Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters

Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters (www.jeffmcwaters.com) represents the eastern half of Virginia Beach in the Virginia Senate. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1978 with a BS in Accounting, McWaters began his career with Ernst and Young and later moved to CIGNA. In 1990, he became the President and CEO of Value Options, a behavioral health-care company. In 1994, he formed AMERIGROUP (AGP: NYSE) where he served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from its founding until his retirement as Chairman of the Board of Directors in May 2008.

Under Senator McWaters’ leadership, AMERIGROUP was twice named among Fortune  magazine’s “Best Managed Companies” and listed as one of America’s “Most Admired Companies.” It is now a Fortune 300 company.

McWaters was named one of the 100 Most Influential Americans in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine and has been cited as “Ernst & Young’s Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year.” He is an honored member of the University of Kentucky’s School of Business Hall of Fame and the Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame.

On January 12, 2010, McWaters was elected to serve in the Virginia Senate, and was subsequently re-elected for a four-year term in November 2011.  He is currently a member of the Commerce and Labor, Education and Health, Privileges and Elections, and Transportation committees, as well four sub-committees, three of which he chairs. Additionally, the Senator has recently joined the ranks of the Senate Republican Leadership, having been elected a whip prior to the 2012 General Assembly session.

Senator McWaters’ legislative priorities include job creation, addressing Hampton Roads’ transportation needs, creating an environment of economic freedom and development, and limiting government to its core competencies, while otherwise getting it out of our lives. He has sponsored a wide range of legislative ideas to this effect, including an Agency Effectiveness Review Commission and bills that make Virginia a less burdensome place to operate a business. For McWaters, success as a legislator means making Virginia the best place in the nation to raise a family, retire, and see your grandkids have the same opportunity for success.

McWaters is a member of the Commission for Military and National Security Facilities. Throughout his career, he has advised Presidents, Governors, and Legislators on health care policy and business issues. He has served as Vice Rector on the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary and has received an honorary law degree from Regent University. He previously served as an elder of Trinity Church in Virginia Beach and plays percussion in a charity band, “Guava Jam,” (www.guavajamband.com).

To learn more or join his mailing list for legislative updates, visit www.JeffMcWaters.com/newsletter.