Exploring Fairfax City & County's Economic Growth

Learn about the latest economic projects, public/private partnerships, affordability initiatives, transportation services and other opportunities that are contributing to the growth of Fairfax City, Tysons, Merrifield and more.

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  Victor Hoskins

  Victor Hoskins is President and CEO of the Fairfax County (Va.) Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). The FCEDA oversees growth of the largest economy in Virginia, which ranked no. 1 in the 2019 and 2021 CNBC “America’s Top States for Business” study. Previously, he directed economic development in Arlington County, Va., where he led the team that brought Amazon's second headquarters creating 37,500 jobs for Northern Virginia and 100,000 jobs for the Washington, D.C., region, attracting $4 billion in private capital investment and catalyzing creation of two major Technology Innovation Campuses to build the regional tech talent pipeline. Under Mr. Hoskins’ leadership, the FCEDA launched a multi-faceted talent initiative aimed at attracting, retaining, retraining and growing the workforce in Northern Virginia. With a master’s degree in City Planning from MIT and an Honors undergraduate degree from Dartmouth, he has held executive leadership ranks in real estate in both the public and private sectors. As Deputy Mayor of the District of Columbia, his team transformed Washington with projects such as City Center, the Wharf and Union Market. His career has taken him from Wall Street to Main Street, and he has expanded economies from Los Angeles/Long Beach to the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Hoskins is frequently chosen for lists of the most influential business leaders in Virginia and the Washington area. He is a popular public speaker on economic development and leadership topics, and he has been quoted in Fortune, Forbes and the Washington Post.

  Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

  President & CEO

  Victor Hoskins

  President & CEO

  Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

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  Christopher Bruno

  Chief of Economic Development Programs & Strategies

  NYLS

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  Katie Cristol

  Katie Cristol is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tysons Community Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded to promote economic and social development in the Tysons area of Northern Virginia. The TCA actively works to foster collaboration and partnerships between members of the local business community, local residents, government, and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the TCA in 2023, Katie served in elected office on the Arlington County Board for eight years, including two years as Chair. During her tenure, she served on numerous boards including the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, which she chaired in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, Katie has held leadership roles in the Virginial Municipal League, the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. She is a strong advocate for affordable housing, racial equity and issues affecting women and families. Katie holds a public policy master’s degree from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

  Tysons Community Alliance

  CEO

  Katie Cristol

  CEO

  Tysons Community Alliance

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  Amanda Baxter

  Amanda Baxter, Senior Vice President for Transurban North America, oversees the daily operations, including the dynamic-pricing, of Transurban’s $4 billion High-occupancy Tolled (HOT) Express Lanes on 495, 95 and 395 – a growing 53-mile network in the Greater Washington Area. She is also responsible for the development and construction for end-to- end customer operations―including network enhancements and maintenance. For the last 25 years, Amanda has worked on infrastructure projects across the US. Over two decades of that experience include both public and private sectors providing leadership on complex transportation projects working directly for the owner agency and as owner’s representative. She is a proven leader in the strategic development, negotiation, commercial/financial close and delivery of Public Private Partnerships (P3) within transportation. Under Amanda’s leadership, the Virginia Department of Transportation delivered their first dynamically-priced Express Lanes along 66 Inside the Beltway and Transurban North America has broken ground on approximately $1.5 billion of new construction to extend the benefits of Express Lanes’ travel choices an additional 2.5 miles along 495 north towards Maryland and 10 miles south towards Fredericksburg, Virginia to the south. Amanda currently serves on several Board of Directors including the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association and the Greater Washington Partnership Leadership Council. Amanda is a graduate of George Mason University and recently received her MBA from the University of Virginia - Darden School of Business.

  Transurban

  Senior Vice President

  Amanda Baxter

  Senior Vice President

  Transurban

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  Gregory Riegle

  Greg is managing partner of the firm's Tysons Corner office and practices commercial real estate law with a concentration in land use, zoning and redevelopment matters. He began his real estate career as a professional urban planner. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, he worked extensively in the public and private sectors. Collectively he has more than 25 years experience in the real estate development industry. He has substantial experience representing major land developers, owners, companies, institutions, lenders and landlords. He works closely with clients to conduct feasibility analysis, analyze applicable development requirements, prepare necessary development-related applications, and present such proposals in meetings and public hearings before decision-making boards and commissions. He has extensive contacts with local government officials, as well as influential community and civic groups, and is able to anticipate, identify and creatively address issues related to the acquisition, development and disposition of real property. He provides clients with the analysis and advice necessary to complete all legislative and administrative approvals associated with the land development processes. His skill in drafting, negotiating and reviewing development agreements, proffers, zoning opinions and easements enables clients to complete the required processes with minimized and accurately qualified risk. The types of developments he has facilitated include office and industrial parks, shopping centers, regional shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, residential subdivisions, master planned communities, and elderly housing uses. He routinely handles the proceedings for necessary rezonings, special exceptions, special permits, variances, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, appeals and Zoning Ordinance Amendments before numerous local government authorities in Northern Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. Much of Greg's work and accomplishments are closely tied to the region's existing and expanding rail transit corridors. He is particularly well versed in the planning, economic and design considerations that are unique to real estate development in transit oriented areas. In addition to representing owner and developers, he has been appointed by local governments to serve as an industry representative on many of the Task Forces and Work Groups charged with redrafting the governing planning and zoning regulations to recognize the opportunities associated with well planned and economically viable transit oriented development.

  McGuire Woods

  Partner

  Moderator

  Gregory Riegle

  Partner

  McGuire Woods

Analyzing Fairfax County's Future Development Pipeline

From conversions to mixed-used plans, learn the latest projects, developments and investments happening in Fairfax County.

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  Donna Shafer

  Donna, a founding member of Cityline Partners, is responsible for Cityline’s strategic planning, and for oversight of the company’s day to day execution of its business plan. Prior to Cityline, Donna was affiliated with West*Group for several years, first as the CEO of Park*Crest, and then as Executive Vice President for West*Group. Prior to her tenure at West*Group, she was General Counsel and Vice President of Real Estate for Opus East, and a partner with the law firm of Hazel & Thomas, now known as Reed Smith. Donna serves on the Board and Executive Committee for George Mason University Foundation, and chairs the Foundation’s Real Estate Committee. She is also on the Board of New Hope Housing and a member of the Urban Land Institute Executive Committee, and the Urban Land Institute Trends Committee. Donna earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

  Cityline Partners

  Managing Director

  Donna Shafer

  Managing Director

  Cityline Partners

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  Matt Robinson

  Matt Robinson has 17 years of experience in the real estate industry and pursues multi-family residential, mixed-use acquisition and development opportunities for MRP Realty. Since joining the firm in 2007, Matt has overseen the entitlement, development, and repositioning of over 3.2 million square feet including over 1,100 units. In his seven years at TCC prior to joining MRP, Matt developed a total of 1.5 million square feet comprising 924 residential units and 542,000 square feet of retail and commercial space totaling over $654 million. Before joining TCC, he was an architect with Dimella Shaffer Associates in Boston, Massachusetts focused primarily on age-restricted residential and hotel projects. Matt graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University and received his MSRED from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  MRP Realty

  Principal

  Matt Robinson

  Principal

  MRP Realty

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  Tim Steffan

  Tim Steffan joined Comstock Holding Companies®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) (“Comstock” or “Company”) in early 2018 as Executive Vice President of Asset Management, Leasing & Development. Mr. Steffan is responsible for management of the asset management, leasing, and development operations of the Company. As a member of Comstock’s Executive Management Committee, Mr. Steffan has played a key role in the development and execution of Comstock’s strategic plan and the recent reshaping of its management team in support of the 2018 transformation of Comstock’s operations from for-sale homebuilding to commercial real estate development, asset management, and real estate related service provider. While leading by example, Mr. Steffan’s results oriented management style inspires teamwork, creativity, integrity, and a collaborative work environment.

  Comstock

  COO

  Tim Steffan

  COO

  Comstock

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  Deirdre Johnson

  Deirdre Johnson is a strategic thinker and dynamic leader with over 30 years of success in managing and leveraging large commercial real estate portfolios including mixed-use, open air and enclosed mall properties. Since 2007, she's been with Federal Realty Investment Trust, rising in 2019 to Vice President, Asset Management. She manages over 5 million SF of properties and has experience in diverse markets including Virginia, Chicago, Detroit, Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida. Under her leadership, the portfolio has outperformed in NOI growth and value creation due to creative redevelopment and repositioning initiatives. With her team, she has implemented innovative and strategic remerchandising and rebranding plans. Most recently, she opened Federal’s newly formed Virginia Regional Office located in Tysons, Virginia to spearhead a targeted growth initiative. Johnson has been awarded the ICSC’s Certified Retail Property Executive (CRX) designation and the Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) designation. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), NAIOP Northern Virginia and Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC). Most recently, Deirdre was named by the Commercial Observer as one of The Power Players of Washington, D.C., 2022. Deirdre is a graduate of Old Dominion University.

  Federal Realty

  SVP

  Deirdre Johnson

  SVP

  Federal Realty

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  Evan Goldman

  Evan Goldman recently joined EYA as Vice President of Land Acquisitions and Development. Evan brings a decade of mixed use and multi-family experience to the EYA development team and will work on sourcing new deals as well as shepherding projects through the development process. Prior to joining EYA, Evan was a Vice President of Development at Federal Realty Investment Trust in Rockville, MD. In that role for seven years he was primarily responsible for managing the development of Pike & Rose a 24 acre 3.4 million square foot award winning mixed use neighborhood in North Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to Federal Realty, Evan was a Partner at the Holladay Corporation; an urban infill mixed use development company in Washington, DC, and he was an Associate for Tishman Speyer Properties in New York City. Evan holds an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from the Wharton Business School and a B.S. in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University. Evan enjoys teaching and regularly guest lectures at Cornell University, Georgetown University, the Catholic University and the University of Maryland College Park. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Urban Land Institute Washington and he was a founding Board Member of Friends of White Flint. Evan recently received the 2012 Livable Communities Leadership Award from the Washington, DC based Coalition for Smarter Growth. Evan lives in Washington, DC with his wife and three young children.

  EYA

  EVP

  Evan Goldman

  EVP

  EYA

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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

Opening Remarks

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  Kevin Reynolds

  Kevin Reynolds is Executive Vice President and Regional President, Director of Sales for United Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. with $14 billion in assets and over 80 branches in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Formerly president and director of sales for Cardinal Financial Corporation, Kevin joined United Bank in April 2017, following its acquisition of Cardinal Bank. Prior to establishing Cardinal Bank with a select group of community bankers in 1998, he held executive and management positions with several leading area financial institutions, including George Mason Bank and American Security Bank. Kevin’s volunteer efforts, business expertise, and hands-on support have helped organizations throughout the area raise funds and awareness for their causes. His contributions have made a difference to organizations as diverse as the American Heart Association, Cornerstones, The Economic Club of Washington, DC, Rotary International, The Gladney Center for Adoption, Children’s Science Center, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics, Homestretch and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation. He serves as chairman of the United Cardinal Classic, an annual golf tournament that has raised $5.3 million to benefit Inova Kellar Center and community organizations around the area. Kevin’s contributions toward improving the quality of life in the region are widely recognized and reflect his years of service and dedication. He was elected board chairman of the 2015 World Police & Fire Games, the second largest multi-sport event in the world, surpassed only by the Summer Olympic Games. He was awarded the 2012 Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year for Large Businesses, and was finalist for the 2012 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Executive Leader of the Year. Kevin was named the 2010 Business Citizen of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2009 as one of Washington’s most outstanding fundraising volunteers. That same year, he was honored by Leadership Fairfax with a Regional Leadership Award for fundraising leadership. A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Reynolds earned an MBA in Finance/Business from The George Washington University. He lives in Oakton, Virginia with his wife, Stacey, their two children, and two golden retrievers.

  United Bank

  Regional President

  Kevin Reynolds

  Regional President

  United Bank