Business Today
Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce member enterprise news log
Monday, April 28, 2008
Introducing www.gocho.com
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) has just unveiled a completely redesigned, user-friendly website providing it's customers with as much information as possible when traveling to, from, and through its doors.
Visitors to www.gocho.com will quickly recognize improved features, including more detailed interactive airport and terminal maps, flight status data, one click competitive ticket booking, up-to- date CHO related news, and a web blog to name a few.
"Gocho.com has been recreated with everything I would want when traveling to an airport" states the Airport Executive Director Barbara Hutchinson. "It is simple in design, with as much information at your fingertips as possible, but without the clutter found on many websites."
Future improvements will also include the addition of access to airport development plan documents, the comprehensive annual financial report, and Airport Authority Board and Commission meeting minutes and agendas. Understanding that customers have a choice, CHO has begun a campaign to better connect with its customers, and find better ways to assist them.
The CHO Connection...Your Airport Blog will discuss all topics related to the airport and its customers. Even the news section can receive comments from the public.
"Our goal is to become Central Virginia's airport of choice" explained Mrs.Hutchinson. "The redesigned website is just one of our many exciting innovative approaches to forging new airport-customer relationships."
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is a primary non- hub commercial service airport serving Central Virginia with 50 arrivals/departures per day. Airlines include The Delta Connection, Northwest Airlink, US Airways Express, and United Express. General aviation services include aircraft charter (Meridian Air and Landmark Aviation), flight school and aircraft rental (Charlottesville Flight Center), and fixed base operation services (Landmark Aviation).
The website design team includes OpenSource Connections, a Charlottesville, Virginia based software development consultancy (www.opensourceconnections.com), and Birch Studio Graphics, a local firm specializing in design services and web page development (www.birchstudio.com).
Emily Pelton Wins Judges Choice Award in National Wine Competition
Emily takes her place beside the best women wine makers in California as the Overall Winner of the red, white, Sparkling and Dessert wine categories in the Women Winemakers Challenge portion of the 2007 National Women's Wine Competition.
Other gold medal winners included Carol Shelton of Shelton Wines, Joy Andersen of Erath Vineyards, Eileen Crane of Domaine Carneros, Dorothy Schuler of Bodegas Paso Robles, Denise Shurtleff of Cambria Estate Winery and Domenica Totty of Beaulieu Vineyards.
The winning wine: Veritas 2005 Kenmar, Traminette, Monticello AVA
Emily Pelton, Winemaker
The winning wine also won:
Sweepstakes Winner (Open) Competition
Dessert Wine
Gold Medal
Sweepstakes Winner Women's Winemaker's Challenge Competition
Dessert Wine
Gold Medal
Determined on a career in wine making Emily completed a Masters in Enology at Virginia Tech with Bruce Zoeklein. The winemaker at Veritas Winery (annual production of 10,000 cases per year) in Afton Virginia; Emily puts the quality of wine above everything constantly working on characterizing the terroir of the vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Veritas began operations in 1999 producing the first vintage in 2001 the year both her Grandparents died. Her grand - mother Marjorie rejoiced in sweet wine "so we decided to name our sweet wine after Kenneth and Marjorie calling it "Kenmar" in honor of their memory" Emily explained.
Traminette is a French- French hybrid of Gewurtztraminer and Joannes -Seyve (JS) 23-416 which originated from Cornell in the mid nineties. The grape is to all and intents and purposes a Gewurtztraminer that grows beautifully in Virginia. The wonderful aroma of roses in the Kenmar -is the 'Gewurtz' component from the Traminette. The wine was made using an Ice Wine- like process with cryo - extraction resulting in a 14.5 % alcohol and 8% residual sugar in the wine. The perfect balance of sugar and acid accentuate the panoply of honeyed tropical fruit, and crystallized citrus flavors that fill the mouth finishing in mellifluous harmony.
United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area Announces Initiative for Effective Nonprofits
One of the many behind-the-scenes ways the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area helps strengthen our community is by helping local nonprofit organizations enhance or develop good business practices. Well-run organizations are always striving to better themselves and the services they provide to our community.
The Initiative for Effective Nonprofits is a community partnership between the United Way and the Wardle Family Foundation in providing grants to improve organizational governance and business practices in local nonprofit organizations.
Last year, Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries, OAR/Jefferson Area Corrections, SARA, Children, Youth & Family Services, and MACAA received grants ranging from $2,200 to $5,000 to improve their effectiveness. In addition, OAR/Jefferson Area Community Corrections received $5,000 to improve operations and management through a two day workshop on leadership training and managing organizational change. Management staff from five local agencies benefited from the September training.
"This training was excellent," said Pat Smith, Executive Director of OAR. "It was the perfect time for our management team as we implement change and bring on new managers. It was also a great opportunity to share in the learning experience with some other organizations in town. Thanks so much for giving us at OAR this opportunity for staff and agency growth. "
The Initiative for Effective nonprofits is currently accepting applications for grants from nonprofit organizations that provide services to residents of the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. As many as five grants of up to $5,000 are expected to be awarded.
The grant application and guidelines may be found at www.UnitedWayTJA.org or email info@initiativeforeffectivenonprofits.info. Applications are due by Thursday, May 15, 2008.
Please contact Jon Nafziger, Initiative Director at (434) 972-1701 or email info@initiativeforeffectivenonprofits.info with any questions.
Tuesday Evening Concert Series Announces 2008-09 Season
The Tuesday Evening Concert Series announces its 2008/09 Season of world-renowned classical chamber musicians.
Subscriptions are now on sale for the 7-concert series that every year draws capacity crowds of serious music lovers who no longer need to travel to New York or Washington to see established stars and extraordinary newcomers who have already received international acclaim:
October 21 - Daniel Mueller-Schott, cello
October 28 - Isabel Bayrakdarian, soprano
November 18 - Capucon-Angelich Trio
January 20 - Radu Lupu, piano
February 3 - Arabella Steinbacher, violin
March 10 - Leipzig String Quartet
March 31 - Salzburg Chamber Soloists
Three children's concerts by Mr. Mueller-Schott, Ms. Steinbacher and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, will be offered free of charge to several thousand schoolchildren in the region. Children's Concert Underwriters: BAMA Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, The Watterson Foundation, and the Anne Stevens & Cameron Waterman III Fund in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.
To order subscriptions, either call the Series office at 434-244-9505 or download the subscription form on the Series web site: www.tecs.org.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
CAAR CEO Named Vice-Chair of National Association of Realtors Exec. Committee
CAAR CEO Dave Phillips was recently tapped to be the 2009 Vice-Chair of the Association Executive Committee for the National Association of Realtors. He has accepted this position with the understanding that he will proceed to the Chair position in 2010.
This is the highest position an Association Executive can hold at NAR and therefore quite an honor. Furthermore, this appointment is a well-deserved recognition of Dave's leadership skills and his keen understanding of local and national market forces and how they affect us as REALTORS.
This appointment also will be a great benefit to CAAR in terms of increased exposure to the latest ideas and trends in the industry. Dave's close contacts with top NAR staff will allow him to bring back real-time information to CAAR staff and members and keep CAAR on the leading edge of association management and customer service.
Spring Creek Golf Club Named Golf Digest's Best New Public Course
Spring Creek Golf Club has been named the "Best New Public Course Under $75" by Golf Digest magazine. The course was chosen because of its design, provided by Ed Carton, the acclaimed golf course architect whose Poplar Grove design, in collaboration with renowned golfing great Sam Snead, has garnered rave reviews from national golfing press.
The Golf Digest review by Ron Whitten said, "Spring Creek has the look and feel of a course worth twice the admission price. Nearly every hole is isolated in a dense forest of hardwood trees, with the only parallel holes being the third and fourth. But forget the trees. Spring Creek welcomes golfers with open arms."
"The selection verifies the fact that we really do have something special," said Spring Creek PGA master professional and director of golf Jack Snyder. "We knew it was special, but when an independent organization comes in and says so, that confirms everything."
Spring Creek is a 1,200-acre master-planned, gated golf course and community in Zion Crossroads, Gordonsville, Va., adjacent to the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District. Spring Creek Golf Club is an 18-hole semi-private championship golf course and the focal point for the housing community.
For more information, or for tee times call (540) 832- 0744 or visit www.springcreekgolfclub.com.
Charlottesville Fire Department Receives Department of Homeland Security Grant
The Charlottesville Fire Department, Charlottesville, Va. has received a grant award through the Department of Homeland Security's Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).
This program awards equipment to smaller jurisdictions that otherwise may not be able to budget some of the more advanced technology available for homeland security initiatives, as well as normal day to day operations. CEDAP's target audience are localities with population around 50, 000.
The equipment received by the department includes a "chemical detection kit" containing equipment to detect and/or analyze various solid/liquid/gaseous materials. The kit augments equipment that was already in place for hazardous materials response in the community, encompassing Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the University of Virginia. This chemical detection equipment provides a technological advancement in dealing with some types of potentially harmful materials, allowing the responder to now analyze certain materials without having to come in contact with them.
Prior to this award the responder often had to physically manipulate the material in some way in attempts to analyze it. Now, the responders may not have to physically handle some potentially harmful materials as much as they once did.
The total cost of this detection kit would be in excess of $40,000. Through the CEDAP program the department was awarded the equipment free of charge with training included in the award.
The CEDAP award process is competitive in nature and localities must submit a grant proposal justifying their need for the equipment. CEDAP grants requests for equipment are received from agencies throughout the United States, and the process is opened annually.
The Charlottesville Fire Department has its primary responsibility to the citizens of Charlottesville. Charlottesville is 10 square miles with a population of approximately 40,000. The University of Virginia student population adds another 20,000 when school is in full session.
In addition, the fire department provides contractual fire protection for the County of Albemarle and the University of Virginia. Contractual services to Albemarle County are provided as a supplementary response to an efficient volunteer and career Fire/EMS system.
The Charlottesville Fire Department also dispatches fire/first responder calls for Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. The Charlottesville Fire Department's daily operations include 5 engine companies, 1 ladder company, and one Battalion Chief.
Law Students Raise $18,000 for Local Non- Profit
Children, Youth & Family Services is a nonprofit which provides a menu of needed services to children and families in the region. Over the years, Children, Youth & Family Services has received a total $86,500 from the efforts of these community-minded Law students.
"This gift will have a big impact on CYFS", said Executive Director Jacki Bryant. "Last year we helped more than 3,000 kids in the Charlottesville area, and a gift of this size will allow us to fill some of the various funding gaps which arise periodically in our local, state and federal funding. We are deeply grateful to the NGSL for selecting CYFS as the beneficiary of this wonderful event."
Tournament directors, Kyle Schindler and Allie Ferguson, organized UVa Law School volunteers in the 25th anniversary of this annual event. An incredible 112 teams representing over 40 different law schools from all over the country played in 250 games on fields around Charlottesville. More than 1,300 law student/softball players from 18 different states converged on the City filling scores of hotel rooms as they competed for trophies in two divisions.
Websites for more details: http://www.ngsl.com, UVA North Grounds Softball League; and, http://www.cyfs.org, Children, Youth & Family Services.
DIGICO Launches New Website, New Video Demo
(Harrisonburg) DIGICO launched their updated Website, complete with a new video demo at www.goDIGICO.com. To coincide with the site launch, DIGICO is offering any short or long-form Web video to Chamber members at 10% off through the month of April.
"In most cases it's easier to show what we do here at DIGICO rather than tell; the new site and demo reel accomplish this." said Ryan Berry, DIGICO co-owner and producer. "A lot of our work doesn't air on local TV, so existing and new clients don't always get to see our full range of work," Berry said.
Centrally located in Harrisonburg, DIGICO travels in and outside of Virginia servicing clients of all sizes, large and small.
"It's easy for someone in D.C. or another city to get a quick idea of quality we bring to projects" said Joey Groah, DIGICO co-owner and producer. "And our friends and neighbors in town can see what we offer too."
Last year DIGICO started offering High Definition production, and clients definitely see the difference.
"Even if the end product isn't broadcast in HD, producing everything in the best possible quality from the beginning dramatically effects the outcome! We've even had contacts ask us if we're shooting on film now," said Berry. DIGICO's clients range from international companies to local small businesses.
Services include TV shows, TV commercials, corporate and industrial videos, Web video, animation and more.
ABOUT DIGICO: A full service video production and multimedia company, DIGICO blends creativity, experience and technical innovation into the right solution. Offering services from script to screen, across all media, DIGICO turns concepts and ideas into results.
Monday, April 14, 2008
K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons to Host Grand Opening of the Centerpiece of its New Community
K. Hovnanian Homes, the nation's 6th largest homebuilder, is set to grand open the centerpiece of its new Active Adult community, called the Four Seasons Charlottesville.
The 21,000-square-foot clubhouse is the centerpiece of the community and the heart of its resort-at-home lifestyle.
"During the past year our homeowners have enjoyed their new low-maintenance homes, great neighbors and a growing community," says Anthony Herring, Community Manager. "With the opening of the clubhouse they can truly enjoy what it feels like to live in an Active Adult community for those 55 and better."
The clubhouse features amenities such as a grand ballroom, learning center, billiards room, indoor pool and spa, fitness center, aerobics room, library, card room, and wi-fi clubroom. It joins walking trails and scenic Lake Rucker as part of the community's available amenities.
Businesses and Chamber of Commerce members in the Charlottesville and surrounding areas are welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and reception to be catered by the Lafayette Inn which is scheduled for Thursday, May 1st from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Call Stacy Thomas at (434) 985-2140 to RSVP. Learn more about the community at www.KhovCville.com.
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC, a clinical-stage drug- development company commercializing drugs utilizing a novel method of action that enhances oxygen diffusion, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patent no. 7,351,844 entitled "Bipolar Trans Carotenoid Salts and Their Uses."
This patent includes claims to a family of first-in-class new chemical entities, known as trans biopolar carotenoid (or TBC) molecules. In addition, the Company also announced it has been granted corresponding patents from the South African and the New Zealand Patent Offices.
"The issuance of these patents is a vital step in our intellectual property development strategy, furthering our goal of bringing Diffusion Pharmaceutical's first-in- class therapeutics to market. Our highly unique compounds may one day treat patients with a broad range of disorders involving hypoxia," said David G. Kalergis, Diffusion's CEO.
In addition to these newly issued patents, the Company has also filed other U.S. patent applications and numerous corresponding foreign and national- stage applications in major international markets. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC is a clinical-stage drug-development company commercializing a family of first-in-class drug candidates to treat serious or life- threatening medical conditions. These proprietary small molecules use a novel method of action to enhance oxygen diffusion to oxygen deprived (hypoxic) tissue.
Potential clinical applications include cancer, critical care uses such as trauma, hemorrhage, stroke and heart attack, as well as chronic conditions such as peripheral arterial and vascular disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders.
Enhanced diffusion of oxygen into hypoxic tissue has an important application in oncology by improving the efficacy of radiation therapy in cancerous tumors. A Phase 1 study for its lead molecule, trans sodium crocetinate (TSC), in healthy subjects was successfully completed in 2007.
The company is now initiating proof-of-concept and dose-finding studies in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and in peripheral arterial disease patients suffering from intermittent claudication. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, which is privately held, is located in Charlottesville.
For more information, visit www.diffusionpharma.com.
Bruce Springsteen Helps Food Bank Fight Hunger The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network announces today that it has been chosen by Bruce Springsteen to be the charitable beneficiary of his April 30th concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. The food bank will benefit from the sale of four concert tickets donated by Springsteen to be auctioned online by Charity Folks, the leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, corporate cause-marketing campaigns and celebrity-driven initiatives. The ticket auction is now open for bids and can be accessed through www.brafb.org or www.charityfolks.com/bruce. Springsteen, a member of World Hunger Year's Artists Against Hunger and Poverty Program, staunchly supports the efforts of community-based hunger relief organizations across North America. He typically selects a hunger relief organization to be a beneficiary in the city in which he is performing. During his April 30th performance, Springsteen will speak briefly on behalf of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, and encourage concert-goers to join with him in his mission to end hunger by making a donation to the Food Bank. While many members of the community may not be able to attend the concert in April, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network has made it possible for anyone to contribute to Springsteen's cause through a special virtual food drive leading up to and following the event. From April 14 through May 3, anyone may donate online to the "Bruce Springsteen: Serving Up Magic" virtual food drive accessible at www.brafb.org. This virtual food drive makes it possible for each person in the community to be an advocate of hunger relief and share in the mission of Springsteen and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network. Charity Folks is the leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, corporate cause-marketing campaigns and celebrity-driven charity initiatives. Managing hundreds of successful charity auctions since its inception, Charity Folks has raised nearly $10 million for nonprofit organizations around the world, all while offering consumers highly coveted auction lots donated by today's hottest celebrities, musicians, sports stars, high-profile personalities and top-tier brands. For further information, visit www.charityfolks.com. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network services 25 counties and 9 cities in Virginia and has four branches across 12,000 square miles, including: The Shenandoah Valley Area Branch in Verona; the Thomas Jefferson Area Branch in Charlottesville, the Lord Fairfax Area Branch in Winchester and the Lynchburg Area Branch. It serves 129,000 different people annually and distributed more than 8.7 million pounds of food last year. For more information, visit www.brafb.org
The Lafayette Featured in Virginia Wine Gazette
The Lafayette Inn, located on Main Street in Stanardsville, is featured in the current issue of the Virginia Wine Gazette.
In the publication, food critic Kit Johnson provides commentary on her recent dining experience with the historic Greene County restaurant.
To read the entire story, visit http://www.insideout.com/constantcontact/LafayetteInn/ winearticle.pdf.
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