Business Today
Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member enterprise news log
Friday, October 26, 2007
City Police Captain Named One of the Top Officers in the Country
The City of Charlottesville is proud to announce that one of its most tenured officers was named in the Officer of the Year presentation by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
The honorable mention was presented to Captain Harding for his continuing work to improve the Virginia DNA databank dating back to 1998. In that year, Harding formed a citizens group that successfully lobbied to receive a multimillion dollar appropriation to analyze 160,000 backlogged samples to be included in the state's database of DNA.
Most recently, Harding's continued attention to the issue lead to legislation requiring the collection of DNA from all convicted felons for inclusion in the state's database. It was because of Captain Harding's leadership that identified nearly 11,000 felons who had fallen through the cracks and whose DNA was not included in the database.
The award was presented at the annual conference in New Orleans. Each year, the IACP and PARADE magazine join forces to recognize exemplary performance in police work. Captain Harding's picture and story will appear in this Sunday's Parade Magazine distributed locally by the Richmond Times Dispatch and the Washington Post.
United Way Announces Grants Focusing on Children and Families
United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area recently announced its 2007/2008 Community Impact grants for its Successful Kids in Strong Families focus area.
"We know that by helping our children succeed in school and life, and by giving their parents the tools they need to make that happen," said Cathy Train, president of United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area, "we can have a tremendous positive impact on our community."
United Way volunteers evaluate the grant applications of programs that offer services for infants through teens and their parents, focusing on outcome measurements, financial stability and the effectiveness of the program in meeting its goals.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that donor's dollars are invested in programs that show strong results," Train emphasized. "Children who are healthy and are successful in school become active members of our community, and by providing grants to programs that focus on our youth and families, we are investing in a stronger community."
The following programs have received grants focused on Successful Kids in Strong Families from the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area:
Youth Development - Boys & Girls Club, $18,140
After School Tutoring - CALM, $12,347
Family Connections - CYFS, $1,148
Victims of Child Abuse - CYFS, $10,286
Play Partners - CYFS, $2,665
Runaway Emergency Services - CYFS, $4,375
TeenSight/Reach - FOCUS, $33,268
Home Visiting - Home Visiting Collaborative, $92,958
Piedmont CASA - Piedmont CASA, $5,538
Parks Edge After School Program - Piedmont YMCA, $8,308
Educational Equity - Urban Vision, $6,855
In addition, the United Way runs two other programs focused on children and families: the United Way Child Care Scholarship Program, and the Smart Beginnings Program, which is part of the Charlottesville/Albemarle Partnership for Children. United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area also provides grants to local programs in its other focus areas: Achieving Self-Sufficiency and Access to Health and Wellness as well as running several more programs in its Strengthening Community focus area.
City of Charlottesville Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
The City of Charlottesville was notified that it has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the current fiscal year from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of Chicago.
This award is considered the highest form of recognition in government budgeting and this is the fifth consecutive year the award has been issued to Charlottesville. The City has earned the award a total of fifteen times.
According to GFOA, "it reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting." The award is based on how well the city budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.
The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving over16,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.
Eric F. Parker Named Wealth Advisor
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) announced today that Eric F. Parker, a Financial Advisor in the firm's Global Wealth Management Group (GWMG) office in Charlottesville, has joined its exclusive Wealth Advisor Group.
Morgan Stanley's Wealth Advisors provide customized investment strategies for affluent clients looking to manage, grow, preserve and transition their wealth. High net-worth clients with a Wealth Advisor will have access to specialists and additional resources and offerings at Morgan Stanley.
To gain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide these affluent clients with premium advice, Wealth Advisors receive advanced training at Morgan Stanley's headquarters in New York City.
Eric F. Parker, who has been with Morgan Stanley since 2003, is a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Virginia, a master's degree from Pennsylvania State University, and an M.B.A from Regis University.
Parker, currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Kristina, and two children, Amber and Justin and is active in The Blue Ridge Mountain Rotary Club, The Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville/Albemarle, and other organizations.
One of the largest businesses of its kind in the world with $734 billion in client assets, GWMG provides a range of wealth management products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions. These include brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust.
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 600 offices in 32 countries. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
UVa Professor Earns Prestigious National MERIT Award
University of Virginia Professor of pediatrics and biology R. Ariel Gomez, M.D., has been awarded the prestigious Method to Extend Research in Time Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Gomez, vice president for research and graduate studies at U.Va., will use the MERIT award to further his research into how cells know their own identity. The award is designed to provide long-term, stable support to investigators whose research, competence, productivity and scientific contributions are distinctly superior, according to the National Institutes of Health.
This rare award covers an initial five-year period ($1.9 million), and then is renewable for an additional five years of support with a potential total funding of $3.8 million. There is no application for the MERIT Award. Recipients are selected by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Council, which recognizes the most outstanding renewal or new grant applications from superior researchers.
"I'm very proud and I think this is great for the institution. It is a great honor," Gomez said. "Obviously, it gives enormous support to explore the most difficult, fundamental questions about my area of research: how cells know their identity."
Gomez research focuses on the juxtaglomerular (JG) cell. This cell in adults produces renin, a substance that increases blood pressure. Renin helps the body maintain blood pressure and proper levels of electrolytes and fluids. Gomez has identified precursors of these adult JG cells that produced renin during embryonic development. While some of these precursor cells go on to be renin producers, others become different cell types, such as smooth muscle cells found in the lining of blood vessels. If a body is under duress (such as dehydration, low blood pressure, etc.), there are not enough JG cells producing renin to maintain normal blood pressure. That is when some cells remember their origins.
"These cells can flip-flop based on the needs of our body. They retain the memory of who they were. When they were embryonic cells, they made renin. When the body needs them to maintain blood pressure they revert back to their embryonic state transiently until the body has recovered," Gomez explained.
The crux of Gomez' research revolves around a chromatin scaffold which supports the DNA of the smooth muscle cell in place. He and his team are working to determine which factors cause the chromatin to allow its renin-producing gene to be activated. They have already created a cell model in which a cell changes color based on their identity. Gomez hopes to harness the reversion process in the cell to develop treatments for blood pressure diseases and kidney ailments and potentially to cell- based therapies.
"Dr. Gomez has distinguished himself with an important body of research and has the respect and admiration of his colleagues at U.Va. and around the world. That the NIH has chosen to honor inquisitiveness and advancement of science with a MERIT Award speaks volumes to his work as a physician scientist," said Dr. Sharon Hostler, interim dean and vice president of U.Va.'s School of Medicine.
Logan Selected to Chair Specialty Food Advisory Committee
Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), recently created a Specialty Food Advisory Committee (SFAV). He also appointed 11 members to serve on the Committee.
The group, which will work with and advise VDACS on the marketing and promotion of Virginia's specialty food industry, held its first meeting September 19, 2007. The Advisory Committee is composed of eleven voting members who are knowledgeable about specialty food issues in Virginia. Members represent retailers, the Food Science Department at Virginia Tech and specialty food processors. One member is an at- large member who is an advocate for the specialty food industry.
Members will advise VDACS regarding specialty food programs and will assist VDACS' Division of Marketing in the growth of the Specialty Food Industry in Virginia. The Committee also will plan an annual educational conference with the support of the Virginia Food and Beverage Association.
Appointed to two-year terms are:
* Jane Riddick-Fries, FERIDES, Courtland - representing large specialty food producers
* G. Willis Logan, President, Virginia Wine of the Month Club, Stanardsville - representing the retail industry
* Samuel W. Edwards, III, President, S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Inc., Surry - representing large producers
* Jeff Bateman, Integrity Food Group, LLC, West Point - representing small producers
* Robert C. Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg - representing Virginia Tech
Appointed to one-year terms are:
* Peter Pruden, III, Co-owner, Taste Unlimited, Virginia Beach - representing retailers
* Scott D. Stephens, Director of Sales, Virginia Diner, Inc., Wakefield - representing large producers
* Dave Ottaway, Virginia Food and Beverage Association, Goochland - representing the Association
* Jim Foster, Alpak Container Corporation, Chesapeake - representing suppliers
* Oliver Turner, The Virginia Chutney Company, Washington - representing small producers
* Rachel Graves, Graves Mountain Lodge, Syria - representing advocates of the specialty food industry
"Specialty foods are an important component of the agricultural industry in Virginia," says Todd P. Haymore, VDACS Commissioner. "They are an excellent way to add value to basic agricultural commodities, they increase the diversity of Virginia products, and they provide local, regional and state- recognized products and brands. Specialty foods range from individual products such as flavored teas, baked goods, peanuts, sauces, or jams and jellies, to already-prepared meals or mixes which consumers use to enhance their meals. They are important outlets for farm products and enhance Virginia's reputation as a producer of fine and gourmet food products. Many specialty foods have earned the state's highest accolade, the Virginia's Finest trademark. I believe the Advisory Committee will be an important part of marketing Virginia products within the state, around the region, and overseas, and we look forward to working with them."
The Committee will meet at least three times annually. It has two standing sub-committees. The Conference Committee will plan and execute an annual educational conference, recall workshops, safety workshops, and other educational opportunities. The Communication Committee is charged with communicating to the Specialty Food Industry the programs and development of the industry. The Committee will develop a scholarship program for one Virginia Tech student each year to write and produce a quarterly newsletter for the industry.
For more information on the Specialty Food Advisory Committee, contact Chair Willis Logan at 434/985- 2834 or wlogan@vawineclub.com or VDACS' Division of Marketing at 804/786-3530.
Booz Allen Hamilton to Open New Office in Charlottesville
Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate David Toscano are expected to join University of Virginia Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard Sandridge, and officials from Booz Allen Hamilton in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, October 19, to open a new office for the global strategy and technology consulting firm.
The Booz Allen Charlottesville staff, with 40 current employees, is partnered with several Virginia firms and academic institutions, and will operate from new facilities at 1001 Research Park Boulevard, in Charlottesville.
"We are excited by our growing foothold in this region. The work we are performing for our clients in Charlottesville is important and we expect the local economy will benefit both from new employment opportunities and from an infusion of income into local businesses," said Booz Allen Vice President Gary Cubbage. "Charlottesville is a dynamic and growing city, and we are proud to become a part of this community. Our local offices have a commitment to the communities in which we live and work -- engaging in professional societies, chambers of commerce, and especially local charities. On average, over 60% of our staff actively donate time to charities and we actively encourage and support employee involvement."
Booz Allen made the commitment to the Charlottesville area to better serve the company's Army, University, and commercial clients. The office will be primarily focused on providing management and technology consulting services to clients, particularly in the information technology sector.
Booz Allen's affiliation with Charlottesville goes back over twenty years, with the University of Virginia being one of Booz Allen's core recruiting schools. Seven of Booz Allen's serving vice presidents are University of Virginia alumni.
"The full resources of Booz Allen are now represented and are available to our clients to help them address the increasing demands of our globally connected society," said Senior Associate Frank DiGiacomo, manager of the Booz Allen Charlottesville office. "We are pleased to be a part of this rich and diverse community, and we look forward to contributing not only professionally, but also as good corporate citizens."
Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of management consulting for businesses and governments for more than 90 years. Providing consulting services in strategy, operations, organization and change, and information technology, Booz Allen is the one firm that helps clients solve their toughest problems, working by their side to help them achieve their missions. Booz Allen is committed to delivering results that endure. With 19,000 employees on six continents, the firm generates annual sales of $4 billion. Booz Allen has been recognized as a consultant and an employer of choice.
In 2007, for the third consecutive year, Fortune magazine named Booz Allen one of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For," and for the past nine years, Working Mother has ranked the firm among its "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers."
To learn more about the firm, visit the Booz Allen web site at www.boozallen.com.
TJPDC Awarded FTA Grant for Pilot Transportation Program
TJPDC was recently awarded a competitive national grant as part of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Public Transportation Participation Pilot Program.
Through this program, TJPDC will develop a Regional Transit Assessment Toolkit to solicit feedback from current users of the public transportation system to determine if the existing public transportation service responds to their needs, and if it doesn't how it could be improved.
The Toolkit will also solicit feedback from people who do not currently utilize alternatives to driving alone, to determine what changes would meet their access and mobility needs and attract them to the benefits of using public transportation. The Toolkit will complement the Regional Transit Authority Plan, current underway through funding by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle.
The FTA grant award is for $100,000; with work scheduled to begin in late Fall 2007.
For more information, contact Harrison Rue at hrue@tjpdc.org or (434) 979-7310 x110.
National College Honors Local Partner in Education
On October 8th, the Charlottesville Campus presented a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Ayana Conway, Executive Director of Weed & Seed Network, for being a Partner in Education.
Last fall, Campus Director Kimberly Moore had the opportunity to give a presentation to Weed & Seed board members about National College and the many career-training programs available at the Charlottesville Campus.
Since then, the campus has been fortunate to build a strong partnership with Weed & Seed which is helping employees who want a college education to achieve that goal.
Eric Lund Completes Purchase of Charlottesville House & Home Magazine
Eric Lund, Publisher of the regional glossy monthly, Charlottesville House & Home magazine, has completed the purchase of the remaining shares of the parent company Target Media Inc from former business partner Edward Ike Allen, Jr. and is now the sole stockholder in the Charlottesville based publishing company.
Charlottesville House & Home was launched in March of this year. Lund will continue in the role as Publisher and no staff changes are expected at the magazine. Lund also indicated an announcement is expected in November on a second new magazine to be launched by the company in the spring of 2008.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Boar's Head Inn Announces First Assistant General Manager
Boar's Head Inn is pleased to announce that Kevin Blake has been promoted to the position of Assistant General Manager.
After a successful career with ANA Hotels International, Destination Hotels and Resorts, and Fairmont Hotels in Washington, D.C., Kevin joined Boar's Head Inn in October 2005 as Food and Beverage Director. In addition to directing Food and Beverage operations, Kevin will assume day-to-day responsibilities in the Rooms Division.
In this new capacity, he will continue to oversee the resort's acclaimed Old Mill Room restaurant, for which he and his excellent culinary team have worked diligently to secure the prestigious AAA Four Diamond award for the 21st consecutive year. The Old Mill Room is open to the general public as well as Boar's Head guests, and it features outstanding breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings daily. Also, Boar's Head Inn's acclaimed Sunday brunch is one of the most popular in the region.
"We are delighted to celebrate Kevin's appointment," said Jorg Lippuner, General Manager of the Boar's Head Inn. "His extensive background in our industry and focus on quality make him a very strong contributor to our success, particularly, in view of the addition of our new Meeting Pavilion which should be completed by fall of 2008. It will be the largest indoor space of its kind in the area, and Kevin will be playing a pivotal role in directing and expanding our service offerings in this exciting venue."
This new facility offers not only the perfect combination of timeless warmth, hospitality and service for which Boar's Head has long been known, but also the state- of-the-art facilities and elegant surroundings our clients deserve. Boar's Head Inn has long been a favorite meeting place for corporations, associations and social groups from throughout the region and beyond thanks to its trademark charm and longstanding reputation for excellence. The addition of the Meeting Pavilion will further enhance this reputation, while providing groups of all kinds the opportunity to enjoy all that Charlottesville has to offer as a destination.
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 adequate 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 a crown jewel for our region."
Boar's Head Inn, a 170-room resort set 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, meeting space, and proximity to attractions such as Monticello, the Blue Ridge Mountains and numerous wineries. The resort is owned and operated by the University of Virginia Foundation.
For more information and reservations, call 434.972.2232 or 800.476.1988; or visit the resort's website at www.boarsheadinn.com.
Critzer Assumes Presidency of Virginia Land Title Association
Ronald S. Critzer has been installed as the President of the Virginia Land Title Association by Theodore L. Chandler, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Land America Financial Group, and Chairman of the Underwriter Section of the American Land Title Association.
Critzer is the founder and President of Court Square Title of Charlottesville, Inc., with offices in the City of Charlottesville, City of Culpeper and Fluvanna County.
The Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA), founded in 1974, is the state trade association for the land title industry. Its members are agents, abstractors, attorneys, examiners, settlement officers, underwriters and others who assist in the title insurance and real estate settlement/closing process. VLTA is comprised of more than 300 companies, employing more than 3,000 title professionals throughout the Commonwealth.
CATEC Launches New Web Site
Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center recently launched a new web site at http://www.catec.org/.
The "new look" web site has many new features and has a more professional, business feel.
"The new web site exemplifies our goal of sharing information with students, parents, businesses and the community," commented CATEC Director Darah Bonham.
There are several new features on the web site, including a Information & Media link, the Director's Blog, a Business Partnership page, and the first ever Alumni page, which is open to past graduates who completed CATEC programs.
To see more, log on to www.catec.org, where you will be able to learn how the CATEC students fared in the state competitions at the State Fair on Oct. 1.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
VPTC + CVG Becomes the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council
The Virginia Piedmont Technology Council + Charlottesville Venture Group (VPTC+CVG) announced today at a name launch party that the organization is now the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) and that it has a new tagline, Advancing Technology and Entrepreneurship, which take effect immediately.
"We began talking about bringing the two organizations together a year ago; last spring, we combined our boards of directors and in June we physically combined our offices in our new 501 East Main St. location, said Dave Keller, chairman of CBIC. "We needed a new identity based upon our combined mission and vision as we move forward together. Our new name and new tagline represent the shared interests of our membership."
"As a single organization we are able to offer a wider array of services to our members and the community," said Tom Thompson, executive director of CBIC. "Through workshops, conferences and web resources, we can offer educational opportunities that support innovation and business growth. We can now put our combined resources behind events like the Tech Tour this month, the Annual Business Forum this December, and the Tech Awards next spring."
CBIC is the preeminent private-sector advocate and catalyst for entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development in our region. It serves its members by providing advocacy, educational programming, and by bringing people together through its network of members and contacts. CBIC has over 300 individuals, companies and organizations as members representing more than 15,000 people in the work force.
For more information, visit www.CvilleBIC.org.
Local Realtor to Assume Presidency of State Association
The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) is pleased to announce that local Realtor Pat Jensen was inaugurated as President of the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) on Wednesday, October 4 at the 2007 Annual VAR Convention and Expo.
Jensen, a past President of CAAR, served as President-Elect for VAR during 2007. She will be the third Charlottesville area Realtor in the past 10 years to serve as VAR President.
"I am so excited about the year ahead of me." Says Jensen "It is such an honor to serve as President, representing over 40,000 Realtors in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Due to her previous leadership roles in both the business and charitable sectors, Jensen is well- suited to take the helm at such a large association. She has served in various leadership roles for CAAR, both on the Board of Directors and as Chair of various committees.
She holds numerous designations in her field and is a graduate of VAR's Virginia Leadership Academy, where she is now a Trustee. In addition, Jensen participates in many charitable organizations and has served on the Governing Board for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and on the Board of Directors at the Senior Center. She is currently on the Board of the 21st Century Fund (previously the Retail Merchants Association).
Jensen has been the Broker Manager of Real Estate III in Charlottesville since 2002, a role in which she takes direct responsibility for approximately 60 agents in her brokerage. She also works with her son, Kris Jensen, as a Realtor, representing her past clients and referrals. She has been a Realtor in Charlottesville since 1992, building a distinguished career and retaining a long-standing membership in the Professional Honor Societies of both CAAR and VAR.
She holds the distinction of being the only CAAR Realtor to have been awarded all four major honors: Rookie of the Year, Sales Person of the Year, Realtor of the Year, and the Ethics in Action Award.
Jensen's Installation Ceremony took place at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. Jensen will hold her position with VAR until Autumn 2008.
She resides in Charlottesville with her husband, Doug, and has four children and one grandchild.
Cardinal Point Wins Gold at Virginia Governor's Cup
Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery's 2006 Viognier earned one of only 25 Gold medals awarded in the 2007 Virginia Governor's Cup Wine Competition. Cardinal Point's signature wine, the 2006 A6, a blend of Viognier and Chardonnay, won Silver, and their Reserve Cabernet Franc, Barrel Select Chardonnay, and 2005 and 2006 Cabernet Franc wines won Bronze.
The Governor's Cup competition is open to Virginia wines only. Cardinal Point's entries were among 352 total Virginia wines entered. Tim Gorman, winemaker at Cardinal Point, expressed satisfaction and thanks that his Viognier was recognized among such a formidable assemblage of great wines.
Although Cardinal Point wines have already received gold and silver medals in multi-state and international wine competitions this year, Gorman acknowledged the importance of winning at the Governor's Cup. "Winemakers in Virginia are making some of the finest wines in the country; I am honored that one of my wines has been chosen as a standout in such elite company."
Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery is located in Afton, in Nelson County, Virginia, and is open for tours and tastings everyday from 11:00 until 5:30. For more information visit their website at www.cardinalpointwinery.com or call 540.456.8400.
Frank A. Cappiello to Keynote CBIC 2007 Annual Business Forum
Frank Cappiello will deliver the keynote address opening the Gala Reception at this year's Annual Business Forum, presented by VPTC+CVG and hosted by the University of Virginia Batten Institute at the Darden School of Business.
Mr. Cappiello is best known to television viewers as a regular panelist of the PBS television series "Wall Street Week With Louis Rukeyser." He will talk about "The New American Economy - A View from Wall Street " on Thursday, December 6, at 6 pm, opening the evening's Gala Reception.
The Keynote Address and Gala Reception are part of the VPTC+CVG tenth Annual Business Forum, the premier networking and educational event of the year for the entrepreneurial community. This year's theme is "The Entrepreneurial Path: Start, Survive, Succeed."
Eugene T. Haley, CEO of Wilmington Pharmaceuticals (WP), will talk about "The Entrepreneurial Path" at the event's Friday luncheon. Mr. Haley has raised the first angel investment round for WP, and the company is nearing final FDA approval for its first drug.
The Annual Business Forum also includes a Live Fire session where five companies, hoping to secure a term sheet, present to a panel of lead angels that manage large angel groups from around the country.
They are:
· Elizabeth Karter, a co-founder and Managing Director of the Angel Investor Forum in Connecticut.
· David Rose, Chairman of New York Angels, who provides capital and management expertise through his investment fund, Rose Technology Ventures LLC and is an accredited investor member of the NYNMA Angel Investors Program.
· John Huston, co-founder of OhioTechAngels, who formed USPrivatecompanies, LLC, which has invested in more than two dozen start- up ventures, and who is Vice Chairman of the Ohio Venture Capital Authority.
In addition, two UVA Innovators will showcase their latest ground-breaking research. The Entrepreneurial Workshop Series, always heavily attended, provide hands-on assistance to regional entrepreneurs looking for practical tools for success.
Workshops, developed in collaboration with the Batten Institute and the Coulter Foundation include:
· Transforming Ideas into Enterprises· Information Tsunami - Email to Twitter and Beyond
· Power of the Network - Delivering Innovation through Social Networking
· Crash & Learn - Anatomy of a Failure Gala Reception & 90-second pitches: Entrepreneurs of all types, investors, service professionals and students mingle and network in the elegant atmosphere of the Darden Abbott Center. Many of our newest start-ups will do a 90-second pitch in search of funding, a management team, board members or strategic partners.
Angel Breakfast: This is a private event with keynote speakers and angels and is by invitation only. Business Concept Competition: We complete the program with the Darden Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club Business Concept Competition, which offers aspiring entrepreneurs cash prizes and a potential opportunity to enter the Darden Incubator.
National College Announces Partner Recognition
Charlottesville Campus Community Resource Coordinator Andrea D. Copeland and Regional Director of Community Development Karen Jackson recently met with representatives from Lexis Nexis and the Charlottesville Department of Rehabilitation Services (CDRS) to present them with plaques for being Partners in Education.
Lexis Nexis and CDRS financially assist students with tuition costs. Along with this funding, these students also get financial support from the College with the Business Partnership Grant (Lexis) and the Workforce Development Grant (CDRS); thus allowing most or all of their education to be paid for.
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