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In this episode, we interview https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericadwoods/ (Erica Woods), who is Manager of State Policy for https://www.facebook.com/ (Facebook). Her goal in this role is simple, which is to build trust, integrity, and community – even serving the local community in Northern Virginia. Erica’s early professional career began as an attorney practicing in the areas of Banking and Real Estate Law - before later serving as counsel for the House of Representative Committee on Homeland Security, as well as later overseeing DHS as a political appointee under the Obama administration. Her journey led her toward an exciting path where she could apply her skills in the tech world with the exciting opportunity to join Facebook.  Today, she’s responsible for legislative tracking and policy recommendations across all 50 U.S. states, while also leading exciting initiatives to manage outreach on the state and local level for many Facebook initiatives, including those aimed to helping both individuals, but also businesses.  Facebook as certainly seen plenty of attention in the past year. Erica helps to outline the various programs, initiatives, and efforts that Facebook is leading today – including: https://about.fb.com/news/2017/11/facebook-community-boost/ (Facebook Community Boost) – which focuses on helping to upskill individuals, but also advise entrepreneurs on how to get the most out of the internet – with the aim of helping to maximize opportunities to grow the local economy. Initiatives to help make Facebook a resource of authoritative information – including an increased investment in Fact Checking Facebook’s efforts to support their users with resources and information related to COVID-19, vaccinations, and more with their https://www.facebook.com/coronavirus_info/ (COVID-19 Information Center). An ongoing commitment to data privacy, creating a safe and open platform, but also increased transparency – including comments on https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-socialmedia-congress-idUSKBN2BG29D (internet reform). Businesses looking to get in touch, or take advantage of these resources, can visit the https://www.facebook.com/business (Facebook for Business) home page to start to connect. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-eisiminger-002b546/ (Bob Eisiminger) founded https://www.linkedin.com/company/knight-point-systems/ (Knight Point Systems), an IT service provider to U.S. government agencies, in 2005, after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a stint in the United States Army as an officer and a turn at a Fortune 500 company as a corporate executive. In the Army, Bob learned how to lead people. By the time he sold Knight Point 15 years later, for $250 million dollars, he had about 500 employees invested in the Knight Point culture and embedded in various U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security projects, often at the highest clearance levels. Since the acquisition of Knight Point, Bob spends his time giving back to the entrepreneurial community. He serves on the Board of Experts for The Birthing of Giants Fellowship Program, an educational program for owners of growing companies. He also serves on the Board for Patriapps Software Venture Studio, https://diversitypop.com/ (diversitypop), EXB solutions, Inc, https://www.linkedin.com/company/reservoire/ (Reservoire Health), SignId, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, and serves as a co-chair for the Veterans and Military Business Council for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.  Highlights of this episode: Leadership skills learned from West Point Investing in employees through training The importance of finding employees with ‘grit’ Lessons learned from the Knight Point Systems acquisition Paying it forward through mentorship and sharing knowledge

Dr. Sarbari Gupta is responsible for establishing corporate strategy and vision, shaping corporate culture and cultivating business relationships to enable https://www.electrosoft-inc.com/who-we-are/sarbari-gupta#:~:text=and%20private%20sectors.-,Dr.,management%2C%20privacy%20and%20cryptographic%20solutions.&text=She%20has%20co%2Dauthored%20several,She%20received%20M.S.%20and%20Ph. (Electrosoft) to thrive. She also serves as the focal point for assuring quality and customer satisfaction. Her extensive background spans software development and professional services serving both public and private sectors. Dr. Gupta has a broad base of knowledge and experience in the areas of cybersecurity, risk management, privacy, and cryptographic solutions. Dr. Gupta has authored over twenty technical papers/presentations in refereed conferences/journals and four chapters in two cybersecurity books. She holds four patents in areas of cryptography. She has co-authored several NIST Special Publications in the areas of Electronic Authentication, Security Configuration Management and Mobile Credentials. She received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and a B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. She holds CISSP and CISA certifications. Highlights of the episode: Dr. Gupta’s path from Kolkata, India to leading one of the fastest growing cybersecurity companies in the Northern Virginia region Finding the balance between user experience and security Electrosoft’s role in securing our nation against cybersecurity attacks The use of biometric data and the potential of blockchain Learn more about Dr. Gupta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarbari-gupta/ (LinkedIn) https://www.electrosoft-inc.com/ (Electrosoft)

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/profiles/ttremaglio.html (Tamika Tremaglio) is the Deloitte Managing Principal for the Greater Washington area which has approximately 10,000 practitioners. She has served as the East Regional Leader for Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory, and on the firm’s Board Counsel, Next Generation of Leaders and US Nominating committee, in which Deloitte US named its first female CEO – the first of the Big 4! Tamika has led our Chief Legal Officer program in the US for the last four years, is on the DTBA Board and was the former Dean for our Next Generation of CLOs Academy. Tamika has significant experience in global forensic accounting investigations and corporate governance matters in a number of industries. She has been involved in US SEC and US Department of Justice investigations where issues surrounding executive conduct and whistleblower allegations have been called into question. She is a member of the National Bar Association, Women in Power and Influence in the Law Superstars and the Women of Excellence Network. Tamika serves her community in many ways by serving as the Vice Chairman and Audit Committee Chair of the https://aqua.org/about/board-of-directors/tamika-langley-tremaglio (National Aquarium in Baltimore), Advisory Board of the National Bar Association’s Commercial Law Section, President of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association Foundation, https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/bio/tamika-tremaglio (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation), and is on the boards of the United Way, Greater Washington Board of Trade, https://www.tuskegee.edu/about-us/board-of-trustees/tamika-tremaglio (Tuskegee University), Girls Empowerment Mission, and Lady Gaga's Foundation, the https://bornthisway.foundation/ (Born This Way Foundation). Tamika holds an MBA and a JD and has been a frequent lecturer on corporate governance and global anti-corruption investigations and compliance issues. In 2017, the Washington Business Journal honored Tamika as https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/09/04/revealed-our-2020-women-who-mean-business-honorees.html (Women Who Mean Business) and the Washingtonian magazine recognized her as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington, DC. She is a recipient of the National Bar Association’s Cora T. Walker Legacy Award and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Black Law Student Association’s 2014 Alumna of the Year Award. Tamika has also been recognized as one of the Top 40 under 40 by both the National Bar Association and Business Forward and most recently Tamika was featured in Essence magazine’s Power & Money List 2014 in which she was recognized as a “Game Changer” with the likes of Queen Latifah. Learn more about Tamika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamikatremaglio/ (LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/tltremaglio?lang=en (Twitter)

Kevin DeSanto is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of https://kippsdesanto.com/ (KippsDeSanto & Co)., a premier investment banking firm headquartered in metropolitan Washington, DC. Mr. DeSanto has a broad base of experience in providing corporate transaction advisory services. He has been personally involved in advising shareholders, boards of directors and management teams of over 100 companies in connection with strategic alternatives assessments, acquisitions, sales and divestitures, going-private transactions, raising of private debt and equity financing, fairness opinions, solvency opinions and general corporate planning. In 2012, Mr. DeSanto was recognized as a finalist at the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Awards (Emerging Influential of the Year) and as a “40 under 40” award winner by The M&A Advisor. He was recognized in 2011 on Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list of outstanding regional business leaders and as the Dealmaker of the Year – Investment Banker by the Association for Corporate Growth’s National Capital Chapter. Throughout his career, Mr. DeSanto has been instrumental in transaction execution, business development, operational and recruiting efforts. Mr. DeSanto received a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He has remained engaged in campus activities, including participating in the Alumni Admissions Program, MSB Young Alumni Mentor program and serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Hoyas Unlimited and the Baseball program. In addition, Mr. DeSanto is a member of the Fundraising Committee for the non-profit NextStep Fitness. Overview of episode: DeSanto’s path to the D.C. region The impact of 9/11 on aerospace and defense government contractors Impact of the pandemic on mergers and acquisitions The importance of technology vs talent when analyzing an organization What does a ‘personality’ mean within a company? Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-desanto/ (LinkedIn) https://kippsdesanto.com/contact/ (KippsDeSanto)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenforkas/ (Len Forkas) has over 20 years of experience leading businesses across Northern Virginia. His early rise in Real Estate Development led him to Wireless Communications – but he’s also an author, a passionate philanthropist, and https://www.lenforkas.com/speaking (motivational speaker).   In 2001, Len founded https://milestonetowers.com/ (Milestone Towers), a Wireless Tower Company that specializes in developing partnerships with Schools, Municipalities, and Utility Providers across the Mid-Atlantic. Milestone helps to bridge wireless gaps by helping to create value for property owners through creative solutions in order to merge wireless communications into existing spaces, thus expanding wireless coverage, boosting profitability, and more. Len is also a published author, leadership speaker, and endurance athlete. He has climbed Vinson, Elbrus, and Kilamanjaro - but also in 2012 he competed in the http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/about.html (Race Across America), an endurance cycling event where he traveled over 3,000 miles in less than 12 days. This experience served as inspiration for his book, https://www.amazon.com/What-Spins-Wheel-Leadership-Lessons/dp/0996096906#:~:text=What%20Spins%20the%20Wheel%20is,his%20own%20life%20changed%20forever. (What Spins The Wheel). In his book, Len covers his journey in Race Across America – but also as a determined father, and entrepreneur -  helping to apply the lessons to life, business, and more.  The funds that he raised for this event were then donated to https://www.hopecam.org/ (HopeCam), Len’s other passion in life. HopeCam was developed after his own nine-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. HopeCam helps to bring wireless technology and communication to children who are struggling with Pediatric Cancer in order to overcome social isolation and connect with their classmates. Interestingly enough, Len was ahead of his time with HopeCam as we find ourselves in an era of social isolation today.  In this episode, Len shares his story – which covers his background, the role that Milestone plays in wireless, as well as the current environment around broadband - but also his experiences and passions, and powerful stories about perseverance and endurance.

Born into a family of chefs, Stefano Renato Marzano of Fairfax, Virginia, knew that food and beverage was in his blood. He started working at his parents’ restaurant at the age of 12, and by age 15 had made his way into the kitchen as a cook at his family’s fine dining Italian restaurant, https://www.osteriamarzano.com/ (Osteria Marzano). Stefano wasn’t the best employee; in fact, his dad and sister suggested that he should experience other kitchens. He went on to intern at Tosca, working for free for six months, training under their chef, while still working at Osteria Marzano. He then worked at Cities Restaurant, but was fired after only four months. This ended up being a blessing in disguise as it was just the motivation he needed to focus solely on taking MightyMeals to the top!  When he was just 20 years old, MightyMeals was born after meeting his co-founders, Dan Graziano and Alex Lebonitte. Together, they shared a vision of creating a meal prep company that bridged the gap between quality and convenience. But it still took Stefano 18 months to buckle-down, get serious, and lose his ego. He didn’t follow the traditional route; however, he worked extremely hard to turn his passion for food into a successful career. Stefano is proud that MightyMeals creates consistent, delicious, healthy meals in-house, from scratch. His passion is providing a top-quality product that is affordable and helps people better themselves and their health. Stefano runs the culinary team at MightyMeals, but also enjoys helping direct the marketing and social media side of the business. Highlights of the episode: Getting into the food business Going from ‘rebel kid’ to entrepreneur Working for https://www.stellinapizzeria.com/team-member/matteo-venini/ (Matteo Venini) Meeting Dan Graziano and Alex Leonitte, the co-founders of Mighty Meals Starting Mighty Meals with $5000 Year 1 of hustling in the kitchen—cooking, packaging, and delivering a thousand meals per week Struggling with fast growth Using the crisis of the pandemic to give back to the community—https://eatmightymeals.com/mightymovement/ (MightyMovement) The future of dining Connect with Stefano Marzano: https://eatmightymeals.com/founder-spotlight-executive-chef-stefano-marzano/#:~:text=Founder%20Spotlight%3A%20Executive%20Chef%20Stefano%20Marzano (MightyMeals.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefano-marzano-482685105/ (LinkedIn) https://www.instagram.com/chef_steo/ (Instagram)

Kerry Alison Wekelo is Award-Winning Author, Chief Operating Officer at http://www.actualizeconsulting.com/ (Actualize Consulting), Founder of http://www.zendoway.com/ (Zendoway), and Creator of http://www.zendoway.com/store/c6/Cubes.html (Zendoway Cubes).​ She also is author of Culture Infusion, a yoga teacher, and a life coach. Her book and programhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076CTKD55/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 (, Culture Infusion: 9 Principles for Creating and Maintaining a Thriving Organizational Culture), is the impetus behind Actualize Consulting being named Top Company Culture by Entrepreneur Magazine, a Top Workplace by The Washington Post, and Great Place to Work-Certified. Kerry’s newest book, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089NYDKWY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 (Gratitude Infusion: Workplace Strategies for a Thriving Organizational Culture), helps business leaders create workplace strategies to develop a culture of gratitude throughout the organization. Kerry has been featured on ABC, NBC, NPR, The New York Times, Thrive Global, SHRM, Inc., and Forbes. She lives in Reston, Virginia with her two children. Highlights of the episode: Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley Following your passion vs obtaining skills Changing the culture of a company Thinking of gratitude as a gift The impact of COVID-19 on the workplace Solving Mental Health in the workplace Connect with Kerry: http://www.kerryalison.com/ (Kerryalison.com) http://www.zendoway.com/ (Zendoway.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryelam (LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/kerrywekelo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Twitter) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnjEo5_jeek_qLowVqYVZw (YouTube)

https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ (Senator Mark Warner) was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008 and reelected to a third term in November 2020. He serves on the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committees as well as the Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the Chairman. During his time in the Senate, Senator Warner has established himself as a bipartisan leader who has worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to cut red tape, increase government performance and accountability, and promote private sector innovation and job creation. Senator Warner has been recognized as a national leader in fighting for our military men and women and veterans, and in working to find bipartisan, balanced solutions to address our country's debt and deficit. From 2002 to 2006, he served as Governor of Virginia. When he left office in 2006, Virginia was ranked as the best state for business, the best managed state, and the best state in which to receive a public education. The first in his family to graduate from college, Mark Warner spent 20 years as a successful technology and business leader in Virginia before entering public office. An early investor in the cellular telephone business, he co-founded the company that became Nextel and invested in hundreds of start-up technology companies that created tens of thousands of jobs. Senator Warner and his wife Lisa Collis live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have three daughters. Highlights of the episode: Senator Warner’s history as a venture capitalist Advice for business owners and entrepreneurs The pandemic impact on small businesses The expansion of the digital economy Creating a business and people friendly state The affordability of housing, healthcare, and education The future of the gig economy Portable employee benefits Connect with Senator Warner: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/officeinformation (Office Information) https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrwarner/ (LinkedIn), https://www.facebook.com/MarkRWarner (Facebook), https://twitter.com/MarkWarner (Twitter)

Chief Planologist, Courtenay Shipley, has a diverse background in the retirement plan industry providing a unique foundation for her clients in the areas of fiduciary responsibility, investment analysis, and participant education. During her career she has provided institutional investment consulting to qualified retirement plans, developed business strategy for a boutique third party administrator and recordkeeper, conducted over 9,000 education meetings to groups and individual employees, and served the nonprofit market. Courtenay is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, and is licensed as an investment advisor representative (Series 66). She holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ (AIF®) designation through the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS) designation from the American College of Financial Planning, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) from National Association of Plan Advisors, and the Certified Health Savings Advisor (CHSA) designation. Since 2015 she has been featured in the Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Plan Advisors annual list, named a Top Women Advisor All-Star by the National Association of Plan Advisors (2015, 2017-2019), and named a 2018 NAPA Young Gun: Top 75 under 40. Highlights of the episode Top money mistakes for employers and employees What does a financial wellness program consist of? What do employees want in a retirement program? Indexed funds vs actively managed funds Tesla, Bitcoin, and the outlook for ‘hot’ stocks Fintech—where is it at and where is it going? Financial Resources for companies and employees Get in touch with Courtenay: https://www.linkedin.com/company/retirement-planology-inc/ (Retirement Planology on LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/cshipley/ (Courtenay’s LinkedIn) Resources mentioned on episode: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ (Mr Money Mustache) https://www.madfientist.com/ (Mad Fientist)- The path to Financial Independence https://financialmentor.com/ (Financial Mentor) https://www.youneedabudget.com/ (YouNeedABudget) The value of investments may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Views contained herein are not to be taken as advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The podcast does not contain sufficient information to make an informed investment decision and should not be relied upon for making investment decisions. Any forecasts, figures, opinions, investment techniques or strategies set out are for informational purposes only, based on assumptions and current market conditions, and are subject to change without prior notice. All information herein is assumed to be accurate at the time of production. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-fussell-56947a32/ (Chris Fussell) is a Partner at the https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/people/christopher-fussell/ (McChrystal Group). He is the author of https://www.amazon.com/One-Mission-Leaders-Build-Teams/dp/0735211353 (One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams), and a co-author of the New York Times bestseller https://www.amazon.com/Team-Teams-Rules-Engagement-Complex/dp/1591847486/ref=pd_lpo_14_img_0/140-8070353-7797045?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1591847486&pd_rd_r=a8376579-cd7b-4937-bbac-95c98c576ed4&pd_rd_w=XZyuR&pd_rd_wg=TnxGX&pf_rd_p=16b28406-aa34-451d-8a2e-b3930ada000c&pf_rd_r=QH6MFCZSWQ4N0TGT9YYF&psc=1&refRID=QH6MFCZSWQ4N0TGT9YYF (Team of Teams), the first book in the series. He was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent the next 15 years on U.S. Navy SEAL Teams around the globe. He then served as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal during McChrystal’s final year commanding a Joint Special Operations Task Force fighting Al Qaeda around the globe. Since leaving active duty in 2012, Fussell has also served as a Senior Fellow for National Security at https://www.newamerica.org/our-people/christopher-l-fussell/ (New America), sits on the Board of Directors for the Navy SEAL Foundation, is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and teaches at Yale University’s Jackson Institute. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his family. Chris co-hosts the No Turning Back Podcast with Stan McChrystal. They have interviewed leaders like Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart; Simon Sinek, Author & Speaker; and Molly Joseph, CEO of UnitedHealth Group.  Highlights of the episode: Lessons learned in Navy Seals training How Chris came to be the Aide-de-Camp to General Stanley McChrystal Pivoting the McChrystal Group during the pandemic The new normal of the business world Attributes that develop into top talent The Team of Teams framework The most common bottleneck for companies Learn more about Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-fussell-56947a32/ (LinkedIn) https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/topics/no-turning-back/ (No Turning Back Podcast)

Today’s guest is one of the most respected and distinguished executive coaches in Northern Virginia, https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegladis1/ (Steve Gladis, Ph.D). Steve learned discipline, compassion, and leadership at an early age. His mother was a meatpacker, and his father was a truck driver. Steve served in the Marine Corps at the height of the Vietnam War. After returning home, he met his wife, and initially attended Medical School before deciding to embark on a career with the FBI. Over the years he transitioned from the field into speech writing, training, and more – helping to shape his later transition to academia being an author, and more – all while working through the challenges of being dyslexic.  Today, he leverages his background, his many talents, and more, to help leaders lead more effectively. He has written over 25 books on the subject, including Leading Teams: Understanding the Team Leadership Pyramid; Positive Leadership: Self-Leadership: Become the CEO of your Own Career, and Solving the Innovation Mystery; The Game Changer at Work; and more. Today, we discuss many important topics, to include: How deeply rooted fears, hopes, and emotions determine why we act the way we do as leaders How Steve’s early exposure to generosity has shaped his current mission today Why he writes, and how its as helpful to himself as it is to others The impact of great leaders vs weak leaders What makes for an effective team, and why only 20% of teams are effective Why empathy is one of the most important skills to have, and other focal points for today’s leaders The dirty secret behind philanthropy that Steve benefits from today And more… Today, Steve remains focused on his work under http://stevegladisleadershippartners.com/ (Steve Gladis Leadership Partners), while remaining focused on larger missions to serve the community, primarily through https://www.nvfs.org/ (Northern Virginia Family Service), and other initiatives. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegladis1/ (Connect with Steve on LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/stevegladis?lang=en (Follow Steve on Twitter) Call Steve at 703.424.3780 Email Steve at sgladis@stevegladis.com https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Teams-Understanding-Leadership-Pyramid/dp/0989131416/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=steve+gladis&qid=1608557368&sr=8-1 (Buy Leading Teams: Understanding the Team Leadership Pyramid on Amazon)

Jennifer Taylor is President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), one of the largest regional technology councils in the nation and serves as the regional technology voice representing a diverse and thriving technology ecosystem by promoting innovation, convening, educating, and advocating for the greater Washington technology community. Taylor, a native of the DC region for 30 years, joined NVTC from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) where she served as Vice President of Industry Affairs. During her time at CTA, she engaged with its over 2,000 member companies from Amazon, BOSCH, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Sony Electronics to Ford, Lyft, Toyota, and Uber. Taylor also launched CTA’s 21st Century Workforce Council and the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group to help the tech sector close the nation’s skills gap, increase awareness of the growing number of high-skilled tech-related jobs, and build a fully equipped, diverse and inclusive national workforce. Taylor frequently writes and speaks on the topic of ‘The Future of Work’, highlighting best practices and new ways for employers to attract, hire, train, and upskill Americans to perform in-demand jobs. Her op-eds and articles have appeared in publications such as https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/373091-from-scranton-to-silicon-valley-preparing-for-jobs-of-the-future (The Hill), https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/tech-industry-retraining-decade-cta-jennifer-taylor (Fox Business News), https://thenextweb.com/podium/2019/05/19/apprenticeships-are-critical-to-americas-future-as-a-knowledge-economy/ (The Next Web’s PODIUM), and https://www.cta.tech/Resources/i3-Magazine/i3-Issues/2019/March-April/Youre-Hired-CTA-Encourages-Tech-Companies-to-Off (It Is Innovation-i3). Taylor has also served as a host and presenter at https://ces.tech/ (CES), the Global Stage for Innovation, in the CES Future of Work and Innovation for All conference tracks. Highlights of this episode: The fall of blue-collar cities Apprenticeships as the liaison to tech jobs Diversity and inclusion in the tech sector Our ‘new collar’ workforce Roadmap of Northern Virginia Technology Council Book mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300547 (Hillbilly Elegy) by JD Vance Jennifer Taylor on https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermarietaylor/ (LinkedIn)

In this episode, we interview https://www.linkedin.com/in/radha-muthiah-74885641 (Radha Muthiah) of https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/ (Capital Area Food Bank). Radha has an amazing story that like many others is certainly worth listening to. Today, she shares her journey, mission, and more about how she has gotten to where she is today.   Radha’s early years were shaped by her family constantly being on the move. When her father brought their family to the United States so that he could pursue his education before returning home, Radha realized that education afforded her an opportunity to take a different path from what would have been more traditional. She set lofty goals early on, graduated from high school at age 16, and three years later had graduated college. Being a goal oriented individual, Radha knew that she always had to be a few steps ahead, which is something that benefits not only herself, but also the region today.  To put things in perspective, traditionally the Capital Area Food Bank would work to respond to the needs of over https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/hunger-in-our-region/ (400,000 individuals and families that are food insecure), to over 600,000 in 2020. This has led them from a plan to distribute 30M meals to the community, to over 50M meals. Today, 2/3 of the food that they are distributing is purchased, since many donations from retailers are down given the strains of https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/covid19response/ (2020). Radha discusses these challenges, and more. Today’s topics discussed include: How her family’s journey impacted her early path – including her early goals, and why. The value of early mentors, and her takeaways . Early realizations that understanding the impact of the private sector was important for serving others in the mission-oriented space. Why she chose to focus on supporting others locally, after supporting others abroad. The value of accumulating the tools she has over the years has been helpful given the challenges of 2020 – including supply, logistics, and more. The impact of community involvement, especially in a year like 2020. Understanding the interconnected issues that food insecurity impacts – including education, health, and more. Her advice for those in the position of supporting charities, how to give, and what to think about when donating. Radha’s predictions – both short-term and long-term for Capital Area Food Bank, herself, and the region – but also what the community at-large should be focusing on. “There isn’t a single zip code in our relatively wealthy region that doesn’t have thousands of food insecure individuals within it.” We hope you enjoy this episode. Visit Capital Area Food Bank: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/ (https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/) Connect with Radha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radha-muthiah-74885641/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/radha-muthiah-74885641/)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhastings/ (Matt Hastings) is the CEO and Founder at https://alphabrook.com/vog-intelligence-service (AlphaBrook), a data intelligence firm for government contractors. Matt founded AlphaBrook in 2011 to provide a new kind of market intelligence sourced solely from government decision-makers to help companies improve bid decisions and win more contracts within the public sector. https://alphabrook.com/ (AlphaBrook) works with thousands of federal contracting executives via their https://alphabrook.com/vog-intelligence-service (VoG BD Intelligence (BDI)) solution to provide difficult-to-find customer market intelligence. AlphaBrook’s BDI experts implement strategies to identify winning intel on upcoming RFPs and task orders, incumbency performance, executive and program pain points, source selection panel preferences, government program initiatives, price-to-win, teaming partners, expiring competitor contracts and rates, and much more. Highlights of the episode: Using mentorship to launch his career The experience of interning in the Pentagon as a young adult The formation of AlphaBrook The reality of burn out and working through it The impact of Amazon on the Northern Virginia region Investing in the market and people Advice for government contractors looking to take off and grow Get in touch with Matt: matt@alphabrook.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhastings/ (LinkedIn Profile) http://www.alphabrook.com/ (www.alphabrook.com)

In this episode, we interview https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinabouweiri/ (Kristina (Jacobsen) Bouweiri) of https://www.restonlimo.com/ (Reston Limousine).  Kristina stands on her own as a force to be reckoned in the Luxury Limo and Transportation Industry for the DC Metro Area. She, along with Reston Limo are the winners of many prestigious awards, including Best Run Companies in Baltimore & DC, Top Women-Owned Businesses in DC, and more. Reston Limo remains the region’s largest luxury transportation provider. The Washington Business Journal named Kristina as one of the 50 most powerful and influential women in Washington.   In this interview Kristina shares her past, information on the current-state, and her future vision for not only herself and her business, but the region as a whole. Some of the topics include: The impact of growing up across four continents, in a family that was always on the go. The story of how her life came full circle, from serving in a non-profit to empower women in Africa, to eventually leading business seminars helping to empower women at the Global Women’s Business Summit. How she landed at Reston Limousine, and quickly realized she had the skills to market and sell Whether it’s better to be smart, or lucky How the company found early success, but also endured hardship Their transitions from black car services to limos, shuttles, weddings, and more. Why many area vineyards may have Reston Limo to thank for growing their businesses And more By the late 90’s, the company was firing on all cylinders. During this time, they won every government contract they bid on, but also had work with many of the dot-coms (including Ted Leonsis), propelling them from $200,000 per year in revenue to $5M in this time. When 9/11 hit, the music stopped, and Kristina began to look for alternative revenue streams to keep the business going. Fast forward to today amid COVID-19, Kristina finds herself in a similar place, however she sees many silver linings, and a brighter future. Christina provides her insights her success, with something for many businesses to learn from. https://www.sterlingwomen.org/ (https://www.sterlingwomen.org/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinabouweiri/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinabouweiri/) https://www.restonlimo.com/kristina-bouweiri/ (https://www.restonlimo.com/kristina-bouweiri/) 

Victor Hoskins joined the https://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/ (Fairfax County (Va.) Economic Development Authority) (FCEDA) as president and CEO on August of 2019. Previously, he was the director of https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com/ (Arlington (Va.) Economic Development) since 2015. In that role he is most known for leading the team that successfully attracted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_HQ2#:~:text=Amazon%20HQ2%20is%20a%20planned,existing%20headquarters%20in%20Seattle%2C%20Washington.&text=Virginia%20will%20provide%20%24573%20million,in%20cash%2C%20and%20other%20incentives. (Amazon) HQ2 to Arlington County, a deal that will bring between 25,000 and 37,850 Amazon jobs to Arlington, stimulate creation of another 75,000 jobs in the Washington region, and generate between $3.2 and $4.8 billion in revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under Mr. Hoskins’ leadership, Arlington County also successfully implemented an Innovation Strategy that moved it toward technology and private sector commercialization. Other successes in Arlington include Nestlé, Applied Predictive Technologies, Deloitte and Phone2Action. Previously, Mr. Hoskins worked in private real estate investment on Wall Street. He also served as deputy mayor of economic development for the District of Columbia, during which time he led the turnaround of the District’s economy with projects such as The Wharf and City Center. During his career, Mr. Hoskins’s work has resulted in almost 375,000 jobs, and he has led the teams that negotiated more than 700 major business deals resulting in billions of dollars in private investment. He holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree with honors from Dartmouth College. The FCEDA helps businesses start, expand or relocate in Fairfax County. Chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the FCEDA is led by a board of county business leaders and funded by the Fairfax County government to promote the county as one of the world’s best business locations and build the county’s commercial tax base. The Board of Supervisors uses the commercial tax base to fund high-quality public services for a growing and diversifying population. Episode Highlights: Collaborating across organizations and state lines to progress the region Why Arlington County won the Amazon Headquarters bid and how it is impacting the region How FCEDA is working with companies to help upskill the workforce Global competition and what it will look like for the years to come Credentialing people instead of requiring college degrees The talent pool problem in Northern Virginia Commercializing NoVA’s capabilities to attract companies and talent References in the episode: http://www.workinnorthernvirginia.com/ (www.workinnorthernvirginia.com)   https://novaeda.org/ (Northern Virginia Economic Alliance) Get in touch with Victor https://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/ (https://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/)

....AND that's a wrap! After interviews with 14 incredible business leaders, we are ready to close the chapter on Season One of The Northern Virginia Business Podcast. In this inbetweenisode, we want to commemorate each leader by telling our favorite part of the interview. Check out the list of guests below! Alba Aleman, CEO of Citizant Mitch Weintraub, Managing Partner at Cordia Partners Scott Parker, Serial Entrepreneur and Restaurateur Kendall Holbrook, CEO of Dev Technology Mike McDermott, President of InquisIT Joe Meyer, CEO at ShelterHouse Greg Fitzgerald, COO of IT Coalition Seth Berenzweig & Declan Leonard, Partners of Berenzweig Leonard Ryan Rauner, Associate Broker at Century 21 Todd Rowley, Market Executive at Old Dominion National Bank Robert Grey, CEO of Intellidyne Larry Melton, CEO of The Building People Dwight Hunt, CEO of B3 Group Tim Hoang, Advisor & Partner at Keller Williams United

Tim Hoang is a Real Estate Advisor and partner at https://www.kwfallschurch.com/ (Keller Williams United) in Falls Church, Virginia. Born in Vietnam, Tim is the embodiment of the ‘American dream’. Tim’s family fled to the United States as part of the 531,000 political refugees seeking asylum after the Fall of Saigon. Over the years, Tim and his family have built a reputation and legacy in the real estate and restaurant industry, owning multiple properties and restaurants in the DMV region. Tim’s journey to real estate was a long one. After going down the path of getting his PhD in psychology, Tim made the difficult decision of quitting school to become a realtor. Since joining KW United, Tim has achieved Million Dollar Achiever status and has evolved into a leader and partner in the firm.      Outside of being a realtor, Tim is also a boxing coach at https://titleboxingclub.com/falls-church-va/?lang=en (Title Boxing Club), and restauranter. https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-pho-restaurants-dc-2 (Pho 14), a Vietnamese restaurant that Tim is a part owner of, recently won Best Pho places of D.C. Highlights of the episode: Being an immigrant in Northern Virginia Betting on yourself during life’s toughest challenges The importance of developing relationships Finding a mentor and paying it forward The impact of the pandemic on residential real estate Advice for buyers and sellers in the NoVA region The future of the real estate market People mentioned: https://www.kwfallschurch.com/staff/steve-gaskins/ (Steve Gaskin) https://headquarters.kw.com/leadership/gary-keller/ (Gary Keller, Founder of Keller Williams) How to get in touch with Tim Hoang: Email: timhoang@kw.com Phone: 703.298.1754 https://www.facebook.com/TheHoangTeam/ (Facebook) https://www.tiktok.com/@tim.b.hoang.realtor?source=h5_m (TikTok) https://www.instagram.com/tim_b_hoang/ (Instagram)

As President and CEO of https://b3groupinc.com/about-us/leadership/ (B3 Group), Dwight Hunt provides the company’s vision and strategic oversight of its growth. His singular mission focus is in leading the company and its team of talented professionals to deliver excellence in health IT services to both government and enterprise customers. Prior to joining B3 Group in 2011, Mr. Hunt had a distinguished 20-year career with the U.S. Army, serving in a wide range of Acquisition positions, including Program Management and operational assignments, and achieved DAWIA Level III certifications in the fields of Information Technology, Science and Technology, Science and Technology Management, and Program Management. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy and a M.S. in Information Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. Highlights of the episode: How 9/11 inspired Dwight’s career path and mission How a cheerleading program led to the creation of B3 Group The challenge of generating cash in a startup Firing yourself to bring on people who are better than you https://b3groupinc.com/news/b3-group-inc-lands-686m-digital-transformation-center-dtc-contract/ (The digital transformation of Veteran Affairs) Being deliberate with company culture during the pandemic Living with PTSD and using it as a catalyst to connect the workplace B3’s approach on finding talent in Northern Virginia Get in touch with Dwight: Dwight on https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-hunt-05267430/ (LinkedIn) B3 on https://www.linkedin.com/company/b3-group-inc/ (LinkedIn) https://b3groupinc.com/ (B3 Group, Inc)