New Chamber Leadership Ready to Serve

With new leadership at the Chamber, 2013 is shaping up to be another good year for this organization.   These outstanding new officers are a good cross-section of the different industries in the organization and the area served by the chamber.

Our new leadership team is Chairman Barbara Doyle, President and CEO of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital; President Ashley McNeff Behrens, Managing Partner of United States Homeland Investigations Inc.; Vice President Sean O’Connell, Partner, PBMares LLP Certified Public Accountants; Secretary Katy Fike, McEnearney Associates; and Treasurer Sam Misleh, Walker’s Grille.

Barbara Doyle hails from Boston where she was recruited to come to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital.  She has a proven leadership record with more than 25 years in the health care field.  Before coming to IMVH she was vice president of patient care and ambulatory services at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Mass.  Prior to serving as vice president there, Barbara was chief nursing officer of the 200 bed hospital.

Barbara has turned Inova Mount Vernon Hospital from a failing institution that Inova wanted to close into a successful venture.  She has overseen renovations at the hospital and increased services to the community.  She is a Senior Vice President at Inova Health Systems and still finds time to serve the community.  Barbara has made a difference throughout her career and is making a difference at the chamber of commerce.

Ashley McNeff is the Managing Partner at United States Homeland Investigations, Inc.™ (USHII).  USHII is a certified women-owned background screening corporation headquartered in Alexandria, VA with additional offices in Rochester, MI, Raleigh, NC, Nashua, NH, and Greeley, CO.  USHII conducts background checks, drug testing, volunteer screenings and additional risk management services for government, corporate, community, non-profit and private-industry clients worldwide.

Taking USHII from a new start-up ten years ago to an INC 500 Fastest Growing Company is no small feat.  Ashley is a great leader and knows the community having grown-up in Mount Vernon, graduated from local schools, and started a business here.   Ashley believes in the chamber mission and in local businesses.

Sean O’Connell is the tallest member of the Board of Directors at 6’6”.  His stature is only indicative of the great respect other Board members have for him personally.  Sean is a partner at PBMares LLP Certified Public Accountants where he has significant experience in serving professional service firms and other closely held businesses.  Sean helps clients to plan for and monitoring financial success, controlling income taxes, business succession, wealth building, retirement planning, and estate disposition.  He has already had a big impact on processes and procedures at the chamber.

Katy Fike works with the McEnearney Associates and McEnearney Commercial offices in Old Town.  She is a former chairman of the chamber of commerce and agreed to serve on the Board again as Secretary.  This is vintage Katy Fike – ready to serve wherever needed.  She is involved in the community and many good causes and currently serves on the Fairfax County Small Business Commission.

This is Sam Misleh’s second term as Treasurer.  He did such a great job that the Board wanted to keep him on for another term.  Sam owns Walker’s Grille, located at Beulah Road and Walkers Lane in the Kingstowne area.  He has a great story of business success and innovation but eating at his restaurant is the best way to see how much he cares about the details of what he does.  For a great culinary experience visit Walker’s Grille.

For a great year at the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, look to this leadership team. They are here to serve local businesses and help our community prosper.