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Hollie Lee Selected to Receive 2018 Business Diversity Award

written by Newspack Team | September 4, 2018

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced that Hollie Lee was selected as the 2018 recipient of the John F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award. The award will be presented at the annual Chamber Business Diversity Luncheon. The luncheon, hosted by the Chamber Business Diversity Council, will be held on Tuesday, September 18th, 11am-1:30pm, at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. Dr. Carla Williams, University of Virginia Director of Athletics, will deliver the keynote address.

Hollie Lee, Chief of Workforce Development Strategies with the City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development, was nominated by Kaye Monroe. “Hollie has played an integral part in creating community within our ranks and professions,” wrote Ms. Monroe in her nomination. “From grassroots to governments, she continues to create and leverage collective conversations amongst a diversity of citizens, educational entities and agencies that bring favorable and lasting results to the economic vitality of this locality.” 

“My efforts to increase the number of sustainable minority businesses through my professional and community work is just something I love to do. I love this kind of work,” said Lee. “To be recognized with the Vanguard Award from a group I was fortunate to help start, means so much to me.”
The CBDC Vanguard Award is named in honor of John F. Bell Sr., a respected business leader who established successful businesses during a time when society wasn’t so welcoming to people of his cultural background. Past award recipients include Eugene and Lorraine Williams, Forward Adelante Business Alliance, and Kaye Monroe. Award criteria include someone who: displays high business and personal integrity, makes significant contributions in the area of business diversity, is civically engaged, and develops other business leaders.

The Chamber Business Diversity Luncheon provides attendees an opportunity to connect with a diversity of business professionals. Its aim is to grow the diverse pool of individuals in hiring, support minority businesses, and help ensure all citizens get equal business opportunities to build a strong, vibrant, growing, diverse business community.

The Chamber Business Diversity Luncheon is underwritten by the University of Virginia with Allison Partners and CFA Institute serving as the luncheon’s Gold Sponsors.

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Charlottesville communities.  Founded in 1913, today the more than 1,200 Chamber member and affiliate member enterprises employ more than 45,000 people in Greater Charlottesville, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $ billion a year.