If I could please have your attention, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to continue with the program.

Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.

I know that some of you are still enjoying your lunch.

Please continue to do so, but in the interest of time, we're going to go ahead and get started.

Um, I there is one person I want to recognize that I missed up front, the uh prior mayor of Hampton, uh, Mr.

Donnie Tuck is with us.

Donnie, thank you for being here.

We appreciate you coming over, Donnie, and thank you all you did for the region.

As I mentioned earlier, we could not host these events without the generous support of our sponsors.

Town bank has been our series presenting sponsor for 20 years.

This is our 20th anniversary of doing this, and we're so grateful for Town Bank for doing it.

It is now my honor to call Buffy Bearfoot, president of Town Bank Virginia Beach to the stage to make remarks on behalf of town bank and to introduce our speakers.

Buffy as a banker at town bank.

A question we get is why should I bank with town bank?

I think you'll find a dramatic difference from what you're used to getting from your bank.

When you bank with us, you're gonna get a banker who cares about you, cares about your business.

A banker that you can call who will take your call.

You'll get to know that person, I believe, as a friend, more than just a banker.

And I think you'll feel like you're part of the town family.

Good afternoon.

It is a beautiful day for us to come together for the Virginia Beach State of the City address.

Town Bank is honored to return as presenting sponsor for this series in partnership with the Hampton Roads Chamber.

Here in Virginia Beach, Town Bank has six offices to serve you.

As your financial services partner, we maintain the number one deposit market share among all banks in Virginia Beach.

And we are grateful for your support.

We are honored that thousands of businesses choose town bank as their financial partner.

Providing financial solutions to help you succeed in an is an effort we take seriously every day.

Over the past year, we have continued our dedication to serving others and enriching lives by supporting hundreds of local charitable organizations through donations, scholarships, and grants.

Since our founding, town bank has contributed more than a hundred and forty-four million dollars to the communities we serve.

Here in Virginia Beach, Town Bank is honored to be the financial partner and provide support services for Jewish family service, celebrating 80 years of meeting the health, education, and welfare needs of families and individuals in Hampton Roads.

With a variety of services, including guardianship, home delivered meals, a food pantry, and transportation.

JFS makes a difference in the lives of thousands of people each year.

Let's give them a round of applause.

Now it is my pleasure to introduce Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney and Mayor Bobby Dyer.

Patrick joined Virginia Beach as city manager in July of 2020.

He previously served as city manager of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was born and raised in Jamaica, and is a U.S.

Army combat veteran.

Cheers.

He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and urban studies from Cleveland State University and a master's degree in community planning from the University of Cincinnati.

Our mayor Bobby Dyer, serving since November 2018, is the first military veteran to be directly elected as mayor in the city's history.

A former home health care physical therapist, Mayor Dyer is a practitioner in residence in the School of Government at Regent University.

He earned a bachelor's degree from St.

Louis University and a master's degree from Fairley Dickinson University.

In 2001, he earned his PhD in organizational leadership from Regent University.

I just had the pleasure of having lunch with the mayor.

And he ate his entire piece of cake, and he downed an entire bottle of Gatorade.

So I think he's amped and ready to go.

So everybody needs to buckle in.

Please join me in welcoming City Manager De Haney and Mayor Dyer.

Oh, thank you, uh, Buffy.

Yes, I am fired up, and it's game time.

Uh good afternoon and welcome.

It's so great to see all of you here today.

It's a pleasure for me and for Patrick to tell you about the great things that people in our city have accomplished.

I hope you enjoyed the great lunch and the company.

And now we're going to let you know what we think makes Virginia Beach such a great city.

A question that has been asked hundreds, if not thousands of times.

What makes a great city?

Looking further.