# ECPI University In the News: Sam Dreyfus Named to Inside Business's 2026 Top Forty Under 40

**Canonical URL:** https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news/hampton-roads-top-forty-under-40-workforce

**Last Updated:** 2026-10-27T17:24:03+00:00

Hampton Roads has the world's largest naval station and one of the East Coast's busiest ports, and those assets create demand for skilled workers and capable leaders. The region's rising professionals are already responding to that demand, taking on executive roles and community leadership early in their careers.

[Sam Dreyfus](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdreyfus/), Executive Vice President of ECPI University, was featured in [*Inside Business*](https://www.pilotonline.com/business/inside-business/)'s 2026 Top Forty Under 40 list, which recognizes the region's top young professionals. Published by [The Virginian-Pilot](https://www.pilotonline.com/), *Inside Business* covers commerce and industry in Hampton Roads, along with the people leading them. Dreyfus's work focuses on how education connects students to the jobs local employers need.

[Read the full list](https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/10/26/inside-business-2026-top-forty-under-40/) to see all the honorees from across the region.

### **What makes Hampton Roads a strong place to launch a career?**

Hampton Roads is a strong place to launch a career because so many industries operate in one region, from shipping and defense to health care and higher education. Dreyfus, a Virginia Beach native, counts that mix among the area’s biggest assets, along with the talent that staffs it.

Dreyfus says there is no single right path into those fields, but the education and training choices a person makes can lead to very different outcomes. He tells young people to think about their careers early and research their options.

At ECPI University, he works to make that path clearer for students.

### **How does ECPI University connect education to Hampton Roads careers?**

ECPI University builds [its programs](https://www.ecpi.edu/programs) around the jobs regional employers need to fill and updates the curriculum as those needs change. Employer advisory boards guide that work, which is part of a wider push for [workforce innovation in Coastal Virginia](https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news/covabiz-nextgen-awards-workforce-innovation).

Nursing is the clearest example. Almost 40% of ECPI University students enroll in nursing, and the University has graduated more than 7,200 nursing professionals in Virginia over the past decade, while [the need for nurses keeps rising in Hampton Roads](https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news/virginia-nursing-shortage-hampton-roads).

In August 2026, ECPI University welcomed the first cohort of its [Master of Science in Physician Assistant program](https://www.ecpi.edu/programs/master-science-physician-assistant) at the Virginia Beach campus. The program gives local healthcare teams [another source of trained clinicians](https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/physician-assistant-workforce-education-virginia).

[Technology programs](https://www.ecpi.edu/college-of-technology) follow the same approach, with hands-on degrees in growing fields like mechatronics, cybersecurity, and software development. As ECPI University prepares students for technical roles in Hampton Roads, the courses are continually updated with [AI tools and skills](https://www.ecpi.edu/in-the-news/ai-entry-level-tech-careers) to reflect how professionals now work.