Olympic Insights Showcased at April Newsmaker Luncheon

Dulles Regional Chamber President Eileen Curtis, left, shares a smile with Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, right, USA Track and Field’s first chief of sport performance following Tuesday's Newsmaker Luncheon where Mosley shared insights into the world of Olympic training and competition. A world-class athlete, Mosley won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Ca., making her just the second American woman to do so and the first African-American woman to accomplish this feat. The event was hosted by the Holiday Inn Washington Dulles and sponsored by Systems Furniture Gallery.

New Members Welcomed at April Business, Bagels & More Breakfast

Dulles Regional Chamber Board Members Gina Poindexter, far left, and Drazen Alcocer, far right, welcomed new members at the chamber's Business, Bagels and More breakfast April 13 hosted by McAlister's Deli in Herndon. Pictured center, from left to right, are new members Ken Chaletzky of Copy General, Gary Mesish of Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N Bake Pizza, Angela Melton of Riveting Fitness, and Laura d’All, also of Copy General.

Local Olympian Talks Teamwork with Northern Virginia Business Leaders

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley knows what it takes to achieve success … on the track and in the office.

A 1984 Olympic gold medalist, Mosley is tasked with rebuilding a troubled U.S. Olympic track and field program before the London Games this summer, an undertaking she plans to elaborate on to Northern Virginia business leaders at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Newsmaker Luncheon on April 24.

It’s a chance to talk teamwork—the struggles and the triumphs—up close and personal with USA Track and Field’s first chief of sport performance.

“I’m thrilled that she’s able to take time from her intensely busy schedule as she prepares for London to come and talk to our business community,” said Chamber President Eileen Curtis.

Curtis believes Mosley’s remarkable leadership skills as the former president and CEO of Women in Cable Telecommunications, as well as her service to a variety of Olympic programs and sports foundations, provides a unique perspective on teamwork that is invaluable in industries of every kind.

“Over the course of her career, Benita has overseen a wide variety of business needs, from staffing and marketing to national Olympic training centers and multi-million dollar budgets,” Curtis said. “When you add to that her incredible experience as a team builder, there is no doubt that her insight into teamwork at all levels is powerful.”

A world-class athlete, Mosley won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Ca., making her just the second American woman to do so and the first African-American woman to accomplish this feat.

Among other recognitions, Mosley was named “Top Female Sports Figure of the Century from Virginia” by Sports Illustrated, “Hurdler of the Decade” for the 1980’s by Track and Field News, and is also an inductee into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. She is one of eight U.S. Olympians to carry the Olympic Flag into the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga.

Mosley, who currently resides in Haymarket with her family, attended Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge.

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce Newsmaker Luncheon featuring Mosley will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 24 at the Holiday Inn Washington Dulles, located at 45425 Holiday Drive, Dulles, Va. 20166.

This event is open to all area business professionals. For registration pricing information, call 571-323-5304 or visit the event page.

Chamber’s Community Breakfast Advances Business and Non-Profit Partnerships

In a striking display of partnership and support, more than 70 businesses and non-profits attended the Dulles Regional Chamber’s community breakfast on March 21 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Sterling - Dulles Airport.

Leaders from both sectors engaged in a morning of networking during the informative and interactive session, highlighted by an address from Dr. Jeff Pollard, executive director of counseling and psychological services at George Mason University.

Giving is part of human DNA, Pollard told attendees, adding that the effects of generosity elicit positive and pleasurable responses that contribute not only to the happiness of the recipient, but also the giver.

Pollard encouraged attendees at the sold-out event to examine their reasons for giving and the ways in which it strengthens the foundation for partnerships between the business and non-profit communities.

“This one event brought interested people together … [and] for non-profits, was worth a dozen networking events with a general audience,” said Cathy Hoskinson of Reston Interfaith regarding her experience.

The positive interaction between the business and non-profits represented satisfied the expectations of the event’s title sponsor, Systems Furniture Gallery.

“I’ve received several emails from some of the attendees, both thanking me for being the event’s title sponsor and also [conveying] how impressed they were with the event itself and for the information they gathered and the connections they made,” said Systems Furniture Gallery Owner Bob Kessler.

“I am proud to have been part of such a great and worthy cause,” he said.

The event was spearheaded by the chamber’s Business and Community Impact Committee. “I want to thank Eileen and the chamber board for their support of the Community Breakfast and their ongoing support of non-profits in the Dulles Chamber,” said Committee Chair Sarah Newman, who also serves as the executive director of Helping Children Worldwide.

“They worked their magic to get folks there and the survey results indicate that both businesses and non-profits found it to be worthwhile,” Newman said. “The Business and Community Impact Committee is excited about the opportunities we have been given and we look forward to continuing in this very positive direction.”

For more information on the participating non-profits, all of whom are actively involved in the Dulles community, please view the PowerPoint used at event. It can be found on the committee’s website.