2 minute read
Emerging Leader of the Year
Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
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Greg Vossler is a born leader with a list of accomplishments and involvement in the area that goes on for days. The Chamber has had the pleasure of his membership for the past five years, a board member for three of those years, and he is a graduate of the Community Leadership Program. You can find his footsteps in many organizations throughout the region, from Blue Ridge Hospice to the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum to the Child Safe Center (nominated for Non-Profit of the Year).
Even as Greg accepted his Emerging Leader of the Year award, he led others by offering some advice. He began with controlling the controllable stating, “Sometimes it feels like someone else is pulling the strings and we have lost all control.” His advice offered six areas that we could control; attitude, effort, emotion, beliefs, whom we associate, and how much we appreciate things we already have.
Being a self-described millennial, his next piece of advice spoke to how to apply that control of the controllable not to allow the influence of others to sway how we value ourselves and our belongings. “Water your own grass. The grass is not greener on the other side; it is the greenest where you water it. Invest in you.” he said.
His final two pieces of advice to the next level of leaders in the region echoed and expanded parts of the first two, diving into quality over quantity. Now that we have invested in ourselves, it is essential to take pride in delivering a quality product or service instead of an abundance in which we do not excel. What is essential that gets accomplished? Lastly, find a tribe and build something together. Referencing a Dwayne Johnson quote, Greg spoke to the importance of teamwork and collaboration with a decisive goal.
While Greg’s goal may be to make a difference in someone’s life every day, his wife and two sons make a difference every day in his life. “Thank you for putting up with my obsessive and overwhelming schedule,” he said to his wife, who was watching from another theater during his speech.
Greg’s win certainly did not come easy, going up against fellow nominee Lauren Gwinn. Congratulations to Greg Vossler for his win as the Emerging Leader of the Year and to Lauren for her well-deserved nomination. Afterward, Master of Ceremonies, Mike O’Dell, spoke to the audience of Greg’s dedication growing up. He recalled the number of times that he threw a tennis ball against the garage in the driveway. Mike was proud to have witnessed Greg’s winning moment and now enjoys a quiet life since Greg has grown.
“Because of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, I have made connections that are now friendships, mentorships, and beyond.” - Greg Vossler
