The Winners and Honorable Mentions for the 2009 GRF EXCEL Awards were announced on October 15, 2009. The awards were presented at a ceremony on October 29, 2009. Congratulations to the winners and nominees!

Winners

Manny Hidalgo, Executive Director, Latino Economic Development Corporation, Washington, DC

Manny has transformed Latino Economic Development Corporation into a strong player in the Latino and other cultural communities.  The organization’s budget has grown by 30% every year in the 4 years of Manny’s leadership.  As many good leaders do, Manny has a dream bigger than his staff can see.  He has ideas, incubates them, gets the board on board and develops an action plan for staff.  Manny is passionate about picking the right staff…and gives them the room to learn, shine and laugh.  Manny knows what’s important in life, stressing that dedication to work and to home are equally important.

Pamela L. Michell, Executive Director, New Hope Housing, Inc., Alexandria, VA

Serving as New Hope Housing Executive Director for the past 20 years, Pam has built an organization that not only faces the immediate needs of the homeless in Northern Virginia, but she also takes the responsibility for seeking long-term solutions to break the cycle of homelessness. Pam looks for greatness in individuals, even when their greatness has yet to be seen.  She challenges and empowers staff … she tells them “it is better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.”  Seeing residents, staff and board soar to new heights is part of her style.

Eleni A. Rossides, Executive Director, Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, Washington, DC

Eleni Rossides thought her seven-year career on the pro-tennis circuit was a tough challenge, until she took on the challenge of a lifetime, as Executive Director of the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation.  This year, she has juggled a 50-plus member board of directors, a small staff, an annual event that attracts many people each year, and the desire to build a second tennis center with the land needing approval from the District Government. All nonprofits have had to face tough economic times, and Eleni did not predict this recession, but she did prepare the organization just in case … positioning Washington Tennis to succeed in every economy. The Tennis Foundation is now moving forward to build their second site in Southeast DC.

Honorable Mentions

Dallice Joyner, Executive Director, Northern Virginia Area Health Education Center, Alexandria, VA

As Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Area Health Education Centers, Dallice is leading an organization that works in the growing world of medical language interpretation – serving immigrant and other vulnerable communities in need to health information or facing a health crisis in a language they do not speak.  Dallice has put the organization “on the map” keeping her staff motivated and on strategy.  Dallice often says that if an employee leaves her organization as the same person without growth or a broader comfort zone, then she has failed as a leader.

Aleta Margolis, Executive Director, Center for Inspired Teaching, Washington, DC

Aleta is the chief inspirer at the Center for Inspired Teaching.  Board members say that she pushes them to be a high-impact board…all while keeping the benefit to the kids in mind.  Staff members are challenged professionally – think big/dream big.  Teachers are transformed through Aleta’s charismatic and persuasive ideas.

Photos from the Ceremony

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