History

Our Mission is to provide independent business leadership in visioning, facilitating and advocating community characteristics necessary to the future of a strong, vibrant economy and quality of life in Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads area.

Virginia Beach Vision was founded in 1993 by a handful of prominent business and civic leaders who saw the need for a non-partisan, issue-oriented group to provide private sector leadership that could help advance the City and the Hampton Roads region to develop and further the goals of progress and prosperity throughout our communities.

Since that time, Vision’s effectiveness has been found in the quality and commitment of its board. Membership is by invitation and is limited to owner/CEO-level decision makers who either reside or have a significant business presence in Virginia Beach. Our Executive Committee considers prospective members whose qualifications will enhance the organizations efforts to have a positive, long-term impact on the future direction of the City and a willingness to be actively engaged.

Senator Warner at Vision
Light Rail Board Meeting
Poppen and Parker

Vision has grown to a current membership of 120 CEO- and senior-level business, civic and education leaders. With the Bylaws permitting a maximum of 130 Directors, active participation in the organization is considered essential.

Virginia Beach Vision is modeled after similar groups across the country in cities such as Baltimore, Cleveland and Nashville, who are similarly dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life of their localities. Locally, the Greater Norfolk Corporation, and the Portsmouth Partnership are all of similar structure and purpose. Working together with regional partners, these organizations and Vision have built an informal alliance to pursue regional initiatives of mutual benefit to our respective communities.

Key issue areas where Virginia Beach Vision is currently engaged include the 5-year update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan; sea level rise and recurrent flooding mitigation planning; management and development of the resort area; and economic growth and business diversification.

Once our board has researched and analyzed an initiative or issue, principally through the use of issue specific task forces, it adopts a position and engages decision makers at the local, state and federal level, as appropriate, to facilitate implementation.

Our board meets monthly, typically on alternating second Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Our monthly board meetings are central to our effort to have an informed board that is knowledgeable and current with regard to the issues facing our city and the region.