Virginia Economic Review Podcast

Hosted by VEDP

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Learn about Virginia as a premier location for economic development, business, education, and quality of life

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October 13, 2026Episode 6316 min

Unpacking Advanced Air Mobility: A Conversation With Greg Campbell and Scott Denny

Greg Campbell is the director of the Virginia Department of Aviation, the agency charged with advancing aviation in Virginia, and Scott Denny is the agency’s first senior program manager for Advanced Air Mobility. VEDP Managing Director of Aerospace and Defense Innovation Graham Griffith spoke with Campbell and Denny about what the Commonwealth is doing to prepare for the next wave of aviation innovation.

October 13, 2026Episode 6225 min

Inventing the Future: A Conversation With Dr. Trina Dyal and Kevin Rivers

Langley Research Center in Hampton is the oldest of NASA’s field centers. Dr. Trina Dyal is Langley’s director and Kevin Rivers is director of its Space Technology and Exploration Directorate. VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi visited Langley and spoke with Dyal and Rivers about the center’s rich history, its role in the Artemis II mission, and future priorities including the human mission to Mars.

July 6, 2026Episode 6114 min

Disrupting Conventional Historical Wisdom: A Conversation With Christy Coleman

Christy Coleman is executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational Virginia state agency that offers programs and resources about early American history through its living history museums, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. VEDP Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications & Research Stephen Hartka spoke with Coleman about what citizens and companies can take away from Virginia’s history as the Commonwealth celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.

April 7, 2026Episode 6024 min

A Biopharma Moment Decades in the Making: A Conversation With John Newby

John Newby is the CEO of Virginia Bio, the nonprofit statewide trade association that serves and promotes the life sciences industry in Virginia. VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi spoke with Newby about recent major life sciences announcements in Virginia, the Commonwealth’s momentum in the biopharma manufacturing industry, and decisions and investments that led to Virginia’s biopharma success.

April 1, 2026Episode 5912 min

The History and Future of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Virginia: A Conversation With Dave Maraldo

Dave Maraldo is the senior vice president of Human Health Manufacturing Operations at Merck, one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world. Merck recently announced a $3 billion investment in a new Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Small Molecule Manufacturing at its longtime Virginia site in the town of Elkton in Rockingham County. VEDP Vice President of Manufacturing Sneha Atwal spoke with Maraldo about Merck's long history in Elkton, innovations at the new facility, and what makes Virginia an attractive destination for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

April 1, 2026Episode 5816 min

The Urgency of Building Healthier Communities: A Conversation With Pam Cheng

Pam Cheng is executive vice president of global operations and IT and chief sustainability officer at AstraZeneca, which recently announced a new facility in Albemarle County — the company’s first in Virginia. VEDP Vice President of Manufacturing Sneha Atwal spoke with Cheng about the Commonwealth’s rapid rise in pharmaceutical engineering and the company’s plans for the new facility.

January 6, 2026Episode 5714 min

The Importance of Agility: A Conversation With Tamara Fields

Tamara Fields is the U.S. Public Service Industry Lead at Accenture, where she leads the company’s public service work across the country, and the managing director of the company’s Austin, Texas office. VEDP Vice President of Talent and Workforce Strategy Megan Healy spoke with Fields about new and traditional methods of upskilling, AI and its effect on the workforce, and the way companies can invest in their employees.

January 6, 2026Episode 5622 min

Putting Talent in the Right Place: A Conversation With Peter Beard

Peter Beard is vice president of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, where he leads workforce development programs and initiatives. VEDP Vice President of Talent and Workforce Strategy Megan Healy spoke with Beard about talent in Virginia and the rest of the country and the ways states and regions can help ensure alignment between skill development and employer needs.

October 15, 2025Episode 5518 min

The State of American Warehousing: A Conversation With Joe Dunlap

Joe Dunlap is a veteran of the supply chain industry, with stints at UPS, Accenture, and CBRE. VEDP Vice President of Logistics Eric Jehu spoke with Dunlap about the warehousing ecosystem in Virginia and nationally, how to better incorporate supply chain issues into site selection, and the concept of warehousing as infrastructure.

October 15, 2025Episode 5416 min

The Virginia Model: A Conversation With Stephen Edwards

Stephen Edwards has served as CEO and executive director of The Port of Virginia since 2021. VEDP Vice President of Logistics Eric Jehu spoke with Edwards about improvements at the port, how trade policy affects the port and its customers, and how the port serves as an economic engine for Virginia.