By Don J. Kappel, Director of Public Affairs, Chesterfield County, Virginia

In October, the world lost a great innovator when Steve Jobs, inventor and co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc., succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. From the iPhone, to the iPod, iTunes and the iPad, Jobs changed the way the world computes, communicates, listens to music and thinks.

Steve was a strong, intelligent person, but he did not think he had all the answers. He wisely surrounded himself with bright, energetic and committed people—people who cared about excellence. That mix of talent and teamwork is what made Apple, and Jobs, successful.

Similarly, with the leadership of the elected Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield County provides an excellent quality of life. The county provides a comprehensive range of programs and services and earns favorable ratings from 93.5 percent of our residents, which is above state and national norms. Moreover, this is accomplished at the lowest overall cost to our residents when compared with a dozen other large Virginia localities. County employees work hard to provide that kind of value, but county employees don’t do it all alone. They are teammates with many organizations and individuals, all working to make Chesterfield County a FIRST CHOICE community.

For example, when Hurricane Irene hit the county on August 27, numerous church congregations, volunteers such as Community Emergency Response Team and Medical Reserve Corps members, residents clearing debris from roadways, business operators donating food, neighbors helping neighbors with generators, and others pitched in, working alongside county employees and power company crews around the clock to assist those in need and to help the community heal.

In October, the county was named “One of the 100 Best Communities in America for Young People” by America’s Promise Alliance. It was the 5th time the county earned that recognition, and Chesterfield County is the only five-time winning locality in Virginia. As with many of the county’s accomplishments, county and schools employees were assisted by parents, volunteers, mentors, non-profit organizations, the faith community and other partners, all of whose work over the past year to help our youths succeed contributed to the supportive community environment that made us a winner.

We’re fortunate to be living in what is nationally recognized as one of the best communities in America, and you are part of the reason why. It is our teamwork that makes us great.