F.C.’s Treasurer Since 2014 Hosts Huge Confab

Falls Church Native Daughter/Sister/Mom Jody Acosta, for over a decade now the elected Treasurer of the Little City, was elevated to standing as the elected president of the entire Treasurers Association of Virginia as the highlight of a three-day conference held in this area of some 120 treasurers and key staffers for a total attendance of 360 representing all the jurisdictions in the commonwealth.

Acosta, first elected treasurer as a commonwealth official in 2014, hosted the event which included tours of the City of Falls Church, as well as Mt. Vernon and the Nationals’ ballpark in D.C. and a plethora of speakers where the conference was centered, at the Fairview Marriott.

At her swearing in, Acosta was joined by Carla dela Para, the elected treasurer of adjacent Arlington County, who was a close childhood friend and was elected county treasurer the same year as Acosta.
“What a whirlwind week it was,” Acosta commented on her Facebook page. “I am so honored to have been sworn in as president of the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia, after months of planning our annual conference, which was held in Falls Church.”

She added, “Thanks to my amazing treasurer’s office staff. We ‘hit it out of the park’ (our theme was baseball). We got to showcase some Falls Church favorites like Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Lazy Mike’s, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Dogwood Tavern and The Falls. A good time was had by all. Big thanks to my right hand and my left hand – Niki Kalavritinos Wisemiller and Kate Nesson. Impossible to do this without them. And now on to my year as Madame President! I am beyond grateful.” [A plethora of happy emojis spiced up that posting–ed.].

A special recognition was given to the late Frank O’Leary, who had been treasurer for Arlington County for years but passed away a few months ago at age 80, with his surviving wife present to receive dedications.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year veteran of the CIA who has written an important book, “Clarity in Crisis, Leadership Lessons from the CIA” that he based his remarks on at the conference.

“I want to share and give context to the American people about what I learned from working in an organization that I so deeply believe in. An organization that was not only my job but also my passion, my lifestyle, and my credo. The CIA has its own soul and culture, and there is so much good that we do… Given this critical time in our nation’s history, I feel compelled to translate to the outside world the leadership lessons I learned from this noble organization that remains an indispensable institution,” he said.

Polymeropoulos retired in June 2019 from the Senior Intelligence Service ranks at the CIA after a 26-year career in operational headquarters and field management assignments covering the Middle East, Europe, Eurasia, and Counter Terrorism. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and he is one of the CIA’s most decorated field officers. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Medal of Merit, and the Intelligence Commendation medal. His last position was overseeing the CIA’s clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He is a respected commentator on foreign policy and intelligence matters and is widely quoted in both the US and international media.

The Treasurers Association does something at each conference called “TAV Gives Back” where each year money is raised or needed items provided for a charity in the locality where the conference is being held each year. This year, the association supported Homestretch of Falls Church. Members supplied over 42 backpacks filled with school supplies for the kids in the Homestretch program, and that organization’s Barfonce Baldwin spoke at the conference on Monday.

According to Acosta, Baldwin “made such an impression that after she left, members were still coming up to me with checks for donations. We raised another $630 in cash donations after Barfonce and her assistant left.”

As president of the association for the coming year, Acosta’s duties will center around identifying and advocating on behalf of the association’s members on legislation that may be introduced in Richmond that could either help or hinder the role of treasurers and their offices. That, of course, is on top of her main duties to run her office at City Hall here in Falls Church, which is always a challenge with the rapid growth of developments and population now being experienced.

A first vice president was also elected at the conference who will succeed Acosta after a year, being this time Tanya Wilcox of Fauquier County. Next year’s conference will be held at the Lansdowne resort in Loudoun County.