In celebration of National Boss’s Day, meet two of Team Norfolk’s newest directors:
Rob Henson has accepted the position of Director of Cultural Facilities, Arts & Entertainment.
An accomplished industry veteran in the sports and entertainment business, Rob Henson has served as the Acting Director of the Department of Cultural Facilities Arts and Entertainment since July 2023. He joined the City of Norfolk in July 2014 as the Assistant Director of Cultural Facilities Arts and Entertainment. Under Rob’s leadership, the department has achieved historical revenue growth, and increased the number and quality of show offerings.
Prior to this employment with the City of Norfolk, Rob was an artist manager overseeing a diverse artist management client roster including The Bee Gees, Blondie, The Go Go’s, Motley Crue, Yes, Meatloaf, Heart, Coal Chamber, The Cranberries, Deana Carter, Tracy Lawrence, and Hal Ketchum. In 2001, Rob transitioned his career to facility management where he managed the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, MS. He was quickly recruited to Tacoma, WA to manage the Public Assembly Facilities Department for the City of Tacoma, which included the Tacoma Dome, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Cheney Stadium, and the Rialto and Pantages Theaters.
In 2013, Rob was Awarded the prestigious Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) to recognize excellence as a skilled professional manager of public assemblies, joining an elite group of less than 500 venue managers world-wide. He serves as an Executive Board member for Arena Network/Venue Coalition, a nationally recognize consortium of both arena and theater members whose focus is on driving content into 107 member facilities across the nation.
Rob is also an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University, where he teaches Sport Facility Management.
Dr. Nathan Woodard is a seasoned mental health professional with over 30 years of experience in the field. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master’s degree in community counseling from Norfolk State University. He received a PhD from Regent University in counseling and psychological studies.
Throughout his career, Dr. Woodard has served in various roles with community services boards, behavioral health authorities, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia. His experience and dedication have made him a respected leader in the field of behavioral health care services.