Louisa County Chamber of Commerce name Wesley Chiles, Chiles Enterprises, 2022 Businessperson of the Year.
Louisa, Va. — Louisa County Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) held their Businessperson of the Year & Annual Meeting celebration June 8 at Spring Creek Golf Club and recognized Wesley Chiles, Chiles Enterprises, as 2022 Businessperson of the Year. The award recognizes exceptional performance and leadership within our business community which fuels the engine of our economic prosperity.
Wesley Chiles, owner of Chiles Enterprises, leads his business and community with heart and passion for people. He has created a values-based company that relies heavily on core values, and lives by those values as exemplified in his daily life.
Highlights for 2021 included substantial business growth. While piloting a new business model, which created three new leadership opportunities, they expanded to create Lake Anna Green which focuses on changing the typical lawn nutrition and pesticide process. The goal of this new program revolves around reducing phosphorous which in turn helps reduce the harmful algae bloom crisis around Lake Anna. Additional growth in commercial relationships throughout Louisa County and Charlottesville accounted for nearly half of their revenue increase from 2020 to 2021.
Team member retention is a priority and 2021 demonstrated that. Yearly sales increased to over $2.2 million, boasting the largest residential project sold at $150,000. Health benefits were also remodeled to cover 50% of costs for team members and their families with a long-term plan leading to 100% coverage. Professional development is a large part of the culture with team visits to learn from other landscaping companies and conferences in multiple states. Through their partnership with a consulting company, they have pioneered a business culture paralleling the top landscaping companies in the country. The depth of leadership is evident by recognition for a team member from the North Anna Power Station VPP as “Safety Employee of the Month”, typically an honor only bestowed upon Dominion employees.
Wesley is heavily involved in the community. He serves on the planning committee for the new Leadership Louisa program developed by the Louisa Chamber of Commerce, serves on the advisory board for the Louisa County Public Schools Career & Technical Education program, he is a Louisa County Alumni FFA member, and volunteers with the Young Life adult ministry team.
As a notable sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Life, he has creatively invested his efforts to synergize gifting from other individuals and businesses. This included matching gift opportunities for sponsors, underwriting cost of first-time camperships, and creating an engaging leaf blower contest that raised an extra $1,000 at Young Life's annual golf tournament. Additionally, he sponsored a Lake Anna spring trash pickup, organized by Supervisor Duane Adams, by catering the lunch and the team volunteered to pick up trash. In January 2022, Wesley led the efforts with the Point Church to organize, transport, setup, and serve 1,000 hot meals to the snow removal heroes of Winter Storm Frida.
The future is bright for Wesley and Chiles Enterprises. Plans include a $2.9 million sales goal, upgraded vehicles and rebranded fleet, expansion of Lake Anna Green, additional team member retention tools, professional development by adding two additional conferences for the team, and hiring a new executive assistant. Expansion of services include opportunities for the team to get licensed for pesticide, being a Coastal Source lighting and audio dealer, a platinum member of the Virginia Turf Grass Council, and development of a 3.5-acre commercial property in the Lake Anna area. In April, Chiles Enterprises celebrated 20 years and their goal is to become the #1 employer in Louisa County by measure of team culture, work environment, and opportunity for advancement.
In addition to recognizing the Businessperson of the Year, the Chamber recognized Central Virginia Small Business Development Center with the Good Neighbor Award, Shenandoah Crossing Resort with the Chamber Partner Award and Casey Hollins, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative as Volunteer of the Year.
