ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce proudly announces its new leadership team for 2023.
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Haggerty couldn’t be happier with the new members.
“They represent broad business diversity. With smaller businesses, including restaurant owners, large employers and non-profit organizations, there is definitely more diversity on the board. They are also deeply involved leaders in their communities, with a good understanding of their needs and the right approach to take for the future,” Haggerty said.
new chair
Nicole McGrew was elected as the new chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. McGrew is the founder and owner of Threadleaf & Company, a women’s lifestyle her boutique that focuses on responsibly made fashion-forward clothing and accessories. Since 2018, the Old Town shop has been recognized by several media outlets, including Southern Living, Northern Virginia Magazine, The Washington, Alexandria Times, and NBC News, making it a destination for women seeking the best ethical. It is fashion.
A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, McGrew spent 12 years practicing law in the areas of criminal law and policy before founding Threadleaf. He was an Associate at Morrison & Foerster and an Assistant General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. He served as deputy general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Obama administration.
In addition to running Threadleaf, McGrew currently serves on the Board of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Board’s Governance Subcommittee. She is also on the Board of Visitors of Alexandria and the Board of Directors of the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. McGrew is also a 2021 graduate of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a winner of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 2019 Best in Business: Rising Star Award.
of New officers for 2023 The selections are listed below in alphabetical order.
Michael Babin of Neighborhood Restaurant GroupIn 1997 Babin opened the Evening Star Cafe in Alexandria’s Del Rey neighborhood, and a year later opened the adjacent wine shop, Planet Wines. Since then, Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG).
NRG’s award-winning restaurants have been featured in The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Savor, and many other national publications, from the local Washington Post and Washington Magazine. Babin has been named Best Restaurateur/Restaurateur of the Year by the Washingtonian, CityPaper, and the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Association.
Ten years ago he founded the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. Babin is a member of the Metropolitan He has served on the boards of the Washington Restaurant Association and Think Local First, and currently serves on the board of the Consortium Management Group. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, served on a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Sunny Blanco of United Bank I have over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Her entire career has been dedicated to building relationships and providing personalized service to each and every client. is supported. Blanco earned her bachelor’s degree from William and Mary College and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Banking. Blanco is also a board member of The Arc of Northern Virginia, where she serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a member of her PWN Steering Committee of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
Jatrice Martell Gatorof Volunteers of America. She provides leadership and strategic oversight of public policy, financial development, communications and marketing initiatives for the billion dollar organization.
Gator currently serves on the Generations United Board of Directors, the George Mason University MPA Advisory Board, the Generosity Commission Government Relations and Policy Task Force, and the Nonprofit Voting Leadership Council. He is also a member of the MetroStage Board of Directors. Gator is the former Chairman of the National Welfare Council and a former member of the Public Policy Committee of the Independent Sector Board.
She has served as CEO of two nonprofits and has worked on public policy, fundraising and branding at Michigan State University and United Way. She is a founding National Committee member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Gator holds a BA in Government from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University School of Law. Gaiter was named Washingtonian Magazine’s “Washingtonian of the Year” and she was named one of the Washington Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business.” She is an advocate for the nonprofit sector, blogging, writing opinions, and tweeting as @MsNonprofit.
melonie johnson, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MGM National Harbor, graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In this role, she is responsible for leading the Executive Committee, setting strategic direction and overseeing day-to-day operations. Johnson’s gaming and hospitality career spanned her nearly 25 years, during which she held key leadership positions at major properties across the United States.
She has been with MGM Resorts since 2015, most recently as President and COO of Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi. During her time there, she created a strong atmosphere by creating a service-oriented culture and developing strategic plans to ensure the property achieved its short- and long-term goals. Under Johnson’s leadership, he delivered record results and played a key role in driving the company’s regional success.
Her decades of leadership experience in local gaming properties, along with her financial expertise and strategic thinking, has led her to become Assistant General Manager and CFO of Hollywood Casino in Charles Town Races in West Virginia/Hollywood Casino in Illinois. He has held positions such as Interim General Manager of Aurora, Regional Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Finance for Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Johnson and her husband Mark have six children and her five grandchildren.
Lisa Katic, owner of Wine Gallery 108. Wine Gallery 108 is a 5-star boutique wine shop in Old Town featuring fine wines (organic, sustainable and natural), craft beer, gourmet food, local art and handcrafted gifts. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. Katic recently refurbished her store with a complete aesthetic redesign of her former location and now offers weekly tastings of her popular wines.
Garrett McGuire He is the regional director of foreign and legislative affairs for AT&T in Virginia. In this role, McGuire advocates for the company’s priorities at the state and local levels while driving his AT&T efforts in the community. McGuire is instrumental in his AT&T’s 5G deployments across Virginia, helping educate lawmakers and communities about 5G technology and infrastructure.
Prior to AT&T, he worked for elected leaders in legislative and campaigning roles at the local, state, and federal levels, and worked with state governments for trade associations representing the American manufacturing sector. led relationship advocacy. McGuire is Chair of the Fairfax – Falls Church Community Service Board of Fairfax County, a non-profit organization serving the Route 1 Corridor, the Northern Virginia Urban League, and the Arlington County Chamber of Commerce. I am on the board.
McGuire was named a ’40 Under 40′ recipient in 2020 in Alexandria and in 2016 by Leadership Arlington. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Virginia Tech. McGuire and his wife Meghan live in Alexandria with his daughter Sloan and dog Cathy.
[SEE ALSO: Join the 2023 Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade]
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