The Honorable Donald S. Beyer, Jr.
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 1989 and served until 1998. In that capacity, he presided over the Virginia Senate, earning the reputation as the most activist President of the Senate in Virginia history. He chaired the Economic Recovery Commission, the Virginia Commission on Sexual Assault, the Virginia Commission on Disabilities, the Poverty Commission and was co-founder of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. He wrote the original welfare reform legislation in Virginia. He is credited with eliminating disincentives to high tech research and development in the Virginia Tax Code. During his tenure in office, and today, he works to bring at-risk youth to successful completion of high school and employment through his Chairmanship of the Jobs for Virginia Graduates program and as Vice Chair of Youth for Tomorrow.

Mr. Beyer has served on the Virginia Board of First Union National Bank and the board of Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, based in Roanoke. He is currently on the board of Lightly Expressed, a fiber optic lighting design and manufacturing firm. Since his return to private life, he has grown the family business to a chain of dealerships including Land Rover, Subaru and three Volvo stores. He serves on the Volvo International Product Development team and his businesses are regularly honored with the esteemed "Dealer of Excellence" award.

During 25 years of community activism, he has taken leadership roles on the boards of many business, health, philanthropic, and public policy organizations ranging from the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and the American Cancer Society. He has received countless honors and awards. Among them: the Grand Award for Highway Safety from the National Safety Federation; the James Wheat Award for Service to Virginians with Disabilities; and the Earl Williams Leadership in Technology Award.

Mr. Beyer is a member of the Northern Virginia Business Roundtable and the Northern Virginia High Tech Council, which he co-founded. He currently serves on the boards of Youth for Tomorrow, the Washington Community Foundation, and the Red Cross. He and his family attend Christ Church in Alexandria, where Mr. Beyer serves as Chairman of the Outreach Subcommittee.

Mr. Beyer graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College, magna cum laude with Highest Honors in Economics in 1972. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia in 1997. He, his wife and two of his four children reside in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Beyer children are Don, who works in the family business; Stephanie, who is attending the University of Pennsylvania; and Clara and Grace, who attend Potomac School.