2024 Election Regional Safety & Travel

Category: Member News

2024 Election Regional Safety & Travel

Posted on by Board of Trade

Stay Safe & Connected This Election Season

Local and federal agencies in D.C. are actively preparing for the 2024 Presidential Election season, anticipating any potential safety concerns the region could face. Below are updates from transportation, government, and business officials regarding the week of the Presidential Election—a crucial period for Downtown D.C. and the Greater Washington area. The Board of Trade is committed to keeping our business community informed and will continue providing timely updates through Inauguration Day.

Key Dates We Will Follow:

  • Nov. 4-10: Election Week
  • Jan. 6-10: Election Certification Week in Congress
  • Jan. 19-21: Inauguration Week

Safety Information

D.C. Government:

D.C. successfully requested that the upcoming election certification on Jan. 6 be considered a National Special Security Event, a classification similarly applied to Inauguration Day by the government.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office hosted a media briefing on Oct. 22nd to discuss the city’s preparations for the Election Day security and the rest of the Election season, including the week of the election certification and inauguration at the beginning of next year.

Deputy Mayor Nina Albert also held a stakeholders briefing on Oct. 24th that addressed further ways the city is addressing safety concerns, including sharing that people to sign up for alerts at alertdc.gov to stay up to date with important safety and travel updates regarding election season.

The mayor’s office expressed:

  • The need for patience as it could take weeks or days for a winner to be declared in the 2024 Presidential Election
  • Please be careful about misinformation or false information about election security and activities in Downtown D.C., specifically about what is being said on social media.
  • Stay prepared for a fluid and unpredictable security environment with extremist groups and possible civil unrest.

Capital Police:

The National Park Service (NPS) has instituted a partial closure in Lafayette Park and along the White House sidewalks for public safety in support of preparation and activities associated with the presidential inauguration. Closures will remain in place through February 2025. The northern part of Lafayette Park remains open for visitors and First Amendment activities. This year, work began Oct. 1 to accommodate additional time needed for a safer and more secure environment for construction activities. The Washington Post has also confirmed that Capitol Police is working with the D.C. National Guard to coordinate response needs better ahead of key election and inauguration dates.

DC Board of Elections:

Monica Evans, the executive director of the D.C. Board of Elections, said in a recent Washington Post story thatn“The D.C. Board of Elections added armed security to its office headquarters and mail ballot processing center this year.” For more on the DC Board of Elections work during this election season check out their “checklist” for this November.

Department of Homeland Security:

The Department of Homeland Security has classified the upcoming electoral count, set for January 6, 2025, as a National Special Security Event. This designation grants the traditionally routine post-election event the same heightened security typically reserved for presidential inaugurations and political conventions. The Secret Service, which will oversee security for the count, has confirmed this arrangement.

Learn more about the election security measures being taken by DHS here.

Metropolitan Police Department:

While there has been no indication of any large-scale protests, events, demonstrations, or violent activities, MPD said in the statement to the Board of Trade that it encourages the public to remain vigilant. If you see something, say something. Please report threats and emergencies to 911. Keep your community safe by reporting suspicious activity by calling 202-727-9099, texting 50411, or visiting iwatchdc.org. Additionally, DC government will be in touch with business groups in the next week to schedule routine calls on security. Let me know if you need help being connected with the appropriate people scheduling those meetings.

MWCOG & Emergency Preparedness Council:

These two groups have been working hard to help share the importance of fighting mis-/dis-/mal-information surrounding the election and have been sharing information and strategies with government and business leaders on effective counterstrategiesin the context of the 2024 elections. In 2023, the MWCOG Board approved a resolution calling for continued regional participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which provides local and state election officials with voter reports to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy. The board continues to encourage full participation by the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia in this resource. COG also convenes a regional Election Officials Technical Committee to coordinate and share information across jurisdictions.

Transportation Information

Election Night Traffic Updates

Vice President Kamala Harris will be having her Election Day headaquaters at Howard University, which has led to traffic reroutes in the area. Below is the map:

Inauguration Day Route Preparations in Downtwon D.C.

Right now, DDOT is planning to repave the Inauguration Day route and this could cause delays as this work continues through parts of Election Season. Below is a look at the Inauguration Day route (labled in red below) that extends from the White House to the U.S. Capitol Building. Pedestrian walking routes are also labled below in green and are vital to know if you will be in the area on Inauguration Day.

Inauguration Day Vehicle Access in Downtwon D.C.

Mayor Bowser met with D.C. Council recently to discuss safety preperation for Inauguration Day. In her presentation, her office included the vehcile access points for Inauguration Day from 2021, highlighting there will likely be a similar concept for Inauguration Day for this election cycle. Below is a look at the limited access drivers will see. The National Park Service has not released road closures yet, but you can check for more as they prepare for Inauguration Day here.

Advice For Downtown Businesses

Sign up to receive real-time alerts from the District on public safety, traffic impacts, and more on election and inauguration updates by visiting alertdc.dc.gov.

ReadyDC has resources to help businesses create emergency plans, protect critical information, and improve your workforce’s personal preparedness efforts. Learn more by visiting ready.dc.gov/business.

Report suspicious activity. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, report it at iwatchdc.org inform a police officer or call 911 if there is an emergency or you are in immediate danger. Also, keep up-to-date on the latest on Inuauguration Day from D.C. Government here.

Board of Trade members named to WBJ Power 100 list

Posted on by Board of Trade

The Board of Trade was proud and honored to see so many member organizations and its executive leaders named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2024 Power 100 list, including our very own President & CEO, Jack McDougle.

This recognition of Board of Trade members highlights the diverse business interests and sectors in which our organization makes an impact, all contributing to our mission of advancing the Greater Washington region as the best place to live and work.

Checkout WBJ’s full Power 100 list here. And see below the member organization executives that were honored!

The Future of Communications: AI’s Role in Shaping Corporate Strategy

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On September 10, the Board of Trade, in partnership with Grayling Communications, launched its Coffee & Conversation series, bringing together industry leaders to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in corporate communication strategies. As AI continues to reshape how businesses interact with their audiences, manage reputations, and streamline operations, it’s crucial for organizations to stay informed and adaptable. Grayling provided invaluable insights into both the opportunities and challenges presented by this transformative technology.

The session highlighted practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly into communication functions, with a focus on human empowerment and organizational progress. Below, we recap the key takeaways and offer a summary of Grayling’s presentation, providing a roadmap for businesses looking to leverage AI effectively.

Key Insights from the Discussion

  • AI Evolution and Future Trends
    AI tools are rapidly advancing, and we’re on the cusp of seeing personalized AI assistants becoming a standard business tool. Companies must prepare for AI’s continuous evolution to remain competitive in a fast-paced digital environment.
  • Shifts in the Workforce
    As with previous technological revolutions, AI will lead to significant shifts in the job market. Certain roles will disappear, while others will emerge, emphasizing the need for adaptive skill development and forward-thinking workforce strategies.
  • Human-Centric Implementation
    Successful AI adoption is not just about technology—it’s 70% about people. Ensuring that AI integrates seamlessly with human interaction is critical to unlocking its full potential. AI should augment, not replace, human decision-making.
  • Leadership and Organizational Empowerment
    AI implementation must be driven by leadership, with clear ambitions, guidelines, and oversight. Top-down leadership ensures alignment across the organization and legitimizes AI as a vital tool for business success.
  • Time Savings and Efficiency
    A major indicator of AI’s success is its ability to save time and streamline processes. Smart integration of AI can lead to significant efficiency gains, allowing organizations to focus on higher-value strategic initiatives.
  • Empowering Talent
    Companies can unlock greater value by leveraging their top-performing employees to train others in the organization on how to utilize AI. This approach fosters internal growth and strengthens the overall workforce.
  • Measuring Success through KPIs
    Cost savings and operational efficiency are the primary metrics for measuring AI success. Companies that fail to adopt AI risk being left behind, missing opportunities for enhanced competitiveness and innovation.

A Comprehensive Guide to AI in Communications
Grayling’s whitepaper, Unlocking AI Innovation from the Ground Up, dives deeper into how businesses can harness the collaboration between humans and machines to foster innovation and drive results. The whitepaper covers crucial aspects of AI adoption, from ethical considerations to practical implementation tips, making it a valuable resource for businesses navigating the AI landscape.

Looking Ahead
As AI continues to develop, businesses must stay ahead of the curve, integrating AI strategically while maintaining a human-first approach. The insights shared during the Coffee & Conversation event offer a foundation for responsible AI adoption, empowering organizations to harness the benefits of this technology without losing sight of its human impact.

For more detailed information, we encourage members to explore Grayling’s whitepaper (created in partnership with Ainigma) with and stay engaged with our upcoming events as we continue these important discussions.

Whitepaper: Unlocking AI Innovation From The Ground Up

DOWNLOAD WHITEPAPER PDF HERE

Grayling: We Create Advantage

Grayling combines its expertise and perspective with our connection to people and place to identify and understand audiences and stakeholder groups, from investors, policy makers and NGOs to consumers, creators and CEOs. Over the years, the company has helped thousands of businesses connect and communicate with the people who matter. Through mission critical, audience first, creative communications Grayling has help navigate and create the conditions for our clients to thrive now and in the future. Grayling’s work is underpinned by its belief in the importance of ‘Mission Critical, Audience First, Creative Communications’. Learn more about Grayling and how it creates advantages for its clients: https://grayling.com/what-we-do/

Board of Trade holds 31st Fall Business Classic at National Law Enforcement Museum

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The Greater Washington Board of Trade gathered more than 450 regional leaders and business professionals for our 31st Fall Business Classic on Sept. 26 at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Downtown D.C. This annual gathering celebrates the importance of working together to connect our business community.  

The evening was highlighted by the stunning venue, which provided a perfect backdrop for the occasion, along with captivating museum exhibits that offered a glimpse into our nation’s law enforcement history. The event was further elevated by lively and thought-provoking conversations on regional business issues, bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering an atmosphere of high energy and enthusiasm throughout the night. 

Regional collaboration is at the core of the Board of Trade’s mission, which makes convening the region’s leading business executives, community partners, and elected and appointed officials for meaningful conversations a valuable part of enhancing our region and its communities. 

Since our establishment in 1889, the Board of Trade has a history of bringing our region together for meaningful dialogues that lead to action. Over the decades this has included initiating D.C.’s subway development in the 1930s, helping form parks along our beautiful rivers, pushing for the development of the region’s airports, and helping bring organizations together to build entertainment and sporting venues in our region.  

View More Pictures on Flickr

To build on that legacy, we continue to foster connections and drive initiatives that have a lasting impact on our community. Our work thrives on collaboration, bringing together diverse voices and ideas to address the challenges and opportunities that shape our region’s future. This event is another step in that tradition, uniting leaders from various sectors to explore new possibilities and strengthen our collective vision. 

We’d like to extend our thanks to all the sponsors, participants, and staff who put in tremendous effort to make this event a success. We look forward to continuing to build a brighter future for the Greater Washington region, one meaningful connection at a time.  

We have more great featured events this fall for Board of Trade members. Learn more about the Capital Region Transportation Forum and our 2024 Annual Meeting.  

Thank you to the 2024 Fall Business Classic sponsors! Executive Sponsors: WGL, Ridgewells, Melwood; Specialty Sponsors: Design Foundry, Miles & Stockbridge, Washingtonian, Western Transportation; Supporting Sponsors: Crown Castle, Giant; Business Partners: Bank of America, Bechtel, Pepco, Truist, Wells Fargo 

Stay up to date on upcoming Board of Trade events here: https://www.bot.org/events 

Hope For the Warriors ‘Give Heart Give Hope’ Awards helps support veterans in Greater Washington

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At the Greater Washington Board of Trade, we are proud to support organizations that make a meaningful impact in our region, and we are pleased to highlight Hope For The Warriors as they host the annual Got Heart Give Hope Awards Ceremony on October 16, 2024, at the MGM National Harbor.

This event is a key part of Hope For The Warriors’ mission to restore hope and provide vital support to the post-9/11 military community—many of whom live, work, and thrive right here in the Washington, D.C., area. The Greater Washington region is home to a significant number of veterans and active service members, and this awards ceremony offers a unique opportunity for the business community to honor their remarkable resilience and achievements.

Local businesses have a chance to take an active role in this event, highlighting their support for our military community while strengthening connections within the region’s business network. By participating, your company can directly contribute to the success of the awards and the ongoing work that Hope For The Warriors does for veterans and their families.

In addition to the awards ceremony, Hope For The Warriors will host a Welcome Dinner on October 15 at 6 pm at Osteria Costa, MGM National Harbor. This dinner will kick off the festivities and offer attendees the chance to network and participate in a silent auction to further support the mission.

Your participation and sponsorship of this event underscore your company’s commitment to our veterans and our community. For more information on how you can get involved, as well as sponsorship opportunities, we invite you to learn more. Together, we can help honor those who have given so much to our nation.

Ashley White Quinn named Board of Trade’s new Senior Program Manager

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Ashley White “AW” Quinn was recently named the Senior Program Manager at the Greater Washington Board of Trade to continue our organization’s need to serve our members in a quick-moving, always-evolving business environment.

AW graduated from Grove City College in western Pennsylvania, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in communication studies. She has since honed her skills in event management, working in the nonprofit sector and the financial district in D.C. Most recently, she served as Events Manager for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, where she planned 100+ high-quality and consistently profitable programs, meetings, and special events ranging from networking socials to industry-specific events to 500+ person galas each year.

AW hopes to bring the same passion for thought leadership, member engagement, and community vitality to her new role with GWBOT. Although a Nashville, TN native, she has called the DMV area home for over eight years and currently lives in Leesburg, VA.

Sean Drake joins Board of Trade’s growing policy team

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Sean Drake was recently named Vice President for Policy at the Greater Washington Board of Trade to continue our organization’s efforts to positively impact our members and the region’s business community.

With over a decade of government affairs and policy experience, Sean previously worked as Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy for the International Hearing Society. In this role, he led all government affairs, advocacy, payer advocacy, and policy efforts for the association in the wake of the FDA’s over-the-counter hearing aid policy, which succeeded in expanding access to critical healthcare services for veterans at VA medical centers, including issues related to Medicare and Medicaid Policies.

Sean’s additional professional experience has also allowed him to engage in policy efforts at the city, state, and federal levels, which will be invaluable to the Board of Trade as we push forward on our organization’s goals and initiatives.

Sean’s hiring further expands the work of our growing policy department at the Board of Trade after our organization recently hired Shayla Moon as our Senior Vice President of Policy to lead the department.

Sean is originally from Sarasota, Florida, and is a proud graduate of Florida State University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs. He also has a Master’s in Public Administration from Penn State University.

Shayla Moon named Board of Trade’s new Senior Vice President of Policy

Posted on by Board of Trade

Shayla Moon was recently named Senior Vice President for Policy of the Greater Washington Board of Trade to continue our organization’s efforts to engage regional leaders regarding policies and legislation that impact our members and the region’s business community.

Shayla brings an extensive background in public policy, having served in various roles, including Senior Director of Economic and Housing Policy for the National Urban League, Senior Legislative Affairs Specialist for the Department of Commerce, and several trade associations and nonprofit organizations. Her public policy career has included efforts in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina with City Year Inc., issue advocacy on Nuclear Arms Reduction (New START Treaty), ratification of the U.N. CEDAW Treaty, as well as content theft and diversity policy for the Motion Picture Association of America/Creative Future.

Shayla is also an honorably discharged United States Air Force veteran who is actively involved with several civil rights and women’s organizations. She serves on the board of Friends of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son and dog, gaming, skiing, collecting sneakers, and listening to classic jazz and hip-hop records.

The Board of Trade looks forward to the great work that lies ahead for Shayla and our policy department. And to continue the work we have done that creates value for our region’s business community and for our members.

From waste bins to climate wins

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Since 2022, Washington Gas has teamed up with WUSA9 for multiple Recycle Days. On March 9, our Springfield, Virginia location volunteers welcomed hundreds of vehicles to drop off items rerouted from landfills to recycling facilities. All that behind-the-scenes work resulted in 26 tons of old paper being reclaimed for a new future.

Want to see something even more inspiring? Check out the cumulative results from our five sponsored Recycle Days.

📝 Paper: 252,000 pounds (129 tons) With the average ream of copy paper containing 500 sheets, 129 tons of paper equals over 25 million pages. That’s enough to stack as high as about 20 Washington Monuments and enough square footage to paper more than 270 U.S. football fields.

🖥️ Electronics: 133,000 pounds (60 tons)

Electronic devices are especially problematic in landfills. Their glass alone can take 1-2 million years to decompose, so every reclaimed electronic is a win. Rescuing old items can also reduce the high-energy needs of raw mining and first-time refining. For example, steel is 100% recyclable and can be repeatedly reused at the same quality, while recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing the metal from its original ore.

🌲Trees: 2,100 saved (equivalent)

When envisioning the 2,100 tree equivalents saved overall, picture preserving more than half of the 3,800 flowering cherry trees along the National Mall. Since trees love hydration, they’ll be extra happy to learn that the five combined Recycle Days have conserved more than 154,000 gallons of water.

We thank WUSA9 and everyone in the DMV for being outstanding partners in making small changes that led to staggering results. While we’re very proud of these initiatives, the planning and work toward our energy future are only getting started.

Trash & Trilemma

As we celebrate the immediate wins from Recycle Days, our world is also facing what is known as the Energy Trilemma. If you’re not familiar with this term, it refers to the challenge of balancing our energy systems to be reliable and affordable while supporting climate goals, now and in the future.

  • Reliability means ensuring that energy supplies are consistent and dependable to run homes, businesses and services without interruptions. In 2023, the Washington Gas reliability rate was 99.86%.
  • Truly affordable energy must be equally available and cost-effective for all. The American Gas Association (AGA) confirms that using natural gas has saved families $125 billion over 10 years.
  • Supporting climate goals includes making intelligent, innovative energy decisions that support lower-carbon solutions and long-term efficiency. For example, Washington Gas is making a strategic investment of $1.7 billion over the next five years in pipeline modernization.

From Recycle Days to modernizing our infrastructure, these interlocking steps can help resolve the Energy Trilemma. Our distribution networks enable us to deliver natural gas today and can also provide a foundation for delivering lower-carbon solutions in the years ahead. In the short run, we will primarily pursue energy efficiency and renewable natural gas (RNG) projects. These are ready-now technologies that we will continue to innovate into the future.

Recycling and RNG

While they may seem unrelated, recycling events and RNG share a common thread: transforming waste into wins. Just as recycling helps keep trash out of landfills, RNG technology can convert organic landfill waste into lower-carbon fuel options.

Renewable natural gas can be an exciting, powerful strategy for managing municipal landfill methane emissions. Landfills produce methane because of significant accumulations of biostock: a mix of food and landscape waste, biosolids, manure, digestate, sludges and other organic materials. (Yummy.)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that, in 2019 alone, the food retail, food service and residential sectors generated 66 million tons of wasted food, with about 60% of this going to landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills, in 2021, generated about the same greenhouse gas emissions as 23.1 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. Now for the good news. Specialized facilities can collect and process biostock to create concentrated methane gas (RNG). When injected into natural gas pipelines, RNG can provide a readily available renewable energy source. Washington Gas has partnered with various companies to support safe RNG integration into our existing natural gas distribution infrastructure. Strategically located across the DMV service territory, these resources will help ensure reliable, affordable energy while supporting long-term climate goals.

From recycling to RNG, Washington Gas is proud to be the DMV’s modern energy partner. We will soon share more about our plans, including the 2024 results update for our Accelerated Pipeline Replacement Programs.

Please stay tuned, and thank you for 175 years of support. We are honored to provide the safe, reliable energy that powers the DMV.

This is a sponsored piece of content from a member organization at the Board of Trade and does not reflect the views of every member in our organization.

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