Jefferson Foundation couple given top Chamber citizenship award

By Brian McNeill

Published: November 21, 2008

The longtime chief of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and his wife received the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s highest citizenship award Thursday evening.
Daniel P. and Lou Jordan were bestowed with the chamber’s Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award before a crowd of more than 400 business and civic leaders at the newly opened Pavilion facility at the Boar’s Head Inn.

Daniel Jordan was president and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation — which owns and operates Monticello — from 1985 until the end of October. Along with his wife, Jordan transformed Monticello into one of the nation’s most prominent powerhouses of tourism and history.
“Dan and Lou Jordan represent the definitive life team and are stellar citizens of our community, Virginia and our nation,” said Mary Loose DeViney of Tuel Jewelers, who chaired the McIntire award committee, in a statement. “Monticello is a cornerstone of our community’s heritage and enterprise. And it is hard to visualize Monticello’s success without the exemplary stewardship and citizenry of Lou and Dan Jordan.”

Under Jordan’s leadership, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s endowment grew from nothing in 1993 to more than $122 million today. He oversaw four successful capital campaigns, with the largest exceeding $100 million. His efforts culminated earlier this month with the opening of Monticello’s new 42,000-square-foot Visitor Center and Smith Education Center.
“Every once in a while in an institution’s life, there is a transformative leader,” said Alice W. Handy, chairwoman of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Daniel Jordan was one of those leaders.”
The Jordans, she said, are “just two absolutely amazing people who have given tirelessly and passionately to this community.”

Over the past 24 years, Jordan’s leadership at Monticello laid the groundwork for tourism to prosper in the Charlottesville region for years to come, said Allie Baer, interim executive director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Dan has really been a tremendous leader for Monticello for the past 20 years and he’s put us on the right direction to move forward,” she said.
Lou Jordan is an accomplished artist whose paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and France. She has served as president of the Contemporary Club of Albemarle and has been active with the Rivanna Garden Club, the National Society for Arts & Letters, and Women United in Philanthropy. She also founded a chamber concert series in the Jefferson Library at Monticello.

The Jordans’ honor was presented at the 95th annual Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce dinner.
Speaking before the sold-out crowd, chamber President and CEO Timothy Hulbert declared the region’s economy strong and denounced the “negative vibes” about the economy in the media. The theme of the evening, he said, was “turn the beat around,” as the annual dinner was a chance to celebrate the vitality of the local business community and forget about the negative economic drumbeat.
“We need to have a little more perk in our step,” Hulbert said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of the print and boob tube telling us the sky is falling. It’s not true and your being here proves that.”