CEO of Alexandria Economic Development Partnership to Retire

Val P. Hawkins is retiring as head of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP), the organization has announced.

AEDP announced Tuesday that Hawkins is retiring after nearly six years as president and CEO. Hawkins was chosen in 2009 by the AEDP Board of Directors to lead the organization, whose mission is to grow and retain businesses in the City of Alexandria.

Hawkins’ tenure at AEDP is most notably defined by the integral role he played on the team that secured the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) relocation to Alexandria, AEDP noted in a news release. Here’s more about Hawkins and some of his accomplishments at the organization, according to AEDP:

On the City’s behalf, Hawkins led the information exchange and communications required during the multi-year procurement process between the City of Alexandria and the federal government, brokers and developer.

Announced in June 2013, the NSF lease was the largest lease in the Washington, DC region that year, kick-starting the construction of 660,000+ square feet of new offices in the Carlyle area of Alexandria. This development will serve as the platform for significant additional development and economic vitality in Carlyle, the Eisenhower Valley and the City as a whole. Construction will be complete in 2017 and the NSF will add 2,100 jobs to the City’s employment base, will spin off an additional 3,000 jobs from the agency’s contractor tail, and creates demand for a new three-star, 235-room hotel.

Capitol Post Veterans

As a veteran and businessman, Hawkins’ most rewarding work has been as one of the key founders and architects of the recently launched Capitol Post Veterans business initiative. Over the past two years, he pulled together the DC-area public and private sectors to discuss how to best attract veteran talent joining the workforce and how to facilitate professional success for veterans. Out of these discussions, Capitol Post was established to address these needs and to provide support to the surge of service members expected to transition in the DC-area over the next few years. Capitol Post offers the 375,000 veterans in the D.C. region mentorship, training and connections needed to start, or, grow a business.

During his time at AEDP, Hawkins assembled a professional team with experience in real estate, commercial leasing, planning and land use, entrepreneurship and research. In addition to typical economic development work, this team has launched a number of innovative efforts to include publishing of a bi-annual State of the Market report, creation and implementation of the Alexandria Ideal brand and the team has taken a key role in promoting and encouraging business philanthropy in the Alexandria community. The AEDP’s focused work in retail recruitment and retention has been particularly successful, contributing to the current vitality of Alexandria’s key retail corridors, King Street and Mount Vernon Avenue.

“The Partnership and the City of Alexandria have greatly benefitted from Val’s leadership and service over the past six years,” stated Christopher Hartman, chair of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors. “Val has been the cornerstone of the Partnership’s efforts in the community, and, we are thankful to him for his leadership. While he will be greatly missed, we know he will continue to make meaningful contributions to the city and be successful in all that he does moving forward.”

Stephanie Landrum to serve as acting president

The Board named Stephanie Landrum as acting president and CEO. Landrum joined AEDP in February 2005, serving most recently as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Over her 10-year tenure at AEDP, Landrum’s role has been central to the continuity of the organization’s success, AEDP noted.

“We are excited to announce that Stephanie Landrum will serve as acting president and CEO. Given her track record, her network and her obvious familiarity and competence with respect to the Partnership’s mission and ongoing initiatives, we are confident economic developmentfor the benefit of the entire City won’t miss a beat,” remarked Hartman. “Stephanie and the rest of the AEDP staff will continue to build on the foundation and legacy Val leaves.”

As acting president and CEO, Landrum will continue to work collaboratively with City management and elected officials to enhance Alexandria’s tax revenue and improve employment opportunities. An area of focus as Landrum takes the helm includes continued place-making efforts in the newer Alexandria neighborhoods of Carlyle, Potomac Yard and Landmark.

Forthcoming milestones include site selection for the Potomac Yard Metrorail station and the beginning of commercial construction in that district, redevelopment and tenant recruitment at Landmark Mall, and retail recruitment to augment NSF’s relocation to Carlyle.

Additionally, Landrum’s role will encompass an increased focus on piloting start-up initiatives to amplify business formation locally. Through a partnership with the Chicago-based The Bunker program, Capitol Post will launch its business incubator program with the first class of start-up companies in the summer of 2015.

Landrum’s role will also continue AEDP’s support of the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, focused on growing and strengthening small businesses in the City. Under Landrum’s direction the partnership will also attend South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive for the first time this month with the goal of promoting the Washington, D.C. metro area as a strong and growing hub for technology startups.

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership will mark Hawkins retirement, effective Sunday, March 15, with a staff-centered farewell event. Stephanie Landrum will assume her new role as acting president and CEO on Sunday, March 15.