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Nine Alexandria Companies Stand Out Among Region’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses

From construction to communications, Alexandria’s women-led businesses are driving growth, creating jobs, and shaping the region’s economic future.

Linda Rabbitt at Rand Construction
Linda Rabbitt founded Rand Construction Corporation in 1989. The company stands at the top of the region’s largest women-owned businesses in the region. (Photo: Rand Construction)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Nine Alexandria-based companies—including two that claimed the top spots—have earned places on the Washington Business Journal’s 2025 list of the region’s 107 largest women-owned businesses. The recognition highlights Alexandria’s growing reputation as a center of innovation and leadership.

At the very top of the list is Rand Construction Corp., reporting $608 million in revenue, followed by McKinley Marketing Partners at $375 million—ranked first and second overall among women-owned businesses in the Washington region. They’re joined by Aptive, PotomacWave, RGI Events, TorchLight Hire, BRG Communications, Potomac Management Resources, and EMN Construction. Together, they showcase the depth and diversity of Alexandria’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins praised the achievement, noting that Alexandria’s business community continues to thrive because of its culture of collaboration and inclusivity.

“When women-owned firms are leading the region’s largest enterprises, it speaks to a thriving and inclusive economy,” Gaskins said. “Alexandria is proud to be home to companies that show both grit and growth—their success reflects the talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship that define our city.”

She added that Alexandria’s business environment remains one of her administration’s top priorities.

“We are at a moment of strategic economic transition where we must be bold, intentional, and collaborative,” Gaskins said. “Our path forward must be inclusive, sustainable, and powered by partnerships—especially when it comes to supporting women-owned and small businesses.”

According to city economic development officials, the nine Alexandria companies span a range of industries—from construction and communications to events and marketing—strengthening the city’s commercial base while creating jobs and supplier networks across the region.

The recognition follows the City of Alexandria’s collaboration with the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership to host a 2025 Economic Summit last May. This event convened a diverse cross-section of the business community, aiming to promote business growth, expand workforce opportunities, and explore strategies to attract new investments.

Economists note that women-owned firms remain underrepresented among large-scale enterprises nationwide, which makes Alexandria’s showing particularly noteworthy. Having two women-led companies ranked first and second across the entire region underscores both the strength of local leadership and the city’s business-friendly environment.

Mayor Gaskins emphasized that these success stories are no accident. “If we’re looking to one day reduce tax burdens and build greater prosperity for all residents, the engine is economic development and growing our business community,” she said.

As Alexandria looks ahead, the achievements of these nine women-led firms stand as a testament to what’s possible when a community invests in entrepreneurship, equity, and shared prosperity.

Lisa-Helene Lawson

Lisa-Helene Lawson was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up loving reading and newspapers. At an early age, she often tagged along with her dad, Baseball Hall of Fame Sportswriter, Earl Lawson, as he wrote a daily column for the Cincinnati Post and Time Star. She studied at Northwestern, lived and worked in the Middle East for 12 years and spent 3 decades in LA and Sacramento working in government before heading to Alexandria in 2017. Her opeds on several public policy issues have appeared in several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Baltimore Sun . She is a Certified Master Gardener, a Friends of Duncan Library Board Member, and has tutored for several years first graders for the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium.

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Shirley Brown
Shirley Brown
7 months ago

I’m eager to connect with one of these impressive women-owned companies. I’ve been out of work since March, and with the government shutdown continuing, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay afloat. I’m a skilled Business Analyst with a strong background in data analysis, and I’m ready to contribute immediately.

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