Forward-thinking
TEAM
  • Portsmouth
  • Portsmouth
  • Portsmouth

Robert Moore

Director of
Economic
Development

Brian Donahue

Asst. Director of
Economic
Development

Jessica Bedenbaugh

Marketing and Communications Manager

Jenny Osborne

Business
Development
Manager - Existing Business 

Pamela Croom

Business
Development
Manager - Workforce Development

Angie Sheppard

Executive
Assistant to
the Director

Robert D. Moore

Robert D. Moore

Director of Economic Development

   

Mr. Robert D. Moore has served as Director of Economic Development for Portsmouth Economic Development for over two years. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Prior to working for Portsmouth, Director Moore worked for the City of Chesapeake Economic Development Department, the City of Suffolk Planning Department and more.

During his tenure in Chesapeake, he managed business attraction and assisted with their business retention and expansion programs. Moore also spent several years with the City of Suffolk, and started as a Community Development Coordinator for the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Director Moore is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. 

Director Moore is originally from Hampton Roads and went to school in Chesapeake. He has four young children and enjoys coaching peewee basketball.

Brian Donahue

Brian Donahue

Asst. Director of Economic Development

   

Brian Donahue is the Assistant Director for Portsmouth Economic Development. Brian provides oversight of the office’s business recruitment, retention and expansion efforts for the City of Portsmouth. He also serves as Assistant Secretary for the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission.

Brian has 19 years of experience in economic development, community development and real estate across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining the Portsmouth Economic Development team in 2018, Brian was the Director of Development for the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, overseeing residential and commercial redevelopment and revitalization initiatives throughout Portsmouth. He also spent three years in planning and community development roles with the City of Suffolk, Virginia. Brian began his career with a privately held real estate development firm based in Richmond, Virginia. He has proudly called the Hampton Roads region home since 2006.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jessica Bedenbaugh

Jessica Bedenbaugh

Marketing and Communications Manager

   

Jessica Bedenbaugh is the Marketing and Communications Manager for Portsmouth Economic Development, leading all internal and external efforts. She has a long history of marketing, communication, public relations, and public involvement. She received both her M.A. and her B.S. from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, for Lifespan and Digital Communication and Communication with a cluster in Business Ethics, respectively.

Ms. Bedenbaugh has worked in real estate, medical devices, and communication and business development focusing on municipal, health, and environmental infrastructure work. She serves on the Together We Can Foundation, Samaritan House Governance Board of Directors, is a Past Chair of the Branding Committee for tHRive, and serves on the Hampton Roads Chamber Communications Committee. She was named a 2020 CoVa Biz Magazine Millennial on the Move, a 2018 Inside Business Top 40 Under 40 Honoree, and is a 2019 Graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads.

Jenny Osborne

Jenny Osborne

Business Development Manager - Existing Business

   

Ms. Jenny Osborne is a Business Development Manager focusing on existing business on the Portsmouth team.  She supports City businesses in expansion opportunities and ensuring the lines of communication are open at all times.

Ms. Osborne brings with her over 18 years of local professional experience. She utilizes her vast network to connect people, resources and opportunities.  She has a background in real estate and the mortgage industry and is highly involved in local philanthropic communities.

Originally from upstate New York, Ms. Osborne has lived in Hampton Roads since early 2003. 

Pamela Croom

Pamela Croom

Business Development Manager - Workforce Development 

   

Ms. Pamela Croom serves the City of Portsmouth as a Business Development Manager. Her focus is building and executing a new workforce center, including efforts for talent attraction and retention, skill development and education, and more.

Prior to joining the Portsmouth Economic Development team, Pamela was the Business and Workforce Development Coordinator in the Hampton Economic Development Department and served 19 years with the City of Hampton. She serves on the largest child advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, and the first African American president in March 2021during the recognition of the 100th Anniversary. She is also an appointee to the Governor’s African American History Education Commission and COVID-19 Education Workgroup Taskforce, both with a focus on standards of learning and welfare for Virginia students.

She has proudly called the Hampton Roads region home since 1999 and is married with four children.

Angie Sheppard

Angie Sheppard

Executive Assistant

 

Mrs. Angela Sheppard is the Executive Assistant to the Director and serves a pivotal role in the Portsmouth Economic Development office. She began her career with the City of Portsmouth 11 years ago in Finance before joining the Economic Development Team in November 2020.


Mrs. Sheppard coordinates and manages the Economic Development Authority and Portsmouth Port & Industrial Commission monthly logistics, meetings, correspondence, etc. Her knowledge and skills of office management, planning of events for the department, and more are welcomed by the team.


Mrs. Sheppard was born and raised in Norfolk. She loves going to all the great places Portsmouth has to offer for entertainment with family and friends.