Articles: Virginia Business

Executive Profile

Bernie Niemeier is the president and publisher of Virginia Business, a 24-year old monthly magazine that delivers high-quality business news to top executives and government leaders across Virginia. He spent 30 years in the newspaper business, including 17 on the corporate staff of Media General, Inc., one of the largest publicly-traded newspaper companies in the U.S. At Media General, he was a division vice president in charge of strategic planning, market research and newspaper acquisitions.

Community involvement is a key aspect of his success. Bernie has worked with non-profits and professional associations throughout his career. He currently serves on the boards of LEAD Virginia, The Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Prevent Child Abuse Virginia. Bernie graduated cum laude from Macalester College, received an MBA from the University of Richmond, and has attended executive development programs at Northwestern University, Babson College and The University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.

In January of 2007 he became publisher of Virginia Business, adding small-company entrepreneurial experience to his large corporate background. In September of 2009, he purchased the magazine from Media General in a private transaction to reach the ultimate goal of becoming a business owner.

Bernie has a passion for leadership and business development. He practices the art of “possibility thinking,” which involves changing people’s worldview of what is possible and appropriate in an organization. Leadership is more challenging than management, but it is the only path to long-term sustainable growth.

In working to develop new business, Bernie has found that people will never do business with your organization unless they first want to do business with you as a person. Relationship development is not just important – it is the required first step toward success. Much of his time as publisher of Virginia Business is spent “Out & About,” meeting customers and forging new relationships for the magazine.

A few things he has learned: 1) If you don’t challenge yourself and your team to think big, your organization will never be big; 2) If you don’t ask for something, you won’t get it; and 3) “Thank you” is the most phrase in business. Furthermore, “The reason these things work in business is because they work in life.”

Bernie’s beliefs are good examples of just some the ideas that The Nizhny Group promotes to clients --think big, set big goals, use collaboration and relationships to achieve your dreams.