FCEDA Commission
A Governing Force for Advancement
Ensuring Business Community Representation
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority operates under the direction of a nine-member board (officially the Commission), composed of business people appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. This board ensures that the business community is well represented in the governance of the FCEDA. The board meets monthly, usually on the second Monday of the month, and the meetings are open to the public.
Board Members
James Quigley
ChairJames Quigley has served on the board since June 2016. Mr. Quigley is the co-founder and COO of GoCanvas, as well as the co-founder and partner of Refraction Mr. Quigley has a history of building wireless companies, having served as vice president and managing director at inCode Wireless (acquired by VeriSign) and performing significant roles at Aether Systems, Orbcomm and Peak Technologies. Mr. Quigley has received the Information Week Business Innovation “IT Hero” award (2016), been named a “Top 50” CEO by the Center for Innovative Technology and been recognized as one of the top 20 global executives in his field by CLO Magazine. He serves on the board of the Washington West Film Festival and LetsGiveBack.org.
Rick Wagner
Vice ChairRick Wagner has served on the board since November 2020. He is the Chief Executive Officer for Agile Defense, an innovative IT services and solutions provider based in Fairfax County. He formerly led Microsoft Federal, and was president of ManTech Mission, Cyber & Intelligence Solutions Group. Before joining ManTech in 2015, Mr. Wagner was chief strategy officer at TASC, Inc. Earlier in his career, he held management positions at Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and worked as a software engineer and project manager for the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Mr. Wagner has been selected to Executive Mosaic’s Washington 100 for three consecutive years and was selected as 2019 Intelligence Leader of the Year. He is a member of the Intelligence & National Security Alliance board of directors and the board of Fairfax Futures.
Ronald C. Johnson
SecretaryRonald C. Johnson
SecretaryThe Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Ronald Johnson to the FCEDA Commission in November 2001. He currently serves as secretary of the Commission, and chairman of the Diversity and Small Business Committee. He is currently chairman and CEO of Solutions4Change, LLC. Dr. Johnson is a past rector and member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University, and board member and past president of the university’s foundation. He has served five governors of Virginia in other appointed positions, and is currently serving his third appointment to the Federal Communication Commission Advisory Committee on Diversity. He chairs and serves on the board of various other non-profit and religious organizations.
Pallabi Saboo
Assistant SecretaryPallabi Saboo is the CEO of Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC. She has an extensive track record of building/operating successful technology related companies. She co-founded Harmonia in 2006 and has grown it aggressively as it seeks to develop specialized technology-enabled services. She is an entrepreneur with a unique understanding of technology as well as business/strategic issues. Ms. Saboo has received much recognition in the business world for her accomplishments, including including being named Asian Business Leader of the year (2020), Women Who Mean Business (Washington Business Journal 2020), CEO World Award (2020), VA Business Women in Leadership (2021), and U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award (2021).
Catherine Lange
Board MemberThe Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Catherine Lange to the FCEDA Board in November 2009. Ms. Lange was elected chair in January 2017. She is a partner with Human Capital Advisors, a strategic human capital consulting firm. Previously she was the founder, president and CEO of BusinessWorks of America, Inc., a management consulting and leadership development firm formed in 1995. Ms. Lange has more than 35 years of business experience, with more than 20 years at two Fortune 500 technology companies – Digital Equipment Corporation and Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys) – followed by nearly 15 years as a small business owner.
Steve Partridge
Board MemberSteven Partridge was appointed to the FCEDA board in July 2019. He is vice president of strategic partnerships and workforce innovation at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), leading collaboration between the College and the community. He manages the College’s corporate and workforce engagement, government relations, marketing, communication, and workforce programming and events. Prior to joining NOVA in 2016, Mr. Partridge served as president and CEO of Charlotte Works, the workforce development board for Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, N.C. He also held executive positions at the Charlotte (N.C.) Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Department of Commerce.
D. Jermaine Johnson
Board MemberD. Jermaine Johnson was appointed to the FCEDA board in October 2023. He is regional president for PNC Bank, Greater Washington and Virginia. Prior to being named to his current role in July 2020, Johnson was an Executive Vice President and Market Leader of PNC’s Corporate Banking business for the Greater Washington and Greater Maryland markets. During his nearly 25 years in banking, he has served in a variety of positions, building a general corporate background with companies across a wide-range of industries in-need of cash flow and asset-based financing. Active in the community, Johnson is an executive committee member and Chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, a board member of Guest Services, Inc, a board member of Venture Philanthropy Partners, and also serves as audit committee Chair of the March of Dimes, as well as a member of Leadership Fairfax and The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
Loren Rufino
Board MemberLoren Rufino is Vice President for Perioperative Services & Administrator, Surgery Service Line at Fall Church-based Inova Health System. Loren has held a number of ambulatory leadership roles during his tenure at Inova with a focus on patient outcomes, improved access, and growth of services offered in the community. Loren has served on local board of directors including Celebrate Fairfax (2011-2017), where he also served as chairman of the board (2013-2015), as well as Leadership Fairfax (2006-2010). • Loren is a graduate of George Mason’s College of Health and Human Services with a B.S. in Health Administration and Policy and holds an M.B.A from Virginia Tech.
Elvert “El” Gardner
Board MemberColonel (retired) Elvert L. Gardner is the Vice President of Space Operations at Aperio Global LLC, leading space strategy development and business capture initiatives. With over 30 years of experience in space strategy, policy, and national security, Gardner aligns corporate strategies with legislative and regulatory trends in space and artificial intelligence. In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Space Policy and Security at Georgetown University. Previously, he served as Director of Space Policy and Strategy at the United States Space Force, leading the development of the US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy. His efforts influenced a $30 billion budget and a workforce of over 16,000 personnel. Gardner’s career also includes multiple deployments, serving as an Associate Professor at the National Defense University and advising senior military leaders on critical national security initiatives. Gardner holds multiple advanced degrees and is completing his doctorate in Defense and Strategic Studies, focusing on space deterrence and arms control. Gardner is a combat-decorated veteran, recognized for his leadership and contributions to the defense sector.
FCEDA Commission Strategic Planning Retreat
Friday, February 13, 2026 — 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
AGENDA
Estimated Times:
8:30-8:40 am
Call to Order – Chair Quigley
Approval of Minutes – Chair Quigley
Expenditures Report – Chair Quigley
8:40-8:50 am
Chair’s Report – Chair Quigley
8:50-9:00 am
President’s Report – President Hoskins
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
CLOSED SESSION
1:00 pm
Return to Open Session/Adjourn
To the public, please feel free to join virtually:
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 276 144 850 486 52
Passcode: J9Eq7C7P
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