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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alan Fogg,
Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600
Woolsey Resigns FCEDA Position; ExxonMobil's Berry Next Chairman
Businessman Soza named new FCEDA commissioner
Fairfax County, Virginia, March 1, 2000 — Patricia M. Woolsey, a businesswoman who has chaired the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) for 10 years and spearheaded efforts to transform Fairfax County into a world-class technology center, announced her resignation at the monthly FCEDA meeting last night. Her resignation is effective today.
Greg W. Berry, a vice president at ExxonMobil Corporation, was selected chairman of the commission starting today.
Also last night, William Soza, chairman and CEO of Soza & Company Ltd., attended his first FCEDA Commission meeting. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Mr. Soza to the Commission on Monday. He replaces George C. Newstrom, who left Fairfax County to pursue employment opportunities abroad with EDS.
Ms. Woolsey has been a member of the FCEDA Commission since July 1987 and was selected by her fellow commissioners to be chairman in 1990. She will head the new northern Virginia office of Siddall, Matus & Coughter Inc. (SMC), an integrated marketing communications company based in Richmond, Va. She will lead efforts to enhance and diversify SMC's consulting services in e-commerce business planning, expansion via e-commerce, and business image and brand development.
SMC has been the FCEDA's advertising consultant since 1978.
Ms. Woolsey is well known for her efforts to promote Fairfax County as a world-class center for business and trade and the technology hub of the east coast. In addition to her service on the FCEDA Commission, she is a past chairman and current member of the board of directors of the Virginia's Innovative Technology Authority and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology.
Ms. Woolsey was vice chairman of the board of directors of the 1998 World Congress on Information Technology that was held at George Mason University in Fairfax. She has worked as a business consultant since leaving the position of senior vice president at Washington Gas Light Company.
"After working to build up and promote the economy here, I'm stepping down to take advantage of these conditions," Ms. Woolsey said. "I'm happy to be leaving for something special and I'm happy because of all the work that has been accomplished here."
"Pat Woolsey's contributions as chairman of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority for 10 years cannot be measured," said Gerald L. Gordon, president of the authority. "What she has done for this organization and this community has advanced the economy, the general wealth and the quality of life for all of us in Fairfax County."
Ms. Woolsey lives in Springfield with her husband, Jim. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will appoint a replacement for Ms. Woolsey.
Mr. Berry has served on the FCEDA since March 1997. He is vice president at ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company. Before the merger of the two oil giants, he spent 20 years with Mobil Corp., last serving as senior vice president of Mobil Sales and Supply Corporation and general manager of Mobil's North and South America Supply and Trading Operations.
Prior to that Mr. Berry was manager of planning and performance analysis for Mobil's North America Marketing and Refining strategic business group, where he spearheaded development and implementation of performance measurements and internal shared service concepts, many of which were adopted across Mobil's corporate structure.
"I'm extremely excited about on this leadership opportunity at FCEDA," Mr. Berry said. "It will be impossible to fill the shoes of Pat Woolsey, who for the past 13 years has, along with my fellow commissioners and a world-class FCEDA staff, really re-defined what economic development is all about."
"I am blessed with having a tremendous group of commissioners around me that share a common passion for leveraging economic development to improve the quality of life for every resident of this county. These are exciting times. I look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors, businesses and residents of Fairfax County to keep this an enviable place to work, live and play."
"Greg Berry has served as the chairman of the Marketing Subcommittee and helped to devise an index of factors by which the FCEDA now measures its performance. His insights on the economic development of Fairfax County are keen and will benefit us greatly with the challenges we face as a community," Dr. Gordon said.
Mr. Berry lives in Fairfax with his wife Susie, a daughter and a son.
Mr. Soza, a CPA by training, has been in business since leaving the U.S. Army in 1962. Established as an single-person accounting firm in 1969, Soza & Company has grown into a multidisciplinary consulting business serving public and private clients in information technology, automation technology, strategic advisory services, and management consulting services.
Hispanic Business magazine named Soza & Company the 76th-largest Hispanic-owned business in 1999. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Soza its 1998 Hispanic Businessman of the Year.
"Will Soza is an entrepreneur who exemplifies the spirit of this area," Dr. Gordon said. "He started his business more than 30 years ago and has made it a great success. He represents the dreams and ideals of many others here in Fairfax County."
During his first FCEDA meeting, Mr. Soza noted how long he had been in business in Fairfax and praised the achievements of his predecessor, George Newstrom. "I've seen a lot of the county's growth and development. George Newstrom was a big contributor to that, and I intend to do the same as a commissioner," Mr. Soza said.
Mr. Soza lives in Falls Church with his wife, Susan. They have two daughters.
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