Mary-Claire Burick – President, Rosslyn Business Improvement District

Our Town with host Andy Ockershausen - Homegrown History

Mary-Claire Burick on Rosslyn Business Improvement District and what Nestle means to it and the Region ~ "We're very fortunate in Rosslyn that the developers are not there to turn a quick buck and move out. They really have invested in the neighborhood. All of that sort of culminates in a thing like Nestle. This is probably a once in a lifetime deal. This is one of those deals that is going to have impacts and reverberations throughout the entire DMV, the region." Mary-Claire Burick - President, Rosslyn Business Improvement District A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen. I have such a special guest. I don't want to call her a guest because she's a big part of Our Town. Happy to introduce Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District and a very dear friend. We did not meet at a Board of Trade function. We had a conversation at a restaurant in Laurel but we'll go back to that. I can't think of the many times that I've talked to people about Mary-Claire and what she has done and I've seen her development. Mary-Claire Burick is absolutely a legend to me in Our Town for what she's done. Mary-Claire, welcome to Our Town. I can't believe why we were in Laurel but you remember. Mary-Claire Burick and Andy O On First Meeting in Laurel MD Mary-Claire Burick: I actually was trying to think back on that and I don't remember why we were in Laurel but I will tell you, I credit you with much of my success because you told me early on, "Girl, you need to get out there. You need to get involved in the board of trade and you need to not just spend your time at work but you need to get involved in the community." Luckily, A Ockershausen: Did you do that? Fare thee well. Mary-Claire Burick: I did. A Ockershausen: What a role model you are for so many people. We were with a sales person from Comcast SportsNet. I thought we were trying to sell somebody a business. That's why I can't remember but I do remember being so impressed by you, and we talked about it for a while after that. I knew you had a broadcast background being in Laurel, there ain't no TV in Laurel, but there was. What you'd say, UHF56? A Start in TV Broadcasting - Channel 56 - PBS Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. One of my first jobs in broadcasting was at Channel 56, which is PBS. That was actually Merrifield, Virginia so again, I can't remember why we ended up in Laurel but it was an awesome start. A Ockershausen: That's a great turn. Mary-Claire Burick: Exactly. Hey. A Ockershausen: It's a start and that was our start. Then having watched you at certain things, because you did join the Board of Trade. I keep pressing that Mary-Claire because I'm a living example. Man, it made my life and it did and so many people, I think about Catherine Meloy when we brought Catherine to Washington. I told her first thing to do, get involved, and she's never stopped and neither have you. It is so important, but where were you in school? You're a Washingtonian? Mary-Claire Burick: I am. Well, always in the suburbs. A Ockershausen: Our Town. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. Grew up in Laurel, which maybe that's why we were ending up there. I don't know. A Ockershausen: Could be. Your family might have been there. A Catholic School Education Mary-Claire Burick: Exactly. Yeah. I went to private school as a Catholic girl growing up. A Ockershausen: There's no Catholic school in Laurel is there? Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. St. Vincent Pallotti. Actually through first grade, through high school Catholic school. A Ockershausen: Is that right? Now, how about college? I know you went to college. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. Fighting Blue Hens. I went to University of Delaware. A Ockershausen: That is correct. It's a great school. Incidentally sort of below the horizon but I know some kids that went there, had a great lacrosse program. Mary-Claire Burick: Yeah. A Ockershausen: That was my nephew,