Names and changes: Business recognitions and promotions for the week of April 28, 2024

MB Contractors has announced the promotion of two employees.

Sterling Smith has been named director of operations. In his new role, Smith, who has more than a decade of service to the company, will oversee the execution of all projects to ensure efficiency, safety, and quality.

Aaron Yost has been named chief preconstruction manager. Yost joined the company nine years ago as a project engineer.

In his new role, he will oversee and optimize preconstruction efforts to guarantee smooth project planning and deliver cost-efficient solutions for clients.

Hollins University President Mary Dana Hinton has been elected chair of the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1976, NAICU focuses on representing private, nonprofit higher education on public policy issues in Washington, D.C.

Hinton will lead a team of four new board officers and 14 new board members who will take office on July 1. She succeeds Constance Ledoux Book, president of Elon University, who will remain on the board as immediate past chair.

Under Hinton’s leadership, Hollins established the Hollins Opportunity for Promise through Education (HOPE) scholar program, designed to support young women from the greater Roanoke Valley region who want to pursue a college degree at Hollins by providing free tuition for four years.

Hinton is a member of the board of directors for InterFaith America, Mount Saint Mary’s University, and The Teagle Foundation. She is a commissioner on the AGB Council on Higher Education as a strategic asset and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Hinton earned a Ph.D. in religion and religious education with high honors from Fordham University, a Master of Arts in clinical child psychology from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Williams College.

Melissa Neal, interim registrar at Radford University, has been named the 12th university registrar at Washington and Lee University effective June 4.

She will succeed Fred Rodriguez, who has been serving as W&L’s interim registrar since January 2023.

During her higher education career at Radford, Neal has served in various roles including as a program support technician; degree audit systems coordinator; and associate registrar.

Since 2018, she has also served as an instructor, teaching classes such as Introduction to Higher Education and Achieving Academic Success.

In addition to her role at Radford, Neal has also served as a chaplain for the Carilion Clinic since 2014, providing pastoral support to patients and families during nights and weekends.

Neal holds a Bachelor of Science in technical management with a specialization in hospitality management from DeVry University, a Master of Arts in theological studies and a Master of Divinity in discipleship ministries from Liberty University.

Jordan Peimer, former executive director of ArtPower at the University of California, San Diego, has been selected as the next director of the Lenfest Center for the Arts at Washington and Lee University.

Peimer will replace Rob Mish, who has held the position since 2005 and will officially retire in December. Peimer will begin his new appointment July 1.

In his role for ArtPower, Peimer was responsible for all aspects of the presenting program, which included hundreds of theater, dance, music and interactive performances.

His diverse experiences also include serving as an adviser to international programs such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and the artistic counsel for the International Choreographers Society of Seine-Saint-Denis in France.

Peimer was an early member of ACT UP Los Angeles and is a co-founder of the organization’s Oral History Project for which he also serves as a co-producer. To date, he has assisted in recording 75 oral histories that range from 90 minutes to eight hours in length.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies/affairs from the University of Pennsylvania and he also holds a Doctor of Law from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance has named Sue Bostic a Gold New Agent.

Bostic was recognized during an annual sales conference at Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center for her sales and service.

Glenn Robinson Cathey Skaff & White has announced that attorneys Mark Cathey, Melissa Robinson, Victor S. “Dinny” Skaff III and Johneal White have been selected to the 2024 Virginia Super Lawyers list.

Miss Virginia Opportunity Inc. is the new name of the annual scholarship pageant in Roanoke, which on Tuesday announced a leadership team of three co-executive directors: Elaine Aikens, Mark Schreier and Nancy Glisson Lucy. Aikens is a retired Winchester educator who has volunteered with Miss Virginia for 40 years. Schreier is a sales and marketing professional with Robertson Marketing in Salem. He’s also the president of the pageant’s nonprofit scholarship foundation. Glisson Lucy is a Richmond resident who is a former Miss Virginia (1993) and Miss America fourth runner-up (1994) who also has a background in marketing.

Board members are Debra Anderson, Dale Bradshaw, Chip Brown, Bootie Chewning, Dr. Nancy Dye, Scott Freda, Melinda Froelicher, Linda Haas, Melody Jessee, Trone Kee, Patrick Moore and Nikki Williams. Associate board members are Kay Bolliger, Callie Dalton, Carolyn Hodges Campbell, Matt Hogan, Toni McLawhorn, Ashley Smith and Beverly Young.

The 2024 Miss Virginia and Miss Virginia Teen Competitions will take place June 27-29 at the Berglund Center in Roanoke.