Introducing V-TOP, the No. Virginia Talent Opportunity Partnership, Advisory Board

February 29, 2024 / Faculty/Staff Highlights

In partnership with V-TOP, Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University and Marymount University (Region 7) just announced the formation of a strategic advisory board made up of Northern Virginia leaders. The kickoff meeting will take place on Thursday, March 15.

The advisory board’s members bring a wealth of knowledge and real-world enterprise experience to the table. The board will work to advance its primary goal — helping Northern Virginia increase the number of work-based learning opportunities, including internships, to significantly reduce the talent gap in our region. Working across industries, members will share best practices to tackle their collective workplace challenges. They will also advise on matters related to the sustainability and expansion of professional advancement in Northern Virginia. 

“The formation of the NV-TOP advisory board is an important step toward improving and expanding employment opportunities in the region. This collaboration of industry leaders positions us to execute our mission of creating solutions to complex challenges facing the regional workforce. This is the beginning of the Northern Virginia area tackling some of the major obstacles facing organizations as they try to fulfill their professional needs while helping students access opportunities for career advancement. This win-win approach will result in innovative answers to workforce shortages and skill gaps. We are happy to be part of the solution to Northern Virginia’s economic future,” said Dana Fallon, director of Business Engagement and Career Services at NOVA.

Dr. Brianna Clark-Williams, director of the Center for Career Development and adjunct professor at Marymount University’s College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology (BILT), agrees. “It is important that we combine forces with those who share our passion for solving these challenges and share perspectives so that, collectively, we can make improvements on behalf of our region. The commitment of all will prove to be invaluable in ensuring we foster an innovative culture and include diverse viewpoints as we strive to achieve our goals.”

Saskia N. Campbell, executive director of University Career Services at George Mason University, couldn’t be prouder: “What we are embarking on here is quite impactful. Not only are we giving this initiative an opportunity to grow, but we are also impacting the future careers of all professionals in the Northern Virginia area. This will, in turn, demonstrate how looking for common ground can add value to the diligent effort our partnering entities are involved in day in and day out.”

Some of our collaborating partners include:

  • Ballston Business Improvement District
  • Calibre Systems
  • Dev Technology
  • Ellie Mental Health
  • Genesys Works
  • George Mason University
  • Goodwin Living
  • Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
  • Financial Growth Partners
  • Inova Health System
  • Loudoun County Economic Development
  • Loudoun County Public Schools
  • M.C. Dean, Inc.
  • Micron
  • Talent Acquisition Strategies
  • The Building People
  • The Strategic Investment Group
  • Van Metre Companies
  • Virginia Ready

Interested in learning more? Please reach out to your Region 7 liaison for any questions:

Submitted by:
Latoya Garrison, Career Connection Coordinator, LGarrison@nvcc.edu