Colonial Heights, Va. (April 17, 2026) – Virginia’s Gateway Region (VGR) Economic Development Organization announced that Tom Stansbury, MBA has joined the organization as Entrepreneur in Residence, marking a significant step forward in VGR’s commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Gateway Region.
In his new role, Stansbury will support business startups on their entrepreneurial journey and help launch small- to medium-sized enterprises across the Gateway Region. He will focus on empowering local entrepreneurs through a proven, bottom-up economic development model known as Enterprise Facilitation©, developed by renowned international expert Ernesto Sirolli. Rooted in Sirolli’s Trinity of Management methodology, the approach emphasizes personalized support for entrepreneurs by aligning passion, market need and financial sustainability.
“Tom brings a unique combination of real-world entrepreneurial experience and visionary leadership that aligns with our mission to drive sustainable economic growth from the ground up,” said Keith Boswell, President & CEO of Virginia’s Gateway Region.
Stansbury, a Doctoral Candidate in Entrepreneurship at Regent University, has played a key role in advancing entrepreneurial education, including contributing to the launch of Regent’s Center for Entrepreneurship alongside Dr. John Mulford, former Dean of the School of Business & Leadership. With experience spanning more than 20 startup ventures in franchising and technology, Stansbury brings a deep understanding of venture creation, scaling, and ecosystem development.
“Virginia’s Gateway Region is not only the gateway to the Commonwealth of Virginia—it is the Gateway to America,” said Stansbury. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture that unleashes the potential already present in our communities. By supporting individuals in pursuing what they love and building viable enterprises around it, we can create lasting economic transformation.”
Stansbury is also the founder of StartUpAmerica Collaboration, Inc., an initiative launched in 2025 with a coalition of national leaders in business and academia to shift the national conversation from job creation to business enterprise creation. Under this vision, VGR will serve as a pilot region for a scalable model designed to be replicated across Virginia and ultimately throughout the United States.
“As we approach the 250th Anniversary of America this summer, we believe it is time to awaken the spirit of enterprise across communities in the Gateway Region,” Boswell added. “This is about building a legacy of opportunity, innovation and local ownership that will endure for generations.”