THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994 TAG: 9407080539
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By RICHARD GRIMES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
One of the region's ranking cheerleaders, promoters and economic development gurus is jumping ship.
Gregory H. Wingfield, president of Forward Hampton Roads since 1987, is heading to Richmond to do for that city what he has strived to do here.
On July 25, Wingfield becomes president of the Richmond economic stimulus group that is succeeding the Metropolitan Economic Development Council. Among his chief tasks will be promoting inter-government cooperation and luring new business to the area.
Wingfield is leaving Hampton Roads primarily because of money. ``They have a world class budget . . . that shows they're very serious about business,'' he says of his new employer.
Wingfield credits the Richmond group's bountiful $2.4 million dollar budget to a partnership between the public and private sectors.
``There's no comparison on public support,'' he says. ``Forward Hampton Roads is primarily private sector driven. There's almost no public financial support.''
Forward Hampton Roads, an arm of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, was formed in 1984 to market Hampton Roads nationally and internationally to potential businesses. The majority of its budget stems from contributions made by area businesses.
By contrast, the Richmond group's $1.2 million budget is contributed to equally by public and private sectors, Wingfield says. The new group does not yet have a permanent name.
Wingfield is proud of Forward Hampton Roads' track record and the advances in cooperation that Hampton Roads cities have made. ``We've made giant steps in working together.''
Jim Dunn, president of the Metropolitan Richmond Chamber of Commerce, says that Wingfield's ability to work within the auspices of several loosely organized cities helped win him the job.
``Our group was very impressed with his management style,'' Dunn said. ``We're trying to combine the city of Richmond's efforts with the efforts of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties so that the greater metropolitan Richmond area is represented,'' Dunn said.
Robert Smithwick, director of the Norfolk Department of Development, says that while Wingfield will be ``an asset to the city he goes to,'' Hampton Roads' own marketing efforts shouldn't be hampered.
``Forward Hampton Roads is a good organization. They're capable of carrying on.''
Forward Hampton Roads' goal is to select a new president by early October. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
by CNB