When Robert W. Woltz Jr. walked up to the “cord-board” in Petersburg on his second day with the phone company, he stepped to a corner of the business world that has long since disappeared. “My first job, there wasn’t a men’s room on the entire floor,“ recalls Woltz, who, as president of Verizon Communications’ Virginia operations, now oversees all the company’s landline and wireless business in the state.

Helping others is a common thread in Michel Zajur’s life. It began at an early age for the soft-spoken son of immigrants who moved to the Richmond area from Mexico in 1960.

Whenever Ava Deal needs an engagement gift, she knows exactly what to buy: Mariposa cocktail napkin holders from Tweed. Deal started shopping at the store when it opened in The Shoppes at Westgate in 2004. “I go there for almost every gift I need. The selection is a combination of whimsical and traditional. It’s unique,“ she said. “It’s an upbeat, fun experience.“

Karen Booth Adams never intended to own a piece of nine companies. But over the years she became addicted to the excitement of starting a business and helping it grow.

1995: sold CPI and became a millionaire
  1995-97: did mergers/acquisitions with Hoshko
  1997: bought Tekna Interactive
  1998: sold Tekna
  1999: started Hot Technology Holdings; became an angel investor; invested in Fahrenheit Technology
  2000: started PoshTots.com with partner Andrea Edmunds

Education: Prince Edward Academy in Farmville, 1987; University of Virginia, bachelor’s degree in psychology, 1990
  Career: technology recruiter, Circuit City, 1990-92; recruiter, AGS Services in Raleigh, N.C., 1992-93; Computer Professionals Inc., 1993-95; Tekna Interactive, 1997-98; Hot Technology Holdings, 1999-present; Fahrenheit Technology, 1999-present;

Jack Reasor gave up the life of a politician to head Old Dominion Electric Cooperative. He’s gotten back time with his family and earned high marks for helping steer ODEC in a challenging environment.

Education: bachelor of arts, Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., 1975; law degree, University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, 1978
  Career: associate, Bolling and Senser law firm in Grundy, 1978; vice president and general counsel, then president and CEO of Miners & Merchants Bank and Trust Co. in Grundy, 1979-83; trust administrative officer, Flat Top National Bank in Bluefield, 1983-91; partner, Galumbeck, Simmons and Reasor law firm in Tazewell, 1991-94; president, Premier Trust Co. in Bluefield, 1994-95; vice president, First Virginia Bank in Bluefield, 1997-98; president and CEO, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, 1998-present

Ask Brett A. Vassey why manufacturing is important to the economy, and he doesn’t hold back. “It is truly one of the only industries that creates wealth from nothing,“ he said.

Founded: 1922
  Respresents: About 5,400 manufacturers in Virginia, plus suppliers
  Foundation: The Virginia Industry Foundation was created in 2007 to promote research and programs to improve advanced technology job opportunities, skills and expand industry’s role in environmental stewardship.

Richmond is known for its colonial architecture, but KBS Inc. has quietly reshaped the area for more than three decades. The general contracting company has built such structures as Ukrop’s stores, Strange’s Florist and the CarMax headquarters.

Education: Virginia Military Institute, bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, 1969
  Experience: U.S. Army, lieutenant, platoon tank leader, 1969-1972; area sales manager for Republic Steel in Richmond, 1973-1975; founder and president of KBS Inc., 1975-present
  Civic affiliations: co-founder and board member of Bank of Richmond, now Hampton Roads Bankshares Inc. (where he remains a director); vice president of the board of visitors at VMI; former board member of the state Board for Contractors; former chairman of the Henrico County Community Services Board; former member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Board; former deacon at River Road Baptist Church

Sherrie Brach leads the organization that raised $18 million this year to help solve critical social needs, making it the region’s largest fundraising organization for human-service agencies.

A broom and sweeping pan lean up against a corner of Pat Jones’ office at Kings Dominion. She takes them on her afternoon rounds, part of her attention to detail in running one of the region’s tourism magnets.

Richard Cullen was a lawyer with an eye on political office. But he turned his career in another direction, and helped build a national reputation for his Richmond law firm.