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February 2014 • THE AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION THAT COVERS THE fredericksburg regional BUSINESS COMMUNITY • Volume 32 • Number 2

Chamber salutes business leaders at 2014 Awards and Gala

Focus

on...

2014 Gala Awards and Gala Left: Cathy Yablonski(center),senior vice president and administrator of Stafford Hospital, accepted the 2014 Large Business Award on behalf of the hospital. Joining her for the celebration was the leadership of Mary Washington Healthcare, the hospital’s parent company. Right: Charles Nicholls(left), founder of Nicholls Auction Marketing Group, accepted the 2014 Small Business Award on behalf of the company. Joining him at the Chamber gala was Kelly Strauss, the company’s auction coordinator.

Trailblazer

Stafford Hospital...............4

Member News New Members.......................5 Chamber Calendar...............6 Non-Profit Corner................7 Hope for the Warriors Rappahannock United Way

Left: LifeCare Medical Transports won the 2014 Marstel-Day/Stafford Printing Green Frontier Award in recognition of its sustainable business practices. Right: Valerie Hopson-Bell, founder and owner of ElderCare Connections, took home the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for her tireless efforts to help area residents obtain services for their elderly loved ones.

Seminar Corner Seminar Corner....................6

Financial Corner Financial Corner....... page 7 Business Briefs................. pages 14-15 Roundtables........page 16-17

Business Link...................... 19

Left: Rappahannock Goodwill Industries won the 2014 Community Impact Award for its efforts to remove employment barriers for the disabled. RGI CEO Woody Van Valkenburgh(center) accepted the award on behalf the Goodwill team. Right:Ted Hontz, former chair of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Council, won the 2014 Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award for his years of community service in the Fredericksburg Region. His wife, Jackie, joined him for the presentation. See more photos and story on page 10

ChamberLink • February, 2014

BOARD AND STAFF FREDERICKSBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OFFICERS Mike Fidgeon, Chair, Providence Service Corporation Greg Calvert, Vice Chair, Kloke Mayflower Kathryn “Kathy” Wall, Immediate Past Chair, Mary Washington Healthcare Shawn Sloan, Treasurer, The Media Partners, LLC Susan Spears, President, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

elected directors Mona Albertine, Jabberwocky Inc. Gene Bailey, Fredericksburg Regional Alliance Nick Cadwallender, The Free Lance-Star Publishing Cos. Dr. J.R. Flatter, Flatter & Associates Maria Franklin, Union First Market Bank Adam Fried, Atlantic Builders, Ltd. Bill Hession, Lockheed Martin Ron Holmes, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Kathy Hoffman, Mary Kay Cosmetics Richard Hurley, University of Mary Washington Regis Keddie II, Davenport & Co. Dr. David Sam, Germanna Community College Woody Van Valkenburgh, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries Eric Watkins, Infinity Technologies Deirdre Powell White, DPW Training & Associates Joe Wilson, PermaTreat Pest Control

legal counsel Margaret Hardy, Sands Anderson PC

chamber staff Michele Renee Dooling, Director of Finance & Human Resources, michele@fredericksburgchamber.org Katie Hansen, Executive Assistant & Member Services Support, katie@fredericksburgchamber.org

President’s Perspective Chamber nods to past, looks to future at State of the Chamber

By Susan Spears At the Chamber, we’ve just come off another fantastic Gala that celebrated many of our region’s businesses and their accomplishments - in a big way - and you better believe our staff was delighted that we made it through without snow or ice ruining the occasion! We are back in the routine of the Chamber’s regular monthly events – Roundtables; Business after Hours; Ribbon Cuttings; various luncheons; etc. Board Meetings. Committee Meetings. Subcommittee M e e t i n g s. B u d g e t s ! Planning! Conference Calls! New ideas! Though it may seem like a slow time of year, we’re actually running full tilt at the Chamber. The staff has barely recovered from the Gala but is already working out the final details for the upcoming State of the Chamber. Mark your calendars to join us at 8 a.m., March 5 at the Fick Conference Center for a breakfast event that will provide a retrospective of your accomplishments in 2013. You read that correctly – your accomplishments. What

the Chamber achieves, it achieves only through you and your service. During the course of this annual event – which is really our report to the community – leaders of our programs and committees will share highlights from the past year along with a brief preview of what’s coming in 2014. Pay careful attention to these presentations, as they will offer a roadmap of the Chamber’s networking and educational opportunities for the year. It’s also a chance for you to meet the people who are involved with each of our groups firsthand and find out directly from them how you too can get involved. The event culminates with the presentation of our fifth annual Joseph L. Argenzio Award, which is given to the Chamber member who most went above and beyond the call of duty in service to the Chamber in the past year. Previous winners were Joe Grzeika, Woody Van Valkenburgh, Drew Shambarger, and Joe Wilson. These are truly exceptional volunteers and this year’s winner is, too – but you have to be there to find out who takes the honor this year. RSVP today by calling (540) 373-9400, emailing stacey@fredericksburgchamber.org or by visiting www. fredericksburgchamber.org. This is shaping up as another fantastic year, and I look forward to sharing it with you. Susan Spears is president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Dale Hendon, Government & Military Affairs Mgr., dale@fredericksburgchamber.org Stacey Hicks, Administrative Support, stacey@fredericksburgchamber.org Sheri Kroskie, Member Services Assistant, sheri@fredericksburgchamber.org

Chamber Day at the Capitol

Tricia Benson Matthews, Membership Account Executive, Tricia@fredericksburgchamber.org Susan Spears, President, susan@fredericksburgchamber.org Whitney Watts, Director of Member Services, whitney@fredericksburgchamber.org George Whitehurst, Communications Director, george@fredericksburgchamber.org Kathleen Wilkinson, Member Services Assistant, kathleen@fredericksburgchamber.org

contact information Telephone 540-373-9400 Facsimile 540-373-9570 Internet

www.fredericksburgchamber.org

ChamberLink is published monthly—12 times per year—by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. Layout, design and production, including advertisements, by The Journal Press, Inc., P.O. Box 409, King George, VA 22485; (540) 775-2024. Postmaster, send 3579 to FRCC, P.O. Box 7476, Fredericksburg, VA 22404

mission The mission of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate healthy economic growth.

vision Be the leader for the business community assuring that the Fredericksburg Region is a major economic center in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Journal Press is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia's policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce hosted Chamber Day at the Capitol on Jan. 29. Chamber officials from around Virginia convened in Richmond to network and hear remarks from Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Afterward, Chamber members visited with delegates and senators to discuss business-related legislation in the 2014 General Assembly session. Representatives of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber met with the area’s delegation, including House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell (above) and Del. Bobby Orrock (below).

February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Chairman’s Report Education, workforce training keys to ensuring regional, statewide prosperity By Mike Fidgeon For nearly a year, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce poured time, energy and resources into a plan to help our commonwealth maintain its economic edge in the 21st Century. The Virginia Chamber formally rolled out this map for prosperity at its annual economic summit held last November in Williamsburg. At that time, the VA Chamber presented a copy of Blueprint Virginia to then Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe. One of the pillars of this plan is maintaining and strengthening the commonwealth’s workforce training programs. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources, an excellent quality of life, and generally business-friendly governments that keep taxation and regulation at reasonable levels and work tirelessly to attract new Mike Fidgeon businesses to Virginia. But without a welleducated, highly skilled workforce, we cannot lure outside businesses to our commonwealth, let alone provide the labor pool needed to ensure the success of start-up enterprises. At your Chamber, we work with leaders of our public and private primary schools, as well as the teams at Germanna Community College and University of Mary Washington, to ensure that our members have opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise necessary to help their businesses move forward. We have multiple policies in support of early childhood education, public education, and post-secondary education initiatives and opportunities for our future workforce. You can read all of our policy statements at this link: www.fredericksburgchamber.org/Legislative-Priorities. Our Workforce NOW program’s mission is to develop and sustain partnerships to support and encourage workforce readiness and workforce development. Many local agencies provide career training, educational opportunities, and workforce services; however, the Workforce NOW web site provides one central, easily referenced location for businesses, prospective employees, and students to access education and workforce opportunities throughout the region (www.fredericksburgchamber.org/ Workforce-NOW-Home). While I applaud the Virginia Chamber for making workforce training an integral part of Blueprint Virginia and our Chamber for its efforts to assist here in our region, the real heroes are the folks in the trenches working with our kids, students, and employees. In partnership, Chambers are able to get the word out about the many resources that are available and to promote various initiatives that make all the difference for our future workforce. You too can get involved. You can be a mentor, sponsor, board member, coach, advocate…the possibilities are endless! I hope you will consider volunteering with us or one of the many important agencies that support workforce readiness and development. Your investment will be time well spent and could very well be the deciding factor that changes someone’s future. Join us…you won’t regret it! Michael Fidgeon is Chief Operating Officer of Providence Service Corporation.

Think Spring - New Beginnings Advertise your business in ChamberLink!

Call Carla at 540-709-7061 • Steve at 540-709-7288 • Charlene at 540-709-7075 • Elizabeth at 540-709-7076 at The Journal for advertising information.

New Member Orientation

New members of the Chamber family gathered on Jan. 8 for an orientation session. Participants met with the Chamber staff and the Chamber’s Ambassadors, who gave an overview of upcoming programs and offered tips on how to get the full benefits of Chamber membership.

Students, educators, business leaders to gather for STEM Summit FredTech, the Chamber’s regional technology council, is gearing up for its third annual STEM 16 Summit. Hosted by FredTech, the Chamber and University of Mary Washington, the STEM 16 Summit will highlight the achievements and offerings of the Fredericksburg Region’s students, educators, and businesses in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). This year’s event will spotlight student and educator STEM efforts from more than 40 local secondary schools, the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College and NSWCDD Dahlgren. The event will also feature a keynote address by Missy Cummings, director of the Humans and Automation Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has conducted research into the interaction between humans and autonomous vehicle systems, as well as the ethical and social impact of technology. As a U.S. Navy officer from 1988-99, Dr. Cummings soared, becoming one of the Navy’s first female fighter pilots at the

STEM 16 Summit 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 29 at UMW’s Anderson Center, Fredericksburg Campus

Schedule: 10 a.m. Conference & Booths Open 11:45 a.m. Welcome & Keynote Address 2 p.m. Conclusion

controls of the F/A-18 Hornet. She earned a B.S. in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from University of Virginia. The STEM 16 Summit will include a variety of exciting parts: • approximately 75 STEMrelated booths • technology demonstrations, including robotics, lasers and rail-gun models • STEM Career Fields Panel

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Eagle Dining by Sodexo concessions The Summit is open to the public and admission is free of charge, thanks to the program’s generous sponsors. To register for a booth or sponsor the 2013 STEM 16 Summit, call (540) 373-9563 Sponsorships are available. Contact Sheri Kroskie at sheri@ fredericksburgchamber.org or (540) 373-9400. To learn more about STEM, contact STEM 16 ChairmanGeorge Hughes at ghughes@simventions.com.

We’re offering not one, but two Business After Hours events for February! This is your chance to get to know your fellow Chamber members and make useful contacts for your business. Where Home Instead Senior Care 111 Old Greenwich Dr., Suite 101

Where Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District, 620 Caroline St.

When 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6

When 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20

Cost No charge to attend

RSVP Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org or e-mail stacey@fredericksburgchamber.org

RSVP Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org

ChamberLink • February, 2014

Trailblazers

Mary Washington Healthcare celebrates five years of service at Stafford Hospital

Mary Washington Healthcare has evolved from an eight-room facility that opened in a cottage in 1899 to become the region’s premier, comprehensive healthcare system. Mar y Washington Hospital, Stafford Hospital, and a host of outpatient facilities and affiliated physicians’ practices offer a stellar array of services so residents of the Fredericksburg Region can find a full spectrum of coordinated care without traveling far from home. The MWHC system provides services normally offered only in large metropolitan areas, including open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, a Level II Trauma Center, the latest cancer treatments, Level II and III Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center. Stafford Hospital opened in February 2009, and the excellent care the state-of-the-art facility offered then was just the beginning. The hospital has never taken its focus away from recognizing needs and expanding services to meet them. As a result, in just five years, Stafford Hospital has earned considerable recognition. It was the only Virginia hospital to receive a 2013 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence, and among 36 acute-care facilities to receive the VHA Central Atlantic BoardDirected Quality Initiative Award for MRSA Infection Reduction for 2012, as well as the VHA Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) for CMS Partnership for Patients Award. M a j o r e n h a n c e m e n t s we r e underway as soon as early 2011, when the Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum Unit in Stafford’s Women’s and Children’s Care Center became a Level II Nursery. It expanded by six beds and now provides specialized care to small, pre-term babies who need extra attention to gain weight and grow strong. In early 2012, Marty Washington

Healthcare raised the bar on neonatal care even further by signing an agreement to have both the Stafford and Mary Washington Hospital nurseries staffed 24/7 by pediatric hospitalists from Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., one of the nation’s top-ranked pediatric hospitals. Another much-needed facility added at Stafford in 2011 was a Regional Cancer Center. It features the Varian Medical Systems RapidArc® linear accelerator, which can reduce or eradicate breast, prostate, lung, and gastroenterological tumors, often on an outpatient basis. It uses image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy with pinpoint accuracy so surrounding healthy tissue remains unaffected. Treatment can be delivered two to eight times faster than traditional technology. Also in 2011, the cardiac catheterization lab expanded its capabilities to offer a full range of diagnostic procedures and now offers inter ventional and diagnostic procedures to include cardiac catheterization (coronary angiogram), angioplasty with stenting, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or balloon angioplasty, coronary ultrasound, cardioversion, and transesophageal

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echocardiogram. Stafford opened the Virginia Breast Health Center in 2012, with Premal Sanghavi, M.D., FACS, a board-certified, fellowship-trained specialist, bringing expertise as the area’s only oncoplastic breast surgeon – a welcome new option for women.

Today, a woman who has surgery to remove a benign or cancerous breast tumor at Stafford can have her breasts reconstructed to return them to the most natural appearance possible during the same procedure. This helps to more quickly restore a woman’s self-confidence and facilitate healing and a sense of normalcy without the need for further surgery. Additionally, Kiyanda Baldwin Young, M.D., a specialist in colon and rectal surgery, joined the staff to give patients more options in that area. As Stafford looks forward to its next five years, more services and leading-edge technology will

undoubtedly play a major role. Continued development of electronic medical records that help physicians more closely coordinate care for patients across all facilities and specialties in the Mary Washington Healthcare system is just one example. MWHC and Stafford Hospital are dedicated to their mission to improve the health of the people in the communities they serve. They continually seek to address community needs by providing the right care, at the right place, at the right time. Find out more online at www. mwhc.com.

February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Please extend a warm hand of welcome to the following companies who have submitted applications to join the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. Be a good partner: remember these companies when you do business. Arista Real Estate Constance Antonio 10151 Southpoint Pkwy. Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Phone: (540) 898-1010 Real Estate Arts & Flowers Evelyn White 558 Caisson Rd. Fredericksburg, VA 22405 Phone: 540-368-9553 Fax: (540) 368-9553 retammochief@aol.com Clothing Big Cloud Media Koji Flowers 11 Pinecrest St. Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: (210) 519-7729 kflowers@bigcloudmedia.com http://bigcloudmedia.com Web Design & Hosting Services

Workplace Disputes? ■ ■

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Capital Caring, Inc. Stefan Scholz 4501 Empire Ct. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 Phone: (540) 891-1200 Fax: (540) 891-1225 sscholz@capitalcaring.org www.capitalcaring.org Home Health Care Counseling Elite Realty Plus, LLC Tina Hunt 385 Garrisonville Rd. Suite 97 Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: (540) 318-8818 Fax: (540) 318-8054 tina@eliterealtyplus.com www.staffordvahomes.com Real Estate – Brokers Real Estate Management Gator Paving Company Sharon Kelley 9700 Ashley Dawn Ct. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 Phone: (540) 834-0086 Fax: (540) 710-0460 gatorpave@yahoo.com www.gatorpaving.com Paving Contractors

Improve productivity Help employees understand your viewpoint Discover the real problem Achieve workable solutions

Hampton Inn & Suites – Stafford-Aquia-Quantico Richard Lyle 2925 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: (540) 657-0999 richard.lyle@hilton.com w w w. s t a f f o r d q u a n t i c o a q u i a . hamptoninn.com. Hotels/Motels Convention Center / Trade Shows Netmender Donna Chitty P.O. Box 1859 Quantico, VA 22134 Phone: (540) 602-7344 info@netmender.com www.netmender.com IT Support Services Computer Network Design/ Maintenance Pitaiyo Alex Kelly-Maartens 1006-A Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Phone: (804) 833-8303 alex@pitaiyo.com www.pitaiyo.com Fitness Centers/Training

Quaker Steak & Lube Akil Courtney 1300 Central Park Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Phone: 540-786-4688 http://quakersteakandlube.com Restaurants Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy Michael Harvey 3630 Lee Hill Dr. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 Phone: 540-371-2875 mharvey@rrcja.org www.rrcja.org Government Agency Education – Public/Private Partnership Educational Center Schools/Colleges Walton Development & Management Kevin Crown 11800 Sunrise Valley Dr. Suite 300 Reston, VA 20191 Phone: (571) 490-8077 kcrown@walton.com www.walton.com Real Estate Developers

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ChamberLink • February, 2014

Chamber Calendar FEBRUARY 6 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at Home Instead Senior Care FEBRUARY 12 EXPORTING WORKSHOP Wednesday, 8 a.m., at the Chamber office FEBRUARY 18 CNEW LUNCHEON Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at the Fredericksburg Country Club FEBRUARY 19 WORKFORCE NOW WORKSHOP: BUILDING HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS Wednesday, 8 a.m., at the J.F. Fick Conference Center FEBRUARY 20 BUSINESSS AFTER HOURS Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District FEBRUARY 21 BUSINESS 101 SERIES Friday, 8 a.m., at the Chamber office FEBRUARY 25 NON-PROFIT BUSINESS BUILDER Tuesday, noon, at the Chamber office FEBRUARY 27 SMALL BUSINESS BUILDER Thursday, noon, at the Chamber office FEBRUARY 27 RIBBON CUTTING Thursday, 4 p.m., at Empower House MARCH 4 STAFFORD ROUNDTABLE Tuesday, 8 a.m., at Fairfield Inn & Suites Stafford-Quantico MARCH 5 STATE OF THE CHAMBER Wednesday, 8 a.m., at the J.F. Fick Conference Center MARCH 7 NEXT GENERATION REVERSE RAFFLE Friday, 7 p.m., at the Fredericksburg Country Club MARCH 13 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at PNC Bank – Fall Hill Avenue MARCH 18 CNEW LUNCHEON Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at the Fredericksburg Country Club

Seminar Corner Living Trust Plus: How to Protect Your Assets From the Expenses of Probate & Long-term Care Date(s): Feb. 4, 14, 18 & 27; 10 a.m.-noon Location: Farr Law Firm, 501 Westwood Office Park, Fredericksburg, 22401 Cost: No charge to attend. To Register: Call (540) 479-1435 or visit www. farrlawfirm.com/seminars.html

First Steps to Starting a Business Date(s): March 10, 6-8:30 p.m. Location: University of Mary Washington’s Small Business Development Center at Eagle Village, 1125 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 400, Fredericksburg Cost: $30 non-refundable materials fee To Register: Call (540) 654-1096, e-mail to sbdc@ umw.edu or go to www.SBDC-UMW.com. Registration deadline: March 7

Making your assets last throughout your lifetime and arranging to pass them on your heirs is a cornerstone of successful financial planning. The Farr Law Firm is now offering a free seminar that can help you make this dream a reality. Come to one of these February workshops and learn how to protect your assets and obtain valuable Medicaid and Veterans benefits to pay for long-term care. Learn what the most important estate planning document is, and find out whether yours is up-to-date! Find out if your will is sufficient to meet your needs, or if a trust is a better instrument for you. Find out how you can protect your assets from lawsuits, divorce, and long-term care creditors.

This seminar will provide the basics of self-evaluation, the idea, entrepreneurship, defining the need, determining the feasibility, and what actions are necessary. Topics within these areas will include analytical methods; research sources; the legal forms of businesses; record keeping; laws, regulations, and policies; and a discussion on the value and importance of business plans and financial analyses.

First Steps to Starting a Business Date(s): Feb. 17, 9-11:30 a.m. Location: University of Mary Washington’s Small Business Development Center at Eagle Village, 1125 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 400, Fredericksburg Cost: $30 non-refundable materials fee To Register: Call (540)654-1096, e-mail to sbdc@ umw.edu or go to www.SBDC-UMW.com. Registration deadline: Feb. 14 This seminar will provide the basics of self-evaluation, the idea, entrepreneurship, defining the need, determining the feasibility, and what actions are necessary. Topics within these areas will include analytical methods; research sources; the legal forms of businesses; record keeping; laws, regulations, and policies; and a discussion on the value and importance of business plans and financial analyses.

Chamber Non-Profit Business Builder Date(s): Feb. 25, noon-1 p.m. Location: Chamber office, 2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 240 Cost: No charge to attend. Seating limited to 25 people. To Register: Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org This one-hour brown-bag session focuses on the unique needs of non-profit organizations in the Fredericksburg Region. Come meet with other non-profit leaders to share business tips and best practices. Chamber Small Business Builder Date(s): Feb. 27, noon-1 p.m. Location: Chamber office, 2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 240 Cost: No charge to attend. Seating limited to 25 people. To Register: Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org This one-hour brown-bag session offers a chance to get practical business tips and to network with other small business owners and managers.

Chamber, UMW begin second round of Business 101 seminars

MARCH 19 WORKFORCE NOW WORKSHOP: UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF & OTHERS Wednesday, 8 a.m., at Germanna Community College Fredericksburg Campus MARCH 21 BUSINESS 101 SERIES Friday, 8 a.m., at the Chamber office MARCH 25 NON-PROFIT BUSINESS BUILDER Tuesday, noon, at the Chamber office MARCH 27 SMALL BUSINESS BUILDER Thursday, noon, at the Chamber office MARCH 29 STEM SUMMIT Saturday, 10 a.m., at UMW’s Anderson Center

Don’t miss

These Networking Opportunities!

University of Mary Washington’s Lou Martinette led a discussion on effective marketing at January’s Business 101 seminar. The Chamber and University of Mary Washington have kicked off the second season of their joint Business 101 series.

UMW’s Lou Martinette, D.B.A., spoke at the Jan. 17 session, Marketing 101. The next seminar will take place

at 8 a.m., Feb. 21 at the Chamber office. Gail Brooks, Ph.D., will lead the session, entitled Access/Excel 101. On the third Friday of each month, faculty from UMW’s College of Business facilitate a two-hour session on a specific business topic, providing specific takeaways for each attendee that can easily be implemented in today’s fast-paced business environment. The price for attending a single session is $15. The 2014 Business 101 Series package, which includes 11 remaining sessions, is $150. Go to www.fredericksburgchamber. org or call (540) 373-9400 to register. Seating is limited to 25 participants per session.

February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Non-Profit Corner Hope for the Warriors Cpl. Manny Jimenez, USMC(Ret.), was wounded in Afghanistan in August 2010. Before his injury, he was a competitive BMX rider. But post-injury, Manny suffered from vertigo and lost the balance needed to ride an upright bike. He turned to running and competed in a 10K with Hope For The Warriors® only three months after his injury. The race, and working with Team Hope For The Warriors®, reignited his competitive spirit, and he increased his distances and speed on the road. While Manny was recovering in the hospital, he set a goal to complete a triathlon. Hope For The Warriors® first donated a trike to him, helping him regain the balance needed. When he was ready, a specially-adapted upright bike was then given to him. Since then, Manny has reached his goal to complete a triathlon and more. This fall, just three years past his injury date, Manny completed his first Ironman. Hope For The Warriors® knows that there is more to come, and we can’t wait to cheer him on. The mission of Hope For The Warriors® is to enhance the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® is dedicated to restoring a sense of self, restoring the family unit, and restoring hope for our service members and our military families. A group of military wives founded the organization in 2006. They stood together as they witnessed, firsthand, the effects of the war on service members and their families. Since that time, Hope For The Warriors® has grown tremendously in terms of programs offered and the number of wounded and family members assisted. Today, the Hope For The Warriors® main office is in Annandale, close to the military medical centers where many service members undergo their rehabilitation. However, its programs span the country and support military families in the areas of Employment and

Education, Clinical Health and Wellness, Sports and Recreation, and Community and Military Relations. Through these programs, the organization aims to provide a full cycle of care to service members and military families. To learn more about Hope For The Warriors®, its programs, and how to support it, visit www. hopeforthewarriors.org. From there you will also find links to Facebook, Twitter, and a blog with stories that will inspire and motivate!

Rappahannock United Way needs help for tax services program The Rappahannock United Way is seeking volunteers for its free Tax Services Program for the 2014 tax season. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Greeter/Screener • Greet entering taxpayers • Ensure taxpayers have brought all necessary paperwork and documents • Maintain sign-in sheet for all taxpayers • Assist taxpayers with filling out the Intake/Interview form • Discuss taxpayers’ needs to establish the scope of their returns, and ensure that they are sent to an appropriately certified preparer • Training/Certification – Must complete and sign Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification and Agreement; must attend Greeter/Screener training (1 hour) Tax Preparer • Assist VITA taxpayers with preparing their tax returns • Discuss with taxpayers which tax credits they may qualify for • Ensure taxpayers claim all

Financial Corner A guide to preparing your business loan application by Will Kinnamon

Cpl. Manny Jimenez, USMC(Ret.), is back on his bike and riding competitively after recovering from wounds suffered during a deployment to Afghanistan.

credits that they qualify for • Training/Certification – Must complete and sign Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification and Agreement; must attend tax preparation trainings (4 hours); must certify to the basic level of tax preparation, higher levels recommended Tax Site Coordinator • Set up/cleanup for assigned Tax Site(s) • Ensure all Tax Site Quality Requirements are met at all times • Assist Tax Preparer Volunteers by completing Quality Reviews on returns • Training. Certification – Must complete and sign Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification and Agreement; must attend tax preparation trainings (4 hours); must certify to the advanced level of tax preparation, higher levels recommended For more infor mation contact BPhelps@ RappahannockUnitedWay.org or log onto the Volunteer Center Website at www.RuwVolunteer.org and click on the Tax Services Tab.

Putting together a loan application package can be a daunting experience for small business owners looking to start or expand their business. All reports say that financial institutions are not looking to lend; but to the contrary, the majority of lenders I speak to are looking to work with potential borrowers to make loans. While different financial institutions have specific lending criteria, there are also a variety of loan programs offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), state and local economic development agencies as well as nonprofit organizations. While every loan program has specific forms to be filled out, there are items that need to be compiled prior to any submission of a loan program. A business owner should be prepared to submit the following items when applying for a business loan: • three years of year-end business financial statements (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet), interim financial statements, and three years of business tax returns. This should include financial statements and tax returns for the primary business and any affiliate businesses • a detailed schedule of all business debt • Personal Financial Statement (PFS) from each owner. The PFS will measure of your personal net worth and help the bank understand your value as a guarantor. It can usually be filled out in under an hour at the time of application. • three years of personal tax returns from each owner • resumes from each owner • a business plan with future cash flow projections • org anizational documents (Articles of Incorporation,

Bylaws, Operating Agreement, etc.) • business licenses • cost documents (real estate purchase agreement, contractor cost estimates, vendor quotes, etc.) A business loan application requires an underwriting process to fully understand the future ability of a borrower to repay the loan. Accurate historical and current business financial statements are essential to this process. A business plan and cash flow projections are just as important. Your business plan should be current and realistic. It will prove to your banker that you have thought about what you are doing and have a plan for every opportunity and obstacle. A good business plan does not guarantee that your loan will be approved, but will give your banker data that needed to make a loan decision. Schedule a meeting with a business banker with the financial institution where you currently are a customer. Let them get to know you and the goals of your business. This preparation will help facilitate an efficient loan application process, saving you time and money down the road. Will Kinnamon is the president of REDCO. REDCO has been in existence for 30 years and finances SBA 504 loans that small businesses use to fund the purchase or construction of owner-occupied real estate and long-term machinery and equipment. REDCO partners with a bank to finance up to 90 percent of the loan, leaving the business to inject only 10 percent as a down payment (in most cases). SBA 504 loans are 20-year fixed-rate loans that are priced below market. They offer a less expensive loan alternative to business owners and reduce the risk associated with a business loan. For more information, call (540) 373-2897 or e-mail wkinnamon@ redco504.org.

ChamberLink • February, 2014

Business Tips

Be ready to pay price for achieving business goals By Dwayne Baptist Many people’s business goals look like their New Year’s resolutions – inspirational but not very instructive. Suppose you want to grow your business revenue 15 percent this year. That is a great idea, and the start of a goal. You can even measure it. However, if the plan for execution is “I will do whatever it takes” you will have a hard time accomplishing it. The steps to achieving any goal – business or personal are: • Decide exactly what you want • Create a burning desire to achieve it • Take Focused Action to accomplish it Deciding exactly what you want is not simply deciding that you are going to increase your revenues by 15 percent. You can do that many ways, some of which might cost you more than the 15 percent increase will generate. Developing a written plan for your goal creates the clarity needed to take Focused Action. Some feel that too much planning limits their freedom to pursue emerging opportunities. Actually, the opposite is true. Detailed planning forces you to get specific

and to weigh options and alternatives. It helps you see risks and traps. Are you considering expanding your line into a new niche? Does that niche even want what you have to sell? Just asking that question could save you countless hours of fruitless activity in some situations. A written plan establishes what you value as you pursue your goal. This makes your plan a yardstick by which you can measure any emerging opportunities to see if they really are worth the cost of changing course. Now that you have decided exactly what you want, how do you create a burning desire? You begin by getting beyond what you want and focus on why you want it. In my book, 5 Secrets of Goal Setting, I teach a process for setting goals that focuses on why you are pursuing your goals. Why do you want to increase sales by 15 percent? You will not do it for the sake of chasing a number. You chose the goal for a reason. Perhaps the profits will fuel a lifestyle improvement or college for your kids. Maybe it will allow you to support specific causes important to you. Whatever it is, creating a burning desire to

see it made real will keep you moving. Once you know why you want your goal, you must keep that in front of you all the time. Steel man Charles Schwab motivated an entire mill to increase productivity. At the end of a shift, he asked the leaving crew how many pours they made. They said two. Taking a piece of chalk, Schwab drew a large “2” on the walkway next to the time clock. The incoming crew asked about the “2”. At the end of the shift a “3” had replaced it. Shortly thereafter, it became a “4”, then a “5”. Pride drove these shifts because they had their goal solidly in front of them. Schwab’s mill also illustrates the third tool for creating a burning desire – The workers took Focused Action. The mill crews had always been taking action, but the chalk numbers gave them a measure to review. Action becomes Focused Action when we measure it to see whether it was effective, based on our plans. Why do people avoid this step? Failing to review is a form of procrastination. When things are going well, people develop confidence and, sometimes, complacency. Complacent procrastination justifies skipping reviews, declaring them an unnecessary

waste of time and resources. When things are not going well, people begin to fear for the worst. Afraid of what they might find, they procrastinate in hopes that things will improve. Creating a new understanding of the role of review is critical to harnessing it into Focused Action. Instead of looking at it as a place of judgment, where rewards and punishments are meted out, focus on what is happening and why. Adversity produces Opportunity. Progress exploited becomes Explosive Growth. Neither is possible if you do not review and seek them out. Deciding exactly what you want, creating a burning desire, and taking Focused Action take time and resources. However, the investment will allow you to reach your goals more quickly, providing you the time and resources to pursue additional opportunities for your business and your life. Dwayne Baptist is a military veteran, executive, coach, motivational speaker and founder of Dwayne Baptist & Associates. He can be reached at (703) 622-5282.

Sticker Shock – Preparing for impact of Long-Term Care costs By Evan H. Farr There are few sticker shocks that are as bracing as the price of longterm care. Who knew that hiring someone to help with the simplest activities, such as bathing, toilet use, dressing, and eating could cost so much? Whether suffering from the after-effects of a stroke or a debilitating disease such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, longterm care is costly and the prices keep increasing. A 2013 report by Genworth Financial estimates that the national median daily cost of a private room in a nursing home is $230 a day (nearly $7,000 a month), an increase of 3.6 percent over 2012. Sharing that room is only $27 less a day, according to the report. In 2008 the median annual rate for a private nursing home room was $67,525, compared with the 2013 median annual rate of $83,950. This means that Americans can expect to pay approximately $16,425

more per year today for a nursing home than they had to pay in 2008. In Fredericksburg, nursing homes cost an average of about $82,500 per year. Nearly 730,000 Americans live in assisted-living facilities. The average resident of an assisted living facility stays only two years, entering at the age of 87. For these residents, who need less care than nursing home residents, the ALF average national cost is $3,450 a month, an increase of 4.55 percent since 2012. Those able to remain in their homes will pay an average national wage of $21 an hour for a licensed home health aide. In the past, retirees typically relied on their pensions to pay the costs of long-term care and were often able to sell their homes for a healthy sum, providing the means to pay for institutional care, while those with more limited means would rely on Medicaid. But the stock market crash of 2008 diminished the value of many nest eggs, and the housing

market has not fully recovered in most areas. Preparing for the cost of longterm care is now a concern for many aging Americans, whose money and hard-earned assets would run out quickly if they tried to pay for longterm care out-of-pocket. With 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day for the next 19 years, the issue of how to pay for long-term care is more pressing than ever. Do you have a loved one who is in a nursing home or nearing the need for nursing home care? Are you looking to plan ahead for yourself in the event nursing home care is needed in the future? Life Care Planning and Medicaid Asset Protection is the process of protecting assets from having to be spent down in connection with entry into a nursing home, while also helping ensure that you or your loved one get the best possible care and maintain the highest possible quality of life, whether at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a

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February, 2014 • ChamberLink

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ChamberLink • February, 2014

Focus on ...

2014 Chamber Awards and Gala The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce honored area business leaders for their business successes, entrepreneurial spirit and community commitment during its Jan. 31 annual awards banquet and gala. Nicholls Auction Marketing Group won the Small Business of the Year Award for a company with 25 or fewer employees. A Chamber member for more than 30 years, Nicholls Auction Marketing is a pioneer in the field of online auctioneering and marketing. Its website frequently pulls in more than 100,000 hits per month. The company has a long history of serving the Fredericksburg Region by donating auction services to area non-profits including Rappahannock United Way, the American Heart Association, Rappahannock Area YMCA, The Salvation Army of Fredericksburg, the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Stafford Hospital won the Large Business of the Year Award for a company with more than

25 employees. A 100-bed fullservice facility located in the Stafford Courthouse area, the hospital has employed the Baldrige Criteria to improve its performance and ensure high-quality, compassionate healthcare to its patients. In 2013, it was the only Virginia hospital to earn the Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence from VHA, a national healthcare network. Since 2008, Stafford Hospital Foundation’s Community Ser vice Fund has awarded more than $740,000 in grants to area organizations – including Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging, Stafford Junction and the Stafford Education Foundation – to help improve the health of local residents. Valerie Hopson-Bell, owner of ElderCare Connections, accepted the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which recognizes innovative business owners and individuals who spot a market niche and seize the opportunity to fill it. Ms. Hopson-Bell founded ElderCare Connections 15 years ago after seeing the need of area families to obtain adult care services

for their loved ones. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Partners in Aging, Inc., as well as on the Governor’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission. She is an active member of the Advisory Council of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Fredericksburg, the Spotsylvania Career and Technical Education Center and the local branch office of the Alzheimer’s Association. Rappahannock Goodwill Industries earned the Chamber’s Community Impact Award in recognition of its bold vision of expanding opportunities for people in the Fredericksburg Region who face barriers to employment. In 2013 alone, RGI served more than 3,500 area residents. Its Job Help Centers and Goodskills Literacy Corps programs helped people develop necessary employment skills, while partnership with EDG allowed budding entrepreneurs to tap into a unique microloan program. RGI continued development of its new Community Resource Center, which offers an atmosphere of collaboration for regional non-profit organizations.

RGI’s commercial laundry operation continues to employ more than 100 individuals, with a special emphasis on providing opportunities to those with disabilities. Its Donated Goods operation, with its retail thrift stores and attended donation sites, employs more than 200 people and generates revenue to allow RGI to provide vital services to the community.

has stepped up its recycling of paper, glass, plastic, vehicle oil and chooses environmentally safe cleaning products. In addition, LifeCare instituted a new policy cutting the amount of time its vehicles may idle. The Green Frontier Award includes a $1,500 check to enable LifeCare to further these and other environmental activities.

The Marstel-Day/Stafford Printing Green Frontier Award wa s p r e s e n t e d t o L i f e C a r e Medical Transports. The award, sponsored by Marstel-Day, LLC and Stafford Printing, honors a company that demonstrates strong business practices focused on sustainability, resource conservation, and environmental awareness and education. Established in 1994, LifeCare is a private medical transport company that provides high-quality basic, advanced and critical care medial transports to patients throughout Virginia. LifeCare has saved more than 150,000 pieces of paper annually by instituting electronic manuals, paystubs, personnel records and patient care reports. The company

T h e P r i n c e B . Wo o d a r d Leadership Award went to Edward B. “Ted” Hontz, vice president with Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc. The award honors an individual who has provided the Fredericksburg Region with extraordinary service over the years through dedication, leadership, ethics and example. Mr. Hontz has been an active member of the local business community since opening the Dahlgren office of Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc. He is one of the founding members of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Council and has served as chairman of its board of directors. He has also served on the Chamber’s board of directors, as well as on the board of the Germanna Educational Foundation.

February, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ ChamberLink

The Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors, whose generosity made possible the 2014 Gala: Title Sponsor BB&T Hospitality Sponsor Fredericksburg Expo Center Band Sponsor LifeCare Medical Transports Bar Sponsor J&J Tile & Marble Linen Sponsor Wells Fargo Platinum Sponsors Community Bank of the Chesapeake Hilldrup Cos. Lockheed Martin

Gold Sponsors Comfort Keepers Providence Service Corporation Splitsville Tsai, Smart, Powell & Hair, Optometrists Bronze Sponsors CBAIA CTI Real Estate DLR Contracting Dominion Payroll Services Greenfields Senior Living Hyatt Place Worrell Management Group Zebrareach

ChamberLink â&#x20AC;˘ February, 2014

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February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Business BRIEFS

People from all walks of life participated in the Fredericksburg Region’s 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Association raises funds

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Richmond Chapter, is pleased to announce that its 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Fredericksburg raised $92,000 for research to end the memory-robbing disease. “We are thrilled and appreciate all the support from the community. I would ask everyone to mark their calendars for Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. That is the date for our Walk to End Alzheimer’s, 2014. Event,” said Lori Myers, regional director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Fredericksburg office. The walk will take place again at the University of Mary Washington campus here in downtown Fredericksburg. We truly appreciate UMW for all their support.”

UMW Earns Reaccreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has reaffirmed the accreditation of the University of Mary Washington to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The reaffirmation was announced at the recent meeting of SACSCOC in Atlanta. “It is another milestone in UMW history,” University President Richard V. Hurley said. “I am extremely proud of this accomplishment, which validates our commitment to delivering the highest quality of education to our students.” SACSCOC is the regional accrediting body for higher education institutions in 11 U.S. Southern states. Coming a decade after UMW’s last reaffirmation of accreditation, the action concludes a comprehensive three-year review of the university’s operations. During that time, UMW has had to prove its compliance with requirements of the federal g overnment and the regional accrediting body. As part of this process, UMW submitted its Compliance Certification Report in September 2012 and its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) in February 2013. In April, a 10-member team from peer institutions spent

three days at UMW to assess its programs and services. The University of Mary Washington was first accredited by SACSCOC in 1930, and its accreditation was last reaffirmed in 2003. T he University of Mar y Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of more than 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the U.S. Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers. In recent years, the university has seen its academic reputation garner national recognition in numerous selective guidebooks, including Forbes, The Fiske Guide to Colleges and the Princeton Review’s 2012 edition of 150 “Best Value Colleges” and the 2014 edition of “The Best 378 Colleges.”

Comcast Business honored by Metro Ethernet Forum Comcast Business recently announced that it won multiple awards in the Metro Ethernet Forum Carrier Ethernet Awards for North America, including the prestigious Service Provider of the Year. The company also won Best Marketing and Best Carrier Ethernet Business Application for an Ethernet network deployment with the Denver Broncos. The MEF is a global industry alliance with a mission of accelerating the worldwide adoption of carrier-class Ethernet networks and services through its technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability. The MEF’s Carrier Ethernet awards celebrate excellence and leadership in the development, marketing and delivery of Ethernet services. The judging panel for the awards included senior industry analysts from IDC, Infonetics Research, Vertical Systems Group; Gartner, Frost & Sullivan; and Ovum. In a competitive judging process, Comcast Business was recognized by the MEF in the following categories: Service Provider of the Year – awarded on the basis of a cumulative score across all of the award categories combined with ratings related to coverage, partnerships and interconnects, and access technology options Best Carrier Ethernet Business Application – recognizes partnerships between service providers and their clients in the delivery of Carrier Ethernet services for application verticals. The winning entry detailed the deployment by the Denver Broncos of multiple 100 Mbps Comcast Business Ethernet

connections to the Internet and between the team’s stadium and practice facility to improve the fan experience and accelerate team operations. Best Marketing – presented to the service provider that has run the most successful marketing campaign to promote its Ethernet service portfolio and assesses marketing campaign goals and objectives. Comcast Business highlighted its integrated campaigns that promotes Ethernet as the best option for businesses while showcasing its differentiation in Ethernet service availability, network reach and diversity, and customer focus. “We are delighted to have earned this recognition from the Metro Ethernet Forum and this distinguished panel. It is a powerful statement that validates Comcast’s investment in our network that is built for business and delivering the benefits of Ethernet to enterprise customers across the country,” Comcast Business President Bill Stemper declared Earlier this year, the MEF announced that Comcast Business was the first service provider in the world to achieve MEF CE 2.0 Certification, an industry milestone. The company was also the first service provider to achieve all three of the previous CE 1.0 certifications (MEF 9, 14 and 18) and has served on the MEF Board of Directors since 2008. Comcast Business, a unit of Comcast Cable, provides advanced communication solutions to help organizations of all sizes meet their business objectives. Through a modern, advanced network that is backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast delivers Business

Internet, TV and Voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management. The Comcast Business Ethernet suite offers highperformance point-to-point and multi-point Ethernet services with the capacity to deliver cloud computing, software-as-a-ser vice, business continuity/disaster recovery and other bandwidthintensive applications. Comcast Ethernet services are significantly faster than standard T1 lines and other legacy technologies, providing scalable bandwidth from 1 Mbps up to 10 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) in more than 20 major US markets. For more information, call (866) 429-3085 or visit http:// business.comcast.com/ethernet. Comcast Cable is the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to businesses and residential customers. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation. com for more information.

ChamberLink • February, 2014

Business BRIEFS

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer reports leases

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer is pleased to announce the following lease transactions: Fresenius – 10,000 square feet in Jackson Square Office at 4505 Carr Dr. in Spotsylvania County. Jamie A. Scully, CCIM, and Sharon E. Schmidt handled the lease negotiations. Century 21 New Millennium – renewal of 7,148 square feet in The Shoppes at Westwood at 1931 Plank Rd. in the City of Fredericksburg. Jamie A. Scully handled the lease negotiations. Spencer Devon Brewery – 5,827 square feet at 106 George St. in the City of Fredericksburg. They will brew craft beer on site and have a farm-to-table based menu. The brewery will be open summer 2014. Virgil Nelson, CCIM, and Wilson H. Greenlaw, Jr., CCIM, handled the lease negotiations. J Tiger Martial Arts, LLC – 4,106 square feet in Southpoint Shoppes at 10038 Southpoint Pkwy. in Spotsylvania County. Jamie A. Scully handled the lease negotiations. Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins – 2,560 square feet in Route 3 Village Center at 2221 Plank Rd. in the City of Fredericksburg. Jamie A. Scully handled the lease negotiations. Neuropsychology & Complimentary Medicine, P.C. – 2,400 square feet in William Street Office Building at 608 William St. in the City of Fredericksburg. Jamie A. Scully and Wilson H. Greenlaw handled the lease negotiations. Compass Counseling Services, LLC – renewal of 2,107 square feet in Lee’s Hill Professional Center at 10707 Spotsylvania Ave. in Spotsylvania County. Sharon E. Schmidt handled the lease negotiations. Oak Ridge Associated Universities – 2,013 square feet of office space in The Washington Building at 100 Riverside Pkwy. in Stafford County. Virgil Nelson, CCIM, handled the lease negotiations. Colony Pest Control – renewal of 2,000 square feet in Quarles Warehouses at 101 Juliad Ct. in Stafford County. Sharon E. Schmidt handled the lease negotiations. Pennie Rose Massage Therapy – renewal of 1,000 square feet at 414 Pelham St. in the City of Fredericksburg. Sharon E. Schmidt handled the lease negotiations.

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SimVentions named among Best Places to Work in Virginia

SimVentions, Inc. was recently named as one of the 2014 Best Places to Work in Virginia. The annual list of the Best Places to Work in Virginia was created by Virginia Business and Best Companies Group. This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The 2014 Best Places to Work in Virginia list is made up of 100 companies. To be considered, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements: • be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity • be a publicly or privately held business • have a facility in the state of Virginia • have at least 15 employees working in the state of Virginia • be in business a minimum of one year “SimVentions is excited to be recognized once again as one of the Best Places to Work in Virginia. What is extra special about this year is the fact that we received this award in the medium business category… as the previous year’s award was in the small business category. What this means is that even with our growth, we have been able to maintain our awesome culture and amazing work environment,” said SimVentions CEO Larry Root. “We operate off of a foundation that believes that where your treasure is there your heart will be also…and our treasure is in the God we serve; the customers we support; the work we do; the warfighters we touch; our

employees and their families; and our community.” Companies from across the commonwealth entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Virginia. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25 part of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Virginia and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final ranking. SimVentions corporate headquarters is located in Spotsylvania County, with a second office located in King George. Since 2000, the company has delivered engineering, program and acquisition management; and training solutions to America’s armed services. The SimVentions team’s passion is for ensuring its employees’ gifts and talents are put to use in delivering meaningful capability to the nation’s research and development labs and the American military’s men and women on the front lines. For additional information please visit www.simventions.com or call (540)372-7727. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkVA.com.

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February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Business BRIEFS Youth in Philanthropy awards grants to local charitable organizations The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region has awarded $14,700 in grants to area charitable organizations through its Youth in Philanthropy Project. YIP is a 10-year-old program that The Community Foundation created to encourage student volunteerism and philanthropy. It engages area young people in decision-making about the distribution of grant dollars. The group consists of 40 area high school students who review proposals from local nonprofit organizations that address youth-based issues. The YIP members then make recommendations for funding to the foundation’s board of governors. Over the years, these young leaders have awarded more than $100,000 in grants. YIP is based on a national model and is the first program of its type in the region. In the current grant cycle, five organizations were awarded YIP funding, including: • disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock, Inc. – Live the Dream, Youth Leadership – $5,000 – This initiative will teach independent living skills to youth with disabilities, ages 14-21, who are preparing to transition from school to adult life. • Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center – Specialized Trauma-Focused Mental Health Treatment – $3,000 – This grant will support mental health treatment for abused children. The specialized treatment will teach the children new skills to help them process, manage and resolve their distressing thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to their abuse. • King George Summer Lunch Bunch – Summer Lunch Program – $2,744 – This grant will provide funding to help feed children and young adults in King George County over the summer months. King George Summer Lunch Bunch is a volunteer organization dedicated to filling the nutritional gap for King George students during the 11-week summer vacation and helping parents stretch their food dollars. • Rappahannock Legal Services, Inc. – Legal Eagles – $2,000 – The Legal Eagles project will sponsor up to four high school and/or undergraduate students who want to volunteer at a legal aid office and are interested in learning about legal careers, but might not be able to afford to undertake an unpaid internship. • Stafford Junction – Olde Forge: A Better Block Beautification Project – $1,975 – Stafford Junction is a faith-based nonprofit organization that serves high-needs children and their families residing in Stafford County. The grant will enable the organization to improve the appearance of Old Forge Park through the work of youth volunteers. The YIP members are mentored by foundation board member John McManus, community volunteers Josh Cooper and Taylor Sutton, and Community Foundation Executive Director Teri McNally. For more information on The Community Foundation’s grants and scholarships, as well as how the foundation can assist donors in creating charitable funds, call (540) 373-9292 or visit www.cfrrr.org.

CNEW Luncheon Are you looking for a way to network with other like-minded business owners? Do you want to find out about the trends affecting woman-owned businesses? Come to the CNEW Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 18 at the Fredericksburg Country Club. Call (540) 373-9400 to register.

FAAR installs 2014 leadership team The Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR), is pleased to welcome its 2014 leadership team, headed by President Debbie Irwin. The other team members are: Vice President Christine Singhass of Realty World Select, Secretary Jorge Robert of Coldwell Banker Elite, Treasurer Linda Fosdick of Dockside Realty, and President-elect Brooke Miller of Long and Foster. The directors include: Bob Mercurio of Long and Foster, Karin Whitley of Coldwell Banker Elite, Arlene Mason of Coldwell Banker Carriage House, Paddy Osborne of Coldwell Banker Carriage House, Mark Geslock of Keller Williams Superior Realty, and Erin Newbill, Coldwell Banker Elite. The ceremony took place during FAAR’s Changing of the Guard Installation Dinner in December. Several awards were presented, including: • Affiliate of the Year – Phillip Blake of MBH Settlement Group was the recipient of this year’s Affiliate of the Year Award. • President’s Award – Debbie Irwin was the recipient of this year’s President’s Award for her assistance to Suzanne Brady during her term as president. • Silver Circle Awards – This award is presented to members who have attained 25 years of continuous membership in FAAR. Joining the Silver Circle in 2013 were Diane E. Kelso of Dove Real Estate, Margaret C. Bailey of Sun Realty of Fredericksburg, Samantha Bailey of Century 21 Adventure Redwood, William J. Blount of Lake Anna Island Realty, Inc.; Victoria Clark Jennings of Preferred Realty, LLC; William E. Culbertson of William E. Culbertson R. E., LLC; David G. Jones, GRI, CRS of Century 21 AdVenture Redwood; Carol

Debbie Irwin H. Manns of Pitts and Manns Realty, Ruth E. Manzano of Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.; Valerie Moss and William Paule, Jr. of Coldwell Banker Elite, Susan D. Reid, ABR, of Century 21 New Millennium Stafford; Robert R. Rochon of Rochon Realty, Inc.; and Peter Romani of Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. • REALTOR Emeritus – Jim Smith of Century 21 AdVenture Redwood and Mary Williams of Williams Realty • Good Neighbor Award – Michelle Wilson of Century 21 New Millennium and Kevin Breen of Coldwell Banker Elite • Hall of Fame Award – Claire Forcier-Rowe of Coldwell Banker Elite

RACSB expanding key committee The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is currently soliciting applications from interested individuals to serve on its Consumer and Family Advisory Committee. The committee works with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Quality Assurance to provide feedback regarding service delivery that will lead to quality improvement. The committee serves an advisory role to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors. Potential projects undertaken by the committee may include: review of satisfaction surveys; review of reports generated by the Office of Consumer Affairs; and recommendations for improvements in delivery of services based on data reviewed. Committee member responsibilities include attendance at quarterly meetings and ability to understand issues on the local, state, and federal level that may impact RACSB services.

The committee is comprised of five to 10 volunteer members meeting the following criteria: The individual must be receiving, or have within two years of joining the advisory committee, services from RACSB; or the committee member must be a family member of an individual that is currently receiving, or within two years received, services from RACSB. Membership is for a two-year term, with no member serving more than two consecutive terms. The committee meets every three months in the evening. Applications for membership on the Consumer and Family Advisory Committee are available at www. racsb.state.va.us or by visiting any of the five RACSB outpatient clinic locations. Applications are due no later than Feb. 28. Membership applications will be reviewed by the Program Planning and Evaluation Committee of the Board of Directors with member-

ship recommendations being presented to the Board of Directors. Applicants will be chosen based on their familiarity with RACSB services and programs, their ability to commit to meeting attendance, and their overall interest in advising RACSB in its quality improvement activities. Completed applications should be mailed to Emily McGarrity, RACSB Office of Consumer Affairs, 600 Jackson St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401. To learn more, call (540) 8994616 or (540) 940-2308. Founded in 1970, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides public mental health, intellectual disability, substance abuse, and prevention/early inter vention services to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford. To learn more, visit www.racsb.state.va.us.

Looking for past issues of ChamberLink? • Find ChamberLink online at www.journalpress.com

ChamberLink • February, 2014

Business BRIEFS

SRMC earns Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Attendees at the January CNEW Luncheon got to know each other in fast, fun networking sessions. ✑✒✓✔✕✖✗✘✙✐✍✝❑◗❅❒▼❙◆❉❏❐✻✽✼ ❁▲❁▲❄❁▲❄❆❇❈❊❋●✛→❚❘❃❖❂■❍✌✎✏

CNEW Luncheon

CNEW members enjoyed fast, fun speed networking sessions at the first CNEW Luncheon of 2014. The organization also presented to The Salvation Army of Fredericksburg the monies raised by CNEW’s Silent Auction held in December. The next CNEW Luncheon will take place at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 18 at the Fredericksburg Country Club. The cost is $20 for Chamber members, $30 for the general public. To register, go to www. fredericksburgchamber.org or call (540) 373-9400 by Friday, Feb. 14. For more information, contact Sheri Kroskie at (540) 373-9400 or sheri@fredericksburgchamber.org.

Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, SRMC ensures that patients who arrive at the hospital complaining of chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack receive the treatment necessary during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved. “People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” said Greg Madsen, CEO of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient.” By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center has enhanced the quality of care for the patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards. The hospital engaged in rigorous reevaluation and refinement of its cardiac care processes in order to integrate the healthcare industry’s successful practices and newest paradigms into its cardiac care processes. The hospital’s heart care includes the entire range of care for the Acute Coronary Syndrome patient and includes such focal points as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cath-lab, a comprehensive quality assurance plan, and community outreach programs. Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. As the only cross-specialty organization, SCPC provides the support needed for individual hospitals and hospital systems to effectively bridge existing gaps in treatment by providing the tools, education and support necessary to successfully navigate the changing face of healthcare.

Cunningham joins Coldwell Banker Commercial Elite Brian E. Cunningham serves as Senior Associate Broker for Coldwell Banker Elite. He brings 13 years of experience in commercial real estate and will continue his focus on general brokerage of all types in one of Virginia’s fastest-growing regions with a specialty in retail, medial and investment sales. Mr. Cunningham has not only led at previous firms like GVA Advantis, Realty World, and

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Vakos Real Estate but has consistently been his firm’s top producer wherever he goes. His knowledge of the Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia region and its key players enables him to provide quality representation to both landlords and tenants. In 2011, Mr. Cunningham earned his Broker license and over the span of the past three years he has amassed 130 Cunningham transactions at over $30 million in sales volume and has been recognized annually as one of the top producers in the market. He is also a candidate and has begun pursuing the prestigious CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Manager) designation, held by only six percent of agents worldwide. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, he is a cum laude graduate majoring in Mass Communications from James Madison University.

Find ChamberLink online at www.journalpress.com

February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Jessica Beringer(left) with the Children’s Museum of Richmond spoke at January’s Fredericksburg Roundtable. Joining her was Fredericksburg Roundtable Chair Amy Peregoy.

Fredericksburg Roundtable Jessica Beringer with the Children’s Museum of Richmond recently discussed the museum’s plans to open a satellite museum in the Fredericksburg Region. Ms. Beringer spoke about the project at the Jan. 7 Fredericksburg Roundtable. The Fredericksburg Roundtable takes place quarterly – usually on the first Tuesday in the first month of the quarter. The cost is $12 for Chamber members who pre-pay and $15 for members who pay at the door. The price includes breakfast. Non-member guests may attend one time for $20. To register and pay, go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org. Any Chamber member is welcome to attend the Fredericksburg Roundtable, especially those businesses located in Fredericksburg or those that have business interests in that part of the region. Attending the Fredericksburg Roundtable is one of the best ways to network with the Fredericksburg business community.

Spotsylvania Roundtable Chamber gives nod to its volunteers The Chamber saluted members of its many programs and working groups during a special volunteer appreciation breakfast held Jan. 14 at the Chamber office.

Matt McLaren with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership will lead a discussion on the economic climate at the Feb. 4 Spotsylvania Roundtable. Arista Real Estate will sponsor the breakfast meeting, which will begin at 8 a.m. at WyteStone Suite of Fredericksburg, 4615 Southpoint Pkwy. The cost of attending is $12 for Chamber members who pre-pay and $15 for members who pay at the door. The cost includes breakfast. Non-member guests may attend one time for $20. To register, go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org. Any Chamber member is welcome to attend the quarterly Spotsylvania Roundtable meeting, especially those businesses located in Spotsylvania or that have business interests in that part of the region. Attending the Spotsylvania Roundtable is one of the best ways to network with the Spotsylvania business community.

Next Generation of Business Leaders to hold Reverse Raffle The Next Generation of Business Leaders will hold its second annual Reverse Raffle at 7 p.m., Friday, March 7 at the Fredericksburg Country Club. Proceeds from this event will help fund the Next Gen’s Made in FredVA project later this year. The goal of the project is to encourage the creation of new businesses in the Fredericksburg Region. It is similar to the “Shark Tank,” which

runs on ABC and features entrepreneurs attempting to win start-up capital from established business people. The Next Generation project will give high school seniors and college students a chance to submit business start-up plans in writing. Following a review of the written proposals, those who have offered the most viable ideas will publicly present them sometime in the autumn. A panel of successful business people will pick

a winner, who will receive cash to help launch his or her idea. Raffle tickets are $125 and will include food, an open bar and a shot at winning $5,000. A maximum of 150 tickets will be sold. To purchase tickets, contact Whitney Watts at whitney@ fredericksburgchamber.org or contact any member of the Next Generation’s board of directors.

ChamberLink • February, 2014

Ribbon

Cuttings

Ribbon Cutting – Liberty Tax Services Chamber members and area business leaders came out for a Jan. 15 ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the new office of Liberty Tax Services. Located at 338 Amaret St., is a full service individual and small business income tax preparation service. Its team members have a thorough knowledge of the tax system, demonstrate enthusiasm and stand with clients and actively seek out their best interests.

Ribbon Cutting – The Dr. Yum Project The team at The Dr. Yum Project celebrated its mission of helping kids make healthy food choices with a Jan. 22 ribbon cutting. Founded by Dr. Nimali Fernando, Dr. Yum offers parents and kids the chance to learn about preparing healthy family meals. Recipes posted on the Dr. Yum website – www.doctoryum.com – are kid tested and approved.

Need to give your business a marketing boost? Let the Chamber help you plan a ribbon cutting for your business. A benefit of Chamber Membership!

February, 2014 • ChamberLink

Listen to Business Link, Saturdays at 9 a.m. on WNTX 1350 AM

Business Link

GUESTS AND TOPICS FOR BUSINESS LINK Date/Time: Feb. 01 – 9 a.m. Topic: Keeping your pets healthy Guest(s): Dr. Kathy Kallay, founder of Four Paws Animal Hospital Date/Time: Feb. 08 – 9 a.m. Topic: Serving area veterans Guest(s): Fred Wellman, president of ScoutComms

House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell gave a preview of the 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly during the Jan. 4 edition of Business Link.

Nate Wood, market president with BB&T, gave an update on the banking industry and a preview of the 2014 Chamber gala during the Jan. 11 program.

Date/Time: Feb. 15 – 9 a.m. Topic: Update on Mary Washington Healthcare Guest(s): Cathy Yablonski, president, Stafford Hospital Center Date/Time: Jan. 25 – 9 a.m. Topic: Update on the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Guest(s): Chamber President Susan Spears & Board Chairman Mike Fidgeon

Barbara Gustavson, founder of Discover Next Step, appeared on the Jan. 18 show to offer tips on empowerment and business leadership.

CJI

Dan Wildman, vice president of LifeCare Medical Transports, discussed changes to the medical transport industry during the Jan. 25 edition of Business Link.

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ChamberLink • February, 2014

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