By James Wright Jr.
Washington Informer
Slightly more than 1,000 members of the DMV area’s political, business, and philanthropic communities congregated at the National Building Museum in Northwest on Nov. 6 to celebrate local entrepreneurship and free enterprise at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards and Gala.
Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, at the organization’s 2025 Chamber Choice Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest, D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
With the District enduring: the federal government shutdown; a sluggish economy due to high consumer prices and slow economic growth nationally; and a downtown area struggling to retain businesses and public agencies in its office space, the chamber decided to offer hope at this year’s event, under the theme: “Amplify Our Views, Ignite Our Growth.”
“This is what resilience and unity looks like,” said Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the chamber, looking at the large gathering of local business and political leaders.
In an event co-emceed by Michelle Miller with CBS News and Lorenzo Hall of WUSA 9, many elected officials came to the Thursday night event, including: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Councilmembers Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, and Robert White (D-At Large) and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy.
Attendees gather at the pre-reception for the DC Chamber of Commerce 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
Despite challenges, Hubbard, Bowser and other speakers highlighted local achievements, honored people working to uplift D.C.’s business community and economy, and looked toward the future, revealing major plans to support District businesses and residents overall.
“We at the chamber are working to streamline the licensing process and work on new pathways to start businesses,” Hubbard continued. “Developing a tech sector is at work and we played a role in the building of a new Washington Commanders stadium.”
Earl “Chico” Horton III, chairman of the chamber’s board, emphasized the organization’s overall growth, such as adding 155 new members “so far this year,” and plans for the future, such as implementing the Future Moguls Program – a new initiative that trains young business leaders – in January.
“We are celebrating the spirit of Washington, D.C.,” Horton said. “It’s spirit and hustle. We have some of the most hustling opportunities around. It’s all about business. Get your hustle on.”
Chamber Celebrates Game Changers, Bowser and Other Leaders Offer Calls to Action
As part of their work to empower District businesses, the DC Chamber of Commerce is supporting Mayor Bowser’s growth agenda, such as the revitalization of the downtown sector.
Brian Kenner (right), global head of community engagement for Amazon, poses before accepting his award at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
“[Bowser] has been about business,” said Horton. “We have had the level of business activity in this city like we have now for quite some time.”
During the celebration, the mayor received the chamber’s Game Changer Award, given to people who make a difference in the District’s business landscape.
“It is wonderful to be here to represent the best city in the world,” said Bowser, who shared the honor with D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Josh Harris, managing partner of the Washington Commanders.
The mayor declared her commitment to cutting red tape so that businesses can thrive and spoke about the Talent Capital, an initiative her administration launched to recognize the gifts and talents of Washingtonians for entrepreneurial and employment pursuits.
“We are a resume economy,” she said.
As District mayor, Bowser encouraged the crowd to continue to pour its resources into the city.
Earl Chico Horton, chairman of the board fort DC Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the 2025 Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
“Invest in D.C.,” she said, “D.C. is where you want to be. Thank you for choosing Washington.”
While Harris, a DMV native, didn’t attend the event, Mark Clouse, president of the Commanders, accepted the award on his behalf, emphasizing the team owner’s commitment to the District.
“We had a vision of bringing the Commanders back to their ancestral home in D.C.,” Clouse said. “This is a city where people set aside their differences and put on the burgundy and gold and cheer on their team.”
The Economic Impact Award went to JPMorganChase and Corenic Construction was a awarded Business of the Year.
Brian Kenner, global head of community engagement for Amazon, got the Business Leader of the Year Award, while Ward 8’s Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health, was tapped for the Community Impact of the Year citation.
D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie (left) and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes pose for a photo at the 2025 DC Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
CAVA, the national restaurant chain that first opened in the DMV area in 2006, received the Chairman Choice Award and The Calpro Group was the recipient of this year’s Chamber Choice Award.
Brett Schulam, co-founder of CAVA, said the support from the District has been key to its nationwide success.
“We started out small here in the city, just two guys and now we employ tens of thousands of people nationally,” Schulman said. “It is all because of the support that we got when we started out here in D.C. in the 2000s. It is because of you, we are who we are today.”
