December 9, 2009 - Arlington, VA

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosts its 85th Annual Meeting this Friday with keynote speaker Ted Leonsis, Chairman and Majority Owner of the Washington Capitals. The Annual Meeting highlights the Chamber's accomplishments from the past year and gives a look at next year's initiatives.

Leonsis is one of the country's premier businessmen and a pioneer in the Internet world. He has held numerous positions at AOL in his 15-year tenure, including Vice chairman and President, and was recently appointed to the board of directors for language learning software company Rosetta Stone, Inc. In addition, Leonsis has founded and currently chairs the Web 2.0 start-up SnagFilms, is chairman of Clearspring Technologies and Revolution Money, is a film producer, a private-angel investor, an active board member and a committed philanthropist who plans to donate over $100 million to charity during his lifetime.

According to USA Today, Leonsis spent his first few years at AOL helping to increase "AOL's membership from fewer than 800,000 members to 8 million" and raise revenues "from $100 million to $1.5 billion."

The Chamber's Chair Ellen Rainey said, "We are excited about hearing from him because he's got a winning team that's one of Arlington's own." The Capitals' corporate offices and practice facilities are located in Arlington. With the leadership of Leonsis and his coaching staff, the  Washington Business Journal reported in July, "The Washington Capitals are among the top 10 franchises on ESPN's 'Ultimate Standings' list, which ranks all 122 franchises in the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball." And Leonsis' personal blog reported this week that "your Washington Capitals" are currently ranked number one in the NHL for the 2009-2010 regular season.

Rainey, who also serves as Director of Parent Relations at Hamilton College, feels Leonsis' advice to "play offense with your life" is especially applicable in matters of business. "Business owners often have to play offense within their own businesses and Chamber membership helps them to do that and win," she said.

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce includes 750 businesses, non-profit and educational organizations as members, with more than 16,000 associated staff who have the opportunity to openly network with other organizations, participate in the process of forming public policy positions affecting their groups and build bridges between business and non-profit communities.

Also at the event, with Grand Sponsor TD Bank, the Chamber will award their three highest honors for recognition of significant contributions from an individual volunteer and one member organization, as well as the award for the Chamber committee that best served the interests of its members in executing the mission of the Chamber.

The Chamber's Annual Meeting starts at 11:30 a.m., Friday, December 11, in the Sheraton National Hotel located at 900 South Orme Street, in Arlington.

 

Other confirmed honored attendees include:

 

Virginia State Senators Patsy Ticer and Mary Margaret Whipple,  County Board Vice Chair Jay Fisette, County Board Member Mary Hynes, Clerk of the Court Paul Ferguson, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy, County Treasurer Frank O'Leary, County Sherriff Beth Arthur and Acting County Manager Barbara Donnellan.
 
Direct media inquiries to Jacob Fullmer at 703.525.2400, or email him at communications@arlingtonchamber.org.