The Annual Members' Meeting is fast approaching, with 16 days remaining. The Annual Members’ Meeting recognizes individuals based on our three pillars of strategic focus, regional leadership, workforce development, and DE&I. Attendees will gain valuable insights on NVC’s initiatives and be able to network with Greater Washington’s leadership at this highly regarded event.
David Hunn, President and CEO, SkillSource Group, has been chosen by NVC to receive the 2024 Impact Award for Workforce Development in recognition of his critical and impactful leadership that has advanced the Region’s workforce solutions.
The DE&I Board of Advisors have been chosen by NVC to receive the 2024 Impact Award for DE&I in recognition of their vital role in advising NVC’s Board of Directors on processes and policies that advance DE&I at NVC, engaging with broader communities to promote social justice, and providing members with learning opportunities to strengthen their knowledge of DE&I issues. We selected the past Co-Chairwoman of the Inaugural DE&I Board of Advisors to answer an engaging series of questions for this Q&A, Kathryn Falk, Vice President, Market Leader Northern Virginia Operations, Cox Communications.
To honor them and their contributions to our community, we asked them for their insights on leadership and our Region. You can connect with them at our Annual Members’ Meeting event, hosted at the Westwood Country Club on June 6th.
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Workforce Impact Awardee Q&A: David Hunn, President and CEO, SkillSource Group
Q: What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
A: I am honored and humbled by this recognition from the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. In my public service career of over four decades, recognition of one’s daily work and achievements is exceedingly rare and always entirely unexpected.
And for the award to be made by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce is even more remarkable, as so many local, State and Federal officials with whom I work value the opinions and public policy positions of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. This award is a tremendous validation of my decades of work locally alongside the many contributions of my colleagues in local and State public agencies and Northern Virginia community-based organizations.
Q: Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration and support in your career achievements in workforce development?
A: Workforce development services cross many disciplines in the public and private sectors – everyone with whom I have worked views our service as a mission and an endeavor, not simply a job. I have had the good fortune to work with outstanding leaders in Fairfax County Government, along with Dr. Richard Ernst, the first President of Northern Virginia Community College, his successor Dr. Robert Templin and now Dr. Ann Kress. I also want to acknowledge Dr. Jerry Gordon, formerly of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority who invited us to work within the FCEDA offices over 22 years ago when we started The SkillSource Group, Inc., and the Northern Virginia Workforce Development Board, as well as the private sector Board Members who continue to be strong workforce advocates, including current Board Chairman William Trumbull (ICF International), Christopher Rieley (Bank of Clarke), and former Chairs including Huey Battle of Washington Gas, Robert Rogers of Chesapeake Digital Solutions, John Rizert of Rees Broome, PC, Kim Clark Pakstys of CohnReznick LLP, Michael Zeiders of Zeiders Enterprises, Dr. David Miles of The Miles-Lehane Group, Hector Velez of HireTalent, LLC, among many others.
As our organizations have been a member of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce for over 27 years, I have been very fortunate to work closely with Chamber leaders such as Todd Rowley of Old Dominion National Bank, James Dyke of McGuire Woods, Jennifer Wise Siciliano of UVa Health, Bobbi Kilberg of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and the current Northern Virginia Chamber President Julie Coons. All these leaders and many others have advocated for and created the workforce leadership role of Northern Virginia in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Q: You are being recognized for your significant leadership and contributions, but there is more to do in our region. What current issue, cause, or challenge do we need to address now to grow?
A: Even with a Fairfax County unemployment rate of 2.5% (exceptionally low in comparison), local economic development professionals note the availability of over 65,000 advertised jobs right now. Many, if not most, of those opportunities will require jobseekers to have special skills, credentials, security clearances, work experience and aptitudes required by their employer, so I certainly acknowledge a regional skills gap exists. I also recognize that there are still financial and social obstacles for many jobseekers, limiting access to educational opportunities and employment advancements. Our region is sophisticated and complex, with challenges in transportation, housing, and adequate support in child care and elder care.
Roughly 2% of native-born and 21% of foreign-born residents in our region lack a basic high school degree. Newly arrived immigrants may also lack English-language proficiency to work. Our Team has worked with a substantial number of Afghan and Ukraine refugees, seeking to start their life here anew. The Northern Virginia public social safety net is serving thousands of families receiving public assistance or food assistance, simply to get by day-to-day. Our regional jails are preparing current inmates to return to the community to live and work again. Many older adults 55 years plus either want to or must continue to work. Many jobseekers with a disability are also able to contribute to an employer. We are also part of a national movement focusing on adult workers without a four-year college degree, but with years of work experience that can well contribute to many employers. All these special populations are an opportunity for the Northern Virginia business community and our region’s public workforce agencies to collaborate and engage, ideally to bring together qualified jobseekers with employers who have much work to get done.
Q: How does your professional background and/or personal interests ignite your enthusiasm for the topic of workforce development?
A: I remain excited by the opportunity to improve the lives and economic mobility of thousands of young adults and adult jobseekers that our Team serves each year. At the same time, our services to employers are a key success benchmark. It is rare to have the opportunity to serve so many individuals and businesses that can bring benefits to us all. Each year, our Board mandates a Return-On-Investment Report, prepared externally, on the regional benefits from our collective work – for the past year, this year’s Report showed that for every $1 dollar in public funds spent by our workforce board, the Northern Virginia region received $3 dollars of benefit, from additional worker’s increased spending power, Federal and State taxes paid, and new jobs created. Our work is not a win-lose proposition – if administered well, our workforce development services can be a win-win for everyone.
Q: What takeaways can other individuals learn from your contributions to the region's development.
A: Let’s always remember how fortunate we are to live in work in this region, one of the best labor markets and regional economies in the United States. And for others to participate in the region’s development, there is a place and role for everyone. All employers, both large and small, are invited to consider utilizing our free public workforce services in their talent attraction, and to include the Career Services efforts of Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. Business leaders are always invited and needed to serve on our local workforce development board, offering their perspective and guidance on our policies and practices. The Northern Virginia business community can continue to advocate to State and Federal leaders for education and workforce initiatives. While there is no one answer to our region’s workforce opportunities, I, and my colleagues, will continue to align our best efforts with the Northern Virginia business community and our region’s jobseekers. I chose to work in Northern Virginia, and I want others to do so as well.
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DE&I Impact Awardee Q&A: Kathryn Falk, Vice President, Market Leader Northern Virginia Operations, Cox Communications, and past Co-Chairwoman, Inaugural DE&I Board of Advisors
Q: What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
A: First of all, I’m so grateful for this recognition. It takes me back to when I had the honor of serving as Chair(wo)man of the Chamber. I started my service on July 1, 2020, just 6 months into the pandemic and during the rise of the social justice movement in response to the brutal deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks. I believed in the Northern Virginia Chamber statement condemning “…racism, discrimination, and prejudice of any kind. No exceptions,” but I felt we could do more. We created the DE&I Council, a high-level council, reporting directly to the Executive Committee to advise the Chamber on its actions. We knew that our diversity is a core strength and competitive advantage. I’m proud of the Council’s work and the actions we took to make diversity a part of everything we do at the Chamber and to serve as a reminder to our members as well, encouraging them to embrace diversity and make it a key part of their business as well.
Q: Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration and support in your career achievements in DEI?
A: I’m so fortunate that the company I work for, Cox Communications, has long been a leader in embracing the values we’ve emphasized at the Chamber. This dates back to our founder, Governor James Cox of Ohio, who ran for president in 1920 and was a leading advocate for women getting the right to vote. Even though this was not a popular stance at that time, he fought for what he believed was the right thing to do. Today the company still values the benefits of a diverse workplace. Inclusion is an essential part of our culture and business strategy. Our collective experiences, backgrounds, and skills are key drivers of innovation, continued business growth, and improved performance.
Q: You are being recognized for your significant leadership and contributions, but there is more to do in our region. What current issue, cause, or challenge do we need to address now to grow?
A: Sustainability and volunteerism are at the top of my list. Not only are they good for our community, but good for our employees, customers, and business. Cox recently achieved an ambitious “Zero Waste to Landfill” goal, making Cox the first U.S.-based, enterprise-wide service company to be verified by GreenCircle Certified as achieving a 92% waste diversion rate. Locally, we’re committed to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work in the communities we serve and call home. For instance, in April, we had 90 volunteers cleaning up Lake Accotink Park and will be back there each month to continue our work protecting this valuable natural resource. This volunteer effort not only helps our environment, but it’s fun and fulfilling for our employees and promotes wellness by being outside and moving.
Q: How does your professional background and/or personal interests ignite your enthusiasm for the topic of DEI?
A: As a business leader, I want every person in our community to realize their fullest potential. That will create the best workforce, the best customer base, and the best home for our employees, which ultimately leads to greater overall success for our entire region.
Q: What takeaways can other individuals learn from your contributions to the region's development?
A: We all have an obligation to give back to our communities, to do more than just work. Find your passion and help your community. I promise you won’t regret it.