INSIDE MWAA Board Under Fire ...Page 4 M AY 2011 VOLUME 8 NO.6
Forum: New Approach Required To Meet County's Housing Needs By Erika Jacobson Moore, Staff Writer Creating the communities that will draw employees for existing Loudoun businesses, and developments attractive to companies looking for a new location, will take foresight and planning. That was the message sent from Housing Virginia’s Leesburg forum surrounding the White Paper, “Jobs, Transportation, and Affordable Housing: Connecting Work and Home.” “I don’t think anyone has completely gotten it right,” Trip Pollard, of the Southern Environmental Law Center and who wrote the White Paper, said. “There are some elements of people’s policies that are good and there are good projects. But I think everyone is still in the learning process. But that’s a good thing.” At the April 29 forum at Rust Library, Pollard was joined by a panel of people
on the frontline of the workforce housing issue: Brian Chavis, CEO of ARGroup and chairman of the Industrial Development Authority; Paul DesJardin, director of the Department of Community Planning and Services for Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; James Duszynski of Greenfield Partners; and John McGranahan, a partner with the law firm Hunton & Williams. Duszynski put forward the application for the recently approved Dulles World development and McGranahan represented the developers of Kincora Village—both of those projects are part of the revamped plans for Rt. 28. While Loudoun might be a couple of decades behind places like Fairfax County and Arlington when it comes to creating environments for the county’s future workforce, that also creates opportunities for See Fourm, Page 14
“I don’t think anyone has completely gotten it right. ... There are some elements of people’s policies that are good and there are good projects. But I think everyone is still in the learning process. —Trip Pollard, Southern Environmental Law Center
Realtors See Slow Price Recovery, Tougher Times For Renters By Kara Clark, Staff Writer
Loudoun Realtors are hoping for a productive 2011, following a year defined by the frenzy surrounding the federal FirstTime Homebuyer’s Tax Credit. A panel of residential Realtors and mortgage loan professionals joined Loudoun Business for a recent roundtable to share their thoughts on what 2011 may bring. Residential real estate professionals
will tell you the tax credit saw a surge of activity in the market, after years of lagging sales and mounting distressed properties. “The tax credit created a tremendous amount of activity,” Beckwith Bolle, of Carter Braxton, said. Those surveyed for this article said they have seen the number of distressed properties on the market dip substantially, although there is still a glut remaining yet to be sold. Areas of Sterling and Leesburg still show higher volumes of distressed PRSRT STD
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properties coming on to the market. Activity in Loudoun in the higherpriced housing market is still slow. According to Bolle, many homeowners who purchased these higher-end homes are underwater on their loans and now will be waiting a few years to sell their homes into a more competitive market. On the other hand, properties on the lower-end of the market are a hot commodity. Many Realtors report that properties listed under $500,000 will likely have mul-
tiple bidders upon days of coming onto the market and many are snapped up quickly. “There are a lot of buyers out there with nothing to buy,” Mary Krueger, with SunTrust Mortgage, said. Many of those in the market are not families looking to move into the community or upgrade. Investors continue to buy up properties in the county, with many now purchasing multifamily and townhouse units. This, Realtors say, has resulted in See Roundtable, Page 14
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MAY 2011
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MAY 2011
JK Moving Expanding Loudoun-Based Operations By Kara Clark, Staff Writer
Chuck Kuhn, CEO of JK Moving & Storage, announced his company's expansion plans May 12 as County Chairman Scott K. York looks on.
One of Loudoun’s premier businesses is expanding. Chuck Kuhn, CEO of Dulles-based JK Moving & Storage, has announced that his company will be adding a 100,000-squarefoot facility in Loudoun, as well as an additional 130 employees. The company is also expanding its space and employee base in Montgomery County, MD. Kuhn said the continued recovery of the residential real estate market, as well as growth for the company in both the corporate and government sectors has made the expansions possible. Kuhn delivered the announcement May 12 at the county government center at a press conference organized by the Department of Economic Development. As to why he chose to remain in Loudoun, Kuhn said the location is ideal
for JK’s customers and the infrastructure in the county is superior to what JK experienced in Fairfax County, where it was previously located. He also pointed to the amount of space available for truck parking and storage; improvements on nearby Rt. 606; and the future arrival of Metrorail in Loudoun as key factors for remaining in the county. According to Kuhn, the company’s new facility will be located on one of two lots currently under consideration: one in front of its current Dulles facility, or another located behind it in another business park. Already 30 employees have been hired by the company and the additional personnel were expected to be hired within the coming weeks. The company held a job fair at its Dulles facility May 14.
HUD Secretary Cites Loudoun Station As Nat'l Example By Erika Jacobson Moore, Staff Writer U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan put the spotlight on one Loudoun as an example of the types of construction needed to meet that country’s housing needs. He was on hand last month to help with the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Loudoun Station development along the Dulles Greenway in Ashburn. The mixeduse development is designed around the Rt. 772 Metro station planned as part of the Silver Line extension. “This just goes to show that the Silver Line is on its way, despite some of the recent hiccups with MWAA,” Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) told the audience during the April 20 ceremony. York said the Loudoun Station project is one that will “truly move Loudoun into the 21st century.” “It is the first of its type, with a few more to come,” he said. Approved in late 2003, Loudoun Station
will include more than 1 million square feet of offices, more than 300,000 square feet of restaurants, shops and retail stores, a 200-room hotel and up to 1,500 residences. The first phase is under construction and will include 357 apartments along with the first phase of Market Square @ Loudoun Station, which will have 70,000 square feet of retail along the new Central Station Drive. That road will serve as the entrance to the entire community. The urban style of Loudoun Station, as well as its multi-family apartments, drew praise from Donovan, who thanked York and the county for its vision for Metrorail and communities like Loudoun Station, and called work on the new Metro line and development around it an important public-private partnership that is what “government should be about.” “This is an example of what will move us forward,” he said. “These kinds of partnerships are absolutely essential as we work to connect every American family
Economic Development Director Tom Flynn told Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce members May 12 that the county’s new small business initiative will have to wait a while before it can be
Loudoun Business/Erika Jacobson Moore
See Loudoun Station, Page 14
County’s Small Business Initiative Awaits Manager By Margaret Morton, Staff Writer
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, right, was on hand April 20 to help county leaders and Comstock representatives mark the beginning of construction for Loudoun Station.
implemented, following the resignation of Small Business Development Manager Phil Denino to take a job in Falls Church. Flynn had been scheduled to kick off the initiative, which is an evolution of the now disbanded Loudoun Places program. See Initiative, Page 10
30 Under 30 Nominations Open It’s that time again. For the third straight year, Loudoun Business will turn the spotlight on the rising young professionals in the county. Profiles of these future business leaders will be published in our June issue. To nominate an under-30 professional for inclusion in the annual report, email kclark@acnpapers.com. Nominees must live, work or be intimately involved with organizations in Loudoun County. All industries will be represented in the annual issue: from small business owners to restaurateurs to rising stars in any and all organizations. In past years, public safety workers, teachers, bankers, accountants, Realtors, medical professionals and others have been profiled. Deadline for submissions is June 1.
PAGE 4 | Loudoun Business
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MWAA Board Under Fire While the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has welcomed three new members to its board of directors and elected a new vice chairman, the debate continues over plans to build an underground Metro station at Dulles Airport. And that $300 million controversy may trigger fundamental changes in how the oversight panel for Dulles and Reagan National airports operates. U.S. Rep. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10), who sponsored the orginal legislation to create MWAA, is now proposing to make it easier to replace board members and to give Virginia greater representation on the panel. Wolf, and other elected leaders in the region, have strongly objected to the board’s decision to continue with plans for an underground station at the airport instead of an aerial option that would help address the increasing cost of the Phase 2 Silver Line construction to Ashburn. Wolf wants changes to his 1986 law creating the authority to be made immediately. Wolf’s bill would allow the governors of Virginia and Maryland, the mayor of the District of Columbia and the president to remove board members even if appointed by their predecessor. The bill also would expand the board and increase Virginia’s representation from five to nine members. Maryland would continue to
have two members and the District of Columbia three. There are also three presidential appointees. Among the recent changes to the MWAA board is election of former Congressman Thomas M. Davis III as vice chairman. He replaces former vice chairman Leonard Manning, whose term on the board ended earlier this year. Davis, who served as congressman of Virginia’s 11th district from 1995 to 2008 and was a former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, was appointed to the MWAA board by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell last year. Professionally, he is the director of federal government affairs for Deloitte LLP. The board also has new members appointed to represent Washington, DC, and Maryland. Warner H. Session is the founder of The Session Law Firm, which devotes the major part of its practice to representing businesses in the information technology, aviation, real estate and non-profit sectors. The Session Law Firm offers legal, government relations and business consulting services in such matters as corporate transactions, federal procurement, small business development, strategic partnering, legislation, regulatory compliance and real estate. Session is former counsel to the House Government Activities and Transportation
Loudoun Business | PAGE 5
MAY 2011 Subcommittee and served as lead counsel to the Subcommittee as it investigated the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103. Session is an appointee of the mayor of the District of Columbia. Shirley Robinson Hall has worked in the private sector, as well as in federal, state and local governments. She served as U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations’ 52nd General Assembly, worked on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch and served on the Democratic National Committee for 16 years. As a corporate executive with Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, she was a manager in the divisions of Public Affairs and Personnel. She is an appointee of the mayor of the District of Columbia. Richard “Dickie” S. Carter. of Potomac, MD, is the founder of Urban Service Systems Corporation, an environmental services and hauling company, specializing in solid waste and biosolids management, recycling, and soil excavation and hauling. He is also the principal owner of Carter & Carter Enterprises, Inc., a chemical transportation company; the managing partner of South Capitol Street Limited Partnership, a business entity specializing in real estate acquisitions; the managing member of Washington Leasing LLC, a business entity specializing in transportation and equipment leasing; and an investor in Darryl Carter Inc., an interior design and products firm. He is an appointee of the governor of Maryland.
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All rights reserved. No part of Loudoun Business may be reproduced physically or electronically without the written permission of the publisher. Loudoun Business is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. We are 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. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753. Email: fairhousing@dpor.Virginia.gov. Web site: www.fairhousing.vipnet.org.
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MAY 2011
In Brief
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• Mortgage Loan Originator Mary Krueger has been recognized as a top mortgage producer for 2010 by SunTrust Bank. Based in the Potomac Falls office, she closed in excess of $40 million in residential mortgage loans for 140 families last year. SunTrust Bank’s President and CEO Bill Rogers and Regional Executive Vice President Scott Wilfong presented Krueger with the Chairman’s Team award March 29. The SunTrust Chairman’s Team is a recognition program for the company’s top sales and service producers. Krueger has been with SunTrust for six years and serves as an assistant vice president. She has more than 24 years of experience in the mortgage industry and is a VHDA awardwinning originator. She is a member of the board of directors of the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Already this year, she is SunTrust Mortgage’s top Loudoun producer during the first quarter. • There have been a slew of staffing
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changes over at Middleburg Financial Corporation, which recently announced a series of promotions. Three members of the management team now have the title of executive vice president: Dwight Lampley is executive vice president and chief revenue officer; Robert Miller is executive vice president and chief marketing officer; and Suzanne Withers is executive vice president for Human Resources. There are new titles in the company’s Middleburg Bank division as well. Kevin Boyd was named facilities operations officer. John Brooks was promoted to senior vice president and controller. Lorrie Roberts is assistant vice president for Retail Banking and manager of the Online Financial Service Center. Business Analyst Susan Templeton also was promoted to vice president. Jimmy Whirley was named vice president, assistant controller. In the Middleburg Trust Company, two employees have new titles. Christine Newell is an assistant vice president and Rena Wynne is senior vice president and operations manager. Finally, Kevin Shaner has joined Middleburg Bank as senior vice president, commercial relaSee In Brief, Page 13
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MAY 2011
Getting To Know The Neighbors
The rules that guided the CEO Cabinet were simple. Among them was the Vegas rule—“what you say here stays here.” It was important to me that the cabinet members felt comfortable speaking their mind on community issues, without fear of those opinions affecting their business or reputation. Without that trust, we would not have earned the cabinet members’ time, and therefore would not have been successful. The first item of business was to conduct a survey of the CEO Cabinet memBy John Wood bers. I asked what issues they thought, if addressed, could make Loudoun County the best place to live and work in America. The answers came back universally: • Education—Not just K-12 education, but K-20 education. • Congestion—Physical congestion on the highways and virtual congestion on our networks. • Infrastructure—Avoiding rolling brownouts (like in California) by ensuring we have adequate power, for example. Since our formation in 2006, the Loudoun CEO Cabinet had great success in engaging and aligning with Loudoun’s business community. Just as the New York Partnership merged back into the New York Chamber of Commerce in 2002, the CEO Cabinet successfully merged back into the Loudoun Chamber in 2010. As it exists today, Loudoun’s Chamber is the voice of business in Loudoun County, and is closely aligned with economic development, the tourism industry and the small disadvantaged business community in a way like never before. When I think back five or six years—it’s hard to believe that it took me nearly 11 years to go out and meet my business community neighbors. Since then I have built wonderful relationships within the Loudoun business community. Now, I not only know my neighbors… we are throwing neighborhood block parties! In future columns, I look forward to addressing various issues related to education, congestion, and infrastructure.
A Business Perspective
About six years ago I ran into a little problem with the local government. In June 2004 I wanted to put a sign on our 200,000square-foot building so it could be easily identified from the highway. Nine months later, we still didn’t have a sign. I called my marketing team and they informed me of the county’s sign ordinance. In short, this ordinance stated that a business was allowed only 20 square feet for signage. And yet, without a sign, no one knew what company occupied the building from the road, which was over 300 yards away. I called to complain, and to my surprise, the government sent a person from economic development and a local supervisor to listen to my complaints. After I explained why I thought the 20-square-foot sign ordinance was ridiculous, they conceded that yes, it was a ridiculous ordinance. But they also noted that the process to change an ordinance was very long and tedious. After listening to a few more of my complaints, they asked me a question that I will always remember… are you willing to help? And that’s where I made one of many mistakes, I said… yes. I don’t actually view the moment I volunteered to be a mistake—I say that tongue-in-cheek. But at the time, I didn’t know exactly what I was volunteering for. When I sat down to think about how I could be involved, I realized that even though I had been a CEO in Loudoun County since 1995, I knew only a handful of other Loudoun business leaders. It was a shocking moment for me. It was as if I had lived in the same house, in the same neighborhood for 11 years, and never once met my neighbors. At the time, Loudoun County’s focus was on residential development and not on commercial economic development or business community development. While residential developers are an important component of our community, they are not the only component. Working with Loudoun County government in an effort to get leaders of the greater business community engaged and aligned, I formed the Loudoun CEO Cabinet. I modeled the CEO Cabinet after the New York Partnership, which was created in 1980 under the leadership of Mr. David Rockefeller. Mr. Rockefeller created the New York Partnership to supplement the New York Chamber of Commerce, which at the time was quite dysfunctional. I saw a lot of similarities between the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and that of New York, which is why I wanted to emulate Mr. Rockefeller’s model.
[John B. Wood is the CEO of Telos Corporation in Ashburn, founder of the CEO Cabinet and current chairman of the county Economic Development Commission. His monthly column will appear in Loudoun Business. Follow him on Twitter at twitter. com/jbhw.]
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To celebrate its opening, the Sterling Jersey Mike’s Subs planned to hold a fiveday-long fundraiser to support Dominion and Potomac Falls high schools. May 11-15, anyone with one of the 10,000 coupons distributed throughout the community could purchase a regular-size sub with a minimum $1 donation to support the schools. “At this opening we want to champion the two area high schools through our fundraising efforts,” store co-owner Greg Switaj stated. “We feel this is a ‘sub’stantial way for us to make a difference in our community. We are enthusiastic about supporting the schools in Loudon County and feel privileged to be able to help in a meaningful way.” The Sterling Jersey Mike’s is the second franchise for Switaj and co-owners Matt Switaj, Brian Deeth and Mike Wagner. A Leesburg location opened last year and a third location is planned for later this year. The Ashburn office of Fusion Dental fitted 24 Stone Bridge High School varsity lacrosse athletes with free custom mouth guards. Fusion Dental provided the
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mouth guards as a community public health service for local families. Voss Laboratories donated the lab work needed to make the devices. “We see too many devoted athletes come in after they have had an injury during their games. We thought that by providing properly fitted mouth guards, we might prevent some of the dental injuries we see from wearing improper mouth guards,” Dr. Douglas W. Alderman, D.D.S., who fitted the teams for their guards, stated. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, sports accidents account for 10 to 39 percent of all dental injuries in children. The Academy for Sports Dentistry recommends the use of a properly fitted mouth guard made over a dental cast and delivered under the supervision of a dentist. “We feel strongly about the role that Fusion Dental can play in our local community and by providing these mouth guards, we want to do our part to prevent traumatic dental injuries from happening,” Dr. Gregory R. Bob, D.D.S., president of Fusion Dental said. Virginia Tire & Auto locations throughout Northern Virginia, including its Loudoun shops in Ashburn, Dulles, South Riding and Cascades, will be participating in a month-long effort to collect and send care package items to soldiers stationed abroad. The company is supporting the nonprofit organization Any Solider by collecting donations of goods to be packaged and sent to servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Employees of Virginia Tire & Auto will assemble 150 care packages on Monday, June 13. The care packages are to include the basic necessities donated by the public as well as Virginia Tire & Auto employees. “Because so many of our customers and employees come from military families we felt that sending care packages to our troops would be a great way to give back to our community while at the same time thanking the brave men and women who are sacrificing everything to serve our country overseas” Myron Boncarosky, president of Virginia Tire & Auto, stated.
“We also specifically chose the month of May for this effort as it corresponds with Memorial Day.” Virginia Tire & Auto is partnering with AnySolier.com to collect and assemble the care packages. AnySoldier.com was founded in August 2003 by Marty and Sue Horn, whose son Brian served as a sergeant in the Army. This project has served more than 1.9 million troops by sending soldiers the necessities they need to sustain rigorous life overseas. In addition to monetary donations, items such as instant drinks, twin size sheets and pillow cases, personal hygiene products and snack foods like granola bars and Power Bars are being accepted. For more information, email jholmes@vatire. com. A local foundation is dissolving its assets and donating its entire endowment to the Loudoun Community Health Center and two other health clinics serving the medically underserved in Northern Virginia. The Campbell Hoffman Foundation, dedicated to increasing access to comprehensive health care for underserved and uninsured people in the Northern Virginia region, presented a check for $677,500 to the Loudoun Community Health Center at the May 4 Loudoun Board of Supervisors meeting. “The Loudoun Community Health Center’s work is the embodiment of the Campbell Hoffman Foundation’s mission,” Kathie Westpheling, president of the foundation, stated. “The gift we are giving to the Loudoun Community Health Center ensures a permanent legacy in Loudoun County of the work of founders Jane Becker Campbell and Dr. Olive Hoffman.” The Loudoun Community Health Center provides medical, dental and mental health care to anyone in need regardless of their age or ability to pay, whether they have insurance or not. The donation will enable LCHC to focus its efforts on expanding its medical services to Loudoun County residents, with an emphasis on expanding prenatal and obstetric care and behavioral health care. Since opening in 2007, LCHC has cared for almost 8,000 patients and is currently managing a wait list of more than 900 people. The majority of patients at LCHC are low-income and/or uninsured who had not been able to afford to see a doctor prior to the establishment of the Community Health Center. As a result, many of their patients who had put off seeking a doctor’s care, come to the Community Health Center with very complex health problems.
Loudoun Business | PAGE 9
MAY 2011
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PAGE 10 | Loudoun Business
Initiative
Continued From Page 3 Loudoun Places held its final meeting May 11 following the announcement last month that the department had decided to disband the program and shift to a new focus in aiding small business enterprises countywide. Flynn noted the importance of small businesses to Loudoun’s economy—more than 90 percent of the county’s business base is comprised of small businesses, which collectively employ the largest percentage of people. “The majority here are small businesses, with 10 employees or fewer,” Flynn said. He said one of his top initiatives is to work with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to support that vital sector and spur job growth. The dissolution of Loudoun Places does not mean any lessening of the county’s drive to support the towns’ economic development efforts. That will continue, Flynn said. If anything, that relationship will strengthen, with quarterly meetings. Loudoun Places was composed mostly of western Loudoun representatives, largely from the towns. But, one of the new departmental directions is to make sure the entire county is covered and Flynn noted that in looking at where the county’s small businesses are located, so many of them are in the eastern part of the county. He cited the
Rt. 606 corridor, where many businesses with five or six employees have set up shop in the flex industrial spaces. “How can we help them grow,” Flynn said was the question. Flynn is a member of the International Economic Development Council, and he listed several of that body’s requirements for successfully growing small businesses. Among them, favorable physical and regulatory infrastructure, including access to fiber optic networks, transportation, utilities, financial institutions and workforce, and he noted that Loudoun is strong in all categories. Availability of talent and entrepreneurs also is important, and Loudoun is a good source of ideas from potential business owners. Loudoun also has a strong peer network through organizations like the Chamber, the Small Business Development Center and professional and business associations in the towns. A good entrepreneurial culture also is considered essential for successfully growing the small business sector, including diversity of experiences and opportunities, and recognizing the value of entrepreneurs to the community, while accepting that some degree of failure is essential to be more risk tolerant and willing to embrace change, he said. “We have to also recognize that a lot don’t make it,” Flynn said. Flynn said the new initiative would pro-
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Loudoun Badge Unveiled The “Loudoun is for Business” badge will be displayed on the websites of county businesses and business organizations to spread the word about the advantages Loudoun offers as a place to do business. When a website visitor clicks on the badge displayed on a partner’s site, they will link to the Department of Economic Development website where they can find information about how to bring their business to Loudoun. Learn more at: www.biz.loudoun. gov/badge.
vide a stronger and more inclusive, countywide small business/entrepreneur support system and a wider networking partnership involving banks, brokers, business associations, the Chamber, Industrial Development Authority, SBDC, Mason Enterprise Center and the towns. Flynn also highlighted the new “Loudoun is for Business” badge, a digital program to provide Loudoun businesses with a way to show their support of economic development. Whenever a company displays the Loudoun is for Business digital badge on its website, not only does the company indicate its interest in the county’s economic development, but when visitors to its website click on the badge they are directed to the Department of Economic Development website where they will find information about the county, business support resources and how to open a business in Loudoun. Those wishing to start a business can use the site selection tools on the website to find where land/property is available and where, for example, you can find 2,000 square feet of office space. The information is provided through the department’s liaison with brokers, property owners and developers. The new initiative will focus on a twopronged network: virtual information online and a physical network. The advantage of the online support system is that one could access the information from anywhere at anytime. “We want to ensure resources that are here meet your needs” and evolve so they can continue to meet them, Flynn said. Once Denino’s successor is named, the department can move on to the next stage, which will include focus group meetings, a small business summit, creating the web-
MAY 2011 page and working on an incentives package. Development Officer Buddy Rizer, who heads the county’s business economic development team, said he plans to advertise for Denino’s replacement imminently and hopes to fill the position in about a month. “We will start the new initiative with the new person. We will continue the assistance and I’ll be taking over a good part of that,” Rizer said. “We don’t want to miss a beat.” Concerns had been expressed following the disbanding of Loudoun Places that the county would shift its support efforts to only an online information service. But Rizer echoed Flynn’s comments, noting the support will be physical also. “We want to have the website available 24 hours a day. But nothing can compare with being out there and connecting with people.” Denino's new position is with Odell, Simms and Lynch, a Falls Church economic development and fundraising firm. The new job is closer to his home in Arlington and involves two accounts: to help raise $35 million for the private component of the planned Eisenhower Memorial on the National Mall, scheduled for a Memorial Day 2015 opening; and to work with the City of London and its regional economic development office in its preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games, in helping to interest U.S. companies in coming to the U.K., using the games as the focus. Denino said he is excited by the opportunity to work with the leaders of the top businesses in the country. In his three-and-a-half years with the county, Denino said he has benefited from his relationships with people in the towns and small businesses. “It gave me a greater understanding of their needs and what makes Loudoun communities attractive and affordable places to live.” He’s proud of creating “a network that didn’t exist before” and believes the county’s small business community will be well served by a virtual and actual relationship. The two need to serve in tandem, he said, noting if it’s only a virtual resource, “it’s just a series of links,” and has to be backed up by people in different organizations, knowing what others do. Rizer’s business development team ultimately will three other individuals: Denino’s successor as business development nanager for small business and entrepreneurship; Steve Hargen, business development manager for federal government contracting and aerospace; and a new staffer to be hired in July as business retention manager. On the agricultural economic development side, Kellie Boles heads the team as agricultural development officer, with Gary Hornbaker as rural resources coordinator; and Jeremy Carter as agricultural district program specialist.
MAY 2011
Loudoun Business | PAGE 11
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■ Business Calendar May 17
May 18
Grow Your Business Luncheon
Middleburg Women
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chamber offices, 19301 Winmeade Drive #210, Lansdowne “Perfecting Your Pitch: Create an Unforgettable First Impression,” part one of a two-part elevator speech workshop, will be the monthly topic in a series that gets attendees up close and personal with experts in different business fields. Each luncheon in the Grow Your Business series features a prepared presentation followed by an extensive Q&A session. Lunch is provided. Cost for the event is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.
Leesburg Business Appreciation Awards
Leesburg Economic Development Commission 6 to 8 p.m., ProJet Aviation, 957 Sycolin Road, Leesburg Local businesses and the individuals that make the community successful will be celebrated during the 10th annual awards reception. For more information, visit www.leesburgva.gov.
is $30 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.
May 19
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast, 23130 Briar Patch Lane, Middleburg Tina Johnson, owner of Johnson Promotions & Events, will be the guest speaker at the monthly networking luncheon. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the speake\r and a Q&A session beginning at noon, followed by lunch and door prizes. For pricing and registration information, visit www.middleburgwomen. com.
Securing the Cloud
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 3 to 6 p.m., George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn Technology industry leaders will discuss the “profits and pitfalls” encountered in cloud computing during this Technology Coalition program. Brian Chavis, CEO of ARGroup, will moderate a panel that includes Tom Dimtsios of Telos Corporation; Peter Stern of IBM; and Andrew Poulson of AT&T. The seminar will be followed by a private networking reception, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Cost to attend
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After Hours Mixer
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 5:30 to 7 p.m., ProJet Aviation, 957 Sycolin Road, Leesburg Join Chamber members, board members and new members as they power network around fine catering and tasty beverages at this monthly event. Preregistration fee is $15 for members and guests or $20 at the door. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.
Selecting the Right Business Entity
Loudoun Small Business Development Center 6 to 8:30 p.m., George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Exploration Hall, Room 101, Ashburn Keith Troxell, of Atwill, Troxell & Leigh, PC, will address the types of business entities and the advantages and disadvantages of each; legal and regulatory requirements; limiting personal liability; minimizing income and employment taxes; and reducing organizational costs. Pre-registration fee is $25 or $30 at the door. To register, visit www.loudounsbdc.org.
May 24
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May 25 Leadership Luncheon
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne Vernice “Fly Girl” Armour, America’s first African American female combat pilot, will be the featured speaker during this installment of the Leadership Luncheon series. Cost to attend is $45 for Chamber members or $60 for non-members. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.
June 2 Young Professionals Mixer
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 5:30 to 7 p.m., Corcoran Vineyards, 14634 Corkys Farm Lane, Waterford Join the Young Professionals, a Chamber initiative linking members of the demographic, for an evening of networking and socializing. Cost to attend is $15 if preregistered or $20 at the door. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.
June 7 Strokes of Genius
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Noon to 7 p.m., 1757 Golf Club, 45120 Waxpool Road, Ashburn The Women in Business Alliance presents a one-day signature golf event, featuring professional golf instruction by PGA pros; nine- and 18-hole tournament play; stance and swing video analysis; stroke and skills clinics; a “Living the Lifestyle” gourmet luncheon featuring guest speaker Jan Fox of Billy Casper Golf; networking opportunities; door prizes; and an evening cocktail reception. Cost for the day’s events are $200 for Chamber members and $300 for non-members. Tickets to the lunch portion of the program can be purchased for $35. To register, visit www. loudounchamber.org.
June 9 Business Showcase Breakfast
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce 7:30 to 9 a.m., Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn Join almost 150 Chamber members, new and old, at this monthly, signature roundtable networking breakfast. Early registrants will have their name and company information displayed on the members-only attendee list. Fee for the breakfast is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. To register, visit www. loudounchamber.org.
Loudoun Business | PAGE 13
MAY 2011
In Brief
Continued From Page 6 tionship manager and community executive with responsibilities for the bank’s Ashburn and Reston markets. Shaner has 20 years of experience in financial services. Most recently, he was at Citibank where he led the SBA sales effort for 42 bankers in the Atlantic Region. Prior to that he worked for Merrill Lynch, BB&T, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He has worked in commercial banking, corporate banking, credit and investments and holds his Series 7 license and is a registered investment advisor. • Brambleton resident William Byers has joined First Virginia Community Bank of Fairfax as senior vice president and chief lending officer. His responsibilities include managing the bank’s commercial and government contract lending officers. Before joining FVCbank, Byers served as senior vice president and community executive for the Ashburn/Reston area with Middleburg Bank. A 15-year veteran of the banking industry, Byers also worked with Wachovia and BB&T in commercial real estate finance. Byers currently serves as chairman of the Greater Reston Chamber
Panorama
of Commerce. Also, he serves on the board of the Loudoun County Industrial Development Authority and as local director and fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. • Leesburg’s Barbara S. Williams will again serve as vice president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Williams served as VTLA’s treasurer in 2007-2008 and served two previous terms as vice president, in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The Winchester native has specialized in per-
sonal injury law since 1988 when she formed the Leesburg firm of Burnett & Williams with Peter C. Burnett. In 2006, she formed her own law firm with offices in Leesburg and Winchester. Williams also is a past president of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, Loudoun County Bar Association and the Winchester Frederick County Bar Association. She is a member of the Brain Injury Services board of trustees. • Reston Limousine CEO Kristina Bouweiri received the Good Scout Award from the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Bouweiri was honored during the 14th Annual Loudoun County
Good Scout Award Dinner May 10 for her many efforts in supporting the local business c o m m u n i t y, civic organizations and for her philanthropic endeavors. • The National Conference Center has promoted Sarah Vining to marketing manager. Previously a marketing assistant, Vining began working at the Lansdowne-based conference center in August 2010 after graduating from the College of Charleston where she earned a bachelors degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications.
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Forum
Continued From Page 1 the county. McGranahan noted that even now Fairfax County is working on redevelopment in the Tysons Corner area around the future Metro stops. “Fairfax is welcoming new multifamily dense uses to make it a more 24/7 environment,” he said. “And Loudoun can learn from that. They are going at it very aggressively and Loudoun can watch and see what is working for them and what is not working for them.” Learning from others' successes and mistakes is one the best things working in Loudoun’s favor as it looks toward its own future, the panelists agreed. They also agreed Loudoun still has a ways to go to meet the needs of the workforce and the companies that already exist in the county. “Especially with the ‘brain agencies,’ as I call them, they’re hunting down the best of the best young people, researchers, and they can’t bring them to Loudoun County,” Chavis said. One of the biggest hurdles to being able to fully address workforce housing concerns, the panel said, is to change the impression given by the term. There is a perception, Duszynski acknowledged, when it comes to the term “workforce housing”—that it means low-income or sub-par and there is a perception that peo-
Roundtable
Continued From Page 1 an increasingly competitive rental market. Danilo Bogdanovic, of Market Advantage Real Estate, reported that the average rental price in the area is up more than 7 percent over last year. “They’ve become their own private lender,” Krueger said. Bolle said many renters are trying to lock into multiple-year leases now so they lock in an affordable price over a longer period of time, and then in three or so years hope to be able to afford to buy their own property. This has caused the perhaps unintended consequence of driving away a segment of the market that the county most craves: young professionals. Many have found it unaffordable to rent or purchase in the county and, with the desire to be near public transit and nightlife options, locate outside Loudoun, closer to Washington, DC, or near urban centers in Reston, Bogdanovic said. Even more likely, hopeful renters will be pointed to Manassas and other Prince William County neighborhoods where rental properties are more available and afford-
ple want to be with “people like us” and people in each level of housing, from the McMansions to townhouses and on down, looks down on the level below them. To combat that bias, those in the industry have been working to show who it is that will be living in these homes. Teachers, police officers and firefighters are evoked most often, but it is more than that, the panelists said. “It is really about putting a face on who it is you’re trying to put in these units,” DesJardin said, noting that is something at which COG is working hard. “We want to show people that, aren’t these the folks we want in this community to be a part of the fabric of the community.” Those in the audience agreed there is a negative perception toward workforce housing, and that the discussion needs to be framed that these are people who make up the community’s backbone—they are not a separate segment. The panel also agreed that the dynamics of homeowners in Loudoun has changed and will continue to change. Duszynski said the generation of people who would be first-time homebuyers over the next few years may not be buying in the numbers previously seen. “They have been priced out of homebuying, and they’ve been traumatized by what they have seen [with foreclosures],” he said. “They are being renters by choice.” While most discussion about workable. Another attractive feature in Reston currently not seen in Loudoun is the visible construction of Metrorail. Bogdanovic said that, solely by breaking ground on the Metro extension in Reston last year, prices and market activity in the area went up due to the anticipation of public transit arrival. The same is hoped for Loudoun in the coming years. But hopes are to attract young professionals to locate in Loudoun. Gwen Pangle, also of Carter Braxton, noted that the current crop of young professionals represent a larger buying population than the baby boomers, who are now retiring. Forthcoming developments One Loudoun, Kincora and Dulles World hope to do just that. The wave of multi-family housing units arriving in Loudoun over the coming years has been marketed both to business owners and government leaders as a way to keep young professionals in the area. For the time being, though, Realtors report mixed results on how the year has started off. Some say things will remain “status quo” until the economy fully recovers, while others, like Bolle, report a hot start to the year.
MAY 2011
You can view a video of the White Paper presentation online at: http://tinyurl.com/3rsua9r
force housing and higher-density mixeduse development in Loudoun has centered on the extension of Metrorail, the panel said transit-oriented development is about more than rail. It could be a bus feeder system, which given the current market might make more sense economically for some of the communities under development. But with many developers and business leaders in Loudoun talking about the housing issue and how better to serve the
Loudoun Station Continued From Page 3
to housing, but more broadly to the opportunity they need to win the future.” Donovan noted the project will
“It is going to help to improve this broader community and benefit the families and workers who live here.”
—Shaun Donovan
not only provide affordable homes for public servants like teachers, fire fighters and police officers, but also that continued construction will create hundreds of local jobs as the economy continues its slow recovery.
companies and employees within its borders, the next few years might tell the tale for Loudoun. Panelists said with the Rt. 28 CPAM the Board of Supervisors has put in a “blueprint” for the future of commercial development in the county and it will help Loudoun as the county continues to come out of the economic downturn. “Everyone is really interested to see what happens with Kincora,” Chavis said. “I think that will really be a bell-weather project.”
The secretary added that Metro’s connection to Loudoun Station will do more than simply provide houses and jobs for people. “It is going to help to improve this broader community and benefit the families and workers who live here,” he said. While Metro is not expected to reach Loudoun Station until 2017, Comstock has been working with Fairfax County to provide commuter bus service between Loudoun Station and the Reston Station Metro stop until rail arrives. For Comstock CEO Chris Clemente the groundbreaking was a momentous occasion. “This groundbreaking represents the beginning of the transformation of the Dulles corridor,” he said. “And Loudoun Station is at the forefront of this transportation.” For more information on the Loudoun Station project, or to track construction through web cameras, visit www.comstockpartnerslc.com/ loudoun.php, or visit www.loudounstation.com.
Loudoun Business | PAGE 15
MAY 2011
Median Sales Prices On The Rise, But Sales Down The median sales price ($370,000) for homes sold in Loudoun County during April 2011 was 10 percent higher than the median at this time last year ($337,000) and 2 percent higher than March 2011 ($362,170). The year-to-date median sales price though, at $355,000, is still 1 percent behind the 2010 median (so far). The April 2011 median in eastern Loudoun was $338,000 (up from $348,000 in March, +.4 percent); the median advanced 4 percent from $380,000 to $395,000 in March in Leesburg; and the median declined .2 percent from $410,000 last month to $409,000 in western Loudoun. The median has increased for three consecutive months this year. Five units had sold prices exceeding $1 million in April (the highest was $2,610,000 in Paeonian Springs). The county posted 402 sales in April. Compare that with March’s revised total of 355 (+13 percent) and the total unit sales last April (486, -17 percent). While we understand that the market was enjoying the benefits of the First Time Buyer’s Credit last year, the fact remains that sales in the first four months of 2011 are the lowest in at least six years. The four-month averages from January to April since 2006 were: ¡ 2006 = 446 ¡ 2007 = 449 (+1 percent from last year) ¡ 2008 = 352 (-22 percent) ¡ 2009 = 364 (+4 percent) ¡ 2010 = 371 (+2 percent) ¡ 2011 = 326 (-12 percent) Roughly 63 percent of April’s sales occurred in eastern Loudoun (259 units) and 25 percent were in Leesburg (101) which both advanced compared to revised March totals. Western Loudoun sales though declined slightly from 43 to 42 sales last month. While median sales prices advanced
last month, so did average seller subsidies. The average subsidy in April was $3,919 compared to the March average of $3,328 (+18 percent) and $3,627 last April (+8 percent). The share of total sales that were distressed was 29 percent in April, down from 29.9 percent in March and 34 percent last April. This was the third consecutive month of declines and the second with a share less than 30 percent. About 65 percent of the 115 total distressed sales in April were short sales, 43 percent were bank owned properties. The share in eastern Loudoun was 31 percent; it was 28 percent in Leesburg and 19 percent in western Loudoun. The days on market indicator declined again in April to 72 days from a revised 75 days in March. While the 2011 average is high compared with 2010, 28 percent of homes (101 units) sold in April were on the market less than 10 days. However, eight were active over a year; one sold in April that had been active for over three years. The average close price for Loudoun’s detached homes last month was $521,470; it was $320,938 for attached units and $174,815 for condominiums. The 2011 average close prices for detached and attached units are 1-2 percent below the 2010 average but condominium prices are 6 percent below last year’s average. Pending listings declined 10 percent to 460 units in April from 512 in March. This figure is about one third lower than last April (probably as a result of the First Time Buyer’s Credit in 2010). The number of active listings declined as well (10 percent last month). The month’s supply of inventory was 3.6 months in April, down from 4.1 in March. The available inventory in eastern Loudoun was a paltry 2.6 months; it was 3.8 months in Leesburg and advanced to 9.1
months in western Loudoun. There is clearly not enough supply to satisfy demand in eastern Loudoun at this time. The average close price to original list price ratio exceeded 92 percent throughout the county in April. It was 96.5 percent in eastern Loudoun, 94.1 percent in Leesburg, and 92.1 percent in western Loudoun. The countywide average was 95.4 percent up from March (94.5) but lagging behind the 96.9 percent average last April. There are hopeful signs in the market (increasing median sales prices and a decreasing share of distressed sales) but,
monthly sales are significantly behind sales at this time of year for at least the last six years. I expected them to lag behind 2010 (because of the First Time Buyer’s Credit) but place the blame for low sales this year compared to 2006�2009 on the lack of available inventory. [Rosemary deButts is a REALTORŽ associated with Atoka Properties in Purcellville. She is certified by the National Association of REALTORSŽ as a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource and is a Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM).]
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Medical Services Week Thanks to all of the dedicated Emergency Medical Providers Who answer our calls!
May 15-21 is National Emergency Medical Services Week! If you are interested in joining these dedicated men & women visit us at www.answerthecall.info
MAY 2011