(Charlottesville, Virginia – March 10) The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has selected Zenas Choi and Chuck Johnston to receive the 2016 Chamber Volunteer Award. The Chamber will present Mr. Choi and Mr. Johnston with their awards at the Chamber’s 2016 Commonwealth Breakfast at Farmington Country Club Charlottesville, Thursday, March 24th at 7:30 AM, at which more than 150 business and civic leaders are expected to attend.
“Both Zenas and Chuck are at almost every Chamber event, serving in our Chamber Ambassador Corps. They are everywhere, welcoming and assisting hundreds of Chamber members and assisting our professional staff with the details at each event,” stated Chad Zakaib, Vice President of Legacy Hospice, who after serving as 2015 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors serves as Chairman of the 2016 Chamber recognitions committees. “It is our time to recognize them – and all our Chamber Ambassadors for the dedicated Chamber volunteers they are.”
Virginia House of Delegates members Steve Landes and David Toscano are featured speakers, presenting a report on the 2016 Virginia General Assembly session at this year’s Chamber Commonwealth Breakfast. Delegate Landes is Chairman of the House Education Committee and Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Delegate Toscano is the House of Delegates Minority Leader.
The annual Chamber Volunteer Award was established in 1998 to honor Chamber member volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The annual Chamber Volunteer Award is presented to those volunteers who help enhance and extend the Chamber’s dedication to member service.
Zenas Choi relocated to Charlottesville from Breckenridge, Colorado in 2003. An avid skier and snowboarder, Mr. Choi is a certified instructor at Wintergreen Resort and says, “We love this community; the mountains, the city and the people. Charlottesville will always be called home.” A graduate of Gordon College, Mr. Choi played lacrosse there. Lacrosse is a passion he still pursues, playing on the Charlottesville COMA Lacrosse team and volunteer coaches at Seminole Lacrosse. He is a graduate of Leadership Charlottesville, serves on the Leadership Charlottesville Alumni Association Board and he also serves in several non-profit organizations. He is a State Farm Insurance Company Agent Aspirant with the Gary Albert agency, working with small business owners and families with their insurance and financial planning. Mr. Choi lives in Charlottesville with his wife Lisa and three children.
Chuck Johnston grew up in Ohio, served in the United States Navy and is a graduate of the University of Akron. He is a career radio broadcasting professional, having worked in various markets including Cincinnati, Columbus and Portland, Maine. He came to Charlottesville in 2007 and works at public radio WVTF & RADIO IQ since 2014. He regularly attends various Chamber round tables and other Chamber events and serves as a Chamber Ambassador last year. Mr. Johnston said, “I am proud to be a part of such a lively, vibrant and supportive organization and happy to do what I can to help our Chamber.” Mr. Johnston and his wife Mickie, residents of Crozet, have three adult children.
Seats remain, but space is limited. The price of admission between now and March 17th is $40/person for Chamber members and guests; others $45/person. A limited number of reserved tables of 10 remain available for $500. For more information and/or to RSVP, contact the Chamber at 295.3141 or email at develop@cvillechamber.com
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in our greater Charlottesville communities. The Chamber’s more than 1,200 member and affiliate member enterprises employ more than 45,000 people in our community, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.75 billion a year.
