COG held its Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Luncheon on December 11, bringing together more than 200 area elected officials, and government, business, and nonprofit executives to celebrate a year of regional collaboration and recognize outstanding individuals and organizations for their leadership and partnership. COG Vice President and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall led the meeting.
COG Board Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. recapped the year at COG under his leadership.
Among the many highlights was the board’s adoption of three regional housing targets to address the area’s production and affordability challenges. Other accomplishments included the launch of the first-ever racial equity cohort in the region, partnering to form Connected DMV, a new ‘smart region’ movement, and international recognition as a “Regional and Metro-Scale Climate Leader.” Learn more about COG’s accomplishments and work in 2019.
“Although we have made a lot of progress over the last year, there is still much more work that needs to be done to ensure we reach our goals,” said White. “It will be more important than ever to think regionally and act locally to continue making the positive changes that we want to see in the future.”
During the business section of the meeting, COG again elected all female corporate officers for 2020: President Phyllis Randall, Vice Presidents Muriel Bowser and Nancy Navarro, and Secretary-Treasurer Kate Stewart. COG Board Officers will be voted on at the January COG Board of Directors meeting.
Newly elected 2020 COG Corporate Officers: Vice President Muriel Bowser, President Phyllis Randall, and Secretary-Treasurer Kate Stewart
Vice President Randall recognized long-time COG member and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova for her outstanding service to her county and the region, from guiding the coalition that developed COG’s Region Forward Vision, to helping forge regional consensus on Metro’s funding needs.
“We will build roads, and we will build buildings, but our real legacy is the legacy we leave by the people we impact," said Randall. “Sharon has impacted hundreds of thousands of people since she has been active in our community and in our region.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova
“It has been a privilege and it has been an honor to have witnessed and played a part in the evolution of our wonderful region,” said Bulova.
Local leaders and organizations were recognized by COG for their partnership, collaboration, and service to metropolitan Washington during COG’s regional awards portion of the program.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser received the Elizabeth and David Scull Metropolitan Public Service Award, COG’s highest honor for an elected official. Bowser has been a major proponent of COG priorities, including its regional work this year on housing.
Addressing the region’s housing challenge calls for the region’s officials to be leaders, prioritize housing in their budgets, and demonstrate that an investment in housing is an investment in economic development, among other benefits, said Bowser.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and COG Vice President and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall
COG also recognized Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA) CEO Victor Hoskins and Alexandria Economic Development Partnership CEO Stephanie Landrum with the Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership. Urban Land Institute-Washington and the Washington Regional Alcohol Program received Regional Partnership Awards. Read more about and see photos of the award winners.
MORE: Check out this Facebook album for more photos from the event and the hashtag #2019COG on Twitter for live updates from the event.