Chris Bruno
Director/ President & CEO, FCED
Christopher.Bruno@fairfaxva.gov
Twitter: @chrisbruno84
LinkedIn: chrismbruno
Christopher Bruno serves as the Director of Economic Development and concurrently as the President & CEO of Fairfax City Economic Development. He is responsible for coordinating the economic development priorities of the Mayor and City Council with the work of FCED. In addition, Christopher focuses on business attraction and retention, real estate development and reuse, strategic partnerships, and serves on the City Manager’s Senior Leadership Team and the board of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance
Christopher holds a BA and MA from Fordham University in New York, and a JD from New York Law School where currently serves as a Senior Fellow for Law and Leadership.
Nicole Toulouse
Senior Assistant Director, Business Investment/ Senior Vice President, FCED
Nicole.Toulouse@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: nicole-toulouse
Nicole Toulouse serves as Sr. Assistant Director/ Sr. VP of Business Investment for FCED and leads Fairfax City’s Business Investment team with a focus on business attraction and retention. Nicole also assists with several of the City’s overall real estate development and reuse goals. As Senior Vice President, Nicole also supports the President/CEO in the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic work-plan and staff management.
Nicole holds both a BA in Public Policy and Economics and MPA from the University of Delaware Biden School of Public Policy. She has worked in the economic development, real estate development, and policy field for over a decade.
Matt Easley
Assistant Director, Finance and Operations/ Vice President, FCED
Matthew.Easley@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: mattbeas
Matt Easley serves as Assistant Director / Vice President of Finance and Operations for FCED and leads budget, administration, purchasing and operations. Matt works to ensure all facets of FCED are operational and to that end supports every programmatic division and employee. Matt is also responsible for the stewardship of several intra-government relationships and for overseeing the process of coordinating and briefing the Economic Development Authority. Matt’s financial responsibilities span both the Economic Development Office (budget proposal) and Economic Development Authority (budget oversight).
Matt holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts and an MA from Lesley University. He is currently an adjunct professor at George Mason University.
Tara Borwey
Programs Manager
Tara.Borwey@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: taraborwey
Tara Borwey is the Economic Development Programs Manager for Fairfax City Economic Development. In this capacity, Tara is accountable for conceptualizing and overseeing the execution of retail business initiatives, placemaking, and other specialized projects. Tara fosters relationships among businesses and neighborhood development organizations while collaborating closely with community partners. Tara’s efforts are directed at advancing local establishments and implementing targeted events that support sales for local businesses.
Tara holds a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Organization and Management from San Jose State University, College of Business.
Brittany Jones
Public Relations & Marketing Manager
Brittany.Jones@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: prwithbjones
Brittany Jones is the Public Relations and Marketing Manager for Fairfax City Economic Development, where she spearheads strategic marketing initiatives, excelling in PR planning, social media management, and fostering key relationships with local and regional media outlets. Her unwavering dedication ensures a strong and impactful representation of the FCED brand across multiple channels, contributing significantly to the mission of positioning Fairfax City as a premier business destination in Northern Virginia.
Brittany holds a BA in mass communications from Virginia State University and an MS in strategic public relations from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Michelle Smith
Contracts Manager
Michelle.Smith@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: michelletsmith
Michelle Smith is Fairfax City’s Economic Development’s Contracts Manager. In this role, Michelle is responsible for developing and administering programs that support FCED’s placemaking efforts in conjunction with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Economic Development Authority. Michelle’s current portfolio involves projects related to public art and tourism, small business improvements and retail incubation.
Michelle holds a BS from James Madison University and an MS from Slippery Rock University. She has worked in real estate, tourism development and parks and recreation programming and operations.
Marie Spittell
Business Investment Specialist
Marie.Spittell@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: mariespittell
Marie Spittell is Fairfax City Economic Development’s Business Investment Specialist and works to advance the goals of the Business Investment efforts in Fairfax City through business retention and expansion. Marie supports the Senior Assistant Director‘s work with existing businesses, as well as marketing and outreach for business attraction. Marie’s strategic approach expertly entices new entrepreneurial ventures and ultimately strengthens the business community in Fairfax City.
Tatjana Mara
Account Support Specialist
Tatjana.Mara@fairfaxva.gov
Tatjana Mara is serving as the Account Support Specialist for the Economic Development Authority supporting Fairfax City Economic Development. She is a seasoned professional providing senior-level expertise in financial controls. Tatjana’s strong background in financial management has enhanced the fiscal integrity of the FCED and supports the organization’s goal of maximum transparency and accountability. Tatjana is responsible for EDA operating budget, financial reporting, grants payment, and the annual audit processes.
Andrew Wilson
Project Manager
Andrew.Wilson@fairfaxcityeda.org
Joey Peppersack
Economic Development Associate
Joey.Peppersack@fairfaxva.gov
Saima Seddiq
Programs Intern
Saima.Seddiq@fairfaxva.gov
LinkedIn: saima-seddiq
Saima is the Programs Intern for Fairfax City Economic Development. In this capacity, she is responsible for various administrative duties linked to the coordination and execution of events. Saima conducts research and helps devise innovative programs that align with FCED’s mission. She engages with the social media team to plan and execute marketing campaigns. In addition, Saima actively supports the implementation of FCED’s initiatives, all under the guidance of the Economic Development Programs Manager.
Siama is pursuing a BS in Management Information Systems, a current Senior at George Mason University.
Andres Vivero
Business Investment Intern
Avivero@FairfaxVA.gov
Andres Vivero serves as the Business Investment Intern for FCED and reports to the Senior Vice President. In this capacity, Andres is responsible for assisting with business attraction, expansion, and retention efforts within the city.
He is currently a sophomore pursuing a degree in Operations & Supply Chain Management, minoring in Government Contracting at George Mason University.
Monika Blakely
Social Media Intern
Monika.Blakely@fairfaxva.gov
Monika Blakely serves as the Social Media intern for FCED. In this capacity, she is responsible for managing various social media channels and creates engaging, brand-aligned content. In addition, Monika analyzes post impacts, builds social relationships, stays updated on trends, and supports press release coordination.
Monika is currently pursuing an Information Technology Degree as a Senior at George Mason University.