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Board of directors

Mike Van Atta

President

Mike is an experienced Land Use Planner who is passionate about the vitality and revitalization of northern Virginia communities. He was born and raised in Falls Church and is a homeowner in the Mason District. After receiving both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geography at Virginia Tech, Mike worked as a planner with Fairfax County’s Department of Planning of Development for a number of years before moving to the private sector. He is AICP certified and has a deep understanding of planning and land development issues in the region.

Daren shumate, PE
Vice President

Daren and his family have lived in the Parklawn neighborhood near Bailey’s Crossroads for over 30 years.  Daren has been active in the Parklawn Civic Association, the Parklawn Pool Board of Directors, and in the Northern Virginia Swim League as a meet official.

 

In addition to running Shumate Engineering, Daren is a Member of the Fairfax Board of Code Appeals and is a Commissioner on the Fairfax County Small Business Commission.

 

Professionally, Daren is the founder and CEO of Shumate Engineering, a mechanical and electrical engineering firm.   As electrical engineer, Daren has been engineer-of-record, project executive, and construction engineer on a wide array of project types with a specialty in hyperscale data center engineering and design.

Kenan Cehic
Treasurer

Kenan has worked as a DoD contractor and Patent Agent, and is currently employed as a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is a member of the Patent Bar and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. As a Mason District homeowner, he has served as the Vice President of the Sunset Manor & Dowden Terrace Civic Association, spearheading an effort to re-pave neighborhood roads, and supported successful initiatives for traffic calming and zoned parking in the neighborhood.

Lisa DuBois
Secretary

Lisa has lived in the DC metro area for over 25 years and is a licensed realtor in Virginia, and Washington DC having received numerous awards for sales and Realtor community involvement. Lisa has served in many community volunteer capacities, her most recent role as President of Rebuilding Together of Washington DC. She is a past member of Soroptimist International of Washington DC where she worked on numerous committees and events to benefit the women and children of the nation’s capital. 

David early

David has lived in the DC area for more than 30 years – 25+ of those in Mason District. He has been active in Fairfax County Public Schools and other community issues, served on the board of the Falls Church-based Choralis Foundation (where he also sings with the chorus), and  regularly takes leadership roles in his church. He currently serves as president of the Sleepy Hollow Manor Citizens’ Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in journalism from the University of Illinois. David worked for many years in public affairs and communications at various national non-profit and government organizations and is now a licensed Realtor in Virginia and Washington, DC.

sean ek

Sean, a Mason District resident, graduated from Virginia Tech, with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Sean  works in development as a commercial HVAC sales engineer, working with developers, contractors and engineers to provide energy efficient and cost-effective solutions for new construction and retrofit projects.  Sean is the Programs Director for National Capitol Region, Society of Healthcare Engineers and an active member in American Society Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers

Denise M. Hassanein

If I had one motto it would be this, from Khalil Gibran, “A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle”.  I believe that any gained knowledge must be applied, imparted, and shared with others, no matter the venture or activity.

The real estate arena with its myriad manifestations has been my occupation as a broker for a great portion of my career, notwithstanding a few forays overseas, organizing businesses. This has granted me a wealth of experience; not only in multi-cultural endeavors but in developing a cross-section of honed abilities and skills, analyzing/solving complex issues, continually learning and motivating others, and most importantly, acting with integrity in all undertakings.  My four simple things for success are:  One has to be versed in human psychology, diplomacy, excellent technical competencies, all accompanied by a healthy sense of humor.

Since living at Skyline Plaza after 25 years in Washington D.C. and Fauquier County I constantly find myself re-inventing and revitalizing the tired areas from Bailey’s to Seven Corners in my head, mulling ideas.  I am grateful to have discovered BC7RC, with hopes to assist in its revitalization thinking, plans, viewpoints, and concepts.  I believe an open mind, patience, flexibility, and visualizing are keys to what can and may possibly be accomplished.

By way of formal education I hold an MBA (2015) and post-grad certificate (2016) from Webster University in St. Louis MO, accomplished during a few years outside Virginia caring for an elderly parent.  At the opposite end of the spectrum my heart resides with the creative arts; music, languages, interior design, theatre, and art history.

Phil Kemelor

Phil Kemelor has been a resident of Mason District for 22 years. He has also lived in both DC and Maryland, in Capitol Hill, Glover Park, Takoma Park and Silver Spring. Phil is currently on the board of Fairfax Families for Safe Streets, a community-based volunteer organization that advocates for improved street safety programs, legislation and infrastructure for walkers and cyclists. He was a founding member of the Glover Park Alliance, an organization of citizens, businesses and property owners that successfully established a Main Streets program to energize neighborhood growth through support and encouragement of local businesses. Phil served on the board of Wesley Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit affordable housing development firm from 2009 to 2017 and was the board chair for two years.

 

Professionally, Phil is an independent consultant with over 30 years of applied experience in marketing, analytics and program management. He has led the delivery of complex data, digital transformation and organizational change projects at Fortune 500 brands, global NGOs, and federal and state government agencies.

 

Phil looks forward to serving on the board or BCR7 to encourage growth of independent businesses, walking, biking and public transportation accessibility and residential development that engages with the community.

Zan McKelway

Zan McKelway has been a homeowner in Baileys Crossroads for 25 years. He is a long-time member of the Savoy Park Condominium Association Board of Directors. He is excited about the potential for revitalizing Mason District and Seven Corners / Baileys Crossroads in particular. He recently retired after a career in public policy communications with a focus on the energy and finance industries. He has a small independent communications consultancy and is spending more time honing his skills as a landscape photographer.

Robert seldin

Robert Seldin is the Managing Principal of Madison Highland Live Work Lofts and is responsible for leading all company development activity. With 25 years of award-winning apartment development, design, strategy and innovation leadership, Rob is widely recognized as an industry thought leader. With a 100% entitlement success rate on over 13,000 units in high barrier to entry US markets, Rob consistently generates market leading returns at below market cost bases, providing a permanent competitive advantage to his investors. In addition to conventional apartment assets, Rob is also the US Patent Inventor for the proprietary live/work building conversion and construction method and apartment operating system that has become the basis for this industry re-defining asset type. Prior to managing Madison Highland LW Lofts, Rob was the Founder and CEO of Highland Square Holdings, as well as the Founder and CEO of Novus Residences, LLC; both of which were award winning, DMV based, apartment and Live/Work development and operating companies and Head of National Product Design and Senior Vice President of Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Development for Archstone, a premier apartment industry REIT.

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