DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) Executive Director Neil O. Albert was selected by the Washington Business Journal as a 2016 Minority Business Leader and was honored Feb. 25 at the newspaper’s 9th Annual Minority Business Leader Awards.
“I think you can learn a lot from listening,” Albert said in a video interview shown at the awards event. “I am surrounded often by people who talk a lot. But you never get the benefit of all the wisdom around you if you just keep talking. And so I think I stand out or I have the ability to stand out because I am a very patient listener.”
[Watch the full video and read the profile here via the Washington Business Journal.]
Albert was one of 25 business leaders chosen for the newspaper’s 2016 annual awards, which celebrate a cross-section of the region’s top executives. In a companion profile piece written for the newspaper, reporter Michael Neibauer wrote of Albert’s history of leadership in Washington, D.C.
“Neil Albert is a leader,” Neibauer wrote. “It’s what he says he does best, whether in the private sector as co-founder and CEO of an educational services firm, or in the public sector as D.C.’s city administrator, or deputy mayor for economic development, and parks director.”
Albert revealed in his newspaper profile that he is an identical twin, his pet peeve is people who are late and that the tips he would give to himself at 20 years old still ring true.
“I actually still give this advice to my 55 year old self, which is to take risks,” Albert said. “I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life and for the most part, they’ve paid off,” Albert said.
He also discussed his favorite hobby. “I cannot live without running,” Albert said. “I truly enjoy running through Rock Creek Park on the weekends. I look forward to it.”
Albert served as city administrator and as deputy mayor for planning and economic development for Mayor Adrian Fenty. Albert co-founded and served as CEO of educational services firm, EdBuild in the District. He also served under Mayor Anthony Williams as deputy mayor for children, youth, families and elders and director of the District’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Prior to joining the BID in the fall of 2015, Albert served as senior policy advisor for Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group.