The Virginia Chamber of Commerce today named the recipients of the Free Enterprise Award for their support of pro-business policies during the 2018 legislative session. The Free Enterprise Award recognizes legislators for their support for the principles and initiatives outlined in the Chamber’s long-term economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2025.

“We are pleased to recognize these legislators for their work to make Virginia the best state for business,” said Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “The recommendations in Blueprint Virginia 2025 outline the business community’s plan to put us on track for long-term economic growth. The support of public policy leaders is key to ensuring Virginia continues to grow and prosper, and we are thankful for the leadership of these legislators.”

The Chamber also recognized Senator Siobhan Dunnavant as 2018 Senate Legislator of the Year and Delegate Todd Gilbert as 2018 House Legislator of the Year. The Virginia Chamber’s Legislator of the Year Award is the business community’s premier legislative award honoring the lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding leadership on pro-business issues.

Delegate Emily Brewer was recognized as the Freshman Legislator of the Year.

The following legislators were recognized with the 2018 Free Enterprise Award for their work to advance the policies of Blueprint Virginia 2025 in the following areas:

2018 Free Enterprise Award Recipients:

Business Climate:

• Delegate Lashrecse Aird
• Delegate David Bulova
• Delegate Jeff Campbell
• Senator Charles Carrico
• Senator Ben Chafin
• Delegate Ben Cline
• Delegate Chris Collins
• Delegate Glenn Davis
• Delegate Keith Hodges
• Delegate Danny Marshall
• Delegate James “Will” Morefield
• Delegate Chris Peace
• Senator Mark Peake
• Senator Bryce Reeves
• Senator Bill Stanley
• Senator Jill Vogel

Workforce and Education:

• Delegate Hala Ayala
• Delegate David Bulova
• Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy
• Delegate Glenn Davis
• Senator Siobhan Dunnavant
• Delegate Nick Freitas
• Delegate Matthew James
• Delegate Chris Jones
• Delegate Mark Keam
• Delegate Steve Landes
• Senator Jennifer McClellan
• Senator Ryan McDougle
• Senator Mark Peake
• Delegate Brenda Pogge
• Senator Bryce Reeves
• Senator Glen Sturtevant
• Senator David Suetterlein
• Delegate Jeion Ward

Energy:

• Delegate Lamont Bagby
• Delegate Terry Kilgore
• Delegate Charles Poindexter
• Senator Dick Saslaw
• Senator Frank Wagner

Health Care:

• Speaker Kirk Cox
• Senator Siobhan Dunnavant
• Delegate Roxann Robinson
• Senator Frank Wagner

Military and Veterans Affairs:

• Delegate Dickie Bell
• Senator David Suetterlein

Advanced Manufacturing:

• Delegate David Yancey

Transportation:

• Speaker Kirk Cox
• Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn
• Delegate Tim Hugo
• Delegate Chris Jones
• Senator Chap Petersen
• Senator Dick Saslaw
• Delegate Chris Stolle
• Delegate Bob Thomas
• Senator Frank Wagner

About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 26,000 members. The Chamber is a non-partisan, business advocacy organization that works in the legislative, regulatory, civic and judicial arenas to act as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. In December 2017, the Chamber released an update to its long-term strategic economic development plan, Blueprint Virginia 2025, which engaged over 6,000 business and community leaders to lay out a plan to getting Virginia back to the top of national business climate rankings. Learn more at www.vachamber.com.    

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