Olivia DeWan

Business & Finance • 9th June 2026

Kainos growth surges as revenue hits £421m

By Olivia DeWan
Kainos’s annual report highlighted an increase in demand for its IT and software development services. To support its rapidly growing clientele, Kainos expanded its workforce as its contracted order backlog increased.
Kainos chief executive Brendan Mooney said that “the turnaround was related to an improvement in the company’s performance and sales in the second half of the year.”
The company’s acquisition of Davis Pier, a Canadian firm, added 120 employees to the Kainos staff. T...

Business & Finance • 9th June 2026

CEO Q&A with Matthew Gleeson, Blackberry Hearing

By Olivia DeWan
As CEO of Blackberry Hearing, my priority is to scale the business into a leading international hearing healthcare provider while maintaining the clinical standards and customer outcomes that define our brand.
That means building the right leadership structure, investing in systems and data, and creating an organisation that can grow without losing what made it successful in the first place. 
The biggest challenge is stepping back from the operational detail. Having grown with th...

Business & Finance • 9th June 2026

"Great things happen outside your comfort zone" – 60 Seconds With David Quigley, Chief Revenue Officer of Hub Packaging

By Olivia DeWan

What was your first job?
My first job was a hands-on role working in a warehouse picking orders. This role taught me the value of hard work, accountability, and showing up consistently, principles that have stayed with me throughout my career.
What are your main priorities and goals in your current role?
As Chief Revenue Officer at Hub Packaging, my focus is on driving sustainable growth, strengthening customer relationships, and aligning our commercial strategy with long-term m...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 15th April 2026

Aeronimble introduces aircraft innovation to the Valley

During a whirlwind tour of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County on Tuesday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery announced that AeroNimble, a new company specializing in aircraft engine repair and maintenance, will expand its operations in Harrisonburg.


“We’re building a high-tech aerospace company right here in the Shenandoah Valley,” Eric Terry, a founder and the CHRO of AeroNimble, said. “We believe the region can compete for highly skilled positions and...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 8th April 2026

Blacks Run Clean Up Day protects Harrisonburg’s natural resources

On April 11, Harrisonburg is rolling up its sleeves. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the City’s Public Works Department will lead Blacks Run Clean Up Day, rallying volunteers to protect Blacks Run.


“This is the 28th annual event, which started back in 1998 by members of the community who were interested in cleaning up Blacks Run,” Austin Shenk, an Environmental Specialist for the City of Harrisonburg, said. “Blacks Run has had a very long history of pollution.”


In 2005, the City of Harrisonb...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 20th March 2026

Build A Bouquet Flower Walk welcomes spring

With spring on the horizon, Blakemore’s Flowers and Mary McMahan are hosting Build A Bouquet Flower Walk on March 21 to welcome the blooming new season to Harrisonburg. 


“Five years ago, I came up with the idea for the flower walk with the Friendly City Merchants, a group of downtown retailers,” McMahan, the Director of Brand, Marketing & Operations at withSimplicity, said. “Since then, I’ve continued putting on the event each year when possible.”


Originally, the Flower Walk was hosted dur...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 17th March 2026

Harrisonburg’s first Mutt Strut 5K will kick off on March 21

Anicira Veterinary Center will host Harrisonburg’s first Mutt Strut 5K on March 21 to raise awareness and funds for local pet support.


“Anicira is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the community for 20 years, and our mission is to end animal suffering,” Mary Golden-Hughes, the Director of Advancement at Anicira, said. “We’re always trying to resource new ways to offset financial barriers for people’s pet care.” 


The Mutt Strut 5K will begin at 9:00 AM at Bluestone Elementary S...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 26th February 2026

Rockingham County Recreation Center’s sensory room champions children with special needs

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Rockingham County celebrated the grand opening of the new Sensory Room located in Rockingham County Recreation Center late last month.  


Sensory rooms are designed to help individuals reduce stress and are commonly used in therapeutic and educational settings. The Rockingham Sensory Room was created to provide a calming, accessible environment for children with sensory sensitivities, autism and other special needs.


Leila Longcor, the Rockingham County Distri...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 19th February 2026

Young actors shine in Act One’s The Little Mermaid JR

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Presented by Act One Theater Company, The Little Mermaid JR will run from February 19 to March 1 at the Court Square Theater in downtown Harrisonburg. The colorful production will brings children from across the region together for a shared love of theater, and is one of two children’s shows hosted each year by Act One.


“When we audition, we hope to allow everyone who auditions a place in the cast,” Leeanne Shepherd, the Director of Operations at Act One, said....

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 4th February 2026

Parentheses Books offers Second Saturday Stories to build community | The Harrisonburg Citizen

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Parentheses Books, an independent bookstore in the Liberty St. Mercantile, is full of colorful paperbacks, sparkling fairy lights, and, of course, stories. On the second Saturday of every month, Parentheses hosts Second Saturday Stories, a time of reading and crafts for Harrisonburg’s kids and families. 


Amanda Friss opened Parentheses in late October 2023 and said she envisioned a way to bring the community together. 


“I worked in a small independent booksh...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 19th November 2025

Dogs 2 Read 2 helps children build reading confidence

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


On Thursday afternoons at the Massanutten Regional Library in downtown Harrisonburg, young readers gather around wagging tails for Dogs 2 Read 2, or D2R2, a program where service dogs become fluffy, judgment-free reading buddies.


“The dogs have been coming here since around 2013,” Denise Munro, the Head of Youth Services at Massanutten Library, said. “There are children who come specifically to see certain dogs. They get very excited to look at who is here, the...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 18th November 2025

Simply Natural Living by Great.full Goods to Celebrate Rebranding and Grand Opening

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Great.full Goods, one of Harrisonburg’s favorite local businesses, is rebranding and will celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 6.


For the past four years, Melissa Nguyen has been running Great.full Goods with a mission to provide the Harrisonburg community with natural, sustainable products that promote health and reduce waste.


“I really wanted to reduce plastic waste in our local landfill and provide our community with options that are natural,” Nguyen said....

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 11th November 2025

Stuff the Trunk: Harrisonburg Rallies to Restock Bolt’s Closet | The Harrisonburg Citizen

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Harrisonburg High School is inviting the community to help “Stuff the Trunk” on Saturday, November 15, to support Bolt’s Closet, a free resource that provides personal care items to students and their families. Volunteers will be collecting donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Walmart Center on Burgess Road.


Madison Greer, a school counselor at Harrisonburg High School, joined forces with Roni Goldberg, a social worker at HHS, in a mission to support th...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 28th October 2025

Barefoot Puppet Theater brings ‘Galapagos George’ to Court Square Theater | The Harrisonburg Citizen

Richmond’s Barefoot Puppets Theater is coming to Court Square Theater tonight for a “magical” performance of Galapagos George, based on the true story of “Lonesome George,” the last known tortoise of his kind from Pinta Island in the Galápagos. 


Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley, the sponsor of tonight’s event, works to achieve equitable access to the arts for all K-8 students. By collaborating with Barefoot Puppets Theater to bring Galapagos George to Harrisonburg and Rockingham county, Any...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 27th October 2025

A bewitching brew: Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room hosts Spooktacular Tea Experience

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Throughout October, by reservation only on Fridays and Saturdays, Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room has turned its bright pink space into a whimsical Halloween wonderland affectionately called “Spooktacular Tea.”


“We redecorate the space depending on the holiday season,” Jennifer Phillips, floral designer and owner of Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room, said. “We even offer ghost cookies, little tarts with spider webs, and fall flavors.”


Collaborating with Bitterswee...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 9th October 2025

Anicira hosts free ‘Healthy Pets’ Event to expand access to pet care

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Anicira, the non-profit veterinary service in Harrisonburg, will host its first free Healthy Pets event at Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg.


The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11 offers free vaccines and flea and tick prevention for household dogs and cats, helping local pet owners keep their companions healthy and protected.


“This is Anicira’s 20th year in service to the community, and we were founded as a non-profit veterinary ser...

The News-Gazette • 21st May 2025

Two Wheels, One Dream

Jackson Hotchkiss Cycles 550 Miles In Spain’s Gravel Earth SeriesOver the course of three days earlier this year, Lexington native Jackson Hotchkiss pedaled more than 550 miles through Spain’s mountainous terrain as part of the Gravel Earth Series, an international cycling tour.Competing with Ink Properties Racing, a team based in Greenville, S.C., Hotchkiss flew to Barcelona to race alongside renowned cyclists. His love for the sport, which eventually led him to compete in such an intense race,...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 2nd May 2025

Aristocat Cafe has been serving not only cats, but tea as well

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


For the past two years, Aristocat Cafe has served as a haven for tea and cat lovers alike. Founded by Amanda Atwell in 2023, the cozy Harrisonburg establishment blends her love for loose-leaf teas and feline companionship into a one-of-a-kind experience. 


“I’ve fostered cats since I was 16,” Atwell said. “I love all animals, but cats have a special spot for me. I always thought, ‘man, wouldn’t it be cool to put cats and tea together?’”


When Atwell visited Qu...

23rd April 2025

Students Present Research at ASPIRE | Bridgewater College

Three students presented their research on reproductive rights, feminist art and Chicana activism as part of Bridgewater College’s tenth annual ASPIRE: A Celebration of the Arts, Scholarship, Performance, Innovation and Research Excellence, held April 9-16, 2025.


Seniors Briana Carlsen, Juliann Jacobs and Perla Santana discussed the work they did for Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra’s History 423: Women and Gender in U.S. History course this semester.


“We were assigned a research paper about any top...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 18th April 2025

Brewing faith and freedom: New Creation expands to help trafficking survivors

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


New Creation, a woman-owned, faith-based nonprofit in Harrisonburg, is expanding its mission to support human trafficking survivors by adding a coffee shop to its boutique, with construction set to begin in the coming weeks.


Founded by Steve Andrew and Sabrina Dorman-Andrew, the couple was inspired by The Zion Project, a ministry in Uganda that worked with women coming out of trafficking. The couple felt called to help, saying their two young daughters were a m...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 4th April 2025

The Harrisonburg Innovation Hub provides a new space for workspace productivity | The Harrisonburg Citizen

Tucked away in private enclaves, desks invite focus. Lounge chairs foster collaboration among colleagues, while conference rooms buzz with fresh ideas. The Harrisonburg Innovation Hub isn’t just a workspace, it’s a dynamic environment designed for creativity and connection.


“The Innovation Hub was built for people who get things done,” said Peter Denbigh, founder of the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub. “Entrepreneurs, creatives and professionals need more than just a desk; they need an environmen...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 28th March 2025

Harrisonburg’s first Stone Soup event highlights the importance of community

On March 29 at 11:00 a.m., the Harrisonburg Farmers Market will usher in the spring season with a new tradition: Stone Soup. The event draws inspiration from the traditional folktale “Stone Soup”, retold by Heather Forest, which highlights the power of community and collective effort.


“This will be our very first year having the Stone Soup event,” Sarah Gorman, the Marketing Manager at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and a contributor to The Citizen, said. “It’s a folktale about hungry travel...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 19th March 2025

Changing it up has helped put this food truck on the map

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Two years ago, John and Leigh Anne McMurray chased their passion for the culinary arts and opened Ott Street Eats, a food truck with an ever-changing menu. 


After spending years as an executive chef in Tampa, McMurray was ready for a change. Returning to his hometown of Harrisonburg, he and Leigh Anne, decided to turn their passion for global flavors into a business. Named after the residential road in downtown Harrisonburg, Ott Street Eats started as a caterin...

10th March 2025

Preparing Student-Athletes for Success: Coach Logan Papen | Bridgewater College

As the new Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bridgewater College, Coach Logan Papen is bringing new ideas to strengthen the College’s athletes both on and off the playing fields.


Student-athletes participate in strength and conditioning via an individualized training program designed to enhance their physical performance, prevent injuries and support overall athletic development. It is crucial to any collegiate athletic program. Papen works with all athletic teams associated with the N...