Placemaking is critical to the development of innovation ecosystems. It is the diversity of perspectives that fuels innovation. How we bring people together to exchange ideas and collaborate is as important as the state-of the art facilities that enable the technology advances. The idea of convening has never been more important than it is today as we struggle to be less physically distant while safeguarding our wellbeing.
By Liza Wilson Durant, PhD, Associate Provost, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, and Professor and Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
Placemaking is critical to the development of innovation ecosystems. It is the diversity of perspectives that fuels innovation. How we bring people together to exchange ideas and collaborate is as important as the state-of the art facilities that enable the technology advances. The idea of convening has never been more important than it is today as we struggle to be less physically distant while safeguarding our wellbeing.
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By Shaara Roman, Founder & CEO, The Silverene Group If we’ve learned anything from the past two years, it’s that agility is a necessity. When the only thing we can count on is uncertainty, and things constantly change on a dime, what more do we have than our ability to quickly adapt? Thinking on your toes has long been a necessity for all organizations, big and small, but has only recently become the absolute forefront of the business world. By Rachel Boehm, Yes You by Rachel Boehm “I was really stressed out between work, and the kids, and the house. I really didn’t think I had time but I just told myself, Ok Ashley (pseudonym) you can take 60-seconds to do this. You said you would. You bought the thing. So I did.” “And?” I eagerly asked my client. “I can’t believe how much more energy I had just by giving my feet a quick scrub!” Ashley went on to tell me how this one act, a 60-second after-work “self-investment” refilled her. She felt revitalized and valued, rather than depleted. That 60 seconds had an exponential ROI. She got everything done on her list, and went to bed feeling more confident and experiencing greater life satisfaction. This translated to a better night’s sleep, which translated to feeling more refreshed upon waking. Arlington is rapidly developing as a main center for technology and innovation on the East Coast. Many of our local tech businesses, most notably Amazon’s HQ2 grab the headlines, and the secret to their success here is the talent. The Greater Washington region ranked as the number three tech talent market in North America in 2021, according to CBRE, behind only the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, and ranking above other East Coast centers like New York and Boston. Business Facilities Magazine ranks the Commonwealth of Virginia as the number 1 state for tech talent pipeline and business climate, and SmartAsset ranked Arlington as the top U.S. city for women in tech.
AT&T and JBG SMITH are working on the nation’s first 5G Smart City at scale in National Landing. 5G, with local area compute edges, could make National Landing a prototype for smart cities of the future and create a unified consumer experience across asset types. The area could also enhance offerings in mobility and self-driving vehicles, immersive retail and entertainment, and building automation and environmental sustainability. The first network infrastructure deployments are planned for the first half of 2022 and will expand with development of the community.
By Liza Wilson Durant, PhD, Associate Provost, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, and Professor and Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
George Mason University is advancing our plans to deliver a new building to Mason's Arlington campus, dedicated to producing the next generation of Northern Virginia’s technology workforce. The new building will be the nexus of Mason’s research in emerging technologies, a base for its University-wide Institute for Digital innovation, and hub for Mason’s School of Computing and related academic programs which connect thousands of new students to the digital universe. By Jonathan Aberman, Dean of Marymount University’s College of Business, Innovation, Leadership, and Technology (BILT)
Marymount University is inaugurating a program to help college students from across the area develop technology skills they’ll need to be ready for the workplace upon graduation. The Tech Set program, which is scheduled to begin during the Spring 2022 semester, will allow economically disadvantaged juniors and seniors from colleges and universities in Northern Virginia to participate in a two-month educational program that emphasizes work readiness, job tools, career preparation, and mentorship. By Holly Harper, Principal, Blue Bike Communications In early 2020, more than four million people quit their jobs and a recent survey indicates that nearly 73% of workers are considering quitting in what’s been deemed “The Great Resignation.” During COVID many businesses crumbled, so how did small businesses thrive? For many small businesses with low overhead, COVID gave us the opportunity to do what we were already doing — but better. I was fortunate my business is designed for remote work, and I had some perspective after surviving a tragic and taxing 2018 and 2019. For a scrappy entrepreneur, COVID delivered me the gift of time and reflection, and — eventually — the pivot. By Queenly Amo, Operations Intern, Arlington Chamber of Commerce I first became aware of the Chamber when I was looking for internships to fulfill my graduation requirement at Marymount University. As a political science major, it was evident that I wanted to work for an organization that worked or collaborated with the government. When I learned more about the Chamber’s purpose of working with local and state government on behalf of the business community, I knew this was the job for me. By Cindy Johannessen, Strategic-Partner, Schooley Mitchell Cutting costs on expenses, without cutting the level or quality of those expenses, is one of the best and most efficient ways to make sure an organizations income is best serving and implementing its goals. This is true for all organizations and can be essential for nonprofits. |
The mission of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen businesses and the economic environment for those who work, live and do business in Arlington.
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April 2023
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