PW Chamber’s economic development series continues Feb. 16 with “Exploring Innovation”

Four dynamic speakers will take to the podium on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. when the Prince William Chamber of Commerce will present the second event in its Economic Development Series: Exploring Innovation.

The program will focus on organizations doing cutting edge work in Prince William County’s Innovation Park. The event will be held at in Beacon Hall at George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus, located at 10900 University Boulevard in Manassas.

According to the website for Prince William County Economic Development: Innovation Technology Park is a 1500 acre university-anchored corporate research park.  Over the past several years it has seen construction of more than 2.1 million square feet, including the headquarters of ATCC, the state-of-the art COPT DC-6 data center, and the Level-3 GMU/NIH Biomedical Research Laboratory.

Jeff Kaczmarek, Executive Director of Prince William County’s Economic Development Department, will serve as moderator for the panel. Confirmed panelists for the event include:
• Meredith Arnest, Director of Operations for The Villagio Group, the company responsible for converting the Thomasson Barn into the Two Silos Brewery and Farm Brew Live;

• Dr. Debra Crawford, Vice President of Research for George Mason University;

• Jeff Ivey, General Manager of COPT Data Center Solutions; and

• Dr. Ted Mullins, Technical Director for ATCC Federal Solutions.

The Chamber’s Economic Development Series is cosponsored by R.W. Murray Co.; The Fauquier Bank and the law firm of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, PC.

“Innovation Park is an economic development gem in Prince William County,” said Steve Daves, President of R.W. Murray Co. “R. W. Murray Co. is proud to have been part of the development and construction of the infrastructure that houses the Virginia Department of Forensic Science and the George Mason University Biomedical Research Lab, as well as five other buildings within the Park. Our team has played an integral part in bringing over 450,000 SF of world-class office, lab, research and development projects to the Park and Prince William County.”

Rinker Design Associates is the Gold Sponsor. Online registration for Exploring Innovation is available at PWChamber.org. Tickets are $40 for members of the Prince William Chamber; $55 for non-members. For more information call 703-368-6600.