InternshipsVA Recognizes Virginia’s Top Employers for Interns

What this means

Virginia recognized Overhead Solutions Group, Triple Point Security and Atlantic Union Bank as the 2026 statewide Top Employers for Interns, along with regional employers honored for innovative or long-running internship programs. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership said InternshipsVA, launched in February 2026, has engaged more than 700 employers and partners, trained more than 500 employers, and supported 845 paid internships with more than 290 employers through its matching grant.

Official release

Source material from Virginia Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger celebrated Virginia’s Top Employers for Interns — recognizing businesses in the InternshipsVA program that are leading the way in offering high-quality internship experiences to students across the Commonwealth. Launched by Governor Spanberger in February, InternshipsVA helps Virginia employers design and deploy paid internships for students to expand economic opportunity, strengthen workforce development, and set the next generation up for success.

“Virginia’s future economic success depends on creating meaningful pathways to connect students and young professionals with career opportunities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Congratulations to this year’s Top Employers for Interns. You are helping students see a future for themselves in Virginia. By providing high-quality, paid experiences and opportunities to build professional connections, these employers are strengthening their own workforce and reinforcing Virginia’s position as a Top State for Talent.”

Three statewide winners — representing small, medium, and large businesses — were recognized:

Overhead Solutions Group, Norfolk (Small Business)

Triple Point Security, Blacksburg (Mid-Size Business)

Atlantic Union Bank, Richmond (Large Business)

“Internships are one of the most powerful ways to connect classroom learning with the skills employers need and to offer students meaningful, real-world experience,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “The employers the Commonwealth has recognized are setting a high standard for talent development by investing in the next generation of Virginians and helping build the strong, talented workforce that will drive our economic growth.”

“When students have the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom to real work, they begin to see how their education connects to a career, and a future, right here in Virginia,” said Secretary of Education Jeffery Smith. “The employers recognized today are opening doors for students and showing what high-quality, paid internships can do. I congratulate each of them for investing in the next generation of Virginians.”

“Work-based learning is one of the most effective ways to prepare people for lasting careers, and it works best when employers, educators, and workers are at the table together,” said Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman. “The Top Employers for Interns are doing exactly that by creating paid, structured experiences that build skills and confidence. Their commitment is strengthening Virginia's workforce today and for years to come.”

The awards were presented during the 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference. Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation in partnership with the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the conference brought together approximately 500 representatives from Virginia’s business, higher education, K-12, workforce development, economic development, and government communities to focus on strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline.

“As a Top State for Talent, Virginia is committed to helping employers connect with talented students and young professionals, and InternshipsVA is turning those connections into opportunities for future growth,” said VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi. “The employers recognized have shown an exceptional commitment to developing talent through high-quality internship experiences. Their leadership is creating opportunities for Virginians and strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline for years to come.”

Regional honorees from across the Commonwealth were recognized with the Innovative Employers Award for extraordinary internship programs and with the Inspiring Employers Award, which recognized established programs with longstanding support for interns’ career readiness.

Regional honorees of the Innovative Employers Award are:

Region 1:

Breath of Dawn

Clearpoint CPAs PC

KVAT Food Stores Inc. dba Food City

Real Performance Machinery

Region 2:

Branch Group

Carilion Clinic

Carilion Clinic (Nursing)

E.C. Pace Company Inc.

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

Novonesis

Seeking Wellness Counseling Services

Region 3:

Danville Pittsylvania Community Services

Letterpress Communications

Solex Architecture, Inc.

The Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Region 4:

AMC Technology LLC

Art Works Inc.

Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts

Chesterfield County

ColonialWebb

Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Virginia Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services

Commonwealth Savers Plan

Department of Medical Assistance Services

Dominion Energy, Inc.

Eagle Construction of VA, LLC

Familiar Creatures

Haleon

Henrico County

ITAC

Keiter CPA

LeadingAge Virginia

Manifest In You Consulting

Markel Group Inc.

Moseley

Ocean Network Express

Richweb, Inc.

Spanalytics

Timmons Group

Virginia Department of Corrections

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Virginia Department of Health

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Virginia Department of Transportation

Virginia Department of Workforce Development & Advancement (Virginia Works)

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Virginia Housing

Virginia Information Technologies Agency

Virginia State Corporation Commission

Virginia State Parks

Region 5:

Allan Myers

City of Virginia Beach

Dollar Tree, Inc.

LifeNet Health

Marathon Consulting, LLC

Nauticus

Sentara Health

Stop the Violence 757 Inc.

VIA Design

YMCA of South Hampton Roads

Region 6:

Ellie Mental Health — Fredericksburg

F45 Training Stafford VA

Fletcher Home

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

SimVentions, Inc.

Universal Dynamics

University of Mary Washington

Region 7:

Blue Raster

ByteRatio

Chameleon Technology Partners

Cvent

Digital Realty Trust

edMe Learning

Edrevel AI

EduTutorVA

Est Institute

Five Guys Enterprises

Galang AI

Goodwin Living

Gorove Slade Associates, Inc

Inova Health

Kaptivate

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

Micron Technology Inc.

Morphworks

MOVE Business Chamber

Navy Federal Credit Union

Nisha Media Leadership Solutions

Northern Virginia Community College

Northwest Federal Credit Union

Public Servants LLC

SecureIT

Society for Human Resource Management

SuccessKPI, Inc.

The Nature Conservancy

Thompson Greenspon

VTA ADVISORS

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Region 8:

Dynamic Aviation

Howard Shockey & Sons, LLC

HW CPAs + Advisors, PC

Merck

Momentum Earthworks

Pisces Healthcare Solutions

Project GROWS

YHB CPAs and Consultants

Region 9:

Adovate

Afton Scientific

Agrospheres Inc

CvilleBioHub

Focused Ultrasound Foundation

Luna Labs USA

MicroAire Surgical Instruments

TELUS Digital

Regional honorees for the Inspiring Employers Award are:

Region 2:

Carilion Clinic (Nursing) — 20 years

Region 3:

Danville Pittsylvania Community Services — 21 years

The Institute for Advanced Learning & Research — 20 years

Region 4:

Chesterfield County — 36 years

Commonwealth Savers Plan — 18 years

Keiter CPA — 25 years

Timmons Group — 25 years

Virginia Department of Corrections — 20 years

Virginia Department of Transportation — 26 years

Virginia Housing — 20 years

Virginia State Corporation Commission — 20 years

Region 5:

Allan Myers — 30 years

Region 6:

SimVentions, Inc. — 18 years

University of Mary Washington — 38 years

Region 7:

Navy Federal Credit Union — 22 years

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts — 46 years

Region 8:

YHB CPAs and Consultants — 20 years

Region 9:

MicroAire Surgical Instruments — 20 years

Since its launch in February 2026, InternshipsVA has engaged more than 700 employers and partners, trained more than 500 employers in how to establish a high-quality internship program, and supported 845 internships with more than 290 employers through its matching grant. The program helps employers of all sizes and in all industries create and expand high-quality, paid internship opportunities through program design guidance, recruitment tools, employer training and resources, and matching grants for qualifying employers. InternshipsVA also established a first-of-its-kind statewide partnership with Handshake to support employer recruiting efforts and earned national recognition from Business Facilities Magazine for its innovative approach to strengthening Virginia’s talent pipeline. The publication also recognized InternshipsVA with a 2026 Economic Development Organization Award as an innovative economic development program that helps communities attract business investment, create jobs, and strengthen workforce development.

Release text attributed to Virginia Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.