March 14, 2009 Virginia Beach, Virginia: The 36th Annual Virginia Beach Neptune Festival is pleased to announce that John Randolph (“Randy”) Sutton has been named King Neptune XXXVI. A long time resident of Virginia Beach, Mr. Sutton is the founder, co-owner and president of Waterfront Marine Construction, Inc., a marine construction company that specializes in the construction of marine facilities, brides and foundation pilings in the Hampton Roads area and beyond.
Mr. Sutton graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in 1972. Upon graduation, he joined GEICO Insurance Company as a time management consultant. A year later, he left Geico to form Virginia Film Communications, Inc., a film distributorship that he owned and operated until 1983.
In 1982, Mr. Sutton and his brother, Ken Sutton, founded Waterfront Marine Construction, a company that conducts business throughout Virginia and eastern North Carolina. Primarily a commercial and governmental contractor, they have completed numerous marine and bridge projects for the U.S. Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, VDOT and virtually every other federal, state and local agency in the area. Their latest projects include a $20 million dollar bulkhead replacement project for Fort Monroe and numerous bridge and retaining wall projects for VDOT. The company also has a foundation pile driving division, which has installed the pilings for many of Hampton Roads’ most prominent buildings.
As an active member of the community, Sutton currently serves on the executive boards of the Hampton Roads Chapter of The Builders and Contractors Exchange and The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival. He is also on the Board of Trustees for The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia where he currently serves as chairman and member of the steering committee for the upcoming regional art exhibit “The Art of Glass 2.” He is a past board member of the Associated General Contractors of Tidewater where he served as treasurer and secretary, and a past state director of the Associated General Contractors of Virginia. He has served on the advisory boards for Cenit Bank and Princess Anne Bank and is currently on the Board of Directors for Town Bank. In addition, he is a past member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tidewater, The Virginia Beach Jaycees, and the Old Dominion Educational Foundation Board. He is also a former recipient of the John H. Kruger Award, which is given each year by the Neptune Festival for outstanding community service.
Mr. Sutton and his company Waterfront Marine were instrumental in the construction and installation of the “King Neptune” statute at 31st Street Park at the oceanfront of Virginia Beach. They took delivery of the statute at their facility in Virginia Beach and assisted the artist, Paul DiPasquale, in its final welding and preparation. They also constructed the concrete platform the statue is mounted and provided the labor and equipment for erecting this iconic addition to the Boardwalk.
Outside his business and his civic involvement, Mr. Sutton enjoys visual arts, particularly studio glass art, community service, traveling and socializing with his family and friends. He and his wife Irene have been married for 24 years. They have one daughter, Julie, a son-in-law, Bryan, and a very special granddaughter, Lilith, who reside in Virginia Beach as well as an adopted son, Dario, who resides in Toronto, Canada.
History of the King
Since the festival’s inception in 1974, King Neptune has been the ceremonial leader of this annual event, presiding over all Neptune Festival activities held throughout the year, including Boardwalk Weekend in September. In this position, King Neptune also serves as an ambassador of goodwill for the City of Virginia Beach and its residents and guests. Each year, King Neptune is chosen by the Neptune Festival Committee from nominations solicited from the general public. The selection process weighs criteria such as demonstrated excellence in contributions and involvement in the quality of life in Virginia Beach, active participation in the activities of community life, and an understanding of the spirit of the Neptune Festival.
About the Neptune Festival
Each year the Neptune Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Attendance at each year’s annual festival generally exceeds a half a million people, generating approximately $18 million in economic impact for the City of Virginia Beach. Now in its 36th year, the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival is produced by a private non-profit organization and directed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Support and funding for the event comes from the community at large and corporate sponsorships. For more information on the 36th Annual Neptune Festival, please call the festival office at 1-866-NEP-FEST or visit www.neptunefestival.com.
265 King’s Grant Road, #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
www.neptunefestival.com • Phone 757/498-0215
