BRAVO! A Celebration of Leadership 2025

First Citizen of Hampton Roads

The First Citizen of Hampton Roads Award recognizes an individual from greater Hampton Roads who has demonstrated exceptional regional leadership. The award honors a courageous and visionary individual whose tireless efforts have helped lead the 17 communities of Hampton Roads to greater partnership, collaboration and prosperity. Recipients of the award must meet the following criteria:

• Is a resident of and/or employed in one of the 17 communities of Hampton Roads
• Through active and sustained involvement in business, community, civic, professional and/or political endeavors, displays excellence, boldness and courage in promoting regional partnerships, cooperation and opportunities
• Serves as a role model of regional thinking and action

Visionary Award 

The Visionary Award was created to honor those leaders who have the ability to see the challenges of our region and design and deliver solutions. In particular, the award seeks to promote the value of creativity, collaboration and a sense of courage in order to enhance our region’s prosperity. Criteria for the award nominee are: 

• LEADERSHIP: Influences others to appreciate, promote, and serve the Hampton Roads region
• INTEGRITY/ETHICS: Exemplifies the highest levels of personal integrity and ethical decision-making
• INNOVATION: Embraces and designs innovative strategies that directly improve the quality of life in Hampton Roads
• COLLABORATION: Builds coalitions and collaboration across traditional boundaries to enhance our prosperity

Regional Statesperson Award

The Regional Statesperson Award recognizes an elected official who has demonstrated exemplary leadership while promoting regionalism and cooperation beyond boundaries. The awardee must have significantly impacted regional collaboration, enhanced the economy and improved the quality of life of our region’s citizens.

Julian Hirst Alumni Award

The Julian Hirst Alumni Award winner is a LEAD757 (formerly LEAD, HR) graduate who exemplifies excellence in community, civic, and professional leadership and who has made a significant contribution to the LEAD757 and Chamber mission. Criteria for the award nominee are: 

• Shall be a resident of and employed in one of the 17 communities that comprise greater Hampton Roads
• Shall be a graduate of LEAD757 or LEAD Hampton Roads
• Shall have through active and sustained involvement in business, community, civic, professional and/or political endeavors displayed excellence in leadership within the region

ICON Award 

The Hampton Roads ICON Award was created to recognize a young professional from greater Hampton Roads whose career and community service is widely regarded as an example of excellence. The recipient of this award is a pacesetter in his or her industry who has achieved significant accomplishments. Recipients of the award must meet the following criteria:

• Is a resident of and/or employed in one of the 17 communities of Hampton Roads
• Is 40 years of age or younger
• Through active involvement in business, community, civic, and professional endeavors displays exceptional leadership
• Is a role model (icon) of servant leadership and professionalism for the next generation of leaders in our region