When Buffy Barefoot talks about Hampton Roads, you can hear the pride in her voice — a pride rooted in community, collaboration and a steadfast belief in the power of connection.

As President of TowneBank Virginia Beach and Vice Chair of the Hampton Roads Alliance, Barefoot’s passion for the region and its people shines through every aspect of her work. With over three decades of banking experience, her leadership is guided by one simple principle: decisions should be made with the needs of the community at heart.

“We know the folks that we are doing business with. They are our neighbors,” she says.

A native of Virginia Beach, Barefoot left Hampton Roads in 1989 to pursue her undergraduate and MBA degrees at Virginia Tech. Her early career took her to Charlottesville, but after starting a family, the call of home was undeniable.

“When you have your first child, the light bulb goes on,” she says. “It was time to come back to my roots.”

Today, Barefoot leads TowneBank’s Virginia Beach operations, a company she proudly notes was founded in 1999 on a mission to invest directly back into the communities it serves.

“Our goal has always been to give back a percentage of our earnings each year to community initiatives,” she explains. “It’s part of our DNA.”

TowneBank’s commitment to community runs deep, and Barefoot sees the Hampton Roads Alliance as a critical partner in building a vibrant future for the region.

“No surprise to anyone is that one of our greatest challenges is regionalism,” she says. “Our cities are separated by waterways, bridges, tunnels. We all strive for resources, economic development and growth — but sometimes we’re competing against each other.”

The Alliance, Barefoot says, stands apart because it sees the big picture.

“They think holistically. They pull the cities, private investors and corporations together. We’re trying to drive growth for the greater cause — not just one locality.”

For Barefoot, Hampton Roads’ unique assets are clear: a rare blend of industrial and recreational coastlines, one of the nation’s most important ports, a thriving tourism industry, and, of course, the military bases that call the region home.

“We’re not trying to be something we’re not,” she says. “The playbook is being written right now — and it’s about leveraging the resources and geography we have to attract the right companies and support the ones already here.”

It’s a sentiment that mirrors Barefoot’s entire approach to leadership: recognizing strengths, investing in relationships and creating lasting value.

In 2025, Buffy was honored in a new and very special way: she was named the first-ever Queen Neptune of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, one of the largest and most beloved events in Virginia. With a personal history tied to the festival that dates back to 1991, her selection was particularly meaningful.

“To be the first Queen after 50 years is truly above and beyond an honor,” she says. “The Neptune Festival is more than just the boardwalk weekend event. It’s an organization that brings people together, celebrates our city and strengthens community ties.”

Whether she’s championing small businesses through TowneBank, representing Virginia Beach as Queen Neptune, or helping drive regional collaboration through the Alliance, Barefoot’s message remains the same: the strength of Hampton Roads lies in its people.

“There’s a ripple effect,” she says. “Everyone in our community is important. No matter what they are doing, they are contributing and they are valued.”

It’s why TowneBank continues to invest in the Hampton Roads Alliance and local entrepreneurs — from small barbershops to major hotel operators — and why Barefoot is so passionate about the Alliance’s mission.

“We have great confidence in the Alliance,” she says. “Their leadership is propelling us forward, and we’re proud to invest at the level we do because we believe in what they’re doing.”

Hampton Roads may have bridges, tunnels and waterways that often divide, Barefoot says, but there’s far more that connects us — community, collaboration and shared vision.