CEO with Old Dominion Ties to be Honored by Chamber of Commerce
May 28, 2015
Principle Strategies CEO and Founder Hope Paryzek - a graduate and former employee of Old Dominion University - will be honored as the recipient of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce's 2015 G&W Leadership Award at the annual Small Business of the Year banquet June 12.
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce banquet recognizes outstanding small businesses, and will present the overall Small Business of the Year Award and the Young Entrepreneur Award. Paryzek will receive the G&W Leadership Award which recognizes an individual demonstrating leadership, impact on workplace culture, community service and involvement, professional achievement, and perseverance.
Paryzek is a Hampton Roads native. Having graduated from then working for Old Dominion University, she continued on to a successful executive career at several technology and engineering firms in the area.
Paryzek's leadership roles in both established and startup companies made her acutely aware of the struggles and costs associated with managing a business in Hampton Roads. Realizing there was a lack of professional support services available to small businesses in the region, Paryzek launched Principle Strategies LLC in 2002.
Principle Strategies operates three divisions: business, human resources and creative solutions. Paryzek's diverse background in technology, process improvement, marketing and business development allows her to offer clients the best solutions to grow, market and scale their operations resulting in job creation and increased revenue.
In 2014, three clients of Principle Strategies reported revenue and job creation growth rates of more than 100 percent.
Extending beyond business, Paryzek's leadership has also contributed to the cultural environment in Hampton Roads. In 2008, she founded Ballet Virginia International (BVI), a regional pre-professional ballet academy and company, when a local dance studio was on the verge of collapse.
Reaching out to the art community, Paryzek, with local artist Scott London, also created the "Artists Supporting the Arts Gala," an annual fundraiser bringing visual artists, dancers and patrons together to raise money and awareness.