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History of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Board of Directors(click to see list)
Founding
The Herndon Chamber was founded by Marshall A. Martin, the Town of Herndon's attorney, and was officially incorporated on January 20, 1959.
Former Chamber
There was actually a Chamber that preceded this one, having been organized in 1921 with Dr. E. I. Robey as its first president. At the beginning of World War II conditions made it impossible to continue with these sessions and the organization became inactive.
The Chamber Begins Again
The 1960s might be termed the beginning of the modern era for Herndon. Dulles International Airport opened, along with Herndon Elementary School. Early planning of the Herndon Parkway continued. Thomas Kilby and Earl White led the fight to keep the WO&D Railroad alive. However, the last train pulled out of Herndon in 1968.
The '70's
In the 1970s the Chamber assisted in efforts to bring a golf course to Herndon and hired its first executive director, Fred Hubert. A new Town Square appeared in 1975.
The '80's
Hal Launders, one of the founders of the Committee for Dulles, led the Chamber into the '80's. The Chamber moved into its office in the Depot and hired its first secretary, Sheila O'Leary. Vi Carmona-Bateman, Jack Seeley and others organized to secure a seniors residence, Harbor Housing, Inc. It was named Herndon Harbor Housing, Inc. The 80's saw the formation of a business partnership with Herndon High School. Jim Sheehan became the second Executive Director in 1982. The Chamber's first full-time executive director, Janet Kreutter was hired. She helped develop a recycling program that turned into the award-winning Students Against Global Abuse (SAGA) program.
The '90's
The 90's ushered in Town candidates' Forums, the Awards Banquet, Ethics Days, the Web site and our Business/Technical Education Scholarship. Eileen Curtis took over as executive director in 1994. Friday Night Live! concert series commenced the following year. The Chamber was a sponsor of the World Congress on IT and helped garner a telecom center. The Chamber changed its name to Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce in 1999.
Twenty-first Century
In the early years of the 21st Century, the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce expanded its coverage to include Chantilly and Centreville. It opened a Visitors Center and launched a major tourism initiative focusing on the opening of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. It led the fight to a more equitable financial package for Rail to Dulles, thus avoiding a billion dollar loss of revenue for businesses in western Fairfax County. It addressed the diversity of the population through two multicultural summits and formed an Hispanic Business Committee. To more effectively evoke an image of being a partner in developing the greater Dulles area into the Economic Center of the Future, the chamber legally changed its name to Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce in September 2006. Herndon Chamber of Commerce and Chantilly Centreville Chamber are part of Dulles Regional Chamber.
People Remembered
Beyond the leadership, beyond the causes and events, are the people who have constituted and enriched our Chamber, names like Berkley Green, Norman Hammer, Barbara Harding, Tom Haselhorst, Bill Howlett, Dan Baker, Jack Corkey, Linda Carducci, Tim McGrath, Pat Williams, Tom Hanes, John Shacochis, Richard Downer, Charles Roberts, Ann Harvey, Tom & Betsy Grein, Winnie & Ed Jacobs, Joan Harrington, Mary Burger, Mary Ann Cerick, Pat Neary, Nelson Post, Peggy Vetter & the list of dedicated volunteers lengthens with each passing year.
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Past Chairmen
2007, 2008
Raul Danny Vargas
2006, 2007
Justin Exner
2005, 2006
Pat Williams
2004
Scott Gessay
2002, 2003
Jim Deuel
2001
T.C. Smith
2000
Theodore D. Britt
1998, 1999
James M. Miller
1996, 1997
Doug Downer
1994, 1995
Bob Galloway
1993
John Graves
1992
John Callow
1990, 1991
Grover Russell
1988, 1989
Judith Downer
1986, 1987
Jerry Norris
1985
Jack Seeley
1983, 1984
Jeffrey J. Fairfield
1982
Jack Hornsby
1980, 1981
Joseph H. Launders
1978, 1979
Edward J. Nachazel
1976, 1977
Winifred Y. Jacobs
1974, 1975
William W. Slayton
1972, 1973
Charles F. Fisher
1970, 1979
Alden G. Muller
1968, 1969
Earl R. White
1967
Thomas C. Kilby
1965, 1966
Capt. Frank A. Patriarca
1963, 1964
Charles Solkey
1961, 1962
Geoffrey D. L. Woodard
1960
Robert W. Ashwell
1959
Marshall A. Martin