JUNE 2022
Chamber News THE VOICE OF BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Community First in the Top of Virginia
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Scott Harvard First Bank
FEATURES 06 | Moving On Up
Chair-Elect Charles Daniels Fortessa Tableware Solutions
07 | A Time to Heal 08 | Improving the Ride
Vice Chair Cary Nelson H.N. Funkhouser & Company
11 | Impacting the Community On the Cover: Officer Slonaker of the Winchester Police Department excitedly speaks to a job seeker at the Employer Expo presented by the Frederick County EDA
12 | Are You Loyal? 13 | Member Spotlight: Brain Injury Services
Treasurer Adrian Taylor YHB Immediate Past Chair John Fox GreenSen, LLC At Large Member Patti Solenberger Solenberger’s True Value Hardware
DEPARTMENTS 04 | Letter from CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
04 | New Members
Emily Burner WMC Foundation
05 | TVRC News and Events
Andy Gail Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area
Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Sponsors Chamber Elite
Jenny Grooms Valley Health Jim Guisewhite SVN Commercial Specialists James Imoh Edward Jones Investments
Chairman’s Level
Kevin McKannan GlenLoch Legal, P.L.C.
President’s Level
Katrina Meade City National Bank Brian Nieves Tri-State Nissan Kristy Powers Navy Federal Credit Union
Media Sponsors
Thomas Stamulis True North Group Debera Taylor NW Works
Letter From Cynthia Schneider CEO, Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
CHAMBER STAFF
This month’s issue of Chamber News shows us the value that this region has in protecting our most cherished assets, the people who keep this region vibrant. We are extremely proud of all they have accomplished and stand beside our members as they strive to achieve their goals to make this region a better place to live, work, and play every day. It is our purpose to connect business and community resources for mutual success and a few of the many ways that we do so are now available for your use. Our new community map has just arrived with more coverage of a closer look at our region. Our community video series that highlights Chamber events, programs, and services as well as a few select members is now live on our website at regionalchamber.biz (look for the image below).
Cynthia Schneider CEO
cschneider@regionalchamber.biz
Danita Roble Director, Membership Development
droble@regionalchamber.biz
Dan Hitchcock Membership Development Specialist
dhitchcock@regionalchamber.biz
Hannah Stewart Membership Development Specialist
Cynthia Schneider | CEO Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
hstewart@regionalchamber.biz
Julie Shaffer Director, Legislative Affairs
jshaffer@regionalchamber.biz
Vanessa McAllister Director, Programs & Events
vmcallister@regionalchamber.biz
Kory Campbell Director, Marketing & Communications
Welcome
New Members
kcampbell@regionalchamber.biz Thanks to our new members who joined the Chamber between May 1 and May 31. To learn more about membership benefits, call 540-662-4118.
Strawderman Financial LLC (540) 336-8382 strawdermanfinancial.com United Energy Trading LLC (703) 389-5457 unitedenergytrading.com Fade Father Hair Studio (540) 686-7396 fadefatherhairstudio.com Team Mamba (540) 327-2895 Bryanlewis.acnibo.com
Elevate Your Network Elevate Your Business Elevate Your Voice Become a Chamber Member
OUR PURPOSE Connect business and community resources for mutual success. OUR VISION Be the voice of business for Frederick & Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester, Virginia. OUR MISSION Provide programs and services to meet the business and professional needs of our members. 407 S. Loudoun Street Winchester, VA 22601 540-662-4118 regionalchamber.biz
TVRC NEWS & EVENTS Save the Date:
Business After Hours
Corporate Challenge Saturday, July 16, 2022 John Handley High School Stadium
Shenandoah Valley Golf Club Wednesday, June 8, 2022 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
We invite businesses in the Top of Virginia region to join the Chamber for a day of fun and team building! Your team will display their competitive prowess as they compete to win the Chamber Torch Trophy!
Every month, the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber holds an after-hours networking event designed for members to meet and build relationships with business people from small, midsize, and large companies and organizations representing Use this opportunity for: a variety of industries. Chamber Members host this event at •Team building for your employees their businesses to encourage networking in an informal at•To network with other local business mosphere complemented by food and beverage. Contact the •Rewarding your staff with a fun outing for a job well done Top of Virginia Regional Chamber to host one of these great Please note: businesses may also recruit members to teams if you events! don’t have enough staff or you may join with other businesses and combine teams. Participants must be at least 18 years or older. This event is open to the public and there will be something for everyone, so please plan to bring your family and friends and cheer the winning team to victory!
Please visit regionalchamber.biz to register
Make sure to bring business cards and be ready to network. If you would like to participate, bring a door prize and bring recognition to your business. Please visit regionalchamber.biz to learn more
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber will soon have a new home from which to elevate the TVRC business community and region. In June, offices will shift from 407 South Loudoun Street to 509 Airport Road, Ste 200 due to the sale of the current building to Cameron Pediatric Counseling, LLC. “The timing was right on this move,” stated TVRC Chair of the Board, Scott Harvard. Selling the aging building has been a consideration since 2015 after moving in from the Kurtz building in 2008. The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber was able to become debt free on the property prior to selling. Harvard continued, “The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber is an organization that prides itself in elevating businesses in the region. Unfortunately, the current offices did not provide a suitable space for growth within the organization.”
Moving On Up “The Chamber’s purpose is to help our members’ businesses be more successful. We do this by helping to solve business challenges. In May of 2022, the Chamber sold our building to streamline business and focus on our core operations,” stated TVRC CEO Cynthia Schneider. A red-hot real estate market with low interest rates provided an excellent mix to realize a maximum return on the sale. As the Chamber takes a step in a new direction, they will set their sights to the skies as they move into the current facilities at the Winchester Regional Airport (OKV) while the new terminal is built to accommodate the Chamber additionally. “It is important to have a strong airport in the region to attract businesses into the Commonwealth,” stated Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears at an event on May 10, 2022.
“Business leaders want to know that they can get in and out quickly before bringing their business to a region.” Having the Chamber at the airport provides access to be an inclusive regional hub for all business. While many Chamber members are located in Winchester, the industry growth in Clarke and Frederick counties called for a more centralized location for all. The Winchester Regional Airport serves the same region. “This will be a driver in economic development, education, and workforce development for the region,” said Schneider. The Board of Directors for the Chamber wishes to create a sustainability fund with the proceeds from the building sale to benefit the organization into the future to provide a predictable revenue stream to fund operations, provide for capital replacement as required, and to grow over time.
A Time to Heal
United States flags flew in a solemn formation during May of 2022 creating an awe-inspiring panorama. This stirring display of over 1,000 flags brought our community together in a patriotic tribute to honor our heroes. Each U.S. flag represented an individual and told a story. Flags were sponsored to honor individuals currently serving in our military, veterans, first responders, heroes in our lives, and hometown heroes. They flew in tribute to heroes who have earned our gratitude though their service and sacrifice. The legions of American heroes have swollen this year to include COVID-19 heroes who, despite personal danger, have treated the sick, cared for the dying, and provided services for us all. This unique event is the perfect opportunity for all of us to remember and honor our many heroes. The Stars & Stripes reminds us of who we are as a people. As Americans we become stronger as we meet challenges and overcome hardships. The United States flag represents our solidarity in creating a brighter tomorrow and uniting us all. This moving display is a gift to the community from the Winchester Rotary Club
made possible through donations, sponsorships and the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. You can show your support and gratitude by making a donation.
Additionally, the display raised funds for the many charitable programs of the Winchester Rotary Club. In this especially difficult past year alone, the Rotary Club donated and delivered hundreds of meals to the WATTS program, the Emergency Shelter at the Old Armory Building, the Evans Home for Children, the Rescue Mission as well as provided much needed supplies for CCAP and the Highland Food Pantry. The Club also presented Christmas gifts to the residents of the Evans Home for Children and donated more than 700 Coats For Kids over the holidays. All funds raised from this event will continue the Club’s charitable work in our region. This is an event that must be seen to be fully appreciated and is an experience not to be missed. Please visit the Healing Field of Honor® display next year on Memorial Day weekend and invite your family and friends to walk with you among the ordered rows of U.S. flags. Please visit: rotaryclubofwinchester.org
The Winchester Rescue Mission will be able to expand reach and services with their new location at 2655 Valley Avenue
Chris Doctson is on a mission.
Improving the Ride
The Winchester Rescue Mission resident has been on a mission for most of his adult life, leading him to serve others. Chris was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia one year after graduating high school as a good student and excellent athlete. He had moved away from home to attend LaGuardia Community College in Queens, New York before he found himself called to a mission. As a result, Chris embarked on a journey that challenged him into the person he is today. When Brandan Thomas, Executive Director of the Winchester Rescue Mission, was first asked to consider bringing Chris into the shelter on Cameron Street, the answer easily could have been no, and it almost was. On paper, Chris was not a great fit. He had a history of violence and larceny, was struggling with medication compliance, and was caught in a cycle of his life at that moment that appeared he might never escape his own shadow. It would have been easy to discard Chris’s file as one that could not be helped. It would be easy to discard
his story under the umbrella of homelessness and mental illness. But instead, his story has become his mission, one that he now is using to help others. Chris had many fond memories of his life growing up. Sure, his parents had divorced when Chris was in elementary school, but they remained committed to co-parenting their four children. Chris was very active in gymnastics, martial arts, and youth football. He was a Boy Scout that helped with food drives throughout his community, even though his family was just on the brink of needing that assistance themselves at times. He did his chores. He went to church every Sunday. He lived what many of us would consider a “normal life” growing up. After graduating high school in 2003, he had the world in the palm of his hand and was off to study Travel and Tourism at LaGuardia Community College.
Chris’s mother first detected that something was changing in him. She had fielded a phone call from Chris, who was set on moving to Australia because he had been told he needed to. At this time, she encouraged Chris to seek some help
from mental health professionals. Chris followed through with his mother’s wishes and received his diagnosis. He was hospitalized for 30 days with medication which he did well with. Chris thought that might be the end of everything, only to find out he would require medication for the rest of his life. “I felt less than. Immediately. I felt that I was going to need to be controlled for the rest of my life. I felt monitored. This wasn’t a challenge that I could complete. There is no end. Mission Impossible. That’s when I felt heartbreak. I really felt broken.” Chris said. Chris did well with his medication for about two weeks until things started to slip. If he had missed a dose here and there, would anybody notice? Suddenly, there was no accountability and little understanding of the impact this diagnosis would have on the rest of his life. How would Chris know what was false? Paranoid Schizophrenia presents with delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, and grandiose thinking. It is impossibly difficult to tell when these
symptoms affect you because they feel so real. Chris did not experience many visual hallucinations but faced the rest of the symptoms. He had to constantly seek validation and verification to know what was true and what may be a symptom with or without medication. He had moved back to Virginia with his mother, battling medication compliance for the next three years. At 23 years old, Chris had come home from his job with some food to rest after a hard day’s work. He flipped on a movie and found himself arguing with the main character. Noticing that he was getting worked up, Chris began to exercise. He changed his clothes and walked out his front door to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Outside, an unknown person was walking a dog. Chris confronts the walker. “Did you just touch me or say something to me?” The man begins to walk away from Chris, and Chris follows him to a nearby house, where the walker hastily tries to get in. Chris runs and tackles the man through the front door and assaults him. Chris was now on a mission. He had noticed that he was being watched, and when the authorities came, Chris was sure that the ambulance would take him directly to Air Force One for his brave efforts. The walker was not unknown to Chris. He was a neighbor, and Chris assaulted the gentleman through the front door of his home and as he lay under Chris. Chris had not even closed the door to his own home. Chris was charged with malicious wounding as well as breaking and entering. “I was a pawn on a chessboard that had never-ending pieces.” The victims and witnesses vouched for Chris’s temporary psychosis, and his lawyer encouraged him to get evaluated and diagnosed again. The lawyer said to him, “You have
been trying to take medication for something that you have that you didn’t know could lead down this road. For three years, you tried to get help voluntarily.” Chris was sent to Central State Hospital, where he took part in a graduated release program that taught him how he could take control of aspects of his diagnosis with nutrition, exercise, and therapy. Restoring some authority to his own life allowed Chris to gain valuable skills when working with others that may or may not be diagnosed. He graduated from the program at 29 years old.
“Chris has become a friend, and I’ve loved hearing his story. I could go on for a long time talking about the respect and love for him as I’ve watched him do phenomenal things around the Winchester Rescue Mission.” Brandan Thomas
Moving back in with his mother and stepfather, who had moved to New York, Chris developed depression around the season’s change. “This time, we had a better battle plan, but I struggled to be honest with them,” Chris said. Shame hindered being truthful. “This life trajectory is not chosen.” He yearned to find a new triumphant moment in his life to build upon. Finally, Chris finds work again and moves back to Virginia.
A year passes before his car breaks down, and Chris is downtrodden with financial stress. The stress increases his depression. He is in a parking lot when he gets his next mission. A woman leaves her car running and runs into the store. Chris knows what he needs to do. He walks over as the woman returns to tell her that he needs her help in his mission. However, what he really needs is
her car. He gets in, finds a full tank of gas, and confirms that he is on the right path to complete his mission. “This is the moment,” he is told. Chris is met by Law Enforcement while driving near Baltimore, Maryland, and a chase ensues. Soon the chase comes to an end. “I thought I had been shot,” Chris recalls. Instead, he had crashed the vehicle at 80 miles an hour. Shattered glass and crumpled metal had made Chris feel as if he had been shot. Those same officers that had been chasing Chris were now checking on him. “They were checking on me more than I could check on me.” He was charged with grand larceny of a vehicle and resisting arrest and spent two years in jail before his case was heard. He is sentenced to five years. A judge leaves an impact on Chris when he says, “This is what happens when you don’t take care of yourself.” He spends his remaining three years in prison before being released back into the care of his parents in New York. He must continue taking his medication and therapy with professional mental health staff. The COVID pandemic hits and shutdowns around the state leave Chris without a way to obtain his medication. He was caught in a glitch. His records had not reached the state of New York to assign case management. Doctors had left their offices, and voicemails were not returned. Chris could not adhere to his probation and was sent back to a jail in Virginia for a probation violation. Finally, he was able to receive medication again. Brandan Thomas is contacted to see if the Winchester Rescue Mission can help. Brandan was unsure that the Winchester Rescue Mission had the staff or capabilities to accommodate Chris based on his court records. However, Chris’s attorney convinced Brandan to meet with Chris. “I knew within two sentences that he would
be a good fit,” Brandan said. “It has been one of the Winchester Rescue Mission’s best decisions.” Chris has been certified as a Peer Support Specialist. He utilizes these skills every day, working the desk at the Mission. For example, Chris was recently able to diffuse, deescalate, and disarm someone who had pulled a knife on another resident. Chris used the skills that he had learned with David Austin Rowe, who was charged with the second-degree murder of Dianna Lynne Swaner, his grandmother. Chris often deescalated Austin while he was at the Mission. Chris was also able to diffuse a former resident who had returned to the mission with unreasonable demands.
“I am proud of what you are doing. The Winchester Rescue Mission is a better place because you are here.” Brandan Thomas says to Chris. “I am so happy with where I am at. If there is a place for me, I feel that it is here.” Chris responds. Chris continues working on his peer recovery skills as he looks to improve the ride that many face when dealing with mental illnesses. The Winchester Rescue Mission also looks to help tackle struggles with mental illness, especially in the wake of the pandemic, with their new facilities on Valley Avenue, where they can provide for more residents with a massive spike in mental health needs. Roughly 90 percent of current shelter residents have reported a diagnosed mental illness. That percentage doubled in post-pandemic society.
State psychiatric facilities were not able to fulfill the needs as they previously had and that trickles down to local hospital systems and shelters. The Winchester Rescue Mission will expand their capabilites, not only for bed space, but bolstered outreach services for job services and health care. Currently, the Winchester Rescue Mission partners with the Aids Response Effort (ARE), Northern Shenandoah Substance Abuse Coalition, Northwestern Community Services, and the Sinclair Health Clinic to improve overall health for residents in shelter. A partnership with the Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area provides literacy skills to help refine job ready skills to improve within or re-enter the workforce. For more information on programs and services and/or how you can donate or volunteer, please visit winrescue.org Above: Richard was able to purchase his own home after help from the Winchester Rescuer Mission. Below: Linda Fletcher, Account Executive at iHeartMedia, makes a donation.
Impacting the Community
United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley (NSV) reaffirmed its commitment to lift families and individuals to financial stability and create a healthier community when its board of directors approved funding recommendations made by community volunteers for the 2022-2023 Community Impact Grant Program. Through the Impact Grant Program, United Way will invest $540,000 in Impact Grants in thirty-six education, financial stability and health programs throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley (covering Winchester City, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah and Page Counties). This amount totals $35,000 more than what was distributed to agencies last year, and is nearly a $100,000 increase over what was distributed to nonprofits in 2020.
“Our team is incredibly proud to be giving out more than half-a-million dollars in local funding.” said Kaycee Childress,
President and CEO of United Way NSV. “So many of these grants offer a new, and innovative way to address local problems and tackle issues we have been seeking to address, things like increased youth mental health services and the expansion of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to name a few. We look forward to measuring the direct impact these grant dollars will produce over the years to come and the lives we will impact through these life-changing funds.”
^ Pictured Left to right, back row to front is as follows: Beth Falu, Navy Federal Credit Union, Amy Slaughter, Harrison and Johnston, Seth Thatcher, Frederick County Government, Janet Michael, The River 95.3, Kaycee Childress, United Way NSV, Dr. Damon Dearment, Shenandoah Valley Orthodontics, Dr. Yolanda Barbier Gibson, Shenandoah University, and Dr. Kim Blosser, Laurel Ridge Community College.
Twenty-seven agencies based in Winchester City, Frederick and Clarke Counties will receive $379,050 in grant funding, while nine agencies based in the Shenandoah and Page Counties will receive $160,950.
distributed separately from the grant program.
In addition, United Way NSV will distribute $147,475 in donor designated funds to various agencies across the service area. Agency designations are
Funding for the Impact Grant program is specifically earmarked by donors, and is only a portion of the total money raised and given out by United Way NSV.
Are You Loyal?
Community receives Free Admission to Royals Games thanks to Local sponsors
The support of local sponsors will provide a wonderful opportunity for the community to experience the Winchester Royals first hand without charge this full season. Playing in their 43 season with the Valley Baseball League, teams play under NCAA rules with the use of wooden bats to transition players from college to professional ranks. All single games begin at 7:00 p.m. with double header games beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 12th and 4:00 p.m. on July 3rd. Find out more at winchesterroyals.org Thank you to the following game sponsors: Navy Federal, Lakin-Warren/ Truist, HP Hood Dairy, FCALL, Glory Days Grill, Compass West Realty, Jordan Springs Farm Market, Laura White, BAE Systems, Westminster-Canterbury, White House Foods, American Woodmark, F&M Bank, and Dr. Pepper.
Brain Injury Services (BIS) is a nonprofit leader in developing community-based services for children, adults, and veterans who have experienced a brain injury. BIS has served residents of Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and the surrounding counties since 1989. The BIS mission is clear: to empower the children, adults, veterans, and families who have been impacted by brain injury. BIS envisions a community where every person touched by brain injury pursues their vision of a fulfilling life. Brain Injury Services is supported by individual donors, corporate partners, private foundations, and the general funds administered by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. No two people are alike and no two brain injuries are alike. BIS’ primary role in designing a recovery plan is to help determine the needs and priorities of brain injury survivors by offering a personalized approach that helps clients make informed choices to achieve their goals. Giving the client and their family a role in the process improves their chances of rebuilding their new life. BIS is there to support its clients on many levels as they conquer fears, discover new skills, prepare for social situations, and overcome physical challenges while making new friends. 95% of clients say Brain Injury Services has improved their lives 87% of clients achieved their recovery goals 96% of the BIS budget goes directly to programs Please visit: braininjurysvcs.org
Member Spotlight:
Brain Injury Services
Now Available Call 540-662-4118
Fun with Membership
A Well-Deserved Recognition from Delegate Wendy Gooditis
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Delegate Wendy Gooditis visited the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Business After Hours at Shaffer’s BBQ & Market in Middletown, Virginia on May 12, 2022 to recognize a few members and the chamber for contributions to the region. 1. Richard Petro (Left with red hat), Commander of Winchester VFW Post 2123, and Pat Templeton (Center), Youth Programs Chair of Winchester VFW Post 2123, accept a commendation for their 90 years of service in our community to the men and women who have served our nation. 2. Rachel Rivera (Left), Director of Women’s Services and Brandan Thomas (Center), Executive Director at the Winchester Rescue Mission, are commended for 50 years of protection and services provided to those experiencing homelessness. 3. Kim Herbstritt, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity, accepts a commendation celebrating 25 years of building our community. 4. John Elrick, President of the Rotary Club of Winchester, shakes hands with Delegate Gooditis after she recognized their 100 year anniversary. 5. TVRC CEO Cynthia Schneider accepts a commendation in honor of Chamber members who have kept us strong for 105 years. 6. Cynthia Schneider and Delegate Gooditis share a hug before recognizing our members for their accomplishments.
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