techniques in IV sedation, oral surgery, periodontal surgery and implant placement. Former owner Dr. William Griffin, who began the practice in 1983, has accepted a part-time position with the Christian Medical and Dental Associations in Bristol, Tennessee. He will serve as its vice president for dental ministries.


Stephen E. Sigmon, CFP® and Jennifer B. Daknis, AIF® of Point Comfort Wealth Management have been recognized as top advisors with LPL Financial, the nation’s leading independent broker-dealer (as reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996–2018 based on total revenue). Sigmon achieved Chairman’s Council status, ranking him among the top 1.4 percent, and Jennifer achieved Director’s Club status, ranking her among the top 19 percent out of 16,174 advisors (as of 09/18/18 and based on a ranking of revenues of all registered advisors supported by LPL Financial). Both are partners at Point Comfort Wealth Management, providing comprehensive financial planning and independent advice to individuals, families and businesses with locations in Newport News and Williamsburg.
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