Summary
The Fairfax City EDA fosters economic development to promote strong commercial revenue, sustainable jobs, and resources for residents by attracting, expanding, retaining, and supporting small business professionals, retailers, and hospitality.Information
Email: edainfo@fairfaxva.gov
Phone: (703) 385-7855
Address: 10455 Armstrong St
Fairfax, VA 22030
Mission
The primary purpose of the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority (EDA,) in conjunction with the City Council, is to foster and stimulate economic development and redevelopment within the City that provides a strong commercial tax base, sustainable local jobs, and resources for residents. To carry out this purpose, the EDA will support bond financing for projects within its powers as granted by the Virginia General Assembly and work with the City’s Economic Development Office (EDO) to advance business recruiting, retention, and expansion efforts. Further, the EDA and EDO will facilitate small business improvement and incubation, as well as promote an active dialogue within the business community, all in partnership with area business and educational resources.
Meetings
The Authority meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the City Hall Annex, Room 111 A-B (City Council work session room). For information regarding EDA meetings, please contactEDAinfo@fairfaxva.gov
Commissioners/ Members
The EDA consists of seven commissioners appointed by the Mayor and City Council:
Commissioner Mary Valenta, Chair
Mary Valenta is CEO of On the Green, LLC (OTG), a consulting firm helping businesses with economic, environmental, and social growth through strategic, marketing, and financial planning. Commissioner Valenta founded Global Sustainability Aid as a non-profit organization supporting sustainability in impoverished communities. She sits on a number of corporate boards and was previously Chief Financial Officer of O’Neal Steel, Inc., Treasurer of Glenayre Technologies, and Manager of Financial Advisory Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Commissioner Valenta received a Doctorate in Global Business Sustainability from Argosy University in Denver, Co; an MBA from University of North Carolina Charlotte; and a BS in Accounting from Pfeiffer University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, co-author of CFO Leadership Strategies, and author of Business Case of Electric Vehicles for Truck Fleets.
Commissioner Michael O’Brien, Vice-Chair
Michael O’Brien joined the Economic Development Authority in 2015, and is serving his second term.
Michael is the founder and principal of MOB Advocacy, a nationally-scoped state and local government relations firm based in Fairfax, VA. Michael founded MOB Advocacy to assist startups, small businesses and nonprofit organizations address issues with state and local governments.
Michael moved to Fairfax City in 2011. He lives in the Country Club Hills neighborhood with his son Connor and his dog Goofy.
Commissioner W. Craig Havenner, Secretary & Treasurer
Craig Havenner has been a principal and President of the Christopher Companies since 1995.
Christopher Companies has developed a number of new home communities throughout the Northern Virginia area. In recent years the company has expanded its services to include general contracting, remodeling, light commercial construction and investor services. The company is currently active in the Mid-Atlantic Region from Caroline County, Va to Sussex County , Delaware.
Commissioner Havenner is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Construction Management. A native of Northern Virginia, he and his family have resided in The City of Fairfax since 1980. Over the years he has been actively involved in many community and professional organizations.
Commissioner John Sabo is a resident of Fairfax City since 1994 and has been active in local community and charitable organizations for many years. Commissioner Sabo is a business owner and has been in the commercial real estate industry for over 25 years concentrating on brokerage and development with clients ranging from privately-owned local firms to large public companies.
Commissioner Sabo is a graduate of George Mason University with a degree in Marketing from the School of Management. As a developer Commissioner Sabo has focused primarily on residential subdivisions in Fairfax and surrounding jurisdictions. In addition, he is a board member and advisor to numerous local start-up and early-stage companies assessing market strategies and raising equity.
Chris Todd is a 7th generation Washingtonian with more than 25 years of experience in the practice of architecture, land development, building development and construction. His resume encompasses single family and multi-family residential, retail, office and mixed-use projects as both a designer and a developer, with design services across the United States of approximately 500 million dollars and development projects throughout the Northeast totaling close to one billion dollars.
Kelly McLaughlan is a native resident of Northern Virginia, graduating high school, college and building my professional career and businesses in this region. Raising four children with my husband in the Dulles region of Northern Virginia, we’ve been extremely well-connected and engaged in both the local and regional community, particularly with respect to challenges regarding STEM-centric education and the local economy.
This connection and experience with the EDAC, SBDC and regional economic development initiatives led us to the Mason Enterprise Center’s business incubator network, which became the perfect home (in Fairfax City) for a quickly-growing digital marketing and technology business I co-founded over 10 years ago – KME.Digital (previously KME Internet Marketing). My company blends business marketing and Internet technologies in a cost-effective, personal services model – to help mostly local and regional businesses, nonprofits, startups and government agencies find and engage their audience or customers online. We have benefited tremendously from the resources and location of the MEC – including access to a steady and growing pool of very talented, enthusiastic student interns and workforce from nearby George Mason University. My family and business offer now a great deal of experience and expertise to the Fairfax EDA, with respect to economic development strategies.
Sean Mallon was appointed Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at George Mason University in April 2016. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading Mason’s strategic vision as an economic and innovation engine for the National Capital region. Mr. Mallon oversees the Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) and the Office of Technology Transfer. He also works collaboratively with academic leadership and faculty to ensure an innovative, scalable approach to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration for the development and delivery of entrepreneurial thinking and learning across the entire university.
Current Solicitations
There are no outstanding solicitations from the EDA at this time. For information regarding EDA solicitations, please contact EDAinfo@fairfaxva.gov.
