Bryan K. Stephens is President & CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber.
Mr. Stephens returned to Hampton Roads in 2013 with extensive leadership and business experience having most recently served as President & CEO of Kalmar LLC in San Antonio, Texas; a $250M/year major manufacturer of material handling equipment. As President & CEO Mr. Stephens led the entire spectrum of research and development, product improvement, marketing, sales, supply chain management, production, quality control, distribution, and aftermarket parts, servicing and maintenance of Kalmar’s products worldwide.
Prior to Kalmar, Mr. Stephens served as Vice President of Military Programs for Allison Transmission, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana; the largest manufacturer of military transmissions in the world. Before leaving Hampton Roads, Mr. Stephens served as a Senior Account for SAIC in Suffolk, Virginia where he supported USJFCOM and U.S. Army TRADOC.
Mr. Stephens, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, served in a variety of progressive leadership roles over a distinguished 28-year career. His last assignments included Infantry Brigade Commander and Division Chief of Staff for the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Chief of Operations and Chief of Staff at the Joint Warfighting Center, USJFCOM in Suffolk, Virginia. His military qualifications include Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, Air Assault and Joint Staff Officer.
Coming from a military family, Mr. Stephens is a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Political Science. He also received a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
As the CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber, my daily mission, and my constant focus, is to look for every means possible to set the conditions for businesses to succeed and bring good jobs and economic growth to our region. That means ensuring we have a well-trained and job-ready workforce, supporting policies that will improve our transportation system, and advocating for investments in infrastructure projects that are crucial to attracting new employers and helping existing businesses expand. Infrastructure projects that increase our access to reliable, affordable supplies of energy are among the most critical that the Chamber supports. That’s why I am pleased by a recent common-sense ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States that will allow our region to take a major step forward in that effort.
The Supreme Court found that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, like more than 50 other pipelines already do, can run more than 600 feet below a one-tenth of a mile section of the Appalachian Trail with Forest Service approval. The pipeline will be installed a half-mile away from the trail on each side. No one walking on that path will even know that one of the most important economic development projects in the history of Commonwealth runs beneath the trail. Just like they don’t realize they walk or drive over dozens of pipelines every day.
As we enter another week of Virginia’s State of Emergency related to containing the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, Virginia is facing an economic crisis in unprecedented proportions.
While we had serious concerns about several pieces of legislation during the 2020 General Assembly Session, the negative impact these bills will have on our business community is even more serious considering the economic devastation many businesses are facing.
Bryan K. Stephens spoke with Hampton Roads Weekly magazine.
Hampton Roads Weekly had the opportunity to discuss the impact of changes in committee assignments in our House of Delegates and Senate with Hampton Roads Chamber President and CEO, Bryan K. Stephens.
It’s 17 municipalities connecting under one regional brand. It’s 1.7 million residents creating regional pride and a sense of place to compete with markets across the nation. It’s inclusive and rooted in what is undeniable about us, our tremendous assets, our diversity, our history, our military, our Port, our culture.
I am proud and humbled to serve as both the president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber and as a board member for the United Way of South Hampton Roads.
I am proud and humbled to serve as both the president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber and as a board member for the United Way of South Hampton Roads. These two roles give me a front row seat to the intersection of business and community.
For 72 years, Virginia has remained a right-to-work state, guaranteeing that no person can be required to, as a condition of employment, join or pay dues to a labor union.
For 72 years, Virginia has remained a right-to-work state, guaranteeing that no person can be required to, as a condition of employment, join or pay dues to a labor union. Virginia is one of 27 states that have passed right-to-work laws. In anticipation of the 2020 General Assembly session, it’s important to remember that keeping Virginia a right-to-work state will support the business community.
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 by celebrating the contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
The observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting Sept. 15. The monthlong observance was enacted into law Aug. 17, 1988.
Thousands of able-bodied workers have vanished from the labor market as a result of our generation’s worst public health crisis. It is imperative that employers take notice and take action.
WHEN THE Virginia health commissioner declared the opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency in 2016, the epidemic was wreaking havoc on families and communities across Virginia. Though many communities in the commonwealth responded with exemplary efforts by law enforcement, innovative medical practices and public education, the dimensions of the crisis were still unfolding and the economic impact was growing.
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