�鶹��Ƶ’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year

Colleen Rich — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:57:55 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year Colleen Rich Mon, 03/18/2024 - 11:57

CGI Group Inc. is one of the world’s largest information technology and business process service firms specializing in providing effective IT solutions for federal government agencies. It is also a long-time �鶹��Ƶ partner and supporter of the College of Engineering and Computing and the Costello College of Business.

�鶹��Ƶ hosted CGI leadership, employees, and �鶹��Ƶ alumni at the men’s basketball game against Duquesne at EagleBank Arena on March 2. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

CGI is the professional home for more than 250 �鶹��Ƶ alumni, including �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors Rector Horace Blackman, BA ’93, who is the senior vice president and lead of CGI Federal’s Defense, Intelligence, and Space business unit.

George �鶹��Ƶ hosted CGI leadership, employees, and �鶹��Ƶ alumni at the Center of the Arts on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus before the men’s basketball team played Duquesne at EagleBank Arena on March 2.

“I am always excited about this partnership,” said �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington. “We chose to engage with CGI because the principles that you all believe in are the core principles of this institution.”

From left, Trishana E. Bowden, President Gregory Washington, CGI’s President and CEO George Schindler, and Rector Horace Blackman at the CGI Night pre-game reception. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

“The continued partnership between CGI and �鶹��Ƶ has been amazing and has made such a difference in continuing to build for the next generation,” said Trishana E. Bowden, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation and vice president for advancement and alumni relations.

More than 200 alumni and friends were present at the CGI at �鶹��Ƶ event, including George Schindler, CGI’s president and chief executive officer, who received a �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball jersey at the pre-game reception.

“I am glad to be part of �鶹��Ƶ’s vision and glad to give back and have an opportunity to reconnect with other alums,” said Pablo Ayala, BS Finance ’06, the finance director and business unit controller at CGI.

Events such as the one on March 2 allow alumni to hear about �鶹��Ƶ’s latest accomplishments, while presenting them with ways they can continue to support their university. “It is amazing to see other alumni and to see that the �鶹��Ƶ traditions are still alive and well,” said Brooke McGee-Ayala, JD ’16.

President Washington expressed appreciation for �鶹��Ƶ’s and CGI’s longstanding partnership. “The success of this company is indisputably tied to the success of this institution,” he said. To the alumni, he added: “You all are our greatest ambassadors.”

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�鶹��Ƶ’s relationship with local businesses leads to Patriot Perks program

Colleen Rich — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:24:47 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ’s relationship with local businesses leads to Patriot Perks program Colleen Rich Thu, 02/10/2022 - 12:24

A new partnership between �鶹��Ƶ and Fairfax businesses offers discounts to the �鶹��Ƶ community and expands the customer bases of area merchants.

The Patriot Perks program began in August with predominately City of Fairfax businesses participating but has expanded to include more Fairfax County businesses as well. The program now includes more than 100 businesses and is onboarding new members weekly.

“That communicates to me that local businesses value the university’s presence and our belonging in the community and want to see us in the city doing business with them,” said David Atkins, executive director for �鶹��Ƶ Business Partnerships and Licensing. “This is another step to help create that synergy and positive relationship between the two.”

The �鶹��Ƶ employee discount page that formerly was available through the Human Resources website has been folded into Patriot Perks to consolidate the discounts offered to �鶹��Ƶ students, faculty and staff, alumni and retirees. There are nearly 20 discount categories listed on the website, as well as information about upcoming �鶹��Ƶ events for visitors of the site to see.

Patriot Perks has collaborated with area business groups such as the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority, Old Town Fairfax Business Association and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce.

Jennifer Rose, executive director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and a former �鶹��Ƶ adjunct professor in the School of Integrative Studies, coordinated a webinar for merchants to discuss the benefits of the Patriot Perks program.

“We are fortunate to have �鶹��Ƶ in our backyard and to have so many members of the �鶹��Ƶ Nation living and working in our community,” Rose said. “The Patriot Perks program is a great way for our business community—many of whom are �鶹��Ƶ alums—to support the �鶹��Ƶ Nation and have the extra marketing support from �鶹��Ƶ to get in front of literally tens of thousands of potential customers. It is a win-win situation for all of us!”

�鶹��Ƶ 50 attendees recently took advantage of Patriot Perks at a local restaurant for a �鶹��Ƶ basketball game watch party. With the men’s and women’s Atlantic 10 Conference basketball tournaments in March, there likely will be many such gatherings at restaurants participating in Patriot Perks, Atkins said.

�鶹��Ƶ has scheduled its SpringFest 2022 event for April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Merten Hall Lawn and will invite Patriot Perks members to the Fairfax Campus along with campus businesses to engage with the �鶹��Ƶ community. A similar outreach event is scheduled for College Colors Day on Sept. 2.

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�鶹��Ƶ’s partnership with CGI grows stronger each year

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�鶹��Ƶ’s relationship with local businesses leads to Patriot Perks program

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