Across the Board

Treasury Secretary Addresses Regional Business Leaders. In coordination with the Post 200, The Washington Post and Board of Trade brought Greater Washington’s business leaders together on May 16 to reflect on issues facing the region’s economy. Addressing the business community, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called Greater Washington a “diverse corporate center” and delivered an update on the nation’s housing and the credit markets. He predicted a faster-growing, more stable economy by the year’s end but said “we are still working though housing and capital markets issues, and expect to be doing so for some time.” Read Remarks

Volkswagen CEO to Speak First to Board of Trade Members. Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, will speak to members and guests at the Board of Trade’s Morning Star program on June 5 from 8:00 to 9:30 am at the Ronald Reagan Building. At his first major speaking event since Volkswagen’s relocation to Herndon, Virginia, Mr. Jacoby will explain how the company’s move will affect the regional economy. The conversation, moderated by Jim Dinegar, President and CEO of the Board of Trade, will be followed by a brief question and answer session. The Morning Star Series is sponsored by Commerce Bank and specifically designed for regional business executives. Register

Wilson Bridge Ribbon Cutting. On May 14, the second span of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge reopened to the public, easing congestion to what was considered one of the worst bottlenecks in the nation. The Board of Trade was instrumental in calling for these nearly-completed improvements by coordinating with regional governments to secure project funding. The official ribbon cutting included US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as well as Senator John Warner who was an important advocate for the project. Pictured from left: Bob Grow, Board of Trade; Sen. John Warner, U.S. Senate; Bill Couper, Bank of America; Daniel Flores, Board of Trade.

Greater Washington Initiative Names Executive Director. The Greater Washington Board of Trade has hired Matt Erskine as the new executive director of the Greater Washington Initiative (GWI), the region’s marketing, research and economic development organization. Erskine, who was born and raised in the region, was the deputy secretary of commerce and trade under Virginia Governor Mark Warner. Most recently he was the president of PLAY, a management consulting firm in Richmond, Virginia specializing in advising senior management of Fortune 500 companies in areas of business strategy, change management and organizational development. Erskine will focus on solidifying GWI’s strategic focus, increasing its annual budget and cultivating relationships with business executives, elected officials and local economic development partners to influence site selectors and company decision makers. Erskine will assume his new role on July 7. Read Press Release

Learn How to Reach the Latino Market. On June 26, the Board of Trade will host a half-day conference, Latino Buying Power, which will provide insights and best practices on how to reach the fastest growing segment of the population. Speakers include: Chiqui Cartagena, author, Latino Boom!: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Your Business in the U.S. Hispanic Market; Enrique Carrillo, Director of Hispanic Banking, Chevy Chase Bank; and Wendy Thompson, General Manager, Telemundo. Learn more and Register

Welcome New Members! The Greater Washington Board of Trade is growing stronger. Some of our newest members include AARP, Arent Fox LLP, Blackboard Inc., Cannon Design, Fluor Corporation, McKinsey & Company and Service Force USA. We look forward to welcoming even more new members with our Greater Returns program, which provides our members with more benefits for no additional charge. To recommend a new member, contact Kevin O’Neill at 202-857-5960.

Lyles Carr Awarded 2008 Leader of the Years. The Greater Washington Board of Trade honored Lyles Carr, Senior Vice President of The McCormick Group, with the 2008 Leader of the Years award at the Board of Trade Recognition Dinner on May 14 at the Capital Hilton. The annual Leader of the Years award recognizes an individual’s extraordinary service to the Greater Washington region and its business community. Read Remarks