WHEREAS, Debbie Jones, esteemed president and chief executive officer of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, will retire on December 31, 2022, after 32 years in service to the residents and businesses of the greater Prince William County area; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, Debbie Jones began her career as a communications coordinator with what was then the Prince William County-Greater Manassas (PWC-GM) Chamber of Commerce, earning a promotion to the position of president and chief executive officer three years later; and

WHEREAS, during Debbie Jones' tenure with the PWC-GM Chamber of Commerce, the organization grew to over 1,000 members while advancing various initiatives to support the development of western Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Jones continued to cultivate her abilities as a business development advocate, becoming a 2007 graduate of Lead Virginia and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Prince William, a regional leadership program spearheaded by what were then the PWC-GM Chamber of Commerce and the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Jones was subsequently named chief operating officer of the newly formed Prince William Chamber of Commerce, which was created in 2010 following the merger of the PWC-GM Chamber of Commerce and the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Jones was then named president and chief executive officer of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce in 2014, leading thousands of member businesses and employees through a period of robust growth and development despite historic challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Jones' commitment to her community has led to her service on numerous boards, including the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Prince William County Police Department Citizen Advisory Board, and the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of her tireless efforts, Debbie Jones has received myriad honors and accolades over her career, including being named one of Prince William Living magazine's Most Influential Women in 2021 and receiving the College of Visual and Performing Arts' Thomas W. Iszard IV Distinguished Alumni Award from the George Mason University Alumni Association in 2019; and

WHEREAS, by cultivating partnerships and community support that have helped businesses in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park to thrive, Debbie Jones has made an indelible impact on the region she has served while leaving the Prince William Chamber of Commerce poised to continue its important work for many years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Debbie Jones hereby be commended on the occasion of her retirement as president and chief executive officer of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Debbie Jones as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her contributions to the Commonwealth and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement.