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 and Nauticus Foundation.

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.

James W. Noel III serves as General Counsel to the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) overseeing the Legal Affairs Division, including Legal, Procurement, Contracts, Risk Management, and Real Estate, for The Port of Virginia.

“We’ve made it our mission to provide sound advisory support and collaborative decision making through an innovative lens to safeguard, serve, and improve The Port of Virginia…”

James encourages cross-divisional communication and collaboration to build trust between colleagues and to create a healthy working environment where colleagues can engage each other openly and honestly.  He believes that living the values of The Port of Virginia ultimately results in increased accountability and productivity and gives the Port the competitive advantage we need to succeed.  Specifically, he’s focused on mitigating risk and protecting the Port’s assets, establishing an internal customer focused approach to serving the Division’s business partners, and ensuring the Port’s relationship with the Attorney General’s Office remains open and strong.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of an organization that plays such a large role in the economic future of our region and the state.  It makes you want to work harder and do better each day.”

Prior to joining the VPA, James served in the Education Section of the Attorney General’s Office advising public universities throughout the Commonwealth. James then moved to the Transportation Section of the Attorney General’s Office, serving as lead counsel to the VPA and providing counsel to the Virginia Department of Transportation. In May 2014, James was appointed by the Attorney General to serve as in-house counsel to the VPA at its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

James has been active in numerous civic organizations since his return to Hampton Roads.  He previously served on the Board of Directors of tHRive, and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, and is a member of the Virginia Gentlemen Foundation.  He is a graduate of the LEAD Hampton Roads Signature Program and is a member of the Class of 2017 CIVIC Leadership Institute.

James has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a law degree from William & Mary Law School, and a financial management certificate from the Executive Education Program at UVA’s Darden School of Business.  He was named to Virginia Business magazine’s list of “Legal Elite” in 2016.

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 was named Chief Public Affairs Officer for the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) in January 2014. She oversees The Port of Virginia government relations, community outreach, economic development, business analysis, communications, and media relations.

Cathie is an experienced lobbyist with a background rooted in both the public and private side of government relations. Prior to her service at the VPA, she served as deputy director for energy policy in the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, where she helped to implement Governor Bob McDonnell’s energy policy initiatives in the Commonwealth. She also worked as Director of Government Relations for Virginia Natural Gas, where she handled advocacy to state, local, and federal officials and the company’s civic and charitable sponsorships and donations, as well as overseeing its conservation programs. Cathie advocated on behalf of private companies while with the Vectre Corporation, where she worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds including telecommunications, healthcare, transportation and local government.

Cathie has meaningful knowledge and experience with the issues facing Hampton Roads, and a strong, nonpartisan relationship with the elected officials who represent the Region.

Cathie takes an active role in political and civic life in Hampton Roads. She serves on various boards including the Virginia Aquarium, the Salvation Army, and the Future of Hampton Roads. She also Chairs the Virginia Beach Division, and serves on the Executive Committee, of the Hampton Roads Chamber.

Cathie is a 2005 Fellow of the Sorenson Institute of Political Leadership and a 2009 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads and has been named by Inside Business as one of the region’s Top 40 under 40 in 2005 and Top Women in Business in 2010. In June 2014, Cathie was honored by Lead Hampton Roads with their Julian Hirst Alumni Leader Award.

Cathie earned her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and her B.A. in Political Science and Communications from James Madison University.