At its Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Luncheon today, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) presented its highest honors to three area officials and one organization for their service and contributions to the region.
Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, City of Alexandria Housing Director Helen McIlvaine, and the Maryland National Capital Region Economic Development Alliance were each recognized with COG’s annual leadership awards. In addition, COG honored Fairfax County Supervisor Penelope Gross with a special Lifetime Achievement Award.
From left to right, COG Board Chair Kate Stewart, Fairfax County Supervisor Penelope Gross, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey C. McKay, and COG Executive Director Clark Mercer.
Fairfax County Supervisor Penelope Gross received a special COG Lifetime Achievement Award for her nearly three decades of leadership on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the COG Board of Directors.
Gross, who joined the COG Board of Directors in 1996 and is the longest-serving member in COG’s history, has been a central figure on a variety of regional issues, such as the health of the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways, public safety, Metro, and more. Gross led several regional committees and groups at COG and served as COG Board Chair in 2009. She helped spearhead the creation of COG’s Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee, serving as that group’s first chair. She was closely involved in regional drought coordination and planning and helped organize a major regional gang summit. Gross is retiring from public service at the end of the year.
From left to right, Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, District of Columbia Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr., and COG Executive Director Clark Mercer.
Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey received the Elizabeth and David Scull Metropolitan Public Service Award.
Dorsey was recognized for his leadership in the county on transportation, the environment, housing, equity, and economic development initiatives. At COG, he played a critical role in advancing many of the Board of Directors’ priorities over the past several years, including COG’s Regional Housing Targets for 2030, racial equity initiatives, and focus on Metro funding. During his tenure as COG Board Chair last year, he also helped set in motion the electric vehicle infrastructure planning work currently underway and COG’s Region United Planning Framework for 2030.
The Scull Award is presented to a local, state, or federal elected official serving a COG member jurisdiction. It is presented in the memory of Elizabeth and David Scull, two former Montgomery County Councilmembers who were strong supporters of COG and regional cooperation.
From left to right, City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, Alexandria Housing Director Helen McIlvaine, and COG Executive Director Clark Mercer.
City of Alexandria Housing Director Helen McIlvaine received the Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership.
McIlvaine was recognized for helping Alexandria innovate and find creative solutions to its housing challenges, including changes to multifamily residential zones and the recent Zoning for Housing/Housing for All effort. She has been a longtime and active participant in COG’s regional Housing Directors Advisory Committee (HDAC), serving as Co-Chair from 2017-2019 when she helped guide the development of COG’s Regional Housing Targets for 2030. She also supported the city’s active participation in the first regional fair housing plan in a generation.
The Kirby Award honors area government executives who work collaboratively with elected officials, stakeholders, and their communities to shape a better region. The award is presented in the memory of Ron Kirby, COG’s Transportation Planning Director from 1987 to 2013.
From left to right, COG Executive Director Clark Mercer, Charles County Commission President Reuben Collins, and the Maryland National Capital Region Economic Development Alliance team.
The Maryland National Capital Region Economic Development Alliance received the Stuart A. Freudberg Award for Regional Partnership.
The alliance represents Economic Development offices from six Maryland jurisdictions — Anne Arundel County, Charles County, Frederick County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County. It was recognized for its work on pandemic relief for local businesses and nonprofits, original research, support of growth initiatives, and advancing regional collaboration on economic development. The President and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, David Iannucci, accepted the award on behalf of the alliance members.
The Freudberg Award recognizes organizations or individuals that provided leadership in support of regional policies or programs endorsed by COG. This is the third year the award has been presented, created in memory of Stuart A. Freudberg, who in his 40-year career at COG, served in several leadership positions in the organization, including Deputy Executive Director from 2014 to 2020.
COG also elected its corporate officers for 2024.
District of Columbia Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. was elected Corporate President, Prince George’s County Council Member Wala Blegay and City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read were elected as Corporate Vice-Presidents, and City of Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor was elected as Secretary-Treasurer.
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View more photos from the Annual Meeting
View year-end message from COG Board Chair Kate Stewart and new About COG video