Image courtesy of Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
The Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team will be honored by the Chamber this year.
For only the third time in their history, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has selected a team as the Business Leader of the Year. The Chamber announced that for 2025 "we are proud to honor the Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team for their extraordinary impact on education, innovation, and regional growth."
"While the university has held a valued Northern Virginia presence for more than 50 years, this team has made an enhanced investment not only through infrastructure, but a new era of possibility for Alexandria," the Chamber noted. The Chamber added more information about this year's honoree:
Why the Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team?
The Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Teamnot only led the successful opening of Academic Building One in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard — they also helped lay the foundation for a broader transformation in the region’s educational and tech workforce landscape.
From K–12 STEM outreach to graduate education, and from infrastructure development to deep community partnerships, this team’s leadership reflects the values that define our business community: innovation, collaboration, and a lasting commitment to impact.
Visionary Leadership
This award also celebrates the individual leaders whose talent and commitment to the community helped make this milestone possible. There are several individuals who will be recognized during this year’s event, including:
• Dr. Lance Collins, Vice President and Executive Director
Dr. Collins has played a defining role in shaping Virginia Tech’s presence in Alexandria — overseeing every phase of Academic Building One’s planning and construction, and developing a long-term strategy that integrates academic excellence, industry engagement, and innovation across the D.C. metro area. At Virginia Tech, he continues to champion access to graduate education while helping shape the region’s innovation economy.
• David Baker, Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff
David Baker has led critical efforts in campus development, community engagement, and public-private partnerships. He played a central role in the entitlement process for the new campus and helped achieve the naming of the Potomac Yard–VT Metro Station.
Beyond his work at Virginia Tech, Baker has served the community through leadership roles with:
- The Campagna Center
- ACT for Alexandria (Board & Finance Committee)
- Educate Fairfax
- Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors)
- Ballston Business Improvement District (BID)
His public service underscores a long-standing commitment to the success of Alexandria’s families and educational institutions.
About Academic Building One
Announced in 2018 and officially opened in January 2025, Academic Building One is an 11-story, 300,000-square-foot facility located just steps from the Potomac Yard–VT Metro Station. It houses state-of-the-art resources for graduate students in computer science and computer engineering and is the new hub for Virginia Tech’s graduate and research activity in the greater D.C. area. This new hub positions Virginia Tech — and the Alexandria community — at the forefront of technology, workforce development, and national innovation.
Impact Beyond the Campus: Investing in Alexandria’s Future Talent
The Virginia Tech Team’s commitment extends beyond higher education and into the heart of the Alexandria community — most notably through their partnership with Alexandria City Public Schools.
Virginia Tech has launched a range of STEM education initiatives in collaboration with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). These programs are designed to inspire, engage, and prepare students for college and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Highlights include:
- Hands-on computing and engineering pathway programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels
- Mentorship and outreach initiatives connecting high school students with Virginia Tech faculty, graduate students, and alumni
- Teacher professional development workshops that equip ACPS educators with tools and research-based strategies to enhance STEM learning
- A shared commitment to ensuring all students are supported with high-impact learning opportunities
Through this work, Virginia Tech is helping build a local pipeline of future tech talent, empowering Alexandria students to thrive in the digital economy — and to see themselves as innovators, leaders, and Hokies of tomorrow.
Register to attend the Best in Business Awards, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank on Oct. 23, 2025.
