Business & Tech

Arlington Chamber Honors Marymount University, MTFA Architecture

Chamber held annual meeting Friday at Sheraton Pentagon City.

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce honored Marymount University and MTFA Architecture Principal Michael Foster at its 88th Annual Meeting Friday at the Sheraton Pentagon City.

The chamber also looked back on its accomplishments for 2012 and ahead to 2013. .

Foster — whose firm has been involved in a number of high-profile projects, like The Views at Clarendon and the Clean Technology Center in Courthouse — received the President's Award. The chamber made it through a successful relocation thanks to Foster, officials said.

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"He cuts through such malarky and gets people to come to an agreement," said incoming chamber Chairman David DeCamp. "He did that this year as we worked through our relocation process."

Tim Hughes, the 2014 chairman-elect, called Foster "a tremendous community leader." Outgoing Chairman Doug Brammer said Foster "has led by example."

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Chris Domes, vice president for student development and enrollment at Marymount University, accepted the Chair's Award on behalf of the school. Domes is the chamber's treasurer. Marymount has sponsored numerous chamber events.

DeCamp said Arlington isn't really known as a higher education hub, but Marymount remains a "steadfast institution." He said the school has exciting plans for redevelopment of its space in Ballston.

"I'm impressed with the leadership at Marymount, and I'm impressed with their vision," DeCamp told Patch. "As a parent of a child who is about to enter college, I love how they're delivering worthwhile classes and education to students."

DeCamp also said the entire chamber appreciated Domes' "thankless" volunteer work as treasurer. 

"Marymount really has done an incredible job at developing their offerings educationally and their footprint in the community," Hughes said. "They're a homegrown Arlington university."

Brammer recounted several of the chamber's accomplishments, including developing and implementing a three-year strategic plan; working with Arlington County Board Chairwoman Mary Hynes on her PLACE initiative; raising more than $254,000 for the chamber's operating budget through the Opportunity Works Campaign; creating the Understanding Today's Technology series to help educate chamber members and Arlington businesspeople; and expanding the chamber's staff.

"People do not come here because of our roads and traffic," Brammer said. "They come here, they live here, they work here and they play here because of your participation in what's known as the Arlington Way."


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