Politics & Government

Fulkerson Named Reston Association CEO; Higgins appointed to board position

Reston native and longtime RA employee will lead organization.

Cate Fulkerson, longtime Reston Association staff member who has been serving as Acting CEO since May, has been hired as RA's new CEO.

After a nationwide search, the Reston Association (RA) Board of Directors named Reston native Fulkerson to the post. Fulkerson has been serving as the Acting CEO since the departure of former CEO, Milton Matthews earlier this year.

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“We are thrilled to have Cate assume the role as CEO,” Ken Knueven, President of the RA Board of Directors said in a statement.  “She brings with her the combination of institutional history and commitment as well as the innovative thinking and creative energy we need to ensure the future success of Reston. She epitomizes the mission of RA, which is to preserve and enhance the Reston community through outstanding leadership, service and stewardship of our resources.  We couldn’t ask for a better representative to lead RA.”

Fulkerson was first hired by RA in 1991 as a tennis program assistant and has spent the last 20-plus years in various positions within the association, including serving as the Executive Officer for Board & Legislative Affairs, Parks & Recreation Services Manager and her most recent role as Director of Administration, Member Services & IT.  

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“I am honored to have been chosen for the position," said Fulkerson. "I have a great passion for my community and the dynamic organization that makes Reston highly acclaimed and internationally renowned.

"As well, I look forward to working with the board and staff to proactively represent and engage the community and Fairfax County during a period of vibrant growth and change, preparing Reston for the next 50 years.”  

Fulkerson is a graduate of Washington College and George Mason University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Political Science/History and a Master of Public Administration, respectively, Fulkerson is involved in numerous community and professional groups, including Leadership Fairfax, the Community Associations Institute, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones.  Fulkerson has been recognized for her commitment to the community as the Citizen of the Year by the Reston Citizens Association, the Volunteer of the Year by the Greater Reston Area Chamber of Commerce, the Community Service Award by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Planning Committee and many others.

Fulkerson resides in Reston with her husband, Dave, and their daughter, Sara. 

In other RA news, Reston resident and former board member John Higgins was appointed by the board to the vacant at-large director seat.

The seat became available several weeks ago, when director Donna Rostant lost her appeal to have her new home, located outside RA borders, added to the association. Association bylaws state that directors must be RA members.

Higgins, the current RA Board Treasurer, will serve the remainder of the current term, ending in April 2014.   Higgins was one of seven applicants who were interviewed by the RA board during its meeting lThursday.

Higgins has been a Reston resident for 17 years, and has worked closely with the RA board for the past 15 years, serving as both the treasurer and member of the fiscal committee. He is an active board volunteer and also serves as the treasurer of Reston Environmental Action Committee, a non-profit he helped found to promote the environmental and community health of Reston.

 Higgins is a federal government retiree currently working for the County of Fairfax. 


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