Lonnie C. Rich, founding partner of Rich, Rosenthal, Brincefield, Manitta, Dzubin and Kroeger LLP, has been named the 2014 Business Leader of the Year by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
“I do very much appreciate this honor of being named Business Leader of the Year,” said Rich, who will be presented the award at the chamber’s annual business awards reception Oct. 22. “It really is an honor to be recognized by others in the business community for whom I have so much respect.”
Born in Baton Rouge, La., and graduated from Central High School in Memphis, Rich received a BA in history in 1970 from the University of Memphis. From 1970 to 1976 he served as a reservist in the U.S. Marine Corps.
After graduating from law school in 1974, also at the University of Memphis, Rich moved to Washington and began work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was responsible for drafting regulations that implemented the landmark Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibited sex discrimination in federally assisted education programs.
In 1981, he opened a solo law practice in Alexandria before forming a partnership with Ed Rosenthal and others in 1986. His current firm was founded in 2008 with five attorneys and has grown to 11 attorneys.
Over the past 25 years, Rich has concentrated his practice on business formations and transactions, wills, trusts and estates and real estate and land use. Others in the firm handle real estate, commercial litigation, family law and criminal defense.
Rich served on City Council from 1991 through 2000. More recently, he served as a board member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, including a term as chairman in 2006, and chairman of The Campagna Center board in 2011.
From 2006 through 2010, Rich served on the Alexandria Mayor’s Economic Sustainability Work Group. He currently serves as an active member of the chamber’s Government Relations Committee.
A past chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, Rich also served on the board of directors of the Alexandria Civil Liberties Union and held leadership positions with the Del Ray Civic Association, the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission, the Charter Review Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Women's Commission.
In 2013, Rich was named a Living Legend of Alexandria. When Rich’s wife, Marcia Call, was asked why she felt her husband was selected, she said at the time, “He’s somebody who touches things and wants to make them better.”
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 2014 Business Awards reception will be held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. In addition to Rich, the chamber will honor Alexandria businesses in the following categories: Large Business, Medium Business, Small Business, Association/Nonprofit and overall Business of the Year. Catering for the event will be provided by 2012 Business Leader of the Year honoree Chef Cathal Armstrong.
For tickets or more information, visit www.alexchamber.com.