Michael Forehand
Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Inova
Michael is an experienced government, community, and public relations professional who serves as Vice President of Government and Community Affairs for Inova, Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider, employing more than 18,000 team members and serving more than 2 million individuals annually. He is responsible for government relations and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels and managing Inova's community engagement across Northern Virginia.
Prior to Inova, Michael served as Senior Vice President at the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the region’s leading voice for business advocacy, thought leadership, business development opportunities, and key community partnerships. He was responsible for government relations and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels on issues related to the business climate in the Northern Virginia region, as well as public affairs, communications, and marketing strategy for the Chamber.
A Northern Virginia native, Michael is a graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools, earned a Bachelor’s Degree from James Madison University and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law at American University. He serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Virginia21, a statewide leadership and higher education advocacy organization, and serves on the boards of the Northern Virginia Community College Foundation and the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Michael is a member of the Virginia State Bar, and previously served as Vice Chair of the Fairfax Chamber Policy Committee and as a member of the NOVABizPAC Board. In 2016, he completed the Political Leaders Program of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.