INDUCTION YEAR: 2025
Charlotte Hall has long been a fixture in the Alexandria community. Known as much for her ever-present sunglasses as for her tactful diplomacy, she has adeptly navigated the sometimes contentious relationships between city government, local businesses and longtime residents to bring about positive change to the city.
Arriving in Alexandria from Richmond in 1990, Hall quickly became a driving force in the city’s business and civic life. Starting as the sales and marketing lead for Potomac Riverboat Company, Hall rose to vice president and partner, helping build the fleet to 12 vessels and navigating the complex world of city RFPs, advocacy, and business development. Her leadership style was hands-on and collaborative, working closely with captains, crew, and sales teams to grow the company and its impact on the waterfront.
“I’m very proud of what we accomplished with the Riverboat Company,” Hall said. “We began with a single boat, the Cherry Blossom, and grew it to a fleet of 12 that included water taxis and tour boats.”
Throughout her tenure at Potomac Riverboat Company, Hall spearheaded several innovative projects, including the Baseball Boat. Hall tackled city bureaucracy head-on, devising creative solutions like combo boat and parking tickets to address city concerns and make the service possible.
When city leaders doubted the viability of National Harbor, Hall leveraged her Chamber of Commerce connections to advocate for the Water Taxi, ultimately bringing new business to Old Town and connecting Alexandria to the burgeoning National Harbor development.
Other unique offerings such as canine cruises and pirate cruises brought new visitors to the waterfront, enhancing Alexandria’s reputation as a vibrant destination.
Hall’s foray into the hospitality industry was circuitous. Born in Richmond and raised in Fauquier County, she studied psychology and philosophy at Randolph-Macon College. Her minor was in theater and she worked at the Barksdale Theater in her spare time.
“Those were four of the best years of my life,” Hall said.
After college, Hall took a job at Richmond on the James, the predecessor to the Metro Richmond Convention and Visitors bureau. From there she went to work as Director of Development and Public Relations at the Maymont Foundation, a 100-acre park on the banks of the James River.
“I did the first Maymont Flower and Garden Show, which was a major fundraiser for the foundation,” Hall said “I didn’t know anything about flowers, didn’t know anything about plantings, but I knew all the right people to make it happen.”
When Hall made the move to Alexandria, she expected it to be for two years before heading back to Richmond.
“I wasn’t sure I was ready for city life,” Hall said. “Back then I thought of Richmond as being very small and Alexandria as being large and cosmopolitan. But after two years I had a ball meeting people and getting involved in the community.”
Hall became active with Waterfront4All and supported the Waterfront Development Plan, championing public access and improvements like new parks, Robinson Landing, and the River Renew project.
She has served on numerous boards, including Carpenters Shelter, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Visit Alexandria, Chamber of Commerce, First Night Alexandria, and the ALX Promotion Team. Her involvement in community events—supporting organizations like Del Ray Business, the Art League, and the National Breast Center—reflects her belief in the power of community, a value instilled by her upbringing in a small town with an active mother.
Early on Hall recognized the need for a robust tourism organization and helped establish Visit Alexandria. She rallied support from local businesses, advocated for a structured organization, and helped create a board, bylaws, and a dedicated staff. Today, Visit Alexandria is a thriving entity, credited with elevating the city’s profile and supporting merchants and restaurants.
One of Hall’s most memorable achievements was the creation of the King Street Trolley. Starting with grassroots fundraising and a rented trolley, she demonstrated the need for public transit in Old Town, ultimately convincing city leaders to make the trolley a permanent fixture. Her vision continues, hoping to see the trolley connect the West End, Del Ray, and Carlyle.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hall played a pivotal role in launching outdoor dining and the temporary closure of the 100 block of King Street. She navigated city bureaucracy, coordinated with fire and health officials, and created agreements that allowed restaurants to survive and thrive during challenging times.
“One of the biggest challenges was COVID,” Hall said. “Talk about ‘it takes a village.’ For the first time in a long time I saw everybody come together – the business community, the residential community, city staff – we all worked together.”
The sale of the boat company has allowed Hall to focus on her many other endeavors, including as chair of the Alexandria Police Foundation board.
The Alexandria Police Foundation, a 501(c)(3), was set up in 2002 by former Police Chief Charles Samarra, City Manager Vola Lawson and a group of concerned citizens.
“We do a lot of fundraising so that we can financially support whatever the city can’t or doesn’t cover,” Hall said. “We fund programs and activities like youth summer camps, ballistic vests for the dogs, and health insurance for the retired K-9s. We help police coordinate youth soccer games and recently funded a family movie night in Chirilagua, a neighborhood that needed some attention. I believe wherever we as a community can help and listen to our police, I think we are better off.”
Hall continues to look for opportunities to help the retail and restaurant community and other small businesses.
“I do think there is a lot of attention given to Old Town,” Hall said. “Other neighborhoods are fabulous and we need those neighborhoods, but Old Town is the economic engine. It’s important that we all know what is happening across the city and it makes us better working with everybody.”
Hall’s story is one of patience, persistence, and a commitment to working collaboratively with city staff, merchants, and residents. Her legacy is woven into the fabric of Alexandria and her impact continues to shape the city’s future.
When asked if she had any plans for retiring, Hall did not hesitate.
“Heavens no. Not in my vocabulary. There’s a lot more that I have to do.”
By Jeanne Theismann
Photo Credit: Steven Halperson/Tisara Studios