Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Blair Ellis, Store Manager at Zwiesel Fortessa, for your service as a member of the Ambassador Council!

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

I love connecting with people and have made so many wonderful connections through the Chamber, both personally and professionally. It seemed like a natural step to help connect people throughout the Loudoun community. I love being a mentor within my organization, and being a Chamber Ambassador lets me continue that mentorship to new Chamber members.

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

We’re proud to support the Loudoun County community by working with local restaurants and creating connections within the local hospitality industry. In addition to being an Ambassador and member of the Young Professional committee, we have several team members who volunteer their time with a variety of community organizations. We also love contributing to nonprofit fundraising efforts through donations that help support their missions.

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

A memorable moment I’ve had through the Loudoun Chamber was being named a Finalist during the Community Leadership Awards in the Young Professionals category in 2024.

I was honored to be one of the finalists and grateful for the opportunities it brought me to connect with folks in the community and Chamber Board members.

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

Get involved in a way that fits your schedule and time the best. Attend a Chamber event, join a committee or a Leadshare group, volunteer at your kid’s school or a local nonprofit. You’ll form relationships that will have a lasting impact on your business.

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

The monthly Business at Breakfast events are my favorite, and I’ve been attending them for years, even before I was an Ambassador. You have an opportunity to meet so many different people across the community – business owners to nonprofit executives to public officials.

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

Each year I learn a little more about myself by being an Ambassador, how I want to spend my time, where I want to focus that time etc. It helps me to form relationships within the Chamber with folks that I aspire to be and their methods for being a successful leader and business professional.

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?

It can be overwhelming at the beginning. I always encourage folks to set a small goal of making one new connection at each event they attend. Then look for that familiar face at your next event and build on that relationship. The more events you attend, the more connections you create!

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

I’ve found that time management is one of the most important qualities of an Ambassador. It allows you to effectively manage your business, attend events or committee meetings and have 1-to-1s with other members at the right time. Not to mention everything you coordinate on a daily basis in your personal life.

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

I believe that being a successful Ambassador about forming relationships with members. As that relationship is created, I’ll learn more about them and their business and they will learn more about me and my business along the way. The goal is to turn a professional relationship into a personal relationship.

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

I can communicate in three languages- English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Spanish was my minor in college and ASL was a hobby growing up.