Business Today
Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member enterprise news log
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Fifteen students were recognized earlier this month as the first graduates of the viticulture and enology programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Gabriele Rausse, one of the principal instructors in the program, was the graduation speaker. Rausse, a winemaker and the associate director of gardens and grounds at Monticello, recalled Virginia’s rich history of winemaking, especially the renaissance of the last three decades.
PVCC’s wine program began as a pilot in 2004 in response to the needs of the Monticello Wine Trail vineyards and wineries. Citing the need for qualified workers, vineyard owners and managers recommended expanding the program to include additional courses in vineyard management and winemaking.
Friday, February 24, 2006
An extraordinary trio of young attorneys will join the staff at the Legal Aid Justice Center in the Fall, funded by three different fellowships designed to encourage careers in public interest law. Charisa Smith, a 2005 Yale Law School graduate, will work with JustChildren. Her work is funded by The Arthur Liman Program, supporting the work of Yale law students and law school graduates advocating on behalf of those underserved or underrepresented in civil and criminal law. Erin Trodden, a 2005 UVA Law School graduate, will work with the Virginia Justice Center¹s migrant farm worker program. She is funded by the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as "a legal Peace Corps" by The Los Angeles Times, and established in 1988. “Daniel” Seok H. Choi, who will graduate from New York Law School this spring, will work in the Virginia Justice Center's Falls Church office to improve conditions for day laborers. He is funded by Equal Justice Works which organizes, trains and supports public service-minded law students and is a national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest jobs.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Virginia National Bank, Charlottesville, Virginia reported record earnings for 2005. The bank said net income increased 59.1 percent, to $3,086,000 (or $1.54 per basic share) in 2005, from net income of $1,940,000 (or $.99 per basic share) reported in 2004.
“VNB continues to perform extremely well on a year-over-year basis,” said Mark T. Giles, Chairman, President and CEO. “We have been able to sustain more than our share of the relevant deposit growth in most of our markets,” he added. “At the same time, we are especially pleased that the corresponding growth in loan demand continues to generate quality earnings.”
Virginia National Bank began operations in July 1998. It has three banking offices in Charlottesville, two in Winchester and one in Orange, Virginia. At December 31, 2005, the bank’s assets increased 3.0 percent to $285.3 million (compared with $277.0 million at the end of 2004), including loan growth of 8.9 percent to $192.4 million (over the $176.6 million reported for 2004).
To show the importance of being aware and involved in the legislative process, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) recently hosted its annual Richmond Youth Legislative Day. On February 1, five local high school students, Stephen Belyea of Montpelier, Victoria Gaines of Hustle, Erica Lowe of Spotsylvania, Rachel Muse of Aylett and Matthew Rodriguez of Ruckersville traveled to Richmond to view state government in action.
“It’s very important to understand how legislators represent the views and needs of their constituents,” said Stephen Belyea. “Speaking and expressing our views to elected officials is one way we as citizens can help meet the needs of our local communities.”
The cornerstones of the day’s activities were a meeting with Bill Bolling, Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor and a visit with local representatives in the General Assembly. Other highlights included touring the grounds of the State Capitol and the Executive Mansion, sitting in on a Senate Committee hearing and participating in a round-table discussion with William Mims, Virginia’s Deputy Attorney General, Salud Layton, governmental affairs coordinator for Virginia’s Electric Cooperative’s and legislative aides from the offices of various Senators and Delegates.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
WVPT—Virginia’s Public Television’s Corporate Communications Department (Director Gail P. Smith and Graphic Designer Bettina Remington) received the 2005 Best in Print Design award during the 2006 National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) awards reception Thursday, January 26, in Houston, Texas. The national promotion award was for WVPT’s “Life of Peace in a Time of War” press kit.
The “Life of Peace in a Time of War” press kit elements were inspired by the WVPT-produced documentary of the same name. During the show, local World War II Mennonite and Brethren conscientious objectors (COs) tell how they volunteered for “work of national importance” in Civilian Public Service camps as an alternative to being drafted to fight. They tell stories of love of country, hardship, persecution, love of God and a commitment to the guiding principle from the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said, “Do not resist your enemies.” The news release is in the form of a Civilian Public Service camp newsletter. The poster is a replica of one photographed in a shop window, depicting the persecution and prejudice shown the COs and their families.
NETA honored 21 public television licensees with awards Thursday night on stage at the Hyatt Regency. NETA Board Chair John Hesse (HoustonPBS) presented trophies to more than 30 projects in the areas of program production, promotion, outreach, and instructional media.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Seven real estate professionals from Keller Williams Realty Charlottesville were recognized for their extraordinary achievement in real estate at an awards ceremony during the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors Awards Breakfast. The CAAR Professional Honor Society was founded in 1996 as a way to designate agents who lead by example. Kim Armstrong and Arlene Yobs were recognized for their ten years as members of this society. Lan Smith was presented with a five year pin, and Pat Boyle, Betsy Cobb, Julie Gee, and Ellen Pratt were inducted into the CAAR Professional Honor Society.
“In our office, we know that a successful sales associate has many important qualities. Keller Williams focuses on customer satisfaction and community involvement. We would have been elated to have one agent achieve this designation, but to have seven agents honored is a confirmation of Keller Williams core beliefs,” said Kim Armstrong, Managing Broker of Keller Williams Realty.
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