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The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations
and co-sponsor
request the pleasure of your company at the
Sixty-Second Annual Awards Banquet
honoring
2011 Fairfax County Citizen of the Year
Walter Alcorn
Citation of Merit Honorees
Ellie Ashford
Special Gratitude Award Honoree
Suzanne Harsel
Guest Speaker
Jeremy Mayer
Sunday, the twenty-fifth of March
at the
Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner
1960 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia
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Walter Alcorn has served on the Fairfax County Planning Commission since 1997. He has chaired the Planning Commission's Tysons Corner Committee since 2008 and has served as Vice Chairman of the Commission since January 1997. He was first appointed to the Commission by Board Chairman Kate Hanley in late 1996, and reappointed 3 times on motions of Board Chairmen Gerry Connolly and Sharon Bulova. He also chaired the Planning Commission's Environment Committee from 1997 – 2006. Walter has been a Virginia Certified Planning Commissioner since December 1997, having completed course requirements established by the Virginia Citizens Planning Association, now known as the Citizens Planning Education Association of Virginia (CPEAV).
In his role as chair of the Planning Commission's Tysons Committee, Walter led work to translate the vision and recommendations of the Tysons Corner Task Force into language appropriate for the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. Over more than 2 years the Tysons Committee worked with all interested stakeholders to develop a consensus recommendation that was ultimately adopted by the Board of Supervisors in June 2010. On March 29, 2011, the Board of Supervisors asked the Planning Commission to develop an inclusive process to address infrastructure financing and several other Tysons-related implementation issues. Since May, 2011, the Planning Commission's Tysons Committee has worked with all interested stakeholders in a transparent process to develop recommendations on these items and expects to deliver recommendations to the Board later this spring. Walter is also active in his more immediate community, including coaching in Reston Little League, manager of the Reston Warriors 12U baseball team and service on the steering committee of his Sunday School class at the United Christian Parish in Reston. Walter received his B.A. in History and Russian Studies from the University of Virginia in 1988. He is currently employed as Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Industry Sustainability at the Consumer Electronics Association in Crystal City where he commutes daily via the Fairfax Connector and Metro. Previously he worked as an environmental consultant specializing in the development of a national system for recycling electronic equipment, co-founded the 501(c)3 National Center for Electronics Recycling in 2005, and was a Deputy Division Manager in the Technology Research Group for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Prior to his private sector employment Walter was a Policy Aide in the Providence District Supervisor's office from 1998 - 1992. He resides in Reston with his wife Kristina and two children – Ryan (12) and Delia (9).
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An award-winning editor and writer, Ellie Ashford is the force behind one of the most recognized, local citizen journalism initiatives - the Annandale Blog (www.annandaleblog.com) Ashford, a long-time resident of Annandale, tackles tough subjects with clarity and accuracy. Her blog was recently recognized by the Washington Post as a "must read."
Currently an editor for the American Association of Community Colleges, Ashford has received top honors for work from the Society for National Association Publications, the Association of Educational Publications, the American Society of Association Executives, and the International Association of Business Communicators. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and has completed graduate work in international communications at American University.
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Corazon Sandoval Foley started in 2007 the public-private partnership to provide seniors in her neighborhood with affordable programs for physical fitness, social activities, and intellectual stimulation – The Burke/West Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (BWSSCWoW). With strong support from Fairfax County officials, led by Evan Braff of the Neighborhood Community Services, and private organizations that donated facilities and other resources, BWSSCWoW has succeeded in providing programs for over 450 seniors in Fairfax County. BWSSCWoW is now serving as a model to support ever-growing numbers of seniors who want to age in place in Fairfax County and it has received several awards at the national, county, local levels. Corazon Sandoval Foley is Filipino American, a Fairfax County resident since 1980 who retired in 2007 after a 30-year career with the US State Department, recognized with the 2009 Lady Fairfax Award for founding the Fairfax County Asian American History Project. She and her husband Michael Daniel Foley have two children – Joshua Daniel and Melinda Corazon – who graduated from the outstanding Fairfax County public school system.
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Terry Maynard is a retired intelligence officer who has been an active volunteer in Reston community and county development issues since 2006. Drawing on his professional experience, Mr. Maynard has focused his attention on analyzing proposals that would affect the development and quality of life in Reston and the Dulles Corridor area of Fairfax County. In December 2009, the Reston Citizens Association (RCA) Board of Directors selected him to fill a Board vacancy and he was elected as a South Lakes District representative in a community-wide election in 2010. He has been active in RCA’s Reston 2020 Committee—the RCA committee that looks at Reston development issues—and, for a time, was its Co-Chair. Since late 2011, Mr. Maynard has been RCA’s representative to the ongoing Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force.
In all these venues, Mr. Maynard has been an outspoken advocate for reasoned, data-driven growth policies and programs for Reston and the Dulles Corridor. His research and commentaries, published by RCA and its Reston 2020 Committee and reported in local newspapers, have drawn the attention of county officials as they proceed with re-thinking Reston’s development and move toward completion of the Silver Line to Dulles airport and beyond. Most recently, a comprehensive research paper he authored challenged toll revenue forecasts for the Dulles Toll Road, noting that their massive overestimates generated large risks for investors, toll road users, and others, including risking the prosperity of the Dulles Corridor itself. Last year, he led the preparation of a study that examined the likely impacts of higher Silver Line construction costs. Both studies focused on completing the Silver Line in a sound financial manner rather than relying on tolls to service some three billion dollars in construction debt. He has also been a forceful advocate for more balanced residential/non-residential development in Reston’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) areas along the Silver Line consistent with Fairfax County’s TOD policy, documented “smart growth” principles, and successful TOD experience elsewhere. He was the principal author of the Reston 2020 paper, “Reston TOD Planning: More Balance, Less Density Needed” and its “Planning World-Class Transit-Oriented Development in Reston Town Center: The Community’s Alternative Vision.” He created the committee’s blog, Reston 2020: Citizens Shaping Reston’s Future, as a means of keeping the community and others informed about Reston development issues, and continues to serve as its moderator. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Maynard was a career CIA intelligence officer for three decades, including executive leadership positions. He received the Agency’s Intelligence Medal of Merit and its Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, among other awards. Following his retirement weeks before 9/11, he became a consultant to senior executives at the National Reconnaissance Office and, returning to government service, the first designated head of the Transportation Security Agency’s intelligence program. Upon retiring a second time, he created his own national/homeland security intelligence consultancy, supporting the work of Washington policy think tanks and contractors to the Department of Homeland Security, before turning his focus to vital community development issues. Terry and his wife, Sue, a retired teacher, have lived in Reston for more than three decades. Their two sons live in Oak Hill, VA, and Decatur, GA.
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Special Gratitude Awards Honoree
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Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell sent certificates to Citizen of the Year Walter Alcorn, Citation of Merit recipients Ellie Ashford, Cora Foley, and Terry Maynard, and Special Gratitude Award recipient Suzanne Harsel in recognition of the honors they had received at the banquet.
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) again generously supports the Citizen of the Year event. “Encouraging the volunteer engagement of Fairfax County citizens, including the thousands of our employees and their families here, is a major objective of our community relations,” said Douglas Koelemay, SAIC vice president.
The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations, established in 1940, is the countywide voice for homeowner, civic, and community associations. An all-volunteer organization, The Federation works on issues that impact Fairfax County residents, including education, transportation, the environment, human services, land use, the county budget, and state and federal legislative issues.
PRESS CONTACT: Jeff Parnes, COY Chair, FedCOY2015%20@%20fairfaxfederation.org, phone 703-424-2956.
2012 Honorees
2011 Honorees
2010 Honorees
2009 Honorees
2008 Honorees
2007 Honorees
2006 Honorees
2005 Honorees
2004 Honorees
2003 Honorees
2002 Honorees
2001 Honorees
2000 Honorees
Complete List of All Previous Recipients
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