Workforce Development

“We initially lost a lot of business due to cancellations but ended up booking more than twice as many flights in 2020,” said Richard Zaher, chief executive and founder of Paramount Business Jets, a #LeesburgVA-based charter broker that arranges private jet flights. ✈️

He attributes at least some of that to entrepreneurs, corporations and wealthy individuals who’d never flown privately before but now do so because of the pandemic.

“People in production houses are also thinking about safety of their staff, just like everyone else, so yes, we are definitely seeing an increase in demand in that regard,” Zaher said.

Before doubling sales over the past year, @paramountjets earned its spot on the #Inc5000 list in three separate years. 💵📈 #LoudounPossible

Credit: @latimes ...

“We are just beginning to realize the potential – the financial and social impact potential of women’s soccer. I am proud to be a part of this transformation and realization with a team like the Spirit.” ⚽✌️💸

Meet Lindsay Barenz, @washingtonspirit's new president of business operations.

With women’s soccer continuing to grow in the United States and across the globe, Barenz joins the Spirit in what has been an exciting month for the club.

The team's groundbreaking for a 40,000 square foot training facility in #LeesburgVA ensures that aspiring young players will be able to practice alongside the pro players from the Washington Spirit, @DCUnited and @LoudounUnitedFC.

📸 credit: @washingtonspirit ...

"It's a direct testament to [@NFL coaches] being forward-thinking and opening up the entire pool when they're looking for people to hire to make their programs better. I don't think it's an oddity that those playoff teams had so many female coaches involved because those coaches ... created cultures of growth and inclusion, and those things generally create wins." 🏆

Meet Jennifer King, who was recently named full-time assistant running backs coach for the @washingtonnfl.

King is the first African American female assistant coach in #NFL history. 🏈

"It's another step forward for women in football – it's a good moment for me, but it's a good moment for a lot of people who aspire to be in this position as well," @jennifer.king5 states.

We look forward to seeing King lead from the team’s 162-acre corporate headquarters and practice facility in Ashburn. #WorkInLoudoun

Credit: Ashburn Patch & Washington Football Team ...

If you’re not sure what tutus and teeth cleanings have in common, make a jeté to @aldiedentalcare! 🩰

Dr. Nicole Rivera recently opened Aldie Dental Care, but she’s already committed to providing exceptional care and giving back to the community.

Each year, she will sponsor one ballet student at the @virginiaballetcompany.

Why #WorkInLoudoun? "I choose Aldie due to its diverse culture and growing families. It was perfect for the vision of my dental practice! In Aldie Dental Care all smiles are welcome." 😀🦷✨

Dr. Rivera has worked as a volunteer dentist in missionary trips to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Vietnam, and Myanmar. She is also the Assistant Dental Director of the World Health Ambassador Organization.

These experiences have helped her to build relationships with people from different backgrounds and Dr. Rivera hopes to cultivate this sense of global community at her own practice, where Spanish, Vietnamese and English are spoken. 🌎💬

(Credit: @aldiedentalcare) ...

Danita Johnson is making history as the first Black president of an MLS club, and only the third woman in the league's history to hold such a role.

“I have appreciated that in the media, one of the things that they've done is also put my work history behind versus just ‘the first Black woman,’ so being able to actually show the work I've done to have this opportunity,” said @danitajo_, president of business operations for @dcunited. ⚽📑🏀

Johnson’s arrival from the WNBA’s @la_sparks, where she rose to president and COO over an impressive six-year stint, is a major breakthrough for both D.C. and #MLSsoccer.

💡 She speaks about the importance of centering players, staff and local community in the club’s operations: “It's the voices around us that we need to serve every single day, that are going to help move us forward. So I'm very excited about what we'll be able to do in that space.”

D.C. United recently broke ground on a #LoudounPossible training facility, which will further strengthen the Pathway-to-Pro program. Located on a 30-acre complex, the facility will include a 40,000 square foot training center, four full-size outdoor practice fields and an elite training center.

Credit: D.C. United ...

Talk about #couplegoals! 💘 This tale of two midfielders started at Stanford University.

Drew Skundrich and Andi Sullivan married at @thebarnatwillowbrook in December 2019 and now they’re pursuing #LoudounPossible dual professional careers.

Andi plays for @washingtonspirit and now that Drew signed with @loudoununitedfc, the two are Segra Field’s resident power couple.
🤜🤛

Whether your career goals involve going pro or catching a game with colleagues, #WorkInLoudoun to score a major opportunity.

📸: Washington Spirit ...

When you #WorkInLoudoun, sometimes your office is a vineyard! 🍇

Severino Maya Garcia is the vineyardmanager at @octoberonevineyard. Sevi has been a part of O1V since day one. Actually, even before that!

He has overseen all of the hard work required to layout, build, plant, and now maintain and nurture October One Vineyard here in #BluemontVA. 🌱 Each expression of O1V wine is a testament to Sevi’s expertise, continuous learning, and passion for #LoudounCounty winegrowing.

Sevi and his crew are committed to growing premium wine grapes. It takes a special team to craft single vineyard, single varietal wine! 🍷

(Credit: @octoberonevineyard) ...

Meet Mahsa Riar, whose Loudoun-based startup Limitless Limb LLC is changing the world while she navigates the challenges of middle school.

“There are many children in the world who feel left out, or they're not the same as other people, because they don't have a limb," says @mahsariar.

"I read so many articles about how #3Dprinting is the new big thing and, so, I came to my parents and was like 'Can I get a 3D printer?' … I want to help kids all around the world.”

Mahsa is determined to share #LoudounPossible success with the next generation of founders and CEOs. In 2020, she connected with Loudoun's data center community and women-owned businesses to create a free virtual leadership and entrepreneurship event, the Girl emPower Summit.

@amazonwebservices also featured Mahsa as a speaker at Girls’ Tech Day, the cloud platform's annual event for girls and young women to develop and pursue their interests in technology.

The @loudounchamber recently honored Mahsa as the youngest-ever winner of its Community Leadership Awards.

(Credit: Loudoun Chamber YEA Program and @wusa9) ...

I grew up in Virginia, the daughter of a Ghanaian immigrant who came to the U.S. to seek a better life and to have a chance at the “American Dream.” My parents each ran successful small businesses until the housing market crash of 2007 and then their businesses collapsed. It was very scary and even though I was just 17, when my parents decided to leave the U.S., I decided to stay here and carve out my own path.

It wasn’t until the birth of my son years later that I had my “ah-ha” moment. Like many women, I had postpartum depression and began searching for remedies that would help me feel like myself again. I happened to get a CBD sample and it immediately helped me feel better. I wanted to share this healing experience with others and this led me to open District Hemp Botanicals in 2017.

We’re looking ahead to 2021 and expanding the business. We’re also focused on building partnerships with other like-minded businesses — like local hemp farms — and using our expertise to help other small businesses in the legal cannabis space.

💬Barbara Biddle, founder of @districthemp

📸: #AuthorityMagazine @loudounshopsblack ...