Celebrating regional leadership at COG's 2025 annual meeting

More than 200 government, business, nonprofit, and civic sector leaders gathered yesterday to celebrate regional partnership at COG's 2025 annual meeting held at HQO, DC Water Headquarters. The event featured networking, regional cuisine, and the presentation of COG's annual leadership awards, including the organization's highest honor for public service to Kate Stewart. Antoine Thompson and Robert Lazaro Jr. were also recognized for their exceptional contributions to regional collaboration.

TPB Chair and Fairfax County Supervisor James Alcorn, COG Board Chair and Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk, U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay, and Fairfax County Board Member James N. Bierman, Jr.

COG Board Chair Rodney Luskand COG Executive Director Clark Mercerspoke about the year's major accomplishments, highlighting how regional leaders across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia responded to significant challenges with some of the most impactful collaborations to date, including the DMVMoves regional transit plan, the groundbreaking Talent Capital workforce tool, a coordinated mutual aid response to the DCA mid-air collision, the first-ever regional forum on AI, and new interactive data projects tracking crime, the economy, and federal changes.

Congressman James Walkinshaw, the newly elected Representative from Virginia's 11th District and the former Chair of the Transportation Planning Board at COG, provided greetings and spoke about the power of local government, honored the memory of the late Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly, and noted how federal workforce cuts have impacted everyone in this region. Walkinshaw was recognized for his work for COG and TPB.

Award recipients Antoine Thompson, Kate Stewart, and Bob Lazaro, Jr.

Kate Stewart received the Elizabeth and David Scull Metropolitan Public Service Award

Kate Stewart, who just concluded her one-year term as Montgomery County Council President, was recognized for her exceptional regional leadership. In her time serving on the COG Board of Directors, including her term as Board Chair in 2023, she has been a driving force on regional initiatives to advance racial equity leadership training programs, support ambitious clean energy goals, and convene leaders around sustainable long-term funding for WMATA, helping lay the groundwork for the recently released DMVMoves regional transit vision and funding plan.

The Scull Award is presented to a local, state, or federal elected official serving a COG member jurisdiction. It is presented in the memory of Elizabeth and David Scull, two former Montgomery County Councilmembers who were strong supporters of COG and regional cooperation.

COG President and City of College Park Councilmember Denise C. Mitchell, COG Board Chair Rodney Lusk, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition Executive Director Antoine Thompson, and COG Climate, Energy, and Air Programs Director Jeffrey King

Antoine Thompson received the Stuart A. Freudberg Award for Regional Partnership

Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition Executive Director Antoine Thompson was honored for advancing clean transportation, environmental justice, and workforce development throughout the region. He has partnered with COG on electric vehicle initiatives, promoted cleaner fuels, and organized regional job fairs connecting underserved residents with employment and training in clean energy, transportation, and related sectors.

The Freudberg Award recognizes organizations or individuals that provided leadership in support of regional policies or programs endorsed by COG. The award is presented in the memory of Stuart A. Freudberg, who in his 40-year career at COG, served in several leadership positions in the organization, including Deputy Executive Director from 2014 to 2020.

Former Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission Robert Lazaro, Jr.

Robert Lazaro Jr. received the Ronald F. Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership

Former Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission Robert Lazaro Jr. was recognized for his career advancing sustainability, clean energy, and regional collaboration. He led NVRC's Solarize program to expand solar adoption, and his public service as a former Purcellville mayor and engagement as a member of many regional boards reflect decades of innovative, collaborative leadership for local and regional communities.

The Kirby Award honors area government executives who work collaboratively with elected officials, stakeholders, and their communities to shape a better region. The award is presented in the memory of Ron Kirby, COG's Transportation Planning Director from 1987 to 2013.

COG also elected its corporate officers for 2026

During the meeting, COG Members also elected City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read as Corporate President. District of Columbia Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie and City of Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor were elected as Corporate Vice-Presidents, and City of College Park Councilmember Denise C. Mitchell was elected as Secretary-Treasurer.