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DTSTART:20260409T123000Z
DTEND:20260409T153000Z
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SUMMARY:Titans of the Toll Road || Latest Trends in Workforce Development: Exploring Business and Academia's Role
DESCRIPTION:TITANS OF THE TOLL ROAD\nLatest Trends in Workforce Development:\n\nExploring Business and Academia's Role \n\n \nJoin the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce's Innovation & Technology Council for their bi-yearly panelist discussion. \n\n \n\nThis Titans of the Toll Road panel brings together regional business leaders\, technology innovators and academic executives to address one of the most pressing challenges facing employers today: \n\n \n\nHow can we pivot and leverage technology to recruit\, engage\, and/or prepare the workforce of tomorrow\n\n and avoid a growing talent gap that threatens competitiveness? \n\n \n\nThe discussion will focus on real-world strategies employers are using today to attract\, develop\, and retain talent in a rapidly changing labor market one where skills\, adaptability\, and continuous learning are replacing traditional titles and degrees as new currency. \n\n\n\n\nKey Topics Panelists Will Explore:\n\n\n How technology and AI are reshaping workforce expectations and productivity \n Where education and industry are misaligned and how to close the gap \n How employers can leverage technology\, partnerships\, and culture to compete for talent in 2026 & beyond \n\n\nDMV Regional Context & Relevance:\n\n\n\nAs one of the most economically powerful and innovation-driven regions in the country\, Fairfax County and Northern Virginia sit at the center of workforce transformation home to global enterprises\, emerging technology leaders\, and world-class academic institutions. This discussion is designed to reflect the unique talent dynamics\, policy environment\, and growth pressures facing employers across the region\, and to foster collaboration that strengthens Northern Virginia's long-term competitiveness.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nSponsorship Opportunities Available: \n\n\n\n\n\nBreakfast Sponsorship - $500 \n\n\n Spotlight business on online registration page \n Special signage at breakfast & networking area\n Prominent Logo displayed during presentation \n Opportunity to speak during Welcome Remarks and welcome Moderator\n Two (2) complimentary registration tickets for representatives\n One (1) 6ft table at Business Exhibition \n\n\nTable Exhibitor - (Chamber Member $250 || Non Member $350)\n\n\n Spotlight your business with a 6ft table at our Business Exhibition \n Logo displayed during presentation \n Two (2) complimentary registration ticket for representatives \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThank You to our Location Sponsor: \n\nTrajectory Event Center \n\n\nBuild The Community - Advance the Tradecraft - Accelerate Innovation \n\nThe United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation. We are dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government\, industry\, academia\, professional organizations\, and individuals who develop and apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF achieves its mission through various programs\, initiatives and events. \n\n\n About USGIF\n About Trajectory Event Center \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nMeet Our Incredible Speakers: \n\n \n\n\n\n\nChidilim "Chi" Okonkwo is a Director leading the Agency Financial Systems in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at NASA HQ. Designed Agency Business Process Lead with oversight of a portfolio of Budget\, Performance and Financial Management applications valued at over $7M. Recommends investment decisions and solutions meets emerging enterprise needs in a compliant\, business driven and value-added approach. She's energized by the adoption of emerging technology including data visualization\, RPA\, blockchain and artificial intelligence to transform & empower the federal workforce of the future. \n\nLINKED-IN\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nAt Abbtech Professional Resources\, a family-owned staffing business supporting clients across the US\, Threase Baker remains dedicated to advancing technology to enhance the candidate experience. In 2025\, she was named to the executive committee of the Professional Services Council\, the voice of the government technology and professional service industry\, representing companies that deliver innovative solutions to federal agencies. Baker takes immense pride in supporting its mission to advocate for policies that strengthen the sector and enhance service delivery to government customers. A seasoned executive\, she plans to continue serving the staffing industry as a leader\, volunteer and advocate. \n\nLINKED-IN\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLiza Wilson Durant is the associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement\, and a professor and associate dean at the College of Engineering and Computing. She is currently the director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative's (CCI) Northern Virginia Node. The CCI is a $17.5 million initiative to ensure Virginia is recognized as a global leader in secure cyber-physical systems and in the digital economy more broadly for decades to come by supporting world-class research at the intersection of data\, autonomy\, and security\, promoting technology\, commercialization\, and entrepreneurship\; and preparing future generations of innovators and research leaders. She is focused on building meaningful partnerships across the university with external corporate\, government\, academic\, non-profit\, and global entities to support the mission of the College of Engineering and Computing and the strategic objectives of George Mason University. \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nMaureen Keating is the Founder and CEO of Swytch\, a career platform built to help people and employers find better-fit matches during moments of change. Based in Boulder\, Colorado\, Maureen brings more than 20 years of experience building and launching products across consumer and enterprise software\, with roles spanning product management\, product marketing\, and strategy. At Swytch\, Maureen focuses on a simple idea: hiring works best when it treats people like people. She works with employers to clarify what the team truly needs next\, and with candidates to connect their experience to roles where they can perform and grow. Maureen has helped shape workforce pilots with universities\, including Swytch's aerospace-focused work with the University of Colorado-Boulder\, designed to expand access to high-growth aerospace roles and connect employers with candidates who are ready to contribute. Before Swytch\, Maureen led go-to-market and product work at companies including Apple\, Adobe\, and Cisco\, where she helped teams translate customer needs into products that shipped and grew. She has also worked as a product management instructor and enterprise product consultant\, helping teams develop clearer product thinking and execution discipline. \n\nLINKED-IN\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCathy Morgan serves as the Regional Director for Apprenti\, where she is responsible for driving strategic business development for growth for companies through registered apprenticeship programs across the East Coast. Prior to joining Apprenti\, Ms. Morgan successfully led two non-profit organizations\, the Tallahassee Sickle Cell Foundation and NPower Maryland\, from inception to substantial growth. Ms. Morgan's professional experience spans over two decades\, focusing on historically untapped and under-resourced communities\, income-constrained and second-chance targeted groups: including women\, veterans and opportunity youth. Throughout her leadership progression\, Ms. Morgan has consistently elevated C-Suite talent strategies that prioritize a skills-based "Earn & Learn" model with leading Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. Additionally\, she has spearheaded several workforce-equity minded development programs in technology and healthcare and cultivated robust corporate and community partnerships with think tanks\, advocacy and policy groups\, and other workforce intermediaries. \n\nLINKED-IN\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChris Scalia serves as Senior Vice President and Talent Executive at Leidos\, based in Reston\, Virgina. He leads enterprise talent strategy for the company's 48\,000-person global workforce\, partnering closely with executive leadership\, HR teams\, and business leaders to align talent initiatives with enterprise growth objectives. Mr. Scalia oversees all aspects of talent acquisition\, learning and developing\, succession planning\, and internal mobility. He plays a key role in customer engagement\, translating mission requirements into strategic workforce solutions that strengthen organizational capability and deliver business results. \n\nLINKED-IN\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTitans of the Toll Road is produced by the Innovation Council of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This semi-annual event spotlights the dynamic\, and innovative\, business community operating in the Dulles Corridor. Key business leaders provide insight into the industries that are growing our local economy and share their perspectives on how their location in our region has impacted their operations. Attendees are provided the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals while gaining invaluable knowledge to propel their own success and innovation!
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\n
TITANS OF THE TOLL ROAD
\n
Latest Trends in Workforce Development:
\nExploring Business and Academia'\;s Role \;\n \;\n
Join the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce'\;s Innovation &\; Technology Council for their bi-yearly panelist discussion.
\n \;
\n\n
This Titans of the Toll Road panel brings together regional business leaders\, technology innovators and academic executives to address one of the most pressing challenges facing employers today:
\n\n
\;
\n\n
How can we pivot and leverage technology to recruit\, engage\, and/or prepare the workforce of tomorrow
\n&mdash\; and avoid a growing talent gap that threatens competitiveness?
\n \;
\n\n
The discussion will focus on real-world strategies employers are using today to attract\, develop\, and retain talent in a rapidly changing labor market &mdash\; one where skills\, adaptability\, and continuous learning are replacing traditional titles and degrees as new currency.
\n
\nKey Topics Panelists Will Explore:
\n\n\n - How technology and AI are reshaping workforce expectations and productivity \;
\n - Where education and industry are misaligned \;&mdash\; and how to close the gap \;
\n - How employers can leverage technology\, partnerships\, and culture to compete for talent in 2026 &\; beyond \;
\n
\n\nDMV Regional Context &\; Relevance:
\n
\nAs one of the most economically powerful and innovation-driven regions in the country\, Fairfax County and Northern Virginia sit at the center of workforce transformation home to global enterprises\, emerging technology leaders\, and world-class academic institutions. This discussion is designed to reflect the unique talent dynamics\, policy environment\, and growth pressures facing employers across the region\, and to foster collaboration that strengthens Northern Virginia'\;s long-term competitiveness.
\n\n\n
\n \;
\n\n
\n
Sponsorship Opportunities Available: \;
\n
\n
\nBreakfast Sponsorship - $500 \;
\n\n
\n - Spotlight business on online registration page \;
\n - Special signage at breakfast &\; networking area
\n - Prominent Logo displayed during presentation \; \;
\n - Opportunity to speak during Welcome Remarks and welcome Moderator
\n - Two (2) complimentary registration tickets for representatives
\n - One (1) 6ft table at Business Exhibition \;
\n
\n\n
Table Exhibitor - (Chamber Member $250 || Non Member $350)
\n\n
\n - Spotlight your business with a 6ft table at our Business Exhibition \;
\n - Logo displayed during presentation \;
\n - Two (2) complimentary registration ticket for representatives \; \;
\n
\n\n
\nThank You to our Location Sponsor: \;Trajectory Event Center \;
\n\n\n
Build The Community - Advance the Tradecraft - Accelerate Innovation \;
\nThe United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation. We are dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government\, industry\, academia\, professional organizations\, and individuals who develop and apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF achieves its mission through various programs\, initiatives and events. \;
\n\n
\n\n
\;
\n\n
\n\n
\n
\;
\n
Meet Our \;Incredible Speakers: \;
\n \;
\n\n\n
\n\n
Chidilim "\;Chi"\; Okonkwo \;is a \;Director \;leading the \;Agency Financial Systems \;in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at \;NASA HQ. \;Designed Agency Business Process Lead with oversight of a portfolio of Budget\, Performance and Financial Management applications valued at over $7M. Recommends investment decisions and solutions meets emerging enterprise needs in a compliant\, business driven and value-added approach. She'\;s energized by the adoption of emerging technology including data visualization\, RPA\, blockchain and artificial intelligence to transform &\; empower the federal workforce of the future. \;
\n\n
\n\n
\n
At Abbtech Professional Resources\, a family-owned staffing business supporting clients across the US\, Threase Baker remains dedicated to advancing technology to enhance the candidate experience. In 2025\, she was named to the executive committee of the Professional Services Council\, the voice of the government technology and professional service industry\, representing companies that deliver innovative solutions to federal agencies. Baker takes immense pride in supporting its mission to advocate for policies that strengthen the sector and enhance service delivery to government \;customers. A seasoned executive\, she plans to continue serving the staffing industry as a leader\, volunteer and advocate. \;
\n\n
\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\nLiza Wilson Durant \;is the associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement\, and a professor and associate dean at the College of Engineering and Computing. She is currently the director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative'\;s (CCI) Northern Virginia Node. The CCI is a $17.5 million initiative to ensure Virginia is recognized as a global leader in secure cyber-physical systems and in the digital economy more broadly for decades to come by supporting world-class research at the intersection of data\, autonomy\, and security\, promoting technology\, commercialization\, and entrepreneurship\; and preparing future generations of innovators and research leaders. She is focused on building meaningful \;partnerships across the university with external corporate\, government\, academic\, non-profit\, and global entities to support the mission of the College of Engineering and Computing and \;the strategic objectives of George Mason University. \;
\n\n
\;
\n
\n
\n
\n
Maureen Keating \;is the Founder and CEO of Swytch\, a career platform built to help people and employers find better-fit matches during moments of change. Based in Boulder\, Colorado\, Maureen brings more than 20 years of experience building and launching products across consumer and enterprise software\, with roles spanning product management\, product marketing\, and strategy. At Swytch\, Maureen focuses on a simple idea: hiring works best when it treats people like people. She works with employers to clarify what the team truly needs next\, and with candidates to connect their experience to roles where they can perform and grow. Maureen has helped shape workforce pilots with universities\, including Swytch'\;s aerospace-focused work with the University of Colorado-Boulder\, designed to expand access to high-growth aerospace roles and connect employers with candidates who are ready to contribute. \;Before Swytch\, Maureen led go-to-market and product work at companies including Apple\, Adobe\, and Cisco\, where she helped teams translate customer needs into products that shipped and grew. She has also worked as a product management instructor and enterprise product consultant\, helping teams develop clearer product thinking and execution discipline. \;\n
LINKED-IN\n
\n
\n\n
\n
Cathy Morgan \;serves \;as the Regional Director for Apprenti\, where she is responsible for driving strategic business development for growth for companies through registered apprenticeship programs across the East Coast. Prior to joining Apprenti\, Ms. Morgan successfully led two non-profit organizations\, the Tallahassee Sickle Cell Foundation and NPower Maryland\, from inception to substantial growth. Ms. Morgan'\;s professional experience spans over two decades\, focusing on historically untapped and under-resourced communities\, income-constrained and second-chance targeted groups: including women\, veterans and opportunity youth. Throughout her leadership progression\, Ms. Morgan has consistently elevated C-Suite talent strategies that prioritize a skills-based "\;Earn &\; Learn"\; model with leading Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. Additionally\, she has spearheaded several workforce-equity minded development programs in technology and healthcare and cultivated robust corporate \;and community partnerships with think tanks\, advocacy and policy groups\, and other workforce intermediaries. \;\n
LINKED-IN\n
\n
\n
\n
Chris Scalia \;serves \;as Senior Vice President and Talent Executive at Leidos\, based in Reston\, Virgina. He leads enterprise talent strategy for the company'\;s 48\,000-person global workforce\, partnering closely with executive leadership\, HR teams\, and business leaders to align talent initiatives with enterprise growth objectives. Mr. Scalia oversees all aspects of talent acquisition\, learning and developing\, succession planning\, and internal mobility. He plays a key role in customer engagement\, translating mission requirements into strategic workforce solutions that strengthen organizational capability and deliver business results. \;\n
LINKED-IN\n\n
\;
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n
\nTitans of the Toll Road is produced by the \;Innovation Council \;of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. \; This semi-annual event spotlights the dynamic\, and innovative\, business community operating in the Dulles Corridor. \; Key business leaders provide insight into the industries that are growing our local economy and share their perspectives on how their location in our region has impacted their operations. \; Attendees are provided the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals while gaining invaluable knowledge to propel their own success and innovation!
\n
