Everyone should be so lucky to have the problems that James Dinegar has.
As the newly installed head of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Dinegar will become a prominent voice in advancing the interests of Washington-area businesses — not a bad job in a region that already boasts a thriving economy, a highly educated work force and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
“There’s a vibrancy, energy and excitement to this region,” Dinegar said in a recent interview with The Examiner. “The people that are attracted to this region thrive on that energy. There’s no surprise why Starbucks does so well here.”
Dinegar, 45, officially took the helm of the regional organization July 10 and — in an effort to create a concrete strategy for the organization — has spent the last two weeks meeting with interested parties ranging from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority to individual Board of Trade members.
“The organization is on an upswing. [The members] are pushing us, and I think rightly so, to advance the business community,” said Dinegar, who was tasked with giving the organization more “relevance” and providing “demonstrable results” for its members.
But “it’s not all pluses,” he said. “There are issues with accommodating the booming economy. … The more people that want to move to the region, the more people you have to accommodate.”
The region added more than 400,000 residents between 2000 and 2005 and outranked all major metro areas in job growth, according to the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis.
That swelling population creates its own set of issues: a stretched transportation system, a lack of affordable housing and a work force struggling to keep pace with growing companies, Dinegar said.
“I’m very cognizant of the fact this region is growing and if it becomes too crowded, no one will want to come here anymore,” he said. “It’s pretty clear transportation is one of the top priorities.”
That issue is one the far-reaching Board of Trade is well-suited to lead the charge on, he said. As a regional organization, it can bridge the gap between all the players involved: D.C., Maryland, Virginia and the federal government.
A 28-year resident of the Washington area, Dinegar said he understands the area and the importance of long-term regional goals for a business community that is in it for the long haul.
“There may be a transient nature [to D.C.] on the Hill and within the administration,” he said. “But the vast majority of the population come here, love it and stay here.”
Who is James C. Dinegar?
» Career: Dinegar served as the chief operating officer for the American Institute of Architects from 2000-06 and the vice president of government relations from 1998 to 2000. Prior to AIA, Dinegar worked in government affairs for both the Building Owners and Managers Association and the American Society of AssociationExecutives.
» Education: B.A. in history from Catholic University
» Family: Dinegar lives in Arlington with his wife, Marcia, and his two children, Abby and Ben.
» Favorite thing about Washington: The area’s diversity, energy and international flavor. “There’s always something gong on here. It is never boring. There is no shortage of cultural attractions.”
