D.C./Va./Md. COVID-19 task force forms for economic strategy

Connected DMV's 45-person task force will make formal recommendations for economic recovery

Published May 9, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Connected DMV, a regional nonprofit collaboration in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland, announced Thursday it has formed a 45-person COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force to make formal recommendations for addressing short-term and long-term COVID-19-related economic recovery. Founded in 2019, Connected DMV focuses on economic development in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

The task force is not acting on behalf of the three administrations. Members were selected by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The group will meet monthly through October 2020 and then present their recommendations for economic recovery to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The monthly meetings will be facilitated by Jack McDougle, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade.

“Rebuilding our region’s economy after COVID-19 isn’t just a challenge — it’s an opportunity,” McDougle said in a statement. “We can come back stronger, but only if we work together across jurisdictions and sectors. That’s exactly what this impressive group of leaders can and will do.”

Among the Virginia leader tapped for the task force was Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins, who said, “Regional collaboration will be key to post COVID-19 economic recovery, so I am honored to represent the regional economic development community to guide how this area responds to this unprecedented crisis. Working together is the only way this region wins in economic development, and that collaboration is even more important now.”

Members were invited to join the task force with approval from their respective organizations, according to the task force.  “Generally, recommendations will be developed in a regional context,” said a statement from the task force. “Details within the recommendations may call for differing actions across jurisdictions.”

Task force members from Virginia include:

• Julie Coons – president and CEO, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Anne M. Kress – president, Northern Virginia Community College
• Victor Hoskins – president and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
• Angela Navarro – deputy secretary of commerce and trade, Commonwealth of Virginia
• Richard Bynum – president, Greater Washington & Virginia, PNC Financial Services Group
• James Cook – vice president, strategic engagement and partnerships, MITRE Corporation
• Lesley Kalan – corporate vice president and chief strategy and development officer, Northrop Grumman
• Brian Kenner – head of HQ2 policy and economic development, Amazon
• Tim O’Brien – MTV site director, Micron

The full list of task force members can be found on Connected DMV’s website.

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