Business Voice | Winter 2020

Your Chamber in Action: Gearing up for the 2020 General Assembly Let the Team Building Adventure Begin…

At Bond’s Escape Room

Stronger Together FA M I L I A R FAC E S I N N E W P L AC E S F O R G E E CO N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T PA R T N E R S H I P

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A new year brings new opportunities and a fresh perspective.

From resolutions to business goals, we all feel inspired to become the very best versions of ourselves during this time of year. So, while you’re figuring out how to set up and use all those smart toys you got for the holidays, rest assured our network is ready to support you without sacrificing speed or quality.

Only Cox can give you a connected lifestyle from the living room to the board room because we believe life is better when we have more moments of real human connection. Technology doesn’t have to get in the way. It can be the way to making meaningful connections.

Cheers to reconnecting in 2020!

Kathryn Falk

Vice President Northern Virginia Operations Connect with us on Twitter @CoxVA or learn more at www.cox.com.

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County’s business community is so strong, it lifts entire region.

In Fairfax County, our dynamic business community creates lots of leading-edge jobs — and it does so much more. It sustains and improves our outstanding school system. It supports cultural and recreational opportunities so people here can balance their careers with a fulfilling life away from work.

And it fuels success for all of Northern Virginia. To find out what makes Fairfax County a great location for innovative companies and talented people, visit fairfaxcountyeda.org.

AGENDA 14

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Stronger Together

Inside this issue A Look Ahead with Todd Rowley, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

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Who’s on the hot list, who’s making big moves, and more about your fellow Chamber members

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Members Making News Honoring Innovation A look at the i-LIST Awards

Your Chamber in Action

Gearing up for the 2020 General Assembly

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Stronger Together

Familiar faces in new places forge economic development partnership

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Spotlight on Education:

The Business Voice Q&As with Anne Holton, Interim President, George Mason University, and Dr. Anne Kress, President, Northern Virginia Community College

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Nonprofit: Friends of Guest House Providing a home and hope for women returning from incarceration

ON THE COVER: Victor Hoskins, President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and Christina M. Winn, Executive Director, Prince William County Department of Economic Development. Photograph by Alan Fogg.

Small Business: Bond’s Escape Rooms Let the team-building adventure begin

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Signature Events

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New Chamber Members

Local News that Affects Your Business Join over 500,000 unique monthly visitors – subscribe for daily headlines delivered to your inbox

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Upcoming Chamber Events NOVEMBER JANUARY

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Viva Virginia The Northern Virginia Chamber’s annual legislative reception – Viva Virginia – is an opportunity for Chamber members to engage and network with Northern Virginia elected officials, members of the Administration, and staff from across Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth during the General Assembly session. For members interested in state policy issues, this is a private, members-only, premier networking opportunity and legislative reception.

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Wong Gonzalez, 412 E Grace St, Richmond

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Get Connected Network and exchange information with other members of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Bring your 90 second elevator pitch and a fistful of cards. Attendees are seated face-to-face and given three minutes to exchange introductions and business cards before rotating to the next open seat. The process continues until attendees are able to meet as many people as possible in 60 minutes. Follow-up networking time is included.

Time: 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Location: Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

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Regional Economic Outlook Conference Join us for the 28th Annual Regional Economic Outlook Conference.

Featuring Keynote speaker, Dr. Anne Kress, President, Northern Virginia Community College, this program will bring together leaders to discuss the state of the regional economy, key economic indicators, and predict what might be in store for the region’s economy in 2020.

Time: 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Location: Hilton McLean Tysons Corner

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 Jennifer Williamson: 703.752.7529 jwilliamson@novachamber.org

MARCH

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42nd Annual Valor Awards The Valor Awards recognize public safety heroes from the Fairfax County Police Department, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the Fairfax County Office of the Sheriff, the Herndon Police Department, and the Vienna Police Department by awarding them with the Lifesaving Award, the Certificate of Valor, or the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medal of Honor. ​The awards are presented in recognition of actions above and beyond the call of duty, and the event is attended by more than 500 individuals, including award recipients and their families, and local leaders in the business community.

Time: TBD Location: TBD

THE BUSINESS VOICE Published by

TO ADVERTISE

Contact Bruce Potter bpotter@insidenova.com 571.333.1538 EDITOR

Susan McCorkindale • ART DIRECTOR

Kara Thorpe • InsideNoVa.com 1372 Old Bridge Road Suite 101 Woodbridge VA 22192 ©2019 Rappahannock Media LLC

To register and for more events visit : novachamber.org/events

Your source for tickets to events throughout Northern Virginia

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FROM THE CHAIR A Look Ahead with Todd Rowley, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CHAMBER IN 2020?

As the leading business networking and advocacy organization in Northern Virginia, the Chamber is in a unique position to bring together organizations across the Greater Washington region to identify and implement solutions to many business challenges. Whether those challenges are workforce and talent shortages, the economy, or regional transportation initiatives, the Chamber is the place that businesses come to shape solutions that have a positive impact on the business climate.

company’s ability to forge partnerships, recruit new talent, engage with legislators and policymakers, shape the laws and policies for businesses in the Commonwealth. Second, get involved with the Chamber’s committees and councils. Companies that have the best membership experience and obtain the most value from the Chamber determine what they want out of the Chamber relationship before joining. It’s ultimately a partnership on both sides.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE CHAMBER HAS GROWN OVER THE COURSE OF 2019?

The Chamber has significantly grown its collaboration with organizations across the Greater Washington region. Whether it be with the Greater Washington Board of Trade, our fellow Northern Virginia Chambers of Commerce, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and other civic organizations, the Chamber is committed to regional collaboration to address the challenges of our members.

At the same time, the Chamber continues to enhance our membership value to serve an even larger group of businesses and civic organizations.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR POLITICAL ADVOCACY IN 2020?

The Chamber is the preeminent Northern Virginia business advocacy organization in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Greater Washington region. Over the years, the Chamber has built deep relationships with Democrats and Republicans alike that will serve our members well, as we head into the 2020 General Assembly.

We have active and positive relationships with elected officials at all levels of government and we will leverage those relationships as we advocate for investments in education, workforce, and transportation. We are focused on ensuring that legislative and policy actions have positive impact for our members by sharing our member’s views.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A BUSINESS THAT IS CONSIDERING JOINING THE CHAMBER? First, determine your strategic business objective when joining the Chamber. The Chamber enhances a

HOW WILL AMAZON HELP THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY? Amazon’s investment in Northern Virginia has already branded our region as a hub of technology, talent, and vibrant businesses. HQ2’s presence

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in Northern Virginia has shifted the dated view of our region as only Government Contracting. Government Contracting is a vital industry in Northern Virginia, but we are much more diverse than those outside the region realized; this investment makes that clear outside of our region.

This investment also advances the education infrastructure of Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University, University of Virginia, and even the University of Maryland which has announced plans to build a satellite campus in Northern Virginia! This provides significant opportunity for businesses to tap into the increased number of skilled workers that these investments will create.

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The Hot List FEMA Gives Dewberry the Nod

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected Dewberry to assist the Direct Housing Assessment Team in capturing information and pre-operations planning to facilitate the transportation and installation of manufactured housing units at private, group, or commercial sites in disaster areas. Dewberry will also provide planning for other direct housing options such as rentals and multifamily lease and repair programs to assist disaster-affected survivors with temporary and permanent housing assistance.

Sandy Spring Bancorp Expands Wealth Management Services

Sandy Spring Bancorp announced it will acquire Rembert Pendleton Jackson, an investment and financial advisory firm in Falls Church. Founded in 1974, Rembert Pendleton Jackson currently has more than $1.3 billion in assets under management. Upon closing the transaction, the combined assets under Sandy Spring Bank’s wealth management arms will be about $4.5 billion. The acquisition further demonstrates Sandy Spring Bank’s commitment to providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses at every stage of life and aligns with the company’s strategic objective of diversifying sources of noninterest income.

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WINTER 2020

Thompson Greenspon Earns 2019 Best of AccountingTM Award for Client Service Excellence

​ ompson Greenspon has won ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting™ Award for providing Th superior service. Best of Accounting Award winners have proven themselves as industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients. Thompson Greenspon received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 85% of its clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45% in 2019. Said Thompson Greenspon Managing Principal CHIP HELME , “We take our client feedback to heart and are always striving to be their best partner in order to position them for long-term success.”

Ones to Watch Schoeneman named a finalist for the 2019 Washington PR Woman of the Year Award

Congratulations to KAYANN SCHOENEMAN, Senior Vice President, Director of Corporate & Public Affairs at Curley Company, for being named a finalist for the 2019 Washington PR Woman of the Year Award

by Washington Women in Public Relations.

Cain named Senior VP/Human Resources, Northwest Federal Credit Union

Northwest Federal Credit Union has hired JEAN CAIN as its new Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Most recently Vice President and Chief HR Officer at Noblis, in Reston, Cain’s more than 30 years in human resources includes management positions at The MITRE Corp. in McLean, and Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union in Rockville, MD.

Executive Education Flagship UVA Darden Program Refreshes with Cutting-Edge Content, Convenient Format The Executive Program, Darden’s advanced management program for senior executives, will soon be delivered in a hybrid format. Two inperson immersion modules held at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, and at UVA Darden DC Metro in Arlington, plus virtual sessions before and between the in-person modules provide the transformative leadership instruction for which The Executive Program is known while maximizing accessibility for busy senior leaders. For information, visit: news.darden.virginia. edu/2019/09/12/executive-program-enhancements.

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INNOVATION Mirror, mirror on the wall.

Who’s the most innovative of them all?

Find out at the second annual i-List Awards

I

n May 2019, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced the top 10 companies on its first annual Greater Washington i-LIST. Revealed over the course of the year and culminating in a high-octane celebration, the i-LIST Awards quickly became one of the region’s most highly anticipated spring events.

And the i-List Award itself? It’s quickly become one of the region’s most coveted.

The i-LIST recognizes the people and organizations introducing new methods, ideas and products that improve our lives and challenge the status quo. Each month, 15 to 20 companies, chosen by an independent selection committee, are revealed.

“The Greater Washington region has always been an innovative ecosystem,” said Jane-Scott Cantus, past i-LIST judge and Managing Principal and General Counsel of the ILEX Group. “With the i-List, we spotlight and honor those who are keeping us on the edge of innovation and impact.”

This spring, 10 more companies will join the ranks of those innovators named to the top 10 of the first annual Greater Washington i-List last May. Those first 10 companies were: ANK R 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

NAME Venga CAVA RiskLens ThinkFoodGroup Airgility Tenable Amazon HawkEye 360 Optoro KnoNap

KnoNap creator and George Washington University student Danya Sherman, winner of a 2019 i-LIST Award.

Courtesy photo.

INDUSTRY

Information Technology

Restaurants

Information Technology

Restaurants

Transportation

Information Technology

Retail

Information Technology

Retail Services

Security

WEBSITE

getvenga.com cava.com risklens.com thinkfoodgroup.com airgility.co tenable.com amazon.com he360.com optoro.com knonap.com

Be on the lookout for more news coming soon on the second annual Greater Washington i-List Awards. The celebration of the season happens in May, so mark your calendar now!

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GOVERNMENT

Chamber gears up for 2020 General Assembly session

BY K A R I P U G H

T

he Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for an “interesting” Virginia General Assembly session with a change in party control in both the state Senate and the House of Delegates, said Clayton Medford, Vice President for Government Relations at the Chamber.

After November’s election, the 40-member Senate, 100-member House and Governor’s Mansion will all be under Democratic control for the first time since 1995.

“The most encouraging part about the upcoming session is a lot of familiar faces in leadership positions,” said Medford.

“Because of the change in party control, many committee chairs and House and Senate leadership roles will be filled with Northern Virginia representatives.”

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax is expected to be elected Speaker of the House when legislators convene in midJanuary, and Del. Charniele Herring of Alexandria will be majority leader.

Medford said the Chamber has done a great job forming partnerships with legislators from around the state, but it helps when leadership knows Chamber members well and understands “how critical the economic success of Northern Virginia is to Virginia’s success.”

But Chamber officials expect to face some big challenges with “mandates on businesses and threats to our stellar business-friendly reputation,” Medford said.

One of those threats may include an effort to repeal Virginia's right-towork law, which prohibits employees 12

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from being forced to join a labor union.

Virginia is among 27 right-to-work states, a point of pride among Virginia business leaders.

“The Chamber has worked diligently in preparation for discussions with the General Assembly on the impact of any proposed legislation, including that in our priorities, may have on business which affects Virginia’s economy and people,” said Tom Rust, co-chair of the Chamber’s Policy Committee.

The chamber was still preparing its 2020 legislative agenda at press time, but expects priorities will look familiar to members, with some updates and changes based on proposed legislation.

For the first time, the Chamber plans to discuss issuing a climate resiliency statement and will highlight support for a regional bus system, Medford said.

The Chamber will also ask legislators to keep a foot on the gas in terms of education incentives announced when Amazon chose Northern Virginia for its new National Landing headquarters.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced investments of up to $375 million over 20 years for new master’s degree programs in computer science and related fields at George Mason’s Arlington campus, and for Virginia Tech to establish a new Innovation Campus in Alexandria. The governor also promised an investment of $50 million over 20 years in K-12 tech education and internship programming to connect higher ed students to tech jobs.

“We’re … redoubling our efforts to focus the legislature’s attention on the needs of our educational system to produce the workforce of the 21st century,” Medford said.

| WINTER 2020

“We’re … redoubling our efforts to focus the legislature’s attention on the needs of our educational system to produce the workforce of the 21st century,” — Clayton Medford, Vice President of Government Relations, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

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Stronger Together Familiar faces in new places forge economic development partnership

BY K A R I P U G H

| P H O T O S BY A L A N A . F O G G

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hat happens when Northern Virginia jurisdictions stop competing for new business and start working together?

One shining example: Amazon's National Landing. The tech giant chose Arlington for its new headquarters in November 2018 after a collaborative effort from the region's economic development leaders to showcase Northern Virginia.

A year later, a group of 10 Northern Virginia jurisdictions have joined forces to launch the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, a consortium to formalize and expand cooperation among jurisdictions in wooing economic development prospects to the region.

Encouraging a shift from competition to cooperation among local governments has been a major focus for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce in recent years.

“We really need to get away from the idea in Northern Virginia that these borders and boundaries exist,” Chamber Chairman Todd Rowley said recently.

“They are really meaningless in our efforts toward getting this region the momentum it needs to move forward.”

Stephen Moret, who heads the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, predicted that the new alliance will “help accelerate employment growth and business investments” in Northern Virginia.

“Collaboration is a hallmark of successful economic development,” Moret added.

The NOVA EDA includes city and county managers and economic development directors from Alexandria, Arlington County, the city of Fairfax, Fairfax County, the city of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, the city of Manassas, the city of Manassas 14

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Park and Prince William County.

“The new Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance gives all of our members the opportunity to truly practice what we preach, namely, that the economic health of our region reflects all of our efforts to attract, retain and grow businesses,” said Miles Friedman, Director of Economic Development for Fauquier County. “This kind of collaborative effort has been a long time coming, but after 40 years in the business, I have been impressed by the commitment of this group to building and promoting the strength and diversity of our regional economy.”

Many of the alliance representatives already have regional experience and have hop-scotched among jurisdictions -- most notably Victor Hoskins, the

Development Authority.

In mid-December, Arlington announced Hoskins’ replacement, Telly Tucker of Danville. Before his position in Danville, Tucker served as the assistant director of economic development in James City County, as well as an economic development specialist for the City of Lynchburg. Tucker will step into the Arlington role in mid-January.

Christina M. Winn, another alum of Arlington County Economic Development, left her post as Business Investment Director on the heels of Amazon's decision and joined Prince William County as Economic Development Director in June.

“I have always been impressed

by Prince William County's diverse workforce, strong business climate, and

“I thought the biggest win out of the whole Amazon site selection process was they didn’t say they’d picked metro D.C., they said Northern Virginia,” Winn said. “We’re now considered our own market.” former Arlington County economic development director who in July was named president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

For Hoskins, the move, fresh from leading the effort to bring Amazon to Arlington, was all about a new challenge after a career-defining win.

“When I came to Arlington, the mission was to tackle the [office] vacancy rate and bring jobs back … I feel like the challenge in Arlington has been met with one of the biggest wins in the history of economic development,” Hoskins said.

“One reason I was attracted to Fairfax County is its size,” he added.

“It’s the largest jurisdiction in the commonwealth, actually one of the largest in the entire mid-Atlantic region. That size makes the magnitude of problems more complex, and I like dealing with complex problems.”

Hoskins brings with him former Arlington interim economic development director Alex Iams, who in December was named executive vice president for the Fairfax County Economic

entrepreneurial spirit. This is a dynamic community with great promise, and I am excited to be part of the community,” Winn said at the time.

Winn and Hoskins, now working for two different counties, are among the 10 local economic development leaders on the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which officially launched in September.

In recent years, localities in Northern Virginia have occasionally banded together on projects or marketing missions when an opportunity arose.

These efforts were sporadic and unstructured, but led to the branded, joint bid for Amazon in 2017.

Stephanie Landrum, president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, worked closely with leaders in Arlington and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to put together the package that lured Amazon to the area.

“The need for a tech talent solution was something we identified early on,” Landrum said, “and then along comes Virginia Tech and its Innovation

TOP THREE GOALS OF VICTOR HOSKINS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Victor Hoskins joined the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority as president and CEO on Aug. 5. Previously, he had been director of Arlington Economic Development since 2015. In that role he was most known for leading the team that successfully attracted Amazon HQ2 to Arlington County.

The Business Voice asked Hoskins to identify his three top goals in Fairfax. Here are his answers:

1

Design and implement a strategy to help our companies retain, retrain, grow and attract talent to Fairfax County. Finding and keeping talented employees is the most important issue facing business today, and we can attract and retain more companies by helping them find and keep employees.

2

Work with the Fairfax County Executive and his team to raise the level of placemaking throughout the county. People want to live in interesting, walkable places, and these places will help us attract companies that want their employees to have a great quality of life.

3

Collaborate and coordinate with the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA) and our state partners to market the region together to attract and retain business. We are in a global competition for business, and we will be more successful when we promote all the region’s assets together.

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NORTHERN VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE MEMBERS ALEXANDRIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP..................................... STEPHANIE LANDRUM

CITY OF FAIRFAX......................................................................................................... CHRISTOPHER BRUNO

CITY OF FALLS CHURCH...................................................................................................... BECKY WITSMAN CITY OF MANASSAS............................................................................................................... PATRICK SMALL CITY OF MANASSAS PARK.........................................................................................................CHRIS HIMES

ARLINGTON COUNTY..................................................................................................REPRESENTATIVE TBD

FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY......................................... VICTOR HOSKINS

FAUQUIER COUNTY............................................................................................................ MILES FRIEDMAN

TOP THREE GOALS OF CHRISTINA M. WINN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

LOUDOUN COUNTY................................................................................................................... BUDDY RIZER

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT............. CHRISTINA M. WINN

The Business Voice asked Christina Winn, who joined the Prince William County Department of Economic Development as Executive Director in July 2019, to identify her three top goals for her new position. Here are her answers:

1 Repositioning and marketing Prince William County. We’re not as well understood in the marketplace, and so I think that we need to really promote what assets are here. That’s two-fold, both employers and real estate developers and investors.

2

Prince William has been really strong in the last 10 years in capital investments. But we have a challenge around creating higher-paying jobs. Three out of four residents work outside the county. We want to start attracting employers that create those higher-paying jobs. We did a simple workforce analysis, and 40 percent are in a stemrelated field. We need to really start educating about what we have here.

3

Focus on revitalization of the Potomac corridor. Another misperception out there is that when people are driving on the 95 corridor, they don’t realize there’s this urban center beyond the highway. The county’s been working on these small area plans. What you’ll see in places like north Woodbridge are higher-story, office and residential centers located along the VRE stations. We think these are a great corridor for government contractors.

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Stephanie Landrum, President and CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership.

Campus. It was like having a gift dropped in our laps.”

The result of the collaboration on Amazon created the first Northern Virginia regional slogan – “Innovation Lives Here” – a brand that the new alliance plans to grow.

“Ultimately, the regional pitch to Amazon resulted in Northern Virginia winning the biggest economic development project in modern history,” the alliance said in a statement.

“Additionally, it bolstered the case for creation of a Northern Virginia regional economic development effort, proving that Northern Virginia localities are stronger together.”

The NOVA EDA plans to focus on four main strengths in selling Northern Virginia to the international business world: Tech talent, leading public and private sector innovation, a global and inclusive region, and a stable and competitive state partner.

Winn says the alliance is formalizing what many leaders across the region have done for years.

“When I was in Arlington, I had started to work closely with Alexandria,” she said. “One of the things we had learned, Arlington and Alexandria | WINTER 2020

essentially were marketing the same thing. Instead of competing against each other, we started working together, telling the same story.”

Employers generally look at markets first, before starting to eliminate areas where they may set up shop. They’re looking for a match to their workforce needs and, especially in the Washington area, where you work isn’t always where you live, Winn said.

“The biggest win out of the whole Amazon site selection process was they didn’t say they’d picked metro D.C., they said Northern Virginia,” Winn said.

“We’re now considered our own market.”

The alliance plans to focus on fostering Northern Virginia’s talent pipeline, recruiting new talent and keeping talent the region has. Another goal will be showcasing how the region can fulfill different needs incoming businesses may have.

As an example, Winn cites Lidl’s move to bring its U.S. headquarters to Arlington, while building a distribution headquarters in Spotsylvania County. Working with the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, Arlington economic development leaders took a marketing trip to the U.K. and Ireland to pitch the idea.

“We’ve been doing this on a smaller scale,” Winn said. “The NOVA alliance creates a vehicle in which we can even amplify that.”

Fairfax’s Hoskins said he’s seen a shift in economic development over the past 10 to 15 years, with competition going international, not just local or even regional.

“The only way you can really win in this competition is by working as a region — by functioning as a region. We have 6 million people in this area with 3 million in our workforce,” referring to the entire Washington region. “If we can harness that power and work as one we will have no competitors.”

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SPOTLIGHT on education

The Business Voice (TBV) Q&A with Anne Holton Meet the interim president of George Mason University THE BUSINESS VOICE (TBV): Your ties to George Mason University began with your father (former Gov. Linwood Holton), who helped the school gain independence from the University of Virginia, and you’ve served as visiting professor since 2017. What does it mean to you personally to become the university’s first female president?

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ANNE HOLTON: I’m honored and privileged—and humbled—to be serving in that role, especially because of my dad’s involvement with George Mason University and especially as we approach the 50th anniversary of its establishment as its own institution, apart from the University of Virginia, which my father signed into law when he was governor.

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TBV: You’re obviously no stranger to education in Virginia. Tell us about your priorities when you served as state education secretary, and your administration’s biggest accomplishments.

AH: I was very focused on equity with Governor McAuliffe, and how we can ensure that all of our students at all levels and of all backgrounds get a trampoline to life success through education. We focused on helping the state financially support education, increased funding for pre-K, K-12 and higher ed – which we did, but not by nearly enough. We worked hard to make sure that we were instituting policies that helped all students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

TBV: GMU has touted your background in “bolstering the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline” as part of the reason you were chosen to lead the university. You will, at least temporarily, be heading up GMU’s expansion of the Arlington campus to help support Amazon’s efforts in Northern Virginia.

What ideas and initiatives do you see for that project? How do you view Northern Virginia’s new high-tech future?

AH: Gov. Northam has pledged $235 million over the next 20 years to expand our computer science and tech-related undergraduate and graduate degrees. That’s a vote of confidence in Mason’s ability to find, attract and graduate talent, and in our ability to provide the state with a large percentage of the highly skilled workforce it needs in high-growth tech fields so that our state can continue to prosper.

Mason already is the largest producer of tech talent in the state. And our ability to attract diverse talent from all backgrounds and walks of life will fuel innovation and spur fresh approaches with our Institute for Digital InnovAtion, which will anchor the Arlington Innovation District.

We expect the IDIA and the Arlington Innovation District to serve as an engine of research development,

economic growth, job creation and new tax revenue, where we will draw on Mason’s strong relationships with other organizations in the region, including private, nonprofit and public sector partners or prospective partners.

TBV: Your family is deeply rooted in Virginia politics. What ideals did your father and his tenure as governor and civil rights advocate instill in you?

AH: Even before I was old enough to be aware of the notion of public service, I understood from my father that people should feel a sense of purpose, that they have a calling to give back and a responsibility to make sure everyone has opportunities, regardless of economics or other circumstances.

I was 12 years old when we moved into the governor’s mansion. Dad sought to make Virginia a model for race relations.

In support of that, my siblings and I attended formerly all African-American

schools. The press followed us to school that first day. That was a life-changing experience, to get to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

My focus has always been equity and opportunity, whether through my work as a lawyer with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society or as a judge on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and through my time as Virginia Secretary of Education.

TBV: Tell us about Tim’s candidacy for vice president. (Holton is married to U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine.) I certainly enjoyed seeing a Virginia person on the national stage. How did you handle the campaign and the loss? Do you ever plan to run for political office?

AH: I loved everything about our adventure with the 2016 campaign except the end! It was a 101-day whirlwind where I got the opportunity to travel across the country, especially to swing

states. My focus in the campaign—which Secretary [Hillary] Clinton asked me to do—was to talk to teachers.

Dealing with loss is hard. In politics, there’s always a potential for loss, to lay it all on the line and know that it may not go your way. People who engage in public service do it all the time.

Do I ever plan to run? No. I’m happily not the one with my name on the bumper sticker.

TBV: Do you still enjoy clogging? What are some other things you and Tim enjoy in your downtime?

AH: I love old-time music and I listen to it every chance I get. When I hear it, I simply can’t sit still. At the Folk Festival in Richmond in October there were a number of good bands and we had the chance to dance with friends there. We also love the outdoors, and we hike whenever we get a chance. But sitting down to watch TV or a movie is nice, too.

SENTARA’S HOSPITAL IN PRINCE WILLIAM IS IMPRESSIVE, BUT THEY’RE GIVING YOU FEWER REASONS TO COME IN. Sentara Home Care Services, an early adopter of telehealth technology, has enhanced remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases using tablets and bluetooth software, giving patients the comfort and privacy of home.

With five universities, two major healthcare systems and 17% job growth, Prince William County offers unlimited potential for businesses that want to see what’s beyond their expectations.

Learn how you can go beyond at pwcecondev.org.

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The Business Voice (TBV) Q&A with Dr. Anne Kress Meet the new president of Northern Virginia Community College

THE BUSINESS VOICE (TBV): While at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, you oversaw the downtown campus move from Sibley Square to its $78 million home on State Street, launched the school’s nationally recognized LadderzUp job training initiative, and just recently began work to build a Workforce Development Center. Bearing in mind that you don’t begin your tenure at NOVA until January 6, what plans and initiatives are you considering for the school?

DR. ANNE KRESS: NOVA is committed to assuring that every student succeeds, every program achieves, and every community prospers. Certainly, growing our workforce partnerships

— such as those with companies like Amazon, Micron, and Inova — are central to NOVA’s future and to the future of our region and students. Our ability to attract adult students to these cuttingedge career pathways will be critical, and I am excited about the opportunity to offer services and programs that enable adults to begin or return to college.

The ADVANCE partnership between NOVA and George Mason University is a national model for bridging students from their two- to four-year degrees — and its success is just beginning. This impactful collaboration is empowering the full diversity of our community to earn baccalaureate degrees right in their own backyard; expanding it is a key goal.

On top of that, I really want to spend some time listening: to Northern Virginia residents and leaders, to our business and industry leaders, and to our impressive and inspiring NOVA community.

Learning from them will help me make sure NOVA continues to be bold and transformational in a region that is rich with employment opportunities and changing every day.

TBV: Your reputation for cultivating community partnerships is stellar. How will you use those skills and whom will you seek to partner with to address the workforce challenges facing students at NOVA? DR. K.: NOVA has a great workforce division and impactful business partnerships that have helped our college begin to close the regional skills gap, especially in information technology and health care. I have already met with some of our region’s leaders in business, K12, and community agencies whose collaboration with NOVA helps us strengthen the workforce pipeline and build demanddriven programs. Real success takes listening to and understanding workforce needs at a practical level that drives action.

I look forward to expanding this circle of collaboration with partners from more industry sectors that are essential to our region’s growth, including financial services and the trades. As always, NOVA will lead the way as a strategic asset for growing our regional economy, helping to fill jobs for our employers, and offering paths to familysupporting careers for our students.

TBV: What role do you envision the regional business community playing in NOVA’s development, and how can local business leaders help you be successful?

DR. K.: Growing career pathways takes shared investment in programs, equipment, and students. The most in-demand programs from a business

Dr. Anne Kress and NOVA students at the NOVA Foundation 40th anniversary annual recognition dinner.

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perspective are among the most expensive for NOVA to offer, so that takes support from regional businesses. In turn, these same programs bring the most significant return to employers, futureemployees, and our region—so it really is a virtual circle. Businesses can also partner with NOVA to create more onramps for student work-based learning, from high school dual enrollment to apprenticeships and internships. Industry leaders can also help NOVA keep our eyes on the horizon—looking at the implications of Industry 4.0 on our programs, at the need for new programs or new delivery alternatives, at our curriculum and faculty professional development. The best partnerships have lasting impact because they go far beyond the press event: They are transformational for the businesses, NOVA, our students, and our region.

TBV: You joined Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida, as an adjunct instructor of English, became a department chair in 1998, an associate vice president in 2002, and provost and vice president for Academic Affairs in 2005. To what do you attribute your

meteoric rise and what do you feel was your greatest accomplishment while at the school?

DR. K.: Meteoric seems an overstatement. I was lucky enough to have incredible mentors and great colleagues who saw something in me (that I often didn’t see myself) and supported my growth at every turn. As a result, I’m very committed to mentoring and leadership development and will look to continue this at NOVA. At Santa Fe, I led a transformational project that built online orientation, advisement, and registration tools and the college’s first data warehouse. These fueled a cross-college effort that increased student retention, persistence, and degree attainment. It was powerful to see how high tech could support the hard work of faculty and staff in driving student success.

TBV: You hold a master’s and bachelor’s degree in English. Do you have a favorite writer and if so, who and why?

DR. K.: Wow—this is a very hard question to answer! Lauren Groff, Allegra Goodman, Min Jin Lee, and Helen Oyeyemi are among my favorite

contemporary novelists. While quite different from each other, their writing is equally gorgeous and poetic; they tell very human stories through images that refuse to leave you. And, I cannot wait for the third book in Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy!

TBV: What do you do in your off time for fun?

DR. K.: I love to cook … and eat! So, I’ve been asking everyone for restaurant recommendations. I’ve been a quilter for decades; sitting at my sewing machine or doing handwork is incredibly relaxing and a great way to build mindfulness into a busy week. And, I love to travel with my family.

TBV: What are you most looking forward to about your move to Northern Virginia?

DR. K.: Is it wrong to say everything?

First and foremost, I look forward to working with the inspiring students, faculty, and staff at NOVA. And, I am so excited to get to know my new home. I have a growing list of recommendations from the NOVA community and can’t wait to start exploring all that Northern Virginia has to offer (except the traffic!).

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SPOTLIGHT

on non-profit

Friends of Guest House

Helping women successfully reenter the community after incarceration

BY M I K E A L L E N | P H O T O S CO U R T E S Y F R I E N D S O F G U E S T H O U S E

W

hat happens to those who were formerly incarcerated when they return to society?

Sadly, many fall back into the same patterns and end up, once again, in prison.

In 1974, Betty McKonkey, formerly incarcerated herself, decided to try to change that. She asked herself, when people get out of prison, what are their realistic options? How do you keep those who had been incarcerated from falling into the same patterns? How do you prevent them from returning to the same negative influences?

Her conclusion was to set up Friends of Guest House. She knew that in order to get a fresh start, parolees needed a hand and an opportunity. Preventing homelessness was important while making the transition, otherwise old patterns would resurface and criminal behavior would become the fallback position. To that end, a house was rented in the Del Ray section of Alexandria to 22

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serve as a halfway house to aid in the transition toward being a contributing member of society.

Flash forward to 2005. After briefly closing in 2003, the newly renovated house reopened, and Kari Galloway was hired as the new Executive Director. Galloway’s background was a little different than what most would expect. She was a successful businesswoman in her home state of Idaho and had previously been in politics as a campaign worker. The campaign didn’t turn out as she had hoped, so she was searching the employment ads when she found Friends of Guest House. Galloway had always donated time to entities such as the Camp Fire Boys and Girls Club, a domestic violence shelter, and a university women’s center, and believed she had something to offer.

“My greatest accomplishment was hiring Kari Galloway,” said former Friends of Guest House chairman Peter Lunt. “What Kari lacked in experience,

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she strongly compensated for in drive and compassion, and a burning desire to change the lives of female ex-offenders.”

Galloway noted that most people who are incarcerated are eventually released.

“You can’t lock everybody up, nor can you throw away the key,” she said. “If we don’t support them, they have less opportunity than before…I don’t have to be a math major to know that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Of course the biggest challenge to avoiding recidivism is to steer people away from what brought them down before and inspire them to change the direction of their life. Galloway believes the first year after incarceration is the most critical time and without a helping hand most will end up back where they were.

According to former resident Tammy Lyall, “If you’re serious and want to make a better life, you want to try this because it leads to a better life.”

Since Galloway took the reins, the nonprofit’s residential program has doubled

FAR LEFT: The team at Friends of Guest House. ABOVE: Kari Galloway, Executive Director, Friends of Guest House. Under her leadership, since 2005 the number of women Friends of Guest House serves per year has grown from 30 to 150.

in size and an additional house has opened, this time in Old Town Alexandria. The staff has quadrupled, and the volunteers have grown from a few to 125. In addition, the budget has increased 400% and the number of women Friends of Guest House serves has risen from 30 per year to 150.

The Friends of Guest House philosophy is based on what the group calls the “5 Pillars of Livability”: healthcare, employment, education, housing and reconnection.

Galloway notes that much of recidivism is related to gender-specific issues. Childhood trauma such as sexual abuse, physical abuse and abandonment can lead to a pattern of behavior that ends with young women self-medicating with illegal drugs. The opioid crisis has only made things more difficult. The cycle of abuse, drugs, and poor relationships eventually lead to loss of any economic standing these women may have had, and ultimately they resort to crime. What’s worse, in 80% of the cases their choices affect more than just themselves --- they are also felt by their children.

With the aid of community healthcare partners, Friends of Guest House gives the women both a physical exam and a mental health evaluation. Afterward, residents work with their case manager to deal with issues that often include diabetes, hypertension, dental problems. obesity, and more. After the plan is made, all therapies deemed appropriate for treatment are outsourced.

One former resident, Heidi Christianson, who now is on the organization’s development committee, was a heroin addict who took the drug as an escape from the trauma of domestic abuse.

“They loved me through this,” she said.

“They treated me as a whole woman. It’s not just don’t do harm, it’s we gotta do more.” Christianson now has an MBA and owns a business.

Galloway said joblessness is the single biggest factor in determining recidivism.

Consequently, all residents participate in a workforce and life skills development program, which includes professional and personal skills development, resume writing, interview skills training and job placement, often with one of the group’s many area partners.

Education is also addressed. If residents need a GED, steps are taken to prepare for that. Residents are also encouraged to further their education or learn a trade.

Friends of Guest House also addresses the immediate need of housing during the transition back into society. Upon

acceptance of an application coordinated through the Virginia Department of Corrections, newly released women are housed at the facility. Staff is on duty at all times and the women are strictly monitored. No drugs and alcohol are allowed, there are strict curfews and, when offsite, residents must check in every four hours.

While being helpful and giving, Galloway knows the only way for these women to succeed is through tough love.

“These women need rules and structure.

They also have to know there will be consequences.”

Friends of Guest House is a highly sought after option upon release, so the program can use that reputation to enforce good behavior and reinforce what it takes to succeed.

The program also recognizes its limitations. The residence phase is only for six months with another six months of monitoring upon departure. Friends of Guest House helps clients find housing afterward, and many of the women end up rooming together.

Ultimately, reconnecting with family is most important. The majority of the women have children, and those who are reunited with them are less likely to return to prison. Friends of Guest House offers parenting classes and helps clients built a network of assistance and community that provides a backbone of strength.

Since the inception of Friends of Guest House, 4,000 women have successfully escaped the cycle of incarceration and become productive members of the community. The program also saves the state money, because incarceration costs the state $25,000 to $65,000 per year. The cost of the Friends of Guest House program is $20,000, which is funded through private donations and support from the cities of Alexandria and Arlington.

Of course the real value is that a fellow human being, and more often than not her children, are living a better life. As the group’s mission statement says, “We envision a world where your past does not define your future.”

Former resident Christianson takes it one step further. “That’s the house that helped me,” she said. “It quite literally saved my life.”

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SPOTLIGHT

on small business

The Great Escapes Bond’s offers varied themes and challenges in Arlington and Fairfax

BY M I K E A L L E N P H O T O S CO U R T E S Y B O N D ’ S E S C A P E R O O M

I

f you’re of a certain generation, “The Great Escape” conjures images of Stalag Luft III and Steve McQueen trying to jump a barbed-wire fence on a motorcycle. OK boomer, I get it, but if you are in Fairfax or Arlington you might be thinking one or both of the newest escape rooms in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Room Escape DC opened in Fairfax at the end of 2015, and Bond’s Escape Room opened in Arlington last summer.

In case you’re unfamiliar with escape games like those offered at these two venues, owned by the same couple, small groups of 24

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players are locked in a themed room and given an hour to find clues, solve riddles and figure out the puzzle that will allow them to escape, avert catastrophe, and save themselves and possibly the world.

The lure of escape games is the same challenge that has been tantalizing humans for centuries. From labyrinths to mazes, searches for lost treasure, Indiana Jones movies, and many video games, we like using our wits, teamwork and ability to work under pressure and time constraints to succeed and save the day. It’s especially fun when there aren’t real spiders, snakes, dungeons, dragons and Nazis to worry about.

The current escape room craze began in Japan in 2007, based on the premise of liveaction video games where the player must find a way to escape his surroundings before some impending doom. Soon the trend spread to Europe and then the United States. Egor and Anna Bond have now brought the trend to their Northern Virginia locations.

Other escape rooms are around, but the Bonds believe they have created something unique. First, each location has a variety of themed escapes -- 11 at the Fairfax location, near George Mason University, and four at the Clarendon location, next to Barnes and Noble, with three more in the works.

Each escape room has a difficulty rating that allows young and old, experienced and inexperienced to participate. What’s more, Bonds also has a mobile version called the Escape Bus where between eight and 40 participants can escape from a prison bus.

“The beauty of the games is there is no age limit,” Egor Bond said. “The only thing that matters is brain power and skills.”

Another unique thing about these escape rooms is that they aren’t the traditional routine of finding the clue, deciphering the paper and unlocking the door in less than an hour. Many of the rooms deal with fantasy where clues are more than traditional -- scrolls, puzzles, artifacts, and magic. Imagine you’re Indiana Jones trying to get out of the cave with ancient relics -- without the tarantulas and flying arrows, that is.

“The intent at the Arlington location was to make the rooms immersive and make sure the

puzzles made sense with the rooms. We didn’t want it to be a bunch of combination locks and printed papers,” Egor said.

Indeed, the escape rooms at Bond’s are fresh and original. Some of the options include saving an Old West town from a ruthless landowner who has cut off the water supply; saving elvens in a magical forest from humans; head to head games with 1960’s History of the Future and 2233 Fighting for the Future; Magic School for kids, and several scary themed rooms like Molly’s Horror Room and Sleepover Slaughterhouse.

Part of what makes each room successful is of course the staging of the theme, but also the extras. The suitable ambience is achieved with appropriate music, accentuated lighting, and the décor is never thrown together. Everything has a purpose or seemingly does. Many escape rooms include live actors who interact with the groups.

Also, each group has a dedicated host who monitors the hour and can provide hints when participants seem to be struggling. Don’t feel bad if you require hints; about 95% of participants admit to using them and, with or without, only about 30% escape the room in time.

Success in this type of business comes from being fresh and innovative. “We don’t want to go with the flow in the industry. We want to be first in everything,” Egor said.

As in all businesses, success depends upon new customers and repeat business, and the only way to attract both is to be creative and committed to making constant tweaks and improvements. Egor Bond believes that the only escape rooms that last are ones in which the owners are invested in their creations and not merely trying to make a quick buck. He and his team have a passion for gaming and are intent on relaying that passion to their customer.

Whether you’re on a date, celebrating birthdays or family get-togethers or doing some office bonding and team-building, escape rooms are a great way to embrace the group dynamic and the power of communication in a fun setting. Time to test your wits, prove your problem-solving capabilities, save the day and escape the realities of the real world in Escape Room Fairfax or Bond’s Escape Room in Arlington.

Ahhh...if it were only that easy.

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EVENTS chamber signature gatherings

Distinguished Service Awards On Tuesday, October 22, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted the Distinguished Service Awards honoring individuals, companies, and non-profit organizations for their service to veterans in the Greater Washington business community. The 2019 Distinguished Service Awards went to: Veteran-Owned Business of the Year: • Emerging business: RavenTek • Maturing business: OBXtek, Inc. • Established business: Intelligent Waves LLC Veteran Employee of the Year (co-winners): Gene Hammond, iDirect Government; Herbert Valle, Axiologic Solutions LLC Veteran Service Organization of the Year: • Operation Second Chance • PenFed Foundation – Honorable Mention Lifetime Distinguished Service Award: • Phillip Panzarella, Easterseals DC MD VA 1 | Lifetime Distinguished Service Award recipient, Phillip Panzarella, Chief Operating Officer, Easterseals DC MD VA, center, celebrates at the 2019 Distinguished Service Awards.

2 | Veteran Employee of the Year Cowinner, Gene Hammond, Senior Systems Engineer, iDirect Government.

3 | Veteran Employee of the Year Cowinner, Herbert Valle, ITIL Specialist, Axiologic Solutions LLC

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Non-Profit & Association Management Council Series Kick-off: Association Ethics Toolkit & Happy Hour On Thursday, October 24, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted the Non-Profit & Association Management Council Series Kick-off Event: Association Ethics Toolkit & Happy Hour. Billy Williams, VP, Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion at American Geophysical Union, and Bob Skelton, Chief Administrative Officer at ASAE, demonstrated how to use the ASAE Ethics Toolkit to assess and plan strategies to create a more ethical workplace.

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Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ On Wednesday, November 6, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Services Council (PSC), presented the 17th annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™honoring the leaders and legends of the government contracting community.

The 2019 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ went to: Contractor of the Year: • Up to $25 Million: Datastrong • $25 – 75 Million: Ridgeline International • $75 – 300 Million: DCS Corporation • Over $300 Million: SOS International LLC

Vetrepreneur On Tuesday, November 19, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted a distinguished panel of Vetrepreneurs moderated by Drew Reitz, Associate, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and including Bob Eisiminger, former Chief Executive Officer, Knight Point Solutions; Shawn Gundrum, Chief Executive Officer, Cathexis; Suzie Mills, Founder and CEO, Honest Soul Yoga; and Erik Wittreich, Chief Executive Officer, Ridgeline International, each of whom shared insights on their companies’ growth paths and on how being a Veteran shaped their vision and success.

Executive of the Year: • Up to $75 Million: Robin Portman, President and CEO, Atlas Research • $75 – 300 Million: Dr. William Vantine, President and CEO, Systems Planning & Analysis, Inc. • Over $300 Million: Mac Curtis, President and CEO, Perspecta Program of the Year: Datastrong and HigherEchelon Public Sector Partner of the Year: General Paul J. Selva, 10th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Air Force Hall of Fame Inductee: Dr. Edward H. Bersoff, Chairman of Greenwich Assoc.

4 | Executive of the Year in the up to $75 million category, Robin Portman, President and CEO, Atlas Research.

5 | Hall of Fame Inductee, Dr. Edward H. Bersoff, Chairman of Greenwich Assoc.

6 | Executive of the Year in the $75 to 300 million category, Dr. William Vantine, President and CEO, Systems Planning & Analysis, Inc.

Master Your Nonprofit’s Board Culture to Smash Operational Obstacles On Thursday, December 5, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted “Master Your Nonprofit’s Board Culture to Smash Operational Obstacles.” Nonprofit experts Jeffrey S. Tennenbaum, Esq., Chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC, and Erin Fuller, FASAE, MPA, CAE, President, Association Solutions, MCI USA, addressed how to leverage board culture to facilitate decisions and achieve measurable outcomes, present information to create engaging and efficient leadership decision-making, and better understand components of nonprofit board culture.

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Women in GovCon: Innovation & Resilience On Tuesday, November 12, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted Women in GovCon: Innovation & Resilience. The program featured a keynote presentation from Kathleen Federico, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Strategic Communications Officer at MITRE, as well as a panel discussion among senior executives from several top government contracting companies in the region, including: Barbara Kinosky, Managing Partner, Centre Law and Consulting; Yvonne Vervaet, Chief Growth Officer, Mantech; and Bettina Garcia Welsh, Senior Vice President, Senior Finance Officer, ICF International.

1 | Yvonne Vervaet, Chief Growth Officer, Mantech (center), and the ManTech team at this year’s Women in GovCon conference.

2 | Julie Coons, President & CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

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3 | Keynote speaker, Kathleen Federico, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Strategic Communications Officer, MITRE. 4 | From left, moderator Julie Coons, President & CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce; panelists Barbara Kinosky, Managing Partner, Centre Law and Consulting; Bettina Garcia Welsh, Senior Vice President, Senior Finance Officer, ICF International; and Yvonne Vervaet, Chief Growth Officer, Mantech.

Women Rising to Boards: Many Roads Lead to the Boardroom On Friday, November 22, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted Women Rising to Boards: Many Roads Lead to the Boardroom. The program reviewed the latest findings about women on boards, the importance of diverse boards, and the reasons why it’s crucial for women to serve in these positions. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear keynote speaker, Sheila Penrose, Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle, address her journey to the boardroom, as well as moderator Jane-Scott Cantus, Managing Principal and General Counsel, ILEX Group, and these accomplished and diverse panelists: Susan Chodakewitz, President & CEO, Nathan Associates, Inc.; Leslie D. Hale, President & CEO RJL Lodging Trust; The Honorable Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force; and Charles Harrington, Chairman, CEO, & President, Parsons.

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5 | From left, panel moderator Jane-Scott Cantus, Managing Principal and General Counsel, ILEX Group; The Honorable Deborah Lee Jones, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force; Leslie D. Hale, President & CEO, RJL Lodging Trust; Charles Harrington, Chairman, CEO, & President, Parsons; Susan Chodakewitz, President & CEO, Nathan Associates, Inc.; and Sheila Penrose, Chairman, Jones Lang LaSalle.

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8 6 | Keynote speaker, Sheila Penrose, Chairman, Jones Lang LaSalle.

7 | Julie Coons, President & CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

8 | Panel moderator, Jane-Scott Cantus, Managing Principal and General Counsel, ILEX Group.

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Senatorial Roundtable On Monday, December 9, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce was once again proud to host Virginia’s U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, at an intimate, roundtable discussion about federal issues facing organizations in our region. Topics included international trade policy and the ongoing discussions with China, federal infrastructure funding, security clearance process reforms, and other workforce development initiatives. In addition, Senators Warner and Kaine shared their views on the current shape of Virginia politics and what’s at stake nationally in 2020.

9 | U.S. Sens. Timothy Kaine (left) and Mark Warner (right) answer questions posed by journalist Julie Carey during the Senatorial Roundtable at the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Tysons headquarters. (Photo by Brian Trompeter)

GovCon Series: Transitioning for Success On Tuesday, December 10, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted Transitioning for Success, the latest in its GovCon Series. Government contracting business leaders in the region shared their experiences and successes in transitioning from small business set-aside status to full and open competition or a transaction.

Planning and decision criteria tips were combined with the personal experiences of the panelists, and provided attendees workable ideas to help them navigate the transition. Moderated by Suniti Ponkshe, Partner, Newport, LLC, panelists included Michele Bolos, CEO and Founder, NT Concepts; Phil Rizzi, Executive Vice President, ARServices; and Heather Newlin, Founder, Small to Large Transition Challenge.

Holiday Party On Thursday, December 19, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual holiday party at the Silverline Center Atrium. Our finest networking event of the season, members had the opportunity to mix and mingle with C-Suite executives and more.

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Capital Region Workforce Summit On Wednesday, December 11, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2019 Capital Region Workforce Summit.

Attendees heard from thought leaders, workforce connectors, and Chamber members with interesting approaches to workforce attraction as well as keynote speaker Anne Holton, Interim President, George Mason University. The event also included two panel discussions moderated

by Peggy Fox, Northern Virginia Media and Community Relations Manager, Dominion Energy, and Jennifer Stevens, President and CEO, Virginia Ed Strategies. Speakers included Stephanie Briggs, Director of Talent Management, WGL; Jaimie Francis, Senior Director, Programs & Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; Seth Marsh, Founder/CEO, CUED-In; and Dana Turturro, Vice President of Talent, Peraton.

10 | Keynote speaker Anne Holton, Interim President, George Mason University.

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NEW MEMBERS Let’s give ’em a warm welcome

ADVERTISING & MEDIA »» PLUS Communications, www.pluspr.com »» Washingtonian Magazine, www.washingtonian.com BANKING/FINANCE »» Duff & Phelps, www.duffandphelps.com »» Parabilis, www.parabilis.com CONSTRUCTION »» Pella Mid Atlantic, www.pellamidatlantic.com CONSULTING »» Newport, LLC, www.newportllc.com »» Successful Culture International, www.successfulculture.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY »» Malwork, www.malwork.io EDUCATION »» University of Phoenix, www.phoenix.edu GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING »» Global Group, www.globalgroup.biz »» Lexell Blue Consulting, www.lexellblue.com »» Nurtia International, www.nurtiainc.com HEALTH CARE SERVICES »» PM Pediatrics, www.pmpedatrics.com »» Profile by Sanford Health, www.profileplan.com NONPROFIT »» Didlake Document Imaging, www.didlake.org »» Special Olympics Virginia-Area 26, www.specialolympicsva.org REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT »» LGV Group LLC, www.lgvgroup.net »» The Mather, www.themathertysons.com 30

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FCDED-Business Voice Magazine-July 2019-PRINT.indd 1

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