Officials gathered on Thursday, January 30, 2025, to cut the ribbon on the new Westwood Center office just east of I-95.
“When we started Mr. Rooter here in Fredericksburg, we set out to create not just another plumbing service, but a local business that our community can trust — whether it is for routine plumbing repair, an emergency fix, or a major installation,” said Gilbert Mwenedata, owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Fredericksburg. “We’re proud to be part of this wonderful community, and we look forward to building lasting relationships with our neighbors, customers, and other local businesses,” he said.
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The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced Michelle Caldwell Thompson, owner and President of CTI Real Estate, as the 2025 Chair of the Board. The Chamber also welcomes its new board members for 2025, including George Barnick of Fredericksburg Technology, Latasha Brooks of A&B Creative Events, Chip Boyles of the George Washington Regional Commission, Barbara Gustavson of Discover Next Step, and Werner Jansen of Bloomia. Additionally, Jennifer McGovern of Parrish Snead Franklin Simpson, PLC, has been named the Chamber’s legal counsel for the upcoming year.
The board officers for 2025 include Michelle Caldwell Thompson as Chair, Ginni Matern of Matern Staffing as Vice Chair, Kevin Dillard of LifeCare Medical Transports as Immediate Past Chair, Shawn Sloan of The Media Partners as Treasurer, and Susan Garnett Spears continuing as President and CEO.
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Susan Spears, President and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce shared her enthusiasm during the ceremony. "The Publisher Hotel represents a major investment in our region," Spears said, commending Vakos Real Estate Services' consistent dedication to high-quality developments in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties.
Senator Tara Durant (R) highlighted the hotel's impact on the community. "This hotel is now the crown jewel of our historic downtown, enriching our community economically and culturally," said Durant. She praised the project as a symbol of growth and a testament to hard work.
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The event covered first responders from the Fredericksburg and Caroline, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, filling the main ballroom at the Convention Center. There were 19 awards given out to local Virginia State Troopers and county police officers from all over the area. Included in the 19 awards was a lifetime achievement award given to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones, Caroline County Citizens Valor awards given to Shericka Twyner, Russell Trainer, and Desiree Dushane, and the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Citizens Valor Award went to Guillermo Shelton and Austin Leonard.
“We are a better region because of you,” added Steve Cox of Rappahannock Goodwill, one of the sponsors at this event, which the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce hosted.
“In many ways, you represent the best of Virginia,” said Jason Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia. He compared them to World War II’s ‘greatest generation’ and the soldiers that landed at Normandy. “You go to work each morning and put on the bulletproof vest,” he added. “The hardest thing I have to do as Attorney General is speak at the funerals of the fallen first responders,” he said.
As the awards were presented, some details were shared about the officers’ criminal enforcement and other community improvement actions.
Captain Crystal Hill of the Fredericksburg Police launched the city’s first lobotomy program, while Fire Captain John Hanson honed the water rescue program on the Rappahannock River. “The efforts of his work are recognized,” said Stafford Fire Department Chief Joseph Cardello. There were many stories that day that showed the professionalism of all involved.
For the first time at this event, the Chamber introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor exceptional contributions in the field. Retired chief of the Fredericksburg Fire Department, Eddie Allen, presented the award to current Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones.
Jones began his fire service career in 1979 with the Falmouth Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He excelled in training and became a key member of the team. Jones followed in his father’s footsteps, who was a firefighter for Fairfax County. His commitment to excellence saw him rise through the ranks from Lieutenant in 1987 to achieving his dream of becoming Fire Chief in March 2020, a challenging time marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a crucial role in public outreach, recording daily updates to inform and reassure the community during those dark months.
Throughout his career, Jones has been dedicated to community service and building relationships with civic organizations, state agencies, and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he has been a member for over 38 years. He has also been a mentor, preparing others for leadership roles and actively participating in community programs like Leadership Fredericksburg.
Kevin Dillard, Chair of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and this event stated, “Serving as chair of the annual First Responders event provided me the opportunity to do some research whereby I discovered that our organization had never honored a first responder for a lifetime of service in the Commonwealth. I strongly believe that the men and women who have served for many years, whether as volunteer or career first responders, deserve recognition for their many years of public service.”
The sponsors were highlighted as well, and the list included Goodwill Rappahannock, The Oberle Academy, Pierpoint Construction, Lifecare Medical Transports, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Mullins & Thompson, Tire Tread Service, Dominion Energy, Spartan, Fredericksburg Public School Foundation, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Riphean, Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball Team, CIP Finishes, Arsenal Events, Truist, Found and Sons, Hilldrup, Matern, Germanna, Little Tire, Discover Next Step, Topside, PRSA, The UPS Store, Virginia Credit Union, Black Rifle Coffee, Mattaponi Springs and RSQ.
Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber’s Leadership Fredericksburg program graduated its seventeenth class during a May 17th ceremony at the Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania.
Donna Kraus, a graduate of LF 2010, was the keynote speaker for the event. Donna shared her leadership journey and how the program helped shape her into the leader she is today. Jaime Garza from Ignite Cinemas is the 2024 Class President. Jaime shared an inspiring message about the 2024 class’s experiences over the past nine months.
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Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce press release: The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce was pleased to award local businesses for their successes, entrepreneurial spirit, and community commitment at the 33rd Annual Awards Gala held Friday, April 12 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center.
With nearly 450 people in attendance including small and large businesses, nonprofits and representatives from state and local governments, the night was a massive success.
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In a momentous occasion attended by hundreds of community members and dignitaries, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce inaugurated its new headquarters at 1701 Fall Hill Avenue with a vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, March 13, 2024.
The event marked a significant milestone in the chamber's history, symbolizing a new chapter of growth and opportunity for the organization and the community it serves. Susan Spears, the CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, expressed her gratitude to all those who participated in the celebration and acknowledged the importance of their support.
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The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the opening of nominations for the 2024 Annual Awards & Gala: A Night at the Monte Carlo, scheduled for April 12 at the Fredericksburg Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. The event aims to recognize local businesses for excellence in categories including Small Business and Large Business of the Year, as well as Entrepreneur of the Year.
“The Gala is a night of tremendous celebration for our area’s business community,” remarked Susan Spears, President & CEO of the Chamber. “As the engine that makes our region run, it is important to spotlight the businesses and community leaders and thank them for all they do.”
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On February 6, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce played host to nearly 550 high school students hailing from King George, Spotsylvania, Caroline, Stafford, and Fredericksburg, as well as homeschool and private school attendees, along with college students from Mary Washington University and Germanna Community College.
This marked the third annual Intern Expo, themed "Oh the Places You’ll Go."