Jessica I. Marschall, CPA October 1st, 2025
This morning, I had the privilege of sitting down with Susan Spears, CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, for what was slated to be a podcast interview but turned into a rich, wide-ranging conversation that could easily have stretched on for eight hours. Susan is nothing short of remarkable. She brings deep experience, a passion for community, and formidable talent in bringing people and institutions together. Her leadership is helping to move this region forward in meaningful ways.
Between Capitals, But More Than a Corridor
Fredericksburg occupies a distinctive place in Virginia’s geography and economy. Nestled squarely between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, it sits in the stretch of I-95 that many travelers jokingly describe as the place where traffic always stops. That geographic fact carries both challenges and potential.
Because of its proximity to the federal corridor, the Fredericksburg area is home to a significant number of current and former federal employees, contractors, and government-adjacent professionals. This concentration of talent, with its discipline, networks, and regulatory know-how, has become a key competitive advantage.
At the same time, the region faces unique labor market dynamics. Official unemployment in the Fredericksburg area is currently low by national standards, around 3 to 3.5 percent, but the federal employee terminations, underemployment, commuting challenges, and job alignment issues remain real concerns. These factors spur urgency and opportunity. The question is how to harness our human capital, land, and connectivity to create jobs, attract investment, and encourage entrepreneurship.
That is where the Chamber, under Susan’s leadership, plays a pivotal role. It serves not only as an advocate or network hub, but also as a convener and strategic engine.
Seeding Opportunity: Consulting, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship
One trend we discussed particularly excited me. Several professionals in our community, including some of my own clients, are launching consulting businesses. Because many local residents have deep government, defense, or regulatory backgrounds, they are uniquely positioned to advise on procurement, compliance, grant writing, cybersecurity, and other niches that intersect with government or quasi-government work. The barrier to entry is relatively low, the upside is high, and the regional support network is increasingly strong.
Susan and the Chamber help foster these efforts by:
- Offering mentorship, introductions, and visibility for new business owners
- Providing access to resources such as small business grants and low-cost training
- Supporting a regional environment where contracting and small business growth are priorities
As Susan noted in our discussion, the Chamber views startups not as side players, but as essential building blocks of the regional economy.
Opportunity Zones, Strategic Projects, and Regional Growth
Another lever Susan and the Chamber emphasize is the use of Opportunity Zones, federally designated tax-incentive areas that can attract outside capital into underinvested neighborhoods. The Chamber area includes Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, King George County, Caroline County, Culpeper County and the City of Fredericksburg. The Chamber has been actively working with local jurisdictions to make these zones well understood and attractive to investors by:
- Mapping and marketing their potential
- Coordinating with city and county leaders
- Helping streamline permitting, infrastructure, and placemaking efforts
Beyond Opportunity Zones, the Chamber tackles ambitious projects across multiple fronts:
- Workforce development through its WorkForce NOW initiative
- Leadership training through the long-running Leadership Fredericksburg program
- Public policy advocacy
- Business networking and incubator programs
What struck me again and again is how deeply the Chamber views itself as regional, not just municipal. Its values of integrity, regionalism, collaboration, and innovation are not slogans. They are in the fiber of its mission.
The Role of Community, Connectivity and Relationships
One recurring theme throughout our conversation was clear. Relationships matter. In this region, with its hybrid profile that is semi-rural yet tied to the federal orbit, personal and professional networks are critical. The Chamber acts as a relational hub, connecting nonprofits, government bodies, educational institutions, and the private sector.
Susan emphasized that sometimes the most important work the Chamber does is not in policy or programming, but in creating space for people to meet, collaborate, and build trust. That relational infrastructure becomes even more critical when projects cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Chamber often serves as the glue that helps bridge silos.
A Forward-Looking Vision
What I left our meeting with is a deep sense of optimism. The challenges of inequality, infrastructure bottlenecks, and workforce mismatch are real, but so are the assets. The region has proximity to major metros, a creative and educated population, and a Chamber committed to stepping in where others might hesitate.
Susan Spears and the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber are not just keeping pace, they are shaping the future. For those of us doing business here, or investing here, there is a rare alignment taking place. The local business community, nonprofits, and government are pulling in the same direction.
I look forward to sharing that podcast with you soon. In the meantime, I hope this article captures a sense of Susan’s drive and the enormous potential of the region she loves and leads.
Sources
- Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce – Who We Are
- Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Fredericksburg
- Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce – WorkForce NOW
- City of Fredericksburg – Opportunity Zone Program
- FredRegion (Regional Economic Development Alliance) – Workforce Data
- Trading Economics – Fredericksburg City Unemployment Rate
- University of Mary Washington – Susan Spears Profile
