Greater Richmond Grid #5

DINNER & A MOVIE: FILM DIRECTOR SUNNY ZHAO’S FANHOUSE EATERY

9WG STUDIOS

DOWNTOWNʼS NEW MULTI-MEDIA PRODUCTION

CENTER

Jeff Kelley Becomes Disoriented On

TOBACCO AVENUE

CONNECTING LIVE + WORK + PLAY

ABOUT THE

HISPANIC THEATRE PROJECT ALSO ON THE GRID:

DESIGN BIZ SAVVY INNOVATORS BOOKS WEB SITES ART EMERGING MEDIA FASHION

FREE | ISSUE #5 | SUMMER 2010

rid G R E AT E R R I C H M O N D

BRUCE MILLER

GETS BULLISH

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

WHO KNEW PHILANTHROPY COULD BE SO PERKY?

JOEL ERB’S

iPHONE APP ROCKS THE

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

ELIZABETH FRAIZER

and the Lady Raiders are among the cast of innovative and invested Richmonders who are giving back to the community.

RVA VIBE: JACKASS FLATS +

BRITTANY GORDON & SMCRVA-EDU

HORSEHEAD, NO BS! BRASS,

GET SMART!

AND MORE

VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

HELP STUDENTS

LIVE CONTENTS ONLINE COMMUNITY Knowledge Sharing Co‑founder of SMCRVA‑EDU, Brittany Gordon says the organization wants a social media connection in schools.

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Hot Tweets Richmond Tweeple

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Family Recreation & Dream Vacations: Branding ‘Fun!’ on FB page 7

On the Grid: ‘Give A Little, Get A Lot’ ndulge me if you will by letting me kick‑start this issue with one̶among the many̶ad‑ monishments my mother used to advise us: give a little, get a lot.

Though technically, I believe she was referring to embracing a sense of compromise̶that if you give in a little, youʼd reap the greater benefits of a shared vi‑ sion. Over the years, she consis‑ tently used the saying, hoping to maneuver her five children into selfless adulthood.

Though, in pulling together this issue, the common theme of peo‑ ple acting selflessly to better their community also seemed to parallel this principle.

By just giving a little of their ef‑ forts̶to their respective charities, causes or community̶their self‑ lessness created a much greater

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impact and return on their invest‑ ment of time and money.

But we werenʼt interested in the Pollyanna aspect of “doing good.”

As a publication dedicated to creativity and innovation, the effort here is to portray the variety of mo‑ tivations and intriguing ways that citizens of the region give back to their community.

One key to successful philan‑ thropy is having a personal con‑ nection to your cause or commitment.

Certainly, Elizabeth Fraizer, along with her husband Michael, are impressive in their scope of giving̶from youth mentoring to an entrepreneurial investment in the Richmond Raiders as effort in part to support Downtownʼs vi‑ brancy (see page 12). Theyʼve commuted their shared passion

Spot Trot

BY TED RANDLER

for athletics into successful busi‑ ness and philanthropy.

Partnering is another interesting aspect of community outreach.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Carolyn N. Graham (see page 10), are work‑ ing together with the public schools and the corporate commu‑ nity to help city youth evolve into successful businesspeople through the Youth Academy and Summer Works Initiative.

In the arts, performer and play‑ wright, Slash Coleman, the Real Small Art League and the Rich‑ mond Craft Mafia (see page 43), have created a novel competition that ultimately benefits Art180 and the Richmond SPCA. Weʼve found, like in business and the arts, creative problem‑solv‑ ing is just as integral to community outreach as is personal investment.

What In The Heck Is This? onʼt worry, I didnʼt have a clue either until our emerg‑ ing media editor Paul Spicer, full of new‑tech excitement, came back from the SXSW confer‑ ence with the concept.

Quick Response (QR) code is a matrix code (or two‑dimensional bar code) created by Japanese cor‑ poration Denso‑Wave in 1994.

As with many things regarding consumer technology, Japan has been an early adopter using the QR codes for marketing and connect‑ ing media on everything from mag‑ azines to t‑shirts and billboards.

Though the technology of QR codes has been around since the early ʼ90s, itʼs only been with the re‑

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cent proliferation of cam‑ eras in cellphones and the evolution of phone apps and operating sys‑ tems that now make them practical.

Search your phoneʼs app store for a QR reader and download the application (available in all flavors including Android and iPhone). We tested our QR codes with the free BeeTagg Multicode Reader.

When you scan a QR code with your mobile phone camera, the QR reader application brings up a website, a Facebook page, YouTube video̶anything on the the virtual world. Think of it as a quick way to grab a site without

having to type a URL. Some apps will also store, email and even translate your pages.

And why would you need this?

Real estate agents can post these on a homeʼs sale sign for house hunters to scan and get on‑the‑ spot information about the listing.

The code can also hold contact information on business cards.

Ridiculously long urls like those found in some FB links can be printed succinctly in magazines.

Our readership being the tech pioneers that they are, we have scattered QRs throughout the arti‑ cles for you try.

Joel Erbʼs mobile based platform connects entertainers and their fans in an interactive format.

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SproutLaunch: Ideas, Inspiration and Incentives Molly Quarlesʼ online resource assists volunteering from all angles.

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COMMUNITY NEXUS 500 Thank You’s In tourism and business, good first impressions translate into a vibrant city.

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Learning by Doing

While it may take a village to raise a child, creating a workforce of savvy professionals from students ages 14‑19 requires a partnership between the schools, business community and The City of Richmond.

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Downtown Spirit Richmond Raiders Co‑Owner Elizabeth Fraizer tackles youth mentoring through athletic opportunity.

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DESIGN FORWARD A ‘Green House’ on Grove Thinking outside the (window) box with Watershed Architects.

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WORK CONTENTS

Knowledge Sharing

BIZ SAVVY Regional Business News page 16

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The Innovation Network: Products, Services & Entertainment in Greater Richmond A catalog of diverse resources worth checking out.

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MOMENTUM Open for Business: Web Business Advisors, LLC

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Legal Brief: Private Messages On Company Equipment?

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Marketing Maven: An Effective Facebook Strategy page 22

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Leadership: Caretaking Company Vision

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Customer Service: Top-Notch Customer Service page 23

Just Ask Peter: Can You Trust Your Copier? page 24

By now, we all know that Richmond likes the olʼ Tweet box. An increas‑ ingly connected region, social media RVA‑style runs the gamut from taco truck chatter to late night shenanigans. Listen closely, how‑ ever, and youʼll find an increasing emphasis on levering social media for the greater good. In a town brimming with causes that now boast a social media slant, thereʼs no better example of techies doing it right than the local chapter of So‑ cial Media Club Education Connec‑ tion, known as SMCRVA‑EDU. “SMCRVA‑EDU means collab‑ orating and sharing your knowl‑ edge of social media. Both online and offline,” explains Nhat Pham (@NhatPham), a local social media evangelist and active contributor to the local chapter. “This is why we get together for incredible events and topics. Notable authors, stu‑ dents, professors and professionals have been panel guests to share successes and best practices.”

Brittany Gordon (@begordon), a co‑founder of SMCRVA‑EDU, ex‑ plains, “Our goal is to improve the quality of social media education being offered in post‑secondary schools to ensure new workforce entrants have the knowledge and skills required to secure better em‑ ployment opportunities.”

Gordon reports that the grow‑

COMPANIES & CAREERS Relentless Recruiting For the past ten years, an influx of new teachers from out of state accepted offers to work at Richmond Public Schools thanks in part to efforts

by Venture Richmond.

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Executive Publisher Ted Randler

Publisher | Senior Editor David Smitherman

804‑355‑1236

804‑355‑1035

Ted@theworkfactory.com

Dave@palaribooks.com

T0 ADVERTISE CONTACT Chris Woody 804-822-1422 Greater Richmond Grid is published in the months of

JULY, OCTOBER, JANUARY & APRIL General comments, story suggestions and letters to the editor for publication consideration should be directed to Ted Randler at

Greater Richmond Grid & RichmondGrid.com © 2010 by Palari Publishing LLP PO Box 9288 Richmond VA 23227

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ing organization will be using this summer to reach out to professors and students at universities and colleges throughout Virginia to en‑ courage the creation of a Social Media Club Education Connection

ted@theworkfactory.com.

INNOVATORS Telepath Telecommunications, Ready Corporation, RichmondHomeBuzz, and 9WG Studios

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On Twitter: @SMCEDURVA, or www.smcedu.ning.com /group/smcedurva

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Social Media Key

INDICATES MEMBERSHIP TO

twitter.com www.myspace.com www.facebook.com www.youtube.com www.linkedin.com

for a complete listing of the magazine’s distribution locations throughout the Greater Richmond Region.

Also online, connect with Grid’s writers and photographers.

Being Employable Is To Be Ever-Evolving RichmondJobNet.com creates the ʻRichmondJobNet Extreme Career Makeover Contest.ʼ

“Our goal is to improve the quality of social media education... to ensure new workforce entrants have the knowledge and skills required to secure better employment opportunities.”

RichmondGrid.com

The Israel Journal: Frontline Economics

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Gordon:

Go to

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The Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. participates in a marketing mission to Israel.

BY PAUL SPICER

on their campuses. “We feel strongly that campus clubs, under the umbrella of SMCEDU‑RVA, will provide a strong voice and help reach our goals more efficiently.”

Beginning in August, SMCEDU‑RVA will host conventions throughout the year that will allow campus clubs to showcase their own social media projects, as well as provide an opportunity for interactive work‑ shops and panelist discussions.

Kendall Morris, one of the founding members of SMCRVA‑ EDU and a partner at the Emerging Media Practice Group at Fahrenheit Technology, points to a personal fa‑ vorite as evidence of the clubʼs steady growth. In conjunction with Virginia Commonwealth University, the chapter plans to collaborate with the schoolʼs exchange student program to link 25 students from Iraq with 25 local students. “The students will be tasked with creat‑ ing a social media campaign for a local non‑profit,” explains Morris.

SMCRVA‑EDU will work closely with the students, nonprofits, and busi‑ nesses, reports Morris. SMCEDU events will also see the student teams presenting their innovative social media campaigns with the audience voting on the winners.

“Our slogan says it best,” con‑ cludes Nhat Pham, “If you get it, share it.”

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Ted Randler

Greater Richmond Grid All rights reserved. Repro‑ duction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or il‑ lustration without written permission from the pub‑ lisher is prohibited.

The articles you find in the magazine are also available online. The online icons from the Social Media Key are linked to the individualʼs various community memberships.

The icons in the articles are there to inform read‑ ers that they may learn more about̶and possi‑ bly contact̶the writers and subjects of articles found in the Greater Richmond Grid.

Many of the articles in print have additional ma‑ terial and/or associated web features that can be found on RichmondGrid.com. Wherever pos‑ sible, additional articles have been noted, but readers are encouraged to check the site for ex‑ panded articles and daily updates.

David Smitherman

Paul Spicer

SMCRVA‑EDU

Mom sent a text asking if I had something ready for her.

5 minutes later I responded yes & she responded back “whatʼs ready?” #seniormoment 5:25 PM Jun 3rd via Twitter for Android

Think my blackberry is failing me today because it knows my Droid incredible comes tomorrow. #feelingguilty 8:21 PM May 25th via UberTwitter

Eating Cheez‑Its (because all food must somehow involve cheese) and my stomachʼs was all “wha?!” and I'm all “calm it. Itʼs food. deal.”

2:40 PM Jun 14th via web

know I came in 2 hours late, took a long lunch and have been internetting for the majority of the day, but can I leave now, please?

3:15 PM Jun 10th via web

Please RT if you know some‑ one, or have been affected by someone who needs a smack upside the head.

Lets raise awareness.

1:12 PM Jun 4th via TweetDeck

Ohhh, just drove

by Krispy Kreme and the "hot now" sign is bright! #RVA Thursday, January 14, 2010 8:00:34 PM via Echofon

Iʼm gonna be so productive today itʼs ridiculous.

Not gonna get distracted ...

Oh look something shiny.. #ADD 4:43 AM Jun 22nd via Twitter for iPhone

Whenever the kids would ask for a 2nd anything the ball‑n‑ chain would answer “sorry only one to a customer”...now the kids say it. #dadstuff 7:19 PM Jun 1st via Twitter for iPhone

See extended Tweet Talk on RichmondGrid.com

Hot Tweets

PLAY CONTENTS

RICHMOND TWEEPLE

@byinviteonlyrva

COMPILED BY PAUL SPICER

Following: 2,139+ | Followers: 1,948+ | Listed: 142 + MONICA HORSLEY Web: http://www.gobyinvitationonly.com Bio: “Owner of By Invitation Only (Richmondʼs #1 Invitation & Stationery Store), self proclaimed Paper Guru & owner of 2 great Boston Terriers” “People laugh when I say this, but I signed up for Twit‑ ter when Ashton Kutcher was on CNN trying to get to a million followers. I had no idea what Twitter really was, but I was intrigued. I opened an account with my name and quickly became a little obsessed. It was perfect for me, quick and concise. I could gain and share information in 140 characters multiple times a day, I loved it! After about a month of ʻlearning Twitter,ʼ I opened a busi‑ ness account and that became my focus. Now I only use my business name and use it to connect with current and potential customers, gain in‑ dustry knowledge and learn about what's going on in my community.”

@CafeDarkness

SONGFEST RVA Vibe: Music Matters Horsehead; NO BS! Brass; The Silo Effect; Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird; Jackass Flats

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The Brown’s Island Battle of the Bands page 36

GLITZ & GLAM You’re Getting Married, You’re Not in Mourning

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What’s Kyra Wearing?

“How do you look HOT without looking overheated?”

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Following: 1261+ | Followers: 518+ | Listed: 55+ CAFE DARKNESS Bio: Easily distracted by glittery and shiny objects.

And unicorns. And pennies.

ONSTAGE New At The Empire Theatre

“Well, itʼs a great time waster at work, which is great because I hate my job. I also like to complain about things. For some reason, people think thatʼs funny, and I like to make people happy.” Advice for new tweeters: “Donʼt make fun of Justin Bieber unless youʼre prepared to deal with the consequences. Just kidding, you totally can. Heʼs just so little! “ On FB: “I love to hate Facebook. Itʼs like an obsession. Every time I check it, I know it will make me mad, but I canʼt not check it. Itʼs a toxic relationship. Dr. Phil would not be pleased. “

@MelRV Following: 307 + | Followers: 320+ | Listed: 26 ROSEMARRY V MEL Bio: “Sr. Business Analyst, unknown Iron Chef, Cigar Aficionado (@CigarClubRVA) and Pho Queen“

Theatre IVʼs Artistic Director Is Bullish About The Upcoming Season

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FOOD Director’s Dumplings Dazzle @ Fanhouse page 41

EXHIBITIONS MEOW-WOW!: Lost Kitty Curios Aid Art 180 Good causes come in small packages.

Be on the lookout for small‑art cats that are getting lost all over the Richmond area this summer.

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“Recently, an office was having great frustrations with finding a good candidate for a position posted up to be filled. 56 applicants for 2 open positions and only one good candidate. As an alternative to reposting the position and going through the same grueling interview process, I had suggested to post the position on Twitter. Within a matter of minutes, an extremely capable person was found, interviewed the next day and hired by the end of the week. The use of Twitter benefited us all.

@FreezFramePhoto

PAGE VIEWS A Novel Promotion

Local writer JJ McMoon is taking a unique approach to promoting his new novel, Lives.

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Following: 750+ | Followers: 592+ | Listed: 73+ LISA ANN SETCHEL Web: www.freezeframephotobooth.com Bio: “2 chix 3 photobooths and more fun than you can handle.... with yer clothes on.“

Endless Vacation

“Twitter is my information source in general. From late‑breaking news, social updates on my friends, local events and sales, a business blast center and even a steady source for all things autism related.

When Iʼm doing events, I post photostrip pix and the guests love to have their pix tweeted, not to mention itʼs just plain fun.”

Probably most known for his columns for the Richmond Times‑Dispatch, Bill Lohmann has canvassed the state to produce Backroads & Byways of Virginia: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions.

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GRID & BEAR IT Update from Tobacco Avenue The mind‑boggling science of finding your way around The Fan.

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DON’T JUST SIT THERE.

DO SOMETHING! 1 8:26 AM Page 1 6/24/2010

OCK MINION RIVERR GALLERY: DO ʻHOT SHOTSʼ ES FIT4KIDS | PIR INS Eʼ LIF + ʻFIT FOR

sbq_15:Layout

FREE

O MIC DU DYNA BLAIR TIS & VALERIE CUR

WORKOUT AT K PAR POLE GREEN

Gail Grasso

TRAINS FOR THE HALF MARATHON PAGE 15

G FROM STROLLIN TO SKY DIVING, NBC12 ANCHOR

: DOWN & DIRTY S THE HENRICU DAUBER DASH

NOBLES RYANOTH ER & TS AREA RESIDEN ARE GOING OUT FIT. AND GETTING

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DRAGON BOATING @ ROCKETTS LANDING PAGE 14

AVAILABLE NOW!

Your best resource for sports, recreation and wellness in Greater Richmond.

In print and online at SBQnow.com C a l l ( 8 0 4 ) 3 5 5 - 1 0 3 5 fo r a d i n fo.

BY PAUL SPICER

Snag a Vacation!

Similar trends have been spotted in recent months by SnagAJob.com, a hometown hero in RVA that works closely with the Hodges Partner‑ ship, a Richmond based public re‑ lations firm who is redefining the social web. With over 12,000 Face‑ book users liking this local brandʼs page (www.facebook.com /SnagA‑ Job), the SnagAJob team decided to toss their fans a bone with a Summer Break Giveaway. By creat‑ ing a custom Summer Break tab on

is their favorite foods while watching the race, what should be placed on the racewayʼs iPod summer playlist, and what drivers should be featured on future sou‑ venir items). Most popular on the page is a YouTube series featur‑ ing tailgating shenanigans at our local racetrack.

Over at The Diamond, The Fly‑ ing Squirrels have created a Face‑ book page for not only the team but also its acrobatic mascot, Nutzy. With over 10,975 liking the teamʼs page, the Squirrels are mix‑ ing it up with an outcropping of online baseball fans by asking them to contribute to the social

Parnell: “We are constantly learning about the ever‑changing world of social media and recog‑ nize it to be a use‑ ful way of reaching our fans and those who will become our fans.”

With over 14,500 rabid bowlers currently “liking” their Facebook page, AMF has reved-up the company’s canvas page, which allows users to enter contests, search bowling locations, and enter bowling scores. its Facebook page users simply en‑ tered their name and why they de‑ served the summer off.

In return, the SnagAJob commu‑ nity on Facebook jockeyed for a crack at a pocketful of cash for summer spending.

Tailgating Shenanigans Other local standouts on Face‑ book, such as Richmond Interna‑ tional Raceway and the Flying Squirrels, are opting for energized wall content and integration with

other platforms, such as Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.

The Richmond International Raceway page (www.facebook .com/RichmondInternationalRace‑ way), with over 9,300 fans, has quickly become a hot spot for shar‑ ing fan photos and trading race banter. By teaming up with Madi‑ son+Main, the good folks at the raceway focus on creating con‑ versation on their wall and solicit‑ ing feedback by asking fans engaging questions (such as what

web. On its page in recent weeks the Squirrels have asked Facebook users to upload photos of them‑ selves in Squirrel gear around the country, with the winnerʼs photos blasted on the JumboTron during upcoming games.

“We are constantly learning about the ever‑changing world of social media and recognize it to be a useful way of reaching our fans and those who will become our fans,” concludes Todd “Parney” Par‑ nell, teamʼs Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

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Online Community

Facebook, once a fringe medium, now receives daily hubbub about its 400 million users and its tight‑ ening grip on mainstream culture.

RVAʼs biggest brands are increas‑ ingly pushing their Facebook initia‑ tives in new and creative directions that highlight why many feel the platform holds the brass ring.

AMF Bowling Centers, Inc., based in River City, is the worldʼs largest owner and operator of bowling centers. Today these fun‑ loving bowlers can add social media guru to their shiny shelf of bowling trophies. By moving far beyond the basic Facebook Page, AMF Bowling Centers (www.face‑ book.com/AMFBowlingCenters) has tweaked its profile to include a custom landing page, branded contests, and a variety of apps that operate within their page tabs.

With over 14,500 rabid bowlers currently “liking” their Facebook page, AMF has em‑ braced the trend of customizing the fan experience at key integra‑ tion points̶such as the AMF can‑ vas page, which allows users to enter contests, search bowling lo‑ cations, and enter bowling scores.

By using Facebook Markup Lan‑ guage (FBML), brands like AMF Bowling Centers are finding new ways to become more deeply in‑ tegrated into the Facebook user experience.

A recent Golden Ticket con‑ test hosted on the Page asked bowlers to compete to become AMFʼs biggest fan. The head hon‑ chos at AMF then turned control over to the user community to de‑ cide the winner by using the cus‑ tom page to vote for a deserving AMF fan, with the winner receiv‑ ing a free vacation to any AMF lo‑ cation in the country along with $1,000 in spending money to sweeten the deal.

LIVE

Family Recreation & Dream Vacations: Branding ‘Fun!’ on FB

ONLINE COMMUNITY

Spot Trot

Joel Erb

BY PAUL SPICER

Corded phone in hand, Joel Erb launched his career in gadgetry in middle school. Armed with a sales script and a trial version of the first Flash software, Erb aimed high, pitch‑ ing web services to the top brass at Calvin Klein, Armani, and Hugo Boss.

Web development, which was in its infancy at the time, had not crept into marketing plans, much less the thought of mobile apps.

Today Erb runs INM United, a local interactive media agency cre‑ ating a buzz for its spin‑off, Spot Trot, a mobile entertainment com‑ pany with clients like Dave Matthews Band and Tim McGraw.

By forming relationships with Apple, Red Light Management, and Live Nation̶Erb was able to bring to life a new mobile app that com‑ bines his tech‑savvy ways with his love for music.

His idea was simple: offer a customized mobile platform to artists that is built for todayʼs digi‑ tally connected fan. The concept quickly grew into a mobile‑based (currently iPhone) platform that is now connecting entertainers and their fans in an interactive, experi‑ ence‑driven environment. For artists and entertainers the app has become not only a way to connect with fans, but also a revenue stream through in‑app merchan‑ dise purchasing and exclusive pur‑

Spot Trot users currently enjoy the ability to view set lists, comment on the bandʼs perform‑ ances, communicate with other fans, buy tick‑ ets, and even get driving directions to venues. chasable content.

“Spot Trot is positioned to artists/management as a fan acqui‑ sition and engagement platform,” explains Erb. “Our apps bring value by connecting artists with their fans in a completely new way.”

From a monetization side, Spot Trot features the only in‑app e‑ commerce platform which allows fans to purchase merchandise using a one‑click “Wallet” concept.

“Spot Trot is able to de‑ velop func‑ tionality for fans that is centered around connecting other fans and providing interaction opportunities with the artists and live events,” says Erb. Dave Matthews Band, among the first to put Spot Trot to use, pushed the app into the Top Music Apps chart on iTunes, where it

broke quickly into the top 25 most downloaded music apps and has continued its upward climb. Ernʼs focus on working with select musi‑ cians, as well as sponsors that mat‑ ter to the fans, has kept the cost of using the platform down for the users and profitable for the artists.

Spot Trot users currently enjoy the ability to view set lists, comment on the bandʼs performances, commu‑ nicate with other fans, buy tickets, and even get driving directions to venues. Erb recently enhanced the Friends section of his app in order to allow fans the ability to locate their friends in real‑time, commu‑ nicate with other fans through di‑ rect messages and choose to have breaking news about the band delivered directly to their phone.

“Personally, my entire childhood was centered around music,” says Erb. “Growing up, my siblings and I were exposed to the entire gamut of artists...to say the least, music is in my blood̶but nothing beats the live experience.”

For Spot Trot, the next phase of this homegrown success story will include capitalizing on mobile commerce, integrating video in new ways within the iPhone device and launching a completely new framework for the iPad device.

SproutLaunch: Ideas, Inspiration and Incentives

Stand back, Richmond̶Molly Quarles has a good idea and it has sprouted. As the founder of Sprout‑ Launch (www.sproutlaunch.com), Quarles represents a new breed of local business leaders blending good deeds with good business.

“I originally started Sprout‑ Launch because I was having trou‑ ble finding time to volunteer but still wanted to make a difference,” explains Quarles, who also works fulltime at Madison+Main, a mar‑ keting and advertising agency in Richmond and Virginia Beach.

“SproutLaunch was originally created in an attempt to encourage and challenge myself to complete

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one random act of kindness each day. From there, it sparked the idea of including others in this mission by motivating people with random rewards.” At that point, the idea behind SproutLaunch was born: become the online resource for good‑deed inspiration while re‑ warding good‑deed doers.

No stranger to attracting the attention of big brands from her ex‑ periences at her day job, Quarles quickly began fielding calls from in‑ terested sponsors, like Coca‑Cola.

Quarles says that the most reward‑ ing part of SproutLaunchʼs instant rise to fame is found in the every‑ day stories happening all over the United States. “I love reading all of the good deeds posted at the end of each day. Knowing that there are so many people out their mak‑ ing a difference in the lives of others around

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them with simple acts of kindness is incredibly rewarding.”

Fans of this popular do‑ gooder website report that the best part of the site is the ability to “pay it forward” if you are selected as a random reward winner, at which time users can either keep the re‑ ward or pass it along to others. “Itʼs amazing to get emails or posts from people saying that they won a re‑ ward and donated it to their fa‑ vorite charity or used it to pay it forward to someone else.”

Along the way Quarles says that participating in random acts of kindness personally each day has made her a happier and healthier Richmonder too. “I have learned that focusing on good deeds for other people can re‑ ally change your life.

Just doing one good deed each day has allowed me to wake

BY PAUL SPICER

up each morning and focus on how to brighten someone elseʼs day ver‑ sus focusing on stress or negativity in the world. Even if you just try it for one week the happiness it cre‑ ates for you internally is far above what you could expect.”

Quarles says that her goal for SproutLaunch is to become the online resource for good deed in‑ spiration. She encourages RVA fans and businesses alike to use her site as a hub for ideas and as a place to share inspirational stories and promote companies and non‑ profits making a difference in River City (and beyond). “Plenty of com‑ panies are looking for ways to help their community, garner online advertising and gain new cus‑ tomers. SproutLaunch is a way that these companies and organi‑ zations can meet all of those goals and reach an audience focused on charitable actions.”

LIVE Community Nexus

Several members of the Clean Team include (from l to r): Nathaniel Middleton, Charles Wyatt, Frank Smith, and Jonathan Whiting.

500 THANK YOU’S IN TOURISM & BUSINESS, GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS TRANSLATE INTO A VIBRANT CITY

TOP PHOTOS: JAY PAUL | BOTTOM PHOTO: CHRIS OWENS

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e have received over five hundred ʻthank youʼsʼ in the past ten years for our services from visi‑ tors, workers and business own‑ ers,” says Julius Richardson of his company, Community Busi‑ ness Group (CBG).

CBG is under contract with Venture Richmond to provide enhanced services through the Downtown Clean & Safe program. The program was created by Venture Rich‑ mond (then Richmond Renais‑ sance), working in partnership with the City of Richmond.

Since its 1999 inception, Richardson and staff have worked to maintain a welcom‑ ing and clean environment in the Downtown Business Dis‑ trict for residents, workers, visitors and conventioneers.

“We routinely pick up trash and debris daily throughout the district and more frequently in

Greeting and cleaning are all part of the daily routine for Nathaniel Middleton.

some areas such as the Broad Street corridor and bus stops which we hit three to four times daily, Monday through Friday.”

As for the ʻsafeʼ aspect of the program, the Downtown am‑ bassadors are the eyes and ears on the streets. “They have a small role in security to report unsafe conditions and criminal activity to the appropriate agency,” he explains. Though as true ambas‑ sadors, the larger aspect of their activities are enlisted to wel‑ come people at major Down‑ town events. “We provide directions to parking, tourist at‑ tractions and restaurants.”

City Cleaning Blitz Beginning in July and through‑ out the summer, the City of Rich‑ mond, Venture Richmond and CBG will team up for a Cleaning Blitz. Director of Richmondʼs Department of Public Works, Dexter White says, “The Clean‑

ing Blitz is designed to turn Broad Street into one of the most pristine streets in the city lead‑ ing into the heart of Downtown.”

According to White, the scope of the project “will in‑ clude addressing sidewalks, curbing, as well as sidewalk‑ tree well conflicts.” The effort

will target Broad Street from 14th Street to the county line.

Sidewalk‑tree‑well conflicts will be addressed from 5th Street to Adams Street.

“Richmond is the regionʼs core and we are continuously working to build a strong, vi‑ brant city,” White says.

A Clean Sweep: Community Business Group Contractor for the Downtown Clean & Safe Program The Downtown Sidewalk‑cleaning team collects over a million gallons of trash, debris, and leaves annually. Additional maintenance services include: eradicating weeds from sidewalks and alley en‑ trances̶as well as power washing public spaces.

The Downtown Ambassadors provide staff for ap‑ proximately 1,200 events, with the employees meeting and greeting over 100,000 individuals each year.

The Downtown Clean & Safe program is one of the enhanced services funded by the Downtown Spe‑ cial Assessment District. The districtʼs boundaries are roughly from Belvidere Street on the west, Eighteenth Street on the east, Jackson Street on the north and the James River on the south.

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Charles Wyatt mans the street sweeper.

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Mayor Dwight C. Jones looks on during a recent Youth Academy orientation session at George Wythe High School.

LEARNING BY DOING: Richmond’s Next Generation of Business Movers & Shakers

PHOTO: CHRIS OWENS

WHILE IT MAY TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, CREATING A WORKFORCE OF SAVVY PROFESSIONALS FROM STUDENTS AGES 14‑19 REQUIRES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF RICHMOND. CAROLYN N. GRAHAM, DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR HUMAN SERVICES DISCUSSES THE MAYOR'S YOUTH ACADEMY AND SUMMER WORKS INITIATIVE. Why did the Mayor and City decide to create the program?

Richmond City has over 9,000 youth and emerging young adults between the ages of 14 and 19 years old attending public and pri‑ vate schools. Mayor Dwight C. Jones recognizes that these youth are the cityʼs emerging workforce and leaders; and they must have access to the economic engine that makes the City of Richmond and the region run, i.e., its industries, commercial and non‑profit sectors, etc. So many of our youth need social outlets to help them understand and reach their potential. Approximately 93% of our children, youth, and emerging young adults (up to 24 years old) are among some of the cityʼs poorest.

Providing our youth with access to opportunities will̶in both the short and long term̶ultimately reduce poverty, creating a last‑ ing impact on our city. Our bond rating will be enhanced, which will allow the city to borrow cheaper dollars, and move us closer to

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a AAA bond rating and Mayor Jonesʼ Tier 1 city goal. Research shows that a reduction in poverty by even 1% can make a tremen‑ dous difference in what cities are able to save.

If we are to address the systemic issues of poverty that are so pervasive in our city, Mayor Jones believes that we must begin with the early development of our youth. They must be given opportu‑ nities to learn, contribute and participate in real‑life work experi‑ ences. Such opportunities will enhance their performance in school and keep them committed to their city.

What career aspects or job skills are presented during orientation when targeting city youth (ages 14‑19)?

Although it is important to know how to write a resume and what is considered proper attire for interviews, effective communication and good customer service skills are equally important. The

Richmond, Assurance Wireless, Richmond Public Schools, Cen‑ tral Virginia Food Bank, Soul Ice, Inc., William Byrd Commu‑ nity House, Manter Fly Youth Development Agency, Meals on Wheels Serving Central Vir‑ ginia, GRTC, Shipp and Wilson, Inc. 1st Contractors, Richmond Department of Social Services, Richmond Noir Market, Rich‑ mond Department of Public Works, Richmond Department of Public Utilities, and the De‑ partment of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

Additionally, about 20 youth who graduated this year will be involved in a project to build computers at the Family Resource Center. These youth will keep the computers they build, and will be given a $3,000 scholarship to the ECPI Technical College.

Youth participating in both of these latter initiatives are being sponsored by the Capital Regional Workforce Board.

What types of businesses are participating and what kind of work are the participants doing?

A number of organizations are helping prepare Richmondʼs fu‑

ture workforce. Employment opportunities are available from the faith community, non‑ profit sector and local busi‑ nesses. A variety of work duties will be performed by the youth this summer including, but not limited to, the follow‑ ing: cultural arts, technology training, facility maintenance, health care, clerical and secre‑ tarial, higher education, and customer service.

We have a number of anonymous contributors who have made financial contribu‑ tions, as well as volunteers who have worked on all segments of this program. Not listed above are the Links, Incorporated, a national, African American womenʼs professional organiza‑ tion; the City of Richmondʼs Neighbor‑to‑Neighbor Volun‑ teer initiative; Richmond City Police Department, and the Richmond Department of Jus‑ tice Services.

How can local businesses participate in the program?

There is still time for local busi‑ nesses and faith‑based organi‑ zations to become involved by

For Mayor Jones and Carolyn Graham the pro‑ gram will provide the cityʼs youth with oppor‑ tunities to achieve success in the business community and enhance Richmondʼs economy.

either sponsoring a youth this summer or throughout the year for $1,200, or by offering a placement site and paying the youth $1,200. If businesses/or‑ ganizations are interested, they may visit the website and download a partnership appli‑ cation at:

www.Richmondgov.com/ MayorsYouthAcademy or contact by telephone: 804‑646‑7933 or by e‑mail: MayorsYouthAcademy @richmondgov.com

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years old, will be placed on job sites with private and non‑profit employers. They will work ap‑ proximately six weeks and will be paid a minimum of $1,200 during their summer experi‑ ence. After the summer work experience is over, we are hop‑ ing that employers will retain our older youth who have per‑ formed admirably and gradu‑ ated from high school.

An additional track for youth ages 16 and 19 years old is the Mayorʼs Youth Urban Conservation Corps. One of the cityʼs East End churches, 31st Street Baptist, has partnered with the city and provided 100 youth a plot of land for them to plant, and sell the produce.

Other partners in this initiative include, but are not limited to, five of the cityʼs master garden‑ ers, Virginia State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Tricycle Gardens, Richmond Redevelop‑ ment Housing Authority, Uni‑ versity of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Virginia Com‑ monwealth University, J. Ser‑ geant Reynolds Community College, Habitat for Humanity, Loweʼs, Pleasants Hardware, Home Depot, YMCA of Greater

LIVE

Mayorʼs Youth Academyʼs pri‑ mary goal is to equip our youth with leadership skills, business etiquette, financial literacy, healthy living, and effective communication skills so that they are well‑versed when it comes to being an active partic‑ ipant in the workforce.

We have developed two tracks for our youth this sum‑ mer: the 14‑15 year olds will participate in the LifeStages program, which has 12 experi‑ ential learning modules: dance, ecology, facility maintenance, creative writing, photography, visual arts, music, poetry, film, fashion design, art, horticulture, and a service project. These youth will also be trained in the core curriculum elements men‑ tioned earlier, e.g., resume writ‑ ing, effective communications skills, etc. They will receive a stipend of $250 for the sum‑ mer, and will stay involved in the Academyʼs year‑round pro‑ gram; designed to ensure that they are fully ready to enter em‑ ployment during the summer of 2011 in the private or non‑ profit sectors.

After the completion of their training, older youth, be‑ tween the ages of 16 and 19

COMMUNITY NEXUS

Downtown Spirit RICHMOND RAIDERS CO‑OWNER ELIZABETH FRAIZER TACKLES YOUTH MENTORING THROUGH ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITY

A

s co‑owners of Down‑ townʼs American In‑ door Football Associ‑ ation team the Richmond Raiders, Elizabeth Fraizer and her husband Michael, Chair‑ man and CEO of Genworth Fi‑ nancial, are passionate about their pursuit to support the

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BY TED RANDLER

community through economic investment (as with the AIFA team) or by their charitable initiatives.

Like many successful businesspeople and philanthropists, Elizabeth aligns her efforts with projects that she has a personal interest in. Athletics have played an ongoing role in her life. Spend‑ ing her childhood years outside of Cleveland and later graduat‑ ing from Bowling Green State University, Fraizer was a member of a large̶13 siblings ̶active family.

“I grew up with 7 brothers, who all played football,” she says. “I

In addition to her community work and promotions with the Lady Raiders, Elizabeth may well be one of Downtown’s biggest cheerleaders.

played a number of sports and at times would ʻcatchʼ for my brother who played center at Purdue and would practice the ʻshotgunʼ and ʻlong snapʼ just about every day.”

So becoming involved with the Richmond Raiders is a natu‑ ral fit for Elizabeth and Michael, who had grown up in Lincoln, Nebraska and who is also a life‑ long fan of the sport.

Elizabeth is involved with

wide range of life skills, mentoring, aca‑ demic and athletic programs.

One of the initial programs launched through the center Fraizer and the Lady Raiders was Lobs & Lessons, pep it up for the home team. a collaboration with William Byrd Commu‑ the team promotions. “My fa‑ nity House, Sacred Heart Cen‑ vorite part is working with ter and Northside YMCA. The the charities and joining the effort is to provide an after‑ football players and Lady school program that promotes Raiders in the community the learning of tennis and life helping children.” skills for more than 100 Rich‑ The Fraizersʼ athletic‑ mond youth each year. themed outreach also takes “My husband and I focus form by partnering with Vir‑ on underserved children, we do ginia Commonwealth Univer‑ that in a few key ways,” she sity̶through an initiative that notes. In addition to The Mary also carries some personal at‑ and Frances Center, the Fraizers tachment. “Mike and I founded are involved with QuickStart in

youth to provide opportuni‑ ties through sports and edu‑ cation programs.

In addition to her commu‑ nity work and promotions with the Lady Raiders, Elizabeth may well be one of Down‑ townʼs biggest cheerleaders. “I love Richmond being a small big city, or a big small city,” she says. As a mother of two, she notes Richmond is a great place to raise children. “There is so much to see and do, itʼs easy to navigate, with a rich history.”

It was important to the Fraizers that the Raidersʼ home games be played at the Coli‑ seum. “Every metropolitan area needs a vibrant center,” she ex‑ plains. “Downtown is progress‑ ing in a number of ways, and it is exciting to be a part of that.”

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the city schools where children ages 6‑10 learn the game of tennis. “Mike and I donated the QuickStart equipment for the Richmond elementary schools.

A QuickStart tournament was held at The Mary and Frances Center this past April with the Raiders and Lady Raiders there to help the staff of the VCU Cen‑ ter for Sport Leadership.”

Her focus to create activ‑ ity resources for under‑ served children continues in Fraizerʼs role as a board member of the Richmond Po‑ lice Athletic League̶an or‑ ganization that targets at‑risk

LIVE

The Mary and Frances Youth Center. Mary is his mother, Frances is mine,” Elizabeth explains.

Their mothersʼ names were incorpo‑ rated in the centerʼs brand as a tribute “for their everlasting spirit and support of chil‑ dren reaching for the future and achieving their dreams.”

The centerʼs mis‑ sion is to provide youth in the Richmond community with a

DESIGN FORWARD

A ‘Green House’ on Grove

More Eco Elements

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF WATERSHED ARCHITECTS

[photos top of page and above ] : The large glass lawn ornament centered in the garden is actually the top of a solar tube that ex‑ tends into a second floor bath‑ room ceiling and provides almost all of the light for the space The residenceʼs eco‑upgrades came about “after rising from the ashes of a devastating fire,” ex‑ plains Farley. The home is striv‑ ing for a LEED Platinum certification. Other green ele‑ ments include solar electric power and hot water supply, na‑ tive hardwood cladding, rainwa‑ ter harvest, natural lime plaster finish, and non‑toxic materials throughout.

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE (WINDOW) BOX WITH WATERSHED ARCHITECTS

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BY TED RANDLER

he award‑winning Water‑ shed Architects (1521 West Main Street) recently of‑ fered tours of their project on Grove Avenue that pushes the boundaries of home and garden. The firm creates with a mission to “foster healthy sus‑ tainable communities through inno‑ vative design based on ecological principles and social consciousness.”

Patrick Farley, founding princi‑ pal, explains one unique feature for the Grove Avenue house offers an interior living wall. “This vertical garden brings the natural world into an atrium at the center of the home. Fifteen different species of plants

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On a property with otherwise limited outdoor space, the original roof has been transformed into an intimate roof garden.

grow from a polyethylene grid and thrive in the day‑lit space while a concealed irrigation sys‑ tem provides water as needed.”

Watershed Architects partnered with SG Designs to create the two‑story expanse of plants.

Greening the exterior also employs a smart use of nature.

“On a property with otherwise limited outdoor space, the origi‑ nal roof has been transformed into an intimate roof garden,” Far‑ ley says. Native sedums provide a carpet of seasonal color throughout the year and a variety of indigenous plants further en‑ hance the space while providing habitat for various fauna such as birds and butterflies.

LIVE Design Forward

Outside In: 15 different species of plants grow from a polyethylene grid and thrive in the day-lit space while a concealed irrigation system provides water as needed.

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NEW CREATIVE WORKSPACES

Williams Mullen Center Opens Williams Mullenʼs June move to 200 South 10th Street relocated 275 people and150 file cabinets. The effort required approximately 1000 boxes, 1000 carts and 8000 crates.

“We are very excited to be moving to the Williams Mullen Center,” said Julious P. Smith, Jr., Chairman of the firm. “Williams Mullen has been a part of Richmond since 1909. Our new office represents our contin‑ ued and strengthened commitment to the Greater Richmond region and its business community.”

Virginia Beach‑based developer Ar‑ mada‑Hoffler built the 210,000 square foot, 16‑story building located adjacent to the RMA parking garage on 10th Street Down‑ town. Williams Mullen is leasing approxi‑ mately 140,000 square feet and is the anchor tenant. The building includes 5,100 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

Thomas R. Frantz, President and CEO of the firm added: “This new office and its tech‑ nology provide our attorneys and staff with the resources needed to serve our clients.

Our strong and continued strong presence in the capital of Virginia allows us to more ef‑ fectively represent our clients throughout the Commonwealth.”

BY ERIKA GAY

Ernst & Young LLP Relocates in Historic Shockoe Bottom In May, Ernst & Young LLP relocated its Richmond office to a new space in Downtownʼs historic Shockoe Bottom at The Edgeworth Building (2100 East Cary Street).

Developed by Forest City Enterprises, The Edgeworth Building was initially constructed for the Larus Brothers To‑ bacco Processing Company. Completed in 1923, the original design by Joseph Sirrine featured the architectʼs creative use of reinforced concrete structures. In the design of the renovation, Sirrineʼs style allowed for the development of contemporary, open floor plans with col‑ umn spacing.

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to Richmond and our clients in this important market,” said

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Chip Phillips, Ernst & Youngʼs Richmond Office Managing Partner.

Phillips noted the design of the new space “supports our firmʼs future global workplace standards, while ac‑ centuating the historical aspects of the building.”

“Our new space is more efficient and ef‑ fective and will provide our people a great work environment from which they can serve our clients.”

Ernst & Young is a major player in assur‑ ance, tax, transaction and advisory serv‑ ices with 144,000 employees worldwide.

The firm has maintained a presence in Richmond for 90 years. Ernst & Youngʼs new office is located on the second floor.

WellAWARE Systems Relocates Headquarters to Glen Allen

Brink’s Acquires Cash Logistics Business in Russia The Brink's Company acquired a majority stake in a Russian ments the companyʟs purchase of a CIT (cash‑in‑transit) busi‑ ness in the first quarter of 2009. With principal operations in Moscow, Brinkʟs̜headquartered in Richmond̜now has ap‑ proximately 500 employees in Russia and offers a full range of CIT, ATM, money processing and Global Services operations

grow to meet the increasing needs of our aging population.�

Based on a collaborative effort between the senior care industry and leading technol‑ ogy research organizations, WellAWARE Systems has devel‑ oped a broad set of monitoring, reporting and analytical capabili‑ ties to improve the lives of seniors.

The companyĘźs software products and services also pro‑ vide improved operational eďŹƒâ€‘ ciencies and a more proactive approach to care delivery to pro‑ fessional caregiving organiza‑ tions. The system has been deployed in both home and com‑ munity‑based service settings as well as senior living facilities.

Region’s Economic Development Earns High Marks in Best Practices Study “A Regional Reset: Building upon GRPĘťs Strengths to Enhance Economic Development in the Richmond Regionâ€? published in May by the Master of Urban & Regional Planning Program of Virginia Commonwealth UniversityĘźs L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Aairs was commissioned by the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. (GRP) to provide a “a fresh look at and an adjustment ofĚśthe regionĘťs overall eco‑ nomic‑development system.â€?

The analysis utilized a benchmarking study and proďŹ les the prac‑ tices of 15 highly‑acclaimed economic development organizations throughout the United States. The extensive145‑page report found, “on almost all aspects, GRP compares very well with its peer organizations.

This is especially so when it comes to the proposal and marketing‑plan management process, the diversiďŹ cation of marketing strategies and tac‑ tics, communication, and international recruitment eorts.â€?

Gregory H. WingďŹ eld, CEO and President of GRP, said, “Our plan is to host a series of meetings with our board and investors to address the recommendations to help us determine the best methods for imple‑ mentation.â€?

Gail Letts, Chair of the Partnership Board and Central Virginia Re‑ gion President and CEO of SunTrust Bank, said, “It is essential to gain input from the PartnershipĘźs investors and the community about the rec‑ ommendations. These initiatives impact all of us who live and work in the region.â€?

The report in its entirety can be found at www.grpva.com.

for domestic and international markets.

Michael T. Dan, chairman, president and chief executive offi‑ cer of The Brink's Company, said: “While our presence in Rus‑ sia remains relatively small, BrinkĘźs has established itself as the first international provider of CIT and cash logistics solutions in this fast‑growing market. Continued penetration of Russia is an important element of our long‑term growth strategy, and we look forward to expanding our services there and in other developing markets.â€?

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WellAWARE Systems, a devel‑ oper of next‑generation well‑ ness monitoring solutions for care providers relocated to Glen Allen in order to accommodate company growth and an ex‑ panding sta. “We are excited to relocate our company headquarters to Richmond to take advantage of the many opportunities the city has to oer including aordable oďŹƒce space, access to a larger employee pool, and proximity to customers, partners, and ven‑ dors,â€? said Je Noce, Chief Exec‑ utive OďŹƒcer of WellAWARE Systems. “While our roots are in Charlottesville, the move to Rich‑ mond will help the company

WORK

cash processing business in April. The acqusition comple‑

BIZ SAVVY

Business Owner Gives Local Charities a Voice Deborah Johnston was recently the winner of the Community Service Award from the Com‑ monwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) thanks of her outstanding support for the organization.

A record crowd gathered at the 14th Annual Community Service Awards at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to celebrate her and others who have sup‑ ported the CCC. Johnston gave a funny, but humble speech that ended by encouraging others “to give whatever you can, even in hard times.”

Giving back to the commu‑ nity is nothing new for Johnston.

She owns and operates Care Ad‑ vantage, a leading company for personal and companion home healthcare in Richmond and the surrounding areas. And while she prefers working in her office or visiting some of her favorite patients over the spotlight,

youʼve likely seen her in one of the many TV shows and com‑ mercials Care Advantage makes available to deserving charities.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit social

Care Advantage has donated over $500,000 to local charities. service organization, Common‑ wealth Catholic Charities mis‑ sion is to provide life‑changing human services to vulnerable in‑ dividuals and families of all faiths throughout central and southwestern Virginia.

The Community Service Awards were created out of the

idea that local folks doing out‑ standing work should have the chance to be recog‑ nized.

Community Service Award win‑ ners are nominated publicly by friends, peers, or family and then submitted to CCC for a vote by a CCC‑organized selec‑ tion committee.

“Itʼs important to give some exposure to organizations that do important work in the community,” says Johnston.

In fact, her com‑ pany has donated over $500,000 to local charities, which does not include the value of getting their message out on TV. This summer Johnston will be adding to her already full

plate by debuting her new book The School of Heart Knocks that

Johnston owns and operates Care Advantage. tells about her journey to create a successful, compassionate business doing what she loves.

Caring.

“HOW I TURNED MY ADVERSITIES INTO THE DREAM OF A LIFETIME, AND SO CAN YOU!” Deborah J. Johnston, RN and President of Care Advantage, Inc. invites you on a candid journey from a humble start to a career as a Registered Nurse and then into the entrepreneurship of a multi-million-dollar compassionate care company.

On this journey you will not only experience the explosive growth of her business but all the life experiences that provided her guidance and strength along the way.

As you read and take in the thought provoking pages, she will reveal 10 key steps that will help you on your personal journey to obtain the life you have dreamed about.

WWW.HEARTKNOCKS.NET

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Sabra Dipping Company Opens New Manufacturing Plant

In May, Sabra Dipping Company̶jointly owned by Strauss Ltd and PepsiCo̶opened the 110,000 square foot facility on 49 acres in Chesterfield Countyʼs Ruffin Mill Industrial Park.

tryʼs best‑selling Sabra hummus and veg‑ etable dips.

EARTH-SMART INNOVATION H&A Architects Engineers Gain International Attention gineering Companies (ACEC), Virginia in 2007 for its solution to clad the building façade and roof of the U.S. Mission facility in Geneva with solar photo‑ voltaic panels (arrays of cells that convert solar radiation into direct current electricity).

More recently, H&A re‑ ceived a National Recognition Award from ACEC for design‑ ing the replacement of two 1980s vintage refrigerant

chillers that utilize a magnetic‑ levitation (MagLevTM) bearing system. It is expected to reduce the energy required to air con‑ dition the U.S. Missionʼs facil‑ ity by 30%.

The awards will be dis‑ played at the World Environ‑ ment Day celebration in Geneva at Palais des Nations Park, along with models of both the photovoltaic panels and the Ma‑ gLevTM system.

Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator Launches First Tennants The Dominion Resources Green‑ Tech Incubator (DRGI), a center to assist new businesses focused on energy efficiency and other clean and green technologies, accepted its first two tenants in its Ashland facility in the Presi‑ dential II building. DRGI, which opened for business in January 2010, is a joint initiative of Hanover County, the Town of Ashland, the Virginia BioTech‑ nology Research Park (VBRP), the Virginia Biosciences Devel‑ opment Center (VBDC) and Do‑ minion Resources (NYSE: D), the programʼs title sponsor.

Modeled after the VBDCʼs successful biosciences incuba‑ tion program, DRGI will provide its member companies an af‑ fordable facility on the I‑95 cor‑ ridor, assistance with strategy and business planning, access to

expertise within Dominion Re‑ sources, expert advice from busi‑ ness advisory boards, access to discounted professional services and introductions to sources of grant and investment capital. As the companies grow, they are ex‑ pected to move to nearby loca‑ tions in Hanover County, boosting the local economy.

“The Dominion Re‑ sources GreenTech Incubator is pleased to welcome Marz In‑ dustries and Eastlight Re‑ newable Ventures, LLC as the first clients in our new pro‑ gram”, said David Lohr, Execu‑ tive Director of DRGI. “Both companies are excellent exam‑ ples of the types of creative entrepreneurs and innovative alternative energy solutions we are seeking to attract.”

Marz Industries is develop‑

ing an onboard hydrogen fuel solution, the Compliance I, which will enable long‑haul truckers to avoid extended periods of idling, thereby reducing fuel consump‑ tion, maintenance costs and air emissions. The company plans to manufacture, service and commercialize integrated heat‑ ing, air conditioning and power units using hydrogen fuel cell technology at the core of its safe renewable energy system.

Eastlight Renewable Ven‑ tures develops, finances, owns and operates large‑scale, dis‑ tributed generation solar energy projects. Eastlight offers com‑ mercial building owners the op‑ portunity to generate economic and environmental value from an underutilized asset with no capital investment on the ownerʼs part.

SNL provides corporate, financial, market and M&A data, plus news and analysis on more than 3,300 public companies and over 50,000 private companies in the banking, financial services, insurance, real es‑ tate, energy, media and communi‑ cations industries.

Fountainhead Properties Wins 2010 Muse Award The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts named Fountainhead Properties the top winner of the 2010 VMFA Muse Awards. From a pool of twenty‑one semi‑finalists, eight finalists were announced at the June VMFA Muse Awards Un‑ Gala, held in the museumʼs new James W. and Frances G. Mc‑ Glothlin Wing.

“Creativity is a hallmark of any successful business,” says Alex Nyerges, director of the Vir‑ ginia Museum of Fine Arts. “That Fountainhead Properties has used the arts to transform an in‑ dustrial neighborhood is not only smart business, but also good for this remarkably rich creative community.” Fountainheadʼs dev‑ elopment focus has consistently included the arts with the conver‑ sion of Plant Zero̶an old indus‑ trial property̶to artistsʼ studios, art exhibition space, an arts sup‑ ply store and a thriving café.

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The mid‑July expansion will house approximately 30 employees who reside in Richmond but had previ‑ ously traveled to Charlottesville.

The company plans to continue se‑ lectively growing its Richmond em‑ ployee base with a focus on hiring IT, sales, account management and industry expert roles.

The plantʼs opening creates 260 jobs.

H&A Architects & Engineers, based in Richmond, showcased the latest in solar photovoltaic and magnetic levitation tech‑ nologies at World Environment Day in Geneva, Switzerland on June 5th.

The design firm, under contract with the U.S. Depart‑ ment of State, Bureau of Over‑ seas Buildings Operations, received statewide recognition by the American Council of En‑

SNL Financial, an information pub‑ lishing firm headquartered in Char‑ lottesville, will open an office in Henrico Countyʼs Innsbrook area to accommodate its growing Rich‑ mond‑based workforce.

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Sabra will produce award‑winning Sabra branded dips and spreads including the coun‑

SNL Expands Into Innsbrook

BIZ SAVVY

Former Qimonda Facility To House QTS Richmond Data Center

In April , Quality Technology Services (QTS) acquired the 100 acre site in Henrico of the former 1.3 million square‑foot Qimonda semi‑conductor fabrication facility. QTS will in‑ vest more than $100 million over the next three years to retrofit the property to provide the most secure and reliable data center services in the area. The QTS Richmond Data Center will be among the largest data resources in the world. The company is a national provider of data center fa‑ cilities, as well as professionally managed IT, cloud com‑ puting and hosting services to enterprise businesses. With 12 locations in eight states, QTS owns, operates and man‑ ages more than 3.5 million square feet of secure, state‑of‑ the‑art data center infrastructure.

Gatewood’s firm seeks to fill a need for both large and small businesses.

New Firm, Threshold Counsel PC Offers A Different Approach To Biz Law A legal authority whose insights have been published at ZDNet.com, SitePoint.com, as well as in the Virginia Business Law Bulletin, and Greater Richmond Grid, Christopher Gatewood has launched Threshold Counsel, PC to serve clients in need of “a bud‑ getable, fractional solution to gen‑ eral counsel services.”

Gatewood has a broad range of experience in commercial law, including employment matters, intellectual property, corporate and transactional work, licensing matters, media law, and social networking issues. He provides continuing legal education training to attorneys through‑

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out Virginia.

“We are neither inhouse counsel, nor outside counsel in the usual sense,” he explains. “We are for legal departments in need of workload balancing or project services.” The firm is also a good fit for growing companies that do not have a legal department but need an integrated legal provider, within a monthly budget.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and of the Univer‑ sity of Virginia School of Law, Gatewood, in addition to his practice, has also presented legal topics to various audi‑ ences, university classes, and professional associations.

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Lawn Care Specialists “Let us help you start enjoying your time again.”

A beautiful lawn doesnʼt happen by it‑ self. Whether itʼs a one‑time visit to your home or business, or a regular maintenance plan, Lawn Care Special‑ ist will work around your schedule.

Our services include: grass cutting, trimming, bagging, aeration, fertiliza‑ tion, mulching and seeding.

To schedule an appointment call: Mark Farmer at 804‑840‑7022 or Carl Brumfield at 804‑727‑9275

THE Innovation Network PRODUCTS, SERVICES & ENTERTAINMENT IN GREATER RICHMOND Art Works Just a short walk from Downtown, visit our spacious art center and see artists at work and 5 galleries of local and international art. Join us on 4th Fridays for new art exhibits and a re‑ ception, free and open to the public.

Open Tues‑Sun 12pm‑6pm 320 Hull Street, Richmond 804.291.1400 artworksrichmond.com

COBB Technologies Cobb Technologies is a Richmond‑ based, Family‑owned office technol‑ ogy dealer, headquartered in Richmond. 20 years serving Rich‑ mond businesses with digital copiers, printers, scanners, and fax solutions.

You've heard the radio ads with Freddy Cobb; we invite you to talk to Peter Larsen at Cobb Technologies and learn the rest of the story!

Many friends of Greater Richmond Grid are also intriguing entrepreneurs and artists representing an array of smart businesses and interesting proj‑ ects. Hereʼs a catalog of diverse resources worth checking out.

Do you have a project we should know about?

Contact Chris Woody at (804) 822‑1422 or by email: chris@richmondgrid.com.

RSVPhere.com RSVPhere.com helps you connect your paper invites with online response to get your RSVPs faster. Get your free event ID and secret code today and print them on your paper invitations for your guests to respond online. Save time, money and sanity planning your event!

Stress free for you, fun for your guests!

Casey Burke Bunn is the creator and owner of RSVPhere.com. She is a VCU graduate who is working to inspire and make an impact. Also, she is a CASA board member and Innsbrook Rotarian.

Henley Street Theatre On a deserted road, in a vast waste‑ land, two men wait for someone named Godot. Will Godot ever appear?

Who is he? Why are they waiting? In Samuel Beckettʼs most magical and absurdly funny allegory, the action is all in the passing of time.

September 23 – October 16, 2010 Student Shows – Oct 6, 12, 14 at 10am Pine Camp Arts Center 4901 Old Brook Road Box Office–(804) 340‑0115 www.henleystreettheatre.org

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Beverage Solutions Q. What do sponsors, marketing budgets, events for good causes and local community workforces have in common?

A. Plenty! With our customized carriers, sponsors are visibly remembered for the causes and events they support and life is simply a little bit easier.

Learn more at www.BeverageSolutionsUSA.com 804‑270‑1973

MOMENTUM

Legal Brief

Open for Business AMAZING TALES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

HOWARD DESKIN Iʼve known Howard Deskin for many years; he is a friend and fel‑ low neighborhood volleyball player. On the volleyball court, heʼd occasionally ask my opinion about a particular business or kick around a business idea. I knew that he worked for Wachovia Securities and didnʼt want to move to St. Louis after their merger with. A.G. Edwards. Two summers ago when he started asking my opinion about some business ideas, I suggested that we have a more in‑depth con‑ versation̶off the volleyball court.

Howard had started his career as a CPA for public accounting firms. He parlayed that experience by moving into the private sector as a financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company. Due to a very long commute into New York City, Howard and his wife took the op‑ portunity to relocate to Richmond and Howard began working for Wheat First Securities (Wachovia Securities and now Wells Fargo Se‑ curities). He started his 23 year ca‑ reer there as a financial analyst, but eventually migrated into business systems management.

In addition to a genuine inter‑ est in business ownership, Howard was looking to have more control over the work he was doing. He wanted to be able to put his own ideas to work for himself, and have the ability to directly help his cus‑ tomers; he preferred having tangible results. He also wanted to find some‑ thing he could envision himself still doing when heʼs 90. And of course, like all business people, income po‑ tential was important to him.

After a thorough exploration process, Howard was surprised to find two very different businesses that both had the potential to help

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BY ROBIN SMITH

him reach his goals. Ultimately, Howard selected WSI̶Web Busi‑ ness Advisors, LLC (We Simplify the Internet)̶an internet consulting business that helps companies leverage the power of the internet to market their products and serv‑ ices and ultimately increase their revenue and profit.

After almost a year in busi‑ ness, hereʼs what Howard has to say about business owner‑ ship today: “It has all the elements I ex‑ pected, including very hard work.

Every day presents a new learning opportunity, and I have met hun‑ dreds of new people through my clients and vast networking activi‑ ties. We have over 40 clients, and wonderful strategic partnerships with marketing and branding firms, graphics design firms, information technology firms, and business consulting companies.”

Robin Smith is the owner of The Entrepreneur's Source. www.e‑sourceva.com.

PRIVATE MESSAGES ON COMPANY EQUIPMENT? Do not think that private commu‑ nications will remain private if they are sent using company computers or cell phones. A po‑ lice department in California re‑ viewed its officersʼ text messages.

One officer recently took his pri‑ vacy complaint against the de‑ partment all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. When he got there, he found out that he should not have expected personal text messages on his department‑is‑ sued device to remain private.

The case should remind em‑ ployees that even if a boss or someone in the IT department is not looking for personal texts or emails, they can still come to light, and the employee will most likely have no room to complain. In City of Ontario v. Quon, the text mes‑ sages initially came to light during an audit of overage charges for messaging in excess of the police departmentʼs contract. The de‑ partment discovered that officer Quonʼs many messages were

mostly personal, and that many of them were sexually explicit.

The case should remind employees that even if a boss or someone in the IT department is not looking for personal texts or emails, they can still come to light...

At trial, the jury found that the search was reasonable. The appeals court decided that the search was too broad‑based to be reasonable under the Fourth Amendmentʼs protections against overly broad searches and seizures.

The Supreme Court agreed with the jury, finding that the review of text messages was related to a proper purpose, and so was justified.

For a number of reasons in‑ side and outside of litigation, an

Marketing Maven AN EFFECTIVE FACEBOOK STRATEGY Your online network is growing.

You are also seeing that businesses are on Facebook, too. And you “Like” these businesses, which gets you thinking: Do you create a page for your own organization, too?

It depends, really. First and foremost, are your customers or po‑ tential customers on Facebook?

Second, whatʼs your ultimate pur‑ pose for your page? Make sales?

Raise brand awareness? Make con‑ nections? Create customer loyalty?

Drive traffic to your website?

All of these are possible, ex‑ cept perhaps the “make sales.”

Shama Kabani, best‑selling author and one of Business Weekʼs Top 25 Under 25 entrepreneurs in North America, accurately pointed out that making a direct sale from your Facebook business page is fairly un‑ likely. She said other smart things, too, at our local chapter of the American Marketing Association meeting in June. She presented, “Facebook Famous: How to Market your Business on the Biggest Social Networking Site.”

Here are a few highlights she shared mixed with other experi‑

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ences that you can use immedi‑ ately: • Clearly define the purpose for your page. Clearly state your purpose on the page. How will someone benefit from “Liking” your page? What will they learn? State why they should join.

• Build your page around iden‑ tity̶not yours, your AUDIENCEʼS. How and what you share and com‑ municate on your page should be re‑ flective of your fans. Talk your fansʼ language, not your corporate lingo.

• Build OUT, not IN Facebook.

Yes, despite its enormity, one day Facebook may no longer exist.

Therefore, you donʼt want to create your content ON Facebook. Create it on your website or blog. Then, share it on your page (and Twitter, and LinkedIn, and YouTube, SlideShare, and so forth.)

• Create good Facebook land‑ ing pages. You can choose which tab on your page you want people to land on. If youʼre a photographer, have visitors land on your photos tab instead of the wall.

• Use Facebook Ads wisely.

There are currently 500,000 people Howard Deskin

on Facebook who readily give de‑ mographic information and share their interest (goldmine!). There‑ fore, you can be super focused and targeted in who you want to see your ad. Keep in mind, though, when people are on Facebook, they generally donʼt want to LEAVE Facebook. So have your ad land on a Facebook page. And if you must have them leave, take them some place very compelling.

• State a response time. Your page is an easy way for your cus‑ tomers and clients to share their ex‑ perience with your organization.

This is a great opportunity to di‑ rectly communicate and publicly demonstrate responsiveness. Since Twitter is more known for timely exchanges, be sure to state on your Facebook page a response time like “within a 24‑hour period.”

Essentially, before you launch your page, create a strat‑ egy and expectation, set a plan and then use measurement tools to track its effectiveness.

Jennifer Yeager is the Marketing Communications Manager for the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc.

Robin Smith

Jennifer Yeager

Customer Service

BY CHRIS GATEWOOD

1. If you are an employer, communicate to your employ‑ ees that, while you respect their privacy, it is entirely pos‑ sible that messages they in‑ tended to be private may be seen by their managers, IT staff, or others within the company.

2. If you are an employee, see number 1, immediately above.

Technical failures, system capacity reviews, searches for documents or information on your companyʼs system are all opportunities for someone else (or many someones) to stumble upon a message you would not want them to see.

For those who are curious, the courtʼs full opinion in the Quon case is found at http://scr.bi/a2LAJx. Providing outside general counsel serv‑ ices to companies with or without a legal department, Chris Gatewood is an attorney & founder of Threshold Coun‑ sel, PC, (www.thresholdcounsel.com)

Leadership

CARETAKING COMPANY VISION

BY MARK MATTHEWS

Inspiration is the other aspect for consideration regarding the theme of my last two columns that fea‑ tured “communicating a shared vi‑ sion, and inspiring others to achieve it”̶my preferred defini‑ tion of leadership.

terestingly, this also is why so many people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Employees are unhappy when they do not feel that their purpose is aligned with their employersʼ or that their work is meaningful or that they find fulfillment in their work.

Communicating and develop‑ ing the shared vision are important, but they cannot win the battle with‑ out inspiration. Every business wants to have fully‑engaged employees who give their best efforts toward their work. Unfortunately, too many of us have dealt with employees or co‑workers who are completely uninspired in their jobs, people who have no energy, no vision, and no motivation. Their negativity be‑ comes infectious, creating a spiral of inefficiency and poor morale.

You can inspire your employ‑ ees when you show them how your business can provide a sense of purpose, identity, and meaning.

We spend more time at work than any other thing we do each week, so it makes sense to find meaning in our work.

There is a way to provide inspi‑ ration within your business. The most basic and fundamental human motivation is the desire to belong to a group that provides purpose, iden‑ tity, and meaning. This is why we join associations, churches, civic groups, and other organizations. In‑ Chris Gatewood

TOP‑NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE Of course all companies claim to be customer focused. Why wouldnʼt they? Anything else would be a death sentence. As a result we are constantly bombarded with mes‑ sages indicating customer service is every businessʼs “top priority.”

The reality is few truly make customer service excellence a delib‑ erate focus and execute well in this area consistently.

Iʼve had the privilege to work with many top‑notch companies as well as many average companies over the years. There is a clear and recognizable difference between the two. When a company excels in the area of service, the customer knows they have experienced something different.

Thatʼs when the magic oc‑ curs. The customer now becomes a brand builder, a spokesperson, or among the companyʼs “raving fans”̶as Ken Blanchard has la‑ beled it in his best‑selling book of the same name. Many average companies are reputable and pro‑ vide good service, but superior customer service companies pro‑ vide a memorable customer ex‑ perience.

one every day, regardless of the po‑ sition in the company. Each person knows the expectation and strives to exceed it.

Mistakes are always reviewed and employees exhibiting the proper behavior are recognized.

Everyone who is exposed to the customer works with the same level of commitment to quality.

In top‑notch companies, good is never good enough, perfection is the target. This perspective is truly a mindset, a healthy dissatisfaction for anything “mediocre.”

Customers are engaged. The company understands their cus‑ tomersʼ wants and needs with a clear desire to exceed their expecta‑ tions.

Each engagement is viewed from a relationship‑based versus a transactional‑based perspective.

Companies dedicated to customer service excellence always look at the long‑term effects of their decisions with a goal of making customers for life out of every person who passes through their place of business.

So what do companies deliv‑ ering superlative customer service have in common?

Top‑notch customer service is not a title or an award to strive for, itʼs a declaration to the world that in business good is not good enough, only excellence will suffice.

In a successful organization, excellence is demanded from every‑

Tom McCormick is the founder and CEO of Top Notch Richmond

Find a way to show your em‑ ployees that their work has a pur‑ pose, that it aligns with their identity, and that it provides a sense of mean‑ ing, and you will be well on your way to inspiring them to achieve that shared vision. By building upon the innate desire to belong, you can cre‑ ate an organization in which your employees can find purpose, iden‑ tity, and meaning in their work.

Attorney Mark Matthews owns The Matthews Law Group, P.L.L.C. thematthewslawgroup.com Mark Matthews

BY TOM MCCORMICK

Tom McCormick

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What are the takeaways for the rest of us? At least two things:

They should conduct them‑ selves accordingly. These policies should be included in IT training sessions, and in written employee handbooks. The Court noted in the Quon decision that one impor‑ tant factor when talking about an expectation of privacy, or not, is what employees have been told about how much privacy to ex‑ pect.

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employer may search its current or former employeesʼ computers, looking for certain keywords and number sequences to collect all communications on a certain topic. For example, they may be looking for communications with a certain client. These search terms will often turn up a number of emails from an employeeʼs per‑ sonal webmail account, which can be extremely personal and even damaging to the employee. Using a Yahoo, Hotmail, or Gmail account rather than a company email ac‑ count does not ensure privacy.

MOMENTUM Peter Larsen

Just Ask Peter CAN YOU TRUST YOUR COPIER? A recent CBS News report titled, “Your Office Copy Machine Might Digitally Store Thousands of Doc‑ uments That Get Passed on at Re‑ sale,” alerted the public to the fact that todayʼs digital copiers and multi‑function peripherals (MFPs) contain hard drives that store images of every document copied, scanned or emailed by the machine.

The report indicated that po‑ tentially private, sensitive data can be left on the hard drives of copiers after they are returned at the end of their lease period and that busi‑ nesses and organizations need to be aware of the need to “wipe” the hard drives clean prior to returning the equipment.

But donʼt panic. Any reputable office technology dealer should take its clientsʼ data security very se‑ riously. That dealer should offer you several options to maintain security on existing devices or to utilize at the end of lease or reallocation of a copier or MFP device.

And basic automatic security measures on many multi‑function copiers today occur when a print

or scan job is sent to a device. The information is stored on the hard drive temporarily until another job overwrites that information with the digital information of the new job.

Other Options In addition to this basic process, copier technology also offers ad‑ ditional security measures and options for your multi‑function devices that do store documents for printing at a later date: • At the customerʼs request, a copier service technician can format a deviceʼs hard drive on‑ site which “wipes” clean the in‑ formation stored on the hard drive. Be aware though, profes‑ sional services fees may be charged by your copier provider to perform this service.

• However if you are up‑ grading to a new copier or MF, or are at the end of the lease term, your copier provider should reformat a deviceʼs hard drive at no additional fee prior to the equipment being re‑ moved from your site.

BY PETER LARSEN

and cost approximately $400‑$500.

Potentially private, A hard drive encryp‑ sensitive data can be left tion kit adds an encryption key to the device that is nec‑ on the hard drives of essary to unlock any data copiers after they are that is stored on the hard returned at the end drive. If the key is not uti‑ lized, data on the hard drive of their lease period. is rendered indecipherable.

Regardless of which Take Control of Your Hard Drive option a customer selects, the best A customer can further protect from protection against data theft is to possible data theft with the pur‑ prevent unauthorized access to all chase of a new hard drive to replace equipment capable of storing data the existing hard drive in a device digitally. This includes not only they are returning. Your copier copiers and MFPs, but also per‑ provider should perform the re‑ sonal computers, laptops, mobile placement and provide the cus‑ “smart” phones, and digital tele‑ tomer with the old hard drive to phone equipment. While no solu‑ dispose of accordingly. tion is completely foolproof all of Also, Canon, Konica Minolta the time, feel free to contact your and Kyocera all offer a separate se‑ copier providerʼs representative curity hard drive erase kit that allow for more information regarding continuous overwriting of informa‑ tion temporarily stored on the hard this subject. drive utilizing multiple layers (up to Peter Larsen is has been in the docu‑ 3 times) so that the information is ment management industry for 13 rendered indecipherable. years. He has provided multi‑function Hard drive security kits can be copier solutions for Xerox Corporation and IKON Office Solutions prior to join‑ easily installed on new and existing ing Cobb Technologies equipment by service technicians

Relentless Recruiting

BY ISA

Johnson said VRʼs efforts have been ongoing since she joined RPS more than 10 years ago. The small delegations fly to several of the larger teacher job fairs annually in places like Min‑ neapolis, New York and Pitts‑ burgh. Theyʼve also occasionally gone to other cities like New Or‑ leans in past years.

Ukrop said he got the idea over a decade ago when he was co‑chair of the education com‑ mittee for Richmond Renais‑ sance, one of the organizations which merged to form Venture Richmond several years ago. He learned at that time that 50 per‑ cent of RPSʼs teachers were ex‑ pected to retire within five years.

He took action by enlisting the help of six or seven area

As part of their ongoing efforts to attract and retain talented teachers to Richmond Public Schools, Venture Richmond cel‑ ebrates the recruitsʼ first year of service with an appreciation event at the Riverfront Canal Walk.

“Richmond’s delegation walked the floors calling, ‘math, science, special education . . .’” capital city. Itʼs not unusual for the Richmond delegation to go so far as to lure a teacher out of some other cityʼs long line.

“He is a relentless re‑ cruiter. He has the fire burning and that excites the young peo‑ ple,” says Johnson of Ukropʼs ef‑ forts. In Pittsburgh, “most of the young people who came to our table came because they were directed there.”

businesspersons who were will‑ ing to travel to sell the urban school district to prospective teachers. He also found busi‑ nesses willing to let the delega‑ tion use their corporate jets to fly to the job fairs.

By enthusiastically direct‑ ing more people to RPS re‑ cruiters, more teachers grow interested in Richmond, more sign in at the RPSʼ booth, and

more leave applications. After a vigorous screening process back in Richmond, some will get phone interviews, and a select few will get an invite to the city to interview in person.

At Pittsburghʼs recruitment fair, Richmondʼs delegation walked the floors calling “math, science, special education,” said Ukrop, explaining that the areas of need have changed somewhat over

the years. “We didnʼt even talk to social studies and English teachers.”

“That was my greatest need,” says Johnson of the three certification areas sought after in Richmond. She is the school systemʼs interim secondary staffing coordinator.

“Mr. Ukrop is helping to re‑ cruit some of the best teachers and he enjoys it so much. His love for the city shows,” she says.

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hatʼs where the efforts of Venture Richmond come in. Jim Ukrop along with several other area businessper‑ sons walk the floors of the job fairs in search of bright and en‑ ergetic new teachers.

“We look for prospective teachers with a spark in their eye and a fast gait. We use the hunter and skinner method,” says Ukrop with a chuckle, ex‑ plaining how the VR delegation is very aggressive in their re‑ cruiting tactics. After all, theyʼre not messing around. They fly to the fairs via corporate jet.

After hunting and finding prospects, members of the small delegation approach and en‑ gage them in conversation try‑ ing to drum up interest in the

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FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, AN INFLUX OF NEW TEACHERS FROM OUT OF STATE ACCEPTED OFFERS TO WORK AT RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS (RPS) THANKS IN PART TO EFFORTS BY VENTURE RICHMOND (VR). THIS SPRING, EDUCATORS WERE FOUND AT A TEACHER JOB FAIR IN PITTSBURGH, ONE OF A HANDFUL OF CITIES WHICH PRODUCE A LOT MORE TEACHERS EACH YEAR THAN IT HAS TEACHING JOBS. RPS RECRUITERS LIKE BERNETTE JOHNSON ATTEND SUCH EVENTS IN HOPES OF ATTRACTING NEW TEACHERS TO THE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THE COMPETITION IS STIFF. L O. M

COMPANIES & CAREERS

The Israel Journal: Frontline Economics EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE GREATER RICHMOND PART‑ NERSHIP, INC. WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A MARKETING MISSION TO ISRAEL IN COOPERATION WITH THE BRUSSELS OFFICE OF THE VIRGINIA ECO‑ NOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP. G W BY

I

Gene Winter experiences Israeli hospi‑ tality first hand in Jerusalem.

[Standing behind sign left to right]: Matt Duys, Winter, and Ralph Robbins visit a prospect in Barʼam, just yards from Lebanonʼs border.

The bustling, modern, port city of Haifa, also home to Intelʼs first facility in Israel.

Gene Winter has served as Senior Vice Pres‑ ident at the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. since 1994.

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joined Matt Duys, Director of Virginiaʼs European operations, and Ralph Robbins, the Executive Director of the Virginia Is‑ rael Advisory Board, on an ambitious trip that took us from the Lebanese border to the Gaza strip and on to Jerusalem.

Duys and I arrived in Tel Aviv at 1:15 a.m. on a Saturday morn‑ ing. After catching a few hours of sleep and then a day of adjust‑ ment, work began on Sunday morning at 7:30. The Israeli work week is Sunday through Thursday, so when in Rome, do as the Israelis do.

The first two appointments were with major Israeli defense con‑ tractors. Security was high at both installations with Uzis and barb wire in abundance. Still, the Israeli executives were surprisingly modest. One unit apologized for being small by U.S. standards.

When asked how large their company was, they said their division brought in $1.2 billion of the entire companiesʼ $3.2 billion revenue.

We assured them that we did not consider them a “small company.”

On Tuesday the team pushed off to Modin, a new community halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that reminds one of South‑ ern California or Silicon Valley. We were surprised to learn from a presentation by a CEO that this medical diagnostic device firm in‑ cluded two VCU‑MCV doctors on its Special Advisory Board. Also, another tenant in the park was Cupron, an Israeli company located at the Virginia Biotechnology Park and a participant in the Virginia Israel Bio‑Commercialization Program.

Later the second day it was back to Tel Aviv to meet with an Is‑ raeli‑American law firm to discuss cooperation on future recruit‑ ment initiatives. This firm has a major office in Washington, D.C. and itʼs now supporting our recruiting efforts.

Day three we headed north to a kibbutz located on the border of Lebanon. As we looked out the conference windows, we could see the fortifications and military defense communications that are on continual alert. One of the executives that we were originally ex‑ pecting to meet could not join the meeting because they were out of the country. When we asked where, they smiled and said that their associate was in Richmond, Virginia that day meeting with a Fortune 500 company. A few days after our return to Richmond, we met with the local businessman and compared notes and re‑ ported on our observations.

Later that day another visit focused on a company that was planning to visit Virginia and Richmond in May. The companyʼs consultant had already visited Virginia and was now planning to return with the CEO. Sometimes timing is everything.

Day three concluded with a dinner meeting in Tel Aviv with an aerospace supplier that was pursuing a contract with the new Rolls‑ Royce manufacturing complex in Prince George County. This indi‑ vidual had visited Central Virginia on several occasions and is pre‑ pared to invest in the area if a contract materializes.

Day four followed the same pattern of travelling the length and

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breadth of Israel. At every meet‑ ing, our secret weapons were the code words̶hummus and Ofra Strauss. Everyone in Israel knows the Chairwoman of The Strauss Group, Ofra Strauss, widely recognized as one of the top ten most influential and suc‑ cessful business women in the world. The Israelis were amazed and surprised to learn of the joint venture in Chesterfield County between PepsiCo/Frito Lay to build the Sabra Foods hummus manufacturing facility.

This $64 million investment es‑ tablished instant credibility for the Greater Richmond story.

The last meeting on Day Four was with a company that had been identified earlier in the year by the Greater Richmond Partnership team when we were at the Photonics West trade show in San Francisco. The visit al‑ lowed a more in‑depth discussion with their senior management team about the business opportu‑ nities and support we could offer.

Day Five began with a trip south to Ashqelon, about twelve miles from the Gaza Strip. This company was founded before the establishment of Israel. It is still a functioning kibbutz that sells its products internationally, includ‑ ing a component for the OSHKOSH All Terrain Vehicle.

Their U.S. plans focus on oppor‑ tunities related to high speed rail.

After a few more meetings, and since the return flight to Eu‑ rope was scheduled for 12:30 a.m. from Tel Aviv, Duys and I were taken on a very quick visit to the old City of Jerusalem. It was there at 7:45 p.m. as we were in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Duys received a call on his mobile phone that our flight to Brussels had been canceled̶because of the volcanic ash from Iceland.

After scrambling and making other arrangements, we ended up on a flight to Cologne, Germany at 2:30 a.m. At 4:00 a.m. as we passed over Turkey, the pilot an‑ nounced that the Cologne airport was closed and we would not be al‑ lowed to land. (To be continued...)

Gene Winter

Being Employable Is To Be Ever-Evolving

M

otivated by the continued demand for jobseeker services in Greater Richmond, the contest was designed to high‑ light improvements to the RichmondJobNet website.

It also provided one lucky winner, LuEllen Buhrman, with a total career makeover package valued at more than $1,500.

Buhrman, a marketing professional who has been out of work for over two years, was chosen from over 100 other contest en‑ trants as the career makeover package winner based on her need, as well as her own efforts̶investing time in herself and in her ed‑

ucation̶while seeking new em‑ ployment opportunities.

As the contest winner, Buhrman received career coach‑ ing and resume help from Brian D. White, SPHR, director of HR Service Delivery at Actum HR, free access to Interview Angelʼs Complete Interview Preparation

Jobseekers can connect with RichmondJobNet via the website, www.richmondjobnet.com, or through Twitter and Facebook.

[above photo] Brian White Director of HR Service Delivery at Actum, Inc. provided Buhrmanʼs career coaching. [right photo, from left] Style coach Ann Kahn, Buhrman and Bonnie George owner of Coiffurious George Hair Studio.

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[left] Buhrman confers with White. [right] After her career makeover, Buhrman was enthused with the results.

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BEFORE & AFTER: TO CELEBRATE ITS ONE‑YEAR ANNIVERSARY, RICHMOND‑ JOBNET.COM̶A WEBSITE LAUNCHED BY THE GREATER RICHMOND PARTNER‑ SHIP TO CONNECT JOBSEEKERS TO JOBS IN THE RICHMOND REGION̶CREATED THE ʻRICHMONDJOBNET EXTREME CAREER MAKEOVER CONTESTʼ IN FEBRUARY.

Execution Toolkit, personal style coaching from consultant Ann Kahn, and a $250 Visa gift card for clothing and salon services.

Of her experience as the RichmondJobNet contest win‑ ner, Buhrman says, “When youʼve been at it for a long time, itʼs very easy to get discouraged and get in a rut, and it was re‑ ally wonderful to have these op‑ portunities to talk to all these great people.”

Armed with an improved resume, a new professional appearance, and a fresh out‑ look, LuEllen feels reener‑ gized and ready to tackle her job search anew.

RichmondJobNet continues to serve all jobseekers in the Richmond region by offering local information about net‑ working, educational opportuni‑ ties, career events, and more.

The site also provides ca‑ reer search tools, the career as‑ sessment tool̶Career Con‑ course̶and some new features such as RichmondJobNet Radio, which features exclusive inter‑ views from career experts.

INNOVATORS

In 1975 with a degree in electrical engineering, Hawkins went to work for a store that specialized in top‑of‑the‑line stereos. By the end of that decade he owned a total of five stores.

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WORK Innovators

Telepath Telecommunications he region is filled with all types of en‑ trepreneurs, and the exciting part is that they all follow their own unique path. Jeff Hawkins is a prime example of someone who rolls with the economic punches and comes out on top.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1975 with a degree in electrical engineering, he went to work for a store that specialized in top‑of‑the‑line stereos. The music business was going through some changes and Hawkins saw this as an opportunity. “I put off going to grad school, and they asked me to move to Charlottesville to manage a store there,” he says. So at the age of 22, he decided to buy a store in the franchise and eventually opened a second location. By the end of that decade he owned a total of five stores.

It was through the location in Char‑ lottesville that he met a man who had created the UVA Flight Club. That ignited another in‑

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BY DAVID SMITHERMAN

terest and Hawkins was soon fully immersed in taking flying lessons. He eventually bought his first plane, and currently stores one at the Hanover Airport. He also developed a love of BMWs, and has bought and sold several over the years.

By the end of the 1970s, the economy had faltered, disposable income was not as plentiful, and Hawkins was ready for a change. A family friend owned Forest Lawn Cemetery and had a sales position open. Al‑ though decidedly different, Hawkins knew that itʼs a recession‑proof industry. He moved up the ladder and was eventually VP and General Manager.

In 1984, while on a trip to Atlanta, he met someone who was getting into the voicemail business. Voicemail was in its infancy and only large corporations could afford the high price tag for phone systems that could host voice‑ mail. So in 1985, Hawkins launched Telepath

Telecommunications, a communications company that sold individual voicemail func‑ tionality to mid‑size and smaller businesses.

This work involved a close partnership with the telephone companies (at that time primarily C&P Telephone, which became Ver‑ izon). He continued focusing on the integra‑ tion side of the voicemail business, and eventually became a Premier level service provider to Verizon, one of only 50 in the United States.

His business continues to grow through direct sales, repeat business and a network of referral partners. “While my customers still get the Verizon products, they come directly to me for fast, personalized service,” he says.

“You get a real person right away when you call my office.” Like so many other industries these days, the telecom industry is always evolving. That means Hawkins is always look‑ ing for the next new thing.

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INNOVATORS

Ready Corporationʼs Executive Team: [l to r]: William Hancock, Lucius F. Cary IV, Matthew Duke, Carl Boggs, Bob Brown, Charlie Daniel and Stephen A. Storey.

Ready Corporation hese days thereʼs a lot of hubbub over sustainable design in the residential market. But with 35 million Ameri‑ cans living in regions threatened by hurricanes, itʼs high time we in‑ troduce disaster recovery shelters into mainstream chatter.

“In the U.S., FEMA alone pro‑ vides more than 15,000 disaster re‑ covery shelters annually,” says William Hancock, President and Chief Operating Officer at Ready Corporation. “Across the world mil‑ lions more are threatened by the most destructive natural weather occurrences on Earth.”

Hancock says Richmond‑ based Ready Corporation has an answer for the growing need for multi‑purpose, field‑assembled dis‑ aster relief units (for temporary and permanent use). As part of FEMAʼs Alternative Housing Program, Ready Corporation uses pre‑engi‑ neered recycled steel and com‑ pressed agricultural fiber panels as principal components to its green building systems.

In laymanʼs terms, these local leaders have found a way to use materials such as compressed wheat straw to crank out a product line including ReadyShelter, Ready‑ Space, ReadyCeiling, and Ready‑ Home. As one of the most affordable and spacious options on the market, Hancock points out

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Putting their disaster recovery shelters to the test, Hancock and company have traveled to Haiti extensively since its catastrophic earthquake. that Ready Corporationʼs hardened units are not only ideal for disaster relief but also military structures and onsite worker housing.

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A former transactional lawyer in the Richmond office of Trout‑ man Sanders LLP for over three decades, Hancock and a growing

cadre of Richmondʼs celebrated thinkers now run Ready Corpora‑ tion from within the Troutman Sanders office. Fresh off of relief ef‑ forts in Haiti, the team is continuing to perfect its framing system with an emphasis on durability, flexibil‑ ity and simplicity.

Boasting easy construction, Ready Shelterʼs product line is gain‑ ing a reputation for quick and safe assembly in the field using only small tools in less than 200 man‑ hours. Best of all, Ready Corpora‑ tionʼs true differentiator is in its use of scalable, environmentally friendly materials that are pre‑cut, flat packaged, and easily transported.

Putting their disaster recov‑ ery shelters to the test, Hancock and company have traveled to Haiti extensively since its cata‑ strophic earthquake. Quickly prov‑ ing to be a practical and sustainable option, the units are now being used throughout the Caribbean country with positive reports from the field.

“As our communities aspire to create a better future, we con‑ sider local and global perspec‑ tives, establish a foundation to aid progress, and meet the needs of the present without compro‑ mising the needs of the future,” says Hancock.

BY PAUL SPICER

WORK Innovators [Above and inset images]: RichmondHomeBuzzʼs YouTube promo̶a cross between an MTV Real World cast intro and a Bob Dylan/R.E.M. video.

RichmondHomeBuzz etʼs face it̶plopping a For Sale sign in the middle of a freshly manicured lawn just doesnʼt cut it anymore. Even dur‑ ing the best of times thereʼs a need for a little marketing whiz‑ bang in order to move the finest Richmond shanty.

And thatʼs where RichmondHomeBuzz, a full service real estate mar‑ keting firm, steps into the picture. “We assist home owners, developers, Real‑ tors, and landlords,” ex‑ plains Andrew Ryan, one of the masterminds be‑ hind the two‑year‑old un‑ dertaking. “We saw a need in our community for high‑quality, inexpensive marketing tools.”

Ryan, who met his fellow business partners at Univer‑ sity of Richmond, boasts previous experience powering the market‑ ing and public relations campaigns for some of the worldʼs most prominent law, accounting, and

L

consulting firms. Joining Ryan in the venture are equally talented in‑ dustry experts Mike Gray, Mark Hickman, and Greg Hofbauer.

As the economy slowed trans‑ actions down in recent years, the experienced and optimistic band of brothers at RichmondHomeBuzz

simply worked harder in search of new ways to help clients adapt.

One observation made earlier on in their endeavor was the fact that in this new economy the end user (consumers) were seeking out

more evolved and complicated tac‑ tics to search for the perfect prop‑ erty. Ryan says that his team began to track how consumers were increasingly relying on web‑based technologies and so‑ cial media to do their research in‑ stead of using traditional mediums.

Richmond‑ HomeBuzz responded by “building full campaigns using these new technolo‑ gies so that transactions can happen,” says Ryan. “There is so much competition for business out there that homeowners, developers, Realtors, and landlords have to be innovative when try‑ ing to reach their audience.”

By partnering with their clients to craft and im‑ plement successful market‑ ing campaigns, Richmond‑ HomeBuzz simply sees itself as a tool to empower clients to sell or rent their property. The marketing tactics offered by the team include traditional, online, and new media

that are enhanced by their rela‑ tionships with a network of local real estate experts. Examples of RichmondHomeBuzz services in‑ clude snazzy customized brochures and fliers, interactive websites, video tours, social platforms, and photo galleries.

“Our motivation comes from our love of what we do,” says Ryan.

“Our clients are Greater Richmond clients who are motivated to move their property. We love coming up with new ideas on how to help them because each property is so unique. We are very lucky to be in such an interesting business.”

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BY PAUL SPICER

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INNOVATORS

9WG Studios

[l to r]: Jody Boyd & Marna Bales (Red Amp Audio), Chris Williams (Mad Box Post), Melanie Cox & Macy Kaczmarek (Spang TV), Andrew Uvarov (Red Amp Audio).

estled among West Grace Street storefronts sits a non‑ descript building marked with little more than the number nine on its façade. Once a 7,500

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BOOK BUZZ

square foot shop stocked full of washers and dryers, the 1930s digs now boast new tenants tout‑ ing state‑of‑the‑art production studios and is home to a creative interchange for freelance graphic designers, mixers, editors, videogra‑ phers and pho‑ tographers.

9WG Stu‑ dios, launched in October 2009, gave the historic spot a million‑dol‑ lar facelift and is attracting indus‑ try attention for its audio record‑

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ing suites, two‑story tracking room and editing services.

Bringing cutting‑edge aes‑ thetics to RVA, the facility was designed by studio bau:ton and nonzero\architectureʼs principal, Swiss‑born Peter Grueneisen.

With sleek multi‑purpose rooms and top‑of‑the‑line recording equipment, 9WG Studios is receiv‑ ing accolades nationwide. The re‑ vamp was recently featured as the “Class of 2010” cover story in Mix, a leading professional audio and music production publication.

Perhaps more impressive than the building and studio gad‑ getry, is the collection of talent that 9WG has attracted. Marna Bales, Jody Boyd, and Melanie Cox are the owners of the facility, which warehouses three distinct businesses̶Spang TV (produc‑ tion company), Mad Box Post (filmmakers/video editing), and Red Amp Audio (music composi‑ tion, recording, audio post and mixing services).

By working together under one roof, the creative collective at 9WG offers an innovative environ‑ ment where a client can have ac‑ cess to a one‑stop shop of diverse independent contractors.

As co‑owner of Red Amp Audio,

Bales explains, “Iʼve always loved being in a studio. I can remember being in a studio for the first time in high school and I was enamored with it.” Bales says that having her own facility, “is a dream that I never thought was obtainable.”

Since launching their en‑ deavor, Bales and Boyd have worked with everyone from big brands, such as Wal‑Mart and Gen‑ worth, to local standouts, like LaD‑ ifference and Virginia Farm Bureau. “For the level of what we do, we have to have the best equipment and environment out there,” notes Bales.

“We operate as a full produc‑ tion facility,” adds Boyd, who is also a popular local musician. “Very few around Richmond can do start‑to‑ finish like this. Our three companies operate independently. Though, by partnering, we can also offer the whole ball of wax.”

BY PAUL SPICER

FRESH!

17th Street Farmers’ Market Market Days 2010 Season:

GROWERS’ MARKET Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturdays* from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (through October)

VINTAGE AND GROWERS’ MARKET Sundays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (through December 5)

RED, WHITE & BREW Fridays from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (through October 8) *Please note the Saturday Growers’ Market will not be held on special event days.

2010 Festivals and Special Events:

MAIN PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE RICHMOND METROPOLITAN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

9TH ANNUAL SHOCKOE TOMATO FESTIVAL Saturday, July 24th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SHOCKOE CHEF SHOWDOWN Saturday, August 14th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SHOCKOE-ON-THE-HALF SHELL Saturday, September 18th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SHOCKTOBERFEST Saturday, October 16th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

11TH ANNUAL BRUNSWICK STEW FESTIVAL Saturday, November 6th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Please be advised that all special event dates and times may be subject to change.

www.17thstreetfarmersmarket.com

Mayor Dwight C. Jones

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SONGFEST

RVA VIBE: MUSIC MATTERS

BY ANIKA IMAJO

Inge, Mendicino, LaBelle and Brown.

PHOTO: ROB SHELEY

Horsehead: Traditional American Rock N’ Roll to Tour Europe “Iʼve always tried to model our sound after my favorite records from the late Sixties and early Sev‑ enties without sounding dated,” says guitarist and vocalist Jon C. Brown of Horsehead, explaining, “I see us as a traditional American rock and roll band.”

The son of a Baptist minister, Brown has been singing since he was three years old and has played rock for a long time. And in the

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course of recording a solo album in 2004, he enlisted the talents of the three seasoned musicians who with him would form Horsehead.

While Horsehead has enjoyed playing such large venues as Hat Factory, Brown says, “I do, however, love playing the smaller places such as The Camel and Poeʼs Pub just as much. I like to be close to the people!”

Horseheadʼs new album, Be‑

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fore the Bright Lights, was re‑ leased in May and is available at www.beforethebrightlights.com.

The band is also preparing for a European tour.

In addition to Brown, Horse‑ head members include the rhythm duo of Andre LaBelle on drums with Randy Mendicino playing bass and singing backup. Kevin Inge plays lead guitar and also adds back‑ ground vocals.

“The way the city moves and the people of the city influence every single note that I write,” says trombonist Reggie Pace of Richmond, his adopted hometown. According to Pace, who came to Richmond in 2001 to study music at VCU and cofounded NO BS! Brass with drummer Lance Koehler about four years ago, the band’s style reflects his own love of “old-school gospel, James Brown, a ton of Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin and

PHOTO: LUCAS FRITZ

Jimi Hendrix” combined with influences introduced by the other nine band members, all set to brass instruments. Among the local venues where NO BS! Brass plays regularly are The Camel, Balliceaux, and Gallery 5. The band’s full-length, self-titled album is due for release in October. Pace adds, “Our remix collaboration album with DJ Harrison titled ‘Beats and Brass, Vol.1’ will be out around that same time. Also, our live album titled, ‘For the People’ will be out in the fall.”

For updates on the activities of NO BS! Brass visit www.nobsbrass.blogspot.com.

The Silo Effect to Release First EP

ALL PHOTOS THIS SPREAD COURTESY OF THE ARTISTS.

Borrowing its name from the phrase used in business to denote a break‑ down in communication between different parts of an entity, The Silo Effect seeks to maintain the harmo‑

nious unity of its four members and their diverse influences. “From its in‑ ception,” says Matt Hughes, guitarist, “this band has been about the com‑ ing together of many different musi‑ Anika Imajo

cal styles like jazz, funk, dubstep, breakbeats, rock, electro, salsa.” The bandʼs goal, according to Hughes, “is to create highly energetic and spatial music that will make you dance and feel good.” With its first EP, Tree‑ house, nearing completion and scheduled for release in August 2010, The Silo Effect is preparing for appearances at a number of upcom‑ ing festivals, including The Nomadic Roots Festival, Rootwire Music and Art Festival, Muddy River Jam Festi‑ val, and Camp Barefoot 4! Locally, The Silo Effect, which will soon in‑ corporate an intelligent lighting sys‑ tem into its live performance, can be seen somewhat regularly at The Camel and City Dogs.

In The Studio: Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird Singer‑songwriter Jonathan Vas‑ sarʼs indie folk compositions are evocative of the bucolic setting from which he drew his original musical inspiration. “My devotion to songs probably began with singing around the campfire with my sister's Brownie troop,” Vassar explains, “Every instrument I play was taught to me by my father.”

Melodically blending the sounds of guitar, accordion, har‑ monica, cello, clarinet, mandolin, glockenspiel, banjo, and vocals, Vassar and the three other musi‑ cians who compose the Speckled

Bird have played together since 2007 and are now recording a full‑ length album, “Signs and Won‑ ders,” to be released later this year. “The current Speckled Bird songs often come from ideas sparked by pastoral poetry and landscape painting,” says Vassar, who has recently collaborated with fellow band member Joshua Quarles to set his lyrics to music.

Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird can be heard lo‑ cally at the Camel and Gallery 5, and will also tour regionally this summer.

Jackass Flats Cranks Up the Honky Tonk Jackass Flats recorded two all‑ original albums, Purgatory Moun‑ tain (2006) and Greetings from Jackass Flats (2008). “With these CDs under our belts, we all felt and agreed the band needed to dis‑ cover another sound,” says Travis

Rinehart, explaining that the six‑ member band has incorporated Honky Tonk and Rockabilly influ‑ ences into its live performances and will carry this new swing sound into its next recording proj‑ ect, which he anticipates will be complete by the end of this year.

Jackass Flats performs at Cary St Cafe, Sunday Bluegrass at Leg‑ ends Brew, and (of course) Sunday Brunch with Jackass Flats from 1:30 to 4:30 at F.W. Sullivanʼs on the corner of Stafford and Main.

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Subject Songfest

Live Album Due Out In The Fall

PLAY

NO BS! Brass

[ l to r ] Joshua Quarles (cello, clarinet, organ, piano) Antonia Fisher‑Duke (accordion, glockenspiel) Chris Edwards (banjo, mandolin, electric guitar) Jonathan Vassar (singer‑songwriter)

SONGFEST

Karl Densonʼs Tiny Universe

June 4th brought Karl Densonʼs Tiny Universe with DJ Williams Projekt to the island. KDTU evolved “West Coast Boogaloo” by adding more emphasis on vocals and mixing in some funk, R&B and hip hop elements. Denson has worked with Lenny Kravitz and in 2009 released the CD “Brothers Keeper”which turned up the soul of this all‑night party band.

THE

BROWN’S ISLAND BATTLE OF THE BANDS “When Friday Cheers started 26 years ago, it was pretty much the only concert series in town, now there are several,” Venture Rich‑ mondʼs Festival Manager Stephen Lecky says. “We like to think that Friday Cheers has helped foster the growth of multiple music series and special events in the city.”

Denson

Venture Richmondʼs line‑up of summer per‑ formances at Brownʼs Island continues to evolve with record audiences and top acts.

“We traditionally average about 3,000 peo‑ ple, but some shows we can have up to 10,000 folks,” Lecky notes. “For last yearʼs Zac Brown Band show we had over 16,000 peo‑ ple on Brownʼs Island.”

The challenge for Lecky and the selection committee is to pull together an array of acts that will appeal to a broad spectrum of con‑ cert‑goers. The process begins with Leckyʼs wish list of artists that fit the budget and have national recognition. With over 1000 members on Friday Cheers fanpage, social media also factors into the process. “We take suggestions on our Facebook page and try to have a very diverse line‑up that has many different genres represented.”

The wish list of acts is narrowed by the se‑ lection committee. “The line‑up is vetted through our presenting sponsors, Loveland (Coors Light and Yuengling) and if they have any suggestions on artists we always look into them.”

This seasonʼs selection paired national acts like country singer Lee Brice, the unique rhythm and grooves of Karl Densonʼs Tiny Universe and the indie folk band Deer Tick with regional favorites like Charlottesvilleʼs 6 Day Bender and Richmondʼs DJ Williams Projekt. For Lecky, the selection strategy is designed with one aim. “Our goal is to have more folks enjoying themselves in the City of Richmond.”

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Countryʼs newest heartthrob, Lee Brice and Richmond jazzy‑jam band, Puddle‑ duck kicked off the 2010 season with a May 7th concert. As a songwriter, Brice has stretched beyond the country genre penning ”Beautiful High” for the rock group Sister Hazel, with Stan Lynch of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and Hazelʼs Drew Copeland as Lee's co‑writers.

Railroad Earth

Acoustic‑centric Railroad Earth and Cʼville rocking‑bluegrass favorites 6 Day Bender played the May 21st concert.

PLAY

Deer Tick

Songfest

Brice

Brownʼs Island got a double dose of indie on June 18 th with the Providence, R.I. band Deer Tick and the Richmond‑based Former Champions.

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GLITZ & GLAM

Notes from an EasyandElegantLife.com

You’re Getting Married, You’re Not in Mourning Letʼs clear a few things up right away. If youʼre walk‑ ing down the aisle before 6:00 p.m., you really should not be in a tuxedo or white tie and tails. After six, please do. And remember vintage is a great bargain.

Stick to the ba‑ sics̶black self‑tied bowtie, black cummer‑ bund or vest, white fold down (soft) collar shirt, black highly polished lace up shoes. If you choose the elegance of white tie, please make sure the vest isnʼt longer than the front quarters of the abbrevi‑ ated tailcoat. They should end about where the peaks are on the tailcoat.

Taking your vows before 6:00 and anywhere but the beach? Consider the easy el‑ egance of a very tailored dark suit, crisp white French‑cuffed shirt with cufflinks, a dark or silver tie and

BY CHRIS COX

after all, not in mourning.

Speaking of festive, please do wear a flower, but donʼt pin it on. Instead, thread it through the but‑ ton hole on the lapel.

Have a local alterations tai‑ lor sew a thick bit of thread in back of that lapel to hold the stem in place.

Morning clothes are the epitome of daytime formal. Maybe a bit too stiff for such a festive day.

Lighten things up like the examples in the photo, with a striped or colored shirt and a bright tie. A buff or white waistcoat (double‑breasted if you can find it) will really up your sartorial game.

You will look dash‑ ing. Congratulations! highly polished black shoes. Donʼt forget that white pocket square. I suggest a dark blue or a charcoal grey rather than a black suit which

doesnʼt look as rich under artificial lights. When choosing your tie, look for a silk satin or woven that has some shine to it, youʼre celebrating

Chris Coxʼs blog is devoted to ʻthe search for everyday elegance and a study of the art of living well.ʼ

What’s Kyra Wearing?

In the last column I talked about Make it a routine. being excited about the warm If you are going out weather. That was spring. Now it is after work and will not be officially summer̶summer HOT. taking your jacket off dur‑ How do you look HOT without ing work, it is fine to wear a looking overheated? Sweating can cute sleeveless top. A little drastically drain the sexy right out low‑cut is ok too̶again, of you and it is noticeable. The as long as it is not too low‑ heat can be frustrating, making it cut. Be reasonable when it difficult to figure out what to wear. comes to work. Perception Not all garments are made to be is everything. If you are un‑ comfortable in certain, take a fun A full brimmed top with you and warm weather.

Then you find hat and a pair of slip it on after yourself indoors sunglasses can work to wear out where they for the evening. give you a bit have cranked of mystery. up the AC so much that you wish you had your MAKE A SPLISH SPLASH winter coat! What you really need What about the pool? is the flexibility of layers.

Poolside to errands or With business, a jacket is even an afternoon often needed, but it is ok to take cocktail can be easy. I the jacket off. You just need to am wearing a Nanushka make sure that the garment under tank dress. What makes the jacket is appropriate. It should this work so well is the not be too low‑cut. It is fine to draping across the body in show your arms, but you may the front of the dress. The want to consider increasing your draping is flattering and upper body workouts this summer because it is a bit loose, just a notch or do a few pushups works well over your bikini when you get up in the morning. as a coverup or cute little

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BY KYRA OLIVER

sundress. Slip on some strappy sandals or your flip‑ flops and you are ready for all sorts of occasions. I picked up this adorable and incredibly comfortable dress at Eurotrash in Carytown.

Pair it with a fun beach bag and some summer jewelry and you can comfortably go anywhere in style.

A hat can be fun while protecting you from the sun! Though you need some vitamin D, if you are going to be in the sun for long, consider a full brimmed hat and a pair of sunglasses. Not only do they protect you, they can give you a bit of mystery.

American Apparel in Cary Court has some inexpen‑ sive options and the hats travel well!

Dress well.

Kyra Oliver is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and a runner who is passionate about her environment, from what she is wearing, to where she is wear‑ ing it.

Chris Cox

Kyra Oliver

ONSTAGE

1936, nine months before the onset of the Spanish Civil War. It immediately became an inter‑

Miller plans to keep the historic venue bustling with the Hispanic Theatre Project.

New At The Empire Theatre THEATRE IVʼS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IS BULLISH ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON

BY BRUCE MILLER heatre IVʼs very first pro‑ duction in The Empire Theatre (114 West Broad Street) this fall is Ferdinand the Bull which is part of a 3‑year Hispanic Theatre Project̶now in its second year and created

by Barksdale Theatre.

Last seasonʼs Boleros for the Disenchanted by Jose Rivera launched this initiative to en‑ courage Greater Richmondʼs growing Latino population to feel more included in, and con‑ nected to, the cultural life of our community‑at‑large.

By providing a showcase for professional performing artists of Spanish and/or Latino ances‑ try, both local and national, our intent is to create an entertain‑ ing and engaging forum for is‑ sues relevant to Latino culture.

But we also want the pro‑ ductions to be a type of out‑ reach to the general public

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where an appreciation is pro‑ moted for the magnificent con‑ tributions that world‑class Spanish and Latino playwrights, composers and thinkers have made to Western culture.

Part of the projectʼs effort is also raising awareness for the Latin Ballet of Virginia and of course expand Barksdale Theatreʼs base of support to in‑ clude more members of Greater Richmondʼs growing Latino population.

Ferdinand the Bull is a new musical comedy for chil‑ dren and families, based on the fun and fanciful childrenʼs book written by Munro Leaf, with illustrations by Robert Lawson. Music for the show was written by Deborah Wicks La Puma, with lyrics and book

by Mexican‑American play‑ wright, Karen Zacarias.

The book was published in

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national classic. The story con‑ cerns Ferdinand, a physically imposing bull who would much prefer to smell flowers and live in peace than take on a matador in a bullfight.

For 15 years after its pub‑ lication, the book was heralded as a repudiation of the aggres‑ sive, combative actions of Na‑ tionalist and Fascist leaders from Francisco Franco of Spain to Adolf Hitler. The chil‑ drenʼs book was officially banned and frequently burned by the Third Reich.

Today Ferdinand the Bull is regarded as a gentle chil‑ drenʼs classic. It was promi‑ nently cited recently in the film The Blind Side. The new musi‑ cal expands the story to include a sturdy young Spanish boy, a flamenco dancer, a bullying Duke, and a dancing pig.

Barksdaleʼs next entry in the Hispanic Theatre Project will be Legacy of Light, also by Karen Zacarias, to be presented at Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn in a co‑production with Theatre VCU, February and March 2011. Legacy of Light won the 2009 Best New Play Award of the American Theatre Critics Association.

TWO PRODUCTIONS DOWNTOWN For the first time ever in one season, Barksdale Theatre will be mounting two productions Downtown at The Empire The‑ atre: Irving Berlinʼs White Christmas from Nov 19, 2010– Jan 9, 2011 and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels June 17 – Aug 7,

2011. Both shows fall into the “hot off Broadway” cate‑ gory̶with large casts, big song & dance numbers, and technical requirements that The Empire is able to make the most of.

Although Barksdaleʼs Sig‑ nature Season is presented at its Willow Lawn location, the larger summer musical pro‑ ductions for the past three sea‑ sons have been successfully staged at The Empire. When the possibility came up of adding White Christmas to the schedule, we knew The Empire was the perfect venue for this huge holiday blockbuster.

Irving Berlinʼs White

The historic Empire opened on Christmas Night 1911 and is Virginia's oldest extant the‑ atre. Designed at the turn of the century, the Empire was hailed as one of the most beautiful theatres in America and proudly played host to theatrical luminaries including Otis Skinner, Sydney Green‑ street and Mary Pickford.

Christmas is going to be a co‑ production between Barks‑ dale Theatre and Theatre IV, combining the resources and audiences of both companies since it will appeal to such a wide audience.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will be the 2011 Barksdale summer musical. Weʼre partic‑ ularly excited about it because the show has a hot, new score from the composer and lyricist David Yazbeck of The Full Monty̶one of Barksdaleʼs most successful musicals.

Weʼre thrilled to have more and more people of all ages coming downtown to The Em‑ pire and experiencing some of the best professional theatre they will see anywhere.

Director’s Dumplings Dazzle @ Fanhouse IF

YOU

HAVENʼT

HEARD

“CRAZY RESTAURANT, YOU

ABOUT

DUMPLINGS” AT A NEW LOCAL

THE

SOON WILL. FOODIES HAVE BEEN ABUZZ LATELY ABOUT

FANHOUSE, LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF F LOYD AND R OBINSON .

A NEW EATERY CALLED THE

BY DAVID SMITHERMAN

Food

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS DAILY 2 BARS WITH ONE DEDICATED TO BOURBON 2 BIG SCREENS YOUR CHOICE OF INDOOR OR OUTDOOR DINING SPECIAL EVENTS DAILY

mediate vicinity to the opening, complete with free food and drinks for his new neighbors.

In addition to his role as restaurateur, Zhao is also an ac‑ complished musician and direc‑ tor. He has done many groundbreaking commercials and short films, and if you ask nicely he might show you a cou‑ ple of them on his iPhone. The always ambitious Zhao also has a feature film in the works.

With plans for an outdoor dining area and longer operating hours, Zhao is well on his way to providing a viable restaurant “in a new way.” And of course donʼt forget those crazy dumplings. www.thefanhouse.net

PLAY

Fanhouse is one of Zhaoʼs many forays in the entertainment business.

Owner Sunny Zhao and his team have created a comfortable, ca‑ sual atmosphere with a contem‑ porary Asian feel.

On the dinner menu are appetizers like the Asian Beef Kabobs and the beautifully arranged (and tasty) Vegetable Spring Rolls. Entrees range from Roasted Duck (with Man‑ darin pancakes!) to the Seafood Pasta. Then there are those much‑touted crazy dumplings based on a secret (naturally) family recipe.

The building has been to‑ tally redone from its days as Verbena, and inside thereʼs a large bar with a beautiful paint‑ ing dominating the back wall.

The black and red color scheme ties in the décor and leads to an‑ other space upstairs.

Entrepreneur Sunny Zhao has big dreams for the restau‑ rant. “I want this to be a new type of place where everyone feels welcome.” To that end, he even invited residents in the im‑

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Current

MEOW-WOW!: Lost Kitty Curios Aid Art 180 GOOD CAUSES COME IN SMALL PACKAGES. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SMALL‑ART CATS THAT ARE GETTING LOST ALL OVER THE RICHMOND AREA THIS SUMMER.

F

BY TED RANDLER prise locations around the world.

The ongoing journey and public responses are published via www.realsmallart.com. They be‑ lieve a little work of art can go a long way.

The Lost Cats Project is a fun community art project in support of Real Small Art League and their upcoming group exhi‑ bition at Crossroads Art Center.

The “Creative Kindness Throwdown” highlights the tal‑ ents of participating artists in the studio and within the com‑ munity. The exhibit will feature original works of selected Real Small Art League members and will provide an opportunity to showcase the effects of creative kindness on both the artist and the audience. Participating artists include: Tiffany Glass Fer‑

An opening reception of Real Small Art Leagueʼs "Creative Kindness Throwdown" exhibit, benefiting Richmondʼs July 16, 2010 from 6‑9pm at Crossroads Art Center, in the Caboose Gallery, (2016 Staples Mill Road), (Free admission.)

The show runs through

Showcasing the effects of creative kindness, the exhibit features original works of selected Real Small Art League members.

THE CHALLENGE This exhibition is presented in conjunction with Slash Cole‑ manʼs “The Art of Business Throwdown”̶an initiative of his Facebook group “Manifest Your Creative Destiny.”

The Throwdown is an artis‑ tic and marketing challenge be‑ tween the Real Small Art

League and their show (the “Creative Kindness Throwdown” benefitting Art180) and the Richmond Craft Mafia (“Hand‑ made Throwdown” benefitting Richmond SPCA).

Coleman has directed the challenge and modeled it after Donald Trumpʼs television show The Apprentice. The “Art of Busi‑ ness Throwdown” guest judge, artist Noah Scalin, will evaluate each team based on the philan‑ thropic reach of their work for their chosen charity, overall

sales, media exposure and the growth of each teamʼs platform.

The winning team will be an‑ nounced after a completed video chronicling each teamʼs project debuts in November.

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Exhibitions

Art180, is on Friday,

September 8th.

reira, Alyson Plante, Lisa Berberette, Betsy Sayre, Jennifer Hamrock, Elke Talbot and L. Campbell Maxey.

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rom Short Pump to Cary‑ town, small art cats are waiting to be found and are free to a good home.

Join the fun in a city‑wide hide‑and‑seek game as Real Small Art League artists Alyson Plante and L. Campbell Maxey hide small‑art cats around RVA in public spaces. If you want to play along, visit lostcatspro‑ ject.wordpress.com.

“The project was just launched last week and already we have some collectors! It is always exciting for Real Small Art League artists to hear about where their creations end up, or if they made a small difference in someoneʼs day,” Plante explains.

“There is a saying we em‑ brace that even the smallest peb‑ bles can send ripples across a pond. The tiniest of gestures can have a ripple effect, even if it isnʼt seen on the surface. That is our hope for this ef‑ fort, to spread artistic kindness and to gen‑ tly remind us all that the world is inher‑ ently creative and peaceable. We plan for the Lost Cats Project to run throughout the summer, but if it is well‑received then it would be great to keep it going.”

The Real Small Art League is an artistsʼ collective in Rich‑ mond and is the brainchild of artist Tiffany Glass Ferreira. The collective has a mission to in‑ spire random acts of artistic kindness and creative aware‑ ness. To date, over 600 artists have made, documented and given away tiny works in sur‑

PAGE VIEWS

A Novel Promotion

McMoon takes a break from filming.

BREAKING THROUGH THE COMPETITION AND GETTING YOUR PRODUCT NOTICED IS KEY TO ITS SUCCESS, AND BOOKS ARE NO DIFFERENT.

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ith online sites, brick‑and‑mortar stores, and e‑books, itʼs not easy for a new author to get the attention of readers.

Local writer JJ McMoon is taking a unique approach to promoting his new novel, Lives. “At one time I sold ex‑ pensive mattresses, so I fig‑ ured I could sell a book, especially my book,” he says.

The character‑driven story ex‑ amines the lives of eight people and takes place ten years after they have finished high school.

And while McMoon brought his characters to life on the page, heʼs taking it a few steps further

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[Left photo, l to r]: McMoon, Melissa Barlow, Brandon Fox, Bruce Whited & Tom Wright. [Right photo]: On the set of Lives.

in the name of promotion.

Every Tuesday evening, a handful of volunteer actors and technical crew meet at Mc‑ Moonʼs West End home to have a production meeting. “I did an independent movie years ago, so

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I used that experience.”

The focus of those meet‑ ings is to create a series of short films the author is producing to generate interest in the book.

Several local actors have al‑ ready appeared in a handful of

BY DAVID SMITHERMAN short films highlighting characters and situations in the book.

Aside from the movies, what how else is he pro‑ moting his book? “I have a Facebook fan page (where you can see the short films), three websites, two blogs, and a zillion book‑ marks that I will send to anyone in the world who requests them, for free. I set up affiliate sites and networking and cross‑promotion whenever the opportunity arises. I do every radio and web interview that I can, and I speak at high schools and colleges.”

Endless Vacation

Books of Note:

BACKROADS & BYWAYS OF VIRGINIA: DRIVES, DAY TRIPS & WEEKEND EXCURSIONS REVIEW BY TED RANDLER

P

has lots of destinations to recommend, he is savvy enough to tap into the serendipity

by Jordan Wirsz (Palari Publishing LLP) “Out of success comes experience. Out of failure comes wisdom.” What would you do if you knew you could not fail? A millionaire at the age of 24, Wirz contin‑ ues his series of insights and resources for achieving success in this latest volume.

Dine With Distinction Join Us at the Embassy

by Summer Whitford (Palari Publishing LLP) As President of Maison Chanteclerc, Wit‑ ford is a cooking and wine expert who writes about the customs, the elaborate detail of many embassies and their cele‑ brations as well as the high culture eti‑ quette. Lots of tips for entertaining and international food ideas abound!

Lohmann estimates that he drove about 6,000 miles over six months in researching the book. Interestingly, the author writes in first person, raising the guide from a mere listing of resources to a travelogue of in‑ triguing experiences and of the residents who he meets along way of his seemingly endless vacation.

You may have written a classic.

But if no one has heard of it,

of meandering

While the author has lots of destinations to recommend, he is savvy enough to tap into the serendipity of meandering Virginiaʼs back roads. Avoiding the GPS‑mentality of simply getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible, in his chapter on VA 6, Lohmann writes, “just maybe, you want to take a nice country drive, go where the road takes you, and stop when the mood strikes, VA 6 is that kind of road.”

Virginia’s

back roads.

For those familiar with these local sites, youʼll appreciate the ad‑ ditional history of which Lohmann provides in a veritable wealth of factoid highlights and travel anecdotes. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Historic Polegreen Church sculpture included as it was some‑ thing that I passed daily on my commute̶without knowing its ori‑ gins. Thanks to Lohmannʼs volume, the sculptureʼs site along with a state full of diverse of “stay‑cations” make for a fascinating read.

Page Views

While the author

The nineteen chapters pro‑ vide everything from historic‑ themes̶“In search of George Washington and, of course, cherry pie” and Civil War treks̶to out‑of‑the‑way para‑ dises like Burkeʼs Garden found in the mountains. All manner of community fetes from Suffolkʼs Peanut Festival to Emporiaʼs pork extravaganza are covered.

Become Incredible

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robably most known for his columns for the Richmond Times‑ Dispatch, Bill Lohmann has canvassed the state to produce Backroads & Byways of Virginia: Drives, Day Trips & Week‑ end Excursions (The Countryman Press), an extensive guide to must‑ see places off the beaten path. Travelling across the state on the winding roads like US 11 and VA 204, he sets up 19 itineraries that offer both historic and contem‑ porary sites as well as inns and restaurants where youʼll want to “linger awhile.”

Motivation Worth a Million

does it exist?

Books won’t sell without promotion.

We can help you get reviews and media, both print and online.

We also provide other book services like distribution and fulfillment.

Contact us and see if we can help you.

Palari Book Promotion URPublished@Gmail.com or (804) 355-1035 R I C H M O N D

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GRID & BEAR IT

BY JEFF KELLEY

This just in:

Scientists Still Unsure Which Street Joe’s Inn Is Located. esearchers at Virginia Commonwealth University admitted today that after nearly 15 years of study, they have yet figure out a method of remembering which street is home to Joe’s Inn, a popular Fan District eatery that consistently manages to hide itself deep within the neighborhood’s depths.

“From what we know, Joe’s is located on one of those streets that begins with ‘S,’ I think…Stuart or

ILLUSTRATION BY TED RANDLER

“R

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Shields maybe? Though perhaps it’s on Stafford,” said frustrated lead researcher David Lowe, driving around the Fan after completing five unsuccessful turns in an attempt to find the restaurant, known for its large pasta dishes and regular customers who somehow manage to locate the establishment on a consistent basis. “Seriously, what’s the matter with me?

Why can’t I ever remember which street it’s on?”

In an initial study con-

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ducted in 2003 using laboratory mice, the animals were dropped at a random location near Boulevard and, using electromagnetic signals sent to their brain, were instructed to walk southeast to Joe’s Inn. Nine mice in the control group were unable to find Joe’s, became disoriented, and incorrectly turned onto Strawberry, Rowland and North Meadow Streets. All failed to find the eatery and were eventually released into

the wild of Byrd Park.

Fan resident Jen Haddad said Joe’s is one of her favorite local restaurants, albeit one that remains largely impossible to find.

“Finding Joe’s in the maze of the inner Fan is like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” the 24-year-old said. “So what I mean by that is that Joe’s would be the needle, and the haystack would be like the Fan.” Added Haddad: “It’s an analogy.”

Billed as “Richmondʼs most accurate source of misinformation,” Tobacco Avenue is a satirical news site founded in 2007 by Richmonder Jeff Kelley. Read more at www.tarichmond.com.

stay grow

here

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