Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame 2012

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S LAUREATES

David L. BerndJerry A. BridgesDennis M. EllmerLuke M. Hillier

Honoring today,inspiring tomorrow

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

NORFOLK WATERSIDE MARRIOTT

6 P.M. GENERAL REGISTRATION

7 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. DINNER AND AWARDS

PRESENTED BY

2 » HAMPTON ROADS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME » FEBRUARY 27, 2012

The Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame presenting sponsor Cox Business, along with Eric Bartok, Hall of Fame chairman; Thomas Frantz and Vincent Mastracco Jr., co-chairs of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee; and Junior Achievement’s board of directors are pleased to invite you to join us at this special event.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Norfolk Waterside Marriott

Dinner seating for one and a general reception ticket - $250

Table for 10 and 10 general reception tickets - $2,000

To purchase tickets or a table, contact the

JA of Greater Hampton Roads office at (757) 455-9500 or email [email protected].

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND PROGRAM ADVERTISEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

About the event Founded in 1985, the Hampton Roads’ Business Hall of Fame honors individuals whose business innovations, effective management and civic involvement have made a major impact and positive difference in companies and communities throughout Hampton Roads, America’s First Region. Inductees’ records of achievement must demonstrate: business excellence; courageous thinking and actions; visionary, innovative leadership; and community involvement. Through these accomplishments, laureates serve as role models for the next generation of business leaders, many of whom are currently Junior Achievement students.Proceeds from the black-tie dinner and awards ceremony benefit Junior Achievement throughout America’s First Region. Junior Achievement brings the real world into the classroom and after-school settings with hands-on experiences that teach young people about business, financial literacy, workforce readiness - - the economics of life.In the Greater Hampton Roads Region, over 300 volunteers from the business and military communities help Junior Achievement make a positive impact on the lives of over 9,000 K-12 students each year.

Registration information

presenting sponsor

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DAVID L. BERND IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of Sentara Healthcare, a $5 billion integrated health system headquartered in Norfolk.

Sentara, a leading not-for-profit health care provider in Virginia and North Carolina, is comprised of 10 acute care hospitals with a medical staff of 3,680 physicians, health plans with 436,000 covered lives and three medical groups, with Sentara Medical Group locally bringing together nearly 400 physicians and over 150 advanced practice clinicians. Sentara was ranked the number one integrated health care network in the United States consecutively in 2010 and 2011 by Modern Healthcare magazine and is the only health care system in the nation to be named in the top 10 for 14 years.

Sentara is an innovator utilizing technology to enhance clinical outcomes. Sentara was the first in the world to implement eICU®, a remote monitoring and management system for critical care patients. This technologically advanced patient monitoring system has produced a dramatic reduction in intensive care mortality. Named one of the top wired health care systems for four consecutive years in Hospitals and Health Networks, Sentara is connecting its hospitals, pharmacists, physicians, nurses, radiologists, long-term care providers and medical transport resources in a seamless communication system called the Sentara eCare Health Network®, an industry-leading electronic medical record.

Bernd was recognized for his commitment to information technology with the 2010 CEO IT Achievement Award by Modern Healthcare. In recognition of the dramatic clinical results achieved through deployment of Sentara eCare®, in 2010 Sentara also earned the HIMSS Davies Award and HIMSS Stage 7 Award.

Sentara is listed in the U.S. News and World Report annual guide to “America’s Best Hospitals.” In 2011, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital ranked in the Top 50 Hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery, marking its 12th year on the list. Listed 47th in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospitals, it is the only hospital in Virginia to be ranked among the top 50.

In 2009, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital ranked in the Top 50 Hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery, kidney diseases, diabetes and endocrine disorders, and geriatric care. Sentara Leigh Hospital ranked in the Top 50 Hospitals in orthopedics. In 2010, Sentara CarePlex Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center earned top performance in the Leapfrog Hospital Recognition Program.

In 2009 Optima Health Plan, Sentara Health Plan and Optima Health Plan’s HMO Medicaid product were all awarded the highest accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Optima Health Plan was named number 50 in U.S. News And World Report’s “America’s Best Health Plans” for 2006.

Bernd received his master’s degree of hospital and health administration from the Medical College of Virginia in 1973. He served his residency at Medical Center Hospitals 1972-73. He served as assistant administrator at Sentara Norfolk General from 1973 until 1979 when he was named administrator.

In 1985, Bernd was named executive vice-president/chief operating officer of Sentara Health System and president, Sentara Hospitals-Norfolk. In December 1994, he was named president and chief executive officer of Sentara Health System (now Sentara Healthcare).

Bernd was named by the secretary of commerce to serve as a member of the Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Economy

FEBRUARY 27, 2012 » HAMPTON ROADS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME » 3

2012 HALL OF FAME

David L. Bernd

Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2004 he served as chairman of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees, making him the top elected official of the largest hospital and health system association in the U.S. In addition, he is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as rector on the Board of Visitors at Old Dominion University.

He has served on the VHA Inc. Board of Directors; South Trust Bank Board of Directors; the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Regional Board; and as chairman of the Hampton Roads YMCA.

He is past chairman of the United Way of South Hampton Roads Board of Directors and the Virginia Hospital Association Board of Directors. Bernd was the 1984 recipient of the American College of Hospital Administrators’ Robert S. Hudgens National Young Hospital Administrator of the Year Award.

He resides with his wife Helen in Virginia Beach.


2012 HALL OF FAME

Jerry A. BridgesJ

ERRY A. BRIDGES WAS APPOINTED EXECUTIVE director of the Virginia Port Authority by the Board of Commissioners in November 2006 and officially took office in February 2007.

Bridges is responsible for the broad programmatic areas of marketing, development, finance and promotion of Virginia’s marine terminal facilities – Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, APMT Virginia, Port of Richmond and the Virginia Inland Terminal located in Warren County.

Prior to his arrival at the VPA, Bridges served as executive director of the Port of Oakland. In that position since June 2004, he was responsible for the overall operations, management and financial performance of the Port of Oakland’s three lines of business at the Oakland International Airport, the Oakland Seaport and extensive commercial real estate holdings. From September 2001 until his appointment as executive director, Bridges served as the port’s director of maritime. Prior to being named director of maritime, he was the area vice president for Northern California for Marine Terminals Corp. In addition, Bridges has held various operating positions with Sea Land Services and Roadway Express.

Bridges is chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities. He is also on the board of the Virginia International Terminals Inc., Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council, Hampton Roads Partnership Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Greater Norfolk Corporation Executive Committee, Town Point Club Board of Governors, Virginia Arts Festival Board of Directors, Old Dominion University Executive Advisory Council, Norfolk Festevents Board of Directors, Marine Board of the National Research Council, William and Mary Mason School of Business Foundation and the Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors.

Bridges also served 20 years as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in active/reserve status and received his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.

DENNIS M. ELLMER IS A CLASSIC CASE of learning a business from the ground up and learning it well enough to build one of the largest and most respected automotive retail operations in the country.

Ellmer began his automotive career at Colonial Chevrolet under the tutelage of successful businessman and philanthropist Josh Darden. Ellmer credits Darden with not only teaching him the car business but also emphasizing the importance of integrity, service, and community participation and personal commitment.

Priority Automotive was launched in 1998 when Ellmer purchased Kline Chevrolet and Kline Toyota in Chesapeake. The dealerships emphasized unparalleled customer service – their “we put you first” philosophy – and they prospered, becoming the market leaders in their very first year of operations.

Following closely on the success of the first two dealerships, he began seeking other opportunities. Soon the Priority sign rose in front of Acura, Honda and Hyundai dealerships in Chesapeake and the company built one of the largest Toyota dealerships in America and a new Honda outlet.

At the same time, opportunities were presenting themselves in Richmond where he acquired a small Toyota dealership, subsequently building one of the largest Toyota stores in Central Virginia.

Priority now operates Toyota, Scion, Nissan Volkswagen and Kia dealerships in Richmond. Priority has also expanded into North Carolina with the acquisition of a Honda dealership in the Charlotte suburb of Huntersville.

Today Priority owns 12 dealerships and is ranked among the top 50 dealer groups in the U.S.

Just as he never forgot his early business lessons, Ellmer – Priority’s president and CEO – also remembered the lessons he learned about the importance of community. From the earliest days of Priority, he has urged his employees to give back to the community as he set the example himself. In addition to substantial financial contributions to charitable organizations, he has given of his time to various boards and committees, many related to improving the education and health of Hampton Roads children. He also plays an active role in numerous professional and civic organizations on the local, state and national levels.

Ellmer is very much a son of Hampton Roads. Born in Chincoteague, he moved to the area at an early age. He graduated from Norview High School in Norfolk and attended Old Dominion University.

He has been married to wife Jan for more than 30 years and they have three children. The family lives in Virginia Beach.


2012 HALL OF FAME

Dennis M. Ellmer


2012 HALL OF FAME

Luke HillierL

UKE HILLIER, 40, IS A NATIVE OF VIRGINIA BEACH. He attended Old Dominion University from 1990 to 1994, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance. While at ODU, he was recognized as an

outstanding scholar athlete with a 4.0 GPA. Upon graduation in 1994, he accepted a position with the

Outstanding Scholars program in acquisition management for the U.S. federal government. Luke was recognized with a U.S. NAVAIR Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service.

After several years, Luke joined Oracle Corp. in its state and local government sales division. Hillier served as a lead state and local government sales representative. While there he received the Sales Person of the Year Award for 1998, achieving more than 300 percent of his sales quota.

In 1999, Hillier founded the largest Oracle Software reseller, Mythics Inc., an information system solutions provider in the U.S. Hillier served as chief executive officer interfacing with federal, state and local government agencies, health care and higher education facilities.

As CEO, Hillier grew Mythics from a garage startup with no employees into the dominant Oracle solutions provider annual sales of more than $300 million. In 2004, Mythics won Oracle’s Partner of the Year award.

Also in 2000, Hillier took an ownership position in ADS Inc. and was nominated chairman by its board of directors. In 2003, he became more involved in the operations of ADS and took additional responsibilities in his role as chairman of the board for ADS Inc.

In his position as CEO and chairman of the board of ADS, he directs a leading special and tactical operations equipment provider with annual sales of more than $1.5 billion and oversees East and West coast operations.

In 2010, Hillier received an Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

Hillier is a single dad in Virginia Beach, and has three daughters, Lauren, Laine and Logan.

He is a member of the Virginia Beach Development Authority, Old Dominion University’s Board of Visitors, ODU Alumni Association, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, National Government Contractors Association, and participates in the ODU Landmark Executive-in-Residence program.

About Junior AchievementJunior Achievement is a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers – all working together to inspire young people to dream big and reach their potential. JA’s hands-on, experiential programs teach the key concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to young people all over the world.

PURPOSETo inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

CORE VALUES• Belief in the boundless potential of young people• Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship • Passion for what we do and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how we do it• Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals• Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration• Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning

WE DO THIS BY DEVELOPING……the desire in young people to stay in school and appreciate lifelong learning through positive attitudes toward work and contributing to a diverse society. Along with the help of business/education partnerships, which create a bridge between the classroom and the workplace.

OUR DELIVERY SYSTEM IS DIFERENTIATED BY…• Sequential and integrated K-12 programs.• Volunteer role models with diverse backgrounds who support all classroom programs.• Experience-based learning.• A network of autonomous boards and staff committed to a unified vision.

LOCAL HISTORYJunior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, founded in 1966, serves the Hampton Roads area with the assistance of over 300 volunteers. In the 2010-2011 school year JA programs reached over 9,000 K-12 students with the message of financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship.


Proceeds from the Hall of Fame underwrite the many programs of Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads,

which serves over 9,000 children each year in America’s First Region. Courses are offered in grades K-12 and are

designed to build financial literacy, stimulate entrepreneurial spirit, and promote the success of children in all social and economic groups. Activities take place in over 100 schools and organizations and are supported by the efforts of more

than 300 volunteers from the local community who give generously of their time and experience.


Documents

Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame 2012