The Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC) is gearing up for the Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) on September 18 from 8:30–10:30 a.m. at the Army Navy Country Club. This annual celebration spotlights leaders who have continued to serve with purpose long after their military careers, driving innovation across defense, healthcare, workforce development, and beyond. Since 2016, the DSA has honored over 43 …
NVC Announces 2025 Distinguished Service Awards Finalists
NVC is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Distinguished Service Awards (DSA), a signature program that shines a spotlight on veteran leaders and mission-driven organizations across the Greater Washington region. These awards are a rallying point for the business community to uplift service, leadership, and collaboration. DSA celebrates those who continue to lead with purpose after military service, …
How NOVA Roadmap Will Transform Northern Virginia’s Economy
In its centennial year, NVC isn’t just celebrating history; we’re seizing the moment to redefine and strengthen Northern Virginia’s economy for the next 100 years. In partnership with Accenture, NVC has officially released the NOVA Roadmap: A Call to Action for Northern Virginia’s Economic Growth — a strategic framework designed to steer the region through a critical moment of transformation …
A Century of Driving Northern Virginia’s Transportation & Infrastructure Forward
For a century, NVC has been the trusted voice for business, and nowhere is that legacy more evident than in its lasting impact on transportation and infrastructure across the region. Since the 1920s, NVC has championed investments that connect communities, fuel economic growth, and make Northern Virginia a premier place to live, work, and play. From the earliest days of …
Honoring Those Who Continue to Serve: NVC’s Distinguished Service Awards Return This September
This year marks a monumental occasion for NVC. As we proudly celebrate our centennial, commemorating 100 years of dedicated service to our members and the Greater Washington region, we’re thrilled to announce another significant milestone: our 10th annual Distinguished Service Awards (DSA). We cordially invite you to join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the prestigious Army Navy Country …
Meet NVC’s Events Team
If you’ve ever attended one of NVC’s signature events, you’ve experienced the work of NVC’s Events Team. At the helm are Heather Ward, Director of Programs, and Rhea Ambanta, Program Coordinator. They’re the driving force behind the success of NVC’s events, skillfully handling everything from securing top-tier speakers and perfect venues to ensuring every last detail is flawlessly executed. To …
Navigating Northern Virginia’s Real Estate Market in 2025
This month, we turn our attention to Northern Virginia’s real estate market. We sat down with Ryan McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® (NVAR), to talk about how Northern Virginia’s real estate industry is evolving and what that means for buyers, sellers, and professionals in the field. Ryan McLaughlin addressed key challenges currently facing the …
An Evening to Remember: The GovCon Awards
For over two decades, the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards® (GovCon Awards) have served as the premier event on the calendars of government contractors. It is an evening where the region’s most influential leaders gather to celebrate excellence and impact in service to our nation. Honoring GovCon Industry Excellence Hosted by NVC and the Professional Services Council (PSC), the Greater …
NVC Celebrates 100 Years of Regional Impact at Annual Members’ Meeting
NVC marked a major milestone this week, celebrating its centennial of regional leadership, advocacy, and economic impact during its Annual Members’ Meeting. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to recognize progress, honor leadership, and chart the path forward for Northern Virginia’s economy. In her opening remarks, NVC President and CEO Julie Coons reflected on the Chamber’s pivotal …
Announcing New NVC Leadership at the Centennial Annual Members’ Meeting
We’re just one hour away from kicking off NVC‘s Annual Members’ Meeting, where we’ll not only mark NVC’s centennial but also celebrate a bold new era of NVC leadership. This morning’s gathering is more than a reflection on the past — it’s a tribute to the people, partnerships, and progress that have shaped Greater Washington into the thriving economic and …
8(a) certification and the Potential for Success
The SBA developed the 8(a) program to level the playing field in federal contracting to offer minority and disadvantaged business owners access to contract opportunities formerly only available to bigger entities. But given this knowledge, did you know that there is a stipulation within the 8(a) certification process that requires you to prove your potential for success in order …
The Future of our Regional Transportation: a Q&A with our 2022 State of Transportation Panelists
On September 1st, the Chamber will host an exciting and dynamic group of top transportation leaders from around the region for our annual 2022 State of Transportation event. We asked our speakers to give us a sneak peek on the future of transportation ahead of this enlightening event. Read their answers below: 1. What are one or two things you see in the …
What should businesses be doing now to prepare for the next big challenge in healthcare?
We are fortunate to have assembled a stellar group of experts for our upcoming Annual State of Healthcare in the Region event on May 4th. During the event, these leaders will cover a diverse set of region-related topics that impact your business, but we wanted to ask them ahead of time: “What should businesses be doing now to prepare for …
Advocacy Update: That’s a wrap; our takeaways from the 2022 Virginia General Assembly
You have seen the news that the General Assembly adjourned this weekend, leaving only the budget incomplete. Once House and Senate negotiators reach a compromise (or perhaps sooner), Gov. Youngkin will need to call a Special Session to finalize the first budget in his first term. In the meantime, negotiators must continue to make efforts to close a $3 billion …
ADVOCACY UPDATE Kicking off this year’s General Assembly with changes within our Virginia Government
It has been a week of change in Virginia. Last Wednesday, Del. Todd Gilbert took the gavel as Speaker of the House of Delegates, marking a return to power for Republicans after two years of Democratic control. On Saturday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin was sworn in as the 74th Governor of Virginia. With promises of a more business-friendly Virginia, already the …
A Message From Our Board Chairman: A New Year’s Resolution for our Business Community
Looking for a New Year’s resolution that goes beyond the usual? Sure, I’ll no doubt resolve to lose weight and exercise more in 2022. And, as I reflect on the past year – eulogies of Senator Bob Dole praising his life while lamenting the demise of the bipartisanship he represented… public officials fearing for their personal safety…stories about the “anger …
A letter from Todd Gilbert, Speaker-Designee of the Virginia House of Delegates
Dear Members of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce: The 2022 General Assembly Session is a little over one month away, and our House Republican Caucus is eager to return to Richmond and begin the task of governing set before us by the people of Virginia. As Speaker-Designee, I am excited about the opportunity to work in a bi-partisan fashion …
Working for our Members toward a better Virginia
The Northern Virginia Chamber’s Policy Committee is wrapping up our annual Legislative Agenda drafting process next week. You will see many familiar principles included in the 2022 Agenda like urging leaders to focus on growing and improving Virginia’s workforce development ecosystem, expressing support for continued investment in major transportation projects like the American Legion Bridge replacement, and calling for a …
Highlighting Business Wins at the 2021 VA General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly formally ended its 2021 session on Monday and the Chamber was (virtually) front and center for the entire process that began on January 13th. Each year the General Assembly gathers in Richmond and makes decisions that impact how we do business in Virginia. The Northern Virginia Chamber is one of the most influential, pro-business voices engaged …
8 Strategies to Build the Capital Region’s Digital Talent Pipeline
Digital talent is essential to competitiveness and growth, but our Capital Region continues to face a critical shortage. It is estimated that ~60% of Capital Region tech and tech-adjacent positions will be unfilled by 2025, leaving our region with a serious workforce issue. What is digital talent? Digital talent is the human capital needed to accelerate and deliver on an …
From a tight labor market to telework: results from the 2022 NOVA Workforce Index
Workforce issues continue to dominate our region’s business discussions this year as leaders face frustrating employee recruiting, retention, and remote work challenges. Working on behalf of our members, your Chamber has made sourcing solutions to these workforce issues a priority. As part of this effort, we’ve developed a broad range of member tools that include the Northern Virginia Workforce Index, …
A New Year Message From Our CEO: The Chamber in 2023… And Beyond
By Julie Coons, CAE, Northern Virginia Chamber President and CEO Happy New Year! 2023 is a year of exciting activity and opportunity for our region. This year, the Chamber’s 98th year, we see more businesses coming together to advocate for regional growth, to invest and grow a business-directed skilled workforce, and to advance policies and practices that accelerate a business …
MEMBER VOICES: We asked member CEOs, “What are the greatest challenges CEOs face heading into the new year?”
Member Voices is a monthly feature where we ask C-Suite leaders from within our Chamber membership to share their insights on key business topics. If you would like to participate in Member Voices, please contact Carmen Sevilla at csevilla@novachamber.org. Shyam Salona, CEO, REI Systems, Inc. “This year we experienced a significant shift in the way we work. The hybrid work …
Supporting Our Veterans: A Q&A With Our DSA Service Finalists
If there’s a truism that flows through both business and life, it’s that, at some stage, we will all need support and guidance from others to help us achieve our goals. While we all face obstacles in our daily lives, our nation’s veterans often find themselves overcoming significant challenges as they transition from the military to the civilian world. We …
Hire a Vet. You Can’t Go Wrong. Advice on Helping Veterans Find Success Within the Business World
“Veterans are special people. Duty, honor, integrity and loyalty are their hallmarks and they bring to each role a sense of leadership and responsibility. Within the business world they exemplify the best of what we want in employees. I tell everyone that when they give veterans a chance, they can’t go wrong.” So says W. Glenn Yarborough, Jr, a Colonel …
Member Blog Post: Let’s Talk Leadership: Tackling a Challenging Workplace Statistic
According to recent Gallup research on employee engagement, only 36% of U.S. employees are engaged in their work and workplace. Gallup tracks employee engagement trends by surveying the working population about issues that affect organizational outcomes, including profitability, productivity, customer service, retention, safety and overall wellbeing. Research reflects that disengaged employees tend to be poorly managed. It is incumbent on organizational …
On the Heels of the Pandemic: Inflation-Induced Hunger
After two years of struggling through pandemic-related woes, our workforce now finds itself battling with a new daily challenge in inflation. And while the side effect of rising prices and the Fed’s defensive response to raise interest rates are presented in the news as threats to our housing market and daily coffee purchases, those living closer to the bone within …
Navigating pandemic-era resume gaps: asking the right questions to build the best team
For more than 50 years, a year-long resume gap was a clear red mark against a job applicant. Except for stay-at-home parents or applicants who went back to school, there really wasn’t much sympathy from an employer, even in recessions. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that. One or two years out of work is the temporary new normal as …
Poll Results: Is Northern Virginia ready for a 4-day workweek?
Last week we shared information about two pending Bills, one Federal and one State, seeking to reduce the workweek to 32 hours and asked you to answer our poll, “is Virginia is ready for a 4-day workweek?” The results are in with 63.73% answering Yes, 30.39% answering No, and 5.88% answering Maybe. In addition, many people wrote comments, both for …
