Brief History of Virginia Beach Vision
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 in developing and furthering 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. Our Executive Committee considers a prospective member’s qualifications that will enhance efforts to build and maintain an organization that can have a positive, long-term impact on the future direction of the City and a willingness to be actively engaged.
Vision has grown to a current membership of 115 CEO- and senior-level business, civic and education leaders. With the Bylaws permitting a total of just 120 Directors, active participation by our members in the organization is considered essential.
Virginia Beach Vision is modeled after similar groups across the country, dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in such cities as Baltimore, Cleveland and Nashville. Locally, the Greater Norfolk Corporation, the Chesapeake Alliance, the Portsmouth Partnership and Suffolk Tomorrow all are of similar structure and purpose. Working together, these organizations 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 planning for Strategic Growth Areas of the City including the Princess Anne Commons Corridor, the Resort Area, Burton Station and Town Center; a regional approach in municipalities' governance; regional transportation concerns; support and retention of military commands; infrastructure financing; effective public-private partnerships; light rail extension through Virginia Beach; and alternative energy opportunities for the City.
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 influence the desired outcome.
Our board meets monthly, typically on alternating second Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. We find that 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 Hampton Roads.