Operation Smile to Host International Board of Directors in Virginia Beach
January 23, 2015
Operation Smile, the world’s largest medical charity of its kind, will host its international board of directors in Virginia Beach on January 26. Virginia Beach city officials and key business leaders will meet with these influential business leaders from similar industries representing more than 30 countries during a luncheon at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Monday at 11:30 a.m.The international guests are board members representing many of Operation Smile’s foundations around the world from Bolivia to Vietnam. They are visiting Hampton Roads as part of a global planning conference being held at Operation Smile’s new global headquarters in Virginia Beach.“We are thrilled to welcome this very distinguished group of international business leaders to Virginia Beach,” said Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. “The City appreciates the partnership we’ve been able to build with the leadership of Operation Smile. It’s creating numerous opportunities to not only showcase Virginia Beach to their international board members, but it also helps us establish new and valuable relationships worldwide. Events such as this serve as a wonderful opportunity for a diverse mix of business people to exchange ideas and contacts that will encourage economic development and philanthropic initiatives.”“It excites us to take advantage of our longstanding relationships with international business leaders and medical professionals,” said Operation Smile Co-Founder, Dr. Bill Magee. “This is a unique opportunity to bring them together with leadership of the region to not only help children of the world but to create economic impact.”Operation Smile is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children with a presence in more than 60 countries and network of more than 5,400 medical volunteers from over 80 countries. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 220,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. For updates on Operation Smile’s global efforts, visit www.operationsmile.org.The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to attract and retain national and international businesses to stimulate capital investment and create jobs. Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia with a population of 440,000, and it is the 37th largest in the United States. It is recognized as one of the Best Run Cities in America by 24/7 Wall St. The Department of Economic Development received re-accreditation through the International Economic Development Council in 2012 and is one of only 29 economic development organizations in the world to have this recognition. It is listed among the Top Five Overall Mid-sized American Cities of the Future, Top 10 for Economic Potential and Top Five for Infrastructure by fDi Magazine. CNNMoney.com ranked Virginia Beach as the Easiest Place to Start a Business and the 2nd Most Business-Friendly City in the country. For more information, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com.
