ARLINGTON, VA - On May 6, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 39th Annual Arlington Best Business Awards at Army Navy Country Club, sponsored by Arlington Community Federal Credit Union.

The Best Business Awards are earned by businesses that meet five criteria: deliver exceptional quality of service to their customers; have experienced significant growth or stability in their business life; are industry leaders who offer a unique approach to the delivery of their goods or services; display an interest in and concern for the Arlington community; and display a commitment to diversity and inclusion as part of company culture. The Award winners are selected by an aggregate of scores on each of the five criteria, scored by past Award winners.

The 2025 Best Business Award Winners are:

Excella - 2025 Technology Business of the Year

Aspire! Afterschool Learning - 2025 Nonprofit of the Year

Cookology Culinary School - 2025 Retail Business of the Year

LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative - 2025 Service Business of the Year

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C. - 2025 Large Business of the Year

2025 Arlington Best Business Award Winners (L-R: Paula Fynboh, Aspire! Afterschool Learning; Maria Kopsidas, Cookology Culinary School; Christina Seiden, Excella; SC Nealy, LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative; Andrew Painter, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh P.C.)

This prestigious awards dinner recognized businesses in the Arlington community that go above and beyond to serve clients and make Arlington a great place to work and live.

2025 Arlington Business Hall of Fame Inductee Barbara E. Nicastro; and Tom Colucci, accepting on behalf of Inductee Martin D. "Art" Walsh

Following the presentation of the awards, the Chamber inducted Barbara E. Nicastro and the late Martin D. "Art" Walsh into the Arlington Business Hall of Fame. First created in 2009, the Arlington Business Hall of Fame honors individuals with a connection to Arlington County who have demonstrated a long record of successful management, expertise, and business skills, along with notable achievements and exceptional civic and community involvement.

"In the Arlington Chamber, we go deep. We form relationships; we form friendships...we watch out for each other," said Nicastro, who served on the Chamber's board for six terms, including serving as Board Chair in 2007. "We know how to get things done. We know how to love without judgment. And that, to me, is the essence of this Chamber and the essence of Arlington."

Tom Colucci of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C. accepted the award for "Art" Walsh in his honor. "Art drilled into us the importance of giving back to the community," said Colucci.

For more information about both inductees, please see our release announcing their induction. A list of past Best Business Award winners and previous inductees into the Arlington Business Hall of Fame can be found here.

In addition to the Best Business Awards and Arlington Business Hall of Fame inductions, the Arlington Chamber additionally released the new mission and vision Statements, which were adopted by the Chamber's Board of Directors.

Mission: To cultivate connections, shape policies, and empower Arlington’s economic future.

Vision: We envision a vibrant community where all businesses and people flourish. 

ABOUT THE CHAMBER

Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 600 businesses committed to cultivating connections, shaping policies, and empowering Arlington’s economic future. The Chamber supports our members through networking, advocacy, professional development, and community engagement. For more information or to become a member, visit www.arlingtonchamber.org.