Shenandoah Valley Business Journal by Daily News-Record

BUSINESS JOURNAL A Byrd Newspapers Publication

Shenandoah Valley

Volume 15, No. 1, Nov. 25, 2014

Under 40 Introducing the members of the 2014 list of up-and-coming business persons in the community.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley Business Journal is a monthly publication of Rockingham Publishing Company, Inc., 231 S. Liberty St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

Editorial Staff Editor and General Manager: Peter S. Yates Managing Editor: Jerry Blair Staff writers: Vic Bradshaw, Kelly Clark, Elaina Sauber, Kelsey Shields Contributing photographers: Jason Lenhart

Valley Case Management Wins Several Medical Service Contracts HARRISONBURG Valley Case Management & Consulting Services LLC, based in McGaheysville, announces it has been awarded several contracts for the delivery of on-site medical services. The first contract is with James G. Davis Construction for a large project in McLean, according to an announcement from the company. In addition, the company’s statement said that it has been awarded contracts with Structure Tone for a project in Seekford Boydton, with Whiting Turner for a large project in Monks Corner, S.C., and with Balfour Beatty at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Founded in 2005 by Michelle Seekford,

Focus Section: 10 Under 40

Harrisonburg, Va.

■ JMU Grad Giving A Voice To Valley Youth . . . . . . . .Page 3

By mail:

■ Simmons Blasts Through Recession With Group . . . .Page 4

Shenandoah Valley Business Journal P.O. Box 193 Harrisonburg, VA 22803

■ Big Brother Goes Extra Mile For Small Biz . . . . . . . .Page 6 ■ Valley Lawyer Makes A Persuasive Case . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 ■ SHS Grad Helping Position Merck For Future . . . . .Page 7

By email:

■ Winemaker Leads Industry In R’Ham County . . . . .Page 8

svbjnews@dnronline.com

■ Education That Makes A Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9

By fax:

■ City Native Trades Office For Fine Dining . . . . . . . .Page 10

433-9112

■ JMU Grad Puts Focus On Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 11

By phone:

■ Poultry Entrepreneur Favors Organic Approach . . . .Page 13

574-6281 (news) 574-6229 (ads)

Columns

On The Cover:

■ Valley Business Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 ■ Movers and Shakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 ■ Real Estate by Tim Reamer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5

Valley Case Management has provided onsite medical services to some of the largest wrap-up construction projects in the U.S. Seekford also is the independent owner of Valley Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine in Harrisonburg. — Staff Reports

Retirement Communities Achieve Highest Rating HARRISONBURG — The president and CEO of Sunnyside Communities, John J. “Jack” Broaddus, has announced that each of its communities — Sunnyside, King’s Grant and Summit Square — has received the highest rating for overall quality in skilled nursing care from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Established in 2008 to assist consumers, their families, and caregivers in comparing nursing home facilities more easily, the See SCENE, Page 12

Shentel VP Named Chairman Of Virginia Cable Board HARRISONBURG — Chris Kyle, Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.’s vice president for industry affairs, has been elected to serve as chairman of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, according to a press release from Shentel. Kyle was elected last week during the trade association’s November meeting in Williamsburg. At Shentel, an Edinburg-based telecommunications company, Kyle is responsible for negotiating programKyle ming agreements, cable acquisitions, and is the primary contact with local, state and federal legislators and regulators, the company’s release stated. Since joining the company in 2003, he has

Jason Lenhart / DN-R

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lora Nalberczinski, Rusty Simmons, Kevin Flint, Travis Vance, J.B. Rosson, Lee Hartman, Maria V. Lugo, Amanda Cannon, Keston Fulcher, Corwin Heatwole

led projects in acquisitions, business development, long-range planning and Shentel Cable marketing and sales. Previously, Kyle served as secretary of the trade association’s board of directors and also serves on the board of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, a regional economic development organization. VCTA was established in 1966 to promote the cable television and telecommunications services of member companies in Virginia to the public, the business community and state officials. — Staff Reports

City-County Chamber Panel Nominates Eight For Board HARRISONBURG — Eight people have been nominated to serve on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce’s 27-member board of directors for 2015-17, See MOVERS, Page 4

Harrisonburg, Va.

hroughout the fall, we asked members of the community to nominate up-andcoming business people. After whittling the list of nearly 40 nominees down to just 10 names, we present the winners. There are many

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Under 40

JMU Grad Giving A Voice To Valley Youth Name: Lora Nalberczinski Age: 36 By VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record

ears ago, one of Lora Nalberczinski’s sister’s college friends was studying the use of computers to help people who couldn’t speak to communicate. The field intrigued the preteen Nalberczinski, planting the seeds of a career and a business. Now 36, Nalberczinski is a speech language pathologist certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as the director of The Speech and Language Center. The business she See NALBERCZINSKI, Page 10

Nalberczinski

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

wonderfully talented young professionals in different industries throughout the Valley. If you don’t see your candidate, please resubmit their name next year. Congratulations to all of the winners for 2014! The 10 winners follow, in no particular order.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Harrisonburg, Va.

Simmons Blasts Through Recession With Group Name: Rusty Simmons Age: 31 By KELLY CLARK Daily News-Record

usty Simmons always knew what he wanted to do with his life, and it involved a lot of

concrete. “It’s a family business and basically the only job I’ve ever had,” Simmons said. “It was always my ambition.” Simmons’ ambition has resulted in 60 percent growth over the last six years in the amount of building components and roofing construction provided by the 12 businesses under Conmat Group Inc., including Rockingham Steel Inc. Simmons, 31, was born in Montezuma and graduated from Hampden-Syd-

Simmons

New Board To Be Presented At Banquet Movers

FROM PAGE 2

according to a press release. A nominating committee established by the chamber has recommended the selection of the following slate of directors: incumbent board members Cory Davies of the RMH Foundation, Rebecca Haushalter of White Oak Lavender Farm, Craig Mackail of Harrisonburg City Public Schools, and Joel Shank of Dynamic Aviation; and new members Felicia Crawford of Liberty Press, Scot Lilly of Farm Credit of the Virginias, Jonah Pence of Farmers & Merchants Bank and Jennifer Shirkey of Lenhart Petit. If no additional nominations are received, the slate will be presented at the chamber’s annual banquet on Jan. 8 for approval for the three-year terms. — Vic Bradshaw

Alderson Joins Dynamic Aviation As Senior VP For Programs HARRISONBURG — Ralph Alderson, a retired naval aviator, has been selected as Dynamic Aviation’s new senior vice president for programs.

In the position, the former U.S. Navy captain will be responsible for developing and growing the Bridgewater company’s program management department, according to a press release. The division is involved in securing, executing and growing high-level contracts with governmental and commercial clients. Alderson most recently was the vice president for programs of L-3 Communications Unmanned Systems. He previously commanded an S-2B Viking squadron at sea and a U.S. Air Force acquisition group ashore, as well as serving as the chief of Naval Operations Warfare Integration Branch Head, a job in which he was responsible for coordinating the Navy’s research and development and procurement budget. He gradated from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Alderson also is the executive vice chairman of the board for the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, the world’s largest trade association for unmanned systems and robotics. Dynamic Aviation provides specialSee MOVERS, Page 5

ney College in 2006 with a degree in economics and commerce. He started working in the Rockingham Steel office in Winston-Salem, N.C., as an estimator and project manager before being transferred to the corporate office in Harrisonburg in 2009. That year, he became first vice president of Rockingham Steel and its parent company, Conmat Group, and led the effort to acquire Republic Trusswerks, an engineered wood Under products business. Simmons became president and chief operating officer of Conmat Group on Sept. 1, 2011. “Day to day, I’m responsible for all of our manufactured building components,” Simmons said, including concrete and concrete accessories, construction debris and rebar, or reinforcing steel, which goes in concrete walls and floors. Conmat Group businesses employee

about 300 and provide materials and services for residential and commercial construction throughout Virginia. Conmat companies include Rockingham Asphalt, Rockingham Redi-Mix and Conrock. “Our purpose is to provide as many services as possible for the same project,” Simmons said. Simmons said the recession, which hit two years after he began working for Rockingham 40 Steel, forced him to lead on his feet, especially as Conmat entered the roofing business. “It’s been a huge learning experience to help navigate and learn as much as possible during the recession,” he said. “Hopefully, sunny days are ahead, but it’s been great to be a part of that.” Simmons said his main focus for the future is to introduce younger workers to the construction industry.

See SIMMONS, Page 12

Harrisonburg, Va.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Mary Baldwin Grad Named Director

Real Estate Tim Reamer

I’m Not As Good At Baseball As I Thought Getting Information Easy, But How Do You Make It Applicable?

few years ago I played in a soft- stuff — big data. That term hardly does it ball league. It was my first time justice. To put it in perspective, we created back on the field in 15 years, and about 5 billion gigabytes of information I was ready to resume my glory days. In my prime, I was an excellent short- from the beginning of human history stop and outfielder with an inordinate through 2003. We now create that much amount of power in my bat. You know, one data every 10 minutes. The point is we have a lot at our finyear I batted above .900 with three home gertips to help us make decisions. runs. Commercial real estate has not been I made the All-Star team that year with boys that were an age group above me. exempt and largely it has been a positive evolution. Business owners That year, by the way, was “When you have and executives have easy ac1988 and it was one of the last years I was actually good at tons of data, you cess to reams of transactional information, tax data, compabaseball. have to filter rable sales and property availIn my mind, I never stopped being good at baseball; I was out the noise.” ability. Demographic and psychoalways that 9-year-old boy graphic data, traffic counts, that had a knack for the game. And so, when I agreed to play softball, and amazing mapping software are readiI expected to be the player I was in my ly available online. Marketing information mind. If you’re curious as to my vision, I provided by brokers typically provides photos, floor plans and building specificawore the No. 3 and a Yankees cap. My season didn’t reflect that image. tions in addition to many of the items outThere were a few diving catches and the lined above. All this information is supplemented by occasional extra-base hit, but not a whole lot more. Mercifully, we didn’t keep official rows of file cabinets containing construcstats, but I could look back through the tion schedules, environmental reports, and site plans at the offices of brokers, arbook and see my results. It was foolish for me to think that my chitects and engineers. When you have tons of data, you have unfounded perception would be reality. My self-assessment was way off. I wasn’t as to filter out the noise. On a larger scale, skilled as I thought and was totally un- there won’t be a shortage of effort with promises of data mining, a goal of realaware, and it was completely natural. It’s called the Dunning-Kruger effect, time data, and projections that the sexiest and you can fall victim, too. My delusion job in the next decade will be that of a cost me pride — your business probably statistician. The takeaway seems to be that data is has a bit more on the line. There has never been a time in history cheap and abundant and the ability to acwhere we have had more access to data. In tually interpret, explain, and add value is fact, we have so much information avail- the skill suffering from scarcity. Data is able to us that we’ve had to invent a new See REAMER, Page 15 term for the really massive and complex

Movers

FROM PAGE 4

mission aviation solutions for governmental and commercial clients around the globe. — Vic Bradshaw

HHS, EMU Grad Fisher Added To Hammond Insurance Staff HARRISONBURG — Hammond Insurance Services has added a Harrisonburg High School and Eastern Mennonite University graduate to its staff. Jordan Fisher was hired by the citybased company as a commercial lines producer, according to a press release. He will specialize in commercial property and casualty insurance but is licensed to write personal property and casualty coverage for individuals, too. Fisher graduated from Harrisonburg High in 1996 and Fisher earned his bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development from EMU in 2012. He most recently was a program coordinator at Pleasant View Inc., a local nonprofit organization that provides residential and day-support to adults with intellectual disabilities. — Vic Bradshaw

Valley Care Adds Three New Administrators For Facilities LURAY — Valley Care Management recently announced the addition of three new administrators at its area senior-living facilities. Carla Atkins Monger, LPN-M, has been named as Journeys Crossing’s administrator-in-training to at the Elkton assistedliving facility. According to a press release, Monger previously worked at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Omni Care, Our Lady of Peace Retirement Community, and Brightview Senior Living, and has served in positions that have included hospital acute critical care, long-term care, nursing education coordinator and nursing administration.

Monger, who grew up in Bridgewater, now resides in Elkton with her husband. The MontVue Healthcare Center has named Brooke Massie as director of admissions/social services at the Luray facility A graduate of Mary Baldwin College, Massie has previously worked for Harrisonburg Health and Rehabilitation Center and the Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Services Board, according to the release. She has experience working with adults with dual diagnosis of mental illness/intellectual disability/substance abuse, as well as with crisis intervenMonger tion and at skilled nursing facility/longterm care and hospital environments. The release says Massie also is skilled in American Sign Language Massie grew up in Augusta County and now lives in Page County with her husband and son. Massie And TimberView Crossing tapped Kathy Hensley Smith as its administrator/director of nursing. Smith, who earned her LPN from ECPI University, previously worked at the University of Virginia Medical Center, Winchester Medical Center and Lynn Care Center, Hensley Smith according to the release. She has experience in cardiac, pediatrics, geriatric, labor and delivery postpartum nursing. Having spent most of her adult life in Front Royal, she now lives in Woodstock with her husband and five children, the release states. More information regarding Journeys Crossing, TimberView Crossing and Valley Care Management can be found at www.valleycaremanagement.com. — Staff Reports See MOVERS, Page 15

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Harrisonburg, Va.

Big Brother Goes Extra Mile For Small Biz Name: Kevin Flint Age: 29 By VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record

Flint

s the son and grandson of small-business owners, Kevin Flint gained an appreciation for entrepreneurship as a child. So it should be no surprise that he chose a career that provides him opportunities to help entrepreneurs obtain the capital they need to start or grow their businesses. “I realized how important small businesses are to the economy,” said Flint, 29, a vice president of commercial banking with BB&T in Harrisonburg. “I was fascinated with how they operated and grew.

“It was just that love for small busi- commercial banking as his focus. nesses and entrepreneurship and how In February 2012, he joined BB&T’s important they are to the economy and commercial banking department and wanting to help them that drew me to was promoted to vice president this sumbanking.” mer. Flint oversees a book of loans to make Outside the bank, Flint is very insure they’re performing well for volved with Big Brothers/Big Sisthe Winston-Salem, N.C.-based ters. He’s been a Big Brother for bank and to provide guidance to several years and is the organizathe borrowers. He said BB&T’s tion’s president. clients range from businesses “It’s definitely my favorite with $3 million to $5 million in place to spend time,” said Flint, annual revenue to those grossing Under 40 who lives in Broadway with his $350 million to $400 million. wife, Ann Whitney Flint. The Roanoke County native said an He also is president of the Association economics class he took in his sophomore for Young Professionals and helped found year at James Madison University led Impact Harrisonburg, an organization him to seek a summer job at a communi- affiliated with The Community Foundaty bank in the Roanoke area. tion of Harrisonburg and Rockingham Flint said he worked in different areas County that aims to groom people in that summer and liked the experience. their 20s, 30s and 40s to be philanthroSunTrust Banks hired him after he grad- pists. uated in 2008 and placed him in a training program that exposed him to all asContact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com pects of the industry, and he settled on

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Harrisonburg, Va.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Valley Lawyer Makes A Persuasive Case Name: Travis Vance Age: 33 By VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record

Vance

f one were to call Travis Vance a know-it-all, he might not mind. That’s because the partner with Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver has to learn a lot about his clients’ businesses so he can represent them effectively in court. Vance specializes in civil litigation — corporate, employment, construction and transportation law as well as personal injury — mostly in state and federal courts in Virginia. He also assists clients with Occupational Health and Safety Administration matters, including compliance. “You have to understand all the legal aspects,” Vance said, “but you also have

to know a lot about other fields, too, in sons and landing at WAW. order to be an advocate.” In addition to using his persuasion The 33-year-old started persuading skills, Vance said the law appeals to him people to see things his way for a “fee” because of its win-or-lose dynamics. when he was a teenager in his native “I love the thrill of competition,” said Bristol, Tenn. the former pitcher for Sewanee’s base“I remember in high school, ball team. “That’s why I’m a trial in U.S. history,” Vance said, “the lawyer.” teacher would allow us to argue Vance, who lives just southwhy we chose a different answer east of Harrisonburg with his than the one he considered right wife, Whitney, and 15-month-old and you got credit for it if you daughter, Haleigh, said his cacould convince him. I always Under 40 reer also allows him time to volconvinced him to see things my unteer. way, so I never missed a question. He’s active with Rotary Internation“Eventually, other classmates started al, including two years as the Rockinghiring me to argue theirs.” ham County Rotary Club’s president; is Vance graduating from Sewanee: The a member of the United Way of HarUniversity of the South in Sewanee, risonburg and Rockingham County’s Tenn., with a bachelor’s degree in Amer- board of directors; and is a founder and ican studies, then earned his law degree organizer of the Valley Business at the University of South Carolina. Af- Keynote speaker event. terward, he went to work for a Columbia, S.C., law firm for nearly three years Contact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com before seeking a climate with four sea-

SHS Grad Helping Position Merck For Future Name: J.B. Rosson Age: 33 By VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record

Rosson

ecause he grew up in Keezletown, J.B. Rosson knows how vital the Merck & Co. plant is to the local economy. Now he’s involved in projects that are reshaping the facility’s 130-acre campus and, in the process, helping preserve both its place in the pharmaceutical giant’s long-term plans and the approximately 1,000 company and contractor jobs it directly supports. “Since 1941, this has been a chemical manufacturing plant,” said Rosson, 33, the facility’s associate director of site services and capital. “Times have changed, the industry has changed, and

we’re trying to change to a biologics, ing five buildings, repaving and adding vaccine and antibiotics campus.” sidewalks to a parking lot and enhancRosson graduated from Spotswood ing the plant’s landscaping. High School in 2000 (where he was the Merck spent between $5 million and Group AA state champion in the pole $8 million — much of it with local comvault and won a national indoor meet as panies — on those efforts, Rosson said. a senior) and Virginia Military More changes are planned over Institute in 2004, with a major the next five to seven years. in biology and a minor in chem“It’s given the employees istry. some pride again in the campus He worked in two different and where they work,” he said. positions for both Cargill (two Rosson, who lives in Haryears) and WhiteWave Foods Under 40 risonburg with his wife, Sum(five years) before Merck hired mer, and 2-year-old daughter, him in 2012 as business lead for biotech Ava, said he likes being involved in so operations. many aspects of the business and workIn that role, Rosson had oversight of ing to solidify Merck’s place in the comthe daily production of two products. In munity. March, Merck shifted him into his cur“Seven years from now,” he said, “the rent post. campus will look and function very difOver the last eight months, Rosson ferent from today. This will make us a said, he’s been in charge of the fiscal viable option within [Merck’s] network.” management of more than 100 cleanup and repair projects on the campus. The Contact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com work included replacing 10 roofs, paint-

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Harrisonburg, Va.

Winemaker Leads Industry In R’Ham County Name: Lee Hartman Age: 29 By ELAINA SAUBER Daily News-Record

Hartman

he general manager of Bridgewater’s Bluestone Vineyard Inc. thinks he may be “the only graduate from Eastern Mennonite University who’s a winemaker.” But becoming a central Shenandoah County vintner wasn’t necessarily Lee Hartman’s goal after graduating EMU in 2008. Hartman, who lived in Germany through an exchange program during college, had planned on moving to Europe. But, when his father, Curt, moved the family’s small wine business from their garage in Bridgewater to the 11acre vineyard on Spring Creek Road in 2009, he was offered a job planting vines

for the business. 2012 and a double gold medal for his Then, after taking courses at Pied- Quartz Hill Red at the Indy Internationmont Community College in Char- al Wine Festival this year in Indianapolottesville in 2009 on everything from lis. dormant pruning to wine marketing Bluestone’s wines are sold at around and bottling, he became enamored with 45 restaurants and shops in the area, all facets of the industry. according to its website. Hartman also is heavily inHartman enjoys sharing what volved in the vineyards, planthis family and co-workers do at ing and cultivating the grapes, the business, which consists of harvesting juice and pruning six full-time and 15 to 20 partvines. time employees. “We make wine, but when Under 40 “I love being in the tasting you boil it down, we’re farmers,” room and just nerding out on he said. wine with people,” he said. His wine education has helped the While he describes himself as more of business greatly, but Hartman doesn’t a “wine geek” than a “vineyard guy,” he just work from Bluestone; this spring, he likes working outdoors and has a “great was also elected to the board of Virginia’s crew of guys” who work full time at wine council, which communicates with Bluestone. legislators in Richmond about the needs Despite Rockingham County being and concerns of the industry. among the most agricultural counties in Since the winery was built in 2010, Virginia, Hartman said, it only boasts Hartman’s wines have won several two wineries. awards, including a gold medal at the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition in See HARTMAN, Page 14

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Education That Makes A Difference Name: Maria V. Lugo Age: 39 By ELAINA SAUBER Daily News-Record

Lugo

t 23, Maria Lugo, helped create a nonprofit in her native San Juan, Puerto Rico, called CREARTE, an after-school program for students from poor neighborhoods, to “serve the community and show students there’s a lot more than these four walls.” Sixteen years later, Lugo is an associate professor of business at Bridgewater College, but her mantra of service hasn’t changed. She’s always wanted a career in business, but it wasn’t until she worked in alumni affairs at Puerto Rico’s Ana G. Mendez University that she realized she wanted to be an educator. Her credentials are a testament to her

experience, earning her bachelor’s degree Students who take the senior-level in business administration from Puerto course spend 40 hours consulting with Rico’s Sacred Heart University, a mas- small businesses and nonprofits, assistter’s in business administration from ing with projects such as marketing, acMetropolitan University and her Ph.D. counting, or feasibility studies for in management from Walden University launching new products. while teaching business courses The course is structured for at Les Roches International businesses to pitch their ideas to School of Hotel Management in the class, then work with groups Switzerland, before coming to of four students throughout the Bridgewater College four years semester before students present ago. and deliver their finished project Lugo’s dedication for teaching Under 40 to the business. business stems from the transThe class has consulted with formation of the first-year students she groups diverse such as Harrisonburg sees — “when they come in and don’t Downtown Renaissance, the Rockingknow anything about business” — to ham County Fair and the Rockingham when they graduate and enter the work- Ballet Theatre in Bridgewater. force. Lugo believes experience and serviceSpecializing in management and en- based classes are the future. trepreneurial courses, Lugo’s most influ“Lecturing is good, but … when [stuential class is the entrepreneurship expe- dents] go out to the business world, they rience service learning project, which has need to show what they know,” she said. helped 16 local organizations in the last four years. See LUGO, Page 14

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Harrisonburg, Va.

City Native Trades Office For Fine Dining Name: Amanda Cannon Age: 34 By KELSEY SHIELDS Daily News-Record

Cannon

ven when Amanda Cannon talks about the long days and long hours that are expected in the restaurant business, there is still a lot of passion and excitement in her voice. “We don’t do it because it’s easy,” she said. “We do it because we love it.” Cannon, 34, is the co-owner of Food.Bar.Food, a four-month-old restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg that specializes in what she calls “global comfort food,” with dishes ranging from a pistachio studded, bacon wrapped rustic country paté to a tortilla crusted catfish fillet served with duck

gravy, cheddar grits and pico de gallo. iar names, such as The Artful Dodger, Of course, Cannon did not start at where she was a bar manager; Clementhe top, nor did she ever expect to go tine, for which she was part of the openinto the restaurant business. ing team and stayed on as bar managA native of Harrisonburg, Cannon er for six years; the Joshua Wilton graduated from James Madison Univer- House, as the catering manager for alsity in 2002 with a degree in inmost five years; and Local Chop terdisciplinary studies, focusing & Grill House, where she was in social sciences such as sociolalso part of the opening team, ogy, as well as a minor in speech and served as the general mancommunications. To pay for her ager for more than four years. schooling, Cannon unknowingly Cannon credited the way began her restaurant career at Under 40 each job gently offered her “more Buffalo Wild Wings, where she responsibility” into becoming tended bar and waited tables. confident enough to eventually open her It wasn’t until she moved to Wash- own restaurant. ington, D.C., after graduation for an of“I felt I was just ready for my next fice job that Cannon began to appreci- challenge and role in life,” she said. “I ate the restaurant business more. was ready to become a partner in a “I realized I would be miserable just restaurant.” sitting at a desk every day,” she said. So Cannon, along with Jeff Minnich, So she returned to Harrisonburg, 56, her business partner, and the forand began climbing the career ladder at mer executive chef of Clementine Café, various popular establishments downtown. Her résumé is littered with familSee CANNON, Page 11

N.J. Native Had Book Published In 2008 Nalberczinski

grow in the location she moved the business to in early 2012. founded in 2007 offers speech, occupationNalberczinski, who earned both her al, behavioral and physical therapy as bachelor’s degree in communication sciwell as professional counseling for fami- ences and disorders and master’s degree lies and individuals. in speech language pathology She works with children from James Madison Universi“[T]here’s and adults to overcome speech ty, said the center at 1591 Port nowhere in 60 difficulties, and is especially Republic Road held 1,600 thermiles where interested in the use of techapy sessions in the second people can get nology to help children comquarter of 2014. Business this municate. speech therapy year is up about 20 percent “I work more with children over 2013. privately.” who can’t speak or are very, “I’m not surprised by the very hard to understand,” — LORA NALBERCZINSKI need,” she said of the success of DIRECTOR OF THE her business, “because there’s said Nalberczinski, who lives just southeast of Harrison- SPEECH AND LANGUAGE nowhere in 60 miles where peoCENTER burg with her husband, Chris, ple can get speech therapy pri3-year-old son, Emmett, and vately.” 8-week-old daughter, Addison. “Now The Freehold, N.J., native is the authey receive iPads with communication thor of “Tumbling Towers of Articulasystems on them.” tion,” published by School Specialty and When she left her job with Rocking- The Speech Bin in 2008. ham County Public Schools to open her She is a member of the Shenandoah business, she was the only person work- Valley Autism Partnership and helps ing at her practice. Now, she employs the organization raise funds. 14, with four people hired this year to add counseling and behavioral therapy, Contact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com and she said there’s no more room to FROM PAGE 3

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Harrisonburg, Va.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

JMU Grad Puts Focus On Quality Name: Keston Fulcher Age: 39

ing and development at its core. We Fulcher, who is single, is a JMU prodwant students to be better critical uct himself, having earned his doctorate thinkers, better writers, better at science in assessment and management there in and math.” 2004. He did his undergraduate work at To do that, Fulcher and CARS the University of Virginia and received staffers are working with multiple facul- an educational specialist degree in ty members to develop assessschool psychology from the UniBy VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record ments that measure various versity of Kansas. types of learning, including ethThe recipient of the universitywide Impact Award, given aneston Fulcher is working on a ical reasoning. The goal, he said, nually to one faculty member new way to assess and im - is to be able to assess students by JMU’s Graduate Student Asprove the quality of the re- annually and use the data collected to identify where learning Under 40 sociation, as well as departgion’s largest employer. ment-level service and scholarQuality in this case refers to how is strongest and where it can be ship awards, he is a member of the Romuch college students have learned, and improved. Because it takes four years to collect tary Club of Harrisonburg. As chairassessing that can be difficult. But that’s part of Fulcher’s job as the full data for a class, Fulcher said it could man of the club’s literacy committee, associate director of James Madison take five years or more to develop and he coordinates its involvement in ProjUniversity’s Center for Assessment and implement an assessment process that ect Read — Kids Matter, which feaResearch Studies. He’s also an associate effectively addresses student and uni- tures club members, university stuversity needs. dents and others who read to Harprofessor of graduate psychology. “If students are learning better, risonburg elementary school students “In business, the bottom line is revenues,” said the 39-year-old Lynchburg they’re more likely to get jobs, go to grad- four mornings a week. native, who is widely published in his uate school, and practice ethical reasonfield and often presents at conferences. ing, which helps you make the imporContact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com “In higher education, it’s student learn- tant decisions in life,” he said.

Fulcher

Trying To Bring Love Of Brunch To City Cannon

town as a culinary district — the first city in Virginia to receive such a distincdecided to jump “feet first” into opening tion. Food.Bar.Food at 126 W. Bruce St. Of course, running your own business While Minnich focuses on creating isn’t always such a breeze. Although most of the dishes, Cannon’s Cannon said she was comauthority and influence can “Sometimes, I have to fortable with starting the be seen on the drink and restaurant after being a step away and take a member of two opening brunch menus. deep breath and “I told Jeff, ‘We have to do teams, every now and then brunch,’” she said. “I just anxiety still finds her. remind myself that love brunch so much. It’s my “After walking away from this happens, and favorite meal.” successful and popular esthat we are still a Beyond her love of “cooktablishments, and coming new business.” ing her girlfriends brunch” here and experiencing a on the weekends, Cannon — AMANDA CANNON slow Tuesday night, for exsaid she was trying to bring CO-OWNER OF FOOD.BAR.FOOD ample,” she said, “Somethe Richmond love of brunch times, I have to step away to the Friendly City. and take a deep breath and remind myAfter a friend living in the common- self that this happens, and that we are wealth’s capital told her about its popu- still a new business.” larity, she resolved to bring something Food.Bar.Food is open for dinner new and with “a different atmosphere” from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through to downtown Harrisonburg. Thursday, and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and “It’s such a supportive atmosphere Saturday. Brunch is also served Saturhere,” she said, adding that the Har- day and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. risonburg community has been receptive to new things, citing City Council’s Contact Kelsey Shields at 574-6286 or decision in January to designate downkshields@dnronline.com FROM PAGE 10

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Award Part Of Recruiting Grants Totaling More Than $263K Scene

FROM PAGE 2

CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System rates the nation’s skilled nursing facilities on a 1to 5-star scale, with 5 being the highest rating. The results of on-site surveys are used to determine compliance with federal and state regulations over a 12-month period. The surveys rate facilities on their performance in complying with health care standards, quality measures and staffing. Only the top 10 percent of nursing homes achieve the Five-Star Rating. “The overall five-star quality ratings are a tribute to our dedicated staff and the professionalism with which they deliver quality care to our residents each and every day,” Broaddus commented in a press release. Established in 1912, Sunnyside Communities is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community with three campuses in Virginia: Sunnyside in Harrisonburg, Summit Square in Waynesboro and King’s Grant in Martinsville. — Staff Reports

Summit’s Quarterly Income Up HARRISONBURG — Summit Financial Group, the Moorefield, W.Va., holding company that operates Summit Community Bank, reported a profitable third quarter. The company recorded a net profit of $3.14 million, or 35 cents per diluted share, for the quarter that ended on Sept. 30, according to its earnings press release. That was better than the $2.08 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, in earnings posted in the third quarter of 2013. Summit Financial reported that its net interest income increased $1.54 million in the quarter and it reduced its provision for loan losses by $750,000. Its finances were

hurt by a $926,000 write-down of foreclosed properties. Total revenue for the quarter grew to $14 million, $1.6 million more than it took in during the third quarter of 2013. For the nine months that ended Sept. 30, the release states, Summit reported net income of $7.58 million, or 85 cents per diluted share, compared with $4.7 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2013. The company reported that nonperforming assets dropped for the 11th consecutive quarter, reaching the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2008. Foreclosed properties are at their lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2009. Summit Community Bank has branches on South Main Street and Neff Avenue in Harrisonburg. — Vic Bradshaw

Poultry Group Wants BRCC Grads HARRISONBURG — The USPOULTRY Foundation has presented a grant sponsored by the Strickler family to Blue Ridge Community College to be used as a tool to help recruit its students to work in the poultry industry. Rebecca Evans, associate professor of business and accounting at the Weyers Cave college, said the $7,000 grant will be used to take a group of students to the International Production and Processing Expo in January. The poultry industry trade show will be held at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. According to a press release from the foundation, the grant was made possible because of support from the Robert Burtner Strickler and Gladys Hopkins Strickler Recruiting Fund, established by a gift from

Robert H. “Twig” Strickler. Evans said Robert Strickler’s idea was for business, marketing and information technology students to attend the expo to educate them on the professional opportunities that exist in their fields in the poultry industry. The award was part of a group of student-recruiting grants totaling more than $263,000 the foundation recently awarded to 28 colleges and universities around the country, the release states. — Vic Bradshaw

Farm Credit Of Virginias Hosts Tour For Farmer Mac Employees HARRISONBURG — Farm Credit of the Virginias, which lends money for agricultural operations and projects, recently hosted a tour for employees of Farmer Mac, a company that provides a secondary market for borrowers in rural America. According to a press release, the threestop tour was designed to highlight the diverse nature of local agribusinesses. The visitors toured the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative’s grain-unloading site in Harrisonburg; CrossKeys Vineyard in Mount Crawford; and Cave View Farms, a dairy operation in Weyers Cave. — Vic Bradshaw

Park View Marks Veterans Day With Community Service HARRISONBURG — Park View Federal Credit Union lived out its heritage of See SCENE, Page 13

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Harrisonburg, Va.

Continued Growth Among Goals Simmons

FROM PAGE 4

“My goal has been to work on generational transition and continuing to grow competitive even as the older generation retires,” Simmons said. “We want to recruit good, solid team players.” Simmons is a member of the Association of General Contractors and lives in Waynesboro with his wife, Lauren, and twin 3-year-old daughters. He said he hopes to continue to support customers and the “fantastic team of people” that serves them. “What makes me proudest is seeing the people I work with every day when they complete a challenge or a job,” he said. “When they’re successful, it really goes a long way.” For more information about Conmat Group, Rockingham Steel or its fellow businesses, visit www.concrete4u.com. Contact Kelly Clark at 574-6290 or kclark@dnronline.com

Harrisonburg, Va.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Poultry Entrepreneur Favors Organic Approach Name: Corwin Heatwole Age: 32 By VIC BRADSHAW Daily News-Record

Heatwole

HARRISONBURG — In mid-March, when the first chickens rolled off its lines, Shenandoah Processing LLC employed 45 people and produced 14,000 organic birds for the market in its first week. A bit more than eight months later, Virginia’s only organic chicken processing company has a workforce of 185 and 60,000 chickens are processed weekly, surpassing initial three-year production targets. Corwin Heatwole, co-founder and president of Shenandoah Processing and sister company Shenandoah Valley Organics, said the explosive growth of

Volunteers Had 325 Hours In Community Scene

FROM PAGE 12

“Neighbors Serving Neighbors” by observing Veterans Day in active service to the community, according to a company press release. The credit union hosted a Community Connection service day on Nov. 11 to show its appreciation to the many men and women who have served the community and country, according to the press release. Employees, along with workers from some member businesses, served 325 hours together around the community. Volunteers helped with tasks such as fall yard and garden work, sorting donations and books, food preparation, maintenance projects, painting, cleaning, assisting with classroom preparation, and wood splitting, according to the release. Volunteers served at the following locations: Gift & Thrift, Our Community Place, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic, Highland Retreat, Family Life Resource Center, Eastern Mennonite School, First Step, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Tried and True, Community Preschool, and Patchwork Pantry.

The Harrisonburg-based credit union also has branches in Dayton and Broadway. — Staff Reports

Cadence Announces Results For First Nine Months STAUNTON — Cadence Inc. recently announced its unaudited earnings for the first nine months of 2014, including a 37 percent increase in revenue compared to 2013 to $54.5 million. According to a statement from the Staunton-based supplier of medical services products and technologies, net income and earnings per share increased 62 percent over the prior year to $2.42 per share. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were up 32 percent to $11 million, the company reported. The results included two months from the recently announced acquisition from Plainfield Precision Holdings of locations in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Plymouth, Mass., See SCENE, Page 15

his businesses based on North Liberty volumes of quality quantities, more Street in Harrisonburg doesn’t sur- and more are talking to us.” prise him. The companies’ start-up was aided His Valley Pride Organic Chicken is by a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s in its third year of operation, growing Agriculture and Forestry Industries birds in a certified-humane manner Development Fund matched by without the use of antibiotics, $50,000 from the city. In August, pesticides and hormones, so he Shenandoah Processing was anknew demand was high for nounced as a recipient of a chicken that contains only $200,000 grant from the U.S. chicken. Department of Agriculture Shenandoah Processing through its Value-Added Proalso acquired equipment from Under 40 ducer Grant program, money a bankrupt plant in Mississipused to fuel expansion. pi. Instead of just whole birds, as the Though only 32, Heatwole has exhibbusiness plan called for, deboned chick- ited an entrepreneurial streak for much en parts are among the products it of his life. As a 19-year-old graduate of sells internationally and produces for Berea Christian School he started a other companies. dairy-cow hoof-care business; in 2005 he “It was just a matter of convincing became a contract poultry grower; in [customers] that we’re not a joke,” the 2008 he launched Valley Insulation Inc., Briery Branch native said of building a commercial-property and home insulamarket share. “It was just a matter of tion business that remains in operation. convincing them that you could deliver what you say. As we provide weekly See HEATWOLE, Page 15

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Vineyard Has Plans To Expand Acreage Hartman

Local Ledger

FROM PAGE 8

As vineyards work to catch up with the growing demand for Virginia-produced wines, Bluestone is planning to double the acreage of its vineyards in the next year. Hartman acknowledges the wine business, though lucrative, “You make wine is a huge investment “for a small amount of because you return.” really love it.” He can’t wait for more wineries to open — LEE HARTMAN GENERAL MANAGER OF in Rockingham County BLUESTONE VINEYARD to help solidify the area as a wine destination, and has plans to market his wines toward Washington, D.C., and Richmond in the future. Bluestone originally planned to produce 5,000 cases of wine per year, but for each of the last two years, they’ve produced 6,000; with plans to expand the vineyard’s acreage, they’re projected to produce 90 to 100 tons of fruit each year, which translates to 6,500 to 7,000 cases. But for Hartman, it’s not about the money. “You make wine because you really love it,” he said. “I’ll be doing this … for the next 30-something years.”

Harrisonburg, Va.

Home Sales Unemployment (percentage) Harrisonburg Rockingham County Page County Shenandoah County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro

Sept. 2014 5.6 4.6 7.2 5.4 4.6 5.4 5.2

Aug. 2014 6.2 5.1 8.0 6.0 5.0 5.8 5.8

Sept. 2013 6.0 4.6 7.9 5.6 4.7 5.4 6.0

Source: Virginia Employment Commission

Labor Force Harrisonburg Rockingham County Page County Shenandoah County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro

Sept. 2014 25,793 42,399 11,200 20,059 38,470 11,644 9,760

Aug. 2014 25,027 41,104 11,213 20,306 38,331 11,593 9,740

Sept. 2013 25,497 41,780 11,298 19,739 38,422 11,617 9,823

Source: Virginia Employment Commission

Median Price Harrisonburg Rockingham County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro Shenandoah County Page County

Oct. 2014 $170,000 $204,000 $183,900 $129,000 $151,700 $148,000 $154,900

Oct. 2013 Pct. Change $133,500 27.34 $175,100 16.50 $176,000 4.49 $124,500 3.61 $125,000 21.36 $153,000 — 3.30 $140,500 10.30

Days On Market Harrisonburg Rockingham County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro Shenandoah County Page County Units Sold Harrisonburg Rockingham County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro Shenandoah County Page County

Oct. 2014 106 132 93 100 69 93 84 Oct. 2014 38 69 89 29 36 53 13

Oct. 2013 108 106 148 75 135 62 150 Oct. 2013 41 46 40 23 17 49 10

Contact Elaina Sauber at 574-6278 or esauber@dnronline.com

Sources: Funkhouser Real Estate Group; RealEstate Businesss Intelligence

Retail Sales (in millions)

Helped Organize Three Biz Expos Lugo

Contact Elaina Sauber at 574-6286 or esauber@dnronline.com

September 2014 $119.4 $ 57.3 $ 15.8 $ 35.7 $ 42.6 $ 31.7 $ 43.3

Harrisonburg Rockingham County Page County Shenandoah County Augusta County Staunton Waynesboro

FROM PAGE 9

“Having that experience gives them certainty and self- assurance that they … can do good work.” As a mentor of Bridgewater Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, Lugo also has helped organize three business expos at the college for more than 400 students, with more than 40 businesses participating. For her, the individual student is the most important part of her job, and practices a “mentor-type relationship” with them, and underlines “what they do and can give back to the community matters, too.”

Pct. Change — 1.85 24.53 — 37.16 33.33 — 48.89 50.00 — 44.00 Pct. Change — 7.32 50.00 122.50 26.09 111.76 8.20 30.00

Source: Virginia Department Of Taxation

BUSINESS JOURNAL Shenandoah Valley

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Harrisonburg, Va.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Tax Planning One Focus Of Conference Movers

FROM PAGE 5

Tieszen Named Business Loan Adviser At Park View HARRISONBURG — Jonathan Tieszen has been named a business loan adviser at Park View Federal Credit Union, according to an announcement from the Harrisonburg-based firm. Tieszen’s 16 years of experience at the credit union most recently included mortgage lending, but he Tieszen is now focusing on business loans, according to Park

View’s announcement. He is now at the Harmony Square branch in Harrisonburg. — Staff Reports

City Lawyers Attend Southern Federal Tax Conference HARRISONBURG — Michael Layman and Mac Nichols of the Harrisonburg law firm of Layman and Nichols PC attended the five-day annual Southern Federal Tax Conference in Atlanta in October. According to a press release from the firm, the conference focused on individual and business tax planning, financial estate planning and estate and trust administration. — Staff Reports

Deciphering Information More Difficult Reamer

FROM PAGE 5

just the raw material of knowledge and therein is the challenge as it relates to commercial real estate. Like the delusions of grandeur regarding my baseball skills brought on by selective memory, data too can produce a false sense of confidence for users. Given its availability, it’s easy to flood a commercial real estate project with seemingly relevant legal, tax, engineering and market data. The task of deciphering the informa-

tion independently in a manner that adds value to your business decision is the more difficult proposition. Could you do it by yourself? The Dunning-Kruger effect would suggest you think you can. I just hope your results are better than mine, because I wasn’t Babe Ruth. Tim Reamer provides commercial real estate brokerage and consulting services with Cottonwood Commercial and specializes in retail representation, investment property (multifamily | commercial | NNN), and development projects. Learn more at www.timreamer.com.

Looks To Introduce Tax Credit Factor Own Brand In 2015 Scene

FROM PAGE 13

Heatwole

FROM PAGE 13

A resident of Singers Glen — where he lives with his wife Amy, daughters Sierra, 9, and Aleah, 6, and son Colton, 4 — Heatwole said the next step for his companies is introducing their own brand of organic chicken to the market, which should happen early next year. “We signed two big deals today,” he said on Nov. 18. “The future for us little guys in Harrisonburg is pretty exciting.” Contact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com

and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Also, the company reported that with the expiration of the R&D tax credit at the end of 2013, Cadence is accruing estimated taxes at a rate assuming the current tax laws remain in effect for all of 2014. If the R&D tax credit were to be extended by Congress and reinstated to Jan. 1, 2014, Cadence estimates its earnings per share would be $.22 a share higher in the first nine months of the year. — Staff Reports

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Harrisonburg, Va.