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Betsy May-Salazar has been appointed executive director of the McLean Community Center (MCC). Her appointment was approved by the MCC Board of Directors at their meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14. She succeeds MCC Acting Director Evan Braff.

Most recently, May-Salazar served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the National Building Museum. She has worked for the National Building Museum in various capacities since 1995.

In her role as senior vice president and COO of the National Building Museum, May-Salazar was directly responsible for all operations and financial oversight, managing an annual budget of more than $8 million and serving as chief of staff. She was integral in all aspects of leading the museum, including strategic planning, budget development and management, board relations, program management, human resources and staff oversight. She was key in all museum planning including shaping the museum’s programmatic direction, ensuring fiscal stability, and developing strategy for increased visibility, attendance and financial growth. She directly supervised finance, human resources, administration, museum shop, great hall rental and IT services and worked in tandem with the programming, marketing and fundraising teams.

“On behalf of the McLean Community Center Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Betsy as our new executive director. Her extensive experience managing operations, strategic planning and development of compelling programs for the public, along with her longstanding ties to McLean, position her well,” said MCC Board Chair Barbara Zamora-Appel. “I look forward to working with Betsy to expand our reach, cultivate partnerships and make the McLean Community Center the best it can be for our community.”

Prior to her work at the National Building Museum, May-Salazar was program director of the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, where she was responsible for planning programs including community outreach and educational programs, publications, exhibitions, annual design awards and lecture series.

The McLean Community Center was built and is funded by residents of Greater McLean through a real estate tax surcharge. MCC offers activities for adults, teens and children, including a wide range of classes, lectures, study tours, camps, art exhibits, theater performances and specialty shows. The center also sponsors community activities and events and includes the 383-seat Alden Theatre, McLean Project for the Arts galleries, studios, meeting and conference space, classrooms and a commercial kitchen. MCC also operates the award-winning Old Firehouse Center, the first-of-its-kind space for teens in Fairfax County.

May-Salazar has a bachelor’s in philosophy in interdisciplinary studies from Miami University and a master’s in arts in American studies from George Washington University. She and her family are longtime residents of McLean. Her appointment is effective Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Philip A. Hagen has been appointed director of the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget (DMB). He succeeds Christina Jackson, who will continue as the county’s chief financial officer, to which she was appointed in 2021.

Hagen has served as the department’s deputy director since 2019. In that capacity his work was focused on the development, presentation and monitoring of the county’s operating budget. Hagen led the analysis of complex fiscal issues impacting multiple county agencies and collaborated on the review of county agency personnel requirements and the development of employee pay and benefit policies.

Additionally, Hagen was responsible for the daily operations of DMB, including the development of new systems and automation and improvement of various agency business processes, as well as maintaining the department’s budget and overseeing human resources activities.

From 2017 to 2019, as the agency’s budget services coordinator, Hagen coordinated the development of the county’s operating budget as well as the annual and quarterly budget processes. He also supervised the team responsible for maintenance of DMB’s systems; the data integrity process; budget schedules and resolutions; and compliance with legal requirements including advertising the budget and tax rate.

Hagen began his career with the Department of Management and Budget in 2010 as a budget analyst and previously worked in real estate appraisal including with the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration.

DMB is responsible for coordination of the county's annual budget process, including the financial forecast; development of budget guidelines; review of agency requests; presentation of recommendations to the county executive; preparation of the Advertised Budget Plan; support of deliberations by the Board of Supervisors; and preparation of the Adopted Budget Plan, which exceeds $8 billion for all funds, including over $4 billion for General Fund Disbursements. The department has been recognized with the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 36 consecutive years.

Hagen has a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Florida and a master’s in public administration from George Mason University. His appointment was effective Nov. 19.

To learn more about the agency visit the DMB website. 

Rebecca L. Makely has been appointed director of the Department of Cable and Consumer Services (DCCS). She succeeds Michael Liberman, who retired earlier this year. 

Makely began her career with Fairfax County government in 2001 as a consumer specialist in what was then the Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection. She was later promoted to accountant and financial specialist positions and in 2016 was promoted to Consumer Services Division Director with DCCS. 

As the Consumer Services division director, Makely managed a portfolio of four branches with 21 employees: consumer affairs, regulation and licensing, meeting space management and event support, and administrative services. 

Since early 2022, Makely has served as acting director of DCCS. In that role she oversees a team of 57 and a budget of more than $20 million; is the county’s cable television administrator — responsible for the county’s cable franchises, enforcement of technical standards and customer service regulations and service negotiation among other duties; directs the production and broadcast of programming and government meetings via Channel 16, the county’s cable television station; and manages county consumer services.

DCCS comprises three divisions: Consumer Services, Communications Productions and Communications Policy and Regulation. 

Consumer Services mediates consumer and tenant-landlord issues, conducts outreach, regulates taxis and towing, issues certain business licenses, and supports meetings and events at the Fairfax County Government Center. 

The Communications Productions Division operates Fairfax County Governmental Channel 16 and the Fairfax County Training Network (FCTN). Channel 16 televises and streams government meetings and produces informational programs for the public. The division also televises training and programming for employees on FCTN. 

The Communications Policy and Regulation Division negotiates cable franchise agreements and is responsible for regulatory oversight of the county’s three franchised cable television providers.

Makely has a bachelor’s degree in Business from Pensacola Christian College and holds a Certified Public Manager accreditation from George Washington University. Her appointment was effective Nov. 19.

To learn more about the agency, visit the DCCS website.
 

Five county employees were recognized with the A. Heath Onthank Award for Merit, the highest honor awarded by the county to its employees, at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Sharon Arndt
Arndt led the development and implementation of a COVID-19 vaccine equity strategy to reach populations at high risk for contracting the virus and for experiencing worse health outcomes due to historical and systemic marginalization. Her hard work led to 717 equity clinics, accounting for 3.6% of COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as contact with over 18,000 county residents. Under Arndt's leadership, there were hundreds of vaccine equity clinic events, enhancing the health and well-being of thousands of county residents.

Keisha Dotson
As the NCS Division Director who oversees the Coordinated Services Planning Call Center, Dotson led the adaptation and creation of the county and community’s basic needs response, helping to disburse over $90 million dollars to county residents for rent, utility, and food assistance. She created new policies and procedures, as well as additional services that improved public assistance by working collaboratively with the court system, community providers, houses of worship, and county stakeholders to respond to the unprecedented needs facing Fairfax County residents.

Amy Ginger
Ginger led the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority's federal policy interactions, persuading HUD to do business differently, facilitating approval of the trailblazing, first-of-its-kind One University redevelopment which will provide 240 new affordable housing units for extremely low and low-income families and seniors. One University was outside of Ginger's usual duties as it involved a unique, once-in-a-career situation which was concluded successfully thanks to her tremendous skill, knowledge and thoughtful commitment to public service.

Dwayne Pelfrey
As Transportation Division Chief, Pelfrey managed the county’s public bus transit system, the Fairfax Connector, leading a team of 30 county and over 800 contract staff across all key transit service functional areas – planning, operations, fleet maintenance, facilities, safety, and customer service – throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on equity and disadvantaged communities, Pelfrey ensured safe transit for critical infrastructure workers and residents and commuters reliant on public transportation in a role that required him to be available endless hours for more than a year. His tireless work undoubtedly improved lives.

Lisa Thompson
As a Facility Coordinator, Thompson took on the project of the Next Steps Family Shelter, repairing and decorating 19 units to provide safe, decent, and welcoming units for families in crisis. She spent every workday, and often weekends as well, at the project site communicating with contractors and coordinating with others in the cleaning and enhancement of units so they could be used as emergency sheltering. Her endless efforts, along with her compassion and empathy for her community, allowed this project to flourish in its mission of providing decent living spaces for those in need.

Christie Ann Leary will be presented her official commission as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge, on Friday, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse, Courtroom 5J, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend.

At the investiture ceremony, The Honorable Eileen Filler-Corn of the Virginia House of Delegates will present Leary with her official commission and Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate of the Fairfax County Circuit Court will ceremoniously administer her oath. Leary previously took her oath of office on March 1, 2022.

Prior to joining the Circuit Court in 2022, Leary served as a substitute judge for the General District Court and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court for eight years. Leary practiced law for 21 years before taking the bench, and in 2011 she co-founded the law offices of Leary Law, PC, where she focused her practice on criminal defense, personal injury and civil litigation matters.

Leary, a native of Fairfax, earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Government from the College of William and Mary and her juris doctor from George Mason University School of Law.

For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Kim Callahan, Fairfax County Circuit Court, at 703-246-4166, TTY 711.

Media Contact: Crystal.Santos@FairfaxCounty.gov

Tracy Strunk has been appointed director of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). She succeeds Barbara Byron, who retired earlier this year.

Strunk began her career with Fairfax County government in 1998, as a planner with what was then the Department of Planning & Zoning, where her work included development review in all areas of the county and culminated with serving as a member of the Tysons Core Team, supporting the major replanning effort for Tysons and processing the first zoning cases filed under that plan.

Strunk went on to become a Deputy Director for the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization, where she provided oversight for the Tysons/Reston Metro Corridor Development Branch, whose work included development of urban design for Tysons and Reston Metro Corridor areas and review of public facilities in Tysons.

Most recently, Strunk served as director of DPD’s Zoning Evaluation Division, which is charged with processing all zoning applications submitted to the county, and formulating recommendations through staff reports to the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and Board of Zoning Appeals .

The Department of Planning and Development provides guidance on land use, development review and zoning issues to decision-making authorities including the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission, and is responsible for various permitting and approval functions in the land development arena. The department consists of three major divisions: the Planning Division, the Zoning Evaluation Division and the Zoning Administration Division, and two sections—Community Revitalization and Urban Centers, as well as support functions including human resources, information technology and mapping.

Strunk began her career in land use in in 1995 in South Carolina, where she served as a regional planner with the Lowcountry Council of Governments.

She holds a bachelor’s in sociology from Northwestern University and a master’s in regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lee Ann Pender has been appointed director of the Department of Procurement and Material Management (DPMM). She succeeds Cathy Muse, who retired earlier this year.

Pender began her career with Fairfax County government in 2014 as director of contracts and procurement management with what was then the Department of Administration for Human Services (DAHS). She was later promoted to deputy director and then acting director of the agency.

In 2019, Pender was appointed deputy director of DPMM, where she provided supervision, oversight, direction and guidance to the agency’s five business areas and management of day-to-day operations, including the allocation of funding and staff resources. Pender also oversaw strategic, workforce and succession planning in that role. She has served as acting director since Muse’s retirement.

Prior to moving to county government, Pender served with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), where she began her career in 1990. She served in various procurement positions with FCPS, moving up through the ranks to become director of the Department of Administration for the Department of Facilities and Transportation Services in 2013.

Pender has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mary Washington College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. She is a Certified Professional Public Buyer.

DPMM provides the county government with overall procurement and material management support, managing a portfolio of more than 2,000 active contracts. In addition to the savings attained through competitive sourcing in FY 2021, DPMM programs produced $3,492,777 in revenue and delivered significant administrative efficiencies for the county. The department is also responsible for material management, overseeing storage space at the county’s central warehouse and supporting the transfer of 2.42 million library books annually from branch to branch.

DPMM is committed to leadership in sustainable procurement and its supplier diversity program continues to play a vital role in the equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 health emergency.

To learn more about the agency, visit the DPMM website.

Tania M.L. Saylor, the first woman of color to serve as a Fairfax County Circuity Court Judge will be presented her official commission on Friday, May 6, at 4 p.m. in Courtroom 5J of the Fairfax County Courthouse.  The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony. 

At the ceremony, The Hon. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen of the Virginia Senate will present Judge Saylor with her official commission and Judge Vernida R. Chaney of the Virginia Court of Appeals will ceremoniously administer her oath. Judge Saylor previously took her oath of office on June 28, 2021.

Prior to joining the Circuit Court in 2021, Judge Saylor served as a substitute judge for the General District Court and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court for five years. Judge Saylor practiced law for 18 years before taking the bench. In 2010, she co-founded the law offices of Peterson Saylor, PLC, where she focused her practice on trusts and estates litigation, business disputes and litigation, and contested guardianship matters.

Judge Saylor, a native of Rockville, Maryland, earned her bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Virginia and her juris doctor from The George Washington University School of Law.

For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Kim Callahan, Fairfax County Circuit Court, at 703-246-4166, TTY 711.

Media Contact: Crystal.Santos@FairfaxCounty.gov

At its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Board of Supervisors appointed Steven Richardson as the executive director of the Police Civilian Review Panel (PCRP). The appointment is effective Monday, Feb. 28.

The panel reviews completed Police Department investigations into complaints alleging abuse of authority or serious misconduct, to ensure accuracy, completeness, thoughtfulness, objectivity and impartiality. Learn more about how the panel works on the PCRP webpage. 

Richardson previously served as operations captain for the George Washington University Police Department. In this role, he supervised the performance of all investigations, detectives, patrol services and personnel. Richardson also studied the deployment of resources and recommended more effective deployments when needed. In addition, he reviewed all use-of-force incidents and adjudicated patrol officer union grievances. 

Previously, Richardson also served as criminal magistrate for North Carolina’s Judicial District 26; project manager and courts and corrections senior advisor for the Cook County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office; fellow at the University of Chicago Crime Lab; police officer and investigator for the New York City Police Department; and legislative director for a New York City Council member.

Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts in African-American studies from Binghamton University. He will receive an annual salary of $120,000. 
 

The Virginia attorney general recently certified that there is no objection to Fairfax County’s redistricting plan that the Board of Supervisors adopted on Dec. 7, 2021.

The attorney general’s “certification of no objection” means that the county may now implement its new local election districts as adopted. The certification process is required by state law under the 2021 Virginia Rights of Voters Act.

The county’s redistricting plan maintains nine local election districts for the Board of Supervisors and School Board. It minimizes disruption to residents and communities, shifting seven precincts in part or in whole to new districts.

Members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board who are in office now will complete their terms, representing the districts as adopted.

State law requires that Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors be composed of one chairman elected at-large and one district supervisor elected from each local election district. 

Redistricting is a legally required process to draw new electoral boundaries to ensure proportional representation as populations grow and shift over time. It is done to create election districts with roughly equal numbers of people, although mathematical precision isn’t required.

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