
Honoring Reston’s ‘Best’ 01/23/2008 : Connection Honoring Reston’s ‘Best’ They come from various professional and civic backgrounds, from gardening to finances, from security to real estate development, yet the winners of the 2008 Best of Reston Award share common characteristics and qualities that make them stand out in the Reston community. They go beyond the norm of giving time and resources toward helping others, achieving tangible results and working selflessly without seeking recognition, “These winners have accomplished so much more than we could tell in our short time here,” said Penny Pompei, president of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, as she and Kerrie Wilson, Reston Interfaith CEO, announced the seven winners of the award on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Joe Ritchey, the principal of Prospective Inc, and the Best of Reston fundraising co-chair, said that the fundraising event for Reston Interfaith started in 1992 with 360 people raising more than$300,000 and hosted more than 800 people at the dinner gala honoring the award recipients in April. The Reston Chamber chairman, Mark Looney, offered that Best of Reston is not intended to only raise money for Reston Interfaith, but also to further its mission. The 17th anniversary of the fundraising event, he said, is truly reflective of the interweaving of business and nonprofit communities within the greater Reston area. The Reston Garden Club was recognized for beautifying Reston in its public spaces, as well as the club members’ back yards. “You’re bound to see their work wherever you go in Reston,” said Pompei, as she announced the club as this year’s winner. John Coleman, the Safety and Security Assistant at South Lakes High School, has exceeded the expectations of his job — keeping the campus safe and secure — helping initiate and run clubs that help students build self-esteem. Ruth Overton, a longtime Reston Community Center board member, civic leader and a member of the Reston Chorale, was recognized for fostering community spirit in conjunction with her family duties, a mother of six children, and now, a grandmother of seven. “Overton has been the center of family and at the center of Reston,” said Wilson while announcing Overton’s selection. Recognized for leadership was Judy Redpath and her financial planning business VISTA Wealth Strategies, Redpath contributed her skills and knowledge to a number of community organizations over the years, including serving as a member of the Survivors Fund Distribution Committee. The organization supports individuals and families affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon. The JBG Companies, a real estate development company, was selected for its environmental development philosophy focused on transit-oriented growth and use of existing infrastructure. The company sponsored a number of community events last year, including the 2007 Taste of the Town and the 2007 Reston Home Tour. Tetra Partnerships, also a real estate development firm, received numerous accolades in recent years, including the 2006 “Small Business of the Year” award by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. President and Founder William Lauer has devoted time to area organizations such as Devotion to Children. The Volunteer Medical Providers of the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic were awarded for providing free medical care to thousands of children and adults in the area. In 2007, 109 Volunteer Medical Providers donated more than 1,500 hours of service to the clinic. To date, more than 2,000 children have received health screenings through the free clinic.

Honoring Reston’s ‘Best’

01/23/2008 : Connection
Honoring Reston’s ‘Best’

They come from various professional and civic backgrounds, from gardening to finances, from security to real estate development, yet the winners of the 2008 Best of Reston Award share common characteristics and qualities that make them stand out in the Reston community. They go beyond the norm of giving time and resources toward helping others, achieving tangible results and working selflessly without seeking recognition, “These winners have accomplished so much more than we could tell in our short time here,” said Penny Pompei, president of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, as she and Kerrie Wilson, Reston Interfaith CEO, announced the seven winners of the award on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Joe Ritchey, the principal of Prospective Inc, and the Best of Reston fundraising co-chair, said that the fundraising event for Reston Interfaith started in 1992 with 360 people raising more than$300,000 and hosted more than 800 people at the dinner gala honoring the award recipients in April.

The Reston Chamber chairman, Mark Looney, offered that Best of Reston is not intended to only raise money for Reston Interfaith, but also to further its mission. The 17th anniversary of the fundraising event, he said, is truly reflective of the interweaving of business and nonprofit communities within the greater Reston area.

The Reston Garden Club was recognized for beautifying Reston in its public spaces, as well as the club members’ back yards. “You’re bound to see their work wherever you go in Reston,” said Pompei, as she announced the club as this year’s winner.

John Coleman, the Safety and Security Assistant at South Lakes High School, has exceeded the expectations of his job — keeping the campus safe and secure — helping initiate and run clubs that help students build self-esteem.

Ruth Overton, a longtime Reston Community Center board member, civic leader and a member of the Reston Chorale, was recognized for fostering community spirit in conjunction with her family duties, a mother of six children, and now, a grandmother of seven. “Overton has been the center of family and at the center of Reston,” said Wilson while announcing Overton’s selection.

Recognized for leadership was Judy Redpath and her financial planning business VISTA Wealth Strategies, Redpath contributed her skills and knowledge to a number of community organizations over the years, including serving as a member of the Survivors Fund Distribution Committee. The organization supports individuals and families affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon.

The JBG Companies, a real estate development company, was selected for its environmental development philosophy focused on transit-oriented growth and use of existing infrastructure. The company sponsored a number of community events last year, including the 2007 Taste of the Town and the 2007 Reston Home Tour.

Tetra Partnerships, also a real estate development firm, received numerous accolades in recent years, including the 2006 “Small Business of the Year” award by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. President and Founder William Lauer has devoted time to area organizations such as Devotion to Children.

The Volunteer Medical Providers of the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic were awarded for providing free medical care to thousands of children and adults in the area. In 2007, 109 Volunteer Medical Providers donated more than 1,500 hours of service to the clinic. To date, more than 2,000 children have received health screenings through the free clinic.