Bring It On, Business: Herndon Hires New Economic Development Manager

As the Town has been saying for months now: it's on.

The Town of Herndon announced Tuesday it has hired a new Economic Development Manager — a position that hasn't previously existed —  in an effort to continue to attract more, bigger and better businesses to Herndon.

The Town announced it has chosen Dennis Holste, Jr. to fill this position.

Holste begins work Sept. 3.

Town of Herndon Chief Communications Officer Anne Curtis said the Town Council authorized the creation of the new staff position, dedicated to economic development, largely as a result of recommendations put forward by the Town's Economic Development Task Force.

Curtis said, the task force, comprised of business leaders, developers and others with a vested interest in Herndon’s future "developed a strategy recommendation designed to enhance the town’s commercial sector and maximize economic development opportunities represented by its downtown master plan, as well as the [future] arrival of Metrorail’s Silver Line."

In his new post, the Town said Holste will be responsible for promoting the Town of Herndon "as a desirable location in which to start or grow a business, establishing cooperative and mutually beneficial relationships between town businesses, and furthering initiatives related to economic development and business vitality."

"The establishment of this position enables the town to provide a strong focus on business development and retention,” said Town Manager Art Anselene.  “In his new role, Dennis will be instrumental in working with Herndon’s business owners and developers to further their planning initiatives in conjunction with the town government.”

Holste will also serve as the town’s primary liaison to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, and other entities dedicated to Herndon’s commercial sector. He will also be responsible for working with new and existing town businesses as they navigate town processes.

In a news release, the Town indicated that Holste comes to Herndon from Margate, Fla., where he was the assistant director to the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). In that capacity, he was responsible for the CRA’s business recruitment and expansion efforts, served as project manager for CRA-initiated capital projects, and represented the CRA before community associations, city advisory boards and related governmental bodies. Notably, he was largely responsible for the recruitment of Saveology.com to Margate and the expansion of Global Response Corporation in the city, according to the release.

Prior to his tenure at Margate, the release added that Holste worked as a management assistant in the Economic Development Division for the City of Charlotte, N.C., where he helped establish a business retention program, researched and prepared demographic and economic reports for businesses considering relocating into the city, and planned and organized community events such as the Mayor’s New Business Breakfast and economic development community forums. 

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