Our mission at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is to partner with our member businesses, nonprofit organizations and government partners, to create experiences and opportunities that produce personal, professional and community success. This means that we work to bring our community together to make a difference in the quality of life and business climate in Loudoun County.
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce
Annual Report
Dear Fellow Chamber Members,
Happy New Year!!
I can’t believe that 2016 is over. It seems like yesterday that I was on this stage accepting the gavel from the outgoing Chairman Chris Charron at the 2016 Annual Meeting. I must say it’s been an honor to serve as the Chairman of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. At the 2016 Annual Meeting I talked about getting engaged in our Chamber and our community and all of you responded in a big way. I’m very proud and excited about several Chamber accomplishments in 2016.
New member revenue, excluding years when major membership drives were held, is at an all-time high, as is the overall value of all membership dues, which increased by 7% during the past 12 months. Overall retention and retention for first year members is at an all-time high. This is due to the hard work of our ambassador committee under the leadership of the Membership Chairman, Dave Jones.
I am especially proud that the Chamber launched the Young Entrepreneurs Academy in 2016. This initiative accepted 30 students into an intensive 30-week program that will teach them how to develop and launch their own business. I am also proud that we had 50 local business leaders volunteer to serve as instructors, mentors, classroom speakers and advisors to support our student entrepreneurs. A big thank you to Loudoun County’s Economic Development Authority, Public Schools, Department of Economic Development, the Mason Enterprise Center and Loudoun Youth for their partnership on the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
In late 2014, the Chamber created the Loudoun Chamber Foundation to support local nonprofits that are focused on the Chamber’s priorities. In 2016 we awarded $2,000 to five deserving Loudoun County nonprofits that have been working very hard with the residents in our community.
For nearly 10 years I’ve worked closely with our incoming 2017 Chairman, Tina Johnson. She is a longtime resident and business owner in Loudoun County. The Chamber will be in her capable hands for the next 12 months.
I would like to thank everyone for getting engaged in our Chamber and our community in 2016. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Chairman of the Board for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce for the past year.
Sincerely,
Greg Jay
Chairman, John Marshall Bank
Engage
Never before have I seen an organization so focused on helping businesses grow. The Chamber named me Home Business of the Year and I wasn’t even a member yet! They promote their members and award winners in every way possible. My business has almost doubled since winning and then joining. My only regret is not joining sooner!
Jennifer Andos, Paperfish Creative
The Loudoun Chamber is where it all starts. I have made a number of connections that have helped me grow my business by over 25% in the last year, and it all started with the Chamber. Every single connection I have has come either directly or indirectly from the Loudoun Chamber. To be clear, I don’t mean “most” or “a lot.” I mean every single one. It is integral to my business.
Geoff Crawley, Champagne Services
The Chamber is amazing! Aside from it being an incredible resource to help grow your business and make new connections, it also provides a community to be a part of. Every event or meeting I attend, I’m greeted by familiar faces, and I love how everyone is so positive and eager to help one another.
Sadie Bauer, Wellness Connection
Advocate
At the Loudoun Chamber, we have always been committed to being the “voice” of our members and our community, and 2015 was no exception. By providing unique events featuring state officials, local elected leaders, and even debates between candidates running for office, we strive to provide exclusive access to local policymakers that impact our day to day activities and shape the future of Loudoun for all of our members.
Our membership provides unsurpassed value in helping the University advance our cause and build influential relationships in Loudoun County.
Sarah Gallagher, George Mason University
Attending the Chamber’s monthly public policy meeting is like sitting in a grad level course. Every type of business is represented; every policy and its impact is discussed. It is a fabulous way to be informed and to impact our business climate.
Maggie Parker, Comstock Properties
The Loudoun Chamber understands the importance of fostering an environment that is friendly to free enterprise and job creation, and it advocates very effectively for Loudoun businesses at the national, state and local levels.
Tim McConville, Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, PC
Community
Being a part of such a strong & diverse community here in Loudoun County has made 2015 a fantastic year. From supporting small businesses through wellness and green campaigns, to gathering nonprofit organizations to collaborate, this year has had a focus on strengthening the relationships and the resources that impact our entire community.
I am continually impressed by and thankful for the Chamber’s efforts to positively impact the community as a whole. From business to nonprofits, public policy to health and wellness, the Chamber truly makes a great difference!
Jared Melvin, Loudoun Insurance/Loudoun Youth, Inc.
Loudoun’s Chamber of Commerce is the indispensable resource for building a professional network and cultivating relationships within our community. I don’t know if I have a more powerful professional asset than a well-utilized membership.
Tom Toth III, Toth Financial Advisory Corporation
The chamber does an incredible job to provide specific programming for local nonprofit organizations including the Nonprofit Academy speaker series and various networking events. It is this meshing of the nonprofit and for profit business members that truly makes this a thriving community in which to live, work and play.
Kari Murphy, Habitat for Humanity
Awards
The Chamber’s Signature Events allow us to recognize nearly 200 business leaders, first responders, and exceptional citizens through our various local awards. It’s an honor to award these great community leaders, to share their stories and to inspire others.
The Loudoun Small Business Awards has given Evergreen Sportsplex and our partners such amazing exposure throughout Northern Virginia! We appreciate all of the support that we get everyday from the Chamber!
Carolyn Dobson, Evergreen Sportsplex
Out of all the bad things that have been happening in the past year I’m so blessed that I got this moment. To recognize what I did and to just be happy.
Maddie Mattison, recipient of the Meritorious Civilian Award, Valor Awards '16
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce is considered one of the best in the nation, so to be recognized as the Small Business of the Year was an incredible honor. We feel so fortunate to have such a supportive community as we take on the tough issue of mental health and create a safe place for our clients to get emotionally and physically well.
Susan McCormick, Wellness Connection
Board of Directors
Officers
Chairman Greg Jay, John Marshall Bank
First Vice Chairwoman Tina Johnson, JP Events & Consulting
Second Vice Chairman Mitch Sproul, Toth Financial Advisory Corporation
Immediate Past Chairman Chris Charron, 868 Estate Vineyards
Treasurer/VP Finance Dave Trosko, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
General Counsel Bob Sevila, Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White, PC
President & CEO Tony Howard, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Directors
Mark Baker, Bowman Consulting
Barron Beneski, Orbital ATK
Brian Chavis, UBT Cloud and IT Services
Michael Cooper, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Donna Fortier, Mobile Hope
Colleen Gillis, Cooley LLP
Richard Hayden, Unanet
Browning Herbert, Middleburg Bank
Brad Hoffman, DeLeon & Stang
Grace Keenan, M.D., Signature Partners
Renee Kirkpatrick, Access National Bank
Jim Lamble, Bechtel
Geoff Lawson, The National Conference Center
Julie Leidig, Ph.D., Northern Virginia Community College
Scott Loftis, Wells Fargo Bank
Stephen Mackey, Mesh Multimedia & Notaviva Vineyards
Bill May, One Loudoun/Miller and Smith
Tim McConville, Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, P.C.
Brian E. McGuinness, J. K. Moving Services
Jared Melvin, Loudoun Insurance Group
Shawn Mitchell, Modern Mechanical, LLC
Peggy Musgrave, Integrus Holdings, Inc.
Al Nielsen, AOL Inc.
Amy Owen, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties
Maggie Parker, Comstock
Jamie Pearson, Middleburg Bank
Rick Pearson, Neustar
Gerald Radican, Veritas Financial
Tim Sargeant, Dominion
Sim Shaikh, Communicate by Design, LLC
Caroline Sheedy, Janelia Research Campus
Jane Taylor, REHAU
Executive Committee
Tracy Baynard, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC
Mindy Carlin, Access Point Public Affairs, LLC
Georgia Graves, Bridgman Communications, Inc.
Pamela Jones, Extraordinary Transitions/Long & Foster
Lisa Kimball, Telos Corporation
Stacey Miller, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation
Thomas W. Moler, Jr., Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.
K. Lynn Tadlock, The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
Casey Veatch, Veatch Commercial Real Estate
Tracey M. White, StoneSprings Hospital Center
Kate Zurschmeide, Great Country Farms
Ex-officio
Lorna Clarke, Leadership Loudoun
Kaj Dentler, Town of Leesburg, Manager
Tim Doozan, Purcellville Business Association
Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun
Tim Hemstreet, Loudoun County Administrator
Susan Henson, SBDC at MEC-Leesburg
Chauvon McFadden, Loudoun CEO Cabinet
Christina Morelli, LoudounYP
Gwen Pangle, Leesburg Downtown Business Association
Buddy Rizer, Loudoun Department of Economic Development, Executive Director
Val Walters, Dulles South Alliance
Eric Williams, Loudoun County Public Schools, Superintendent
Christine Windle, Dulles Area Association of Realtors