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PAGE 16 |MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022

BUSINESS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Local Immigrant Entrepreneurs Highlighted

The Washington Business Journal recently interviewed several successful entrepreneurs in the region, two of which are from Falls Church. Moe Jafari, CEO of Executive 1 Holding Co, owns McLean-based HumanTouch LLC. An immigrant from Palestine, he spoke of working hard at age 7 and taking risks, eventually entering federal contracting where he specializes in artificial intelligence tech. Tania Hossain, originally from Bangladesh, built her Falls Church studio for her business with Small Business Administration loans. She did this during the pandemic and now operates Tania Hossain Photography.

Nominations Now Accepted for Best Places to Work

Arlington Magazine’s Best Places to Work is a research-driven program from Best Companies Group that examines company’s practices, programs and benefits and surveys employees for their perspective. Companies located in Arlington, McLean, and Falls Church, VA, that meet certain criteria will be considered Arlington Magazine’s Best Places to Work. Registration Deadline is May 6, 2022. Visit https://bestcompaniesgroup.com/arlington-magazine-best-places-to-work/ for the criteria and for the free registration.

Northrop Grumman Sets Net Zero Goal

Northrop Grumman Corporation has committed to the goal of achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations by 2035, a step to decarbonize. Northrop Grumman has taken meaningful action in the past decade, based on scientific data, to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations by 30 percent. The company will push this reduction further through other means such as expanding on site solar opportunities and incentivizing operations-related emissions reductions through the company’s non-financial metrics. The Net Zero goal is one component of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts addressed in Northrop Grumman’s newly released Sustainability Report, which includes data and information about GHG goals, initiatives and progress.

GDIT Wins Biomedical Research Support Contract

General Dynamics Information Technology has received a five-year $171 million contract to support the Army’s biomedical research grant applications. The Research Application Evaluation and Support contract supports the Army’s Medical Research Development Command and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), according to a news release. GDIT will provide scientific, software development and program management services to assist in receipt and peer review of biomedical research grant applications. GDIT will also handle evaluation of thousands of applications annually and work with scientists, clinicians and patient advocates to service on in-person and virtual peer review panels.

BAE Systems Contract with the Air Force

Falls Church-based BAE Systems Inc. has won a $176 million contract to provide softwaredefined radios to the Air Force. The radios will support the Air Force’s Airborne High Frequency Radio Modernization program and provide a secure alternative to satellite communications. The five-year contract is for development of the long-range communications while also jamming threats using a drop-in compatible radio design using commercial off-the-shelf technology from FlexRadio. Development will take place at a BAE Systems facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

City Collects Donations for Ukraine

The City of Falls Church is collecting donations of clothing and blankets that will be sent to Ukrainian refugees in Europe. Donations can be dropped off in collection boxes at any of three locations: City Hall at 300 Park Ave., the Mary Riley Styles Public Library at 120 N. Virginia Ave. and the Community Center at 223 Little Falls St. Donations will be accepted until April 15. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission is managing the donation drive and requests new or gently used coats, new blankets, new pairs of sweat socks and heavy socks, and new pairs of gloves. The items will be shipped to Poland and provided to Ukrainians in Poland and Ukraine.

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.

In Memoriam: Deborah J. Smyth

Deborah J. Smyth, Debby to friends and neighbors, died in the early morning hours Wednesday,16 March 2022 in the ICU at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Deborah just turned 72 years of age two weeks earlier. Debby was transported to Fairfax Hospital ED Monday morning, 7 March from her home in Winter Hill. She was diagnosed with SCC of the soft palate in December 2021 and began aggressive chemotherapy and radiation at INOVA Schar Cancer Institute in mid-January. Complications during the course of treatment ultimately led to her death.

Smythie, as she was affectionately called by her beloved students, was a gentle, generous, artistic soul. She was a poet, FCPS Master Teacher, editor, and tutor among other things. She loved to read, write stories and poetry (a true “WordSmyth”), cook, bake, refinish furniture, garden, play guitar, hike, and most importantly share all her talents and gifts with others. If Debby found a particularly interesting book, she would buy multiple copies and gift those whom she knew would enjoy reading it. Her triple chocolate walnut brownies were always a hit. Debby would often bake and deliver her treats to her dentist, and his staff! Italian Wedding soup was also a favorite of many of our neighbors. Deb would head out to Harris Teeter early in the morning to pick up all the necessary ingredients and spend the whole day cooking. After carefully doling out individual containers, we would drive around Winter Hill to deliver her homemade soup.

Born in Washington, DC, Deborah was raised in Arlington, Virginia. Her father passed away when Debby was only five years old. A WWII veteran, he spent more than his last year at the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Debby and her younger brother were raised by their single mom with help from their maternal grandmother and aunt. She graduated from St. Thomas More elementary school and Bishop O’Connell high school, then went on to JMU majoring in Journalism and English. In 1987 she earned a master’s degree in English at GMU. She began her three decade teaching career in 1972 at Broad Run High School in Loudon County. Debby’s summers were spent teaching journalism workshops at University of Ohio, Amherst, Gettysburg, and Columbia University for high school student editors across the country.

Debby was involved in Girl Scouting for much of her life. Her summers as a camper, then CIT, and eventually counselor, introduced her to camping, backpacking, canoeing, playing the guitar, and singing, singing, singing and singing. In those days backpacking meant the Appalachian Trail. As one lifelong friend explained, Debby’s tent was a rope between two trees with a Tube Tent strung between (imagine a plastic bag with both ends open)! If the thunderstorms didn’t leak into your tent, Debby’s was the one where the rope came loose and left her and her tent-mate in a puddle of water by morning. To this day the “ladies in green” kept in touch through reunions, emails, Facebook, and funerals. Her Girl Scout experiences helped Debby become the talented, compassionate leader and teacher that she was to so many.

From an early age Debby often shared deep and very profound thoughts with her friends. In one moment she would be so very serious, then she would do something silly or goofy in the next! She was known to pout and then laugh at herself, characteristics which lasted throughout her life.

Debby moved to the City of Falls Church in 1978 while continuing at Broad Run HS. In 1980 she began her career with FCPS and taught at McLean HS. She was tapped to be one of the pioneer teachers at TJSST, worked in FCPS administration (editor of The Red Apple), went back to teach a second stint at McLean, and finally ended her career with FCPS at Herndon Middle School. She was also a part-time instructor at Marymount University in journalism and taught writing at GMU. Debby absolutely loved teaching. Once retired from FCPS, and before continuing in education by tutoring Chinese and Korean students, she briefly worked at The Falls Church NewsPress. Her last endeavor was working as editor on a memoir for a neighbor and friend. Unfortunately, she did not get to see this to its completion.

After her wake at Murphy’s Funeral Home (Falls Church) on Wednesday, 22 March, a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More. Debby will be greatly missed by friends and neighbors in Winter Hill, the children in our cul-de-sac, and the dogs and cats she “parented” with her partner of 32 years.

Winnie the Pooh was Debby’s favorite character. She lived by and passed on to others one of Pooh’s life’s lessons… ”You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”