Northern Virginia: Excelling in the Global Marketplace

Road Map to Regional Success

September 22, 2015
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SUMMARY REPORT
September 25, 2015
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NORTHERN!VIRGINIA:!EXCELLING!IN!THE!GLOBAL!MARKETPLACE!
ROAD!MAP!TO!SUCCESS!
SEPTEMBER!22,!2015!
REPORT!DATE:!SEPTEMBER!25,!2015!
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EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!.........................................................................................................................!3!
PURPOSE,!OBJECTIVES!AND!METHODOLOGY!.......................................................................................!4!
RESPONSES!TO!THE!THREE!QUESTIONS!................................................................................................!7!
Summary!of!Suggestions!by!Question!..........................................................................................................!7!
Top!Three!Suggestions!by!Breakout!Group!................................................................................................!10!
NOTES!FROM!OBSERVERS!..................................................................................................................!13!
Observers!Reflections!on!the!Process!.......................................................................................................!13!
Themes!Noted!by!Observers!......................................................................................................................!13!
Observers!Suggestions!on!Priorities!..........................................................................................................!14!
NOTES!FROM!COMMENT!CARDS!........................................................................................................!16!
ADDENDUM!A!E!OBSERVERS'!FULL!REPORT!........................................................................................!19!
ADDENDUM!B!E!BREAKOUT!ROOM!PARTICIPANTS!.............................................................................!27!
ADDENDUM!C!E!GRAPHIC!RECORDINGS!.............................................................................................!31!
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EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!
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The!event!was!attended!by!approximately!100!representatives!from!a!wide!variety!of!entities!around!
the!region!and!guests!were!eager!to!participate!in!the!conversation.!Despite!the!varying!sectors!and!
geographic!entities!represented,!there!was!firm!agreement!that!the!Northern!Virginia!region!needed!a!
clear,!strong!brand!and!the!brand!should!be!actively!promoted.!There!was!also!consensus!that!a!single,!
inclusive,!cooperative!entity!should!manage!the!brand!promotion!and!marketing!or!the!effort!would!not!
be!sustainable.!!
!
Additionally,!there!was!agreement!that!all!of!the!sectors!and!geographic!entities!must!work!
collaboratively!to!resolve!the!issues!facing!the!region.!Without!collaboration,!the!most!difficult!issues,!
such!as!affordable!housing,!education!and!transportation,!cannot!be!solved.!
!
A!summary!of!the!top!recommendations!includes:!
!
Partner!with!the!state!through!Go!Virginia,!serving!also!as!a!regional!hub!for!the!rest!of!the!state!
and!the!rest!of!the!country.!
Using!the!existing!model!of!the!Northern!VA!Regional!Commission,!but!include!education!and!
business!leaders,!serving!as!a!frontRdoor!identity!for!Northern!Virginia!branding,!and!
promoting!innovation.!
Expand!the!region!to!include!the!DC!metro!area!while!better!defining!and!branding!Northern!
Virginia!area!and!assets.!
Developing!the!marketing!message!and!accessibility!to!diverse!communities!within!and!outside!
our!region!(through!available!resources,!!talent,!higher!education,!sustainable!growth).!
Improve!collaboration!through!greater!use!of!technology.!Collaboration!requires!accountability!
metrics!to!be!successful!and!gain!traction.!
Improve!higher!education!options,!infrastructure,!childcare,!and!transportation!to!make!the!
region!more!attractive.!
Identify!and!promote!desirable!secondary!and!postRsecondary!education!and!training!options!
that!lead!directly!to!jobs!and!inform!continued!education!and!training,!considering!other!models!
for!teacher!and!student!credentials.!
Project!compelling!messages!to!educators,!teachers,!counselors!and!young!learners!about!
career!options!and!required!training,!aligning!education!and!market!needs!with!improved!labor!
market!data.!
Map!forward!and!backward!with!career!ladders!and!opportunities!from!early!high!school!to!
careers!that!complement!the!embedded!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!
Provide!teacher!experiences!that!expand!their!familiarity!with!the!workplace.!
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PURPOSE,!OBJECTIVES!AND!METHODOLOGY!
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Purpose!!
To!convene!representatives!of!relevant!and!key!entities!from!all!jurisdictions!in!Northern!Virginia!to!hold!
a!collaborative!roundtable!discussion!on!bolstering!traditional!business!sectors!while!pursuing!new!highR
growth!industries,!aligning!with!Governor!McAuliffes!top!legislative!priorities!of!strengthening!Virginias!
workforce!development!system!and!building!a!New$Virginia$Economy.$!
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Objectives!
To!gather!the!perspective!of!Northern!Virginia!leaders!as!a!region.!
To!begin!jointly!developing!their!vision!of!how!to!move!the!Northern!Virginia!region!forward.!
To!determine!the!next!step!in!developing!a!cohesive!vision!and!regional!action!plan.!
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Methodology!
Hosts!
Fairfax!County!Chamber!of!Commerce!
George!Mason!University!
Northern!Virginia!Community!College!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!
Northern!Virginia!Technology!Council!
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Participants!
Key!participants!were!identified!and!invited!from!the!following!types!of!organizations:!
City,!town,!county!and!state!governments,!both!staff!and!elected!officials!
Educational!institutions!and!school!boards!
Chambers!of!Commerce!
Workforce!development!and!employment!agencies!
Regional!councils!and!commissions!
Businesses!
Utility!Companies!
Military!
Airport!Authorities!
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Observers!
Four!observers!were!preselected!from!the!participants!and!were!assigned!to!take!substantive!notes!in!
both!the!breakout!sessions!and!the!outcomes!session.!Following!the!conclusion!of!the!event,!the!
observers!compiled!their!notes!and!observations!for!inclusion!in!this!report.!The!observers!were!
specifically!selected!due!to!their!broad!knowledge!of!the!region!and!ability!to!synthesize!the!information!
with!the!context!of!where!the!region!is!today.!Observers!included:!
Room!A:!Dr.!Jim!Egenrieder,!STEM!Education!and!Workforce!Outreach,!NOVA!Systemic!Solutions!
Room!B:!Mary!MacPherson,!Special!Project!of!the!Governors!Office!
Room!C:!Zuzana!Steen,!University!&!Academic!Relations!Manager,!Micron!Technology!
Room!D:!David!Schwengel,!Director,!Regional!Emergency!Preparedness!Planning,!Northern!
Virginia!Regional!Commission!
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Spokespersons!
A!person!was!preselected!from!each!breakout!group!and!was!assigned!to!summarize!the!suggestions!for!
each!question!and!present!the!topRthree!suggestions!to!each!question!in!the!outcomes!session.!
Spokespersons!included:!!
Room!A:!Dr.!David!Wu,!Provost,!George!Mason!University!
Room!B:!The!Honorable!Janet!Clark,!Supervisor,!Loudoun!County!
Room!C:!Tony!Howard,!President!and!CEO,!Loudoun!County!Chamber!of!Commerce!
Room!D:!Dr.!Sam!Hill,!Provost,!Woodbridge!Campus,!Northern!Virginia!Community!College!
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Facilitators!
Each!breakout!group!and!the!outcomes!session!were!professionally!facilitated!by!a!nonRparticipant!to!
ensure!the!breakout!discussions!addressed!the!specific!questions,!everyone!participated!and!was!heard,!
and!all!comments!and!suggestions!were!included.!Facilitators!included!Jenny!Young,!Kathy!Cox,!Karen!
McManis,!and!Alison!Kal!of!Harmony!Crew.!
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Setting!the!Stage!
The!halfRday!discussion!began!with!a!program!featuring!carefully!selected!speakers!to!set!the!stage!for!
group!discussion.!The!speakers!remarks!noted!the!advantages!and!attributes!of!the!region,!along!with!
the!challenges!the!area!faces,!and!encouraged!the!guests!to!take!an!active!role!in!creating!solutions.!
Speakers!included:!
Welcome:!Dr.!Scott!Ralls,!President!Northern!Virginia!Community!College!
Welcome:!The!Honorable!Penny!Gross,!Chairman,!Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!and!
ViceRChairman,!Fairfax!County!Board!of!Supervisors!
Todd!Stottlemyer,!Chief!Executive!Officer,!Inova!Center!for!Personalized!Health!and!Chairman,!
Northern!Virginia!Technology!Council!
The!Honorable!Thomas!Davis,!Rector,!George!Mason!University!and!former!member!U.S.!House!
of!Representatives!
The!Honorable!Terence!R.!McAuliffe,!Governor!of!the!Commonwealth!of!Virginia!
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Interactive!Breakout!Sessions!
Following!the!remarks,!guests!participated!in!one!of!four!breakout!discussions.!Each!breakout!group!
brainstormed!solutions!to!three!questions:!
What!is!the!best!way!to!forge!a!stakeholder!partner!to!promote!the!Northern!Virginia!region?!
What!should!Northern!Virginia!be!doing!as!a!region!to!attract!and!retain!a!changing!workforce?!
What!is!needed!to!ensure!that!the!workforce!pipeline!is!providing!employees!that!are!skillRset!
ready!and!appropriately!credentialed,!as!business!leaders!weigh!new!markets!and!new!
directions,!perhaps!in!nonRtraditional!areas?!
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Group!Outcomes!
The!guests!regrouped!and!each!breakout!group!reported!back!their!top!three!suggestions!to!each!
question!to!the!larger!group.!Additional!comments!and!suggestions!from!the!audience!were!noted.!
Guests!were!also!encouraged!to!submit!additional!comments!and!suggestions!on!comment!cards.!Both!
the!first!large!group!session!featuring!speakers!and!the!final!report!back!session!were!also!captured!on!
graphic!recordings.!!
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Final!Report!
All!notes,!input!and!information!were!gathered!from!all!the!breakout!groups,!the!outcomes!session,!the!
graphic!recordings,!and!the!comment!cards!and!compiled!in!this!final!report.!Additionally,!the!
facilitators!submitted!notes.!Comments!and!suggestions!were!not!edited!or!filtered!and!all!information!
gathered!is!in!this!report!included.!
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RESPONSES!TO!THE!THREE!QUESTIONS!
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SUMMARY!OF!SUGGESTIONS!BY!QUESTION!
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As!expected,!there!was!overlap!of!suggestions!between!the!four!breakout!groups.!This!section!
summarizes!the!suggestions,!merging!the!overlapping!information!to!prevent!redundancy.!!
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1.!What!is!the!best!way!to!forge!a!stakeholder!partnership!to!promote!the!Northern!Virginia!Region?!
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Partner!with!the!state!through!Go!Virginia,!serving!also!as!a!regional!hub!for!the!rest!of!the!state!
and!the!rest!of!the!country.!
Using!the!existing!model!of!the!Northern!VA!Regional!Commission,!but!include!education!and!
business!leaders,!serving!as!a!frontRdoor!identity!for!Northern!Virginia!branding,!and!
promoting!innovation.!
Expand!the!region!to!include!the!DC!metro!area!while!better!defining!and!branding!Northern!
Virginia!area!and!assets.!
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Other!comments:!
Think!regionally!taking!advantage!of!the!DC!brand.!
Include!all!constituencies.!
Incentives!for!breaking!down!silos..!
More!CEOs!with!skin!in!the!game.!
Recognize!potential!partners!and!have!agents!from!stakeholder!groups!participate!
earnestly.!
Consider!models!elsewhere!where!CEOs!are!actively!engaged,!and!participate!in!community!
messaging.!
Take!advantage!of!GO!Virginias!strategy!of!rewarding!collaboration.!
Most!important!stakeholder!is!business.!
Need!to!decide!what!we!are!promotingR!cyber,!big!data,!etc.!
Need!to!improve!and!promote!place,!the!community.!
Need!combined!job!board!resource.!
Need!high!speed!broadband!throughout!region.!
We!used!to!the!telecom!hub,!what!happened!to!that?!
Need!to!see!diversity!and!international!as!assets.!
Need!to!extend!STEM!to!lower!levels!in!schools.!
Dont!forget!to!include!the!military,!active!and!veteran.!
Need!geographic!definition!of!the!region.!
Needs!to!be!a!virtual!place.!Too!difficult!to!come!together!in!person.!!
Welcome!aboard!programs!help!people!find!the!resources!they!need!across!the!region,!not!
just!their!city!or!county.!
What!is!NoVA!and!how!does!your!perspective!change!depending!on!where!you!are?!
Come!up!with!strategies!that!discourage!cannibalization.!
Expand!constituencies!to!include!retirees,!students,!immigrants,!homeowner/civic!groups,!
etc.!

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Identify!top!sectors!in!region,!then!ID!stakeholders!in!those!sectors,!then!form!group!from!
those!to!promote!region.!
Accountability!and!metrics!are!critical!to!success!of!partnership,!otherwise!all!talk!no!action.!

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2.!What!should!Northern!Virginia!be!doing!as!a!region!to!attract!and!retain!a!changing!workforce?!
!
Developing!the!marketing!message!and!accessibility!to!diverse!communities!within!and!outside!
our!region!(through!available!resources,!!talent,!higher!education,!sustainable!growth).!
Improve!collaboration!through!greater!use!of!technology!rather!than!always!an!inRperson!
meeting.!Collaboration!requires!accountability!metrics!to!be!successful!and!gain!traction.!
Improving!higher!education!options,!infrastructure,!childcare,!transportation!to!make!the!region!
most!attractive.!
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Other!comments:!
Recognize!NoVA!as!an!international!community!unique!across!the!U.S.!
There!are!eight!school!districts!in!the!U.S.!that!speak!100!languages!or!more;!seven!are!here!
in!Northern!Virginia.!(New!York!is!the!other.)!
HR!leaders!often!fail!to!talk!about!the!greater!demand!for!technicians,!instead!focusing!on!
engineers!and!managers.!
Ecosystem!Mapping!project!!R!showing!the!actual!stakeholders.!
Recruit!from!colleges!outside!the!region,!bring!in!workforce.!
Need!broadband!access!throughout!region.!
Improve!infrastructure.!
Promote!open!culture,!welcoming,!inclusive.!
Invest!in!public!education,!STEM.!
EmployerRdriven!education!and!training!programs!with!educational!institutions,!with!
appropriate!tax!incentives.!
Better!communication!of!what!jobs!exist!and!what!skills!are!required.!
More!affordable!housing!for!skilled!workforce,!students!cant!afford!to!stay!in!area!after!
they!graduate.!
Need!single!source!of!regional!information.!
Consolidated!job!site.!
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3.!What!is!needed!to!ensure!that!the!workforce!pipeline!is!providing!employees!who!are!skillEset!
ready!and!appropriately!credentialed?!
!
Identify!and!promote!desirable!secondary!and!postRsecondary!education!and!training!options!
that!lead!directly!to!jobs!and!inform!continued!education!and!training,!considering!other!models!
for!teacher!and!student!credentials.!
Project!compelling!messages!to!educators,!teachers,!counselors!and!young!learners!about!
career!options!and!required!training,!aligning!education!and!market!needs!with!improved!labor!
market!data.!
Map!forward!and!backward!with!career!ladders!and!opportunities!from!early!high!school!to!
careers!that!complement!the!embedded!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!
Provide!teacher!experiences!that!expand!their!familiarity!with!the!workplace.!
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Other!comments:!
Promote!the!quality!of!life!(airports,!rivers,!entertainment,!town!centers).!
Promote!lifelong!learning!and!connections!to!the!community!college!and!the!universities.!
Emphasize!on!linking!education!and!skills.!
Align!education!and!curricula!with!the!market.!
Begin!career!discussions!earlier!in!schools.!
Address!silos!within!education.!
Expand!pathway!options!between!10th!grade!through!career.!
Focus!on!challenges!of!young!men!(particularly!black!and!brown!young!men)!in!education!
systems!where!white!girls!are!now!most!successful.!
Foster!an!emphasis!on!workforce!preparation!in!all!grades!and!all!schools,!not!just!college!
prep.!
Provided!more!counseling!positions!(reduce!the!ratio!to!under!300:1!in!high!school!and!
500:1!in!middle!school),!and!expand!training!in!career!education!and!counseling.!
Develop!more!tools!and!provide!continuing!training!for!counselors.!
Develop!and!provide!better!labor!market!information!for!the!schools.!
Provide!preRK!and!elementary!introductions!to!careers!as!a!context!for!learning.!
Predict!and!prevent!underRinformed!choices!and!poor!choices!by!teens!and!preRteens.!
Develop!bridge!and/or!ladder!programs!from!early!high!school!to!careers!that!complement!
the!apprenticeships!to!careers!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!
Develop!education,!skills!and!jobRmapping!in!both!directions!
Provide!mapping!beyond!entryRlevel!careers!based!on!skills!and!career!flexibility.!
Develop!internship!and!apprenticeship!structures!for!accommodating!smaller!numbers!of!
students.!
Provide!more!summer!internships!for!credit!or!stipends!for!older!teens.!
Develop!opportunities!for!companies!to!recruit!technical!workers!in!early!high!school.!
Foster!corporate!sponsorships!of!specific!courses.!
Develop!strategies!for!protecting!and!expediting!security!clearance!for!young!people.!
Provide!ongoing!parent!training!in!career!preparation.!
Recognize!multiple!postRsecondary!pathways!to!careers!that!honors!all!academic,!job!and!
career!decisions!but!promotes!lifelong!learning.!
Expand!the!GWU!Teachers!in!Industry!program!and!Arlington!STEM!Teacher!Fellowship!
Models!to!guide!teachers!in!realRworld!applications!for!curricula.!
Expand!CTE!training!for!all!students.!
Promote!Whole!Child!Education.!
Engage!businesses!in!developing!and!delivering!messaging!to!parents!and!students.!
Align!academic!and!nonRacademic!credits!(continuing!ed,!workforce,!professional!
certifications)!that!are!valued!in!both!realms.!
Create!collaboration!or!sharing!across!school!districts!to!discuss!initiatives,!particularly!in!
secondary!and!postRsecondary!options!for!teachers!and!students.!
Promote!accreditation!policies!that!provide!safer!riskRtaking!among!collaborating!
institutions.!
Begin!these!processes!by!picking!a!sector,!brand!an!industryReducation!partnership!
program,!and!establish!goals,!resources!and!timelines.!

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Stop!treating!degrees!and!certifications!as!endpoints!or!destinations,!and!instead!recognize!
them!as!steps!within!lifelong!learning,!and!important!steps!to!reinventing!personal!branding!
after!layoffs,!or!when!a!contract!or!grant!is!in!its!last!year.!!
Better!understand!the!demand!side!then!address!the!supply!side.!
Form!a!Business!Advisory!Council!to!focus!on!skills!needed!by!employers!and!help!
schools/students!understand!employer!requirements;!improve!communications!between!
schools!systems!and!businesses;!more!business!involvement!in!developing!curriculum.!
Include!trades!in!focus,!not!just!collegeRbound.!

TOP!THREE!SUGGESTIONS!BY!BREAKOUT!GROUP!!
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1.!What!is!the!best!way!to!forge!a!stakeholder!partnership!to!promote!the!Northern!Virginia!Region?!
!!
Group!A!!!
Partner!with!the!state!through!Go!Virginia,!serving!also!as!a!regional!hub!for!the!rest!of!the!state!
and!the!rest!of!the!country.!
Using!the!existing!vehicle!of!the!Northern!VA!Regional!Commission,!including!schools!and!
businesses.!
Consider!an!alternative!entity!that!serves!as!a!frontRdoor!identity!for!Northern!Virginia!
branding,!and!promoting!innovation.!
!
Group!B!!
Actively!manage!the!NoVA!brand,!create!group!to!promote!the!common!interest!of!the!region!
as!a!whole,!including!identifying!key!sectors!and!stakeholders!within!those!sectors.!
Incentives!and!cooperation!for!working!with!the!entire!community,!acknowledging!but!
overcoming!competition.!
Sustainable!KR12!on!a!broad!scale!that!elevates!all!of!our!communities!together.!
!
Group!C!!!
Expand!the!region!to!include!the!DC!metro!area!while!better!defining!and!branding!Northern!
Virginia.!
Expand!the!scope!of!constituencies!(nonRprofits,!seniors).!
Break!down!silos,!encourage!crossRjurisdictional!cooperation.!
!
Group!D!!
Actively!manage!the!brand.!
Incentivize!cooperation!and!working!with!the!community,!less!competition.!
Sustainable!KR12!on!a!broad!scale!that!elevates!all!of!our!communities!together.!
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2.!What!should!Northern!Virginia!be!doing!as!a!region!to!attract!and!retain!a!changing!workforce?!
!
Group!A!!
Developing!the!marketing!message!and!accessibility!to!diverse!communities!within!and!outside!
our!region.!(through!available!resources,!talent,!higher!education,!sustainable!growth).!
Improved!collaboration!and!accountability!metrics!for!nationwide!leaders!in!a!flexible!workforce!
based!on!connectivity!and!transportation.!!
Improving!place,!infrastructure,!childcare,!transportation!to!make!the!region!most!attractive.!
!
Group!B!!!
Promote!the!cultures!and!international!characteristics!of!the!region.!
Invest!and!promote!public!and!higher!education!to!attract!others.!
Improve!infrastructure!and!transportation.!
!
Group!C!!!
Diversify!to!connect!businesses!to!schools!so!the!curriculum!meets!specific!needs!of!the!
community.!
Improve!affordable!housing!to!attract!young!workers!and!families.!
Tell!our!story!with!a!common!message!for!the!region.!
!
Group!D!!
Actively!manage!the!brand.!
Affordable!housing.!
Connect!and!communicate!what!jobs!exist,!what!skills!are!required.!
!
3.!What!is!needed!to!ensure!that!the!workforce!pipeline!is!providing!employees!who!are!skillEset!
ready!and!appropriately!credentialed?!
!
Group!A!!
Identify!and!promote!desirable!secondary!and!postRsecondary!education!and!training!options!
that!lead!directly!to!jobs!and!inform!continued!education!and!training,!considering!other!models!
for!teacher!and!student!credentials.!Need!a!compelling!Why.!
Project!compelling!messages!to!educators,!teachers,!counselors!and!young!learners!about!
career!options!and!required!training,!aligning!education!and!market!needs!with!improved!labor!
market!data.!
Map!forward!and!backward!with!career!ladders!and!opportunities,!from!early!high!school!to!
careers!that!complements!the!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!
!
Group!B!!!!
Partnership!between!business!and!education!to!provide!workplace!learning!opportunities!for!
midRlevel!employment.!
Create!new!models!for!experiential!learning!between!business!and!education.!
Policy!action!to!attract!transitioning!military!retirees!and!spouses.!
!
Group!C!!!
Focus!on!demandRside!analysis!of!skills!gaps,!job!gaps,!and!job!zones!
o What!jobs!cant!be!filled?!

11"|"P a g e "

o Focus!on!trades!as!well!as!collegeRbound.!
o Reevaluate!apprenticeship!requirements,!too!onerous!to!employers.!
o HUB!zones.!
Increase!communications!between!the!schools!and!the!businesses!and!influence!on!the!
curriculum.!!Having!businesses!involved!at!every!level.!
o Form!a!Business!Advisory!Council!focused!on!skill!sets!needed!by!employers!and!helping!
students!understand!employer!requirements!(math,!English,!passing!drug!and!
background!checks).!
o Involve!businesses!in!developing!STEM!curriculum.!
o Focus!on!who!is!teaching!STEM.!They!need!to!attract!kids,!teach!and!prepare!them.!
Early/quality!education!is!a!root!issue.!
Create!centralized!entity!to!focus!on!workforce!development!and!placement!issues,!make!it!
multiRgenerational.!!

!
Group!D!!!!
Launch!a!series!of!apprenticeship!academies.!
Training!programs!in!STEM!at!all!levels,!focus!start!early.!
NonRtraditional!pathways!to!technology!and!technician!jobs!(move!school!divisions!forward).!
!!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

12"|"P a g e "

NOTES!FROM!OBSERVERS!
!
OBSERVERS!REFLECTIONS!ON!THE!PROCESS!

Northern!Virginias!leaders!need!to!determine!and!can!agree!on!the!next!steps.!
Next!steps!need!to!begin!with!the!strategic!then!proceed!to!implementation,!perhaps!
addressing!priorities!singularly.!!
Going!forward,!identify!and!recruit!core!leaders!with!both!vision!and!commitment.!
o Identify!key!players!for!long!term!(12R18!month?)!engagement.!
o Foster!representation!from!public,!private,!and!education!and!training!institutions.!
o Determine!how!stakeholders!will!be!involved,!how!actions!will!be!operationalized,!and!
stakeholders!commitment!to!the!larger!regionRwide!initiative.!
o Consider!a!regional!stakeholder!mapping!exercise!to!engage!a!broader!audience,!elicit!
greater!investment,!and!reveal!additional!resources!and!strategies.!
Determine!who!will!lead!a!core!team!and!the!larger!initiative,!and!maintain!the!involvement!of!
elected!officials!and!senior!executives.!Consider!how!a!501c!research!arm!of!NVRC!could!
facilitate!these!priorities,!perhaps!with!an!appointed!leader!from!a!large!employer.!!
Create!a!higher!profile!role!for!the!Workforce!Investment!Boards,!with!higher!expectations.!
Identify!the!metrics!of!success,!and!a!sustainability!plan!for!sustained!evolution!or!adaptation.!!

THEMES!NOTED!BY!OBSERVERS!
!

Participating!leaders!were!interested!in!the!network!of!public,!private,!and!academic!peers.!
The!challenges!to!regional!and!national!leadership!are!apparent!to!all,!but!larger!than!any!one!
entity!can!overcome!alone.!
The!regions!brand!is!vital!to!our!economic!growth!and!competitiveness,!but!not!yet!defined!or!
articulated!well.!
There!is!pride!in!our!regional!diversity,!inclusiveness,!and!international!cultural!assets.!
All!recognize!the!value!of!highly!engaged!business!leaders,!responsiveness!in!education!and!
training!programs,!the!importance!of!a!hub!of!higher!education,!the!restrictions!of!
transportation,!and!the!importance!of!technical!connectivity.!!
Job!and!career!resources!are!widely!available!but!disaggregated!and!unstructured.!!
Job,!career,!and!certification!data!are!insufficiently!analyzed!and!are!not!useful!to!education!and!
training!institutions.!!
Students,!parents,!teachers,!and!counselors!need!much!greater!support!in!providing!career!
information!and!relevant!workplace!experiences.!!
Reconsider!the!pipeline!metaphor,!as!pipelines!have!limited!entrance!and!exit!ramps,!scenic!
byways,!and!parallel!and!perpendicular!routes!that!better!resemble!real!careers.!!
Public!and!private!partnerships!are!critical,!but!more!difficult!than!imagined,!and!restricted!by!
artificial!metrics!of!accountability!for!education!and!training!institutions.!!
An!emphasis!on!integrated!STEM!and!STEAM!is!critical!to!our!regions!national!and!international!
competitiveness.!
Education!and!training!programs!need!flexibility!and!cooperation!from!accrediting!organizations!
and!state!agencies!to!be!responsive!to!employers!needs.!

13"|"P a g e "

Education!and!training!must!be!reconsidered!as!a!lifelong!pursuit!rather!than!something!
completed!before!beginning!a!family.!
Policy!and!regulatory!incentives!are!key!to!expanding!participation!in!regional!development.!

OBSERVERS!SUGGESTIONS!ON!PRIORITIES!
!
The!core!leadership!of!this!Northern!Virginia!regional!effort!should!consider!several!working!groups,!or!
subRgroups,!that!address!strategically!identified!priorities.!Each!working!group!may!have!a!distinctly!
different!makeup!depending!on!the!issue!or!topic.!Momentum!from!a!few!high!priority!efforts!is!
important!to!attract!and!engage!diverse!thought!leaders.!So,!while!there!may!need!to!be!some!
compositional!blend!of!publicRprivateRacademia,!there!may!be!other!important!constituent!groups!to!
engage!(retirees,!millennials,!immigrant!support!groups,!veterans,!and!more).!!
!
The!Observers!identified!the!issues!areas!below!as!solid!candidates!for!prioritized!consideration,!not!
necessarily!in!the!order!listed:!
!
A.!BRANDING.!Develop!branding!that!competes!internationally,!and!with!other!US!regions!(Boston,!
Austin,!Research!Triangle,!Bay!Area)!based!on!assets,!attractions,!and!coordinated!approaches!to!
overcoming!challenges.!Regional!branding!(and!perhaps!a!regional!web!presence)!is!vital!to!our!
economic!growth!and!competitiveness,!but!NoVA!branding!is!not!well!articulated,!commonly!shared!or!
geographically!defined.!Important!characteristics!of!the!NoVA!brand!should!reflect!the!following:!
Vast!and!unique!regional!assets!that!can!be!leveraged.!
Many!stakeholders!and!a!lot!of!parallel!activity,!and!increasingly!better!connected.!
aggregating!information!and!resources!that!are!currently!not!centralized!nor!accessible!to!all!
constituencies.!
Inclusiveness!and!an!international!character!important!to!all.!
That!the!scope!of!the!Northern!Virginia!region!reflects!the!adjacent!DC!Metro!area!but!
distinguishes!Virginias!unity!and!unique!opportunities.!
!
B.!DATA.!The!development!of!useful!data!for!guiding!educators,!parents,!students,!and!others!will!
benefit!from!the!following:!
Engage!schools!in!sharing!real!institution!data!!graduates!rates,!onRtime!rates,!partRtime,!full!
time!undergraduate!and!graduate!school!enrollments,!certification!programs,!and!other!data!R!
from!all!nine!school!divisions!for!the!largest!possible.!
Determine!what!real!time!job!and!labor!data!and!analysis!(BLS/Fuller/other?)!can!help!sharpen!
the!focus!on!true!regional!workforce!needs!as!a!basis!for!regional!stakeholder!action,!and!
whether!such!timely,!predictive!data!is!possible.!
Support!the!development!of!and!access!to!real!corporate!HR!data!!attrition,!positions!filled!
within,!recruiting!at!each!level,!internships!and!apprenticeships.!
!
C.!FLEXIBILITY!FOR!INNOVATION.!Seek!flexible!state!regulatory!environments!that!allow!for!greater!
business!and!community!involvement!in!schools!in!whole!child!learning,!greater!CTE!participation,!and!
early!career!connections.!Solicit!the!help!of!business!leaders!and!local!elected!officials!in!lobbying!for!
policies,!regulatory!environments!and!incentives!that!facilitate!innovation.!!
!

14"|"P a g e "

D.!EDUCATION!AND!BUSINESS!PARTNERSHIPS.!Forge!better!connectivity!between!businesses!and!
schools!(KR20),!overcoming!the!superficial!nature!or!short!duration!of!most!school!and!community!
partnerships.!Leaders!should!consider!the!following:!
Workforce!needs!remain!unclear,!and!HR!personnel!often!overlook!or!understate!the!biggest!
workforce!challenges.!
Teachers!and!counselors!are!insufficiently!trained!in!understanding!and!sharing!job!locations!
(job!zones),!job!requirements,!certifications!and!credentials,!and!the!secondary!and!postR
secondary!education!and!training!pathways!available.!
There!is!a!great!need!for!apprenticeships!and!internships!that!require!collaboration!between!
business!and!education!and!education!and!training!institutions,!funded!by!business!and!
government!resources!rather!than!school!resources.!!
The!goal!is!diverse!but!navigable!approaches!to!education!and!careers!that!allow!students!and!
educators!to!adapt!to!a!rapidly!changing!workforce.!
!
!
!
!
!

15"|"P a g e "

NOTES!FROM!COMMENT!CARDS!
!

Play!on!word!Innovation,!with!NoVA!in!the!middle!!InNOVAtion.!
Schedule!was!efficient,!speakers!were!inspirational,!facilitation!was!very,!very!good.!
1R!invest!in!the!KR12!education!system!of!the!region!by!working!with!businesses!and!discovering!
the!needs!of!employers!and!offering!various!pathways!to!graduation/job/employment.!2Rto!
continue!this!process,!provide!incentives!to!encourage!crossRjurisdictional!cooperation,!
accomplish!a!few!easy!key!items!to!have!success!and!gain!momentum.!
Great!discussion,!look!forward!to!hearing!next!steps.!
1!!I!would!be!interested!to!see!how!todays!event!creates!actionable!insights!and!what!the!next!
steps!are!to!defining!the!strategic!partnerships!that!will!drive!this!initiative.!2ROur!conversation!
are!missing!one!important!group!and!that!is!the!ECPI,!ITT!Techs!of!the!world.!We!seem!to!be!
focused!on!traditional!academic!as!the!only!drivers!of!educating!the!workforce!of!the!future.!
Great!discussion!!
Super!!
Excellent!keynote!speaker!messages.!Many!accommodations!will!require!state!legislative!actions!
!what!are!the!next!steps?!
Conference!was!well!organized!and!appreciated!both!invitation!and!diversity!of!sectors!
represented.!Thank!you.!Needed!more!discussion!on!global.!Needed!more!time!for!being!
tactical!about!brainstormed!ideas.!
Leverage!the!perspective!of!businesses!to!increase/broaden!the!focus!on!workforce!issues!and!
avoid!jurisdictional!silos.!
Good!conversations!!we!need!these!partnerships!!
This!has!been!a!very!good!event.!Would!love!to!continue!to!be!part!of!the!movement.!
I!really!feel!that!for!this!initiative!to!find!success!there!needs!to!be!a!start!fresh!approach.!If!
time!is!consumed!with!discussion!of!how!each!locality!is!different,!the!regional!approach!will!
go!nowhere.!Reviewing!the!input!from!todays!stakeholders!will!give!a!good!place!to!start.!Small!
targets!need!to!be!priority!to!create!the!regional!theme!and!successful!interactions.!
Effective!groups!for!common!goal!setting!and!early/refreshed!brainstorming.!
Good/knowledgeable/inspirational!speakers.!How!to!make!this!sustainable!and!enjoy!
continuous!improvement?!
Now!that!the!conversation!has!been!started,!what!steps!to!drive!it!forward,!by!whom!and!by!
when?!The!momentum!and!resources!needed!to!bring!results!are!significant.!How!will!this!get!
key!resources!to!keep!the!fire!going?!
Need!for!ecosystem!mapping!to!show!all!stakeholders!in!the!region.!NVRC!convener!of!future!
discussions.!Smaller!subgroups!on!topics!discussed.!Brand!the!region!can!be!handled!by!NVRC!
with!help!from!each!stakeholder.!Can!Todd!Stottlemyer!lead!bigger!initiative.!
This!is!a!great!beginning.!Study!other!regions!across!the!country!that!have!succeeded!in!this!
concept.!Engage!the!multiRgenerational!constituents.!Get!to!the!root!cause!of!why!STEM!
student!numbers!arent!higher.!Better!pay!&!benefits!for!community!college!professors.!See!
drawing!(shown!on!next!page).!

!
!
!
!
!
!

16"|"P a g e "

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17"|"P a g e "

!
!
!
Indicated!interested!in!continued!involvement:!
!
Kenneth!Wong,!khwong@vt.edu,!703R538R8312!
Steve!Lockard,!salockard@fcps.edu,!571R423R1020!
Joe!Montano,!joe_montano@kaine.senate.gov,!703R361R3193!
Brendon!Shaw,!Bshaw@pwchamber.org,!571R765R1875!
Laurie!DiRocco,!ldirocco@viennava.gov!
Kate!Roche,!kroche@arlingtonchamber.org,!703R303R6678!
John!D.!Williams,!jd.williams@gdit.com,!703R268R7983!
Eta!Davis,!eta.davis@fairfaxcounty.gov,!703R324R4320!
Dale!Medearis,!dmedearis@novaregion.org,!703R642R0700!
David!Hunn,!david.hunn@myskillsource.org,!703R752R1606!
Gilbert!J.!Sanchez,!gilbert.sanchez@vec.virginia.gov,!703R897R0414!
Eileen!Curtis,!ecurtis@dullesregionalchamber.org,!571R323R5301!
Martin!Rodgers,!Martin.w.rodgers@accenture.com,!571R414R2466!
Luanne!Gutermuth,!Lgutermuth@washgas.com,!703R750R5684!
Adrienne!Bloss,!abloss@su.edu,!540R665R4525!(prefer!email)!
Dorthea!Brown,!dorthea.brown@vec.virginia.gov!or!seekingdiversity@yahoo.com,!!
703R813R1365!
Stacie!AhrensRMuninberg,!Stacie.ahrensmuninberg@lcps.org,!571R291R1966!
Kurt!Thompson!(alternate!to!CEO!who!couldnt!attend),!kthompson@dewberry.com,!703R849R0446.!CEO!
!dstone@dewberry.com!
Marantha!Edwards,!medwards@leesburgva.gov,!703R737R7019!
John!Gulka,!John.gulka@trainingintelligenceagency.com,!W:!703R288R8752,!C:!703R967R5642!
Zuzana!Steen,!zsteen@micron.com!
!
!
!
!
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!

18"|"P a g e "

ADDENDUM!A!
OBSERVERS!FINAL!DOCUMENT!
(This!information!has!been!incorporated!into!the!full!report.)!
!
PART!1:!Notes!from!Observers!
Jim!Egenrieder,!Mary!MacPherson,!David!Schwengel,!Zuzana!Steen!
Observers!Reflections!on!the!Process!
Northern!Virginias!leaders!need!to!determine!and!can!agree!on!the!next!steps.!
Next!steps!need!to!begin!with!the!strategic!then!proceed!to!implementation,!perhaps!
addressing!priorities!singularly.!!
Going!forward,!identify!and!recruit!core!leaders!with!both!vision!and!commitment!
Identify!key!players!for!long!term!(12R18!month?)!engagement!
Foster!representation!from!public,!private,!and!education!and!training!institutions!
Determine!how!stakeholders!will!be!involved,!how!actions!will!be!operationalized,!and!
stakeholders!commitment!to!the!larger!regionRwide!initiative.!
Consider!a!regional!stakeholder!mapping!exercise!to!engage!a!broader!audience,!elicit!
greater!investment,!and!reveal!additional!resources!and!strategies!!
Determine!who!will!lead!a!core!team!and!the!larger!initiative,!and!maintain!the!involvement!of!
elected!officials!and!senior!executives.!Consider!how!a!501c!research!arm!of!NVRC!could!
facilitate!these!priorities,!perhaps!with!an!appointed!leader!from!a!large!employer.!!
Create!a!higher!profile!role!for!the!WIBs,!with!higher!expectations!
Identify!the!metrics!of!success,!and!a!sustainability!plan!for!sustained!evolution!or!adaptation.!!
Themes!Noted!by!Observers!
!
Participating!leaders!were!interested!in!the!network!of!public,!private,!and!academic!peers;!
The!challenges!to!regional!and!national!leadership!are!apparent!to!all,!but!larger!than!any!one!
entity!can!overcome!alone;!
The!regions!brand!is!vital!to!our!economic!growth!and!competitiveness,!but!not!yet!defined!or!
articulated!well.!
There!is!pride!in!our!regional!diversity,!inclusiveness,!and!international!cultural!assets;!
All!recognize!the!value!of!highly!engaged!business!leaders,!responsiveness!in!education!and!
training!programs,!the!importance!of!a!hub!of!higher!education,!the!restrictions!of!
transportation,!and!the!importance!of!technical!connectivity.!!
Job!and!career!resources!are!widely!available!but!disaggregated!and!unstructured.!!
Jon,!career,!and!certification!data!are!insufficiently!analyzed!and!remain!unuseful!to!education!
and!training!institutions.!!
Students,!parents,!teachers,!and!counselors!need!much!greater!support!in!providing!career!
information!and!relevant!workplace!experiences.!!

19"|"P a g e "

Reconsider!the!pipeline!metaphor,!as!pipelines!have!limited!entrance!and!exit!ramps,!scenic!
byways,!and!parallel!and!perpendicular!routes!that!better!resemble!real!careers.!!
Public!and!private!partnerships!are!critical,!but!more!difficult!than!imagined,!and!restricted!by!
artificial!metrics!of!accountability!for!education!and!training!institutions.!!
An!emphasis!on!integrated!STEM!and!STEAM!is!critical!to!our!regions!national!and!international!
competitiveness.!
Education!and!training!programs!need!flexibility!and!cooperation!from!accrediting!organizations!
and!state!agencies!to!be!responsive!to!employers!needs.!
Education!and!training!must!be!reconsidered!as!a!lifelong!pursuit!rather!than!something!
completed!before!beginning!a!family.!
Policy!and!regulatory!incentives!are!key!to!expanding!participation!in!regional!development.!

!
Observers!Suggestions!on!Priorities!
!
The!core!leadership!of!this!Northern!Virginia!regional!effort!should!consider!several!working!groups,!or!
subRgroups,!that!address!strategically!identified!priorities,!!Each!working!group!may!have!a!distinctly!
different!makeup!depending!on!the!issue/topic.!!Momentum!from!a!few!high!priority!efforts!is!
important!to!attract!and!engage!diverse!thought!leaders.!!So,!while!there!may!need!to!be!some!
compositional!blend!of!publicRprivateRacademia,!there!may!be!other!important!constituent!groups!to!
engage!(retirees,!millennials,!immigrant!support!groups,!veterans,!and!more).!!!
!
The!Observers!identified!the!issues!areas!below!as!solid!candidates!for!prioritized!consideration,!not!
necessarily!in!the!order!listed:!
!
A.!!!BRANDING.!!!!Develop!branding!that!competes!internationally,!and!with!other!US!regions!(Boston,!
Austin,!Research!Triangle,!Bay!Area)!based!on!assets,!attractions,!and!coordinated!approaches!to!
overcoming!challenges.!!Regional!branding!(and!perhaps!a!regional!web!presence)!is!vital!to!our!
economic!growth!and!competitiveness,!but!NoVA!branding!is!not!well!articulated,!commonly!shared!
or!geographically!defined.!!Important!characteristics!of!the!NoVA!brand!should!reflect!the!following:!

vast!and!unique!regional!assets!that!can!be!leveraged!

many!stakeholders!and!a!lot!of!parallel!activity,!and!increasingly!better!connected!

aggregating!information!and!resources!that!are!currently!not!centralized!nor!accessible!to!all!
constituencies!

inclusiveness!and!an!international!character!important!to!all!

that!the!scope!of!the!Northern!Virginia!region!reflects!the!adjacent!DC!Metro!area!but!
distinguishes!Virginias!unity!and!unique!opportunities!
!
B.!!!!!!!!DATA.!!The!development!of!useful!data!for!guiding!educators,!parents,!students,!and!others!will!
benefit!from!the!following:!
engage!schools!in!sharing!real!institution!data!!graduates!rates,!onRtime!rates,!partRtime,!full!
time!undergraduate!and!graduate!school!enrollments,!certification!programs,!and!other!data!R!
from!all!nine!school!divisions!for!the!largest!possible!N!

20"|"P a g e "

determine!what!real!time!job!and!labor!data!and!analysis!(BLS/Fuller/other?)!can!help!sharpen!
the!focus!on!true!regional!workforce!needs!as!a!basis!for!regional!stakeholder!action,!and!
whether!such!timely,!predictive!data!is!possible!
support!the!development!of!and!access!to!real!corporate!HR!data!!attrition,!positions!filled!
within,!recruiting!at!each!level,!internships!and!apprenticeships!

!
C.!!!!!!!FLEXIBILITY!FOR!INNOVATION.!Seek!flexible!state!regulatory!environments!that!allow!for!greater!
business!and!community!involvement!in!schools!in!whole!child!learning,!greater!CTE!participation,!and!
early!career!connections.!!Solicit!the!help!of!business!leaders!and!local!elected!officials!in!lobbying!for!
policies,!regulatory!environments!and!incentives!that!facilitate!innovation.!!
!
D.!
EDUCATION!AND!BUSINESS!PARTNERSHIPS.!!Forge!better!connectivity!between!businesses!and!
schools!(KR20),!overcoming!the!superficial!nature!or!short!duration!of!most!school!and!community!
partnerships.!!Leaders!should!consider!the!following:!
Workforce!needs!remain!unclear,!and!HR!personnel!often!overlook!or!understate!the!biggest!
workforce!challenges;!
Teachers!and!counselors!are!insufficiently!trained!in!understanding!and!sharing!job!locations!
(job!zones),!job!requirements,!certifications!and!credentials,!and!the!secondary!and!postR
secondary!education!and!training!pathways!available;!
There!is!a!great!need!for!apprenticeships!and!internships!that!require!collaboration!between!
business!and!education!and!education!and!training!institutions,!funded!by!business!and!
government!resources!rather!than!school!resources.!!
The!goal!is!diverse!but!navigable!approaches!to!education!and!careers!that!allow!students!and!
educators!to!adapt!to!a!rapidly!changing!workforce!
!
PART!2:!!Observers!Records!of!Breakout!Groups!
!
These!include!shared!comments!as!well!as!those!not!reported!in!the!larger!group.!!
!
Summary!of!Responses!to!Three!Questions!
1.!!!!!!!What!is!the!best!way!to!forge!a!stakeholder!partnership!to!promote!the!Northern!Virginia!Region?!
!
Partner!with!the!state!through!Go!Virginia,!serving!also!as!a!regional!hub!for!the!rest!of!the!
state!and!the!rest!of!the!country!

Using!the!existing!model!of!the!Northern!VA!Regional!Commission,!but!including!schools!and!
business!leaders,!serving!as!a!frontRdoor!identity!for!Northern!Virginia!branding,!and!
promoting!innovation.!

Expand!the!region!to!include!the!DC!metro!area!while!better!defining!and!branding!Northern!
Virginia!assets!

21"|"P a g e "

!
2.!!!!!!!What!should!Northern!Virginia!be!doing!as!a!region!to!attract!and!retain!a!changing!workforce?!
!

Developing!the!marketing!message!and!accessibility!to!diverse!communities!within!and!
outside!our!region.!(through!available!resources,!!talent,!higher!education,!sustainable!
growth).!

Improved!collaboration!and!accountability!metrics!for!nationwide!leaders!in!a!flexible!
workforce!based!on!connectivity!

Improving!higher!education!options,!infrastructure,!childcare,!transportation!to!make!the!
region!most!attractive!

!
3.!!!!!!!What!is!needed!to!ensure!that!the!workforce!pipeline!is!providing!employees!who!are!skillRset!
ready!and!appropriately!credentialed?!
!

Identify!and!promote!desirable!secondary!and!postRsecondary!education!and!training!options!
that!lead!directly!to!jobs!and!inform!continued!education!and!training,!considering!other!
models!for!teacher!and!student!credentials.!

Project!compelling!messages!to!educators,!teachers,!counselors!and!young!learners!about!
career!options!and!required!training,!aligning!education!and!market!needs!with!improved!
labor!market!data.!

Map!forward!and!backward!with!career!ladders!and!opportunities!from!early!high!school!to!
careers!that!complement!the!embedded!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!

Provide!teacher!experiences!that!expand!their!familiarity!with!the!workplace.!

!
Priorities!as!Presented!by!Breakout!Group!Representatives!
!!
1.!!!!!!!What!is!the!best!way!to!forge!a!stakeholder!partnership!to!promote!the!Northern!Virginia!
Region?!
!!
Group!A.!!!
Partner!with!the!state!through!Go!Virginia,!serving!also!as!a!regional!hub!for!the!rest!of!the!state!
and!the!rest!of!the!country!
Using!the!existing!vehicle!of!the!Northern!VA!Regional!Commission,!including!schools!and!
businesses!
Consider!an!alternative!entity!that!serves!as!a!frontRdoor!identity!for!Northern!Virginia!
branding,!and!promoting!innovation.!
!
Group!B.!!

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Identify!the!scope!of!(top)!growth!sectors)!
Develop!a!regional!identity!that!aligns!with!the!Region!
Identify!stakeholders!in!all!growth!sectors!

!
Group!C.!!!
Expand!the!region!to!include!the!DC!metro!area!while!better!defining!and!branding!Northern!
Virginia,!
Expand!the!scope!of!constituencies!(nonRprofits,!seniors)!
Break!down!silos!
!
Group!D.!!!
Actively!manage!the!NOVA!brand!
Incentives!and!cooperation!and!working!with!the!entire!community,!acknowledging!but!
overcoming!competition!
Sustainable!KR12!on!a!broad!scale!that!elevates!all!of!our!communities!together!
!
!
OTHER!COMMENTS!ON!QUESTION!1:!
!
Think!regionally!taking!advantage!of!the!DC!brand!
Include!all!constituencies!
Incentives!for!breaking!down!silos!
More!CEOs!with!skin!in!the!game!
Recognize!potential!partners!and!have!agents!from!stakeholder!groups!participate!earnestly!
Consider!models!elsewhere!where!CEOs!are!actively!engaged,!and!participate!in!community!
messaging!
Take!advantage!of!GO!Virginias!strategy!of!rewarding!collaborations!
!!
!!
==================!!
!!
!2.!!!!!!!What!should!Northern!Virginia!be!doing!as!a!region!to!attract!and!retain!a!changing!workforce?!
!
Group!A.!!
Developing!the!marketing!message!and!accessibility!to!diverse!communities!within!and!outside!
our!region.!(through!available!resources,!!talent,!higher!education,!sustainable!growth).!
Improve!collaboration!through!greater!use!of!technology!rather!than!always!an!inRperson!
meeting.!Collaboration!requires!accountability!metrics!to!be!successful!and!gain!traction.!!
Improving!place,!infrastructure,!childcare,!transportation!to!make!the!region!most!attractive!
!
Group!B.!!!
Actively!managing!the!regional!branding!!

23"|"P a g e "

Connect!and!communicate!existing!jobs!and!necessary!skills,!include!the!WIBs,!schools,!business!
community,!and!HR!representatives,!providing!for!a!centralized!source!for!that!information.!
Promote!affordable!housing!and!transportation!to!keep!students!and!attract!recent!graduates!

!
Group!C.!!!
Diversify!to!connect!businesses!to!schools!so!the!curriculum!meets!specific!needs!of!the!
community!!
Improve!affordable!housing!to!attract!young!workers!and!families!
Tell!our!story!with!a!common!message!for!the!regions!
!
Group!D.!!
Improve!infrastructure!and!transportation!
Invest!and!promote!higher!education!options!
!!
!
OTHER!COMMENTS!ON!QUESTION!2:!
!!
Recognize!NOVA!as!an!international!community!unique!across!the!U.S.!
There!are!eight!school!districts!in!the!U.S.!that!speak!100!languages!or!more;!!seven!are!here!in!
Northern!Virginia.!(New!York!is!the!other)!
HR!leaders!often!fail!to!talk!about!!the!greater!demand!for!technicians,!instead!focusing!on!
engineers!and!managers.!
Ecosystem!Mapping!project!!R!showing!the!actual!stakeholders!
!!
!!
==================!!
!!
3.!!!!!!!What!is!needed!to!ensure!that!the!workforce!pipeline!is!providing!employees!who!are!skillEset!
ready!and!appropriately!credentialed?!
!
Group!A.!!
Identify!and!promote!desirable!secondary!and!postRsecondary!education!and!training!options!
that!lead!directly!to!jobs!and!inform!continued!education!and!training,!considering!other!models!
for!teacher!and!student!credentials.!
Project!compelling!messages!to!educators,!teachers,!counselors!and!young!learners!about!
career!options!and!required!training,!aligning!education!and!market!needs!with!improved!labor!
market!data.!
Map!forward!and!backward!with!career!ladders!and!opportunities,!from!early!high!school!to!
careers!that!complements!the!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings.!
!
Group!B.!!!!
Launch!a!series!of!apprenticeship!academies!

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NonRtraditional!pathways!to!technology!and!technician!jobs!(more!schoolRdivision!focused)!
Training!programs!in!STEM!at!all!levels!that!start!early!

!
Group!C.!!!
Focus!on!demandRside!analysis!of!skills!gaps,!job!gaps,!and!job!zones!
Increase!communications!between!the!schools!and!the!businesses!and!influence!on!the!
curriculum.!!Having!businesses!involved!at!every!level.!
Create!centralized!entity!to!to!focus!on!workforce!development!and!placement!issues,!make!it!
multiRgenerational.!!
!
Group!D.!!!!
Workplace!experiential!learning!partnerships!between!business!and!education!promoting!midR
level!employment!
Provide!teacher!experiences!that!expand!their!familiarity!with!the!workplace.!
Build!programs!that!attract!retiring!military!and!spouses.!
!!!
!!
OTHER!COMMENTS!ON!QUESTION!3:!
!!
Promote!the!quality!of!life!(airports,!rivers,!entertainment,!town!centers)!
Promote!lifelong!learning!and!connections!to!the!community!college!and!the!universities.!
Emphasize!on!linking!education!and!skills!
Align!education!and!curricula!with!the!market!
Begin!career!discussions!earlier!in!schools!
Address!silos!within!education!
Expand!pathway!options!between!10th!grade!through!career!
Focus!on!challenges!of!young!men!(particularly!black!and!brown!young!men)!in!education!
systems!where!white!girls!are!now!most!successful!
Foster!an!emphasis!on!workforce!preparation!in!all!grades!and!all!schools,!not!just!college!prep!
Provided!more!counseling!positions!(reduce!the!ration!to!under!300:1!in!high!school!and!500:1!
in!middle!school),!and!expand!training!in!career!education!and!counseling!
Develop!more!tools!and!provide!continuing!training!for!counselors!
Develop!and!provide!better!labor!market!information!for!the!schools!
Provide!preRK!and!elementary!introductions!to!careers!as!a!context!for!learning!
Predict!and!prevent!underRinformed!choices!and!poor!choices!by!teens!and!preRteens!
Develop!bridge!and/or!ladder!programs!from!early!high!school!to!careers!that!complement!the!
apprenticeships!to!careers!training!programs!for!twentyRsomethings!
Develop!education,!skills!and!jobRmapping!in!both!directions!
Provide!mapping!beyond!entryRlevel!careers!based!on!skills!and!career!flexibility!
Develop!internship!and!apprenticeship!structures!for!accommodating!smaller!numbers!of!
students!
Provide!more!summer!internships!for!credit!or!stipends!for!older!teens!

25"|"P a g e "

Develop!opportunities!for!companies!to!recruit!technical!workers!in!early!high!school!
Foster!corporate!sponsorships!of!specific!courses!
Develop!strategies!for!protecting!and!expediting!security!clearance!for!young!people!
Provide!ongoing!parent!training!in!career!preparation!
Recognize!multiple!postRsecondary!pathways!to!careers!that!honors!all!academic,!job!and!career!
decisions!but!promotes!lifelong!learning!
Expand!the!GWU!Teachers!in!Industry!program!and!Arlington!STEM!Teacher!Fellowship!Models!
to!guide!teachers!in!realRworld!applications!for!curricula!
Expand!CTE!training!for!all!students!
Promote!Whole!Child!Education!
Engage!businesses!in!developing!and!delivering!messaging!to!parents!and!students!
Align!academic!and!nonRacademic!credits!(continuing!ed,!Workforce,!professional!certifications)!
that!are!valued!in!both!realms!
Create!collaboration!or!sharing!across!school!districts!to!discuss!initiatives,!particularly!in!
secondary!and!postRsecondary!options!for!teachers!and!students!
Promote!accreditation!policies!that!provide!safer!riskRtaking!among!collaborating!institutions!
Begin!these!processes!by!picking!a!sector,!brand!an!industryReducation!partnership!program,!
and!establish!goals,!resources!and!timelines.!
Stop!treating!degrees!and!certifications!as!endpoints!or!destinations,!and!instead!recognize!
them!as!steps!within!lifelong!learning,!and!important!steps!to!reinventing!personal!branding!
after!layoffs,!or!when!a!contract!or!grant!is!in!its!last!year.!!

!!
!!
!!
!!
!
!

26"|"P a g e "

ADDENDUM!B!
BREAKOUT!ROOM!PARTICIPANTS!
!
The!list!shown!below!was!sent!to!Harmony!Crew!on!9/21.!Guests!who!RSVPd!after!that!date!are!not!
shown!here.!
!
ROOM!A!
Bruce!
Eta!

!Caswell!
Davis!

Dr.!Jim!
Hon.!Jerry!
Hon.!Libby!
G.!Mark!
John!
Larry!
Tony!
David!
Monika!
Bobbie!
Josh!
Michael!V!
Patrick!
Hon.!Hal!

Egenrieder!
Foreman!
Garvey!
Gibb!
Gulka!
Hoffman!
Howard!
Hunn!
Irchenhauser!
Kilberg!
Levi!
Mansour!II!
Murphy!
Parrish!

David!
Kevin!!

Remick!
Rennick!

Executive!Director!
Director!of!Human!Resources!

Buddy!
Kate!
Jennifer!
Bob!

Rizer!
Roche!
Siciliano!
Sisson!

Director!
President!&!CEO!
VP!R!Government!Affairs!
City!Manager!

Patrick!
Peggy!
Kurt!
Dr.!David!

Small!
Tadej!
Thompson!
Wu!

Director!

!
!
!

27"|"P a g e "

!President!
Economic!Initiatives!Coordinator!
STEM!Education!&!Workforce!
Outreach!
Mayor!
Supervisor!
Executive!Director!
Chairman!
Executive!Director!
President!&!CEO!
President!&!CEO!
Director!of!Human!Resources!
President!&!CEO!
!
Legislative!Director!
Superintendent!
Mayor!

!Executive!Vice!President!
Provost!

!Maximus!
Fairfax!County!
NOVA!Systemic!Solutions!
Town!of!Dumfries!
Arlington!County!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!
VEC!Employer!Advisory!Committee!
Marymount!University!Reston!Center!
Loudoun!County!Chamber!of!Commerce!
SkillSource!Group!
Rehau,!Inc.!
Northern!Virginia!Technology!Council!
Northern!Virginia!Technology!Council!
Office!of!Congresswoman!Barbara!Comstock!
Arlington!County!Public!Schools!
City!of!Manassas!
Alexandria!Arlington!Workforce!Investment!
Board!
Fort!Belvoir!
Loudoun!County!Department!of!Economic!
Development!
Arlington!Chamber!of!Commerce!
Inova!Health!System!
City!of!Fairfax!
City!of!Manassas!Department!of!Economic!
Development!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!
Dewberry!
George!Mason!University!

!
!
ROOM!B!
Kimberly!
Art!
Tracy!
Dr.!Adrienne!

!
Alexander!
Anselene!
Baynard!
Bloss!

Bob!

Blue!

Dorthea!
Hon.!Janet!
Mr.!James!

Brown!
Clarke!
Cole!

Elizabeth!
Chris!
Hon.!Bill!
Stan!
Hon.!Kwasi!

Creamer!
Deering!
Euille!
Feuerberg!
Fraser!

Dr.!Sam!
Mark!
Robert!

Hill!
Ingrao!
Lazaro!
MacPherso
n!
McDade!
Medearis!
Rust!
Sanders!
Schwartz!
Shields!
Stalzer!
Walt!

Mary!
Dr.!Bruce!
Dale!
Ann!
Ron!
Mark!
Wyatt!
Rob!
Glenn!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

28"|"P a g e "

!
City!Manager!
Manager!
!VP!for!Academic!Affairs!
Senior!VPRRegulation,!Law,!
Energy!Solutions!&!Policy!
Manager!
Supervisor!
President!and!CEO!
Advisor!for!!Workforce!
Development!
Senior!Associate!Dean!
Mayor!
President!&!CEO!
Mayor!
Provost!R!Woodbridge!
Campus!
President!&!CEO!

!
City!of!Manassas!Park!
Town!of!Herndon!
McGuire!Woods!Consulting!
Shenandoah!University!
Dominion!Virginia!Power!
Virginia!Employment!Commission!RR!
Alexandria!Office!
Loudoun!County!
Virginia!Hospital!Center!
Secretary!of!Commerce!and!Trade!
George!Washington!University!
City!of!Alexandria!
NOVEC!
Town!of!Purcellville!
Northern!Virginia!Community!College!
Greater!Reston!Chamber!of!Commerce!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!

!
!Superintendent!
!
State!Director!
Vice!President!and!Fellow!
County!Manager!R!Acting!
City!Manager!
Deputy!County!Executive!
Chief!of!Staff!

Office!of!the!Governor!
City!of!Manassas!Park!Public!Schools!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!Commission!
Office!of!US!Senator!Mark!Warner!
Booz!Allen!Hamilton!
Arlington!County!
City!of!Falls!Church!
Fairfax!County!
Joint!Base!MyerRHenderson!Hall!

ROOM!C!!
!
Ahrens!
Mininberg!

!
Virtual!Loudoun!Education!
Supervisor!

Becker!

Commanding!General!

Eileen!

Curtis!

Jerome!

Davis!

Steven!
Laurie!

DeLuca!
DiRocco!

Marantha!

Edwards!

President!and!CEO!
Executive!VP!and!Chief!
Revenue!Officer!
Senior!Director,!
Government!Affairs!
Mayor!
Director!R!Economic!
Development!

Rick!

Goff!

Director!

Jerry!

Gordon!

Luanne!
Victor!

Gutermuth!
Hoskins!

President!&!CEO!
Senior!Vice!President,!
Shared!Services!and!CHRO!
Director!

Hon.!Maurice!

Jones!

Secretary!

Jeff!

Kaczmarek!
KesselmannR
Smith!
Lockard!
Montano!

Executive!Director!

Stacie!
Major!General!
Bradley!

Gina!
Dr.!Steven!
Joe!
Dr.!Scott!

Ralls!

Sue!

Rowland!

!Deputy!Superintendent!
!
President!

!
Gilbert!

Sanchez!

Brendan!
Hon.!Scott!

Shaw!
Silverthorne!

Zuzana!

Steen!

Linda!

Tenney!

Peter!
Scott!

Wynee!
York!

29"|"P a g e "

Manager!
Director!of!Government!
Relations!
Mayor!
University!&!Academic!
Relations!Manager!
Deputy!Executive!Director!
Academic!Outreach!
Manager!
Chairman!

!
Loudoun!County!Public!Schools!
Joint!Force!HQ!R!National!Capital!
Region!
Dulles!Regional!Chamber!of!
Commerce!
Metropolitan!Washington!Airports!
Authority!
Capital!One!Financial!Corporation!
Town!of!Vienna!
Town!of!Leesburg!
City!of!Falls!Church!Economic!
Development!Authority!
Fairfax!County!Economic!
Development!Authority!
WGL!
Arlington!Economic!Development!
Commerce!&!Trade!R!
Commonwealth!of!Virginia!
Prince!William!County!Department!
of!Economic!Development!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
Fairfax!County!Public!Schools!
Office!of!US!Senator!Tim!Kaine!
Northern!Virginia!Community!
College!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
Virginia!Employment!Commission!RR!
Prince!William!Office!
Prince!William!Chamber!of!
Commerce!
City!of!Fairfax!
Micron!Technology!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
University!of!Virginia!
Loudoun!Cty!Board!of!Supervisors!

!
ROOM!D!
Anne!

!
Altman!

!
General!Manager!!

Jim!

Corcoran!

President!&!CEO!

Elizabeth!
Larry!

Creamer!
Duncan!

Advisor!for!Workforce!Development!
VP!R!Federal!&!State!Relations!

Hon.!Penelope!
Tim!!

Gross!
Hemstreet!

Chairman!
County!Manager!

Dr.!Karsten!

Hess!

Counselor!R!Science!&!Technology!

Lane!
Mark!

Hopkins!
Jinks!

Senior!Vice!President,!Human!Resources!
&!Chief!Diversity!Officer!
City!Manager!

Dr.!Toni!

Jones!

Superintendent!

Troy!!

Murphy!

Hon.!Martin!
William!
Mercury!

Nohe!
Pate!
Payton!

!
Supervisor!
City!Manager!
Town!Manager!

Jack!
Jack!
Marty!!
John!

Potter!
Requa!
Rodgers!
Rosewarne!

President!&!CEO!
Interim!General!Manager/CEO!
Managing!Director!
Director!R!Business!Performance!Office!

Dr.!Melissa!

Saunders!
!
Executive!Vice!President!

Dr.!Mel!

Schiavelli!

David!

Schwengel!

Todd!
Hon.!David!

Stottlemyer!
Tarter!

!
CEO!
Mayor!

Erica!
Dr.!Kenneth!

Wohlleben!
Wong!

!
Director!

30"|"P a g e "

!
IBM!US!Federal!&!
Government!Industries!
Fairfax!County!Chamber!of!
Commerce!
Secretary!of!Commerce!
and!Trade!
Lockheed!Martin!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
Loudoun!County!
Embassy!of!the!Federal!
Republic!of!Germany!
Capital!One!Financial!
Corporation!
City!of!Alexandria!
Falls!Church!City!Public!
Schools!
Northern!Virginia!
Technology!Council!
Prince!William!County!
Board!of!Supervisors!
City!of!Manassas!
Town!of!Vienna!
Metropolitan!Washington!
Airports!Authority!
WMATA!
Accenture!
USMC!R!Quantico!
Manassas!City!Public!
Schools!
Northern!Virginia!
Community!College!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
Inova!Center!for!
Personalized!Health!
City!of!Falls!Church!
Northern!Virginia!Regional!
Commission!
Virginia!Tech!

ADDENDUM!C!
GRAPHIC!RECORDINGS!
!

31"|"P a g e "