In 1977, a visionary group of Norfolk business and political leaders, concerned that Norfolk was suffering from a malaise in its development cycle, met to discuss how to get Norfolk moving again. The Greater Baltimore Corporation, which was composed of the business and educational leadership of Baltimore, provided the model for the Greater Norfolk Corporation.

Norfolk, like Baltimore, was blessed with a rich talent pool of private sector leaders whose expertise could help government make better decisions and catalyze development. The desire to get something going; to encourage actual implementation of projects, coupled with the belief that the private sector had to be organized in order to be effective, provided the impetus for GNC’s formation.

Over the past 34 years, GNC has been a partner in Norfolk’s ongoing renaissance. While GNC’s role is different today than it was at its inception, the real value of GNC remains the same. GNC continues to be blessed with a rich talent pool of private sector leaders whose expertise and resources can and do make a meaningful difference.

GNC’s continuing partnership with the Norfolk Public Schools in support of the NPS Leadership Academy is but one example of how that expertise and resources can make a difference. It grew out of a recognition that the single greatest economic development initiative any community can undertake is to develop a world class school system. Developing a world class organization, be it a private corporation or a school system, starts first and foremost with leadership, and the goal of the NPS Leadership Academy is to develop the leadership skills of principals, aspiring principals and administrators.

To date, a total of 183 principals, assistant principals and administrators have enhanced their leadership skills through the Academy, which include five customized, highly interactive all-day workshop development sessions at GNC member companies that focus on an aspect of leadership skills from a business perspective with application in the schoolhouse.

In addition to supporting the NPS Leadership Academy, GNC continues to play a leadership role in efforts to enhance Norfolk's and the region's competitiveness and quality of life. These efforts include a focus on developing strategies for attracting and retaining young professionals to Norfolk and the region; examining the advisability, feasibility and method of establishing a full time career/technical high school in Norfolk and examining the potential for establishing a Governor's School for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) modeled after the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Northern Virginia.