Falls Church resident Darryl Varnado, executive vice president and chief people officer for the Children’s National Health System, was recently named a Washington Business Journal Minority Business leader. The honor is designated for business leaders and owners in the Washington, D.C. area, who demonstrate drive, creativity and success.

Varnado is listed among 25 business leaders in the area and accepted an award on stage on Sunday, Feb. 28 during an honoree event at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. Varnado received this honor for his creative and successful contributions to the employee population at the Children’s National Health System and his passion for providing employees with the best workplace so they are better able to take care of patients.

Most recently, he developed a Paid Parental Leave Policy that offers new families enhanced leave benefits at full salary continuance outside of their standard short-term disability time.

“Darryl is truly a champion for Children’s National employees. His push for enhanced family leave benefit options is just one of the many ways in which he puts employees’ needs first,” said Children’s National Health System President and CEO, Kurt Newman, MD. “This award is well deserved, and we are proud to have Darryl leading our workforce strategies.”