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NVTC Launches New Strategic Plan and Elects Board Leadership at 35th Annual Meeting

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Council unveils new mission, vision, and strategic priorities to position Northern Virginia to lead the next era of innovation

MCLEAN, Va., June 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the region’s technology community, unveiled a new strategic plan and elected new Board leadership during its 35th Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 25th.

The new strategic plan comes at a defining moment for the technology industry as artificial intelligence, including agentic AI, cybersecurity, cloud and edge networks, mobility, robotics, space, and other emerging technologies reshape the global economy. Northern Virginia stands at the center of this transformation and is well positioned to lead the next era of innovation.

“Innovation doesn’t stand still—and neither does NVTC,” said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. “Our ambitious strategic plan positions NVTC for its next chapter of impact and reinforces our commitment to helping Northern Virginia lead in this next era of innovation. We’ve done it before, and we will again.”

For 35 years, NVTC has brought together leaders from business, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector through major waves of technological change—from the rise of the internet to today’s advances in artificial intelligence. The refreshed strategic plan builds upon that legacy while positioning the organization for its next chapter of impact.

NVTC’s mission is to convene and champion the region’s technology community to advance innovation, build a future-ready workforce, and drive lasting economic and societal impact. Guided by its vision to fuel innovation that shapes the future, NVTC will focus on four strategic priorities over the next three years: Network—convening the region’s technology ecosystem; Voice—championing the technology community; Talent—advancing a future-ready workforce; and Cultivate—deepening engagement and delivering exceptional member value.

The successful implementation of this strategy will be guided by NVTC’s Board of Directors and leadership team, who welcomed new directors and officers during the Annual Membership Meeting.

During the meeting, NVTC members elected 20 industry leaders to the Class of 2029 Board of Directors, filled two vacancies in the Class of 2028, and elected nine FY2027 Chair Appointees. The Board also elected its FY2027 Officers for a two-year term, including Gil Dussek, CEO of Gunnison, as Chair. These incoming Board members and officers will help guide implementation of the strategic plan and advance NVTC’s strategic priorities over the next three years.

“As we celebrate this milestone and look ahead to our next chapter, I am honored to serve as Chair at such a pivotal moment for our region and our organization,” said Dussek. “Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the accelerating pace of technological change are transforming every sector of our economy, creating extraordinary opportunities for Northern Virginia to lead. I look forward to working alongside our Board, members, and partners to advance the region’s innovation ecosystem and ensure Northern Virginia remains the nation’s premier technology hub.”

FY2027 Officers

The Board elected the following FY2027 officers for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2026:

Chair: Gil Dussek, CEO, Gunnison

President & CEO: Jennifer Taylor, Northern Virginia Technology Council

Chair Elect: Mile Corrigan, CEO, Noblis

Vice Chair: Jennifer Felix, CEO, ASRC Federal

Vice President: Tim Borchert, CEO, Tria Federal

Vice President: Rick Tossavainen, CEO, Dark Wolf

Treasurer: Melinda Covert, Partner, Deloitte

Secretary: Chad Fredrick, President, PEAC US Capital

General Counsel: Ellen Grady, Partner, Pillsbury

Culture Officer: Gregory Washington, President, George Mason University

Class of 2029

The NVTC membership elected the following individuals to the Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2026:

Mark Andersen, BDO

Dara Castle, RSM

Greg Fairchild, UVA Northern Virginia

Margie Graves, IBM

Kevin Gundersen, Digital Realty

Kavita Kalatur, NetImpact Strategies

Bo Machayo, Micron Technology

Manish Malhotra, Unissant

T.J. Maloney, AWS

Marc Marlin, KippsDeSanto

Cameron Mayer, Booz Allen

Richard Pineda, CALIBRE Systems

Krystal Putman-Garcia, Casepoint

Brian Roach, Adobe

Pamela Rothka, Empower AI

Timothy Sands, Virginia Tech

James Schmidt, James Madison University

Anil Sharma, 22nd Century Technologies

Eric Trexler, Palo Alto Networks

Joe Woomer, Dominion Energy

Class of 2028

The membership also elected the following individuals to fill vacancies in the Class of 2028:

Gerald Kierce, Trustible

Scott Ryan, xAI

FY2027 Chair Appointees

The following FY2027 Chair Appointees were elected to a one-year term:

Dayne Baird, Carlyle

Phil Carrai, Kratos

Cliff Chiet, iHeartMedia

Susan Hawkins, Amentum

Brian Krause, Clark Construction

Lorraine Lavet, Korn Ferry John Mengucci, CACI International Inc

Shawn Purvis, Sabel Systems

Matt Strottman, IQT

The elections were held during NVTC’s 2026 Annual Membership Meeting, where members received an overview of NVTC’s refreshed strategic plan and heard from former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd, author of The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets, on the intersection of technology, innovation, and global competitiveness.

The NVTC Board of Directors brings together leaders from the region’s most influential technology companies, government contractors, universities, and innovation organizations. Their collective expertise helps shape NVTC’s advocacy efforts, strategic initiatives, and programs that support the continued growth of the region’s technology economy.

About the Northern Virginia Technology Council

The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) convenes and champions the region’s tech community to advance innovation, build a future-ready workforce, and drive economic and societal impact. Representing one of the world’s most dynamic technology ecosystems, NVTC connects leaders across business, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to foster collaboration, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate innovation. Through advocacy, networking, workforce initiatives, and strategic partnerships, NVTC helps fuel innovation that shapes the future. Learn more at nvtc.org.

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SOURCE Northern Virginia Technology Council

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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7 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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October 24, 2026

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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8 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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