In celebration of Women's History Month, it's a pleasure to introduce the dedicated members of Team MVD who tirelessly serve our community. Team MVD includes Christine Morin, Camela Speer, Nicholas Rinehart, Peyton Smith, Maddie Alvarado, Cassidy Donaghy and our extraordinary volunteer, Shirley Short. With a significant portion of our team comprised of talented women, there's no better time to spotlight them.

Christine Morin has been my dedicated Chief of Staff, team leader and Economic Development Specialist since I was elected Supervisor and has been with the office for 15 years. Christine brings great experience, passion and smarts as an outstanding advocate for the Mount Vernon District, particularly her Lorton home community. Christine has played a pivotal role in various initiatives including the revitalization of Original MVHS, the Workhouse Arts Center and Liberty Lorton. Her community leadership extends to crucial projects like the construction of South County Middle School and Laurel Hill Elementary School; she also worked closely with staff in the development of the new Lorton Community Center, Police Station and Animal Shelter. Christine is a leader within the County staff and is the only female Chief of Staff amongst the Board of Supervisors. She loves her family time and cheering on the Virginia Tech Hokies and Washington Capitals.

Camela Speer, Deputy Chief of Staff, specializing in Communications and the Environment has been an integral part of our team for six years. Camela brings relentless energy and dedication to her role. She ensures our office remains dynamic and proactive and our community informed about County activities. Her profound passion and expertise in environmental matters have been indispensable in our County’s leadership as we strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. She is the inspiration behind our annual Environment Expo, motivating our community, young and old, to care about our planet. Camela is an avid traveler, always eager to share her adventures and wanderlust spirit.

Maddie Alvarado, (formerly Carcamo-Reyes) our Office Manager and bilingual Health and Human Services Liaison, is the first smiling face you will see when you visit, always happy to assist you. Maddie joined the team in January 2022. She has a knack for helping others and is completing a bachelor’s degree in health services at George Mason University. Last year, Maddie spearheaded our Back-to-School Community Day which brought in over 1,000 residents and helped get students ready for the upcoming school year. Maddie loves to read and volunteers most of her free time teaching dance and serving on the leadership team at her church.

Cassidy Donaghy makes sure you know and see what’s happening in the District as she manages Communications, Events and Community Outreach. She is the newest to the team and started August 2022. Cassidy handles all our social media accounts, compiles the information for the newsletters and handles community outreach initiatives such as citizen awards and our Little Food Pantry. You can see Cassidy with her clipboard leading all our events, making sure everything is running smoothly. Make sure to stop by our upcoming Ides of Bark Dog Festival on March 24 at Grist Mill Park to see her in action. In her spare time Cassidy loves to sing and is a member of the Alexandria Singers. 

Shirley Short is our super volunteer and Lady Fairfax 2023. Shirley is a retired Fairfax County Firefighter and has been volunteering with the MVD office for about two decades. Shirley is such a light and you will see her at most of our events. If you have the chance to stop by the Mount Vernon Governmental Center you will see our beautifully kept information center which is all coordinated by Shirley. She is a vital part of our team and we wouldn’t be able to do all that we do without her amazing support. Shirley also supports the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce and loves RV trips and tending to her blooming garden.

Learn more about all our staff, https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mountvernon/mount-vernon-district-staff. We invite you to stop by our office anytime Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursdays until 7 p.m. if you need assistance or just want to say hi. Team MVD is working for you!