NVC is proud to gather regional business leaders tomorrow for our inaugural NOVA RISE event, hosting actionable conversations on housing affordability and energy infrastructure.
In the Q1 Business Leader Survey, over 200 regional executives identified cultivating affordability for our workforce as the most critical pillar of the NOVA Roadmap.
To address this priority, the inaugural NOVA Roadmap Innovators & Stakeholders Exchange (NOVA RISE) on Thursday, April 16, 2026, will convene leaders to discuss the economic drivers of the region through two panels: “The Business Case for Housing Affordability” and “Powering Northern Virginia’s Digital Economy.”
As with all NVC-led programs, our panel discussions go beyond general updates, providing specific actions business leaders can take to not only navigate the region’s shifting landscape but also advance the business community’s interests to bolster the economy.
Below, we introduce the panel of experts, the moderators, and NVC’s special guest speaker for the fireside chat, who will discuss what’s driving progress and stalling growth in our region, and what business leaders need to know to stay ahead of the curve.
Panel #1: The Business Case for Housing Affordability
Evan Goldman, Executive Vice President, Land Acquisition and Development, EYA, LLC: As the Executive Vice President of Land Acquisition and Development at EYA, LLC, Evan brings a decade of mixed-use and multi-family experience to the EYA development team.
Prior to joining EYA, he was Vice President of Development at Federal Realty Investment Trust, where he was primarily responsible for managing the development of Pike & Rose. In 2012, Evan received the Livable Communities Leadership Award from the Washington, DC-based Coalition for Smarter Growth.
Thomas Fleetwood, Director, Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development: Under Thomas’ leadership, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and HCD have delivered a number of landmark affordable housing projects, including the Residences at the Government Center and The Fallstead at Lewinsville. He was awarded the A. Heath Onthank Award in 2012, the Conrad Egan Excellence Award for Service in 2014, and the Katherine K. Hanley Award for Public Service in 2022.
Dan Alban, Strategic Advisor & Co-Founder, YIMBYS of NOVA: Dan Alban serves on the national board of directors of YIMBY Law, a nonprofit that aims to end the housing shortage by serving as the legal arm of the pro-housing movement. In 2021, Dan co-founded the YIMBYs of Northern Virginia with several local leaders to help advocate for more housing options and more affordable housing where he lives. The organization has been actively campaigning for Arlington’s Missing Middle housing proposal and other local projects that create more housing, more housing diversity, and more affordable housing.
Moderator: Carmen Romero, President & Chief Executive Officer, True Ground Housing Partners: Carmen manages a $1 billion portfolio of over 2,800 affordable units. Since 2021, she has led the organization through a strategic rebranding, secured a “Top 50 Affordable Developer” ranking, and is currently overseeing the delivery of over 1,100 units across the D.C. metropolitan region.
Panel #2: Powering Northern Virginia’s Digital Economy
Vardahn Chaudhry, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, American Real Estate Partners: Vardahn leads the strategy, operations, and financial performance for PowerHouse, the data center platform for American Real Estate Partners. With over 12 years of experience in digital infrastructure and smart city investments, Vardahn previously served as Vice President of Investments at JBG SMITH, where he oversaw an $85 million digital infrastructure and venture capital investment portfolio, including the first-of-its-kind last-mile platform of fiber, data centers, small cell, and spectrum assets.
Kevin Gundersen, Head of Public Affairs, Digital Realty: As the Head of Public Affairs at Digital Realty, Kevin leads engagement with government, media, and trade associations on matters impacting Digital Realty’s business interests. He is based in Washington, D.C.
From 2016 to 2025, Kevin was Vice President of Global Communications and Government Affairs at Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN). He also served as an Intelligence Officer (Lieutenant) in the United States Navy Reserve.
Bill Murray, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Dominion Energy: As Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Dominion Energy, Bill Murray is responsible for federal, state, and local government relations. He serves on multiple boards, such as the Faison Center and Youth for Tomorrow. He previously served as a management analyst at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a senior staff member for the Virginia General Assembly, and as Vice President of Policy at the Virginia Hospital Association.
Brandon Todd, Vice President, Government Affairs, Policy & Advocacy, Washington Gas: Brandon leads WGL’s government affairs and public policy group and works in close collaboration with senior leadership to support the development and management of public policy positions. He provides guidance on the economic and social implications of federal and state energy and environmental policies that affect WGL. Brandon previously served six years on the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 4, and is an experienced community leader and advocate.
Moderator: Mark Looney, Partner, Cooley LLP: As Partner of Cooley LLP, Mark Looney focuses on representing property owners and national, regional and local developers in all aspects of the land planning, zoning and development process. He is recognized as one of the region’s preeminent land use/zoning attorneys by Chambers USA, and is also recognized in Best Lawyers in America (2013 – 2020); Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite highlighting Virginia’s best lawyers (2014 – 2015); and The Legal 500 US for Real estate: Land use/zoning as a leading lawyer (2024 – 2025).
Fireside Chat: Leading the Next Chapter of Northern Virginia’s Economy
Todd Stottlemyer, Chief Executive Officer, Acentra Health: Todd is the CEO and a member of the board of directors at Acentra Health. He previously served in multiple executive leadership roles at Inova Health, including CEO of the Inova Center for Personalized Health. In that role, he was responsible for the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, the Inova Translational Medicine Institute, and Inova’s clinical research programs.
