Connie Nyholm, majority owner and CEO, Virginia International Raceway, Alton
Why she is influential: Nyholm leads Virginia International Raceway (VIR), a 1,370-acre “motorsport resort” that draws approximately half a million visitors per year. VIR employs 350 people, making it the eighth-largest employer in Halifax County. Adjacent to the resort is the VIRginia Motorsport Technology Park, which houses Virginia Tech’s Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS) — a major testing ground for the automobile industry. Nyholm serves on the boards of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Road Racing Industry Council and the Danville River District Advisory.
Recent developments: In August, VIR announced its newest tenant at the VIRginia Motorsport Technology Park. The company, Redkoch, provides training for U.S. military Special Forces and elite law enforcement units in areas of tactics, firearms and ground mobility.

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