Our Leadership

John F. Reinhart is the CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). He is responsible for the broad programmatic areas of business development and growth, strategic marketing, finance, and operations of Virginia’s marine terminal facilities: Virginia International Gateway, Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Richmond Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port.

“Fundamentally, we base the organization on values and work to focus colleague behaviors on those values each and every day. The goal is to reinvent the port and accelerate the evolution of the port in order to become a catalyst for commerce and economic development and improve competitiveness in a global marketplace.”

He leads the port with emphasis on maintaining integrity and respectfulness amongst colleagues, as well as the importance of being “a good corporate citizen to the community.” Since becoming CEO, John has worked to understand the public community in addition to the private sector in order to serve all of the constituents of the Commonwealth.

He enjoys managing a team that is building confidence within the company, the customer base, and the community. He says it is essential to communicate the challenges that the organization has overcome to achieve success in order to demonstrate the hard work of the entire company and continue raising trust and respect in the port.

“It’s very satisfying to have the opportunity to watch people grow, to see the organization mature, to create economic vitality for Virginia and to prepare for a better tomorrow.”

Prior to joining the VPA, John worked for the Maersk organization for 23 years.  He served from 2000-2014 as CEO of Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) and a member of the board of directors.  During his career with Maersk, he held the positions of President, UMS, senior vice president and regional director.  After retiring from Maersk, John began his tenure with VPA in February 2014.

John currently serves on multiple regional boards including the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council, Hampton Roads Business Roundtable, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Regional Board, Nauticus Foundation, Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.

His awards and honors include: Virginia Business Magazine’s 2016 Business Person of the Year, 2015 Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement, 2014 Colgate W. Darden, Jr. Scouter Citizen of the Year, 2009 Seafarer’s International House, Outstanding Friend of the Seafarer and the 2007 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award.

John received his bachelor’s degree in general studies and political science from Ohio University and later earned his Executive MBA from the University of Michigan.

James S. Bibbs is the chief human resources officer for the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and is responsible for developing and transforming Port of Virginia colleagues across the enterprise into a competitive advantage and transforming the quality of the company’s workplace into an industry leader. He also provides strategic leadership by articulating human resource needs and plans to the executive management team, shareholders and to the VPA Board of Commissioners.

Jim is specifically focused on building a human capital strategy that supports the business initiatives that will create a sustainable path forward.

“The Port of Virginia’s largest asset is the people and it is my responsibility to set the direction to make certain that the company values its employees as much as its operations. My management philosophy is to continuously assess the organization’s values to find the best position – and opportunities — for colleagues to exercise their skillsets in in the best way possible to achieve maximum results that will benefit the company as a whole.”

Jim finds the best way to serve as that trusted advisor to his colleagues, it is to learn the business. This, he says helps avoid over-complicating things while maintaining fairness, consistency and transparency.

“Seeing your colleagues develop as people and professionals will help lead the organization to success. I enjoy encouraging and coaching those facing challenges in order to help them achieve their goals. The ongoing goal is to establish and expand the right programs and  processes to position people for success. This leads to a sustainable future for the organization.”

Jim was previously with Quintiles in Durham, NC, where he served as director of human resource operations in North America, and was responsible for strategic guidance and change management as well as ensuring organizational objective alignment among other duties. Prior to that, Jim worked for Citigroup, where he was the vice president of human resources, and he also worked with Sanofi Aventis, Johnson and Johnson and started his career with Maersk Inc. where he served in operations, sales and human resources.

Jim has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication from Lock Haven University and is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. Jim is on the board for LEAD Virginia as well as Hampton Roads Urban League.

Thomas D. Capozzi is the chief sales officer of Virginia International Terminals (VIT), LLC, where he is responsible for managing and coordinating The Port of Virginia’s global commercial business activity through the sales and customer service departments.

Tom started his career with the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) in sales and marketing in 1999. In 2009 following a reorganization, Tom was transferred to VIT, which is the VPA’s private, terminal operating subsidiary.

“Growing and evolving with The Port of Virginia during the last 15 years, I’ve learned a lot. My management philosophy has changed as well and it is centered on cross-leadership and communication. Instead of the hierarchical approach, I like to empower the team to make choices and involve other from department in the decision making process. Communication is key in a large organization such as the port.”

Tom is constantly developing new goals and plans for the sales team to support the overall company by creating measurable objectives and strategies to grow business. Working in a competitive business environment, Tom’s leadership style is especially anchored in fortitude and perseverance through challenges that arise. When working with customers and team members alike, honesty, helpfulness and accessibility are keys for success.

Tom values his personal interactions with colleagues inside the organization and customers of the company as the most rewarding aspects of his job. He enjoys meeting people from different cultures and developing genuine personal relationships with team members and clients.

Prior to joining the port, Tom’s career in the liner shipping business included serving as regional manager of sales and operations for “K” Line America Inc. In that position, he was responsible for all sales activity in Virginia and Maryland. He also supervised port, rail and truck operations in the ports of Virginia and Baltimore. Tom began his career in shipping as a sales representative for Evergreen America Corporation, handling sales in Virginia and North Carolina.

Tom has a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from Old Dominion University, a master’s degree in business administration and global management from the University of Phoenix and a port management degree from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

He is the currently serves as chairman of the Advisory Committee to ODU’s International Maritime Ports and Logistics Management Institute. Tom was the recipient of the “Commerce Builder Award,” as chosen by the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council (HRGCC). This annual award recognizes an individual for their efforts in stimulating commerce through The Port of Virginia.

Rodney W. Oliver is the chief financial officer (CFO) of The Port of Virginia and is responsible for all financial aspects of the port, including finance, accounting, and treasury management. He also provides leadership in setting the mission, vision, principles and values for the port.

“I value accountability in order to achieve a greater measurement of success. This translates to providing timely, relevant and accurate financial information to the entire organization.”

Rodney focuses on the big picture and embraces strengthening the organization as a whole rather than fulfilling individual achievements and says a team effort is critical to the continued development and growth of The Port of Virginia. Continuous training to develop diverse skillsets within his team and actively planning for succession, he says, results in a sustainable division that will help the port transition smoothly into its next phase.

“The impact that this organization has on the community is what I find most rewarding and we are working to ensure that impact is long-lasting and positive.”

Before joining the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) in 1999, Rodney served as the CFO for Commonwealth Information Services, corporate controller for the St. Charles Companies and audit manager for KPMG Peat Marwick.

Rodney served as the VPA interim executive director from October 2012 until February 2014.  In 2010, he led an engagement team on the $800+ mil lease negotiation for what was then APM Terminals Virginia in Portsmouth; the terminal is now called Virginia International Gateway.

He is a board member for Signal Mutual Indemnity Association, Ltd and the YMCA of Southampton Roads. He is a past chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Finance Committee, and former president of the Virginia Peninsula Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants.

Rodney has a bachelor’s degree in business administration (concentration in accounting) and a master’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary.

Joseph P. Ruddy is the chief innovation officer for the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and in this role he oversees the port’s strategic planning, engineering, and sustainability teams.

Joe’s work experience help him to understand the business and the value of various functions within the port. He finds that in understanding how The Port of Virginia operates at its core, he along with his department, can better relate to the mission of the company.

“In order to better link our tasks to the goals of the port, I work to understand my team members and embed them within the operations we serve – so that they are learning and working with others outside the department — where appropriate. This helps to drive accountability so we can responsibly support the various functions of the port. By learning how other departments operate, we can better conduct analyses in order to make comprehensive business decisions.”

Joe ensures that his team takes the innovation seriously. He wants his department to deliver core innovation that works to improve daily processes for safer, economical, and more efficient productivity as well as administer growth innovation.

Joe believes that the only way to achieve clarity on how to run a successful port is to apply the reality to the numbers that they examine. He works to create reliability in data production by consistently having data readily accessible.

“We don’t just deliver data, but work to show how and why it matters.”

Before stepping into the CIO’s role, Joe was chief operations officer and helped Virginia International Terminals, LLC, (VIT), which is the port’s private terminal operating subsidiary, earn its reputation as an honest and reliable terminal operations organization. Before that, he served as the director of operations and labor at VIT and also held a senior position at Virginia Intermodal Management, a subsidiary company responsible for managing and administering all aspects of a port-wide chassis pool.

Joe also held several positions with international ship-line companies including France’s CMA-CGM and National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia.

Joe serves on various boards, including Cystic Fibrosis of Hampton Roads and Beach FC. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Global Excellence Award, presented by the Virginia International Business Council, based in Richmond.

Joe has a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Wesleyan College and a master’s degree from the College of New Jersey.

Shawn Tibbetts is the chief operations officer for Virginia International Terminals, LLC, (VIT), which is the private terminal operating subsidiary of the Virginia Port Authority.

In this role, he is responsible for all terminal operations, information technology, safety, security and maintenance at state-owned and privately-operated marine terminal facilities in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Richmond and Front Royal, Virginia.

Shawn has integrated his competitive spirit within The Port of Virginia in order to achieve success and create a platform that will allow the company to continuously perform at a high level.

“My goals include being the safest, most efficient and most reliable port and having companies and investors choosing this port above all others on the East Coast. I use a facilitative leadership approach that involves living the company values while guiding the growth and sustainability of the team and our port. The focus is on team development and associated execution of business tasks.”

In bringing focus on developing a metric-driven, performance-based organization, Shawn has helped The Port of Virginia focus on and adhere to objectives that hold company departments more accountable.

In 2010, Shawn became general manager, operations at APM Terminals Virginia, which is now named Virginia International Gateway. In 2003, he joined APM Terminals in Portsmouth, as assistant operations manager and two years later he was picked to be part of the team that designed and built the APM terminal in Portsmouth.

Shawn transitioned to Virginia International Terminals in 2010 following the lease of the APM terminal. Since then he has served as director, operations and maintenance and senior vice president, operations.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and has a master’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary. In addition, he is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and has a certificate in port management from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

Cathie J. Vick is the chief public affairs officer for the Virginia Port Authority (VPA)  where she  oversees The Port of Virginia’s government relations, community outreach, economic development, engineering, environmental services, and maritime incident response.

Cathie strives to build, develop and lead top-performing teams that communicate and align strategies with management, customers, colleagues and external stakeholders.

“We employ a “leader/leader” relationship among colleagues which produces true sustainability for our organization.  When every team member is leading from within, we build expertise, passion, and the fortitude to get the job done working together.”

Delivering results for the port that ultimately have a positive impact on the community and the Commonwealth are some of the most rewarding aspects of her job, she says. Her experience in the transportation, infrastructure, and regulatory sectors provide a unique understanding of the port and its role in the economy. Helping her team see and understand the “big picture” is vital to the success of the organization, on both a short- and long-term basis.

“Stewardship is the thread that knits together all that we accomplish. We are dedicated to and grateful for the communities in which we operate, the trade and business relationships we foster across the globe, our partners that efficiently move cargo and create jobs and invest in the Commonwealth.  We will continue to work together to be the global gateway of the East Coast and a catalyst for commerce for the Commonwealth.”

Before accepting her role at the port, Cathie served as deputy director for energy policy in the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, where she helped to implement energy policy initiatives in the Commonwealth. She also worked as director of government relations for Virginia Natural Gas, where her responsibilities included advocacy to state, local, and federal officials,   guiding the company’s civic and charitable sponsorships and donations, and managing its conservation programs.

Cathie takes an active role in political and civic life in the Commonwealth. She serves on various Boards, such as the Virginia Aquarium, TowneBank Leadership Alliance, the Sorenson Institute, the Virginia Public Access Project, Communities in Schools, LEAD Hampton Roads and Optima Health. Cathie has been named as one of the region’s Top 40 under 40 in 2005, Top Women in Business in 2010 and was awarded the Julian Hirst Alumni Leader Award by Lead Hampton Roads in 2014.

She has a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law, a master’s degree in business administration from the College of William and Mary, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from James Madison University.  She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Cathie is also a 2005 Fellow of the Sorenson Institute of Political Leadership, a 2009 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads, a 2015 graduate of LEAD Virginia.

Matthew Barnes-Smith is the senior vice president of Administration Services and Compliance for The Port of Virginia. In this role, Matthew is responsible for overseeing a variety of functions, including procurement, real estate and supplier diversity, contracts, risk management and insurance.

“I’m honored to work for an organization that acts as the global gateway for Virginia. Our team takes our responsibility and privilege very seriously. We work with companies both small and large, local and global, to ensure we’re doing what’s right and best for The Port of Virginia, its customers, and our vendors.”

Before his current position, Matthew was the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Analysis, where he worked on management reporting, business intelligence, financial planning and commercial pricing. He joined the port in 2013 as the Director of Business Intelligence and led the consolidating efforts to form a centralized planning and analytics team.

“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the team that’s brought about infrastructure investments that will benefit the Commonwealth as well as the port. I’ve enjoyed watching those projects come to fruition and I look forward to seeing them develop for generations to come.”

Prior to working with the port, Matthew had experience managing economic and operational due diligence, including handling maritime transactions at Moffatt and Nichol, a civil-engineering firm.

He was also an integral part of creating business intelligence for British Telecom’s first local government joint venture in the United Kingdom.

Matthew is a board member for STARBASE VICTORY, a nonprofit partnership between Portsmouth Public Schools and the community that seeks to offer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Oklahoma State University, where Matthew also received his master’s degree in Economics.