Kathy Bryan began her career in banking as a Teller and was later promoted to Senior Vice President over Operations. She managed branch operations, marketing, fraud, sales and client relations for a community bank headquartered in the Shenandoah Valley. She left the banking industry in 2013 following an out-of-town bank merger and went to work for a staffing company in Virginia Beach as their Vice President and General Manager. In 2014 the company was sold and was rebranded as Shipyard Staffing. During her tenure she opened three additional offices in Jacksonville, San Diego and Bremerton, gradually growing the company. Shipyard Staffing went through another ownership change in 2020 and Kathy decided to seek other opportunities, leaving in 2021. However, in 2022 she had the opportunity to return to Shipyard Staffing as a minority owner and she jumped at the chance, working one again with the original Shipyard Staffing primary owner and original staff. She was named Executive Vice President of the newly formed management team and worked diligently to rebuild the Shipyard Staffing brand to original levels. In her current role she oversees the company’s operations and its four branch offices and is also responsible for pricing and government contract proposals, also serving as the FSO (Facility Security Officer). Kathy currently serves as the VSRA Communications Committee Chairperson and was honored to be named the VSRA Outstanding Volunteer in 2018.
Kathy proudly touts herself as a Navy Brat, being raised by a Master Chief (BTMC) who served in the Navy for over 27 years and who later worked at NNSY. Born in Portsmouth Naval Hospital, she is a native of Hampton Roads and has always had strong affiliations with the Navy. Starting off with a career in banking, she had no idea she would eventually be working in an industry that supports service members like her father. He deployed many times over his career on many different ships, so it has been her honor to be part of the ship repair industry. She tells everyone her father was one of a kind and that it’s true what they say, Master Chiefs have no filter! Fortunately, Kathy does…..