Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Gaddafi Ismail Named 2025 GovCon Leader of the Year
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce member Gaddafi Ismail has been honored as the 2025 GovCon Leader of the Year by the Washington Business Journal (WBJ), underscoring the caliber of leadership present in our Dulles Corridor business community. The award was presented on December 4, 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C., during WBJ’s annual CEO of the Year Awards, one of the most respected programs recognizing excellence in executive leadership. As Founder and President of De Lune Corp, Ismail
MetroStar’s Manouchehri to Address George Mason’s Winter Graduates
Ali Reza Manouchehri, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, will be the featured speaker at Winter Commencement on December 18 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ’99, launched MetroStar, a digital transformation company serving government agencies and the private sector, in 1999 from his George Mason residence hall room. In 2023, Manouchehri was named Executive of the Year in the $75 Million-$300 Million category at the Greater Washington Government
GMU Celebrates Grand Opening of Fuse at Mason Square
George Mason University celebrated the grand opening of Fuse at Mason Square on Thursday, September 25. Fuse, a 345,000 sq. ft. hub for digital innovation, will provide the business community, government, and community partners access to one of Virginia’s largest tech talent pipelines and to industry-influenced research. Additionally, Governor Glenn Younkin spoke at the ribbon-cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center that was part of the grand celebration. Read more.
Martina Cheung to speak at George Mason’s Spring Commencement
Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, will be the featured speaker at our Spring Commencement on May 15, 2025. Since 2010, Cheung, also a member of S&P Global’s board of directors, has held several positions with the New York-based company, including president of S&P Global Ratings, executive lead of S&P Global Sustainable1, and president of S&P Global Market Intelligence. Last year, American Banker included Cheung on its list of the most powerful women in finance. Learn more.
How Small Businesses Can Compete with Big Brands in Digital Marketing
Small business owners often feel like they’re at a disadvantage when it comes to digital marketing. Large corporations have bigger budgets, entire teams dedicated to content creation, and name recognition that small businesses simply can’t match. But small businesses have something that big brands struggle to create: authenticity, personality, and deep community connections. These qualities resonate with today’s consumers. The good news for small business owners in Reston and Fairfax County? You don’t
