Connected DMV Announces 13 New Appointments to Its Board of Trustees

The expanded Connected DMV Board brings decades of community, industry, academic, and government experience to help shape a stronger future for the wellbeing of the DMV. PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2020 – Connected DMV announced Thursday that its Board of Trustees has appointed 13 new members, effective October 1, 2020. The new appointments are part of Connected DMV’s strategy to accelerate economic renewal and increase social equity across the Greater Washington metropolitan area. “I welcome these 13 new trustees to our Board with great pleasure and appreciation. All of them hold exceptional track records as local stewards who have helped improve the long-term welfare of the DMV. This new Board of leaders brings extensive community relations and expertise in regional collaboration, and they share our aspiration of delivering and promoting equitable solutions” said Stu Solomon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connected DMV. “I look forward to working with this diverse and talented group as we establish an integrated public-private playbook for advancing growth for the entire region while also delivering and validating critical programs to renew the DMV." The Board will have 16 members including eight representative trustees who are senior executive leaders from participating DMV regional organizations, six independent trustees, the President of Connected DMV, and one non-voting liaison from the Department of Defense. The following individuals will join Stu Solomon, President & CEO of Connected DMV; Jill DeGraff, Founder & Managing Partner of Aperture Law Group; and Gerald (Jerry) Carlson, Retired Managing Partner at KPMG as trustees: Chuck Bean Executive Director Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Mary Brady Executive Director The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Carol Thompson Cole President & CEO Venture Philanthropy Partners Dr. Andrew Flagel President & CEO Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area Carla Grant Pickens Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer IBM Victor Hoskins President & CEO Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Major General Omar Jones Commanding General Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (liaison from the Department of Defense) Amy Liu Vice President & Director, Metropolitan Policy Program Brookings Institution Jack McDougle President & CEO Greater Washington Board of Trade Radha Muthiah President & CEO Capital Area Food Bank Jennifer Taylor President & CEO Northern Virginia Technology Council Paul J. Wiedefeld General Manager & CEO Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Hon. Anthony Williams CEO & Executive Director Federal City Council The officers will continue in their roles with Stu Solomon serving as the interim Chairman, Jill DeGraff serving as Vice Chairman, and Jerry Carlson serving as Treasurer. Connected DMV fulfills its mission of delivering results together for a more equitable region through its collaboration and partnership with other leading regional organizations. The Connected DMV COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force and the hundreds of volunteers that comprise the Connected DMV Solution Groups are two examples where participants work together selflessly for the greater good of the DMV. “If we are to achieve true regional transformation, then it is imperative that we have the support of public, private, academic, community, and regional organizations” said Chuck Bean, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. “Stronger partnerships amongst these groups is required to make a region-wide impact that repositions our local economy, maximizes government funding, and enables enhanced services across jurisdictional boundaries. Connected DMV is designed to help us achieve these goals and I am honored to serve as a trustee.” “Connected DMV's focus on economic renewal and social equity in identifying and launching regional initiatives aligns with IBM's corporate commitment to solve the hardest problems in business and society while also promoting the advancement of fairness and equality” said Carla Grant Pickens, Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, IBM. “I am pleased to serve on the Connected DMV Board of Trustees and to encourage and promote corporate responsibility in the equitable renewal of our region’s economy.”