Herndon Legislators Attend Retirement Event for Eileen Curtis

From the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce: A grand retirement party event was held for Eileen Curtis on July 12, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Dulles. Eileen had served as the President and CEO of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce (DRCC) for 23 years.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe sent his congratulations to Eileen in a video that was shown at the dinner. Senator Tim Kaine, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Gerry Connolly and Lt. Governor Ralph Northam sent commendations that were presented to Eileen at the event. She received proclamations from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Herndon Town Council that week.

Legislators in attendance at the July 12 dinner included: State Senator Jennifer Wexton, State Delegate Jennifer Boysko, State Delegate Kathleen Murphy, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, Supervisor John Foust, Supervisor Patrick Herrity, Supervisor Catherine Hudgins and Supervisor Kathy Smith. Town of Herndon's Vice Mayor Jennifer K. Baker, Councilmember Signe Friedrichs, Councilmember Bill McKenna and Councilmember Sheila Olem attended the event, as well as former Town of Herndon Mayor Tom Rust and former Mayor Rick Thoesen.

Highlights of the evening included a procession into the banquet hall by Chairman James Lawson and 17 former chairs. The group walked to the stage, raised the top hats they were wearing and bowed to Eileen.

Of note was the airing of a Herndon Community Access Television (HCTV) film in which numerous colleagues, DRCC members, friends and family members were interviewed about Eileen’s 23 year career at the DRCC.

Speakers at the event included: James Lawson, Chairman of the Board, and Robert Gangi, Vice Chairman of the Board. Robbin Shefski, Secretary of the Board, and Val Kaiser, Chair of the DRCC’s Dulles Executive Women Committee, addressed the audience. Speakers representing the top event sponsors addressed the audience, including Bob Deckard, Cox Business; Arsalan Lufti, TriVision; Billy Freesemeir, MainStreet Bank; Praduman Jain, Vibrent Health; Matt Chubb, Kaiser Permanente; and Michael Session, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Dulles. Tom Rust, a former Town of Herndon Mayor, gave the invocation.

Gangi talked about the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools and fund established to provide annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) scholarships in Eileen’s name. Go here to see this information.

At the closing of the event, Eileen, a classically trained vocalist, sang a tune with amusing lyrics that she wrote describing her memories of working at the DRCC and bidding the audience farewell.

Eileen said her future plans include extensive travel and writing at least 2 books. Chamber Tales: a Memoir of Business, Community and Stunning Forces of Change, her first book, is set for publication this Fall.

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