Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 03:13 PM

(Charlottesville, Virginia -- May 27)  The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced that the Loose Family, of Albemarle County, owners and operators of Tuel Jewelers on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, have been selected as the recipients of the 2009 Chamber Small Businesspersons Award.  The Chamber presented the award to Mary Loose DeViney, her sister Frieda Loose Wagner and their mother Frances Loose at the sold-out 2009 Chamber's Spring Business Luncheon -- underwritten by BB&T & Ntelos at the DoubleTree Hotel in Charlottesville.

More than 400 business and community leaders attended the event, which also featured an address by Governor Timothy M. Kaine. The Chamber also recognized its Leadership Charlottesville Community Scholarships, CATEC Entrepreneurial Scholarship and CBIC Tech Scholarship Award winners.

The Loose Family -- Frances G. Loose, Mary Loose DeViney and Frieda Loose-Wagner -- is a local family that has given its time and talents to numerous organizations, including Tuel Jewelers, which opened on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville in 1945.

Frances G. Loose is the matriarch who has led her daughters to success in a quiet, unassuming way.  She began working at Tuel Jewelers after graduation from Meriwether Lewis High School in 1953, when she was hired as the bookkeeper.  While learning the jewelry business from the ground up by assisting the watchmakers with materials and fitting parts, she attended Jefferson Business School to complete her business education.  Since purchasing the business in 1975, she has maintained the same level of quality service for which Tuel Jewelers has always been known.  Mrs. Loose, who is married to Herman Loose, holds a Diamonds Certificate from Gemological Institute of America (GIA).  Mrs. Loose for years has contributed quietly to community's needs by providing free engraving to groups and agencies.

Mary Loose DeViney is the oldest daughter of Mrs. Frances G. Loose, and she grew up in the jewelry business, working after school and during the summers at Tuel Jewelers.  Mrs. Loose DeViney graduated from Albemarle High School in 1982, and, after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Mary Washington College, she returned to Tuel Jewelers.  Mrs. Loose DeViney holds certificates from many expert groups and has formal appraisal training from the Jewelers Board of Appraisal Review/Jewelers Vigilance Committee Appraisal Basics, Anna Miller's Master Valuer Program/California Institute of Jewelry Training and Korean Jewelry Institute Registered Master Valuer.

Mrs. Loose DeViney, who is married to John DeViney, also served as the 2007 Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.  She is currently a member of the Piedmont Virginia Community College Board of Directors.

Her civic activity also includes serving as a volunteer with the Small Business Center and the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries.  She is Chairman of the National Federation of Independent Businesses -- Virginia Leadership.  She also serves on the Boards of the United Way -- Thomas Jefferson Area and volunteers for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Monticello Area Community Action Agency, American Legion Auxiliary, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Charlottesville Albemarle Community Emergency Response Team.  She also is an authority on parliamentary procedures and is requested for presentations and workshops throughout the Commonwealth.  She has been involved with many other issues downtown and in her community.

Frieda Loose-Wagner is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Frances Loose and she, too, grew up in the jewelry business, working after school and during the summers at Tuel Jewelers.  Mrs. Loose-Wagner, who is married to local police officer Mike Wagner and has two sons, graduated from Heritage Christian School in 1987 and attended Piedmont Virginia Community College.  She holds a Diamonds Certificate from Gemological Institute of America (GIA).  She also has been very active with the Dogwood Festival, currently serving as the Festival President, and is active in other civic groups.

The Loose Family is also active with their local Episcopalian Church.

Tuel Jewelers was established by Certified Watchmaker and Jeweler Roy P. Tuel in 1945 as a watch repair shop, taking in mostly Railroad Watch Repair and Certification.  As the years passed, Tuel Jewelers expanded into a full-service jewelry store, offering watch, jewelry and silver repair, along with retail sales.  Tuel Jewelers and its associates are members of the Jewelers of America (JA), Virginia Jewelers Association (VJA), Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Alumni Association, GIA-Washington, DC Alumni Association, Horological Association of Virginia (HAV), and National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC).

Christopher Lee, of Piedmont Companies, and 2008 Chairman of the Board of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, presented the award on behalf of the Chamber.  In addition to Mr. Lee, other members of the Small Businessperson Awards Selection Committee are: Rod Gentry, David Norris, Ivo Romenesko, Robert Stroh, Bryan Thomas and Timothy Hulbert.  Ms DeViney had served on the awards committee in the past, however, this year the committee colleagues “conspired” around her involvement to make the award selection for the Loose Family.

"Making this selection every year is both a challenge and a pleasure," said Christopher Lee, Chairman of the Chamber Small Businessperson Award Committee.  "But this year, without Mary's knowing, all of us hatched a conspiracy to make this award to her and her family.  They are the definitive family business, the definitive Downtown business and a great family.  They are very deserving and we simply could not resist doing this for Mrs. Loose, Frieda and Mary.  Congratulations!"

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce established the Chamber Small Businessperson Award in 1985 to recognize an outstanding Small Businessperson in our Greater Charlottesville Communities.  The Award recipient is chosen from our Chamber member enterprises within the Greater Charlottesville area that:
* is an active owner or co-owner of the business which has 50 or fewer employees;
* is a member in good standing of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce;
* has been in business for three years or longer; and,
* has made a significant contribution to the success of the business and our Greater Charlottesville communities.

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Charlottesville communities.  Founded in 1913, the Chamber has 1,200 member enterprises which employ more than 45,000 people in the Greater Charlottesville region, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.3 billion a year.

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Chamber Small Businessperson Award Recipients

Award Recipient                                  Business                                              Year
The Loose Family                                  Tuel Jewelers                                         2009
R. Grant Tate                                         The Bridge LTD                                      2008
Charles Rotgin, Jr.                                 Great Eastern Management Co.              2007
Ivo H. Romenesko                                  Appraisal Group, Inc.                              2006
Jim Carpenter                                        Gitchell's Studio                                                2005
Michael Gaffney                         Gaffney Homes                                      2004
Frank Stoner                                         Stonehaus Development             2003
Bill & Kate Hamilton                               Hamilton's Restaurant                            2002
Joyce Robbins                                       Adams & Garth                                      2001
Felicia Rogan                                        Oakencroft Vineyard                               2000
William Lewis                                        duplex copy center                                 1999
Rodney Thomas                                     Charlottesville Press                               1998
Susan Payne                                         Payne Ross & Associates                      1997
Mark Lorenzoni                                      Ragged Mt. Running Shop                      1996
Jack Horn                                              Martin/Horn                                           1995
Tom Powell                                           Tom Powell's Town & Country Exxon       1994
Chuck Lewis                                          Kathy's Produce                                    1993
Sheldon Anderson                                  University Florists                                  1992
Teresa Shotwell                                     Terry's Place                                         1991
Darden Towe                                         Towe Insurance Services                        1990
David Sloan                                           Sloan's Restaurant                                 1989
Edna Burgess                                        Burgess Continental Coiffures                 1988
Laurence Richardson                              WINA/WQMZ                                        1987
Eugene Williams                                    Dogwood Housing Ltd.                            1986
Bobby Mincer                                        Mincer's Pipe Shop                                1985

The Chamber Small Businessperson of the Year Award, established in 1985, is presented to a small businessperson who: is an active owner or partner of a Chamber member small business (less than 50 employees) which is at least three years old; and, has made a significant contribution to both the small business itself and our Greater Charlottesville community.