Chairman's

Note

Thomas W. Repczynski
SFCC Chairman

trepczynski@offitkurman.com

Welcome to August! Virginia’s annual tax-free, “back-to-school” shopping weekend has come and gone, and local high school athletes are back at practice prepping for the fall season. We are gearing up for a really exciting year ahead, and there is much ado at SFCC! We’ve already lined up some exciting, first-of-a-kind events – including what may be the first-ever, Chamber of Commerce axe-throwing-happy-hour event! (Yes, I said “axe throwing,” and it is most definitely the first one for this Chamber!) I’m particularly excited about this one and hope you will consider coming out for what is certain to be the “talked-about event” of the season. It is part of our month-long, membership drive going on during September. So mark Sept. 19 on your calendar for this “T3” event and invite a guest (or two or more!) to join us with Springfield’s own Flippin Steel at a new venue for us, Cedar Knoll, located not too far from Mount Vernon with an absolutely gorgeous view of the Potomac.

In the meantime, summer isn't over yet! Our team has set us up to return to Casa Tequila for this month’s T3 on Aug. 15 (see below for more info.), and on Sept. 14, the Workhouse will be hosting its annual “Brewfest” – our area’s premier festival event. October’s T3 will be a first-ever, joint-chamber “Big Bash” event (save the date – Oct. 17) co-hosted with the Greater Springfield and Mount Vernon Lee Chambers at the Embassy Suites in Springfield. Local Rotary Clubs will be our invited guests for the Big Bash, so there is certain to be some premier networking opportunity going on!

We are making a concerted effort to pass along and help members connect with local community requests for business participation and will continue to keep you advised of local sponsorship and/or advertising opportunities. Please be sure to let us/me know if your organization has a specific interest in partnering or getting involved in some way with local organizations that might benefit from such a business partnership/relationship. We’ll be working on collecting appropriate points of contact information, and I’ll be happy to connect you with the right people!

The following report about the conference, which was held June 29, is from SFCC board member and Fairfax County Small Business Commissioner at large Tracey Palmer Wood.

This was such an amazing event. Congratulations to the Board of Supervisors, Chairman Bulova and to Lindsey Doane for stepping up to the plate and hitting this event out the ballpark. I was so enlightened by the speakers and exhibitors. Wow! The first-ever Disability Inclusion Conference was a wonderful eye-opening experience. 

Amazing! The Keynote Speaker was Frank Stephens, a very successful man. He’s an actor on television, on Broadway and in feature movies as well as a published author who happened to be born with Down syndrome. Awesome man! 

Keynote speaker Frank Stephens

Back 2 School Outreach Program

Minimize the worry and ensure a confident start to the school year for local children by donating a new backpack and supplies.during the Lorton Community Action Center's Back 2 School 2019. LCAC anticipates that YOU (and your friends, colleagues, neighbors, book club, faith-based group – you get the idea!) will help serve more than 500 children and teens through the program.

Donations may be dropped off from Aug. 8  (Thursday) through Aug. 16 (Friday) at INOVA Healthplex Lorton, 9321 Sanger Street, Lorton, VA 22079. INOVA Healthplex Lorton is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Enter the building through the Emergency Room door. INOVA staff will direct you. For detailed information, see the Back 2 School web page.

Concert Aiding Junior Golf

Rocked The Range at Laurel Hill

The Laurel Hill Golf Club was rocking June 29 during a concert and golf event benefiting First Tee of Greater Washington D.C. The big winners at the Jailhouse Rock on the Range, which featured music by Skeleton Crew and Rusty Cage, were junior golfers. First Tee introduces the game and its inherent values to youth. Ryan Carmen, the general manager at Laurel Hill, said the event strengthened the golf club’s relationship with First Tee and junior golf. Carmen said the first tee staff “works tirelessly to keep our junior golfers motivated, energetic and passionate for the game of golf.”

Clint Sanchez, the executive director of First Tee, said his organization was thrilled to host the special one-of-a-kind event an Laurel Hill. “The golf course and its staff are tremendous partners of The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC, and one of our first program locations in Fairfax County,” Sanchez said. “We look forward to building off the success of the event!" 

Member Profile –  Dr. Cynthia Coy-Blackwell

Dr. Cynthia Coy-Blackwell, the founder and CEO of Uncaged Solutions, LLC, is a leading professional with more than twenty years of experience working in leadership development, strategic planning, training and process improvement. Cynthia has served in both the active and reserve components of the United States Air Force as a Financial Management officer and in the private sector supporting federal agencies in the areas of financial management and human capital management. As an independent consultant, Cynthia has helped non-profit organizations with client training and strategic planning. Her enthusiasm and passion for providing value to organizations have allowed Cynthia to create innovative solutions to enhance the ability of organizations to help leaders at all levels to align goals and objectives to vision. For more of her story, click here.

The Lorton Community Action Center is just one of the places across the nation that will come together on Aug. 6 to  promote police-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie during National Night Out. The annual celebration, which is held the first Tuesday in August, is meant to enhance a positive relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.

The LCAC-sponsored event is free and will feature games, food and fun from 6-7 p.m. in the fields behind Lorton Library, 9518 Richmond Highway. Check to see if your neighborhood is holding an event. During National Night Out, neighbors typically lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outside together from 6-9 p.m. with police visiting as many communities as they can.

Board Member Highlight:

Tim Rizer

Tim Rizer and his wife Barbara, who's also active in the community.

Tim Rizer is a longtime South County resident who is passionate about his Lorton community and works tirelessly to promote its residents, businesses and assets. He and his wife of more than 40 years have four children and 10 grandchildren, all of whom live in the area. Tim’s wife Barbara is a South County High School math teacher and longtime LCAC supporter and board member.

Tim owns a wholesale printer parts distribution company that recently located to Woodbridge and a real estate investment fund in Alexandria. Along with Peter Weyland and Shep Crow, he created and initially set up the SFCC in 2008 and was its Chairman until 2017. 

He has been actively engaged in the Workhouse Arts Center in various capacities since its opening in 2008, including serving as its chairman. He was very active in leadership at the South County Federation (association of HOA’s) for almost 20 years. He also participates in a number of county task force initiatives: Workhouse Steering committee, Lorton 2040 Visioning group and Tourism.  

Tim’s heart lies firmly in the Lorton community. With a few small changes, he believes Lorton can be the envy of Fairfax County. Tim expects the future to include a year-round ski resort, a lively arts center and a larger, more vibrant Lorton Town Center that draws attention and visitors to Lorton.  

South County Football Alumni Association Ready to Ring in Season

The South County Football Alumni Association will hold its first Ring on Honor Ceremony dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, in the high school cafeteria. The purpose of the event is to establish a South County football “Hall of Fame” that will annually induct someone who’s had a profound impact on the football program. Proceeds will benefit the high school’s football team which starts its season Aug 29 at Woodbridge High. Check the alumni association’s Facebook Page or Twitter feed for information on how to get tickets for the Ring of Honor Ceremony  

Special Thanks to the Laurel Hill Golf Club

Our continuing thanks to Laurel Hill Golf Club and General Manager Ryan Carmen for offering meeting facilities free of charge to the Chamber for our monthly Board of Directors meetings throughout the year.