The Business Voice, Winter 2022

ADDRESSING INEQUITIES: NOVA helps low income Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students succeed MEETING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE: The Northern Virginia Health Foundation DO WELL BY DOING GOOD YEAR ROUND: Resolve to Give

WORKING ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION? Staying in the game is what counts

WINTER 2022 | novachamber.org 1

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At Cox, giving back is a vital part of our culture. In fact, our commitment to improving the world is embodied in our Purpose: Empower people today to build a better future for the next generation. Cox Charities, the philanthropic arm of Cox in Virginia, is just one of the ways we give back to the communities where we live and work.

Funded by employee donations, Cox Charities Community Grants are awarded every year to nonprofits building a better future for the next generation. To date, more than $1.5 million in grants has been awarded to organizations. Not only do employees donate to make these grants possible, but they also vote to select the winners.

Congratulations to the 2021 Northern Virginia/DC Metro Area nonprofits!

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Camp Under the Stars

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Children’s Cancer Cause

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Empowerhouse

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Fairfax Library Foundation

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Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity

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The Women’s Center

To learn more about Cox Charities, visit CoxCharitiesVA.org.

Need talent?

Join the nation’s most aggressive regional talent attraction initiative.

Join the effort to attract and retain the most talented workers and fill jobs in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is aggressively marketing our region’s companies to top talent across the nation, from New York to San Francisco.

Whether it’s virtual career fairs, digital influencers or media relations, we offer the tools and messaging your company needs to land talent. And at no cost to you. Contact us to get involved. Visit www.WorkInNorthernVirginia.com.

AGENDA winter 2022

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Let’s Resolve to Do More: Let’s Resolve to Give 20

Cover Story:

What Counts When Working on Diversity and Inclusion? Staying in the Game 22

Spotlight on Education:

NOVA’s AANAPI Intercultural Learning Center: Designed to help low-income Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students succeed

Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce 7900 Westpark Drive, Suite A550, Tysons, VA 22102-3853 Phone: 703.749.0400 Fax: 703.749.9075 www.novachamber.org • To learn more about membership, please contact John Woodstock, 703.725.7526; jwoodstock@novachamber.org

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Spotlight on Nonprofit:

Inside this issue 6

Letter from the Chair 8

Your Chamber in Action 4

10

Members Making News 14

Positively Nova Special Edition:

Celebrating Members’ Holiday Endeavors

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More Than Making Grants: The Northern Virginia Health Foundation is ‘Deeply Rooted’ in Our Region 26

Your Chamber Embraces Diversity 27

Chamber Signature Events 31

New Members

TO ADVERTISE

Contact Bruce Potter bpotter@insidenova.com 571.333.1538 EDITOR

Susan McCorkindale • ART DIRECTOR

Kara Thorpe •

InsideNoVa.com 1360 Old Bridge Road Woodbridge VA 22192 ©2022 Rappahannock Media LLC

Upcoming Chamber Events Dates are subject to change. To stay apprised of the events featured here and all upcoming events, keep an eye on Chamber emails and visit the website for complete details and registration information: novachamber.org/upcoming-events Keeping members informed and providing opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement are part of the Chamber’s ongoing mission.

We accomplish this through a variety of activities that range from expert-led, topical events to focused group discussions. Following is the lineup of events for 2022.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

AUGUST

11 New Member Orientation Noon 25 30th Annual Economic Conference:

1 Greater Washington

2 Greater Washington

8 Speed Networking

9 Speed Networking 11 Mix and Mingle 30 Annual State

Outlook 2022 8:30 a.m. (hybrid event) Van Metre Hall Auditorium, George Mason University, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington. Join us as our keynote speakers and panelists explore the opportunities and challenges faced by our region as we continue to emerge as an international center of technology business growth and create pathways to enhance our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Keynote Speakers: Our keynotes will provide a joint presentation of research into workforce and economic trends. JONATHAN ABERMAN, Dean, School of Business & Technology, Marymount University and TERRY CLOWER, Director of the Center for Regional Analysis, George Mason University Panelists: KENDALL HOLBROOK, CEO, Dev Technology. Kendall leads a women-owned company that provides full-stack development, biometrics, IT service management and data management for the federal government. DAVID RITCHEY, Executive Vice President at JBG Smith, a company that owns and operates about 16.7 million square feet of office, multifamily and retail assets and has roughly 17.6 million square feet of mixed-use space in the development pipeline. RUTH WILLIAMSBRINKLEY, President, Mid-Atlantic, Kaiser Permanente. Ruth oversees all of Kaiser Permanente’s care delivery and health plan operations in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland, Baltimore and Northern Virginia.

TIEN WONG, Chairman and CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment, strategic advisory and conference management firm based in the Washington area.

27 2022 Lobby Day and Viva Virginia 6 p.m.

Wong Gonzalez, 412 E. Grace St., Richmond.

Join Chamber members in Richmond this year at Viva Virginia! Our annual legislative reception is back after a COVID-induced hiatus last year. Each year, Viva Virginia is one of the premier mid-session receptions that lawmakers and business leaders alike make sure to attend.

This year we are co-hosting the event with the Arlington Chamber and Alexandria Chamber.

Back in 2020, the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Chair of Senate Finance, and many other prominent members of our Northern Virginia delegation attended the reception. Don’t miss out!

Apprenticeship Network

Apprenticeship Network

MARCH

1 Greater Washington

of Transportation

Apprenticeship Network

8 New Member Orientation 17 Healthcare in the Region

SEPTEMBER

APRIL

13 New Member Orientation 15 Capital Region

12 Speed Networking 21 Mid Atlantic

6 Greater Washington

Apprenticeship Network

Business Forum

Innovation Celebration

28 Senatorial Roundtable

MAY

OCTOBER

3

4 Greater Washington

10 New Member Orientation 19 Women at the

NOVEMBER

Greater Washington Apprenticeship Network

Top of GovCon

Apprenticeship Network

1

Greater Washington Apprenticeship Network

2 Greater Washington

JUNE

Government Contractor Awards

7 Greater Washington

Apprenticeship Network

14 Capital Region Workforce Summit

16 Speed Networking 23 Good Business Awards

8 Speed Networking 17Annual State of Economic Growth

DECEMBER

JULY

6 Greater Washington

5 Greater Washington

8 Women in Business

12 New Member Orientation TBD Distinguished

13 New Member Orientation 15 Chamber Holiday Party

Apprenticeship Network

Service Awards

Apprenticeship Network Signature Event

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FROM THE CHAIR A New Year’s Resolution for our Business Community

L

ooking for a New Year’s resolution that goes beyond the usual?

Sure, I’ll no doubt resolve to lose weight and exercise more in 2022. And, as I reflect on the past year – eulogies of Senator Bob Dole praising his life while lamenting the demise of the bipartisanship he represented… public officials fearing for their personal safety… stories about the “anger epidemic” in our country…cringe-worthy, expletive-laced bumper stickers in the grocery store parking lot…and a rancorous political season with some ads and tactics that can be described as distasteful at best – I’m struck by the opportunity for a more impactful resolution.

Let’s be civil.

What I’m proposing goes beyond Merriam Webster’s definition of civility: “Civilized conduct; a polite act or expression.” While that’s a good start, as a business community, we can do more.

We can be role models of active civility.

As leaders, we can insist on respectful dialogue in the workplace. We can build inclusive cultures. We can listen to different points of view and drive toward consensus and connection. We can invest in community building.

We can also demand more problem solving and less posturing from elected officials. We can support candidates and political leaders who consider bipartisanship a priority, not a sign of weakness.

We’ve seen what we get without 6

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civility…gridlock on critical issues, blame and entrenchment, acrimony in public meetings, personal detachment, lack of common connection, employee disengagement, attrition.

Civility is good for business. As such, I’m very pleased that the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Sorensen Institute for Effective Leadership to promote positive discourse and solutions-oriented civic engagement. Stay tuned for more information about programs and events in the coming months.

In the meantime, don’t forget those small acts that plant seeds of civility. Let that

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car go ahead of you. Pay for the customer behind you in the Starbucks drive-through lane. Seek out a colleague who voted differently than you did – and listen to why.

For 2022 – let’s resolve to be a force for civility!

Wishing you a healthy, positive 2022, LUANNE S. GUTERMUTH

President, LSG Solutions LLC Co-founder & Co-owner, Good Spirit Farm 2021-2022 Chair, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

About The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership was founded in 1993 to bring together diverse individuals with a passion for politics and public service.

All have a wide variety of viewpoints and backgrounds but work together for the common good. The Institute’s non-partisan mission is to strengthen and enhance the quality of government at all levels throughout Virginia.

For more information, visit sorenseninstitute.org

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GOVERNMENT Change is the Only Constant,

And Your Chamber is Ready for It

BY C L AY T O N M E D F O R D Vice President of Government Relations, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

T

he Northern Virginia Chamber’s 2022 Legislative Agenda was released just before the holidays, and once again it is something members can be very proud of. Why? Because you made it! The Policy Committee, led by co-chairs Laura Linn of Dewberry and Kathy Albarado of Helios HR, drafted the agenda this fall, and we once again had record participation by members. I want to thank all who were involved this year, some for the first time.

Virginia is emerging from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong economic position.

The state and our Northern Virginia localities are in good financial positions and are engaging with businesses on how best to deploy resources to help speed recovery. We 8

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have a new governor, who has promised to make the economy the focus of his administration. We are ready to work with him and the General Assembly to keep the pedal to the metal.

Our Legislative Agenda recognizes that while we faced great challenges these past two years, our priorities have not changed. A strong, diverse, and equitable economy is still the goal. Regional and statewide collaboration is a key driver, as is adequate investment in education and workforce development.

Getting people to and from work safely, reliably and affordably remains important even with work-from-home becoming the new normal for many. Taxes and regulations must continue to be fair and predictable. Our energy system needs to be affordable and WINTER 2022

dependable as we transition to a clean energy economy.

And the need for access to healthcare has never been clearer than it was during the worst of the pandemic.

The General Assembly made significant investments in education and transportation in the past two sessions.

On education, the General Assembly funded Gov. Ralph Northam’s G3 community college tuition program, which helps individuals afford degrees in high-demand fields.

On transportation, we worked with General Assembly leaders to restore some of the funding taken from our region’s road projects for Metro in 2018. We are hopeful the General Assembly, under new leadership, will continue to see the value in these investments.

The Chamber continues to be a voice supporting

fair and predictable taxing and regulatory systems in the Commonwealth. In the 2022 Agenda, we again express our support for a dialogue on comprehensive modernization of Virginia’s taxing system, which for too long has pitted regions of the state against one another in a fight for resources. We believe our taxation system should recognize economic drivers and support businesses and families trying to grow no matter where they are.

It remains critical that businesses have access to affordable and reliable energy sources such as natural gas. As we transition to a clean energy economy, we encourage our elected leaders to proceed cautiously and recognize the role that existing energy sources must continue to play in that transition. We also encourage them to recognize the need for climate resiliency standards that are costeffective and data driven.

Finally, the Chamber will continue to advocate for improved access to, and greater affordability of, healthcare in Virginia.

We believe the private and nonprofit delivery of healthcare remains the best way to do that. We will also continue to work with the administration on its efforts to reduce costs through the Smarter Care initiative.

This year will be a year of change, with a new administration and new leadership in the House of Delegates. The groundwork your Chamber has laid throughout our history will help ease this transition and ensure a seat at the table for Virginia’s businesses.

Visit the Chamber’s website to download the 2022 Legislative Agenda.

Awards Acquisitions

Crowe LLP Acquires Spark.Orange

Crowe is an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world. The Crowe global network includes more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries. Spark.Orange is a Salesforce cloud platform implementation and solutions provider, and a Salesforce Strategic Implementation Partner based in Syracuse, N.Y. The firm offers digital transformation services to customers across the U.S. in industries such as private equity, healthcare, life sciences, high tech, manufacturing, banking, financial services, non-profit and higher education.

“We’re thrilled that the Spark.Orange team is joining our Crowe family,” said Mark Baer, CEO, Crowe.

“They bring deep, insightful MARK BAER and transformative expertise CEO, Crowe across the Salesforce cloud platform, which is a strategic addition to our consulting cloud platform offerings. Adding this team and their capabilities to Crowe will bring lasting value to our clients and expanded career opportunities for our people.”

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Grant Thornton’s Tina Cooper named among Consulting magazine’s 2021 Women Leaders in Consulting Tina Cooper, a senior manager in Grant Thornton LLP’s Public Sector practice, has been named to the 2021 Women Leaders in Consulting list by Consulting magazine. The award, which recognizes industry standouts and rising stars in the profession, honored Cooper as a “Diversity Champion.”

“Tina exemplifies true leadership in diversity and inclusion, and her commitment only deepened during a year marred by increases in anti-Asian violence,” said Carlos Otal, national managing partner of Grant Thornton’s Public Sector practice.

“From her work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. government to serving as a diversity and inclusion champion at Grant Thornton, Tina makes the world a better, more inclusive place.”

TINA COOPER Senior Manager, Grant Thornton LLP Public Sector practice

KPMG Awarded U.S. Patent For Cyber Incident Response Solution

NAREIT names JBG Smith 2021 Diversified Leader in the Light JBG Smith, an owner and developer of highquality, mixed-use properties in the Washington market, received NAREIT’s 2021 Diversified Leader in the Light award in recognition of its environmental, social, and corporate governance efforts. NAREIT is a Washington, D.C.-based association representing a large and diverse industry that includes equity real estate investment trusts, mortgage REITs, REITs traded on major stock exchanges, public non-listed REITs and private REITs. It’s annual Leader in the Light Awards honor NAREIT member companies that have demonstrated superior and sustained sustainability practices. During the MATT KELLY REITworld: 2021 Annual CEO, JBG SMITH Conference, JBG Smith was honored with the highest achievement across all diversified companies.

“The JBG Smith team has worked incredibly hard over the last few years to further our commitment to ESG excellence and to reach the ambitious goals we continue to set for ourselves,” said Matt Kelly, JBG Smith CEO. “I am extremely proud of what our team has achieved and deeply appreciative of NAREIT’s ‘Leader in the Light’ recognition.”

KPMG has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for KPMG Digital Responder, a solution enabling rapid response to cyber incidents. By innovating and automating common parts of the digital forensics and incident response process, DAVID NIDES Principal, Cyber KPMG's new patent helps Security Services, eliminate unpredictable spend KPMG U.S. associated with traditional approaches while maintaining integrity during the investigation process. “Whether it’s an insider threat or a network intrusion from a ransomware incident, responses need to be swift and efficient,” said David Nides, Principal, Cyber Security Services, KPMG U.S. “By automating manual functions, KPMG Digital Responder reduces the detection to response lag from days to hours, which is critical in emerging notification requirements.”

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CGI selected for citywide application development, maintenance and IT support services

CEO JILL MCFARLANE and CDO RICHARD JACIK with Brillient’s Fast 500 award at the Deloitte Fast 500 award gala.

Brillient Corporation Ranked Number 431 Fastest-Growing Company in North America on the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Brillient Corporation recently announced it ranked 431 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fi ntech and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 27th year. Brillient grew 266% during this period.

Brillient’s founder and chief executive officer, Sukumar Iyer, credits a passion for solving client problems using practical innovation and a committed and collaborative work culture focused on delivery excellence with the company's 266% revenue growth. “I dedicate this award to our employees for making us brilliant each day and the trust and partnership of our clients in helping advance their mission.”

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CGI recently announced JOANNA ROBINSON its selection by the city of San Senior Vice-President, Diego for a $84 million, fourCGI U.S. West Operations year contract, with additional option years for a potential 10-year contract term, under which it will provide long-term IT support to meet the evolving requirements of key business applications operated by the city, including a growing portfolio of digitized services. CGI's support will ensure the city’s 11,000 employees have the tools they need to provide the highest-value services to the residents of San Diego.

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the city of San Diego and excited at the opportunity to continue a meaningful collaboration as the city continues its digital transformation,” said Joanna Robinson, Senior Vice President of CGI’s U.S. West Operations.

On the Move

Old Dominion National Bank Names Todd Rowley Regional President for Central Virginia Old Dominion National Bank (ODNB) recently announced the appointment of Todd Rowley to serve as the bank’s Regional President for Central Virginia.

Rowley will be based in Charlottesville.

As Regional President for Central Virginia, Rowley is responsible for commercial loan and deposit business development across the Commonwealth, TODD ROWLEY to include the regions of Central Virginia.

Regional President for With over 40 years of in-market banking Central Virginia, Old experience, he will primarily focus on Dominion National Bank serving small-and mid-sized businesses through the bank’s dedicated specialty groups, including government contracting, commercial real estate development, healthcare, professional services, and non-profit.

“With our executive offices in Tysons Corner, ODNB was originally founded and chartered in the Charlottesville area and has continued to actively support businesses and individuals throughout Central Virginia,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Merrill.

“Todd’s expansive knowledge and experience will be vital as we look to continue to grow our presence in the Central Virginia region.”

Good Deeds

Veterans United Home Loans Donates 11 Homes to 11 Deserving Veterans Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest Department of Veterans Affairs loans provider, recently announced its donation of 11 homes to 11 deserving U.S. veterans. Veterans United teamed with Marine Corps veteran and comedian Rob Riggle to select 10 veterans making a difference in their communities for 10 home giveaways and donated one more home to a veteran via its Thanks to Veterans contest.

"We as a company work on improving the lives of service members, their families and their communities, and that is the core of every decision we make," said Pam Swan, vice president of military relations.

Jonathon Brown, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is now the single law enforcement officer in his small Wisconsin town. Before his selection by the Veterans United team, he and his wife lived in a three-bedroom rental with seven children under 17. Photo courtesy Veterans United Home Loans

The Washingtonian Group is proud to support THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Howard S. Rothman Vice President 202.916.3145 howard.rothman@jpmorgan.com jpmorgan.com/wg 875 15th Street NW, 7th Floor Washington, DC 20005

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POSITIVELY NOVA

Special Edition: Celebrating Members’ Holiday Endeavors

Our members always do good things for the community, but this past holiday season they outdid themselves.

Capital One Center hosted a three-day celebration and leadership training to benefit Best Buddies of Northern Virginia & DC Capital One Center hosted a three-day celebration to benefit Best Buddies of Northern Virginia & DC. Over 10,000 guests enjoyed the weekend of local bands and kid-friendly activities – including superheroes rappelling down The Watermark Hotel onto The Perch. Capital One Center was proud to partner with Best Buddies and spotlight its mission to create opportunities for integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The following weekend, Capital One Center hosted Best Buddies Capital Region's Annual Leadership Training Day for student leaders – the group’s first in-person gathering in two years. “It was so thrilling to have 85 Best Buddies student leaders from across Virginia and DC gather, safely and outside, thanks to the generosity of Capital One Center at The Perch," shared Molly Whalen, State Director, Best Buddies Capital Region.

Dev Technology hosts Holiday Giving Campaign and annual Turkey Trot Community is one of Dev Technology’s six core values, and one of the ways it embraced this need was with its annual Holiday Giving Campaign, including the annual Turkey Trot, which raised $10,000 to support Cornerstones, Northern Virginia Family Services, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Martha’s Table and the Arkansas Food Bank. 56 employees participated in the Turkey Trot, a 3.1-mile (5K) annual event to raise funds for the Dev Virtual Food Drive portion of the firm’s Holiday Giving Campaign. “I’m proud of our team members’ passion and commitment to supporting the greater communities where we work and live,” said Kendall Holbrook, Dev Technology CEO. “This year’s Holiday Giving Campaign is one more shining example of how they truly bring life to our core value of community through their continuous support and generosity.”

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Evans Consulting supports Salvation Army Angel Tree Outreach Program One of the favorite holiday traditions at Evans Consulting is the firm’s annual drive to support the Salvation Army Angel Tree Outreach Program. For the past seven years Evans Consulting has held an Angel Tree drive, adopting 181 angels from 2014-2020. This year, Evans team members adopted 35 seniors, as well as donated 27 toys and provided $725 in direct donations to the Salvation Army. The Senior Angels program was a new option in 2021 with gifts being provided for individuals in local nursing facilities who do not have family members to provide for them. The toys donated in the toy drive were used for children whose angel tags were not fulfilled.

Leading Authorities Inc. Supports Bright Beginnings Child Development For almost twenty years, the staff at Leading Authorities Inc. has contributed time, money and supplies to Bright Beginnings, a nonprofit that operates early childhood and family learning centers for children and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Washington, D.C. LAI staff have volunteered to help with meals, playtime and storytime, but it is perhaps during the holiday season where they give the most, with staff participating in the holiday drive – donating and supplying new clothes, toys and hearty holiday meals each year to benefit homeless infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Matthews, Carter & Boyce in Action Matthews, Carter & Boyce's MCB Cares began as a way for team members to work together in support of causes that are meaningful to them. In addition to other 2021 projects, team members partnered with Meals of Hope and Food for Others in a firmwide effort to package meals for delivery.

The goal was to package 20,000 meals; MCB exceeded the number, preparing 21,000 total meals, which were picked up and distributed. To keep the good going, MCB Cares partnered with the Salvation Army, participating in its Angel Tree program, and sponsoring two kettles in Fairfax and Reston. MCB is proud to support this iconic organization in meeting the needs of families throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

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Sandy Spring Bank serves communities through Annual Season of Sharing Sandy Spring Bank is committed to serving its communities through volunteerism all year but makes it a greater priority during its annual Season of Sharing that runs from October to January. This year, the company kick-started the campaign by partnering with the Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank and CVS Health on a food drive that collected 1,500 pounds of food for area families.

Other volunteer activities this year included hosting a toy collection and silent auction for Toys for Tots to benefit disadvantaged children, collecting new or unused pajamas and books for children in foster care through the DC Metropolitan Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, collecting monetary donations and non-perishable food

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items for the Howard County Food Bank, promoting literacy among young readers through an inspiring notewriting event with Everybody Wins DC., and raising funds for Adoptions Together, A Wider Circle, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries and Anne Arundel County Literacy Council.

Reston Limousine provides shuttles, collects warm clothes for Afghan refugees Reston Limousine is proud to have been chosen as a shuttle service provider for the Afghan refugees here in Virginia. As the weather changed, its drivers noticed that most of the refugees were ill-prepared for the winter temperatures and asked employees to donate warm clothing for newborns through teens. Happily, the efforts have grown and thanks to the generosity of the company’s clients, the Sterling Women’s Business Group and Visit Loudoun, Reston Limousine collected warm clothes (hats, mittens, coats) for individuals of all ages, staying open 24/7 so people could drop donations off at their convenience.

Parsons underpins its commitment to delivering a better, more inclusive world “Delivering a better world begins with inclusivity,” said Jason Yaley, Parsons’ Chief Communications Officer and Executive Co-Sponsor of the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. Last month, employees from across Parsons logged into the 11th Annual Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) Conference to connect with college students and young professionals across the United States who are passionately pursuing their dreams of a career in STEM. oSTEM Inc. is a non-profit professional association for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ+) people in the STEM community. Like Parsons, the organization is focused on

building a world where LGBTQ+ people in the STEM community are empowered to achieve success in a safe and supportive environment that celebrates their diversity and unique contributions.

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At You

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DOING WELL BY DOING GOOD

Let’s Resolve to Be a Great Community in All Measures – Let’s Resolve to Give

BY K AT H Y R N FA L K

T

here is no doubt that Northern Virginia is a great community. We are at the top of many measurements of success. We have the best workforce, the best schools, the best cities to live in, the best places to work and the best place for businesses to locate. But we also have the opportunity to improve in many categories that can truly make this an even greater community.

The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia’s Insight Region data, a growing hub for reliable, well-researched and actionable data and analyses on issues critical to this area, shows the deep need many of our neighbors face. In its series on inclusive prosperity, they found that 67% of Northern Virginians with low incomes (less than $50,000 per year for a family of four) are “severely burdened” by the cost of housing – spending over half their income on rent, mortgage, taxes, fees and basic utilities. Additionally, its study on children at or near the poverty level in

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our region found they have the second lowest rate of preschool enrollment in the country; just 29% of 3- and 4-year-olds in this income bracket are in school.

Data from Educate Fairfax, the new name of the former Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools, shows that the largest school system in the region, Fairfax County, with 180,000 students, has one-third or 60,000 on free or reduced meals, and a thousand who are homeless and commute daily from shelters to school.

Now is the time to resolve to make meaningful contributions to communitybased groups that can help support our neighbors in need. My recommendations include: The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Permanent Fund (https://www.cfnova. org/giving-and-investing/ permanent-fund-fornorthern-virginia) Educate Fairfax, which seeks to ensure that every student has a path to success (https://educatefairfax.app. neoncrm.com/np/clients/ educatefairfax/donation.jsp).

Northern Virginia Family Services, which empowers 40,000 individuals and families every year, most of whom live in poverty, to achieve self-sufficiency. They provide early childhood development, foster care and adoption, homelessness and housing, health and wellbeing, immigration legal services, mental health, youth initiatives and workforce development programs (https://www.nvfs.org/ donate-online/).

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which supports

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” workforce development across our region (https:// novachamber.org/northernvirginia-chamber-ofcommerce-foundation/).

The start of the new year is a great time to ensure your business has a plan to give back to the community and our residents who work for you and buy your products and services.

According to Giving.com, when a business establishes philanthropic efforts, it results in: 1. Increased employee engagement and productivity: “Up to 78% of employees want to engage with corporate social responsibility initiatives.”

2. Improved brand awareness and reputation: “The more good

you do, the better your brand perception will be.”

3. Attraction of top talent: “Businesses are only as effective as their employees – and employees are starting to demand attention to corporate responsibility, philanthropy included.”

4. Increased sales: “Studies show that people will spend more with brands that support causes. When choosing between two brands of equal value, 90% of consumers are likely to switch to a cause-branded product.”

I am so proud to work for Cox Communications, where giving back is in our DNA. We recently announced our annual Cox Charities Grant award winners, 18 local nonprofits chosen by our employees across Virginia.

Philanthropy runs deep here, and our employees are proud that, in 2020 alone, we contributed $3.7 million to community-based organizations.

So, why don’t we all kick off the year with a plan to give back, personally and professionally.

As Coretta Scott King said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kathryn Falk is the Vice President and Market Leader for Cox Communications in Northern Virginia and the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

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BY KELLIE FRYE

COVER STORY What Counts When Working on Diversity and Inclusion?

Staying in the Game

BY J O N AT H A N H U N L E Y

A

ndrea Grant knows diversity.

The 44-year-old has been in human resources since 1999, so she’s worked with all kinds of folks. But she’s also a special-needs mom and the caretaker for her father, a disabled veteran.

Oh, and her dad was the first AfricanAmerican to work in the Warrenton Police Department and in the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.

ANDREA GRANT Vice president, Sales Enablement Challenger, Gray & Christmas

So the vice president of sales enablement with Challenger, Gray & Christmas isn’t exaggerating when she says, “Diversity is a part of me.”

Grant was one the diversity-andinclusion professionals at the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s “Women in Business Signature Event: Leading Diversity” in December at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. And two of their main points were that this work has to be a business strategy, not a program or initiative, and that it needs to

be a part of everything a company does, from hiring to selecting vendors with which to partner.

Diversity, inclusion and equity efforts in a workplace can’t be a program or initiative, Grant said in a recent interview, because those imply starting and ending points. The work instead needs to be ongoing. Living and breathing: “It needs to be a strategy.”

And that requires investments of money, time, sweat equity and more.

Dedication to diversity and inclusion also means talking about these issues and integrating them into a company’s culture, so they’re not separate activities, said Laila Salguero, chief diversity, equity

From left: Panel moderator, KATHRYN FALK, Vice President and Market Leader, Cox Communications; ANDREA GRANT, Vice President, Sales Enablement, Challenger, Gray & Christmas; DAWNITA WILSON, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, JBG smith; LAILA SALGUERO, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Peraton.

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said. When she started at JBG Smith, for example, she conducted focus groups with everyone from the maintenance team up to senior leaders.

The top leaders at a company, however, have to endorse diversity efforts if they’re to succeed, Grant and Salguero said. Commitment is necessary, and it shouldn’t be confused with support, Wilson said. A lot of people at a business may support diversity and inclusion, but committed executives are the ones diversity leaders can look to for help in moving efforts to the next level.

Executives need to think about being inclusive in all of a company’s processes and in all of the decisions they make, Wilson said. If they’re recruiting from colleges that aren’t diverse, for instance, it will be tough to attract diverse job candidates. And if a company doesn’t have inclusive language in job descriptions, then those need to change.

Some of the moves are simple.

COURTESY OF MITRE

“Doesn’t need to be a big production,” Wilson said. “Doesn’t need to be 50 million conversations. If you know that you’re not doing something well, you just need to stop. You need to change.”

And equity is an outcome of having inclusive processes, systems and practices, she said: “Inclusion, I think, creates equity.”

Of course, matters discussed with regard to diversity, inclusion and equity will make some workers uncomfortable, but that just shows the efforts are on track, Wilson said.

“So if people are not uncomfortable, you’re not doing your job,” she said.

This work isn’t about getting everyone to agree, Grant said, but about fostering an environment of mutual respect.

Belonging is an important concept to keep in mind, too, she said. A business can improve the recruiting and hiring of diverse employees, and those workers can be included in, say, a meeting, but they still may never feel like they belong in the company.

So how do you measure success in these areas? More diverse representation in an organization is one way, of course.

For example, in 2020, JBG Smith’s internship class was 56% diverse, Wilson said, and last year it was 66% diverse.

But there are really no winners or losers when working on diversity and inclusion, Turner said. As long as you’re in the game, that is what counts.

“It’s never done,” she said.

COURTESY OF PERATON

BY JULIE LIEBLICH

and inclusion officer at the Herndonbased national security contractor Peraton. Managers have to make sure workers are available to support affiliated programs, too.

Grant and Salguero were two of three panelists for the Leading Diversity event.

The other was Dawnita Wilson, vice president of diversity and inclusion at JBG Smith, a Bethesda, Md.-based real estate and development firm.

Grant said she would ask executives starting down the diversity path why they want to do so. If it’s just for optics, then they shouldn’t do it, she said.

If a company has resolved to undertake diversity work, then executives first have to ask what inclusion and diversity mean within the business, said Stephanie E. Turner, vice president of inclusion, diversity and social innovation at MITRE, a not-for-profit organization that does research for the federal government. How are the terms defined?

And if they’re not defined, then defining them is job one, said Turner, who was interviewed after the Chamber event.

Talking to employees is important, as well, Wilson said. If a business wants to find out where it is in terms of diversity, and about what type of culture it has, those in charge of the efforts need to talk to people at all levels of the company, not just the top leaders or managers.

“Companies sometimes miss the boat at not finding out how everyone is experiencing their organization,” Wilson

STEPHANIE E. TURNER Vice President, Inclusion, Diversity and Social Innovation MITRE

DAWNITA WILSON Vice president, Diversity and Inclusion JBG Smith

LAILA SALGUERO Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Peraton

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SPOTLIGHT

on education

Dr. Brooke (Yuemin) He, professor of English at NOVA’s Annandale campus, believes the center will help connect students to teachers and other critical resources, such as financial aid.

NOVA’s AANAPI Intercultural Learning Center: Designed to help low-income Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students succeed

BY JA M E S JA R V I S

A

s the son of a first-generation Tibetan immigrant, Tenzin Tsega said he knows what it feels like to come to a new country and be treated differently.

After he was born in the United States, Tsega said, his mother sent him to India to live with his grandparents while she got settled. Tsega returned to America to live with his mother when he turned 13, but he

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struggled to fit in, especially at school.

Seven years later, Tsega is a student at Northern Virginia Community College and president of the Asian Student Association. And he said the challenges of growing up as an Asian American in this country motivated him and members of his organization to create a safe space for Asian students at NOVA to talk with peers and socialize.

“Our goal was to help [Asian] students transition from another country,” Tsega said.

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Creating the space is one of several steps the association took to address inequities Asian students face. But Tsega said his organization has only been able to do so much on its own and was excited when he heard NOVA had received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund programs aimed at providing Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) students with more academic and cultural resources.

Left to right: Tenzin Tsega, Trishvi Nguyen, Dr. Brooke (Yuemin) He, Professor of English, Division of Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences

“It just feels really good to be seen,” Tsega said. “The prioritization of lowincome AANAPI students is long overdue.”

The grant is funded through the education department’s Asian American and Native American Pacific IslanderServing Institutions program. NOVA was one of 14 higher-education institutions that enroll a significant percentage of students from minority groups to receive the grant, and the funds must be spent over five years.

NOVA’s project manager for the grant, Dr. Nathan Carter, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the community college, said the college plans to use funds from the grant, dubbed APPEAL (Asian Pacific Pedagogy for Equity, Achievement, and Learning), to create an intercultural learning center, establish a peer-mentorship program and provide “culturally responsive” training for faculty.

“This grant will enable NOVA to do more for our AANAPI students as our country continues to address the impact of COVID-19 and confront ongoing biases that impact AANAPI communities,” he said.

Many of those students, Carter said, could be new residents of the United States or they may be the first in their family to attend college or both. At the same time, Carter said many AANAPI students have also faced discrimination personally or witnessed it happening against their community.

Trishvi Nguyen, the daughter of firstgeneration Vietnamese immigrants, is a student at NOVA and first in her family to attend college. Nguyen, who is studying biology and biochemistry, said that as an Asian American woman in a STEM field she has struggled to overcome stereotypes in an industry mostly composed of white men.

“A lot of my peers are white and have different social status,” Nguyen said. “So, I think I have a disadvantage in that way.

I definitely have been looked down upon because I am a different race compared to everyone else.”

Nguyen said she faces discrimination in small and big ways every day. But she has taken on leadership roles, such as vice president of student government, and advocated for women in STEM fields and majors to fight for more equity. Nguyen said she knows a lot of Asian Americans and other minorities who are discouraged because of their racial identity and hopes that the funding for things like an intercultural center will empower students by allowing them to talk about their experiences without feeling judged.

“It’s finally time to start to accept that it’s OK to talk about race and the discrimination that goes along with it,” she said.

The college hopes its programs targeting AANAPI and other lowincome students will help the institution meet its students’ emotional, academic and cultural needs – facilitating their academic success.

The college’s top priority is to establish an “AANAPI Intercultural Learning Center” for tutoring, mentorship, community building, and other student support services, Carter said.

When Carter took over the role of chief diversity officer in December 2020, he conducted listening sessions during which students told him they were interested in having access to a multipurpose space where they could study, do research and feel comfortable.

Carter said the center will create opportunities for students to partner with faculty and research issues such as COVID-19 that affect the AANAPI community and form mentorships in

the process.

“Students see the things that they’re learning in a research methods class are applicable to things that are very close to them in their community,” Carter said. “[The center] gives them the ability to drive that process and work with a faculty member that’s also interested in that research area.”

Dr. Brooke (Yuemin) He, professor of English at NOVA’s Annandale campus, said she has spent most of her career teaching the intersections between literature, ethnicity, race and geography and believes the center will help connect students to teachers and other critical resources, such as financial aid.

“We have students who come from low-income families who lack family support, lack community support and also who do not have role models in their own life because a lot of them are first time going to college,” He said.

The college plans to locate the center on the second floor of Founder’s Hall on the Annandale campus next to the provost’s office. Annandale is the college’s second-largest campus – after Manassas – with a little over 12,000 students. The campus also has the highest concentration of Asian American students, making up 23% of the total student population. The center should open in the spring.

The college also plans to bring in national experts to help teachers understand cultural nuances that may cause relationships with students to break down. The training is expected to begin in the spring.

To complement the intercultural center and teacher training programs, Carter said the college also hopes to create a peer-mentorship program that would connect students to one another.

“Students who are new to college but see themselves as being different from the traditional college students… benefit from connecting with peer mentors.”

If the program is successful, Carter said, the college may replicate it at its other campuses. “We really need to show action: that we care about those members of our community; that we're going to use the resources we have to try to help and to continue to educate and to support.”

James Jarvis is a reporter for InsideNoVa. You can reach him at jjarvis@insidenova.com.

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SPOTLIGHT

on non-profit

More Than Making Grants: The Northern Virginia Health Foundation is ‘Deeply Rooted’ in Our Region

Northern Virginia Dental Clinic

BY J O N AT H A N H U N L E Y

F

rom the outside, Northern Virginia may seem like it has no poverty, Patricia N. Mathews explained.

That’s because many people have a more urban idea of hardship: In their mind’s eye they see a setting with large, older buildings, and that kind of landscape isn’t present here. But that doesn’t mean some of the region’s residents aren’t poor.

“We don’t have that in Northern Virginia, but we have a lot of poverty in Northern Virginia,” said Mathews, president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation.

In fact, more than a half million people here have meager incomes, she said, and life 24

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expectancy at birth – the number of years an average newborn can expect to live – can vary as much as 13 years across the region between the haves and the have-nots.

“That has simply to do with the social determinants of health,” Mathews said.

Those social determinants include income, housing, transportation accessibility, poverty and race, and they affect the work of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation.

Created in 2005 as a result of the resolution of a lawsuit surrounding the closing of Jefferson Memorial Hospital, the Alexandria-based foundation is focused on the health and health care needs of Northern Virginia residents, particularly those who are low-income, uninsured or underinsured.

Since 2007, it has issued 223 grants,

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Arlington Pediatric Center

totaling more than $19 million, to support the work of safety-net clinics and nonprofits that serve Northern Virginians who could not otherwise afford or access health care. Funding has gone to recipients such as Neighborhood Health in Alexandria, the Greater Prince William Community Health Center, HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, the Arlington Free Clinic, Virginia Hospital Center Pediatrics, Northern Virginia Family Service and the Northern Virginia

COURTESY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA HEALTH FOUNDATION

Patricia N. Mathews, President & CEO, Northern Virginia Health Foundation

Dental Clinic.

“We provide grants to those organizations so that they can attend to the needs of their patients,” Mathews said.

The foundation also partners with other groups, government agencies and community stakeholders on health matters in Northern Virginia. Examples of this work include the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria and the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax.

“We are very active in the community,”

Mathews said.

In addition, the foundation commissions research, including a report

by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Society and Health released in November. That work, “Deeply Rooted: History’s Lessons for Equity in Northern Virginia,” recounts African American experiences in the region over the past 400 years and expands on a 2017 study in which the center identified census tracts with poor health outcomes. The 2021 project explores the historical roots of those “islands of disadvantage.”

“We don’t think of our work as simply making grants,” Mathews said.

The foundation has a staff of three, and its nine-member board includes two former Virginia secretaries of health and

human resources, Jane Woods and Dr. William A. Hazel.

And, like most every other organization, it has witnessed changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, Mathews said the foundation’s grantees have had to pivot to telehealth alternatives.

The health care groups have been fairly successful with the work-arounds, she said, but there are limitations. Some parts of Northern Virginia face broadband challenges, for example, and mental health issues can be hard to discuss with a doctor or therapist online if that means providing details from home, where other family members can listen.

For more information, see novahealthfdn.org.

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CREATING LEADERS

Your Chamber Embraces Diversity W

e bring business leaders, top institutions, other business organizations, and a diverse group of elected leaders together to work toward a better Northern Virginia.

"Our strength is grounded in truly reflecting the diversity of our community and advocating for an inclusive business climate that creates equitable access for all to thrive," said Julie Coons, President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Our commitment to diversity and equality for all businesses and their employees has driven our inclusive approach to our board leadership and in our programming including speakers and organizational relationships. We will continue to use our voice to achieve meaningful and positive change in our region. It is a commitment that will remain top of mind—and action—as we continue to work toward an inclusive world.

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Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board of Advisors Roster LUANNE GUTERMUTH (CO-CHAIR) Founder and CEO, LSG Solutions LLC

JERMAINE JOHNSON Regional President, Greater Washington and Virginia, PNC Bank

JOHN A. ALLEN (CO-CHAIR) Region Bank President, Wells Fargo

PATRICIA N. MATHEWS President & CEO, Northern Virginia Health Foundation

KATHY ALBARADO President & CEO, Helios HR STEPHANIE BERKOWITZ President & CEO, Northern Virginia Family Service KARLA BRUCE Chief Equity Officer, Office of the County Executive, Fairfax County Government JIM DYKE Senior Advisor, McGuireWoods Consulting EILEEN ELLSWORTH CEO, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia KATHRYN FALK Vice President, Northern Virginia, Cox Communications DEB GANDY Managing Director, Chevy Chase Trust VICTOR HOSKINS President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

MATT MCQUEEN Senior Vice President Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, Peraton DERRICK N. PERKINS Senior Vice President & Market Executive, Bank of America BEA PFANDER Senior Client Manager, Cigna RICHARD PINEDA President & CEO, CALIBRE Systems, Inc. SCOTT PRICE Regional Policy Director, Dominion Energy DAVID RITCHEY Executive Vice President, Asset Management and Commercial Leasing, JBG SMITH TELLY TUCKER Director, Arlington Economic Development STEPHANIE TURNER Vice President, Inclusion, Diversity & Social Innovation, MITRE TIEN WONG CEO, Opus8

EVENTS chamber signature gatherings

Workforce Index Launch On Oct. 6, the Chamber hosted the Northern Virginia Workforce Index launch event. After conducting an intensive 2021 study to determine the trends impacting our region’s workforce, the results were compiled, presented and discussed by a panel of experts led by moderator STEVEN PARTRIDGE, Vice President for Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation, Northern Virginia Community College.

Keynote DR. STEPHEN MORET, former

President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Alliance

Panelists ETHAN GILL , President,

Helios HR

DEB GANDY, Managing Director, Chevy Chase Trust CHRIS GROS, VP Talent, NT Concepts PAUL MISENER, VP Global Innovation Policy and Communications, Amazon

Moderator STEVEN PARTRIDGE , Vice

President for Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation, Northern Virginia Community College

From left to right: Luanne Gutermuth, LSG Solutions LLC; Victor Hoskins, President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; Stephanie Landrum, President & CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership; Telly Tucker, Director, Arlington Economic Development; Christina Winn, Executive Director, Prince William Department of Economic Development.

2021 State of Economic Growth On Oct. 19, the Chamber hosted DR. STEPHEN

MORET, then the President and CEO of the

Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the leaders of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance at its annual State of Economic Growth. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to and participate in a unique conversation about Virginia’s national and regional competitiveness, the impacts of new public policy on economic growth, and the ways we can keep Virginia at the top of CNBC’s Best State for Business ranking for a third year in a row. (Dr. Moret stepped down from his position in November.)

Keynote speaker, Dr. Stephen Moret, former President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Alliance.

Keynote

Speakers

DR. STEPHEN

VICTOR HOSKINS, President & CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority STEPHANIE LANDRUM, President & CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership TELLY TUCKER, Director, Arlington Economic Development CHRISTINA WINN, Executive Director, Prince William Department of Economic Development

MORET, former

President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Alliance

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19th Annual GovCon Awards™ Winners

On Wednesday, Nov. 3, the Chamber and PSC proudly hosted over 700 attendees at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner for the 19th Annual Greater Washington GovCon Awards™. This year’s Awards lived up to the reputation as the premier awards event for the Washington area government contracting community.

Along with the individual award winners in the Contractor of the Year and Executive of the Year categories, the GovCon Awards recognized ANNE K. ALTMAN as the 2021 Hall of Fame Honoree. Altman is Co-Founder and CEO of Everyone Matters Inc., a social impact enterprise founded to ensure that everyone has equal access to citizen-based services, healthcare and education.

DR. FRANCIS S. COLLINS, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was named this year’s Public Sector Partner for his contributions to the greater community, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Contractor of the Year Up To $25 Million:

KREATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

1 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Adnan Karimi, Mulenga Tembo, Kreative Technologies Inc.; Monica Schmude, Cigna; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton

Over $300 Million:

1

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3

4

5

6

7

8

ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES

2 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Bob Howard, Aon; John Goodman, Accenture; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton

$75 – 300 Million: REI SYSTEMS INC.

3 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Shyam Salona, Samidha Manu, Sid Agarwal, Andrew Zeswitz, and Gissa Sateri, REI; Bob Kipps, Kipps Desanto; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton.

$25 – 75 Million: METRON INC.

4 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Michael Destefano, Wells Fargo; J Van Gurley, Metron; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton

Executive of the Year 5 Up to $75 Million: KI HO KANG,

Founder and CEO, KIHOMAC 6 $75 – 300 Million: KENDALL

HOLBROOK , President and CFO,

Dev Technology Group Inc. 7 Over $300 Million:

NAZZIC KEENE , CEO, SAIC

Program of the Year, Large OPTUMSERVE

8 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Doug Brown, First National Bank; Dr. LaShanda Cobbs, CEO OptumServe Emergency Preparedness and Response; General Patricia D. Horoho, CEO OptumServe; Ed Weinberg, CEO OptumServe Health Services; Elizabeth Martin, JD, MA, Senior Vice President & Capability Lead, OptumServe Consulting; Sammy Holland, CFO; Tim Hunt, VP, Public Health Missions, OptumServe Technology Services; Mike Eddings, CEO OptumServe Technology Services; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton 28

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Program of the Year, Small PUEO BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LLC 1 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Greg Palmtree, Pueo Business Solutions LLC; Micah Mossman, Pueo Business Solutions LLC; Matt Tait, Mantech; Rich Lefleur, Grant Thornton

Public Sector Partner

1

2

Hall of Fame Honoree

DR. FRANCES COLLINS, Director, National Institutes of Health

ANNE ALTMAN, Co-Founder and CEO, Everyone Matters Inc.

2 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Accepting for Dr. Collins – Diane Frasier, NIH; David Berteau, Professional Services Council; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton;

3 From left to right: Craig Chason, Pillsbury; Anne Altman, Everyone Matters; Rich Lafleur, Grant Thornton

3

2021 Distinguished Service Awards On Nov. 9, the Chamber hosted the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards. The Distinguished Service Awards are dedicated to honoring successful veteran-owned businesses in the Greater Washington business community that have demonstrated strong business performance and who have made meaningful contributions to help veterans succeed. The awards are presented to individuals, companies and nonprofit organizations in recognition of community stewardship and business leadership.

Keynote Speaker ALAN B. SALISBURY,

Major General, USA (Ret.)

Veteran Owned Business of the Year, Maturing APTIVE RESOURCES

aptiveresources.com

INTELLIGENT WAVES LLC

intelligentwaves.com

Veteran Employee of the Year TIM BAYLISS,

Government Tactical Solutions, govtact.com CHARLES MILES, PenFed Credit Union, penfed.org (not pictured)

BY ROBYN HAROLD

Veteran Owned Business of the Year, Established

Ben Rodgers, Private Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley; Linda Davidson, CoFounder, Our Military Kids; Jared Shepard, Owner, Intelligent Waves LLC; Alan Salisbury, Major General (Ret), Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Code of Support Foundation; Celina Aguilar, Manager, Aptive Resources; Tim Bayliss, Director of Strategic Development, Government Tactical Solutions.

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2021 Distinguished Service Awards Finalists

Veteran Service Organization of the Year OUR MILITARY KIDS,

ourmilitarykids.org

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year Finalists

2021 Veteran Employee of the Year Finalists

Maturing:

CHARLES MILES, PenFed Credit Union

BUILDING MOMENTUM

TIM BAYLISS, Government Tactical

DAVID HUISENGA , Klas Government

APTIVE RESOURCES

Lifetime Achievement Award winner and Keynote

DAVID T SCOTT & ASSOCIATES, LLC (DTS) GCUBED ENTERPRISES, INC.

GOVERNMENT TACTICAL SOLUTIONS

ALAN SALISBURY,

Established:

Major General (Ret), CoFounder and Chairman Emeritus of the Code of Support Foundation, codeofsupport.org

INTELLIGENT WAVES LLC

Solutions

2021 Veteran Service Organization of the Year Finalists AUSA, GWC

IT VETERANS, LLC

EASTERSEALS DC MD VA

MANTECH INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS

PRECISE SYSTEMS, INC.

COALITION

WENDROFF & ASSOCIATES, CPA

OUR MILITARY KIDS

Women in Business Signature Event: Leading Diversity On Dec. 9, the Chamber hosted the Women in Business signature event, its premier networking and educational event geared toward top women executives. This year’s event focused on women executives who are leading diversity initiatives in their respective companies in a moderated panel discussion. The event provided timely and operational takeaways for executives looking to lead and impact diversity at their companies.

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Moderator: 1 KATHRYN FALK , Vice

President and Market Leader, Cox Communications

Speakers: 2 ANDREA GRANT, Vice

Panel moderator, Kathryn Falk, Vice President and Market Leader, Cox Communications; Andrea Grant, Vice President, Sales Enablement, Challenger, Gray & Christmas; Dawnita Wilson, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, JBG smith; Laila Salguero, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Peraton.

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President, Sales Enablement, Challenger, Gray & Christmas 3 LAILA SALGUERO, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Peraton 4 DAWNITA WILSON, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, JBG Smith

NEW MEMBERS Let’s give ’em a warm welcome

BANKING/FINANCE DC Advisory DC Advisory is an international investment bank committed to making a difference. We recognize that every client and every transaction is unique and believe in delivering The Right Advice™ in every situation. dcadvisory.com First Citizens Bank Recognized for more than a century of strength and stability, First Citizens Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) is the holding company for First Citizens Bank, which has 440 offices in 17 states and the District of Columbia. firstcitizens.com OppZo Inc. OppZo is a FinTech company whose goal is to democratize access to affordable working capital.

OppZo’s team consists of former government contractors, experienced capital allocators and entrepreneurs who are passionate about designing innovative and mission-aligned financing solutions to help small and medium businesses grow. getoppzo.com Proudly Proudly is dedicated to “Connecting Giving Everywhere.” Our vision is to make a difference to those in need by harnessing the power of everyday spending and embed no-cost donations in everything we do. With Proudly, automatic, repeatable donations are created off everyday consumer and business expenditures. proudlygive.com

CONSULTING Merakata Inc. Merakata was founded by industry-recognized leading data architects, engineers and business executives who understand the power of actionable data to solve problems, improve company performance and optimize company investment in the newest data and analytics technologies. merakata.com

CYBER SECURITY / GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING - IT/TECHNOLOGY SysNet Technologies SysNet Technologies’ 22+-year history of success provides the full scope of cybersecurity and information assurance services to the federal government (FAA and DoD). These services address Federal Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) policy, planning and procedures, governance/ risk/compliance, assessment and audit, and cyber operations. sysnettech.com

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Spherion Staffing and Recruiting is a leading recruiting and staffing provider, specializing in temporary and direct hire placement of administrative, clerical, customer service, light industrial, warehouse and professional job candidates. Spherion celebrates 75 years in business this year! spherion.com

ENTERTAINMENT/LEISURE DoorDash DoorDash is a technology company that connects people with the best of their neighborhoods across the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Germany. We enable local businesses to meet consumers’ needs of ease and convenience, and, in turn, generate new ways for people to earn, work, and live. doordash.com

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING - IT/TECHNOLOGY Health Information Technology Solutions LLC HITS works alongside our technology partners to strategically plan, design, document and test healthcare and health IT solutions from the ground up, taking collaboration to the next level. We leverage 20-plus years of military and civilian healthcare and health IT experience to create solutions that satisfy requirements of both the technical and functional communities. healthinformationtechnologysolutions.com THE BUSINESS VOICE

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GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING - IT/TECHNOLOGY/CONSULTING Aptive Resources Aptive is a modern consulting firm focused on human experience, digital services, and business transformation. We harness creativity, technology, and culture to connect people and systems to impact the world. We’re advisors, strategists, and engineers focused on people, above all else. We believe in generating success collaboratively, leaving client organizations stronger after every engagement and building trust for the next big challenge. aptiveresources.com

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING - CONSULTING ProCleared LLC ProCleared is a certified Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 2011 and located in Chantilly with satellite offices in St. Louis, Mo. ProCleared provides highly skilled subject-matter experts to support the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. procleared.com Unissant Inc. Unissant is a data-driven digital transformation and cybersecurity services company with expertise in health IT, finance and national security. Founded in 2006, Unissant is a prime contractor on various government vehicles and is headquartered in Herndon with a satellite office in San Antonio, Texas. unissant.us

NON-PROFIT / ASSOCIATION / CHAMBER National Military Family Association NMFA is the voice of military families. For 50 years, we have stood behind service members, their spouses, and their children. Our Association is the “go to” source for administration officials, members of Congress, and key decision makers to understand the issues facing our families. They know we understand better than anyone that “military families serve, too.” militaryfamily.org Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) At PCMA, we are working together for a more equitable health care system. For America’s pharmacy benefit managers, PCMA’s mission is simple: increase affordable access to prescription drugs for everyone.

We believe care should be patient-focused, equitable, and affordable. pcmanet.org Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia has been supporting adults with mental health, substance use, and homelessness issues since 2011. We operate five-day Recovery Centers (in Annandale, Arlington, Merrifield, Reston and South County Alexandria), and support 9,000 adults annually. rpsva.org Resolve Solutions Incorporated Alexandria-based 501(c) (3) that provides opportunities for improving the preparation of future global leaders pursuing military/civil service nationwide. RSI provides a local solution (with national reach) of identifying undiscovered talent of future global leaders to address the manpower shortage critical to our national security. resolvesolutions.org

RETAIL STORE & SERVICES Hashtag Gaming Arena Hashtag is a gaming community event center based in Northern Virginia. We specialize in casual and competitive gaming events for tabletop gaming and esports. hashtagarena.com

TRANSPORTATION Toll Road Investors Partnership II L.P. / Dulles Greenway Toll Road Investors Partnership II L.P. (TRIP II), headquartered in Sterling, owns and operates the Dulles Greenway. The Dulles Greenway is a privately owned 14-mile toll road that provides a non-stop connection between Washington Dulles International Airport and Leesburg. dullesgreenway.com

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