Stutzman chamber’s top citizen for 2012

Recipients of the Top Of Virginia Regional Chamber greater good awards are Jim Stutzman (left), outstanding citizen; Cheryl Thompson-Stacy, president of Lord Fairfax Community College, who accepted the outstanding large business of the year award; Frank A. Phillips, president and CEO of Golden Seal Enterprises, the small business of the year; and Eileen Isola and Rebecca Lipscomp, owners of PVL Design Associates, outstanding entrepreneurs of the year. (Photo by Ginger Perry/The Winchester Star)

Jim Stutzman was named the 2012 Outstanding Citizen of the year at the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber’s membership meeting and regional greater good awards ceremony Friday night at the Best Western Lee-Jackson Inn and Conference Center. (Photo by Ginger Perry/The Winchester Star)

WINCHESTER — Jim Stutzman was all smiles when his name was called in front of hundreds of local chamber members at the Best Western Lee-Jackson Inn and Conference Center.

Stutzman, a 53-year-old Frederick County resident, has — along with his family — owned the Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac Co. on Valley Avenue since 1980.

Through the years, he has volunteered with numerous community organizations and led initiatives to help improve the area, and the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber recognized him Friday night for his efforts by naming him the 2012 Outstanding Citizen for the area.

The chamber also recognized outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs in Winchester and Frederick and Clarke counties.

Lord Fairfax Community College was recognized as the 2012 Outstanding Large Business; Golden Seal Enterprises — a Winchester-based security consulting firm — was named 2012 Outstanding Small Business; and Rebecca Lipscomb and Eileen Isola with Ponte Vecchio Living — a Winchester-based interior design firm — were recognized as the 2012 Outstanding Entrepreneurs.

“When someone’s recognized like this for things that they’ve done, been involved with or their accomplishments and successes in the community... you’re just kind of the face that’s getting the award,” Stutzman said after receiving his Outstanding Citizen trophy. “But everything that I’ve ever done...it’s the people that are around you that really make the success happen.”

Stutzman said that the chamber was instrumental in helping him and his family grow their business and meeting other members of the business community.

He added that the chamber, and community in general, has always impressed him with the ability to come together for a common good.

“I feel so blessed that everything I’ve ever been a part of in this community or had the good fortune of participating in is always a great endeavor that the community got behind and had good support from the business network and our own personal networks,” Stutzman said. “People coming together for a common good, that’s what I love about being in Winchester.”

During his closing remarks, chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Randy Collins boasted that the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber is closing in on 1,000 members — making it one of the largest such groups in the state — and that the local organization is planning several initiatives and changes for 2013 to help boost its membership and the business its members receive.

— Contact Matt Armstrong atmarmstrong@winchesterstar.com