Dear NVTC members, Your region’s tech council has been very busy this year, working diligently to co

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NVTC News & Events

By Jennifer Taylor ● Apr 26, 2024

Smart Brevity® count: 7 mins...1841 words

Dear NVTC members,

Your region’s tech council has been very busy this year, working diligently to connect, educate and advocate for our vibrant tech community.

One of NVTC’s key principals in our culture is to take time to “celebrate our successes!” So, here are a few recent highlights:

  1. NVTC hosted the Rise & Thrive Summit, our first-ever educational and professional development event curated specifically for women (read more below). We will host this again in 2025.👍

  2. NVTC published our 5th biennial Data Center Report, “The Impact of Data Centers on Virginia’s State and Local Economies”. Download it for FREE and learn how the world’s largest data center market (NOVA) positively impacts other industries and regional jurisdictions.

  3. NVTC opposed the proposed B2B “Digital Goods Sales Tax” in Virginia’s biennial budget. NVTC was the ‘tip of the spear’ in our opposition, and on April 8, Gov. Youngkin removed the tax from the budget. That same day, NVTC received mention in this Associated Press article. We’ll continue to monitor this topic and advocate for the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness and reputation as a business-friendly state, since this tax would reduce both investment and job creation in Virginia.

Scroll below to learn about our upcoming events and to read my thoughts on the biography Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson.

Have a great weekend!

Photo of Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Taylor, NVTC President and CEO

1. 🤖Don’t miss the Impact AI keynote with NVIDIA’s Anthony Robbins, 5/16

Graphic with the NVTC Impact AI logo and text: May 16 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Fairfax, VA.

Join us on May 16 for NVTC’s annual Impact AI Summit.

This year’s theme is “Understanding the Value of AI”. Engage with tech innovators, policy makers and experts to learn how businesses and government agencies are operationalizing AI .

Anthony Robbins, VP North America Public Sector, NVIDIA

Our thought bubble: Don’t miss the keynote speaker, Anthony Robbins from NVIDIA.

  • With a passion for modernizing federal enterprise solutions in the realms of AI, machine learning and big data, Robbins has over 35 years of industry expertise driving transformation in federal agencies.

  • NVIDIA’s pioneering advancements in GPUs and AI play a pivotal role in the enhancement of federal operations to maintain technological superiority and drive efficiencies across departments.

One fun thing: Our generative AI art contest is back due to popular demand.

Buy tickets today!

2. 🌅 Empowering women, igniting success

Anne Altman on the left in a grey sleeveless dress and Toni Townes-Whitley on the right in a dark blazer and golden yellow blouse.
Rise & Thrive keynote speakers Anne Altman (Everyone Matters) and Toni Townes-Whitley (SAIC)

In March, NVTC produced and hosted its newest signature event, Rise & Thrive.

  • This was NVTC’s first-ever educational and networking event curated specifically for women to empower them to progress their careers in an impactful way.

  • The event SOLD OUT and connected 330+ women, including many new faces.

Go deeper: The event included:

  • Two exceptional keynotes from Anne Altman, founder of Everyone Matters and former general manager of IBM, US Federal and Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO, SAIC. Watch Toni’s and Anne’s messages and words of advice.

  • Workshops on personal branding and giving/receiving constructive feedback, and

  • Panels on emerging tech and raising capital.

Why it matters: NVTC is dedicated to fostering DE&I best practices in our region’s tech industry through our extensive reach of 470+ member companies that employ thousands. Launching NVTC’s Rise & Thrive Summit is a testament to our commitment to help women advance their careers.

Check out the event photos.

3. 📖 🚀What Jenn Taylor is reading

Image of book and kindle version of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

This month I started reading (and listening because I’m a busy gal😂) Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson. I loved Isaacson’s biography about Steve Jobs, so I knew this one would inspire me too.

Why it matters: As I continue to read more about 21st century tech innovators who have disrupted how we do things and live our lives, four common themes resonate with me about these leaders.

  1. They have a specific mission and vision. Musk makes it explicitly clear that he wants to create a multi-planet civilization even though people tell him, “You’re crazy dude!” Musk clearly sees the end result, even if others can’t. Every decision Musk makes at SpaceX is motivated with the end goal of sending humans to Mars. He repeats at nauseum with his staff that, “A fully reusable rocket is the difference between being a single-planet civilization and being a multi-planet one.”

  2. They never give up. They have relentless perseverance to achieve their mission despite hardships and failures. At one point, Musk ran out of money, Tesla was hemorrhaging cash, SpaceX crashed THREE rockets in a row, his marriage was on the rocks and he was houseless.

    Musk never ever gave up. He said, “Space X will not skip a beat in execution going forward. There is zero question that Space X will prevail in reaching orbit.” And he was right.

  3. They inspire others. They are focused, make quick decisions, dish out orders, set unrealistic deadlines, all while ‘leading teams out of despair and defeat into a massive buzz of determination’. In Musk’s case, SpaceX’s HR Director explained that despite all the failures, “A jolt of optimism spread through headquarters. I think most of us would follow him into the gates of hell🔥 carrying suntan oil.”

    And when Musk was asked how he maintained his optimism, he responded, “Optimism. Pessimism. ‘#@#$’ that! We’re going to make it happen. As god as my bloody witness, I’m hell bent on making it work.”

  4. They don’t care what others think and see themselves as alphas. This is evidenced throughout Musk’s childhood; college years; time as an entrepreneur in the 90s; and leadership at Space X, Tesla and Twitter (X).

So how is Musk’s story landing on me? I’m reminded:

  • To stay true to my north star and filter all I do through my mission, vision and values;

  • That I too, can do hard things and decide how to respond to failures and set backs;

  • To lead by inspiration and help others achieve their full potential.

  • Lastly, to be courageous, brave, not fragile.

When you see me at an upcoming NVTC event, if you read Elon Musk let me know how it landed on you. 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

4. Celebrate tech finance leaders at NVTC's CFO Awards

star shaped crystal NVTC CFO Award

Get your tickets today for NVTC’s 28th annual Technology CFO Awards!

Why it matters: These awards recognize CFOs and financial leaders for their extraordinary achievements and excellence in fueling economic growth in our region’s technology industry.  Without them, our region would not be the leading tech hub that it has evolved into over the last 30+ years.

This just in:

What's next: Buy a table or tickets and celebrate and network with 700+ area executives at the CFO Awards celebration on June 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.

5. 📅 Register for these NVTC events

Calendar with events on it

Come learn and network with us at these NVTC events:

6. NVTC member news and recognition

Person reading a newspaper

So much to celebrate this April!

💻NVTC Board member Candice Ling, head of Microsoft Federal, made the cover story in the Washington Business Journal.

💚George Mason University unveiled a redesigned logo as the capstone of a three-year-long comprehensive rebrand. Watch their brand video.

New George Mason Logo

💡The George Washington University announced their new GW trustworthy AI initiative and partnership with SAIC.

🙋‍♂The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) named NVTC Board member Joe Benevento as President & CEO.

📝On May 7 join Deltek for a first look at the findings from their 2024 Clarity Government Contracting Industry Study. GovCon experts will review benchmarks, key trends and market conditions.

💜James Madison University named interim president Charlie King, effective July 1. After 12 impactful years, Jonathan Alger is leaving JMU to become president of American University.

🏆Congrats to these amazing NVTC Board members for being recognized by WashingtonExec:

  • Top Execs to Watch in 2024: Bruce Caswell (Maximus), Jennifer Felix (ASRC Federal), John Goodman (Accenture Federal Services), Richard Pineda (CALIBRE), John Steckel (AMERICAN SYSTEMS), Todd Stottlemyer (Acentra Health) and Doug Wagoner (LMI).

  • Chief Officer Award Finalists: Tim Borchert (Tria Federal), Matt Desch (Iridium), John Ustica (Siemens Government Technologies) and the John Wasson (ICF).

  • 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award: Rich Montoni (Maximus)

👩‍💼The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) named Kinsey Fabrizio as president. Gary Shapiro will continue to serve as CEO.

If you would like to include your industry announcement in future NVTC newsletters, please email info@nvtc.org.

7. 🌳 We’re growing! Welcome new NVTC members

I was in #MWC18 for 4 days. I was looking for a different perspective of technology and innovation. A human point of view.

8. Inspiration vs. authority: Unpacking leadership styles

Photo of Andrew Deutscher in the bottom right corner over an image of two people touching a light bulb and it lighting up

Written by Andrew Deutscher, CEO and Founder of Regenerate

If someone asked “Who’s the best leader you’ve ever worked for?”, you’d have an immediate answer. The same goes for the worst leader you’ve ever worked for.

  • We can instantly point out the people who had an impact on us, whether positive or negative.

What separates the best from the worst? Well, that’s whether leaders chose to lead by authority or by inspiration.

Leaders who choose inspiration as a motivator:

  • Are fueled by positive energy

  • Rely on meaningful connection

  • Get the best from people by expecting and seeing the best in them

  • Inspire and value creativity and innovation

The bottom line: Inspiration can be demonstrated in different ways, including empathy, optimism, openness, vision and focus. So focus on your own strengths to fuel your inspirational leadership.

Go deeper: To learn more and to put inspiration to work as part of your leadership toolbox, read about why — when it comes to leadership —inspiration beats authority.

9. Only NVTC offers unique access to our region’s tech community

Become a member

NVTC connects, educates, advocates for and celebrates our region’s vibrant tech community.

Don’t miss out: Join NVTC today. Grow your people, your brand and your business with UNIQUE access to our region’s tech community.

Please contact Tarin Horan to learn about NVTC event and newsletter sponsorship opportunities for your organization.

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