gold members summit to discuss economic power · community leaders together to discuss the state of...

At the Greater Springfield Business & Economic Summit, the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce - in partnership with the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships and Community Business Partnership - will gather business and community leaders together to discuss the state of business in, and how the community can unleash the future economic power of, southeast Fairfax County’s business sector. Sponsored by Andrews Federal Credit Union and Washington REIT, the summit will be held Tuesday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Metro Park Conference Center. Tickets to the Summit are $25 including lunch, and available for purchase through the Chamber website, springfieldchamber.org. Mr. Rodney Lusk, director of national marketing for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, will provide opening remarks and update attendees on the economic landscape of the Greater Springfield area and Fairfax

County in general. Dr. Terry L. Clower, professor of public policy at George Mason University and director of GMU’s Center for Regional Analysis, will be the Summit’s lunch speaker.

Who should attend?• business owners and creative

entrepreneurs• commercial property owners and

managers• community leaders• anyone interested in the future of

Greater Springfield

The Summit will address current trends and challenges facing both business and government leaders. Summit attendees will discuss how these groups, along with the broader community, can come together to ensure the Greater Springfield area remains competitive in attracting and retaining business. The Summit will provide an opportunity for attendees to not only discuss current trends and challenges but also address any changes being considered for the future.

P12 / REMEMBERING

BOBBIE MAE

P10 / GOLF OUTING PHOTOSP9 & P11 / TSA

COMES TO SPRINGFIELD

Issue 4 Volume 41 FALL 2017

Summit to Discuss Economic Power

Springfield, Virginia

GOLD MEMBERS

CALIBRE

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON SPRNGFIELD

FIRST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY BANK

HILTON SPRINGFIELD

PRIORITY TOYOTA OF SPRINGFIELD

Become a Networking Ninjapg. 4

Speak Up. Awards and Board Nominations are Open.pgs. 2,4 & 8

2 FALL 2017 NEWS & VIEWS

GREATER SPRINGFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

6434 Brandon AvenueSuite 208

Springfield, VA 22150springfieldchamber.org

703-866-3500

BOARD MEMBERS

ChairmanMeghan Snyder

Meghan Snyder Communications

Vice ChairmanKathleen McDermott

Alliance Law Group

TreasurerLisa Wheeler

Renaissance Accounting

Immediate Past ChairmanKaren FountainFlowers n Ferns

Christine HeibyAutoGrip

Amy JonesHonest Soul Yoga

Charles McCaffreyCommunity Business Partnership

Tom PfeiferConsistent Voice Communications

Jason RodriguezHilton Springfield

Enola ThabounAndrews Federal Credit Union

Jessica WaltersEmbassy Suites by Hilton Springfield

NEWS & VIEWS

Managing EditorMeghan Snyder

Meghan Snyder Communications

Print & DesignAllegra Marketing • Print • Mail

President | CEONancy-jo Manney

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual dinner for members and guests on Thursday, Dec. 14, at Hilton Springfield. The black-tie-requested evening begins with a cocktail and networking reception at 6:15 p.m. The event features a silent auction during the opening reception. Newly elected Chamber board members will be installed as will the Chamber’s 2018 board chairman. The evening’s program will recognize area companies and individuals with the presentation of the Chamber’s annual business and citizenship awards. Nominations are being accepted until Nov. 16 for the following awards:

Arthur E. Morrissette “Top Hat” Service – given to a company exhibiting superior service to its customers and for its contributions to the Greater Springfield community.

Corporate Citizen – given to a company demonstrating strong involvement to better the quality of life in the Greater Springfield area.

Robert J. McDonough Businessperson of the Year – given to a business man or woman who excels in the promotion of his or her product or service.

Herb Hunter Citizen of the Year – given to an individual who has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life over a sustained number of years for the betterment of the Greater Springfield community.

Public Service – given to a staff member of the Fairfax County police, fire department or sheriff ’s office, or a Fairfax County teacher or government employee who has performed beyond the call of duty for the benefit of the Greater Springfield community.

A variety of annual dinner sponsorships are available. Visit the Chamber website, springfieldchamber.org, or call 703-866-3500 to reserve a sponsorship or to receive an award nomination form. Annual dinner tickets are $90 per person. A $10 discount will be extended on all dinner tickets purchased online by Nov. 10.

Member OpportunityShowcase Your Member-to-Member Discount

Members may self-post a member-to-member (M2M) discount on the Chamber website.• Post at your convenience• It’s FREE

M2M discounts are visible on the Chamber website under the Member Center navigation tab. Your discount may be listed for the time frame of your choice and include:• Detailed description of offer• Your logo and tagline• Link to your website

Here’s how to take advantage:• Log into the Member Information Center (springfieldchamber.org/login)• Click on Member to Member Discounts (left column)• Add your content• Submit for approval

Chamber to Host Annual Dinner & Awards

3FALL 2017 NEWS & VIEWS

Message From our Chairman of the Board

Go Team Chamber! Like wearing Tennessee orange on football Saturdays, I enthusiastically share my affiliation with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. There are so many things I value about my company’s membership in the Chamber, but possibly one of the most impactful benefits for me is the ability to learn and collaborate from other members. In this issue of News & Views, there are several examples of members working

together to achieve success – some professionally and others in a capacity of community outreach. With access to so many local businesspeople, the Chamber also provides a priceless wealth of knowledge from which we can all learn. Do you have questions about business or personal insurance? Are you curious about the best workout or diet for yourself? Are you looking for a unique gift for someone special? Is there a new website in your company’s future, or perhaps a need for some IT assistance? This list is truly endless. If there is a topic on which you have questions, I’m confident you can find a fellow Chamber member who has answers.

When we think of networking at Chamber events, think bigger – bigger than building businesses through good old-fashioned conversation and sales pitches. Think about who you could partner with to build business. Consider questions you’ve had in recent weeks, and look for someone at the networking event who might have the answers. Approach that person. Introduce yourself, and ask your question. I’m sure your fellow Chamber member will be happy to assist. It’s no secret that a team is often stronger than a single athlete, working together as each member builds on the strengths of the others. The Chamber is our team. We are all a part of it. While a top reason for Chamber membership is to grow our own businesses, there is vast opportunity to work together through networking, collaboration, referrals and education in order to build the strongest professional base possible. Embracing these benefits of Chamber membership brings new opportunity for all of us to find success and become stronger, more influential businesspeople in our industries and the community as a whole.

Meghan welcomes your call,703-909-2975

Meghan Snyder

ALBAN TIRE CORP.

Retail, Wholesale, Commercial & Fleet Services

Serving the METRO AREA for over 40 years!

We provide all types of Tires including: Cars, Trucks, Trailers, RV’s, Lawn & Garden, Industrial

Mechanical Services Offered: Alignments, Suspension & Steering, PM Services, A/C

Service, Brake Repair, State Safety Inspections

WWW.ALBANTIRE.COM7244 BOUDINOT DRIVESPRINGFIELD, VA 22150

703‐455‐9300


Ninja (noun): a person who excels in a particular skill or activity. Tuesday, Nov. 7 is Election Day but it’s also the day for you to become “A Networking Ninja & Public Speaking Pro.” At this interactive lunch-time seminar you’ll learn how to work the room at networking events, including what to say (and what not to say), how to answer commonly asked questions, how to tell stories about your business and effective ways to start (and end) a conversation. You’ll also learn tips on public speaking, including how to feel confident approaching others and introducing yourself at events. You’ll learn keys to following-up after an event too – which is the true way to succeed in networking.

This workshop will make you a master networker so you can fully utilize all the networking opportunities offered by the Chamber and many other professional groups. Tickets are $20, including lunch. Online registration required: springfieldchamber.org. Guest speaker, Deborah Finkelstein, has trained over 100 TED and TEDx speakers, and presented on public speaking, networking, leadership, improvisation and storytelling at national conferences, businesses, nonprofits and chambers of commerce. She’s the founder of Fireworks Communication Consultants, a team that leads workshops, writes speeches and content and consults one-on-one on public speaking, storytelling, networking, writing and cross-cultural communication.

Have you thought about the positive impact you could make as a member of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors? Now is the time to consider the opportunity. Nominations are open. Employees of Chamber member companies are eligible for board service. Board terms are three years with a new class of board members each January. Nominations are being accepted from the Chamber’s general membership until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20. If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate an employee of a current member of the Greater Springfield Chamber

of Commerce for a board position, please contact Nancy-jo Manney at 703-866-3500. Official election ballots and a biography of candidates will be sent to all voting members of the Chamber. One vote per company or organization will be accepted. Look for your ballot the week of Oct. 30. The Chamber’s board of directors strongly encourages all members to exercise their right and responsibility to vote for their leadership. Incoming board members will be installed at the Chamber’s annual dinner in December.

Chamber, CBP Co-host Ninja Seminar

Your Service on Our Chamber’s Board of Directors

Con

nect

ing

at B

reak

fast

Former neighbors Patti Parker of Demaine Funeral Home and Marcia Twomey of MCCP Foundation reconnected at the Chamber’s September networking breakfast hosted by Dave & Buster’s Springfield.


SILVER MEMBERSDAN’S VAN LINES

LEMAY & COMPANY SPRINGFIELD TOWN CENTER

BRONZE MEMBERSAllegra Marketing • Print • Mail Andrews Federal Credit Union

Dave & Buster’sFairfax Memorial Park & Funeral Home

Networking BreakfastsWednesday, October 4

Wednesday, November 1Wednesday, December 6

Networking MixersThursday, October 19

Thursday, November 16

Business & Economic Summit

Tuesday, October 24

Networking Ninja SeminarTuesday, November 7

Holiday MixerThursday, December 7

Reveille ConnectTuesday, December 12

Annual DinnerThursday, December 14

UPCOMING EVENTS

Visit springfieldchamber.org

for more information

On the Fork – Lunch at Hard Times Café Every town needs a good chili parlor—especially one that takes its responsibilities seriously and stays open no matter what the weather throws its way. (Check it out during the next snow storm—Hard Times

Café is generally the last restaurant to close and the first to open.) Hard Times Café is now part of our Springfield Community BridgeWalk family, providing chili dogs for this year’s event. Springfield’s Hard Times Café is one of the local chain’s numerous locations in Virginia and Maryland. Our hometown location has a large sports component with billiards, darts, lots of flat screen TVs, most major sports packages, including SEC Network, Big Ten Network and NFL Sunday Ticket, and two bars with a large selection of craft beers. I counted IPAs, porters, seasonals, ales, pilsners, lagers, wheat, stouts and domestic on the menu. For those not of the beer persuasion, there are margaritas, wine, cider and Hard Times Rootbeer. The atmosphere is rustic, and colorful chili lights frame the bar. Chili is featured at Hard Times Café and you can get it any number of ways including with or without beans (to satisfy Texas purists), Cincinnati-style with cinnamon, over spaghetti 3-, 4- or 5-way and vegetarian. Of course there are the requisite toppings of cheese, jalapenos, onions, and sour cream, and a corn bread accompaniment. The corn bread is southern-style—on the sweet side. Appetizer selections skew fried. Our server told us that the deep fried pickles, corn dog nuggets, and mac and cheese wedges are the most popular—so naturally we tried them, except for the deep fried pickles—couldn’t quite get our minds

around that concept. The corn dog nuggets were addictive—it would be easy to polish off a couple of plates. While the mac and cheese wedges would definitely appeal to kids, we grownups enjoyed them too and noted that all of the appetizers would be great carryout options for football season. When it came time for the main course, my dining companion ordered a bowl of the classic spicy Terlingua Red and I got the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese, barbecue sauce, lettuce and tomato. Any sandwich that includes both onion rings and a large pile of fries is definitely a winner. Hard Times Café says that its spicy Terlingua Red is a tribute to the Texas ghost town that hosted the first chili cook-off

Dessert? Nope. Portions are generous so we just couldn’t. Hard Times Café, open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, has numerous daily dine-in specials and a weekend breakfast buffet starting at 9 a.m.

hardtimes.com6362 Springfield Plaza Springfield, VA 22150

703-913-5600

On the Fork

Linda Waller


Members in the News

In September, CIOReview magazine recognized CALIBRE as one of the “100 Most Promising Big Data Solution Providers.” CALIBRE has responded to a demand for greater agility, visibility and value from big data by providing management consulting and information technology solutions that ensure

the successful convergence of business and IT for their clients. CALIBRE’s data analytics solutions provide clients with greater visibility, compelling ways to slice data and faster decision making.

For more information: calibresys.com

Staci L. Redmon, president and CEO of Strategy and Management Services, Inc. was recognized by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) as the 2017 Woman Vetrepreneur of the Year. To be considered for the award, nominees must clearly demonstrate those attributes that are pivotal in leading a flourishing organization, creating sustained business success and growth, and who have a strong commitment to cultivating veteran entrepreneurship. Redmon’s entrepreneurial journey was featured in the June 2017 issue of Vetrepreneur, the official magazine of NaVOBA.

For more information: getsamsnow.com

CALIBRE

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria Va. recently revealed its newly constructed Black Box Theatre, located at the MSA Academy at 5775 Barclay Dr. in Alexandria, perfect for intimate dance, music and theatre performances, seating 130. Costing $140,000 to build, MSA received an anonymous gift of $60,000 to help with the

cost of the theatre. “Other performing arts groups can also take advantage of this space through rental options, as we encourage more performing arts opportunities in the greater Alexandria area,” said Melissa Dobbs, founder and executive director of MSA of Alexandria.

For more information: metropolitanarts.org

Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, Inc. (GSH) was recently awarded two grants. They received a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. GSH will put the grant funding toward general operating support targeting 15 households residing in GSH housing. They also received a $5,000 grant from The UPS Foundation. Funds from that grant will go toward encouraging GSH clients to save money, and learn money management skills, during participation in “Changepurse,” a financial mentoring program focused on money management and education.

For more information: goodhousing.org

Consistent Voice Communications (CVC) has posted its company style guide online where others can download it and use it for free. The style guide covers a gamut of consistency issues such as capitalization, headlines and addresses. It also covers items you won’t find in a standardized stylebook, such as use of the company name and logo. “I’m a firm believer in consistency in communications. That’s why ‘consistency’ and ‘communications’ make up two-thirds of the company name,” said Tom Pfeifer, CVC founder and chief strategist.

For more information: yourconsistentvoice.com.

In August the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority joined forces with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, becoming the chamber’s first strategic partner among economic development organizations in the Washington, D.C. region. The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade

association representing the digital asset and blockchain industry. The chamber’s mission is to promote the acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies.

For more information: fceda.org


Member Profile

NOVA’s Medical Campus is Committed to Students and Community

Tucked away just off Loisdale Rd. in Springfield is Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Medical Education Campus (MEC), a bustling facility offering a full array of medical courses, including nursing, paramedic, physical therapist assistant, radiation oncology and health information management to name only a few. In addition to providing education to medical students of many disciplines, the MEC collaborates with other programs in the area and maintains an involved and invested relationship with the community. In June, the MEC and its Dental Hygiene program was honored at the Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation’s (MCCP), a new member of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, “Celebrating our Partners in Health” gala. The MEC received this honor because of its active involvement with Give Kids a Smile and Mission of Mercy, two local and national annual initiatives offering annual free dental services to underserved local communities. One specific activity for which the MEC was recognized included hosting the 2017 Give Kids a Smile event in February. The event, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Dental Society, provided free dental services to 391 at-risk preschoolers. A total of $68,874.00 worth of dentistry was provided. Dental students were among those who volunteered their time to treat patients. This fall, the MEC will officially began partnering with MCCP Foundation on a pilot program where students in the

school’s Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene program will provide free dental screenings, teeth cleanings and oral health instruction for underserved students in kindergarten through 2nd grade from Bailey’s Elementary School of the Arts and Sciences in Falls Church. Medical practices in Northern Virginia benefit from the close proximity of the MEC, and the MEC benefits from the many medical specialties represented in the D.C. area. Students are able to find jobs and find hands-on experience outside of the classroom while they complete their degrees and certificates. Community involvement plays an important role in the mission of the MEC. “Our new strategic plan is about student success, programs thriving and communities prospering,” said Andrew Cornell, MEC acting provost. “The MEC supports all three of these things for Springfield and the greater NOVA community. The students come to us to get a job. They leave us as young, credentialed health professionals.”

In addition to dental outreach programs, the MEC hosts Camp Med each summer providing a week-long summer program for students in 6th through 9th grades who are interested in healthcare. Campers split time between activities at the MEC and Virginia Hospital Center. For older high school students, the MEC participated in Pathway Connection Summer Institute, where 30 11th and 12th graders from both Fairfax and Arlington County public schools participated in a college/career readiness program. The students spent one full day investigating healthcare careers at the MEC. Participating schools included some in the Greater Springfield area, such as Hayfield, Edison and Lee. For the littlest learners, the MEC has also hosted full day retreats for preschoolers, providing them with a full and interactive day learning about nutrition, healthy eating habits and healthcare careers. NOVA is the largest institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America’s largest community colleges.


Join a Chamber Committee

Community AffairsNevin Gibson, chair

703-625-8147

Economic DevelopmentCraig Blakeley, chair

703-848-8336

LegislativeKathleen McDermott, chair

703-848-8318

MarketingTom Pfeifer, chair

703-447-8319

MembershipAnna Kaviani, chair

703-455-3000

VeteransCharles McCaffrey, chair

703-768-1440

GET INVOLVED

STAY CONNECTED

An Update From our Committees

Visit springfieldchamber.org

for more information

In October 2016, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized Plan Amendment 2016-CW-4CP to facilitate the repurposing of vacant and underutilized office buildings for alternative uses such as residential or institutional. The repurposing of existing buildings is often more sustainable than the demolition and replacement of structures. Repurposing vacant structures to accommodate new uses supports multiple goals in Fairfax County’s Economic Success Plan. The proposed amendment would add new guidance to the Land Use section of the county’s Policy Plan as a new appendix entitled, “Guidelines for Building Repurposing.” The new appendix

would provide guidance for considering uses other than those envisioned by the current Comprehensive Plan for vacant office buildings in certain mixed-use centers as well as industrial areas. By adding this policy, repurposing proposals that meet the guidelines set forth in the new appendix could be considered without the need to amend the Comprehensive Plan on a site-by-site basis. The proposed amendment goes to the Fairfax County Planning Commission in November and back to the Board in December. Join the Chamber’s economic development committee to learn more about this amendment and other revitalization projects in the Greater Springfield area.

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Veterans Committee wants to recognize active duty military personnel, Guardsman, Reserve and military spouses who go beyond making our community safe and also improve the quality of life for our citizens. Nominations should provide information on how the nominee volunteers time in our community. Examples would be through public safety, environmental improvements,

mentoring young people, assisting with elder care, scouting, church activities, service groups, schools and business development. Nominees must live in the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s service area. The community service award nomination form is available in the About Us section of the Chamber website, springfieldchamber.org. Nominations are due Nov. 15.

“Living here in the Greater Springfield area is a blessing we often take for granted,” said Nevin Gibson, chair of the community affairs committee. “It’s difficult for us to imagine families that can’t even afford the basics. The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual winter outerwear campaign aids underserved residents in our community. Businesses will serve as collection locations Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Dec. 15. Donations to the winter outerwear

campaign support ECHO and Koinonia, two local organizations supporting residents in need in the Greater Springfield area. The collection locations will accept winter outerwear, including new winter hats, new scarves and gloves for all ages, new children’s coats, and clean, gently-used blankets. Each year there’s a special need for coats, especially in children’s sizes infant through 16 and adult plus sizes. Contact the Chamber office by Oct. 27 if your business would like to serve as a collection point, 703-866-3500.

Amendment Facilitates Office Space Repurposing

Veterans Seek Community Service Awardee

It’s Time for the Winter Outerwear Campaign


As you may have heard, Springfield was recently announced as the site of a future Transportation Security Administration (TSA) headquarter facility. Their move into Springfield is a sure sign of our revitalization efforts succeeding, and an indicator of the strong future of the area. Both Springfield and the TSA stand to benefit a great deal from the move, no small feat. In fact, I

have been working with the TSA for years hoping this day would come. TSA employees will be making use of our smart transit infrastructure and revitalized downtown, while Springfield benefits from the more than 3000 jobs coming to the area. The TSA has forecast that many employees will be commuting from areas in Virginia that are south of

Springfield. This means their employees will end their commutes in Springfield, freeing up space on the interstate and inside the Beltway for the rest of us. Moving jobs closer to where people live is vital to reducing congestion. Additionally, with Metro and VRE next to the site, folks who live as far away as Spotsylvania can ride straight to work. On top of the added jobs, I am pleased to note that unlike the cancelled FBI move, the property occupied by the TSA will be taxable by the county. As Chairman of the Budget Committee for the Board of Supervisors, I am always on

the lookout for ways the county can increase funding for critical programming without raising taxes on residents. The move is a clear-cut success for Springfield, Lee District and Fairfax County, as well as the TSA. By taking

advantage of Springfield’s many benefits, the TSA is signaling how attractive our area is to other federal agencies and ensuring we will continue our strong relationship with the federal government into the future.

Our Political Leaders in ActionTSA Coming to Springfield

Springfield Community BridgeWalk

Supervisor Jeff McKayLee District

The outdoor festivities were rained out this year but that didn’t stop elected officials and Fort Belvoir leadership from signing Springfield’s community covenant with our Army neighbors, an annual tradition of the Springfield Community BridgeWalk held at American Legion Post 176.


The Chamber’s 2017 Golf Outing – A Pictorial Review

With a score of 55, First Virginia

Community Bank took home the Chamber

Challenge Cup.

Golfers of all skill levels participated in this year’s outing

benefiting MVLE.

The Chamber held its 2017 golf outing on a sun-filled, early-

September day at Laurel Hill Golf Club.

Presenting sPonsor

event sPonsors


This summer, Virginia became the first state in the nation to permit use of automated devices for commercial deliveries. Virginia law, SB 1207, authorizes “electric personal delivery devices” to operate on sidewalks, cross-walks and dual-use paths to carry products to individual consumers. This law is part of a broader state effort to establish Virginia as a national leader in commercial use of automated systems. The law permits use of automated vehicles weighing less than 50 pounds and travelling at speeds less than 10 miles per hour, provided that the vehicles are always under the control of a human operator (even if that operator is working remotely and out of direct line-of-sight with the vehicle). This type of device is already delivering Domino’s pizzas in London and other products in a growing number of European communities, having reportedly logged

approximately 32,000 miles on commercial deliveries. The devices operating in Europe resemble picnic coolers on wheels, and they are outfitted with cameras, sensors, GPS and security systems. Virginia also recently launched the Autonomous Systems Center of Excellence (ASCE) at the Center for Innovative Technology. ASCE has the mission of promoting development of an autonomous systems industry in Virginia. Despite the new state law, local governments could impose restrictions limiting or delaying use of automated delivery devices. Virginia communities including Norfolk and Virginia Beach are actively encouraging use of these vehicles. We urge Fairfax County to do the same, and businesses in Springfield to explore ways in which these devices can help them reduce costs and better serve customer needs.

The decision to locate the headquarters of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Springfield will bring more than 3,000 jobs to the area and be a boon to efforts to transform it into a major employment hub, said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “We are thrilled and honored that the federal government has chosen a Fairfax County location to be the next headquarters for the important mission of the TSA,” Gordon said. “The site in central Springfield is a great location because it is accessible to highways and rail transportation, and bringing TSA into the community means the area continues to develop into one of the region’s major employment centers and provide more amenities for those who work and live there.” The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a

$316 million contract to Boston Properties, which owns the Springfield site as well as other properties in Fairfax County such as the Reston Town Center. The headquarters will have up to 625,000 square feet of office space. The Springfield area has about 5.1 million square feet of commercial office space now. “All of us at Boston Properties are extremely excited and honored that we’ve been selected for this requirement,” said Peter Johnston, executive vice president, Washington D.C. region, for Boston Properties. “It is an incredible opportunity to partner with both TSA and GSA to develop a world-class headquarters facility worthy of the important mission of the TSA. We are also very excited about the impact this move will have on Fairfax County and more specifically Springfield, with the addition of the many thousands of jobs associated with this development.”

New Virginia Law is First in Nation Authorizing Robots for DeliveriesBy: Craig Blakeley and Jeffrey Matsuura

Springfield site chosen for TSA headquarters

Yard House CheersJames King, owner of America’s Swimming Pool Company, and Christine Heiby, owner of AutoGrip, take a minute to smile for our photographer, Gary Black, at the Chamber’s after-hours networking mixer hosted by Yard House at Springfield Town Center.


My column for this issue of News & Views is in memory of Bobbie Mae Johnson, our Chamber’s first employee and our 1981 Herb Hunter Citizen of the Year. Please allow me the privilege

of sharing a bit about Bobbie Mae, and send a final Thank You. Bobbie Mae, a long-time resident of Springfield, passed away July 29. She was 87 years old. She is survived by her husband, Joe, of 65 years. As a kid, Bobbie Mae’s family lived in Maryland. They used the Memorial Bridge to take her dad to National Airport for business trips. She knew then that when she grew up she wanted to live in Virginia. Her dream came true when she and Joe, a military man, made their home in a “little town called Springfield, population 12,000.” Bobbie Mae was the executive secretary

of our Chamber for 35 years, taking the minutes of our meetings and maintaining our financial records. I still enjoy reading her hand-written notes, and occasional shorthand, on browning onionskin typing paper that I find tucked in a well-worn file folder. Think pre-Microsoft Word … back when your C: drive was a four-drawer wooden cabinet. Bobbie Mae’s first assignment was to type a letter being sent from a group of businessmen (our Chamber’s founding members) to the General Assembly in Richmond. The letter was in opposition to the proposed Business Professional Occupation License tax. The letter had a successful outcome and, for a while at least, the BPOL tax was kept off the books. Bobbie Mae’s basement was the Chamber’s first office (and her home phone, our phone). This continued to be so until she announced her retirement in May 1992. On behalf of our Chamber, then and now, and the countless board members under whom she served, thank you Bobbie Mae.

Message From our CEO

Remembering Bobbie Mae Johnson

Nancy-jo Manney

CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Flight Trampoline Park7200 Fullerton Road, Suite FSpringfield, VA 22150flighttrampolinepark.com571-421-2067

MCCP Foundation 6699 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, VA 22150mccpfoundation.org703-286-0881

Tutor Doctor of Alexandria 9023 Patton BoulevardAlexandria, VA 22309tutordoctor.com703-347-7166

THANK YOU,RENEWING MEMBERSAmerican Astronautical SocietyAndrews Federal Credit UnionCerium TechnologyDakota Internet DesignsFirst Command Financial PlanningFirstLight Home Care of SpringfieldGood Shepherd HousingHmart BurkeJBD Business ServicesMeghan Snyder CommunicationsMetro ParkMetro Run & WalkNOVA Medical Education CampusProline EmbroideryResidence Inn SpringfieldSandy Spring BankSeeds of Humanity FoundationShamrock Enterprises of VASilver DinerTD BankTownePlace SuitesValor Mold RemovalWellborn ManagementWest Springfield Rotary ClubZinburger Wine & Burger Bar

Building Connections at TW Perry

New York Life agents, Anna Ryjik and Ariel Goldchain (front left), were just part of the upbeat networking that took place at the Greater Springfield Chamber’s July 20, 2017 networking mixer hosted by TW Perry.

gold members summit to discuss economic power · community leaders together to discuss the state of...

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