Business Today
Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member enterprise news log
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Junior League Awards Children, Youth & Family Services Community Partner Grant
The Junior League of Charlottesville presented a check for $4,400 to Children, Youth & Family Services on August 28th.
This gift, one of five Community Partners Grants, will be used by CYFS in its ParentingMobile project to run playgroups for moms and young children twice per week in two low-income neighborhoods.
A Montessori-trained parent educator brings play activities and toys directly to kids and families to encourage healthy development, early learning, and positive parent-child interaction.
In addition to funding the program, Junior League volunteers will also join the playgroups as mentors, supporting young moms as they play with their children and sharing ideas and experiences.
WHTJ Documentary Chosen to Air on PBS WORLD
WHTJ Charlottesville PBS is pleased to announce that its documentary "WILDER: An American First" has been selected to air on PBS WORLD, a new digital channel showcasing PBS' acclaimed documentary, public affairs and news programming.
PBS WORLD is now available 24/7 in more than 20 major U.S. markets-including New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Boston and Tampa-since it launched on August 15, 2007.
Produced by WHTJ Charlottesville PBS in collaboration with the University of Virginia Center for Politics, "Wilder: An American First" is the winner of three Telly awards and a Communicator Award for Excellence. The documentary, narrated by native Virginian and actor Blair Underwood, was previously selected for national distribution on PBS' main channel, through American Public Television.
"WILDER: An American First" traces the moving and turbulent path of Doug Wilder's journey from his segregated past into the doors of Virginia's state capitol and ultimately onto the national political scene. He became Virginia's first African-American state senator since Reconstruction, the state's first African- American elected lieutenant governor, and to this day, the nation's first and only elected African-American governor.
PBS WORLD was created to provide PBS viewers access to the very best of nonfiction television, round- the-clock. Acclaimed series such as American Experience, Frontline, Nature, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Nova and the Tavis Smiley Show will be regular features on PBS World, as will engaging miniseries such as Ken Burns' The War.
WHTJ Charlottesville PBS, whose studio and offices are located on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, is the PBS member-station licensed by the FCC to serve Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. WHTJ uses the power of media to educate, entertain and inspire. (www.whtj.org)
Shannon Foundation Funds Innovative Learning Projects at Six Schools
Teachers from six schools across Albemarle County received grants totaling $7,525 from the Edgar and Eleanor Shannon Foundation for Excellence in Public Education to fund innovative learning projects at their schools. Teachers receiving the grant awards include those from Baker?Butler, Stone Robinson and Woodbrook Elementary; Burley and Jouett Middle, and Albemarle High Schools.
The Shannon Foundation presented the grants to teachers during its annual Summer Awards Ceremony on August 17 at the Charlottesville? Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) at 1000 East Rio Road in Charlottesville. The goal of the Shannon Foundation is to supplement public funding for local school systems. Its supporters, who include a broad?based coalition of local citizens, share a belief in the importance of dedicated and creative teachers and a strong commitment to providing those teachers with the funds they often lack.
The Shannon Foundation board reviews proposals without knowledge of which teacher, school, or system the proposed program will benefit, and the grants are awarded solely based on competitive criteria stressing classroom effectiveness and active student participation.
Albemarle County school projects to be supported by the Shannon Foundation grants during the 2007?08 school year include:
Can You Dig It? - Nancy Kendall Williams, Baker? Butler ElementarySecond graders become archaeologists as they use the tools of the trade to dig in sand containers for "artifacts" and explore the lives of Ancient Egyptians.
Conversation Partners Program - Frances Dovel? Mossis, Burley Middle, Jouett Middle, Albemarle HighMiddle and high school native and near?native English speakers form working partnerships with their ESOL peers to improve speaking and comprehension skills and develop cross?cultural understanding and cooperation.
Living Alphabet Project - Janelle Catlett, Woodbrook ElementaryYounger children work with older buddies to produce an alphabet book illustrated with pictures of the children using their own bodies to form letters.
Money Matters - Rhonda Jeck, Woodbrook ElementaryFirst graders learn valuable practical economics skills as they earn, save and spend "money" in a classroom bank and store.
School Mural - Jenny Dean, Burley MiddleMiddle school art club members send the big, beautiful message that art enriches our lives when they create and display a large colorful mural in their school.
Shad Aquaculture Project - Stone?Robinson ElementaryFourth graders help bring shad back to our local waterways by using two aquaculture tanks to research, raise, and then release shad into the Rivanna River behind their school.
Time Travelers - Christine Scott, Baker?Butler ElementarySecond graders create scrapbooks filled with memorabilia documenting their studies of Native American culture, China, Ancient Egypt, and the lives of famous Americans.
Courtyard by Marriott Washington Embassy Row Adds Barista on Demand to Menu
The Courtyard Washington Embassy Row announced today that the property has selected Barista on Demand to provide complimentary fresh ground organic and rainforest alliance certified coffee and gourmet beverages to guests and staff 24 hours, 7 days per week.
Barista on Demand will replace Starbucks as the property's lobby coffee service. This switch is part of the Courtyard Washington Embassy Row's ongoing efforts to partner with local, sustainable vendors throughout their purchasing and operations.
The 158- room Courtyard was totally renovated in 2005 and combines state of the art accommodations with warm, plush furnishings and the flair of a modern boutique.
"Partnering with Barista on Demand makes perfect sense for us," states Davin Driskill, GM of the Courtyard Marriott. "This is a conscious choice to partner with a local company whose products are outstanding, sustainability practices are very compelling, and whose goals fit with our own, both in terms of customer satisfaction while reducing waste and supporting the local community."
Barista on Demand has made sustainability a core part of their business, from their well-established Rainforest Alliance Certified purchasing and Seed to Cup program, which supports coffee farmers and their communities through direct payments to growers. They also recently introduced the ecotainer coffee cup - a compostable to-go cup made of paper with a corn- based plastic lining.
"Being chosen as the coffee of choice for Courtyard Washington Embassy Row is an honor in addition to a great business partnership," says Dennis Tracz, CEO & Founder of Barista on Demand, LLC. "We love working with Davin and the team here. They make business decisions not only on price but also based on local and sustainable values."
The Courtyard Washington Embassy Row is a great choice for business, leisure and convention guests looking for sophistication, style and world class Marriott service in the heart of Washington DC. After a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2005, the hotel combines state-of-the-art accommodations with warm, plush furnishings and the flair of a modern boutique. Stay connected with the free high speed internet in our oversized guest rooms, and sleep well on the 11 inch plush mattresses sumptuously appointed with 300 thread-count sheets and down comforters.
Located in the hotel is the award-winning restaurant Nage, an upscale-casual eatery with a menu based in French cooking with a palette of global flavors. Located on Scott Circle in the heart of downtown DC the Courtyard Embassy Row is an easy walk to Dupont Circle, the K Street business district and the White House.
Call (202) 293-8000 for more information or visit www.courtyardembassyrow.com
Barista on Demand, LLC is a Charlottesville, VA- based coffee service company. Since 2006, they have provided specialty coffee and gourmet beverages through public and private businesses and institutions. Their sustainability platform includes their Rainforest Alliance Certified Seed to Cup program, which provides direct payments to coffee growers, and the DC Metro area's first biodegradable ecotainer®.
For more information, please visit www.baristaondemand.com .
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
SMG Announces Assistant General Manager Appointment for JPJ Arena
Larry Wilson, General Manager of the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena, today announced the appointment of Jason Pedone as Assistant General Manager for the facility.
"We are delighted to introduce Jason and feel fortunate to have attracted such an experienced individual to our organizational team," Wilson said.
Pedone will negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers and promoters for necessary services and activities at the facility. He will also oversee the long term development and plans of various departments, including operations, event services, marketing and finance.
Pedone joins the team with 9 years experience working within the SMG community of buildings. Most recently, Pedone was Director of Event Services at Reliant Park in Houston, TX. He has also worked as Event Coordinator for Nashville Arena . He will be joined in Charlottesville by his wife Kelly and their newest addition, daughter Jillian.
The John Paul Jones Arena is a SMG managed facility. John Paul Jones Arena opened summer 2006 and was voted Best New Major Concert Venue 2006 by POLLSTAR Magazine. SMG was founded in 1977 and is the world leader in facility management, marketing and development, with over 200 venues worldwide. SMG provides each of their clients with a unique combination of industry experience, national and international presence, and extensive resources to draw upon to ensure the success of their facilities.
New Funding Helps Local Dental Program Serve More Children
Charlottesville Area Dental Access (CADA) was among 29 nonprofit health care organizations around the state to receive a grant from the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF).
VHCF recently awarded over $2 million in grants to help uninsured and medically underserved Virginians receive primary health care services and medications. CADA will receive $64,406 to help fund the salary of a full-time pediatric Dentist at its Community Children's Dental Center.
Working in partnership with local dentists, the Community Children's Dental Center serves children from Charlottesville and the surrounding counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson who are enrolled in the state's FAMIS and FAMIS Plus child health insurance programs.
This position will enable the Dental Center to provide a dental home for more children in need of basic dental care services. The Virginia Health Care Foundation is a non-profit public/private partnership dedicated to increasing access to primary care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians by strengthening and growing Virginia's health care safety net.
Initiated by the General Assembly and the Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992, the Foundation is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Since inception, it has funded 269 community based projects across the Commonwealth, and its programs and partnerships have touched the lives of more than 500,000 uninsured Virginians.
For details about VHCF, its grant opportunities and donation information, visit www.vhcf.org or call (804) 828-5804.
TSU, Inc. Adds to Mann to Staff
Robert Mann, has joined the Charlottesville office of Telephone Services Unlimited, Inc. (TSU) as account executive. Robert has been in the telecommunications industry for 17 years.
The first 14 years with Centel of Virginia which was acquired by Sprint. Robert was involved in the sale of telephone systems, data networks, structured wiring systems, and network services including; ATM networks, Frame Relay networks, and SONET based networks.
Robert left Sprint in 2004 to work for Compusec, Inc., a small wirless company building a local and long haul wirless network serving 12 counties in southwest Virginia. Robert then joined Level (3) Communications in 2005 to provide the sale of fiber based SONET networks in the Central Virginia region. Robert's emphasis at TSU will be involved in the sale of telephone systems, structured wiring, carrier services for local, long distance, and data services, as well as consulting.
TSU has been providing unparalleled service to the Charlottesville and surrounding region for over 22 years.
Boar's Head Inn Hosts Groundbreaking For Area's Largest Meeting Pavilion
The Boar's Head Inn broke ground Wednesday morning on its new state-of-the-art Meeting Pavilion, a $10 million expansion project directed by the University of Virginia Foundation.
"This is a truly historic day for the University as we complement our industry-leading hotel and resort facilities with a state-of-the-art conference center that will enable us to meet our clients' needs like never before," said Tim Rose, CEO of the University of Virginia Foundation. "This new Meeting Pavilion offers the perfect combination of the timeless warmth, hospitality and service for which Boar's Head has long been known and the state-of-the-art facilities and comfortably elegant surroundings our clients deserve."
"Boar's Head Inn has long been a favorite meeting place for corporations, associations and social groups from throughout our region and beyond thanks to its trademark charm and longstanding reputation for excellence," said Rose. "The addition of the Meeting Pavilion will only add to this reputation while providing groups of all kinds to enjoy all that Charlottesville has to offer as a destination."
The Meeting Pavilion project represents another step in what has been an exciting and dynamic period of growth and recognition for the Inn. The recently- completed $1 million renovation at Birdwood Golf Course was instrumental in it becoming only the fifteenth course in Virginia to earn the designation of "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary."
In May of this year, Birdwood was also listed among the Top 100 Must Play Courses in the Mid-Atlantic by GolfStyles Magazine. In addition, the $7.5 million expansion project at Boar's Head Sports Club make it one of the premier tennis facilities in the region and a high profile showcase for not only its membership but for collegiate and professional tennis fans as well.
"The Board recognized that the Pavilion project would not only support the growing needs of the University but would also offer an important new platform for larger in-house conferences, meetings and social events," said Sandy Fitz-Hugh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UVA Foundation. "We look forward to an exciting future for the facility and to its playing a role in enticing even more leisure and business travelers alike to Charlottesville and the surrounding area."
The Pavilion will be located adjacent to the existing Ednam building at a slightly lower height, spanning the existing parking lot to the west (see attached diagram). The new building will be constructed of the highest quality materials, and the scale of the project and the landscaping will maintain consistency with the existing rustic ambiance of Boar's Head Inn. Consisting of nearly 17,000 square feet, the new Pavilion will include a large pre-function space, meeting rooms, and a grand ballroom in excess of 5,500 square feet, and a full kitchen.
Naturally, it will contain all of the associated amenities, including a full-service business center. The ballroom will have the capability to be divided into three individual meeting spaces of equal size, each with its own pre- function space. Perhaps most impressive of all, the newly-completed ballroom will become Charlottesville's largest.
"It was very important to us that the Meeting Pavilion not only enhance the services we offer, but that it also fit seamlessly into our beautiful landscape, trademark architecture and unparalleled historical integrity," said Boar's Head Inn General Manager Jorg Lippuner. "This building succeeds on all these counts and promises to add an exciting new dimension to who we are and what we do."
He added that it was also important that as a part of the planning process, the Boar's Head team met with neighbors to receive their input, with the objective of minimizing the impact of the project on the neighborhood, both during construction and after completion.
According to local tourism officials, the new facility will also answer a critical need in the region. "Charlottesville has clearly become a destination of choice for meeting and event planners," said Mark. M. Shore, Director and CEO of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, "but we have lost business opportunities by not having large enough facilities at a single site. The addition of the new Meeting Pavilion at Boar's Head Inn, which already boasts a stellar reputation for hospitality and first-class service, is another crown jewel for our region."
Boar's Head Inn, a 170-room resort situated on 573 acres in the Virginia countryside, offers Four-Diamond dining, a state-of-the-art sports club, tennis, championship golf, a luxury spa, children's programs, currently 13,000 square feet of meeting space, and close proximity to attractions such as Monticello, the Blue Ridge Mountains and numerous wineries. Boar's Head Inn is owned and operated by the University of Virginia Foundation.
For more information or to make reservations, please call Boar's Head Inn at 434.972.2232 or 800.476.1988 or visit the resort's web site at www.boarsheadinn.com.
JABA Announces New Publicity Manager
Please welcome our Publicity Manager, Elyse Thierry, to the JABA non-profit family. Elyse began her position August 1st and can be found in office 207 and reached by e-mail at aethierry@jabacares.org.
Since 1998, Elyse has run her own business as a freelance marketing writer. In this business, she has developed concepts and text for everything from press releases, brochures, direct mail and print ads to web sites and e-newsletters. Some of her clients include Marshalls/TJX, Grand Circle Travel and Century 21.
Before opening her freelance business, she worked with New York City advertising and marketing agencies such as Mitchell and Associates where she was a senior copy writer. While with Mitchell and Associates she developed, created and produced public relations, events and marketing materials for such clients as Rockefeller Center, the Building Owners' and Managers' Association of Greater New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Recently, Elyse began shifting the focus of her business to the non-profit sector and has already enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Rose Fellowship on its website and now she has joined us for what we hope will be a long lasting employment relationship.
JABA Wins Two National Awards for Aging Services
Two Jefferson Area Board for Aging programs have received national awards from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Suzanne Brower, director of Club Pathway, traveled to San Francisco for the ceremony on July 31 to accept the Innovation Award for Club Pathway and for JABA Health Services, which won the Achievement Award.
When Brower founded Club Pathway in 2003, she understood the need for people in early and mid stages of memory loss due to Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia to still feel they could provide service of value. Twice a week, members of Club Pathway meet at JABA for lunch and then they stuff envelopes and provide other bulk mailing services for non-profit organizations.
"It's a win-win situation all around," Brower said. "The members feel they are of use, their caregivers have valuable time off when they can pursue their own interests, and non-profits are given an important service free of cost."
By keeping the group small - about eight to ten individuals a session - her group of dedicated volunteers can give one-on-one attention to those who need help. During the four years of Club Pathway's existence, more than 30 members have produced over a million pieces of bulk mailing.
"The greatest benefit for the members is the feeling that they are needed and can be depended on," Brower said. She has discovered that a byproduct is that the club members are calmer when they are home and sleep better.
When their Club Pathways routine is disrupted they show signs of deterioration. Later, because they are already familiar with the surroundings, as their condition worsens they can more easily transition to JABA's Adult Day Healthcare Center which is for people with more advanced cases of memory loss.
Heath Services was created in 1997 in collaboration with the University of Virginia School of Nursing and Health Sciences Center. Then known as Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Team (GAIT), it served three mostly rural communities. The Health Services Program has expanded to include Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. Its collaboration has grown to include community resources such as the Thomas Jefferson Health Department, Martha Jefferson Hospital, Diabetes Association, Arthritis Association, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and the counties themselves which are helping to finance the program.
For its effort, Health Services received the Achievement Award from the National Association of Area Agencies in the category of Collaboration/Partnership.
As JABA's regional manager for Health Services, Carol Walker Bell, explained, the collaboration "has provided clinical site experience for over 250 students of the health professions" as well as bringing care to clients at risk from chronic and acute health problems.
Eight registered nurses and a nurse practitioner work with nursing and medical students to provide care at facilities like the JABA senior centers or mid- and low- cost housing centers.
But, Bell said, "If they can't come to us, we'll go to them. The experience of outreach to rural elders who live at a distance from health care facilities has opened the eyes of many a student to the challenges of access, appropriateness, affordability and acceptability."
The team emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, they provide assessments which in some cases have instigated home-delivered meals and health management reminders such as taking medications in a timely manner. They also give flu and pneumonia inoculations.
A recent initiative has the goal of providing at least 1000 clients with "Get Ready" kits in case of an emergency like a hurricane. JABA's Health Services program has proven its success. In 2001, as GAIT, it was selected by the Virginia Health Care Foundation as a "Model That Made It." In 2003, the National Council on Aging, in collaboration with U.S. Center on Disease Control and Prevention, selected Health Services as one of seven national "Best Practices in Health Aging" programs.
Stone Mountain Wins Gold Medal
Stone Mountain Vineyards recently released 2006 Chardonnay earned a Gold Medal in the prestigious Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. Stone Mountain's Petit Verdot and 2006 Chardonnay Reserve were awarded Bronze Medals.
Over four hundred wines from thirteen eastern states were entered in the third annual competition sponsored by the Vinifera Growers Association. The effects of 2006 growing conditions can be seen the crisp clean lines of the Gold Medal winner. The warm days and cool nights in Stone Mountain's high altitude vineyards combined with the rocky soils of the mountainside vineyards result in a Chardonnay with an expressive fruit forward nose and a clean memorable finish. Fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, rather than oak barrels, allows the fruit to fully express its character.
Chris Breiner, Winemaker and Managing Partner of Stone Mountain Vineyards said, "This wine, perhaps more than any other, demonstrates the importance of the vineyard. Working with Virginia pioneer, Gabriele Rausse, we find the more we labor in the vineyard, the finer the wine in the glass. I am proud and humbled that our efforts are receiving such accolades."
Stone Mountain Vineyards is located 1,700 feet above sea level in Dyke, Virginia along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Greene County winery and tasting room are open for visitors and tastings Friday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information visit their website www.stonemountainvineyards.com or call 434-990-WINE.
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