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 call for nominations for the 2022 Environmental Excellence Awards is now closed. The nomination period for the 2023 Environmental Excellence Awards will likely open in late spring of 2023.
The 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.
2022 Award Winners
The 2022 Environmental Excellence Awards were announced on December 6th, 2022, and included three county employees and two individual county residents.
The 2022 Environmental Excellence Awardees are:
Dr. Katherine Edwards
Dr. Edwards serves as a Wildlife Management Specialist for the Fairfax County Police Department. By proactively monitoring the white-tailed deer population in the county for the very serious threat, chronic wasting disease, Dr. Edwards is protecting both the future of the deer population and human health and safety.
Brandy Mueller
Ms. Mueller serves as the Compliance Coordinator for Fairfax County’s Land Development Services. In this role, Brandy has created new processes to prevent and remediate environmental harm from land development and vegetation removal, especially in resource protection areas within the county.
Charles Smith
Mr. Smith serves as a Project Coordinator with Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Charles has been a leading advocate for enhancing the ecological restoration of stream corridors and associated floodplains, and for promoting the use of natural landscaping using native plants and seed mixtures.
Will Friedman
Mr. Friedman is a rising senior at West Potomac High School, who is being recognized for his exceptional achievements and leadership efforts to better the environment. Will began participating in organized clean ups in and around Little Hunting Creek beginning in middle school. Later, his activities included working with county and school staff and community volunteers to coordinate the planting of trees at over 20 school properties. Will has been particularly active in the areas of stream monitoring, the removal of invasive plants, tree planting, and trash and recycling initiatives, even volunteering to pick up and take glass to the purple bin for incapacitated neighbors.
Elisabeth Lardner
Ms. Lardner volunteers for Chair of the Civic Association of the Hollin Hills Parks Committee since 2016. In this capacity, Elisabeth has performed two vital roles: she is a dedicated steward of over 30-plus acres of shared community parkland and is also a community liaison for two major stream restoration/storm water management projects currently underway in Hollin Hills. Woven throughout Elisabeth’s tenure as Parks Chair is her commitment to educating those in Hollin Hills about their parks and the environment.
Past Award Winners
The Environmental Excellence Awards are granted in up to four categories: Individual/County Resident, Organization, Business, and County Employee.
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
