HREDA gets interim CEO
The Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance hired Steve Herbert, who previously worked as deputy city manager in Virginia
Beach, as interim president and CEO.
Herbert had also been a city manager for the city of Suffolk and an assistant director of economic development for Portsmouth and Norfolk. Herbert, a Navy veteran, had worked in the private sector as a business development manager and defense contractor.
The alliance also hired Chris Lemmon as executive vice president, and he will serve as the organization’s first chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for managing the alliance’s domestic and international business attraction, business expansion and investment promotion activities.
Lemmon, who lives in Virginia Beach, brings experience in consumer product marketing, working for well-known brands like Enfamil infant formula, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts and Reynolds Wrap.
Eleven cities and counties and more than 60 businesses in Hampton Roads fund the alliance’s efforts to attract and grow employers.
Smithfield Foods reorganizes
Smithfield Foods Inc. created U.S. chief operating officer and chief commercial officer positions as part of its new organizational structure aimed at unifying all of the company’s operations, brands and more than 54,000 employees globally under one corporate umbrella, the company announced Friday.
Dennis Organ was promoted to chief operating officer of U.S. operations and will oversee and unify all domestic business operations management, including the company’s hog production, fresh pork and packaged meats businesses, according to a news release.
Gregg Schmidt will report to Organ and remain president of U.S. hog production until his retirement at the end of 2019. Brady Stewart was promoted to executive vice president of U.S. hog production and will succeed Schmidt. Stewart was formerly vice president and general manager of Kansas City Sausage Co. and Pine Ridge Farms, which Smithfield acquired in 2017.
Smithfield named 18-year company veteran John Pauley as chief commercial officer for packaged meats and promoted Keira Lombardo to executive vice president of corporate affairs and compliance. Lombardo, who has 16 years with the company, leads its communications, government affairs, sustainability and investor relations efforts.
Employers hiring at job fairs
More than 100 employers are hiring at a job fair at the Hampton Roads Convention Center at 1601 Coliseum Drive on Feb. 6., the city said. The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers on-site preparation workshops and interviews. For more info, call 757727-8311.
Dollar Tree is hosting a career fair to fill 400 positions at its new Chesapeake headquarters at 500 Volvo Parkway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 26. Jobs are available in multiple departments, including merchandising, finance and human resources.
Sentara names president
Sentara Healthcare named Dr. David James as president of its four medical groups and ambulatory services, a newly created position.
James will consolidate and clinically integrate outpatient clinician and ancillary activities in addition to redesigning existing ambulatory services into retail destinations and improving the consumer experience, according to a news release. James most recently served as CEO of Memorial Hermann Medical Group and Post-Acute Services in Houston, Texas.