Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Council of Governments Board Member Penny Gross was elected today as President of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) Board of Directors. Arlington County Board Chair and COG Board Member Walter Tejada was re-elected NARC Board Region III Director, representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

NARC serves as the national voice for regionalism by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues.

As President, Gross plans to help NARC increase membership and diversity in the national association and regional bodies around the country and coordinate policy positions among partners. She will also focus on sound financial management and will work with the White House Office of Governmental Affairs to facilitate meetings with regional councils and Senior Executive staff.

Gross and Tejada are active leaders in metropolitan Washington and serves on the boards of several regional, state and national groups in addition to the Council of Governments.

Since 2004, Gross has held a variety of positions at NARC, including President-elect, Senior Vice President, and Region III Director. Tejada has served Region III since 2011.

NARC represents more than 230 regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations in the United States.