Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Rick Van Dyke, Co-Owner of PuroClean, for all you do as a Chamber Ambassador!

­­What inspired you to become a Loudoun Chamber Ambassador Council Member, and what does the role mean to you?

As a more deeply invested member of the business community, I felt empowered to help fellow members navigate the challenges businesses face.  I really enjoy bringing people into the warm business community we have and showing them how to take advantage of all the Chamber has to offer.  Sometimes just being a friendly face at a large, intimidating mixer is enough.   I’m finding these simple acts can really make a difference for people, and I wanted to be able to provide this support.

How does your business or organization contribute to the Loudoun County community?

As a property restoration company, we play an important role in restoring businesses and homes after disasters occur within our community.   We are “The Paramedics of Property Damage.”  As such, we are helping families and businesses overcome the devastating setbacks caused by property damage with quick and compassionate assistance.

What is one memorable connection, moment, or experience you’ve had through the Loudoun Chamber?

I remember wondering how I was going to grow my business back when I opened.  Joining the Chamber opened many doors for networking and helped me make connections that led to landing business.  Being an Ambassador helps me remember that new business owner feeling by helping others going through that stage.  Giving that help is very rewarding.

What advice would you give to someone looking to intentionally grow their professional network in Loudoun County?

Join the Chamber! Once someone joins, they can take advantage of the amazing calendar of events and attend anything that looks interesting.  They need to reach out to their assigned Ambassador.  They need to attend the monthly new member orientation to get an overview of all the benefits.  They need to start going to the monthly Business @ Breakfast meetings.   And more.  But they just need to do it! Make the investment of time, not just money or the benefits will not be there.

What Loudoun Chamber event or program do you never miss, and why does it stand out to you?

Business @ Breakfast.  It’s a structured and relatively easy way to meet people and make connections.

How has serving as an Ambassador Council Member helped you grow as a leader—both professionally and personally?

In the restoration business, we serve others.  We restore property and lives in their time of need.  Being an Ambassador is a natural extension of that service to others.  I can help others navigate aspects of business ownership, and that leadership and service to others can really have an amazing effect on someone’s success.

What is one tip or best practice you would share with new Loudoun Chamber members to help them get the most value from their membership?

Just Do It! Get involved and try anything and everything offered within the Chamber.  Something will stick and work, but you have to go find it and try it.

What leadership skill has been most valuable to you in your role as a Chamber Ambassador, and how do you apply it?

Servant Leadership is a core skill for successful restoration work. We must have the desire and willingness to serve and give to our community by putting the needs of others first.  We practice this every day in the restoration business, so extending that service to Chamber members is a natural fit.

How do you balance advocating for your own business while serving the broader mission of the Chamber and the Loudoun community?

Because servant leadership is my DNA, I don’t often advocate for my business much while serving the Chamber.  People I meet find out about me and my business, and then the business comes.  I don’t need to “sell myself,” so to speak.  And that is one of the nice parallels of my service focus with both my property restoration business and my work at the Chamber.   It’s a great fit.

What is one fun, unexpected, or little-known fact about you that most people at the Chamber may not know?

I was a competitive alpine skier from early grade school through my college career at Boston College, where I earned All-American honors.

While I may be starting to physically feel the many years of demanding sacrifices the sport required, the discipline and work ethic of the sport serve me well.