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Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins was named on the “2024 Virginia Power 500” list by Virginia Business for the fifth consecutive year. The Virginia Power 500 are “Virginia’s most powerful and influential leaders in business, government, politics and education,” according to Virginia Business.

Hoskins was honored in the “Economic Development” category on the list, along with 18 additional leaders from across the Commonwealth, including Joe Benevento, President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp.; Barry Duval, President and CEO, Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Jason El Koubi, President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership; and Caren Merrick, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia.

“It is a great honor to be recognized on the 2024 Virginia Power 500 list,” said Victor Hoskins, president, and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “It is humbling to lead a team of professionals in Fairfax that care about the businesses and the community. They truly deserve the credit. Our National, International and Diversity Business Investment Teams as well as our Marketing and Talent Teams have generated outcomes from collaboration regionally that we could not have imagined. Their innovative and excellent work has made it possible for us to build a resilient economy alongside our NOVA Economic Development Alliance partners and Virginia Economic Development Partnership team to serve the great businesses of the Commonwealth.”

According to Virginia Business, Hoskins has led the FCEDA since 2019, when he made the move from Arlington Economic Development after helping bring Amazon’s HQ2 to the state. FCEDA has helped the county land a string of new headquarters recently, including The Aerospace Corp., space cybersecurity firm SpiderOak and NetApp, which established its U.S. public sector headquarters in Tysons.

Among his many philanthropic and volunteer positions, Hoskins sits on the George Mason University President’s Innovation Advisory Council and the advisory council for Blueprint Virginia 2030. He is vice president of the Capital Area Food Bank’s board of directors. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In March 2023, Hoskins received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from The White House.

Asked by Virginia Business about one thing he’d change about Virginia, Hoskins replied: “Exponentially expand the number of internships for high school and college students.” For a book he would recommend, Hoskins suggested: “Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things,” by Adam Grant.

Click here to see subscriber content list of all of the executives that placed on the Power 500 list, including many additional leaders of companies and organizations based in Fairfax County.

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With the theme of “Be Green, See Green,” Fairfax County’s Green Business Partners Program is hosting  a networking event on Thursday, September 19. This event will feature county business leaders sharing insights on the monetary benefits of incorporating sustainability practices into their operations. Green Business Leader Groundswell, in partnership with the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, will host the event at 8401 Greensboro Drive in Tysons.

The goal of the Green Business Social is for leaders to network and to encourage peer-to-peer learning on how green business practices can lower operational costs, increase profits, and contribute to a healthier community. The event is free, and food and drinks will be provided. Space is limited so be sure to register for the event in advance.

Weekly Business News Digest

Acing office space: Real estate analysts and local economic development officials describe a demand for modern buildings and neighborhoods that are higher on environmental and walkability scores, those with natural light, more breakout rooms for collaboration and more private booths to take a phone call. While some areas of Northern Virginia are struggling to regain the pre-pandemic era occupancy, the office market that stretches between Washington Dulles International Airport and following to Reston through Tysons is one of two regions in Northern Virginia where trophy Class A office spaces are tight, according to Virginia Business in subscriber content. A similar situation exists in the area between Rosslyn and National Landing. Office vacancy rates at Reston Town Center in Fairfax County are at about 4 percent to 6 percent, according to reports from JLL and BXP.

Key tech talent pipeline partner: Virginia has more than 53,000 cybersecurity job openings, the most of any state, and Fairfax-based George Mason University is a key partner in the state’s efforts to fill the technology talent pipeline, according to industry analyst CyberSeek, reported Virginia Business. George Mason recently received nearly $200,000 from the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology for a two-year program to improve cybersecurity workforce development. The program is just the latest cybersecurity initiative at George Mason, which is part of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, a partnership of Virginia colleges and universities, industries, local governments, economic development offices and other organizations that operate with a shared mission of improving cybersecurity research and workforce training.

New leadership: Reston-based Peraton, a portfolio company of Veritas Capital and next-generation technology provider to government customers announced that Steve Schorer has been appointed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, reported citybiz. Steve Schorer succeeds former Peraton Chairman, President and CEO Stu Shea, who successfully led Peraton for the last seven years. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this renowned company as it continues to help safeguard America’s interests and transform the world in an era of rapidly evolving challenges,” said Steve Schorer. “I look forward to working alongside the talented team at Peraton to develop and deliver solutions to support our customers’ most vital missions and to manage their most valued technology assets.”

Largest veteran-owned companies: Reston-based Thundercat Technology is the largest veteran-owned company in Greater Washington, according to Washington Business Journal in subscriber content. With $828.37 million total revenue in 2023, the company employs a staff of 130. Coming in at number two on the list is Tysons-based By Light Professionals. With $659 million in total revenue in 2023, the company employs a staff of 1,600. Also landing on the list of largest companies are the following companies based in Fairfax County: Obxtek (Tysons); Millennium Corp. (Tysons); Intelligent Waves (Reston); Prescient Edge (Tysons); Axiologic Solutions (Fairfax); Goldschmitt and Associates (Reston); Hive Group (Tysons); Qmulos (Chantilly); One Federal Solution (Alexandria); The Green Technology Group (Fairfax); and E-9 Corporation (Alexandria). Looking for a job at a veteran-owned company? Find about jobs at these companies and others at workinnorthernvirginia.com.

Investing in national security: ITC Federal, an 18-year-old Fairfax firm that provides IT services for federal agencies focused on national security, is eyeing acquisitions after landing its first-ever outside investment, reported Washington Business Journal. The $25 million in funding came from Blue Delta Capital Partners, a Tysons growth-stage investor that backs government contractors. Blue Delta, for its part, is eyeing more investments in local IT services firms. In July, it closed on a $250 million investment vehicle from which it intends to cut checks ranging between $15 million and $50 million primarily to government contractors generating at least $40 million in annual revenue.

In the lens: Volkswagen North American Region, which oversees operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Volkswagen Financial Services, Electrify America and several VW brands — Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini — used to spread over three locations, totaling some 270,000 square feet, in Herndon and Reston. Since October 2023, they’re now under one roof in about 170,000 square feet, comprising the top seven floors of the 20-story trophy tower at 1950 Opportunity Way, one the newest additions at BXP’s Reston Town Center. Washington Business Journal’s staff reporter Dan Brendel toured the offices, providing photos. Check out the pics by clicking here.

Park place: Capital One Center aims to open urban parks in Tysons next year, FFXnow reported. The parks were approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in November 2022 in conjunction with Capital One Park, a temporary baseball diamond that opened for its first season of college and high school-level games in 2023. Adjacent to the McLean Metro station, the park in Capital One Center’s currently undeveloped Block D is being built on top of a five-level, 296-space underground parking garage. The park will occupy about half of a 3.12-acre site previously used for staging construction equipment. The site is bounded by Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) to the south, Capital One Drive to the north and Scotts Crossing Road to the east.

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Contract Wins

General Dynamics Mission Systems (Fairfax) won a $491 million contract extension by the Space Development Agency for satellite ground systems. SpaceNews

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September 11, 2024 — The Dulles Airport Job & Career Fair. Come meet a diverse group of employers located at Washington Dulles International Airport hiring for full and part-time career opportunities. Click here for more information and to register.

September 17, 2024 — 2024 Distinguished Service Awards. NVC presents Distinguished Service Awards, a premier event in the Greater Washington Region celebrating the leadership and prosperity of veteran-owned businesses. The event will be held at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington. Click here for more information and to register.

September 25, 2024 — Hire Milspouses Now. This event is a networking reception and career fair offering transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans the opportunity to connect with Virginia employers looking to hire military talent. Participating employers are offering career opportunities in IT, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, defense, government, law enforcement and more. The event will be held at Fort Belvoir Community Center. Click here for more information and to register.

October 23-24, 2024 — Accelerate Investor Conference. This venture and startup conference showcases the Virginia, Maryland, and Metro DC region as a powerhouse for innovation and business opportunities. Registration is open. Click here for more information and to register.

October 29, 2024 — NVTC Cyber Summit and Cyber50 Awards. NVTC’s Cyber Summit and Cyber50 awards will highlight the latest cybersecurity trends, technologies, and federal policies and gathers the best and brightest minds in the cyber and national security sectors. Click here to register.

Fairfax County EDA is here to connect businesses of all kinds to resources and information. For direct assistance, email the FCEDA at info@fceda.org, or call 703-790-0600. If you have company news or announcements to share, email FCEDA at News@fceda.org.