Category: First Person 
First Person feature
James Church, partner at Freedom Automotive, was recently named the new president of the Hampton Roads Auto Dealership Association, the association's first African American president.
Founded in 1922 by nine of the region's auto dealers, the association works to "cooperate with state and national motor vehicle trade associations, constantly strive to improve the image of the auto dealers by conducting business in a manner that creates confidence and respect in the eyes of the public, and develop confidence, respect and good fellowship among the members."
Batson and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia received the 2012 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award. The Ted Clarkson Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and its donors recognize a nonprofit chief executive each year.
On Working
Besides her new position with the cultural alliance, Rhodes-Copeland is also president of the Friends of African American Art at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
Mission of Cultural Alliance
Craig Derkay MD, professor of otolaryngology and director of pediatric otolaryngology at Eastern Virginia Medical Center, was awarded the Sylvan E. Stool Award from the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children.
On the job
Anne B. Shumadine has received the Barron F. Black Community Builder Award.
On working
Signature is a wealth management company. We've been in business since 1994 and we work with individuals helping manage their accounts. I started this business with Susan Colpitts. Prior to founding Signature, I was a tax lawyer for 11 years. I was a partner at Shumadine and Rose in Norfolk.
Hutchinson has been selected one of the most influential African American managers in the hospitality/meetings/tourism industry by Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine.
On the job
My role is to lead the sales and marketing efforts for the department and to bring in conventions, conferences, meetings and sports events to generate tax revenue for the city of Virginia Beach.
Debbie Sorensen director of financial systems at Dollar Tree Inc.
Sorensen celebrated 35 years with the company in July.
Humble beginnings
Charles V. McPhillips is the executive vice president for practice management, Kaufman & Canoles
McPhillips has received the 2011 Bishop's Humanitarian Award from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia.
Kaufman & Canoles
Charles "Chuck" E. Harris, president and CEO of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, will retire Sept. 1, 2012.
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
We're a nonprofit organization here to help build strong communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. I look at the YMCA as helping to build the foundations of our community.
Bonnie Sutton, president and CEO of ACCESS College Foundation
Sutton has received the Executive Leadership Award of Excellence from the National College Access Network.
Leader of Access
