The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded area businesses for their successes, entrepreneurial spirit, and community commitment at the 31st Annual Awards and Gala held Friday, April 8, at the Fredericksburg Expo Center.
Community Impact Award
Mary Washington Healthcare This award recognizes an organization whose mission makes a significant impact in our community. This nonprofit corporation has played an integral role in our community for 123 years.
MWHC created a Field Hospital unit in anticipation of the crisis. Their employees work tirelessly to improve the people’s health in the communities they serve, which was evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. MWHC treated more than 6,000 COVID patients and administered more than 100,000 COVID tests. Once the vaccine became available, MWHC, for some time, administered 2,000 vaccines per day, with more than 212,000 doses given. 794 MWHC staff supported the vaccine clinic, and 437 community volunteers supported their efforts.
Mary Washington Healthcare received the Community Impact Award for its commitment to the Fredericksburg regional community’s well-being.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Debby Girvan won the Entrepreneur of the Year award, which celebrates an innovative business owner who recognizes and meets a market need by successfully launching and developing a new business. Girvan founded her company in 2010 with the original concept of a marketing consulting firm and has since evolved the company into an award-winning website design, development, and maintenance digital marketing enterprise. Girvan’s company now has nine employees and over 175 clients spanning 19 states and three countries.
Early on, Girvan developed a diversified client base and ensured there was no singular reliance on one industry or client. Also, this small business’s structure provides for high-paying jobs with significant benefits packages, making it possible for employees to live where they work – right here in our region.
Of particular note is Girvan’s commitment to providing full-time employment and professional development opportunities with benefits to many young professionals. Nearly 20 college students from the local area have begun solid careers in technology due to Girvan’s commitment to their success.
During the early days of the pandemic, when everything was shut down, Debby created the Fred Gift cards website, which was the design, development, hosting, maintenance, and promotion of a website to help local small businesses sell gift cards online through the website. This free service, paid for solely by our honoree, provided an opportunity for struggling businesses to maintain cash flow under dire circumstances. Over 80 local companies participated. Feedback suggested that the service was instrumental in keeping numerous firms open.
Small Businesses of the Year Award
Stafford Printing This award is presented to a company that balances business success with a dedication to improving the community’s quality of life. Stafford Printing tells their customers that they stand by simplicity, responsiveness, honesty, principled service, and helpful, friendly attitudes. This business was founded 35 years ago and, over the years, has expanded its equipment and services to meet the ever-evolving changes in printing services.
Stafford Printing’s owner, Howard Owen, has always believed in giving back to the community that he serves, and he has done so in a big way. Owen encourages his team to give to the community, both through the company and personally. He is a member of the Rappahannock Rotary Club, the Stafford County Economic Development Authority. He serves on the board of the Stafford Hospital Foundation, Loisann’s Hope House, and the Fredericksburg Symphony.
Large Businesses of the Year Award
Flatter, Inc. received the Large Business of the Year award. This family-owned company has been serving the community for 20 years and has won 150 contracts with the federal government.
Flatter, Inc. is a federal services provider. The company excels in training and development, acquisition support, and complex government program management offices. Flatter, Inc employees more than 200 locally at their Spotsylvania headquarters and worldwide.
During the height of the pandemic, the company expanded its leadership development arm, Two Roads Leadership, and offered coaching and leadership development services to a worldwide community of leaders.
The company has grown over 300% in the last five years; today, they continue to exceed 10% growth year over year. They recently won their largest contract to date, which was $30 million in support of Army training in Fort Lee, Va.
This corporation gives back to the community in several ways, including fulfilling Christmas lists of local families through the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services, serving at the United Way, and having top leadership provide administrative services free of charge to Leadership Fredericksburg. The company motto is “excellence is our baseline,” and Flatter, Inc. exemplifies this in all they do.
Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award
Joel Griffin won the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award, which honors an individual who has provided a lifetime of service and commitment to the Fredericksburg region. It’s named for the former Mary Washington College president. Joel calls himself a “serial entrepreneur,” He has founded several for-profit entities and a nonprofit organization.
The businesses have ranged from investments, venture capital, real estate, and restaurants, including 25 years in private industry consulting and 20 years in government contracting. Griffin lives in Stafford.
Joel was a Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fredericksburg “early adopter,” participating in the chamber’s second class 14 years ago. He learned about the program through Stafford County’s Economic Development Authority, which he still serves on today as chairman.
Griffin also serves on several boards: the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, the Chamber, Germanna’s Educational Foundation, and the Cyber Security Advisory Board for the Virginia Community College System, GO Virginia.
