Celebrating a Night of Impact at the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner

Category: Event & Webinar Recaps

Celebrating a Night of Impact at the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner

Posted on by Board of Trade

More than 600 members, public officials, and regional leaders joined the Greater Washington Board of Trade on March 25 for the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, to share an evening grounded in connection, momentum, and purpose. 

Set within the breathtaking Washington National Cathedral, this year’s event blended elegance, tradition, and a collective commitment to the region’s future. Thanks to the support of our presenting sponsor, PNC, guests enjoyed a memorable evening featuring a gourmet dining experience from Ridgewells Catering and an atmosphere designed to spark meaningful conversations and lasting relationships. 

The Mid-Winter Dinner is more than a celebration; it is a cornerstone of regional leadership. For more than a century, this signature event has brought together changemakers to reflect, refocus, and recommit to advancing the Greater Washington region. In a moment when unity and cross-sector collaboration are more essential than ever, the evening underscored what is possible when our region comes together with clarity, purpose, and shared resolve. 

Let’s carry the spirit of Mid-Winter forward by strengthening connections, shaping policy, and building a stronger, more resilient region for all. 

View event photos from the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner here

View Step and Repeat photos from the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner here

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors for helping make this signature event truly unforgettable. 

 

Keeping Greater Washington Connected Requires a New Mobility Mindset

Posted on by Board of Trade

Transportation in Greater Washington is no longer just about traffic, transit lines, or long-planned infrastructure projects. It is about whether the region can function in a way that supports growth, access, and competitiveness in a very different economic and workforce environment than the one our systems were originally built to serve. 

At our recent Executive Lunch, sponsored by United Airlines, leaders from across the region discussed what modern mobility really requires. The conversation moved quickly from airports and Metro to congestion, housing, workforce access, and regional coordination. Underneath it all was a broader question: are we designing a transportation system around how people actually live and work today? 

A Strong System Still Has User Experience Gaps 

There was broad recognition around the table that Greater Washington has major transportation assets. Leaders pointed to progress at Dulles International Airport, including United’s new concourse opening later this year and longer-term efforts to continue modernizing the airport experience. Participants also noted the value of transit access to both airports and the importance of major investments already underway across the region. 

But one of the clearest themes from the discussion was that mobility is defined not only by what gets built, but by whether the system works in real life for the people who rely on it. Again and again, the conversation returned to time, convenience, and connectivity. 

Even where transit exists, it is often neither seamless nor fast enough, nor connected enough, to compete with the flexibility people need in their daily lives. For many residents, especially outside the urban core, driving remains the only practical option. For others, transit works for some trips, but not for the cross-regional movement that increasingly defines work and life in Greater Washington. That gap between access on paper and usability in practice is where much of the region’s frustration now sits. 

Mobility Is Now a Workforce and Competitiveness Issue 

That challenge is bigger than commuting. When mobility systems are fragmented or inefficient, they affect where employers locate, whether workers return to offices, how students access internships and campuses, and how families manage time and opportunity. 

That was one of the strongest takeaways from the lunch: mobility is no longer a standalone transportation issue. It sits alongside housing, workforce, and economic competitiveness as part of the same regional challenge. Systems originally designed around traditional downtown commuting now have to support more varied movement across the region while also responding to changing work patterns, affordability pressures, and employer needs. 

What Is the Region Solving For? 

The conversation also surfaced a harder but important question: what, exactly, is Greater Washington trying to optimize for? 

Is the goal to reduce congestion? Supporting downtown recovery? Expanding transit access? Improving convenience? Advancing sustainability goals? Increasing economic competitiveness? In practice, the region is trying to do all of those things at once, often through systems built separately and still operating that way today. 

That fragmentation remains one of the region’s biggest obstacles. Transportation systems have been developed over time across jurisdictions and agencies, with priorities that do not always align. No single project will solve that. A rebuilt bridge, a new lane, or a transit extension can help, but the broader point raised around the table was that the region needs a more integrated approach, one that reflects how people move today, not how systems were designed decades ago. 

Keeping Greater Washington connected will require more than investment alone. It will require stronger coordination, a clearer focus on outcomes, and a willingness to think regionally about mobility, access, and growth. That is not a secondary concern. It is foundational to the region’s future. 

To learn more about how your organization can be involved in our energy initiative, reach out to [email protected].  

Insights from the Table is a membership-driven series of takeaways from our Executive Lunches, where local and regional leaders help inform the Board of Trade’s thinking and shape the work we do in a rapidly evolving environment. These conversations help surface the practical challenges, emerging priorities, and regional opportunities that matter most to Greater Washington’s future. 

More on Regional Mobility in Greater Washington

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Strengthening the DMV Region’s Energy Future

Posted on by Board of Trade
We encourage all our members to engage with our energy policy initiatives and join the solutioning for a reliable, sustainable, and affordable power system.

The conversation around Greater Washington’s (DMV) energy future has shifted from a distant policy debate to a defining operational reality.

At our recent GWBOT Executive Lunch, the dialogue wasn’t just about kilowatts and transmission lines; it was about the collective resilience of our region and the urgent need to respond to an energy system that is changing faster than our infrastructure can keep pace. 

The Stark Reality: A Surge in Energy Demand 

The data behind this shift is staggering. Kevin Carey from AOBA highlighted insights from PJM Interconnection that paint a clear picture of the road ahead: we are facing a projected 30GW of load growth between 2025 and 2030, with an additional 30GW+ expected by 2040. This surge is largely propelled by our digital-first economy, with U.S. power demand from data centers expected to more than double from current levels. 

While demand is skyrocketing, our ability to meet it remains constrained. In 2025, only about 2 GW of new generation came online in PJM; a significant drop from the 5 GW added just the year prior. Perhaps most concerning is the bottleneck in the construction queue; of the ~44 GW of capacity currently in development, roughly three-quarters remain stalled in engineering or procurement.

What Those Numbers Mean to Regional Leaders  

The conversation revealed a shared understanding: energy reliability is the silent engine of regional economic development. Whether it’s Washington Gas emphasizing the importance of a diverse energy mix or WTOP sharing its ability to report on the infrastructure that connects us, every leader in the room recognized that our collective growth depends on a modern, robust grid. 

For our nonprofits and small businesses, the challenge is one of bandwidth. When you are heavily focused on a daily critical mission, whether it’s community health or essential services, finding the time to navigate complex energy policy can feel like an impossible addition to an already full plate. However, we discussed how even small, incremental steps, like understanding your organization’s capacity tag or advocating for streamlined local permitting, can make a difference. 

Leaders from Perkins Eastman and the Universities at Shady Grove urged us to build with adaptability in mind, pointing to the miles of railroad infrastructure that made perfect sense in one era, only to be torn out as technology and growth patterns changed. We must move quickly to support projects like Valley Link and Joshua Falls, but do so informed by innovative insight and research. We can’t afford temporary fixes; we need long-life infrastructure that keeps power dependable and costs predictable for employers across the region. 

A Call for Collaborative Action for Energy Future

The takeaway from our discussion was clear: the grid is the floor upon which we all stand. To keep it solid, we must collaborate to support each other and quickly address these critical needs with the most innovative and thought-out approach possible. Join the conversation in addressing critical questions such as: 

  • How can we streamline the 75% of stalled projects in the queue to get them online faster? 
  • How do we ensure our smallest community anchors aren’t left behind as energy costs fluctuate? 
  • Are we building the infrastructure that will still be powering the DMV 50 years from now? 

Now is the time for coordinated action across employers, utilities, and local jurisdictions. We encourage all our members to engage with our energy policy initiatives and join the solutioning for a reliable, sustainable, and affordable power system. 

To learn more about how your organization can be involved in our energy initiative, reach out to [email protected].  

Insights from the Table is a membership-driven series of specific takeaways from our Executive Lunches, where local and state leaders help inform our organization’s decisions and guide the work we do in a rapidly evolving regional environment. Your impact and insights matter to the growth of Greater Washington.

Board of Trade honors Jeremy Blank at Annual Chair’s Dinner

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Each year, the Board of Trade honors our outgoing Chair with an evening of celebration alongside board colleagues, coworkers, family, and friends. We were proud to host our Annual Chair’s Dinner recognizing Jeremy Blank, our 2025 Board Chair and a principal at Deloitte, in downtown Washington, D.C., at The Hay-Adams.

In 2025, the Board of Trade welcomed 29 new members, delivered 120+ programs and gatherings, achieved 91% member retention, and expanded our reach through stronger regional engagement in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Throughout his term, Jeremy helped guide the Board with steady dedication and a clear commitment to strengthening the Greater Washington region. His chairmanship reflected what makes this organization unique: a shared belief that when business leaders come together with purpose, they can help move the region forward.

Thank you to our board members, invited guests, and everyone who made the evening special, including a warm welcome for incoming Chair Tyler Anthony. Building on this year’s progress, we look forward to advancing our region’s work in 2026.

See pictures from the Chair’s Dinner below: 

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 About Greater Washington Board of Trade:  

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness. Learn more about the Board of Trade and its mission at www.boardoftrade.org. 

Our Next Signature Event: 

Connection Through Innovation: Highlights from the 2025 Capital Region Transportation Forum

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How can the Capital Region build a transportation system that keeps pace with growth and innovation? That was the central question we aimed to answer at the 2025 Capital Region Transportation Forum, hosted by the Greater Washington Partnership and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Held on December 2nd at George Washington University’s Jack Morton Auditorium in Washington, DC, the 8th annual forum brought together regional leaders and transportation stakeholders from across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Attendees examined the region’s most pressing transportation challenges—from funding and governance to emerging technologies and data-driven planning—while exploring strategies to create a more connected, efficient, and forward-looking system. 

A Closer Look at the State of Metro 

Randy Clarke, WMATA’s General Manager and CEO, opened the forum with a State of Metro address highlighting both the system’s recent progress and the work still ahead to modernize and stabilize operations. He pointed to significant improvements in reliability, ridership, and safety, advancements that helped Metro earn recognition as the nation’s top transit system and achieve a 60% boost in reliability since 2022. Clarke also underscored the agency’s looming capital funding challenges, stressing the need for a sustainable, predictable regional funding solution to maintain this momentum and support Metro’s essential role in workforce mobility and economic growth. Looking forward, he outlined a vision for a modern, dependable transit network built on long-term investment, regional alignment, and a shared commitment to delivering a world-class transit experience. 

DMVMoves: From Strategy to Action

A panel discussion on DMVMoves explored the region’s ongoing efforts to align governance, secure sustainable funding, and strengthen transit operations across jurisdictions. Moderated by Jack McDougle, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the conversation featured Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill and Capitol Transportation Consulting Principal and DMVMoves facilitator, Nick Donohue. 

The panelists highlighted the progress DMVMoves has made over the past year, culminating in a proposal for $460 million in new annual capital funding for Metro beginning in FY28, and underscored Metro’s criticality to residents, employers, and our greater region. They emphasized that addressing the region’s transportation challenges will require sustained, long-term collaboration that extends beyond the conclusion of the DMVMoves initiative. 

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Designing a Future-Ready Mobility Network

The forum concluded with a forward-looking conversation on how technology, data, and evolving innovation are reshaping the future of transportation. Moderated by Patrick McKenna, President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, the panel brought together Laura Schewel from StreetLight Data and Matthew Walsh from Waymo.  

Panelists shared insights on how real-time data, autonomous vehicles, and public-private partnerships, such as Transurban’s new 495 Express Lanes, can support smarter planning, more efficient use of resources, and better outcomes for commuters and communities alike. The discussion emphasized that the future of mobility depends not only on technology, but also on leadership that is willing and able to adapt to policies and investment strategies to match and enable innovation.  

From transit reliability and funding to advanced mobility solutions, the path forward for the region’s transportation systems requires regional coordination, sustainable investment, and bold leadership. 

The Greater Washington Partnership and the Greater Washington Board of Trade thank our speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to a dynamic and solution-driven conversation. Together, we are working to shape a transportation system that supports a stronger, more connected Capital Region.  

Watch the 2025 Capital Region Transportation Forum

 

Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

Building One Regional Voice: Highlights from the 2025 Annual Meeting

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Key takeaways on competitiveness, collaboration, and regional readiness as leaders across Greater Washington join the Board of Trade for its 136th Annual Meeting. 

The Greater Washington Board of Trade brought together more than 400 leaders from across business, government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector for the 136th Annual Meeting, presented by Kaiser Permanente. Attendees left with one clear message: Greater Washington is entering a defining era—one where collaboration, shared purpose, and a unified regional voice will determine our competitiveness for decades to come. 

The program opened with Emily Holliman, Interim Regional President and COO for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, who underscored the vital relationship between community health, economic strength, and workforce well-being. She spoke to Kaiser Permanente’s dedication to cultivating thriving communities—reinforcing why the organization has proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the Annual Meeting for 11 consecutive years. 

A Region at an Inflection Point 

Board of Trade President & CEO Jack McDougle delivered a candid and inspiring assessment of the past year—describing 2025 as consequential for the organization and the region. 

Greater Washington is experiencing profound shifts: 

  • The federal government is transforming how it operates, hires, invests, and uses physical space. 
  • AI, automation, electrification, and digital infrastructure are accelerating competitive pressures. 
  • Jurisdictions face resource constraints and competing priorities that require new levels of boldness and collaboration. 

McDougle emphasized that the pace of change won’t slow down—and we cannot afford to either. To meet this moment, regional leaders must move faster, think bigger, and work together more intentionally. 

Take a look at more photos from our Annual Meeting!

Regional Collaboration: From Aspiration to Reality 

A central theme echoed throughout the meeting: the future of Greater Washington depends on a new kind of regional collaboration—one that is durable, consistent, and grounded in shared priorities. 

McDougle highlighted several examples where this collaborative approach is taking hold: 

DMVMoves & the Future of Transit 

  • Metro was recognized as APTA’s 2025 Transit Agency of the Year, reflecting major progress in safety, reliability, and modernization. 
  • Through DMVMoves, leaders across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, WMATA, COG, business, and labor united behind recommendations for dedicated capital funding and a more integrated regional bus network. 

The DMV Monitor: A Shared Data Backbone 

  • In partnership with Brookings and COG, the Board of Trade helped shape the new DMV Monitor, providing a unified, regionwide framework for tracking economic and quality-of-place indicators. 

Talent Capital AI & Workforce Transition 

  • Working with the Consortium of Universities, COG, and D.C.’s education leaders, the region launched Talent Capital AI to support federal workers impacted by shifting workforce needs and technological change. 

The Potomac Conference: Building a Regional Formula 

  • The Board of Trade, Greater Washington Partnership, COG, and the Consortium of Universities are working together to create a shared structure for regional action on mobility, energy, competitiveness, talent, and governance. 

These efforts reflect a powerful shift—from fragmented decision-making to collective regional problem-solving. 

Toward a Unified Regional Voice 

One of the most resonant messages of the morning centered on identity:
Greater Washington lacks a common narrative and shared language about who we are—and who we aspire to be. 

For months, the Board of Trade has been working with APCO and member leaders to begin shaping a foundational story of the region. Attendees previewed early concepts that explore what defines the DMV and what truly differentiates us on a national and global stage. 

This work is at its beginning, but the goal is clear:
to build a unified, compelling regional voice that aligns leaders, strengthens competitiveness, and reflects the dynamism of our collective future. 

Learn More & Register for Our Next Signature Event

Keynote: How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift 

Keynote speaker Steve Goldbach, Principal and Sustainability Leader at Deloitte US, delivered a timely message from his book Hone: How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift. He urged leaders to avoid “wait-and-see” decision-making—arguing that in times of rapid change, the status quo is often the riskiest strategy. 

Goldbach encouraged the region to embrace continuous honing—small, purposeful adjustments that realign systems and structures with the future we want to build. His insights reinforced the regional themes of adaptability, shared responsibility, and stepping boldly into change. 

Learn more about our Keynote Speaker here

Celebrating a High-Impact Year 

Outgoing Board Chair Jeremy Blank of Deloitte highlighted major achievements that reflect the Board of Trade’s growing reach and energy: 

Membership & Engagement 

  • 95% of member companies engaged in programs and events 
  • 91% projected retention—well above association norms 
  • 29 new member organizations joining in 2025 

Thought Leadership & Visibility 

  • 12 million impressions through the WTOP “Regional Business Insights” series
  • High-impact placements across regional media outlets
  • Consistent presence on stages and at tables where the future of the region is being shaped

Blank emphasized that the Board of Trade is not a passive membership—it is an active platform. “Membership is like a gym,” he said. “You get out what you put into it.” 

New Leadership, Shared Momentum 

Incoming Chair Tyler Anthony of Pepco Holdings accepted the gavel, expressing his commitment to continuing the region’s positive momentum. 

Anthony highlighted three imperatives for 2026: 

  • Deepening regional collaboration across sectors 
  • Championing the big issues—transit, talent, economy, and infrastructure 
  • Strengthening the collective regional voice 

He encouraged organizations to continue sending their best people into this work, treating the Board of Trade as a regional team, not a collection of individual institutions. 

Looking Ahead: A Region Ready to Move Together 

This year’s Annual Meeting showcased something powerful:
Greater Washington is not waiting for perfect clarity. It is choosing to act—together, with purpose, and with a growing sense of shared identity. 

As the region undergoes generational transformation, the Board of Trade will continue to convene the people, data, partnerships, and strategic insight needed to move in one direction as one regional voice.  

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Together, we are building a Greater Washington that is bold, collaborative, unified—and ready for the future. 

 

Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support 

Big Bets, Real Discipline: What We Heard from Governor Wes Moore

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The Board of Trade hosted Maryland Governor Wes Moore on November 18 for a fireside chat with MGM National Harbor President & COO Melonie Johnson, bringing together executives from business, nonprofit, academia, and government from across the Capital Region to talk frankly about growth, risk, and what comes next for Maryland and the region’s economy. 

The backdrop was serious. Maryland is staring at a projected budget gap of roughly $1.4–$1.5 billion in fiscal year 2027, even after earlier tax and spending changes. At the same time, the state is positioning itself to lead in quantum, AI, life sciences, and other high-growth sectors through major initiatives like the “Capital of Quantum” and a new AI partnership with Anthropic and Percepta. 

Local coverage rightly highlighted the tension: WUSA9 framed the afternoon around “economic revival amid budget deficit concerns,” while WTOP focused on Moore’s call for business leaders to “take big bets” in 2026. 

Our lens is simple: what does all of this mean for leaders across the Capital Region? 

 Why this moment matters for our members

Maryland is a core pillar of the regional economy. When its fiscal strategy or growth model shifts, the effects don’t stop at the state line; they ripple through hiring, investment, and competitiveness across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. 

Two realities framed the discussion on stage: 

  • Federal dependence is no longer predictable. Coming out of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, Moore was direct about how much of Maryland’s economic and fiscal base is currently tied to the federal government and how much less predictable that arm has become.  
  • The opportunity set is changing fast. Initiatives like the $1 billion “Capital of Quantum” and the state’s AI partnership are designed to reposition Maryland around sectors that can drive long-term revenue, higher-wage jobs, and regional competitiveness. 

For employers, that combination of constraint and opportunity is exactly where strategy gets tested. 

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Big bets with guardrails 

Moore framed his agenda around three imperatives: 

  • Grow the economy. Make it easier for companies to come to Maryland, stay in Maryland, and scale, with an emphasis on durable private investment rather than short-lived incentives. 
  • Diversify the economy. Strengthen sectors like quantum and advanced computing, cybersecurity, life sciences, climate and resilience solutions, and other innovation industries so Maryland isn’t overly exposed to federal spending cycles and job cuts. 
  • Move faster. He challenged both government and business to move beyond a culture of “no and slow” and toward a more disciplined “yes and now”; shortening timelines, reducing friction, and being more intentional about where risk is worth taking. 

For the business community, the ask was straightforward: align your 2026–27 “big bets” with the places where Maryland and the Capital Region are deliberately building capacity, take risks, and be part of making those bets succeed. 

A regional lens on competitiveness 

A consistent theme of the afternoon was regionalism. As WTOP noted, Moore told the room that when he pitches companies, one of the main things he sells is not just Maryland in isolation but the strength of the broader DMV. 

What resonated most was his emphasis on working with D.C. and Virginia on transit, talent, and energy. These are regional systems, and if we align them, we strengthen Maryland and the broader Capital Region. That’s the kind of collaboration our business community is ready to support. 

Read more on the Board of Trade’s regional focus discussed in recent publications:

What’s next 

For the Board of Trade, this fireside chat is the continuation of a deeper set of conversations and workstreams. Be part of the conversation and growing our region’s economy – the Board of Trade calls on you to:  

  • Stress-test your 2026–27 strategy against the region’s direction. As you plan capital investments, expansions, and hiring, ask where they intersect with Maryland’s and the Capital Region’s emerging strengths in quantum, AI, cybersecurity, life sciences, and resilience. 
  • Engage on both growth and discipline. Fiscal constraints make it more important to advance projects and policies that deliver long-term economic value. The business community’s voice will be critical in shaping which investments move forward and how they’re structured. 
  • Stay at the regional table. Through DMV Moves, the Potomac Conference, and ongoing executive convenings, the Board of Trade will continue bringing business, government, and civic leaders together to tackle transit, energy, digital infrastructure, and talent issues at the scale they actually exist: the Capital Region.  

We’re grateful to Governor Wes Moore for his candor, to Melonie Johnson and MGM National Harbor for hosting, and to every member who joined us. 

This is not a moment for “no and slow.” It’s a moment for informed, collaborative “yes and now” and our region’s business and civic leaders will be central to making that real. 

 

Thank you to MGM National Harbor for helping support the Board of Trade’s mission. 

Voices from the Table: October Insights

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When leaders across the Capital Region gather around a table, talk turns quickly from problems to progress. October’s conversations were about how to keep this region competitive and what it will take to move faster, smarter, and together. 

Why it matters 

The Capital Region has the assets to lead – world-class talent, location, and innovation capacity. But growth is uneven; infrastructure is aging; and coordination is hard. Leaders agreed: progress depends on connection – with each other, across sectors, jurisdictions, and priorities. 

What we heard 

Energy is a business issue now.
Leaders warned that the region’s energy and digital systems aren’t keeping pace with demand from data centers, EVs, and electrified transit. Reliability, modernization, and investment coordination will define competitiveness more than incentives alone. 

Mobility drives momentum.
With our region now the nation’s most congested metro, transportation has become the clearest constraint and opportunity. Executives called for bold P3 models, smarter design, and regional planning that moves people, goods, and ideas more efficiently. Connectivity isn’t just infrastructure; it’s economic oxygen. 

Purpose is part of performance.
Corporate–nonprofit partnerships are shifting. Companies are building trust through measurable, community-anchored impact aligning social investment with workforce stability, inclusion, and regional resilience. 

The big picture 

Across energy, transit, and social investment, the message was consistent: the Capital Region doesn’t need perfect regionalism; it needs practical alignment. Businesses can’t fix every policy challenge, but they can model collaboration, accountability, and long-term investment in the systems that sustain growth. 

Leaders know politics are tough and progress is incremental. But momentum builds when the right people stay at the table; aligning ambition with action, and vision with execution. 

Food for thought 

  • How do we modernize energy, transit, and digital systems fast enough to support growth sectors? 
  • What practical partnerships can turn fragmentation into a shared advantage? 
  • How can business leadership rebuild confidence that growth can be both competitive and inclusive? 

Bottom line: The Capital Region’s economy will grow when its leaders connect on purpose, with purpose. 

Executive Leadership Roundtable Recap: What Regional Leaders Are Watching

Posted on by Board of Trade

When conditions feel wobbly underfoot, the horizon matters most. Near-term signals can shake; what counts is the broader trajectory—and how leaders adapt. To compare notes on shifting conditions in the region, senior executives met on October 17 at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field’s Washington, D.C., office for a candid Executive Leadership Roundtable with Tom Barkin, President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The value came from leaders comparing notes in real time, connecting front-line experience with broader economic context.

Several recurring trends emerged

People & Demand

Hiring remains muted but stable—a low-hire/low-fire posture with attrition doing most of the work. Candidate availability has improved across many roles, but skilled trades, childcare, and eldercare remain tight. On the demand side, consumers are choosier and value-seeking, trading down (e.g., private label; repair vs. replace), with meaningful variability by sector.

Productivity & Operating Models

To protect margins, many firms are leaning into process redesign, automation, and practical AI—especially in support workflows (documentation, collections, customer contact). In practice, these moves often substitute for incremental hiring while leaders monitor service quality and outcomes.

Systems & Infrastructure

Capital planning assumes multiple interest-rate paths rather than a single trajectory. Supply chains continue to localize (“local-for-local”) where feasible as trade policy evolves. Meanwhile, accelerating demand from AI/data centers is colliding with long lead times for generation and transmission—raising near-term questions about power readiness. In commercial real estate, office softness (particularly B/C space in large cores) contrasts with relative strength in industrial, logistics, and data-center assets; the DMV feels the office adjustment more acutely than many markets.

Why it matters

The throughline wasn’t a single indicator; it was operating adaptation. Old playbooks map poorly to today’s pace and complexity. What’s working now: diversified talent strategies, productivity investments (including practical AI), financial flexibility, and regional alignment on housing and transportation to keep our talent advantage.

What leaders are watching next

  • Labor fit: Will skills pipelines (training, credentials, migration) keep pace with role requirements?
  • Cost pass-through vs. productivity: Can process/tech gains continue to offset input costs without eroding service?
  • Grid readiness: How quickly can generation/transmission investments meet data-center demand without bottlenecks?

The Board of Trade will continue convening executive-level dialogues that surface timely insights and connect them to practical action for our region.

​​Thank you to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field for partnering on this vital discussion that engages our members and partners in the region.

Coffee & Conversation Recap: Confronting Hunger and Economic Insecurity in Greater Washington

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October’s Coffee & Conversation featured leaders from the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), who shared key findings from their 2025 Hunger Report – a sobering look at how economic pressures, wage stagnation, and federal workforce transitions are shaping food insecurity across the region. 

According to CAFB’s research with NORC at the University of Chicago, 36% of households in the DMV are food insecure, a rate that has remained elevated for two consecutive years. County rates range from 22% in Arlington to 49% in Prince George’s County, underscoring how widespread and persistent this challenge has become. The report points to deepening strain on working families as inflation outpaces wages and pandemic-era support expires. 

“We see families borrowing against their futures to meet today’s basic needs,” said CAFB President & CEO Radha Muthiah. “People are skipping savings, taking on credit-card debt, and even withdrawing from retirement accounts just to put food on the table.” 

Many food-insecure households include employed adults – teachers, healthcare workers, and public servants – earning too little to meet the region’s $140,000 living-wage threshold for a family of four. The conversation highlighted that solving hunger isn’t simply about distributing more food – it’s about strengthening the systems that enable financial stability. 

CAFB leaders shared examples of innovative partnerships that bundle food assistance with healthcare and workforce training, including Food Is Medicine programs with area hospitals and grocery-card stipends for college students pursuing credentials in high-demand fields. These integrated approaches aim to improve both individual well-being and regional productivity. 

Board of Trade President & CEO Jack McDougle closed by underscoring the economic stakes: 

“Food insecurity isn’t just a social issue; it’s an economic one. If we want Greater Washington to reach its full potential, we need to connect more people to opportunity and stability.” 

 

What the Business Community Can Do 

The conversation turned to practical steps the private sector can take to help reverse these trends: 

  • Advocate and support efforts that protect access to nutrition and healthcare programs like SNAP and school meals, which help working families stay afloat. 
  • Promote “Food Is Medicine” partnerships by engaging with healthcare systems and nonprofits to strengthen community health and workforce resilience. 
  • Invest in upskilling and talent pathways—collaborate with colleges and training providers to recruit, mentor, and support individuals moving into living-wage careers. 

By working together across sectors, employers can help address the root causes of hunger while building a healthier, more productive regional economy. 

Read the full 2025 Hunger Report: Capital Area Food Bank Hunger Report 2025 

About Coffee & Conversation

Coffee & Conversation brings Board of Trade members together for interactive, member-led discussions on timely topics shaping Greater Washington. Each session features a concise expert briefing, open dialogue, and time for coffee and networking – offering valuable insights, peer exchange, and meaningful professional connections.

Visit boardoftrade.org/events for more programming.

​​Thank you to the Capital Area Food Bank for partnering on this vital discussion that engages our members and partners in the region.

Featured Members