Delceno Miles, The Miles Agency: Named First Citizen of Va. Beach

By Brenda H. Andrews
Publisher
New Journal and Guide

Delceno Miles and her mom

Delceno Miles says she was raised to give back to her community. It’s just a part of the DNA her single parent mom instilled in her and her siblings. So when the Virginia Beach native and resident gathered in May with civic leaders at the Black-Eyed Pea Restaurant for the announcement of her selection as the 2025 First Citizen of Virginia Beach, she gave public thanks for the honor, and she added in her comments, “Mama, this is for you.”

The First Citizen of Virginia Beach Award is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes a Virginia Beach citizen who has devoted his or her life to improving, uplifting, and impacting the lives of others. Since 1950, the award has been presented by the Virginia Beach Jaycees, an organization committed to service, leadership development, and community impact.

On November 15, 2025, Miles will become the 73rd person to be honored with this prestigious award for her visionary and business leadership, civic engagement, and community service. She is not absolutely sure, but it is possible this is the first year that an African-American has been selected in the long history of the award.

Miles is President/CEO of The Miles Agency, a Virginia Beach-based communications and community engagement firm she founded in 1989. Her clients come from the public and private sectors, to include a number of prominent non-profits and major businesses. The Rivers Casino in Portsmouth and the City of Portsmouth are recent examples of the caliber of clientele she advises.

She serves on the boards of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (regional and Virginia Beach Division). In 2002, Miles was appointed as the first African-American and only the third woman chair of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce regional board. She currently serves the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, where she is vice chair. She is past chair of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council.

Her awards and honors include Inside Business publication with its Women in Business Achievement Award in 2009. The YWCA named her its 2011 Woman of Distinction in Communications and Inside Business named her to its 2011 Power List as one of the top 75 most powerful leaders in Hampton Roads. She was named to the Power List again in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and emeritus in 2022 – to the present. She was inducted into the 2013 Inaugural Hall of Fame by the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals.

Miles, who attended and graduated from Cox High School in Virginia Beach then earned her B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and her M.A. in Communications from Regent University.

She was working as a sales rep at the Black-owned WRAP radio station in Norfolk in the late 80s when she and a colleague decided to start their own communications firm. In 1995, she bought out her partner and began the Miles Agency, a wise decision that has brought her to this year’s supreme honor in the hometown where she feels connected and valued for her service. Not only has she grown a successful business in the city, but also she has served her fellow citizens  as a past president of Virginia Beach Vision and she was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board, where she served as vice chair for two years.

It is not surprising that Miles responds that her passion is people; meeting them and their needs. Her extroverted Alpha personality goes ahead of her into settings that might intimidate others.

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell who was named First Citizen of Virginia Beach last year, lauded her and her accomplishments at the awards announcement, as reported by WAVY-TV-10. “We could not have had a better choice. She is a kind, gentle, humorous, smart soul. Represents the best of Virginia Beach and she is always about the service of others. That’s what we believe in Virginia Beach. It is such a beautiful town, a great place to live. People like Delceno Miles.”

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Miles maintains she’s blessed because of her strong family ties and her Christian beliefs and orientation. She is a product of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a youth; and now holds membership at Calvary Revival Church where Bishop Courtney McBath is the Founding Pastor.

“I have a strong support base,” she said. Three brothers and four sisters from two family trees comprise her base, along with her husband of 25 years, Athens Holloway, a Coast Guard veteran. Close ties to her late mother, Evelyn Miles, and the strong foundation she instilled in the siblings remain as guardrails to inspire Miles to protect the family legacy of caring, giving and serving.

A few years ago, she and her siblings launched The Miles Foundation as a way to give back to the community and to honor their mother while she was still alive. “It has had even greater significance since she recently passed,” said Miles.

“We have awarded scholarships to Norfolk State University and Tidewater Community college for their deserving students,” she said.

Miles says she is “having too much fun” doing all that she does to give any thought to slowing down, and certainly not to retiring.

“I thrive in this space. I get up motivated and ready to go,” she said. After all, her aunt Margaret Coleman just turned 103-years-old and Miles sees many years ahead for herself.

On November 15, the Jaycees will celebrate Delceno Miles as the 73rd First Citizen of Virginia Beach – along with this year’s special honorees: W. Taylor Franklin, Rise Award and William “Billy” Almond, Creed Award.

Miles is elated that the gala which is usually  Black-tie will be a fun and relaxed sports-themed event in 2025. Attendees are asked to wear their favorite jersey and come ready for games, dancing, celebration, and community spirit.

For event details, go to vbjcfirstcitizen@gmail.com or call (757) 814-1328.

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