Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:
- Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements
- Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
- Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others
The 2023 Environmental Excellence Awardees have been announced and an award ceremony will be held later this fall. View below for descriptions of this year's awardees.
The Environmental Excellence Awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with support from the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination. If you have questions about the awards or the nomination process, please contact the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination at 703-324-7136, TTY 711.
The 2023 Environmental Excellence Awardees include a high school senior combatting climate change through environmental stewardship, a small business working to reduce plastic waste, a condo association safeguarding green spaces for its residents, and three county employees advancing sustainability practices.
The 2023 Environmental Excellence Awardees are:
Individual County Resident Category
Mei Torrey, a rising senior at Langley High School and environmental advocate. Miss Torrey promotes and actively seeks opportunities to increase awareness of, and take action on, local sustainability issues. She is the club-elected President of Saxons Go Green, a school-affiliated environmental club at Langley High School. She has also organized fundraisers and collaborated with Clean Fairfax to design reusable bags and distribute them to local grocery stores, retailers, and low-income areas throughout the county to reduce plastic waste.
County Employee Category
Hugh Whitehead, an Urban Forester with the Urban Forest Management Division. In 2016, Mr. Whitehead initiated a tree planting program in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools. Since 2016, a total of 494 trees have been planted at twenty-one different K through 12 schools including seven Title 1 schools. This program not only supports the Board’s Sustainability Initiatives, reforestation goals, and recommendations from the Joint Environmental Task Force, but furthers educational opportunities throughout the county.
Joe Gorney, a Planner with the Department of Planning and Development, Environment and Development Review Branch. Mr. Gorney works collaboratively with other county agencies on a diverse range of environmental review topics, working to create a sustainable future for residents and employees. He was the staff lead for the Environmental Plan guidance update for the Reston planning study, designating Reston as “biophilic” community.
Craig Carinci, Director of Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Stormwater Planning Division. Mr. Carinci provides excellence in leadership through monitoring and improving stream health. During his tenure as Director, Fairfax County has restored over 100,000 linear feet of streams, facilitated by his open-minded leadership and business acumen that fearlessly encourages his team to push forward on initiatives and collaborate with partners to achieve cost savings.
Organization and Business Category
The Zero Waste Store, Vienna. While the Zero Waste Store provides products to reduce plastic waste, the store’s owner, Mala Persaud, goes above and beyond to educate residents through the Zero Waste Store’s website and community events. There is always a good turnout whenever Ms. Persaud co-hosts a “Recycling: Ask Me Anything” event with the Fairfax County Solid Waste division.
Montebello Condominium Unit Owners Association Grounds Committee. This committee features 14-members who research and recommend actions to preserve, maintain and enhance the grounds of this community. Members put in many hours each year to develop and advocate for projects, identify and address threats to the grounds, introduce new approaches, undertake citizen science projects, host resident engagement programs, communicate through newsletters and materials, and much more. Their impact benefits the residents, the neighborhood and the county.
The Environmental Excellence Awards are granted in up to four categories: Individual/County Resident, Organization, Business, and County Employee.
Indvidual Award: Elisabeth Lardner
County Employee Award: Dr. Katherine Edwards
County Employee Award: Brandy Mueller
Individual Award: Debra Ann Jacobson (posthumous)
Indvidual Award: Jennifer Pradas
Individual Award: Senator Scott Surovell
Organization Award: Reston Community Center
County Employee Award: Suzanne Foster
County Employee Award: Sarah King
Individual Award: Sara Holtz
Individual Award: Delegate Mark Keam
Individual Award: Meghan Walker
Business Award: Freddie Mac
County Employee Award: Vickie Anglin
Individual Award: Catherine Ledec
Individual Award: Helen Stevens
Organization Award: Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Organization Award: Reston Annual State of the Environment (RASER) Working Group
County Employee Award: James Hart
County Employee Award: Noel Kaplan
Individual Award: Jennifer Cole
Individual Award: Betsy Martin and Paul Siegel
Organization Award: Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts
County Employee Award: Sally Carter
County Employee Award: Judy Fincham and Danielle Wynne
Individual Award: Glenda Booth
Individual Award: Jim McGlone
Organization Award: Mason Neck Lions Club
Organization Award: McLean Citizens Association's Environment, Parks, and Recreation Committee and Churchill Road Elementary School
Business Award: The MITRE Corporation
County Employee Award: Robert Aaront
County Employee Award: Kambiz Agazi
Individual Award: John Houser
Individual Award: Randy Sayles
Organization Award: ReBuild Warehouse
Organization Award: Town of Vienna Community Enhancement Commission
Business Award: Booz Allen Hamilton
Business Award: Freddie Mac
County Employee Award: Katherine Edwards
County Resident Award: Duane DeBruyne
County Resident Award: Stephen Robinson
Organization Award: Friends of Accotink Creek
Organization Award: McLean Trees Foundation
County Resident Award: John DeNoyer and Ann Csonka (posthumous)
Organization Award: Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center, George Mason University
Business Award: Davis, Carter, Scott Ltd
Business Award: Guernsey Office Products
County Employee Award: Joyce Doughty
County Resident Award: Alan Ford
Organization Award: Herndon Environmental Network
Business Award: Burgundy Farm Country Day School
Business Award: Potomac Vegetable Farms
County Employee Award: Sean Duffy
County Employee Award: Randall G. Miller
County Resident Award: Elaine Tholen
County Resident Award: Betsy Washington
Organization Award: ServiceSource
Business Award: Walker's Grill
County Employee Award: Ron Tuttle
Organization Award: Fairfax County Restoration Project
Organization Award: Fairfax County Department of Vehicle Services
County Resident Award: Maureen Goble
Business Award: Project Performance Corporation
County Employee Award: Meghan Fellows
Organization Award: Earth Sangha
Business Award: Allen Wayne, Ltd.
County Employee Award: Carl Sivertsen
County Resident Award: Chet McLaren
Organization Award: Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter Project Management Team
Business Award: "Jack-the-Ripper" Certified Arborists, Inc.
County Resident Award: Scott Birdwell
County Resident Award: Eleanor Quigley and Penelope Firth
Organization Award: Great Falls Citizens Association
Organization Award: Invasive Management Area Volunteers
County Employee Award: Judy Fincham
County Resident Award: Ken Andrews
Organization Award: Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District
Business Award: Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
County Employee Award: Janet Rahman
County Resident Award: Ned Foster
Organization Award: Reston Association
County Resident Award: Joseph M. Chudzik
Organization Award: Students Against Global Abuse (SAGA)
County Employee Award: Noel H. Kaplan
County Resident Award: Charlie Creighton
Organization Award: Hickory Farms Community Association
County Resident Award: Chris Koerner
Organization Award: Bailey's Beautification Alliance
County Resident Award: Norma Hoffman
Organization Award: Friends of Sugarland Run
County Employee Award: Gary Roisum