About Us
The Epicenter for Entrepreneurs and Talent
Introducing a one-stop resource for talent to learn more about living and working in Northern Virginia – and to connect with hundreds of employers in the region actively hiring.
Spearheaded by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and funded by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, this website supports the talent attraction efforts of employers in Northern Virginia.
Chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the FCEDA is led by a board of county business leaders and funded by the Fairfax County government to promote the county as one of the world’s best business locations and build the county’s commercial tax base. The Board of Supervisors uses the commercial tax base to fund high-quality public services for a growing and diversifying population.
Beyond its talent attraction work, FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as one of the world’s best business locations. The FCEDA offers a number of free and confidential services and resources to help companies both large and small. We welcome the opportunity to provide direct assistance to established companies interested in starting or expanding a business in Fairfax County, as well as entrepreneurs just starting out.
Interested in joining us to recruit talent to Northern Virginia? Learn how you can get involved – and let’s put the power of ideas to work.
Vice President, Talent
As Vice President of FCEDA’s Talent Program, Mike is responsible for developing programs and delivering solutions to solve the talent management attraction challenge at scale, aimed at retention, retraining, growth, and attraction. Mike also oversees market intelligence functions for the organization.
Mike joined FCEDA in 2019 after a 30-year career in technology sales and channel management, most of that time working for Microsoft.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Marymount University and resides in Reston, Virginia, with his wife and two children.
Program Manager, Military and Diversity Outreach
As manager of FCEDA’s Military Talent Program, Rod works to connect transitioning service members, military spouses, and veterans with high-quality employment opportunities. This program, which involves employer partnerships, career fairs, and hands-on programming, has become one of the most sought-after hiring pipelines for companies seeking to engage with and hire military-connected talent.
Beyond his organizational role, Rod is the founder of the Total Military Community Alliance (TMCA), which works alongside the efforts of the FCEDA to support Northern Virginia’s military ecosystem.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York College at Potsdam and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado Technical University.
Talent Specialist, K- 12 Programs
Talent Coordinator, Higher Education Programs
Stefanie Shepley leads FCEDA’s Higher Education Program, with the aim of connecting students and graduates to the thousands of job opportunities available in Fairfax County. She achieves this through developing career fairs, networking nights, employer summits, and information sessions to creatively support employers and students. She continuously strives to deepen relationships with local colleges and universities, hiring employers, nonprofits, and alumni organizations.
Stefanie joined FCEDA’s Talent Initiative in 2023 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Brigham Young University.