Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Tim Davis of John Marshall Bank for your service on the Ambassador Council!

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

I wanted to become an Ambassador to help give back to the Chamber and help new members find their way.

Joining the Loudoun Chamber can be an overwhelming experience, so I take satisfaction in using my knowledge of the Chamber to point new members in the right direction.

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

At John Marshall Bank, we contribute to the community in several ways. First, our core business is to provide banking services to local businesses, non-profits, and associations.

The funding we provide to our clients helps these businesses grow within the community and create jobs in the local economy. The bank also supports non-profits throughout the year financially and with our time & talents.

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

I’ve come away with a lot of serendipitous connections. I got involved in the Chamber for my professional life, but along the way, I’ve met a lot of great people who have helped me personally with things like buying a house, insuring that home, a handyman service, etc.

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

Show up! I tell new members at the beginning to try to do a little bit of a lot through the Chamber. Then, after 3-6 months, take a step back to see where you want to get engaged and make deeper connections.

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

I try not to miss the Policy Maker Series events. At these events, broader policy discussions occur around topics that will continue to affect Loudoun County for years to come.

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

It helps me grow as a leader because it allows me to have conversations where it’s my job to ask good questions and listen. That allows me to understand the needs of a new Chamber member and then make recommendations to help them get the most out of their Chamber membership.

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?

Always leave an event with the business card of at least one new person you intend to follow up with.

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

I believe the leadership skill of being an active listener is the most valuable. This is applied in conversations you have with new members to help them get connected within the larger Loudoun Chamber community.

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

I really try to keep the conversation focused on the new member and recommendations/connections that I can make for them. If the conversation naturally turns to how I can help them professionally, then we can have that conversation, but I never lead it that way.

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

My wife and I did our honeymoon in South Africa. We spent 2 weeks there exploring around Cape Town and the surrounding regions, and then ended our trip with a couple of days’ safari.