The Chamber recently spoke with Larry Roberts, Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, who offered the following thoughts on the benefits of bipartisanship to Virginia government and its business community. The Sorensen Institute and the Chamber have formed an Advancing Civics partnership to promote bipartisanship and civil discourse as means toward effective public leadership. …
Creating a Culture of Support: Why We Need Employee Wellness Programs in the Workplace
The Chamber recently spoke with LeVar Johnson, a Community Activist working within the Pharmaceutical Industry, about employers’ roles in handling obesity within the workplace ahead of his participation in our Wellness in the Workforce Part 2 event on April 25th. Physical health is a personal mission for Johnson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 4. …
Employee Health & Benefits trends for 2023
In America’s professional landscape, there is a diverse workforce comprised of five different generations. While it is true that having a multigenerational workforce presents some challenges to employers, we encourage business leaders to view this as a benefit rather than a challenge. As the workplace evolves, talent acquisition and retention strategies will become increasingly more important and the evaluation of …
2023 Virginia General Assembly Workforce Update
The 2023 Virginia General Assembly wrapped up on February 25th in Richmond. The Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations, Nick Clemente, was in attendance all 46 days (and then some!), advocating on behalf of our Region and Chamber membership. Chamber members were kept up-to-date throughout the session through Nick’s weekly emails and member advocacy calls. He was also always a …
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, …
Kicking Off the 2023 Virginia General Assembly
Editor’s Note: The Virginia General Assembly kicks off its annual legislative session this week lasting for 46 days. Staying connected to legislators and policymakers is critical for the Northern Virginia business community to ensure that we have a voice in the legislative process. The Chamber’s Nick Clemente, Vice President of Government relations is representing the Northern Virginia business community every …
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 …
Please support the NOVA Chamber Foundation with a donation for Giving Tuesday
During this season of thankfulness, we have a lot to be thankful for. The Northern Virginia Chamber Foundation is largely a start-up. In 2020 we rebranded and expanded the mission of what was the largely inactive Valor Scholarship Fund to become the Foundation. Our purpose is to build a stronger community by establishing programs that benefit the citizens and businesses …
Creating a Culture of Support: Why We Need Employee Wellness Programs in the Workplace
The Chamber recently spoke with LeVar Johnson, a Community Activist working within the Pharmaceutical Industry, about employers’ roles in handling obesity within the workplace ahead of his participation in our Wellness in the Workforce Part 2 event on April 25th. Physical health is a personal mission for Johnson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 4. …
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 …
DEI Research: Introducing the Northern Virginia Champions of Accountability Project
Recognizing and highlighting businesses that are developing and implementing inclusive practices is a priority of the Chamber as we seek to promote best practices for attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. To advance this effort, we have partnered with the Northern Virginia Community Foundation to launch the Northern Virginia Champions of Accountability Project. A groundbreaking initiative, the Champions of Accountability …
In Praise of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
When I was 17 years old, I told my high school English teacher that I was going to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, an all-female historically Black college. “But you’ve got the grades for Dartmouth!” he said. I knew he meant well, but I also knew Spelman was right for me. It helped that my parents are both alums of …
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Talking DE&I in Northern Virginia with Jim Dyke
“If we want to operate in a global economy, we must respect and work with all religions and people, be that by race, gender, culture, physical ability, or sexual preference. We must focus on who people are and what they can do rather than what they are. Without that respect, it will be difficult to advance our business environment.” So …
Apply These Four Levers to Workplace Inclusion and Diversity
To some degree, the employee populations of most companies represent a microcosm of the larger world outside. And, as we all know, the world is facing some challenging times. In essence, we are repeating U.S. history. In the wake of ample socio-economic disparities, centuries-long suppressed anger, frustration, hurt, desperation, and fear is publicly visible to us all today. The corporate …
Supporting Northern Virginia’s Minority-Owned Businesses
Northern Virginia is home to an estimated 128,000 minority-owned businesses—42 percent of all businesses in the region—that represent a diverse cross-section of residents; 56,000 (44 percent) are Asian-owned, 40,000 (31 percent) are Hispanic-owned, and 27,000 (21 percent) are Black-owned. Racial-Ethnic Composition of Northern Virginia Businesses Racial-Ethnic Composition of Northern Virginia Businesses | Source: Hughes, E. 2021. Supporting Northern Virginia’s Minority-Owned …
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 …
Bipartisanship: Working Together to Build a Better Virginia
The Chamber recently spoke with Larry Roberts, Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, who offered the following thoughts on the benefits of bipartisanship to Virginia government and its business community. The Sorensen Institute and the Chamber have formed an Advancing Civics partnership to promote bipartisanship and civil discourse as means toward effective public leadership. …
2023 Virginia General Assembly Workforce Update
The 2023 Virginia General Assembly wrapped up on February 25th in Richmond. The Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations, Nick Clemente, was in attendance all 46 days (and then some!), advocating on behalf of our Region and Chamber membership. Chamber members were kept up-to-date throughout the session through Nick’s weekly emails and member advocacy calls. He was also always a …
Kicking Off the 2023 Virginia General Assembly
Editor’s Note: The Virginia General Assembly kicks off its annual legislative session this week lasting for 46 days. Staying connected to legislators and policymakers is critical for the Northern Virginia business community to ensure that we have a voice in the legislative process. The Chamber’s Nick Clemente, Vice President of Government relations is representing the Northern Virginia business community every …
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 …
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 …
Creating a Culture of Support: Why We Need Employee Wellness Programs in the Workplace
The Chamber recently spoke with LeVar Johnson, a Community Activist working within the Pharmaceutical Industry, about employers’ roles in handling obesity within the workplace ahead of his participation in our Wellness in the Workforce Part 2 event on April 25th. Physical health is a personal mission for Johnson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 4. …
Employee Health & Benefits trends for 2023
In America’s professional landscape, there is a diverse workforce comprised of five different generations. While it is true that having a multigenerational workforce presents some challenges to employers, we encourage business leaders to view this as a benefit rather than a challenge. As the workplace evolves, talent acquisition and retention strategies will become increasingly more important and the evaluation of …
2023 Virginia General Assembly Workforce Update
The 2023 Virginia General Assembly wrapped up on February 25th in Richmond. The Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations, Nick Clemente, was in attendance all 46 days (and then some!), advocating on behalf of our Region and Chamber membership. Chamber members were kept up-to-date throughout the session through Nick’s weekly emails and member advocacy calls. He was also always a …
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 …
