Virginia Beach Welcomes New Finance Leader

Virginia Beach has a new finance director. Wan \"Wendy\" Hu stepped into the role permanently after serving as acting director since August. She took over from Letitia Shelton, who moved to Richmond for a similar position. The city manager, Patrick Duhaney, chose Hu after a thorough search across the country. Hu is no stranger to Virginia Beach's finance department. She has been part of the team since 2020, holding various positions like controller and deputy director. She even helped create the city's annual financial report, which is a massive 276-page document. Her work also includes managing accounting, payroll, and financial systems.Before joining Virginia Beach, Hu worked in other places in the Hampton Roads area, like Portsmouth and Isle of Wight County. She studied accounting at Old Dominion University. Her experience and skills make her a strong fit for the job. Meanwhile, Virginia Beach is also looking for a new economic development director. The previous one, Christian Green, left after just a few months. For now, Deputy City Manager Amanda Jarratt is filling in. Hu's appointment is a big deal for Virginia Beach. It shows the city is committed to having strong financial leadership. Her background and experience will be crucial as she takes on this important role.