Exploring Prince William County

Andrea Van Wambeke was part of the Sweeney Barn team even before ground broke for renovations. Formerly an event planner with Destination DC, she combines her industry experience with a genuine love for historic buildings in a more rural setting. Born in Prince William County, Andrea is excited to host events in the area where she grew up. Sweeney Barn holds a special place in her heart that she looks forward to sharing with others.

Kevin Reynolds is Executive Vice President and Regional President, Director of Sales for United Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. with $14 billion in assets and over 80 branches in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Formerly president and director of sales for Cardinal Financial Corporation, Kevin joined United Bank in April 2017, following its acquisition of Cardinal Bank. Prior to establishing Cardinal Bank with a select group of community bankers in 1998, he held executive and management positions with several leading area financial institutions, including George Mason Bank and American Security Bank. Kevin’s volunteer efforts, business expertise, and hands-on support have helped organizations throughout the area raise funds and awareness for their causes. His contributions have made a difference to organizations as diverse as the American Heart Association, Cornerstones, The Economic Club of Washington, DC, Rotary International, The Gladney Center for Adoption, Children’s Science Center, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics, Homestretch and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation. He serves as chairman of the United Cardinal Classic, an annual golf tournament that has raised $5.3 million to benefit Inova Kellar Center and community organizations around the area. Kevin’s contributions toward improving the quality of life in the region are widely recognized and reflect his years of service and dedication. He was elected board chairman of the 2015 World Police & Fire Games, the second largest multi-sport event in the world, surpassed only by the Summer Olympic Games. He was awarded the 2012 Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year for Large Businesses, and was finalist for the 2012 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Executive Leader of the Year. Kevin was named the 2010 Business Citizen of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2009 as one of Washington’s most outstanding fundraising volunteers. That same year, he was honored by Leadership Fairfax with a Regional Leadership Award for fundraising leadership. A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Reynolds earned an MBA in Finance/Business from The George Washington University. He lives in Oakton, Virginia with his wife, Stacey, their two children, and two golden retrievers.

Christina Winn leads the Prince William County Department of Economic Development (PWCDED), catalyzing investment, retention, and redevelopment opportunities in the second largest county in Virginia. By positioning the county as a leader in the fast-paced, evolving economy of the Greater Washington, D.C. region, Ms. Winn is shaping stages for expansion and collaboration in key target industries, such as life sciences and biotech; last-mile distribution and supply chain logistics; and government contracting. Her goal is to create higher paying jobs for a highly educated and diverse workforce in Prince William County that will also build capacity for a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since taking the helm of the department in 2019, Ms. Winn has implemented best practices and programs that attracted more than $10.3 billion in capital investment and 7,531 new and retained jobs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led multiple grant programs, providing more than $32 million in assistance to the county’s business community. With more than 20 years of economic development and private sector real estate experience, Ms. Winn is an expert in development programs including finance, incentives, and marketing. She currently serves as the president for the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), and she was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2022 class of Women Who Mean Business. Ms. Winn strategically enhanced the county’s economic national presence with the rigorous International Economic Development Council (IEDC) department accreditation in 2022. The department programs have been honored with eight IEDC Economic Excellence Awards as well as a 2022 Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo). Previously, she led Arlington Economic Development business investment group from 2014 to 2019, where she was instrumental in redefining the Northern Virginia economic landscape with the recruitment of Amazon’s HQ2. She earned her master’s degree in real estate development from Johns Hopkins University and her bachelor’s degree in economics from Arizona State University.

Mr. Canizales is the Director of Prince William County’s Department of Transportation. He coordinates the funding, planning, engineering and construction of over a billion dollars of transportation projects throughout the County. He is also responsible for ensuring proper review of development plans, obtaining transportation funding, development inspection and traffic/safety engineering. He represents the County at numerous local, regional, and State transportation committees. Mr. Canizales received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and his Master’s Degree in Transportation Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. He was previously with the Planning Division of VDOT before joining the County over 20 years ago.

As the President of Rappaport, Henry Fonvielle oversees the leasing strategy for third-party landlord and tenant representation services and all shopping centers within the company’s extensive portfolio. Dedicated to reinvigorating, designing, and constructing top-tier mixed-use developments and shopping centers within the D.C. market, Henry utilizes over 35 years of experience in the retail industry to create well-organized and exceptional projects from conception to completion. With comprehensive knowledge in a wide array of retail types including urban, mixed-use, neighborhood, lifestyle, and power centers, Henry is recognized as a trusted retail advisor and an expert in the commercial real estate industry.  His ability to form and cultivate close-knit partnerships within his team and among his clients enhanced Rappaport’s reputation as a well-respected and experienced firm committed to cultivating places. Under his leadership, the company’s leasing and brokerage portfolio soared from 35 to over 170 properties. Prior to joining Rappaport, Henry was Senior Vice President and Retail Department Head for the Vornado/Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty.  Henry is Co-Founder of the Skyland Workforce Center Leadership Council, member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association – Ride to End ALZ, Emeritus member of the Foundation Board and Ball Chair of Children’s National Hospital, member of the Bisnow Diversity Board, Board member for Tall Ship Providence Foundation, Board member and Gala Chair for Atlas Performing Arts Center, and At-Large member of the Board of the USTA-Mid-Atlantic. Henry formerly served as Vice-Chair for Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, Board member for Federal City Council and Washington DC Economic Partnership.

Taylor O. Chess is President, Development for Peterson Companies and serves on the Company’s Investment Committee. Taylor has developed retail projects valued over $250 million. He is a visionary, known for spotting acquisition opportunities, imagining the possibilities, divesting of property, acquiring land, and building joint ventures. Taylor has been instrumental in leading the company’s expansion into new ventures and development and looks at all disciplines of real estate to find the best use based on market conditions and social and economic changes. Prior to Peterson Companies Taylor was Senior Vice President, Investments at Regency Centers where he established the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast offices. During his eight years, he developed 11 centers valued at approximately $660 million and assisted in the acquisition of 140 centers. Taylor studied at California State University, Northridge. He serves on numerous philanthropic boards and committees including Joe Gibb’s Youth For Tomorrow, Fairfax County Sports Tourism Tax Force and mentors real estate students through ULI’s mentoring programs. He was recently appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin as a member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors to help establish policy and provide direction to management for the operation of Dulles International and Reagan National Airports and the Dulles Toll Road. He served as ICSC’s State Director of Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia and has been a guest speaker for the GWU Real Estate Program. FUN FACT: While studying in California Taylor tried his hand at Hollywood and landed roles in popular television shows and movies like Dynasty, Matlock, Solid Gold and Space Balls to name a few. FAVORITE PROJECT: Creating new development opportunities. Once he’s achieved a goal, he looks forward to the next big thing.

Madi Ford serves as the co-founder and managing partner of Audeo Partners, a certified small and woman owned business operating in Virginia. In this capacity, she manages acquisitions, deal structuring, development, joint venture negotiation, and equity and debt finance from a legal perspective for Audeo Partners and the firm’s consulting clients. Madi has a decade of transactional legal experience in commercial real estate, in addition to extensive experience in corporate governance. She advises on risk mitigation and complex cross-functional matters relevant to the ownership, asset management, and development of multi-family rental housing for Audeo Partners and several local firms and landowners in a consulting capacity. Madi has executed over $250M in debt financing including HUD, agency, and conventional market loans as well as structuring 1031 and opportunity zone equity for development deals. Madi has secured multiple successful PUD and BZA approvals for development projects totaling over $1B in development potential. She has also successfully managed complex litigation related to a class-action suit designed to prevent a $700M development from proceeding. Most recently, Madi transitioned distressed bank notes into a redevelopment project supporting retail, 200 multifamily units and 60 for sale units. Prior to founding Audeo Partners, Madi served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at MidCity Development where she oversaw all legal matters for the asset management and repositioning and development of a 9,000-unit portfolio of affordable and market rate apartment communities across the Mid-Atlantic. Ford has also served as Director of Legal Affairs at Vantage Management and as a Corporate Associate at Bingham McCutchen L.P. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Public Policy and the Law from Trinity College and a Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law. Madi currently serves on the Emerging Leaders Committee of the National Multi-Family Housing Council (NMHC) as well as serving on the NMHC Working Group for the Women in Multifamily Networking Series. Madi serves on the Board of Directors for The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, Habitat for Humanity, D.C.-NOVA, and The Alice and Eugene Ford Foundation. She is a member of the Leadership Council for the District of Columbia and the Greater Washington Community Foundation: Partnership to End Homelessness. She has previously served on the boards of directors for two private companies, the Community Services Foundation, and the Holton-Arms School Alumnae Board. Madi is a passionate participant and supporter of initiatives focused on affordable housing, economic empowerment, and access to education. She was a Steering Committee Member for Habitat for Humanity D.C.’s 2017 Women Build, the Event Chair for the 30th Anniversary Gala for Habitat for Humanity D.C. in 2019, and the Event Chair for Habitat for Humanity D.C.’s 2021 Women Build campaign and the Co-Chair for Habitat for Humanity D.C.-NOVA’s 2022 merger launch. Additionally, Madi served as the Event Chair for the Academy of Hope’s 35th Anniversary Gala. Madi is very proud to have led fundraising campaigns generating several million dollars in donations for local organizations and was recognize in Fall 2022 as the March of Dimes “Heroine of Washington” for the Real Estate Sector.

CARLOS CECCHI (1994) Managing Director – Carlos is a Managing Director at IDI, based in Arlington.  In addition to participating in overall management of The IDI Group Companies, Carlos is responsible for overseeing IDI’s Project Managers, and for coordinating design & engineering, entitlements, construction, sales & marketing, and customer service. Carlos has been at IDI since 1994.  Before assuming the role of Managing Director, he was the Project Manager the Rivergate multifamily development in eastern Prince William County.  He also has worked on various IDI communities within Leisure World of Maryland, Leisure World of Virginia, and in Puerto Rico. Carlos lives in Old Town, Alexandria with his wife, their three teenage children and two dogs.  He holds a Master of Architecture degree from The Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College.

Mike Kitchen is a principal with christopher consultants/IMEG and has nearly 40 years of experience providing civil engineering services in the DC region. He is known for his long-lasting relationships with clients, development partners, state and local officials and various regulatory associations. Mike leads christopher’s data center efforts and is experienced with the specific needs of data center developers, the need for discretion in confidential projects and working on an accelerated schedule. He has worked on numerous data center projects in Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper and Henrico counties for various developers and end users. In addition to his project experience, Mike is an active member in several development industry organizations. He is a member of the Executive Committee for NAIOP Northern Virginia and recently completed a five-year term as the chair of the Government Relations Committee. He is also a member of the Prince William County Commercial Development Committee (CDC) and a supervisor-appointed representative on the Prince William County Development Ordinance Review Committee (DORAC). He worked closely with county and industry representative in the creation of and update to the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan as well as their data center opportunity zone and design guidelines.

Prior to joining the firm, Jonelle was an extern at the District of Columbia Housing Authority where she worked on projects relating to real estate and contracts, procurement, issues pertaining to the disposition and acquisition of public housing properties, and drafting, negotiating and reviewing documents related to real estate development and finance transactions. Her practice focuses on land use and zoning matters in Prince William County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, the Town of Haymarket, and the Town of Occoquan. Jonelle assists clients in all phases of the entitlement process.