By Sophie Langenberg, CFFC Board Member
During the second half of 2023, Citizens for Fauquier County elected four new directors to expand the board’s skills and experience. Since most of what CFFC accomplishes reflects the work of its volunteer board, constantly building and refreshing it is vital especially as development threats increase. Five board members joined CFFC’s board in 2022.
Sophie Langenberg grew up in Fauquier County before earning a degree at the University of Virginia in 2014. As a communications professional, she wrote for several area publications; joined a Middleburg-based public relations firm; and, became Land Trust of Virginia’s first communications staff member in 2021, with responsibility for promoting land conservation across the state. Sophie is also involved with Virginia United Land Trusts, the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, the MOC Beagles, and is a Master Gardener of Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties.
Steve Dahllof spent 26 years with Ogilvy PR, a leading worldwide public relations firm as the Global Head of Strategy and Planning before assuming responsibility for the Asia Pacific region. He directed branding and marketing communications efforts for numerous business clients and other organizations including Nestle, LG Electronics, and Sun Microsystems. Steve also helped develop public health communications programs for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH.) Prior to Ogilvy PR, Steve held leadership positions in the food service industry. He lives near Middleburg and is on the board of directors of Piedmont Environmental Council.
Jean Perin was born and raised in Cincinnati but fell in love with the Virginia Piedmont region in college. Perin worked with a number of conservation organizations until she was introduced to the Piedmont Environmental Council in the 1990’s. She joined the board in 2000, and later became co-chair from 2014 until this past fall. Her conservation accomplishments include being a valued member of the Route 50 Traffic Task Force which successfully implemented traffic calming measures on this scenic roadway and through Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville. Jean also was a leader in saving Gilbert's Corner and permanently protecting the gateway to rural western Loudoun and northern Fauquier.
Ali Zarabi immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1978. After attending schools in the Tidewater and Richmond areas, Ali began a successful career in the beauty industry in Washington, D.C., and has owned and operated his salon in Old Town Warrenton for over twenty-eight years. Ali was the senior member of the Warrenton Planning Commission for twenty-two years and retired at the end of 2022 having served as the Vice Chair for three years. Ali previously served as a Board Member and Secretary on the Mental Health Association of Fauquier County and is currently completing his sixth year on the Board of Trustees at Highland School in Warrenton.
This story appeared in CFFC's February 2024 edition of The Monitor. View the publication in its entirety here.