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COVER PROFILE
Secretary of Commerce and Trade
The honorable Michael J. Schewel
By Alyson L. Taylor-White
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You might not have ever heard
about Michael J. Schewel prior to Governor Mark R.
Warner appointing him as the Secretary of Commerce and
Trade. If you’re familiar with the General
Assembly, the name Elliot Schewel might ring a bell.
For many years (1975 - 1996), he represented his
native Lynchburg in the Virginia Senate. Senator
Schewel is Secretary Schewel’s father. If
you’ve traveled around the state, you might also
be aware of another Schewel - Schewels Furniture
Stores. Our most recent siting of a Schewels was
in Albemarle County. The original family business
is now in the hands of cousins of Secretary Schewel.
It all began with his great grandfather Elias
Schewel who started out in 1897 in Lynchburg.
According to the company’s website, in the
beginning the founder of this furniture dynasty started
off by selling “picture frames, chair bottoms,
and other small furniture items from a horse drawn
wagon.” The business is one of only four
similar retail establishments in the nation with a
century of continuous operation under the same name and
family management. So to us it is fitting that
the person in charge of our Commonwealth’s
Commerce and Trade comes from such a historical retail
pedigree. It makes even more sense when you
realize that he has spent the majority of his adult
life representing real estate and corporate issues with
the law firm of McGuireWoods in Richmond. Knowing
how to close a deal is second nature to him.
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ON THE JOB TRAINING
We
had the opportunity to spend some time with Secretary
Michael J. Schewel during the recent legislative
session. His office is in the old Hotel Richmond
[Ninth Street Office Building] across the street from
the General Assembly Building and the Capitol. We
have observed for years that the proximity to power is
temptingly close and often infects the inhabitants of
that building. Secretary Schewel assured us he
does not, and has never had political ambitions. In
fact, the opposite could said. “I think the
last time I set foot in a state government building
[prior to his appointment in 2002] was when I was up
here in the sixth grade when I went to the
Capitol.”
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While some might assume Secretary of
Commerce and Trade Michael J. Schewel cut his political teeth
early as the son of a former esteemed Virginia Senator, he has
avoided government involvement. As a result, he is
finding his work on Capitol Square quite illuminating.
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Mike Schewel gets the job done.
He accomplishes this leading by example, not just
talk. His integrity and diligence combined with a
sharp and flexible mind, bring together ideas and
people to a shared vision that translates into superior
results.
- Tom Rosenthal
CEO, MedOutcomes, Inc.
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