Catalyzing Growth

The Role of Economic Diversification and Placemaking in Transforming NoVA’s Commercial Real Estate Landscape

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  Evan Regan-Levine

  Mr. Regan-Levine has served as our Chief Strategy Officer since 2024, prior to which he served as Executive Vice President of Research and Strategic Innovation in our Investments Group since 2018. In that role he was responsible for guiding the firm’s investment strategy with data and analytics and driving large scale strategic initiatives, investor relations, and special projects. Prior to the formation, Mr. Regan-Levine worked at JBG beginning in March of 2013 in the Investments Group. Before joining JBG, he worked at Monday Properties and JLL. Mr. Regan‐Levine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

  JBG Smith

  Chief Strategy Officer

  Evan Regan-Levine

  Chief Strategy Officer

  JBG Smith

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  Henry Fonvielle

  As the President of Rappaport, Henry Fonvielle oversees the leasing strategy for third-party landlord and tenant representation services and all shopping centers within the company’s extensive portfolio. Dedicated to reinvigorating, designing, and constructing top-tier mixed-use developments and shopping centers within the D.C. market, Henry utilizes over 35 years of experience in the retail industry to create well-organized and exceptional projects from conception to completion. With comprehensive knowledge in a wide array of retail types including urban, mixed-use, neighborhood, lifestyle, and power centers, Henry is recognized as a trusted retail advisor and an expert in the commercial real estate industry.  His ability to form and cultivate close-knit partnerships within his team and among his clients enhanced Rappaport’s reputation as a well-respected and experienced firm committed to cultivating places. Under his leadership, the company’s leasing and brokerage portfolio soared from 35 to over 170 properties. Prior to joining Rappaport, Henry was Senior Vice President and Retail Department Head for the Vornado/Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty.  Henry is Co-Founder of the Skyland Workforce Center Leadership Council, member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association – Ride to End ALZ, Emeritus member of the Foundation Board and Ball Chair of Children’s National Hospital, member of the Bisnow Diversity Board, Board member for Tall Ship Providence Foundation, Board member and Gala Chair for Atlas Performing Arts Center, and At-Large member of the Board of the USTA-Mid-Atlantic. Henry formerly served as Vice-Chair for Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, Board member for Federal City Council and Washington DC Economic Partnership.

  Rappaport

  President

  Henry Fonvielle

  President

  Rappaport

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  Paul Weinschenk

  Paul Weinschenk is Chief Operating Officer at Peterson Companies where he oversees all aspects of the company’s retail, office, and industrial operating portfolios, including asset management, leasing, risk management, and marketing. Previously, he was Vice President and Managing Director for the Retail Division at Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRE) and oversaw the growth and operations of WRE’s then 2.4 million square foot retail portfolio. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Peterson Companies as Vice President of Retail Development and was instrumental in the development and leasing of Fairfax Corner, Virginia Gateway and East Market among others. He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and served a three-year term as State Director for Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Paul is also past President of the University of Virginia School of Architecture Foundation. Paul holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from The Keenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina.

  Peterson Companies

  Chief Operating Officer

  Paul Weinschenk

  Chief Operating Officer

  Peterson Companies

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  Ron Dalal

  Ron Dalal is a Partner and member of the real estate investment team in the Bethesda, MD office, and is a voting member of Declaration’s Real Estate Investment Committee. Prior to joining Declaration in 2018, Ron was a Vice President at JBG SMITH Properties (formerly The JBG Companies). In this role, Ron focused on property-level real estate acquisitions, development joint ventures, and corporate initiatives. Prior to that, he was an Investment Manager at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), based in the UAE. While at ADIA, his primary focus was on real estate acquisitions and asset management in the US, Canada, and Latin America, across all property types. Ron began his career in the investment banking and investment management group at Goldman Sachs. Ron graduated from University of Maryland. Ron currently serves on the board of the Robert H. Smith School of Business Foundation and is a member of the Global Exchange Council with the Urban Land Institute. Outside of work, Ron enjoys traveling, hiking, and attempting to fly fish.

  Declaration Partners

  Partner

  Ron Dalal

  Partner

  Declaration Partners

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  Beau Memory

  Transurban Role Beau oversees Transurban's business in North America as President, where he is responsible for major toll road infrastructure development, financing, construction, and operations. He leads Transurban’s North American portfolio in the greater Washington, DC and Montreal, QC regions driving customer and operational excellence, project delivery, and future growth opportunities as a partner of choice for governments. Career Highlights Beau is a senior transportation, public policy and toll industry executive with experience in delivering complex transportation projects and programs. He has been recognized for his leadership in the sector, receiving IBTTA's Toll Excellence Award in 2022. Most recently, Beau led the E-470 Public Highway Authority in Denver, Colorado as Executive Director. The Authority—an industry leader in tolling operation, customer service, and innovation—processes more than 118 million transactions per year and delivers a self-funded $500 million Capital Plan. Beau started his career in the transportation industry in 2008 with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) where he supported efforts to secure passage of the BUILD NC bond program, the state’s largest transportation revenue bond authorization. His career then led him to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority where he served as the Executive Director. In 2021, Beau returned to NCDOT as the Chief Operating Officer where he oversaw one of the largest state-maintained highway systems in the nation and implemented a strategic business vision to ensure programs were successfully managed and executed with data-driven results. Education Beau earned his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

  Transurban North America

  President

  Beau Memory

  President

  Transurban North America

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  Noah Klein

  Noah Klein advises private and public sector clients on land use, real estate, and environmental law matters. A former local government attorney, Noah is keenly aware of the issues commercial developers encounter throughout the development review and permitting process. He regularly advances his clients’ primary objectives in negotiations with development agencies, cultivating projects in which all stakeholders feel their interests have been well represented. Noah also advocates for his clients before boards of supervisors, planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and land use advisory groups. Noah's clients include developers, charitable foundations, commercial and residential condo associations, homebuilders, federal and local entities, commercial and industrial developers, religious institutions, and homeowners. He has ample experience navigating entitlement processes through a multitiered approach, which involves developing overall project goals and milestones, resolving legal hurdles, fine-tuning engineering details, coordinating at the local staff level, and crafting political and outside communications strategies.

  Venable

  Counsel

  Moderator

  Noah Klein

  Counsel

  Venable

The Next Wave of Residential Development

Insights on Investment, Development, and Construction of Multifamily and Master Planned Communities in NoVA

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  Aakash Thakkar

  Aakash Thakkar joined EYA in 2004 as a Development Executive and now is a Executive Vice President for Acquisition and Development with EYA. His responsibilities include overall project stewardship, new deal sourcing and acquisition, site selection, and project development through the design and governmental and community approval process. Mr. Thakkar is a member of and guest speaker for the Urban Land Institute and the District of Columbia Building Industry Association. He is a member of the Smart Growth Recognition Award Jury, the Riverdale Park Mixed-Use Town Center Committee, and of the Hyattsville CDC Board. He was a member of the Obama for American Mid-Atlantic Finance Committee and a co-founder (along with his wife) of the Thakkar/Giallourakis Scholarship Fund for St. John's College High School. Mr. Thakkar has a BS in Accounting and Political Science from LaSalle University and holds both an MBA and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. Mr. Thakkar is a native Washingtonian.

  EYA

  Chief Acquisitions Officer

  Aakash Thakkar

  Chief Acquisitions Officer

  EYA

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  Neal Kumar

  Neal began his career in real estate with Avalon Bay, a publicly traded multifamily real estate investment trust. He subsequently served as Development Manager for Ozymandius Realty, a Lower Manhattan developer and on various real estate ventures. Neal earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University and his Master of Science in Real Estate Development (“MSRED”) from Columbia University.

  Rushmark Properties

  Managing Director

  Neal Kumar

  Managing Director

  Rushmark Properties

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  Greg Van Wie

  Greg Van Wie is Vice President, Director of Development for Jefferson Apartment Group headquartered in McLean, Virginia. He is responsible for underwriting new development projects and overseeing site acquisition, development and construction activities. While with Jefferson Apartment Group, Mr. Van Wie has had direct oversight of multiple projects, totaling almost 1,000 units of new development. Mr. Van Wie has ten-plus years of industry experience in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale multi-family and commercial developments. Prior to joining Jefferson Apartment Group, Mr. Van Wie was employed by Bonaventure Realty Group, where he served as the Asset Manager of a 13-property portfolio of apartment communities totaling over 4,000 units. Prior to joining Bonaventure in 2009, Mr. Van Wie worked for JPI East and Clark Construction in multiple preconstruction and project management roles throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Mr. Van Wie graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s of Urban and Environmental Planning and received a Masters of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Van Wie is a member of the Executive Committee of the JHU Real Estate Alumni Forum. He is also a Co-Chair of DCBIA’s Young Leader’s Committee and a member of the Urban Land Institute. Mr. Van Wie is married with one child and lives in the District of Columbia.

  Jefferson Apartment Group

  Development Partner

  Greg Van Wie

  Development Partner

  Jefferson Apartment Group

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  Peter Braunohler

  Peter Braunohler serves as Managing Director of Development in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is responsible for all aspects of the development process, including sourcing, financing, and executing multifamily and mixed-use projects. Prior to joining Mill Creek, Mr. Braunohler was the development lead of Maryland-based multifamily investment firm Commonwealth Residential, where he spearheaded the partnership’s value-add acquisition strategy. Peter has past experience in construction management and architecture in both the commercial and residential sectors. Mr. Braunohler earned a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from Bowdoin College and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Finance from Georgetown University. He is also an active member of the DC Real Estate Group and the Urban Land Institute.

  Mill Creek Residential

  Managing Director, Development

  Peter Braunohler

  Managing Director, Development

  Mill Creek Residential

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  Pat McCrary

  Pat joined CWC in 2014 and became an equity partner in 2023, as part of a strategic business plan for the company’s future. Pat has a track record of success, having been responsible for securing over $1 billion of work for CWC. In his role as a preconstruction leader, Pat guides projects from inception to contract execution across all of CWC's business units. He is recognized for his expertise in conceptual estimating and early design planning, ensuring a seamless preconstruction phase. Pat's clients in the education, life science, multifamily, interiors, and commercial sectors benefit from his guidance and expertise as he helps them develop and define their programs while keeping projects on budget. Pat recognizes the vital role that industry associations play in the construction industry. He is an active member of ABC Metro Washington, serving on the ABC.XYZ Young Professionals Committee and participating in the ABC’s Estimating Peer Group, where he shares best practices with industry peers. He is a graduate of ABC's Leadership Development Program at the Gold level and a member of NAIOP DC. In addition, Pat serves on the Construction Management Advisory Board at his alma mater, East Carolina University (ECU), where he earned a degree in Construction Management and a minor in Business Administration. With his commitment to professional growth and his passion for the construction industry, Pat is a well-rounded leader.

  Coakley & Williams Construction (CWC)

  Partner

  Pat McCrary

  Partner

  Coakley & Williams Construction (CWC)

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  Sean Krysick

  Sean Krysick is a Vice President and Relationship Manager for commercial real estate at EagleBank. Having been with the company since 2019, Sean is responsible for the full service sourcing, structuring, underwriting, and closing of real estate loan transactions, as well as the management of a diverse portfolio of CRE loans. He brings over a decade of experience across asset classes and structures, and focuses on finding the right solution with effective execution to best serve his clients. Prior to joining EagleBank, Sean began his career with PwC in the financial markets and real estate consulting group. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s in finance and accounting. Sean resides in Alexandria, VA and is an active member in the local community.

  EagleBank

  Vice President, Commercial Real Estate

  Sean Krysick

  Vice President, Commercial Real Estate

  EagleBank

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  Bob Brant

  Bob joined Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh in 2015 and is an associate in the firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice group. His practice focuses on securing zoning and land use entitlements including rezonings, special exceptions, special use permits and development special use permits in Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Fairfax and the Town of Vienna. Prior to joining Walsh Colucci, Bob gained valuable experience representing condominium and homeowners associations throughout Northern Virginia. Bob graduated from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC after earning a Bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary. He and his family currently reside in Fairfax County.

  Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh

  Shareholder

  Moderator

  Bob Brant

  Shareholder

  Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh

Unlocking NoVA’s Office Potential

A Deep Dive on Capital Market Appetite and Leasing Health of Office Assets in Northern Virginia

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  Timothy Steffan

  Tim Steffan serves as Chief Operating Officer of Comstock, where he oversees the company's asset management, leasing, and development operations across its mixed-use and transit-oriented portfolio in the Washington, D.C. region. A member of Comstock's Executive Management Committee, Tim has been instrumental in shaping the company's strategic direction since joining in 2018. Tim brings more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience across retail, office, multifamily, mixed-use, and hotel asset types in major markets throughout the U.S. Prior to Comstock, he held senior executive roles with several publicly traded real estate companies, including President & Head of Eastern U.S. Division at RPAI, Inc. and various executive positions at Macerich (NYSE: MAC), a Fortune 500 owner/operator of regional malls and urban mixed-use portfolios. Tim holds a B.A. from Syracuse University and dual MBAs from Northeastern University and American University's Kogod School of Business. He is a Certified Shopping Center Manager, a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, and serves on the Executive Board of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

  Comstock

  COO

  Timothy Steffan

  COO

  Comstock

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  Jennifer Burns

  As Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer Burns drives operational excellence and strategic innovation across Monday Properties' diversified real estate portfolio. She leads operations and asset management spanning property management, information technology, leasing and marketing, while providing strategic oversight of the firm's portfolio, including 8,000 multifamily units and 2.5 million square feet of office space. Jennifer plays a pivotal role in the firm's acquisition strategy, leading strategic due diligence and capital allocation decisions that inform critical investment opportunities. She oversees major capital improvement initiatives across the portfolio, driving strategic enhancements that elevate property value and optimize tenant experience. Recognized as a leader in proptech innovation, Jennifer directs implementation of wellness certifications and sustainability initiatives, including Fitwel, LEED and Energy Star programs. She has established strategic partnerships with industry leaders to deploy cutting-edge technology solutions that create competitive advantages and drive portfolio performance. Since joining Monday Properties in 2011, Jennifer has been recognized as a standout industry leader. In 2024 alone, Jennifer was honored with three notable distinctions including the Washington Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business award, Bisnow's DMV Women Leading Real Estate recognition, and Connect CRE's Women in Real Estate designation. She was previously named to GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum's Women of Influence list and recognized as one of the Washington Business Journal's 40 Under 40. Prior to joining Monday Properties, Jennifer was a property manager at CB Richard Ellis, managing day-to-day operations of a 1 million square foot portfolio in Rosslyn. Earlier in her career, she was a Community Manager at Archstone-Smith managing several multifamily units in Fairfax and Arlington, Virginia. Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in government and international politics from George Mason University and serves in leadership roles with industry associations including IREM Chapter 77 and AOBA.

  Monday Properties

  COO

  Jennifer Burns

  COO

  Monday Properties

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  Anthony Chang

  Co-Founder and Managing Principal

  Silverline Equities

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  Katie Yanushonis

  Katie oversees the leasing of TMG’s 5.6 million square foot office portfolio. She manages both landlord and tenant broker relationships and leads all proposal and lease negotiations on TMG’s behalf. Katie has over 22 years of experience in commercial real estate, including in-house leasing, brokerage and market research. Prior to joining TMG, Katie was a vice president with Boston Properties, where she oversaw the company’s Reston Town Center portfolio. She began her career with Lincoln Property Company, where she focused on research and brokerage in Washington, DC. Katie received her B.S. in management from Georgetown University.

  TMG

  SVP, Leasing

  Katie Yanushonis

  SVP, Leasing

  TMG

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  Ryan Lopez

  Ryan Lopez serves as Senior Director, Leasing at Carr Properties and oversees leasing strategy and execution across its 3.5M SF office portfolio. Prior to Carr, Ryan spent almost ten years at Cushman & Wakefield. Ryan received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston College and his Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business. Ryan has been named a “Power Broker” by CoStar and was recently named a “40 under 40” honoree by the Washington Business Journal.

  Carr Properties

  Senior Director

  Ryan Lopez

  Senior Director

  Carr Properties

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  Scott Adams

  Scott heads McGuireWoods’ Land Use Practice Group and is a leader in the Northern Virginia land use and development field. Scott’s practice focuses on land use and development issues in Northern Virginia, where he assists developers and landowners in navigating the land use entitlement process, including obtaining rezonings, special exceptions, special permits, variances, and comprehensive plan amendments. Scott’s creative and entrepreneurial approach to land use helps add value to client’s development projects. Throughout the land use entitlement process, Scott works to maximize development potential for his clients in a cost-effective and timely manner. In addition to new development, he also assists clients in amending existing development approvals to more closely align with changing market conditions. Additionally, Scott has experience navigating the approval process for repurposing of existing buildings and historic structures. Prior to obtaining his law degree and joining McGuireWoods LLP, he was an urban planner assisting developers and advising local governments on a wide range of land use and development issues. Scott also volunteers for a variety of community organizations and serves as a volunteer Cub Scout leader.

  McGuireWoods

  Partner

  Moderator

  Scott Adams

  Partner

  McGuireWoods

Remarks From The Podium

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  Chris Clemente

  Chris Clemente founded the Comstock organization in 1985 and has guided its growth and diversification since its inception. Mr. Clemente managed the growth of Comstock as a private enterprise until the 2004 initial public offering of Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI), now known as Comstock Holding Companies®, Inc. (“Comstock” or “Company”). Since the IPO, Mr. Clemente has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Comstock and is the largest individual stockholder of the Company. Mr. Clemente chairs Comstock’s Executive Committee, which charts strategic direction, evaluates acquisition opportunities, and oversees strategic partnerships, including multiple public-private partnerships. Mr. Clemente is also Managing Member of Comstock Partners, LC (“Partners”), a family-owned, private company founded by Mr. Clemente in 1999 to focus on commercial real estate development and investment. Following its IPO, Comstock expanded its for-sale homebuilding operation into multiple key markets in the southeastern United States, while the commercial development operation of Partners remained focused on the Washington, DC market. Following the Great Recession, Comstock scaled back its for-sale homebuilding operation to focus solely on the Washington, DC market. Mr. Clemente managed the two companies as separate firms with distinct management teams and investment objectives until early 2018, when Comstock announced its plan to wind-down its for-sale homebuilding operation and refocus on commercial development, real estate asset management, and real estate related services. To execute this strategic plan, the operating platforms of Comstock and Partners were combined, and changes were made to the management team. To anchor the transition, Partners entered a long-term, cost-plus asset management agreement covering its portfolio of commercial properties, which had grown to include millions of square feet of stabilized buildings and development assets strategically located at key transit stations on Metro’s new Silver Line in the Dulles Corridor of Northern Virginia that have an estimated value at full build out of approximately $3 billion. Key assets included in the portfolio of managed assets, include; Reston Station, a 4.5 million square foot transit-oriented and mixed-use development covering nearly 40 acres surrounding the terminus station of Phase I of the Silver Line in Reston, Virginia, and Loudoun Station, a 2+ million square foot transit-oriented and mixed-use development located adjacent to the terminus station of Phase II of the Silver Line in Ashburn, Virginia. Mr. Clemente attended the University of Wisconsin and George Mason University where he studied Business and Psychology. Mr. Clemente and his wife, Tracy Schar, have been long-time supporters of numerous charitable organizations in the Washington, DC region that support international adoptions, foster care programs, and that provide educational, housing and other assistance to families and children in-need.

  Comstock

  CEO

  Chris Clemente

  CEO

  Comstock

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  Nunzio DeSantis

  BACKGROUND Nunzio is the founding partner of Nunzio Marc DeSantis Archi- tects. His approach to architecture is based on 40 years of experience and an understanding of hospitality requirements related to developing truly unique and memorable architecture and environments. Nunzio is very involved in the design of projects and begins each by understanding challenges, local architectural vernacular, culture, weather, and materials. Nunzio leads teams by estab- lishing early concepts through drawing and exploration which determines a project’s architectural planning, individuality, style, and expression. Nunzio has completed more than 60,000 hotel rooms located throughout the world including a variety of hotel types, from limited-service hotels to entertainment and gaming hotels, to ultra-luxury one-of-a-kind boutique resorts. His hotels and resorts be found in a vast number of architectural, hospitality and travel publications. EDUCATION Master of Architecture | Texas A&M University Bachelor of Environmental Design | Texas A&M University AFFILIATIONS Fellow, American Institute of Architects U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Accredited Professional

  Nunzio Marc Desantis Architects, FAIA

  CEO & Founder

  Nunzio DeSantis

  CEO & Founder

  Nunzio Marc Desantis Architects, FAIA

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  Eric Morales

  Eric Morales is the Maryland Market President of United Bank, a premier community bank headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. As Market President, he is responsible for the management and operation of all nine United Bank offices in the Maryland Market, including maintaining client relationships and new business development. Morales has an extensive background in commercial real estate lending, having financed the acquisition and construction of multiple commercial and residential real estate projects in and around the D.C. metro area. He is also active in the local community, notably with United’s financial literacy programs, educating local youth through the Bank’s Teach Children to Save initiative, and volunteering with Junior Achievement Finance Park. He has also served on the board of numerous organizations, most recently with the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Eric was a proud recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40 awards in 2024. Prior to his time at United Bank, Morales worked as a Financial Manager at TIER REIT, Inc. and a senior associate at EY. Morales holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

  United Bank

  Market President

  Eric Morales

  Market President

  United Bank