Chamber Honors Members With ACE Awards

George Mason University men's basketball coach Paul Hewitt was the keynote speaker at the annual Awards For Chamber Excellence (ACE) and annual meeting lunch Thursday at the

Among the award winners: Cate Fulkerson, who earned Volunteer of the Year honors.

The annual ACE awards recognize companies and individuals who demonstrated excellence as Chamber and community stewards during 2011-2012.

Outgoing Chairman Tim Sargeant of Dominion passed the gavel to Incoming Chair, C. Michael Ferraro of Training Solutions, Inc.

Sargeant led GRCC through a successful year with strong membership growth, education programs, networking opportunities and advocacy; especially on the issue of Rail to Loudoun, GRCC President and CEO Mark Ingrao said.

Sargeant pointed out other successes this year: The Taste of Reston and Oktoberfest Reston festivals were two of the most successful events in the Chamber’s history; the Chamber became a leading voice for the business community regarding the Rail to Loudoun issue.

"I can’t say enough about the energy and initiatives of the Chamber staff and the leadership and support of the board that made FY 2011 – 2012 such a successful year,” said Sargeant.

Jane Raymond of Reston Hospital Center was elected by the membership as the Chair-Elect for 2012-2013.

Del. Ken Plum administered the oath of office to the incoming board members:

•           Joel Barajas, Il Fornaio
•           Scott Carruthers, RyanSharkey, LLP
•           Karen Cleveland, The Cleveland Group
•           Diane Holland, Access National Bank
•           Tim Hughes, Bean, Kinney & Korman, PC
•           Cynthia Hyland, Northrop Grumman
•           Angela Inzerillo, AdviCoach
•           Charles Kapur, Virginia Commerce Bank
•           Joey Musmar, MillerMusmar, CPA’s, PC
•           Lee Patton, Mon Ami Gabi
•           Matt Valentini, The JBG Companies
•           Kerrie Wilson, Reston Interfaith

Retiring Board members included:

•         Jill Collins, JillCollinsPR
•         Kelly Jan, Corporate Wingman
•        Jeff Martello, K3 Construction
•         Scott Rowland, Fidelity Investments
•         Jen Sterling, Red Thinking LLC

Awards for Chamber Excellence Winners:

•           Committee Chair of the Year: Government Contracting Committee Kenneth Brody, David, Brody & Dondershire, LLP & Lisa Turkletaub, RyanSharkey, LLP
•        Small Business of the Year: Veatch Commercial Real Estate
•          Medium Business of the Year: Il Fornaio
•          Large Business of the Year: Google
•          Member of the Year: Beth A. Hughes, M&T Bank
•          New Member of the Year: Doug Corbett, Doug Corbett Voice, LLC
•          Volunteer of the Year: Cate Fulkerson, Reston Association
•          President’s Award: Matthew Brennan, Brennan & Waite P.L.C.
•          Joe Ritchey Pinnacle Award: Donna Miller, MIllerMusmar CPA’s, P.C. (posthumously)