From taking the reins of a competitive show horse to rocking out in jam sessions and shows around town, Richmond’s business people found their own ways to keep their work lives balanced in 2021.
Music was a recurring theme this year. A trio of doctors and a school system administrator teamed up to pursue their rock-and-roll dreams, while a recent VCU grad turned to her singer-songwriter side to help land a job at a local ad agency.
But music wasn’t the only way members of the business community made it through the second year of the pandemic. Here’s a look back at some of their stories, compiled from our ongoing Downtime series.
Such stories will continue to be told in 2022, so if you or someone you know fits the bill for the series about local business people’s hobbies or interests outside of work, drop a line to reporter Jonathan Spiers at [email protected]. For previous installments in the series, click here.
The Vagabond Dandies – Docs that rock
The Vagabond Dandies, from left: Gary Tye, Justin Haught, Gonzalo Bearman and Greg Lawson.
Not only are most of the band’s members MDs, but the Vagabond Dandies formed at the outset of — and in some ways because of — the coronavirus pandemic that’s given them even more reasons to rock out. Since then, the group has played outdoor or livestreamed gigs, which has allowed them to reach a wider, even international audience.
“It’s had a huge positive impact on my psyche,” said drummer Gonzalo Bearman, who, as chair of VCU Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases, is the health system’s top infectious diseases expert. “It actually increases my energy level, which is good, and I need all that to be sharp and focused here at the hospital.”
Rosalie Morton – Horse-riding solace seeker
Rosalie Morton and her horse, Effie, competing in a show at Deep Run Hunt Club.
The executive with PR firm Padilla has been riding since she was big enough to, developing a passion and pursuit that has helped her through the past two years of social distancing and indoors avoidance.These days, she rides two or three mornings a week at Applegarth Farm in Manakin-Sabot, where she keeps Effie, her horse that competes under the name Suffragette.
“It’s been something that’s been a great way to unwind, to forget about everything that’s bugging you and detach from reality and spend time with a really cool animal,” Morton told us in March. “It was such a nice release, especially early on in the pandemic, when we really had no idea what was going on and how tragic it was going to end up.”
Beth Shivak – ‘Ironman’ spokeswoman
Beth Shivak, head of corporate communications at Atlantic Union Bank, finishes the running portion of one of the seven Ironman Triathlons she’s completed.
At 115 pounds and 5 feet 3 inches tall, the head of corporate communications at Atlantic Union Bank knows she might not come across as someone who’s completed an Ironman Triathlon. As a matter of fact, she’s completed seven of them, as well as four Half Ironmans and many regular marathons.
“If I can mentally focus for a seven-hour workout, and get through it when I’m tired and grinding away on the bike and it’s hard, I take that same dedication and apply it to my work, because I’m that same exact person in the workplace,” Shivak said.
Caitlin Sherman – Interview singer
Caitlin Sherman with the guitar she’s sung along to since high school.
Despite graduating magna cum laude from VCU’s undergraduate advertising program, the 22-year-old had struggled to land a job interview since her 2020 commencement. After interviewing for an internship with a local ad agency, the singer-songwriter, who was drawn to advertising by a TV jingle, had effectively sung her way into a full-time copywriting gig.
“When I went to college, I had to put music on the backburner, because I was so focused academically. Then I realized if I could mix the two, I’d be so much happier,” Sherman told us this month. “I would’ve done it even if they hadn’t asked me to, because that is my strongest suit: my ability to communicate through songwriting.”
From taking the reins of a competitive show horse to rocking out in jam sessions and shows around town, Richmond’s business people found their own ways to keep their work lives balanced in 2021.
Music was a recurring theme this year. A trio of doctors and a school system administrator teamed up to pursue their rock-and-roll dreams, while a recent VCU grad turned to her singer-songwriter side to help land a job at a local ad agency.
But music wasn’t the only way members of the business community made it through the second year of the pandemic. Here’s a look back at some of their stories, compiled from our ongoing Downtime series.
Such stories will continue to be told in 2022, so if you or someone you know fits the bill for the series about local business people’s hobbies or interests outside of work, drop a line to reporter Jonathan Spiers at [email protected]. For previous installments in the series, click here.
The Vagabond Dandies – Docs that rock
The Vagabond Dandies, from left: Gary Tye, Justin Haught, Gonzalo Bearman and Greg Lawson.
Not only are most of the band’s members MDs, but the Vagabond Dandies formed at the outset of — and in some ways because of — the coronavirus pandemic that’s given them even more reasons to rock out. Since then, the group has played outdoor or livestreamed gigs, which has allowed them to reach a wider, even international audience.
“It’s had a huge positive impact on my psyche,” said drummer Gonzalo Bearman, who, as chair of VCU Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases, is the health system’s top infectious diseases expert. “It actually increases my energy level, which is good, and I need all that to be sharp and focused here at the hospital.”
Rosalie Morton – Horse-riding solace seeker
Rosalie Morton and her horse, Effie, competing in a show at Deep Run Hunt Club.
The executive with PR firm Padilla has been riding since she was big enough to, developing a passion and pursuit that has helped her through the past two years of social distancing and indoors avoidance.These days, she rides two or three mornings a week at Applegarth Farm in Manakin-Sabot, where she keeps Effie, her horse that competes under the name Suffragette.
“It’s been something that’s been a great way to unwind, to forget about everything that’s bugging you and detach from reality and spend time with a really cool animal,” Morton told us in March. “It was such a nice release, especially early on in the pandemic, when we really had no idea what was going on and how tragic it was going to end up.”
Beth Shivak – ‘Ironman’ spokeswoman
Beth Shivak, head of corporate communications at Atlantic Union Bank, finishes the running portion of one of the seven Ironman Triathlons she’s completed.
At 115 pounds and 5 feet 3 inches tall, the head of corporate communications at Atlantic Union Bank knows she might not come across as someone who’s completed an Ironman Triathlon. As a matter of fact, she’s completed seven of them, as well as four Half Ironmans and many regular marathons.
“If I can mentally focus for a seven-hour workout, and get through it when I’m tired and grinding away on the bike and it’s hard, I take that same dedication and apply it to my work, because I’m that same exact person in the workplace,” Shivak said.
Caitlin Sherman – Interview singer
Caitlin Sherman with the guitar she’s sung along to since high school.
Despite graduating magna cum laude from VCU’s undergraduate advertising program, the 22-year-old had struggled to land a job interview since her 2020 commencement. After interviewing for an internship with a local ad agency, the singer-songwriter, who was drawn to advertising by a TV jingle, had effectively sung her way into a full-time copywriting gig.
“When I went to college, I had to put music on the backburner, because I was so focused academically. Then I realized if I could mix the two, I’d be so much happier,” Sherman told us this month. “I would’ve done it even if they hadn’t asked me to, because that is my strongest suit: my ability to communicate through songwriting.”