It has been a tough year for a lot of Americans. Coupled with normal life stressors a person might be dealing with, there’s the bigger-picture doom and gloom overtaking the nation—the financial crisis, rising unemployment, home foreclosures, North Korean missile maneuvers, Madoff-like schemes, layoffs and fear of more layoffs, big auto bankruptcies, the yet-to-recover stock market and lying politicians who seem to be giving ignoring mocking family values. the middle finger.

Thomas Hall New position: chief financial officer, Dynamic Brands Previous: CFO, C. Forbes Inc. Birthplace: Richmond Education: bachelor’s in accounting and MBA, University of Richmond Career: vice president of merchandising administration, Heilig-Meyers Co.; VP of accounting operations, Heilig-Meyers; senior auditor, Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte & Touche)