John McManus, senior vice president, Community Banking for Virginia Commerce Bank, was named Committee Chairman of the Year for 2012 from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. McManus won the award for his work as chair of the Membership Committee, which assists staff in their efforts to retain current members and recruit new members of the chamber.
In 2012, the Membership Committee was responsible for the establishment of the chamber’s new Ambassador’s Program. Ambassadors are a group of representatives who work to enhance the level of engagement of current chamber members. Ambassadors also assist new members to get oriented with the Chamber upon their joining.
As chairman of the Membership Committee, McManus also serves as a member of as a vice chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.
Dr. John Kling, II has earned accreditation in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry — an accomplishment completed by only 350 dental professionals to date.
Raised in Alexandria, Kling graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina with a B.A. in biology and from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, with a doctorate of dental surgery. He completed his residency at Buffalo General Hospital in 1985, and has been in private practice in Old Town Alexandria since that time.
As an active community member, Kling belongs to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Alexandria Rotary Club. He is an annual sponsor of the Alexandria Walk to Fight Breast Cancer and was the former chair of the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission. Kling volunteered for years at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic and the citywide program placing protective sealants on children’s teeth. He currently is involved with the “Give Back a Smile” program, providing local individuals with reconstructive dentistry after domestic abuse.
Rooftop Chimney Sweeps has earned the service industry-coveted 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies. Rooftop Chimney Sweeps, LTD is a family-owned chimney sweep company located in Alexandria, operating in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area since 1978. Rooftop Chimney Sweeps, LTD specializes in the inspection, cleaning, repair and rebuilding of fireplaces, chimneys and other venting systems such as dryer vents, furnace vents, wood stoves and flues. Contact Andy Raycroft at 703-836-7858, andy@rooftopchimneysweeps.com, or visit www.rooftopchimneysweeps.com. Rooftop Chimney
Sweeps, LTD 3915 Wheeler Ave.
Military Officers Association of America has earned the distinction of being selected as one of the 2013 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work for.” A publication profiling the 50 organizations selected was published in the April 1, 2013 issue of “The NonProfit Times.”
In order to be selected, MOAA underwent a workplace assessment process that included surveying employees, as well as taking an inventory of organizational benefits, policies and offerings. The information was processed and analyzed and used to determine the “Best NonProfits to Work for.” MOAA, ranked #32 in 2013, also received the “Best NonProfit Organizations to Work for” in 2011.
Diane L. Webster was promoted to vice president, branch manager of the Prince Street branch of Virginia Commerce Bank. Webster just celebrated her 10-year anniversary with the Bank last year. She is actively involved in the Alexandria community and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the West End Business Association.
Rodney Peele, was recently given the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Iowa Optometric Association during its 115th Annual Congress held this year at the Embassy Suites Downtown Des Moines. Rodney serves as the Assistant Director of Regulatory Policy and Outreach at the American Optometric Association Washington office. His primary focus is to direct AOA’s interaction with federal agencies, including the US Department of Health and Human Services and Medicare. Rodney joined the AOA team in July 2008, and works at the AOA office in Alexandria. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law. He lives in Rockville.
Paul Thompson, proprietor of the Ted’s Montana Grill located at 2451 Eisenhower Ave., was recognized for his outstanding work at the restaurant company’s 2013 annual meeting, held at Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Ga. Thompson, of Olney, Md. Thompson was named “Rookie Proprietor of the Year.” A University of Maryland graduate, he joined Ted’s Montana Grill in January 2012 and has demonstrated strong leadership results since that time.
Military Officers Association of America has been awarded Best in Class by the Interactive Media Awards for its work on the MOAA Web Base Website. The honor recognizes that the project met and surpassed the basic standards of excellence that comprise the web’s most professional work. The site was honored specifically for excellence in Advocacy, a category which had 65 entries.
Lindsay Automotive Group, a provider of new and preowned vehicles in the D.C. metro area including Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria, has partnered with the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation to sponsor dogs and cats until the organization can find them loving homes.
Through the “Pal for Paws” program, individuals and organizations can sign up to support the medical expenses and other costs for keeping pets healthy and happy. In the meantime, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue works to find these animals a permanent home in the local community.
Any individual or organization can sign up for the Pals for Paws program, which has a minimum tax-deductible donation amount of $50. On the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue website, donors can browse the profiles of dogs and cats and decide which animal they would like to sponsor. Once a contribution has been made, the sponsors’ names will appear on the website along with their chosen pets. Visit www.lostdogrescue.org/ for more.
The Fountains at Washington House’s Medicare-certified skilled nursing center, known as The Springs, has earned the highest five-star quality rating and four-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, according to Connie Haworth, executive director of the Alexandria retirement community. The Fountains at Washington House, 5100 Fillmore Avenue, is one of 32 communities operated by Watermark Retirement Communities. For more information, visit www.watermarkcommunities.com or call 703-845-5000.
Key promotions and new hires at Unwined, located in Bradlee and Belle View Shopping Centers. John Spina — General Manager, King Street; Holly Rocco Feraci — Marketing Director; Savannah Brown — Wine Associate; and David Grabosky — Wine Associate and Craft Beer Specialist. Title changes: Renée Lorraine — Senior Buyer and General Manager, Belle View; Suzanne Ruscio — Assistant Manager, Belle View; and Nick Borek — Assistant Manager, King Street.
The Inova Joseph Viar Jr. and Bonnie Christ Cancer Center – Alexandria was recently presented with the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. The award acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.