Economic Summit

Join DAAR for our 16th Annual Economic Summit!

Economic experts will highlight the 2022 housing market and economic trends in Northern Virginia and beyond. Join other real estate professionals, attorneys, professors, affiliate partners, and county officials.

March 18, 2022
9 AM – 11:30 AM

Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington

Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington is National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Assistant Vice President for Forecasting and Analysis. She oversees the activities of the Forecasting & Analysis section of the Economics group which includes housing market analysis, industry surveys, developing and maintaining national, regional, long-term, and remodeling expenditures forecasts. Before being promoted to Assistant Vice President, she worked at NAHB as a Senior Economist, responsible for state and local analysis. Prior to joining NAHB, Danushka worked at J.D. Power as a Senior Economic Analyst in the automotive industry. She holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Business Administration from Otterbein University and M.A. degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Lisa Sturtevant

Dr. Lisa Sturtevant has been involved in research on economic, demographic, and housing market issues and local housing solutions for more than 20 years. She currently serves as Chief Economist with Virginia REALTORS®, leading the association’s research on housing market and economic conditions throughout the Commonwealth. In her role, she prepares regular reports on the residential and commercial real estate markets in Virginia. She also conducts research and analysis to support the real estate industry in the commonwealth.

Dr. Sturtevant completed her PhD in public policy from George Mason University, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, and a BS in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University.

Buddy Rizer

Buddy Rizer serves as the Executive Director for economic development in Loudoun County, Virginia, which was named the 2021 Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council. He leads the agency responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationships with Loudoun’s business community in both the commercial and agricultural-based business sectors. During his tenure, Rizer and his team have attracted more than $35 billion in new investment and tens of thousands of new jobs.

Rizer has been named a Tech Titan 5 times by Washingtonian Magazine, has been named one of the 50 most influential Virginians four times by Virginia Business Magazine, and was named to the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 as one of the most influential businesspeople in Washington, DC.

Rizer serves as the Chair of the Northern Virginia Community College Foundation Board and is the Secretary of the Go Virginia Region 7 Council. He is on the Board of Directors for the Northern Virginia Technology Council and is a founding member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance.

Rizer is a certified economic developer and a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Local Government Management Graduate Certificate Program.