C
Better Together It takes dedication, vision and action to build upon success. Bedford and Lynchburg: two neighboring communities that have come together—to be better together—to care for the health of our friends and family. Bedford Memorial Hospital has become a part of Centra’s nationally recognized regional healthcare system. Bedford Memorial will thrive through the connection with Centra as specialty services expand, technology advances, and access to physicians increases. Together, we will help lead the way to better health, the fight against cancer, and the expert tactics to overcome conditions of the heart, brain and spine.
1613 Oakwood Street, Bedford 540.586.2441
We see the dedication that you have for your community. We see the investment of time, money and talents. We are proud to call Bedford and Lynchburg our home. As partners, we are better together.
Left: D-Day Memorial, Bedford Right: Monument Terrace, Lynchburg
CentraHealth.com
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CentraHealth
Personalized Corporate Gifts Large Arched Jar & Salt Water Taffy Here’s a gift that’s worth its salt! Made out of glass, this large arched jar features a round design and comes filled to the brim with salt water taffy. Contents are held secure with a natural wood lid. Makes a great gift during holidays and special occasions. This thoughtful and reusable treat can be appreciated by customers and coworkers alike. Recipients will hardly be able to “contain” themselves!
Bluetooth Item Finder Lipstick Style Power Bank Keep your cell phone, iPod, MP3 player—and other devices that charge via USB—powered up at all times with the Lipstick Style Power Bank Charger. It’s easy to use - simply charge the backup battery charger using the included Micro-USB cable, and then connect your device via the USB 2.0 port for an extra boost. The backup battery charger is available in several vibrant, fun colors and will keep your device working at optimum performance levels at all times.
Bamboo Desktop Organizer Tidy up any cluttered workspace in natural style with this bamboo desktop organizer. This beautiful office accessory is constructed entirely of bamboo wood and offers six compartments and two drawers of versatile storage for paperwork, office supplies, stationery and much more.
Contour Tumbler
Auto Emergency Tool A handy product to have in the case of an emergency, this multi-function auto emergency tool comes with a flash light and tire gauge. A great giveaway item for safety promotions and auto shops, customize this black and silver emergency tool with a tone on tone imprint of your company name or logo for maximum brand awareness. Make sure your clients are in good hands!
Are you that person who is always misplacing keys or your cell phone? Well stop all that frustrating searching with our new Bluetooth item finder. Just download the app on your phone and never worry about losing your items again! Simply attach Chipolo onto your keys, wallet, bag or pet and with the press of a button on your Smartphone, the Chipolo tag will ring and directions will display on your phone. If you happen to loose track of your phone, shake the Chipolo and your phone will vibrate or ring to reveal its location. The Chipolo has a range of up to 200 feet and is compatible with both iPhone and Android. Each comes packed in a white box with a clear top and split ring.
Deluxe Nut Trio Gourmet nut trio- over one pound of our premium nuts. For the nut lover, one of our premium nuts presented in our wooden tray. Entirely all natural of course! Includes all natural Brazilian jumbo cashews (the largest and most flavorful you’ve ever had), all natural California colossal pistachio nuts, and all natural California jumbo almonds.
Double the impact with this snazzy Tumbler! This 16 oz. mug features double wall insulation, stainless steel liner, and slide lock lid. Comes in a one piece eco-friendly gift box. Item may be customized with an imprint of company’s name or logo. Hand out at your next convention or tradeshow! FDA approved. Ideal for those that are always onthe-go! Available in 3 different colors.
For more information and prices call 757-422-8979 Ext 105, email us at promos@vgnet.com or find us on the web at www.vistaspecialties.espwebsite.com
Inside
c o n t e n t s
38
y the Numbers 8 BFreedom 4/24 and
global human trafFicking
u s i n e s s Un d e r 1 0 9 B1311 CAPITAL B u s i n e s s O v e r 10 12 LANCASTER GALLERIES
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17
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E d u c a t i on
aec
Go i n g g r e e n
Thriveworks: “You Can Thrive. We Can Help.”
Nydree Flooring: Local Flooring Company Reaching Stadium-Size Clientele
Bold Branch Beef: “We raise beef the way it was meant to be raised”
human resources 22 Celebrating Human Resources
in Central Virginia
ealth c are 23 hWeaving Wellness into Workplace Culture
le ade r o f th e month 25 Teresa C. Sheppard
Personal Lines Account Manager/ Campbell Insurance
28 In t h e n e w s
29 m o v e r s & s h a k e r s f inancial 31 W hat's Smarter—Paying Off
Debts or Investing?
egal 36 lSafe Rental Housing is
32
38
41
non p r o f i t
R e ta i l
R e a l e s tat e
Freedom 4/24: Lynchburg Organization Missions to Let Freedom Ring Across the World
Auburnlea Farms Corner Market Coming to Cornerstone
What Did You Expect? Setting Expectations When Putting Your House on the Market
42
45
t e c h no l o g y
To u r i s m & Transportion
Sweet Briar’s online “GroceWe” service takes off
"Why We Started OurLynchburg"
Everyone’s Right
arketing & sales 40 m How to Write a Blog Post That
Actually Gets Read
On the Cover: Jon and Bernadette Philips, Owners of Lancaster Galleries. Photo by Paul Brunett.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
LynchburgBusinessMag.com
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Inside
E D I T O R ' S
l etter
As we enter into a season of fall, food and thanksgiving, reflection often ensues. From what we are thankful for to what we love about the place we call home (That vibrant foliage! Those stunning mountains! That crisp but not-too-chilly autumn air!). For business owners and leaders, this same can carry us all well into the end of the year. And around here this year, there is much to be grateful for. Take, for instance, the bounty of fresh, locally-sourced goodness coming to Cornerstone in Lynchburg in the form of Auburnlea Farms Corner Market. For those in search of organically-grown produce and grass-fed meats from nearby farms, this market, set to open in November, hopes to be a one-stop shop. Read how they are taking their “nothing unnecessary added” ingredients manifesto to a higher level, in the Retail section.
Lynchburg Business Magazine is a bimonthly publication devoted to highlighting Lynchburg-based businesses and those in the surrounding areas of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell Counties, as well as the Town of Altavista. Every other month, 10,000 copies of Lynchburg Business Magazine are distributed by mail to local businesses, executives and individual business decision-makers. The goal of Lynchburg Business is for readers to look to the magazine as a resource worth keeping in their businesses and homes; one that appeals strongly to professionals in our area.
Publisher Randy Thompson Managing Editor Johanna Calfee Contributing Writers Jeff Boyer, Johanna Calfee, Andrea Cheshire, Heather J. Cravens, James Ebrahim, Emily Hedrick, Morgan McCarty, Colleen McLaughlin, Drew Menard, Marcelo Quarantotto, Jennifer Redmond, Melissa Skinner, Rachael Smith, Hilary Sutton, Dan Vollmer Vice President of Sales & Distribution Paul Brannock Sales Director Cheryl Blevins Account Executive Missy Celli Vice President of Production Holly Watters Art Director Chris Meligonis Client Relations Manager Stacy Graef Web Developer Kristi Cogdill
Stock market know-how and a drive to give back are two hallmarks of 1311 Capital, a local investment firm still in its early years but with a growing portfolio and mission beyond its age. Why owner Chris Devlin has decided to give away everything he earns on the job and where that money is going, in our Business Under 10 section. Halfway around the world in Uganda, an attitude of joy and healing is overflowing at Christine’s House, a safe house for women and girls who have been sexually abused and exploited. How a local nonprofit made their hope for a bright future possible, and how their mission helps other women around the world to find freedom from the sex industry, beginning on Page 32. In this season of refreshing temperatures and refreshed perspective, no matter what chapter you are in with life and career, remember to stop and give thanks. As the above businesses, and the many others featured in the pages ahead can attest, an attitude of gratitude can truly change everything.
Johanna Calfee, Managing Editor Johanna@lynchburgmag.com
Web Marketing & Promotions Manager My Nguyen Staff Photographer Paul Brunett VistaGraphics Staff Copy Editor Robin Cather Controller Anita Burns Contributing imagery supplied by Thinkstock.com
www.LynchburgBusinessMag.com
subscriptions Receive Lynchburg Business at work or at home by subscribing today for $9.97 annually. Receive 6 bi-monthly issues: Feb/Mar, Apr/May, June/July, Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov and Dec/Jan. To subscribe, go online to www.LynchburgBusinessMag.com or please send your check payable to VistaGraphics, Inc, 1264 Perimeter Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454, Attn: Circulation Mgr. Please be sure to include your mailing information: name, address, city, state, zip code, and phone number. For changes of address, please email George Carter, Circulation Manager: george@vgnet.com Lynchburg Business is published bimonthly by VistaGraphics, Inc. The corporate office is located at 1264 Perimeter Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. © 2014 - all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material prepared by VistaGraphics, Inc., and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited without express written consent of the publisher. Publisher does not purport to authenticate and is not responsible for claims made by advertisers found within this publication.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014-2015
ADVERTISING DEADLINES Advertising Space Reservation............................October 31 Editorial & Events...................................................October 31 Final Artwork........................................................ November 4 For Advertising Information, please call us at 434.846.2333.
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
Inside
c o n t r i b u t i n g
w r i t e r s
Johanna Calfee
recently with the Illinois Press Association. Drew graduated from Liberty
Johanna Calfee is the Managing Editor of five area publications, including
University in 2009 and was actively involved as an editor and writer for the
Lynchburg Living and Lynchburg Business magazines. Prior to working in
Liberty Champion.
publishin g and advertising, Johanna spent six years in television news at ABC, Fox and NBC affiliates in Roanoke and Lynchburg, where she wore many hats as a producer, reporter, anchor and weather forecaster. Along the way, she earned several awards, including a National Peabody Award and National
@marceloasherQ @marceloasherQ (Marcelo A. Quarantotto, Jr.) is a writer and editor based in Lynchburg, but originally from Highland Mills, N.Y. His most current undertaking
Emmy Award as part of WSLS’ team coverage of the Virginia Tech Shootings.
is as a contributor to actor Rainn Wilson’s side project SoulPancake.com. He
Johanna holds a degree in journalism from Liberty University.
is also a resident writer and board member at Lynchburg-based art community
Heather J. Cravens Heather J. Cravens is the owner of Becoming Designs, an interior design consulting company that specializes in Interior Redesign, Home Staging and
KEEP CLNY, and a contributor at WICKED MAG, a magazine about emerging art and culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Follow him on Twit ter at @ marceloasherQ, and visit him online at marceloasherq.com.
Professional Organizing. She graduated from Liberty University with a degree
Jennifer REDMond
in Family and Consumer Sciences. In addition to serving clients and freelance
Jennifer Redman studied English and Journalism at Liberty University where
writing, Heather also volunteers in the local community, serves in her church
she worked with the award-winning Liberty Champion newspaper for over two
and spends time with her family.
years. During that time, she became Editor-in-Chief and covered many of the
Emily Mook hedrick Emily Mook is a Youth Services Library Assistant at the Lynchburg Public Library. She holds a degree in English from Virginia Tech, where she placed as a finalist for the CLAHS Outstanding Senior Award due to a combination of academic achievement and volunteer service as a tutor for children. Incidentally, she has attended exactly one VT football game. She is passionate about literacy, children's rights and positive communication. Her hobbies include spending time with her fiancé, Bryan, and friends and family, reading and writing many genres, watching movies and singing in Roanoke-based band "Mookie & the Stray Dogs."
Morgan McCarty Morgan McCar t y is a Central Virginia native and a graduate of Liber t y University’s Advertising and Public Relations program. She’s currently working as the Communications Coordinator for Presbyterian Homes & Family Services and the Family Alliance, a nonprofit organization that serves children and families across the state. Morgan is also working toward a marketing-focused M.B.A. and enjoys freelance writing and editing. She resides in Lynchburg with her husband and golden retriever.
Colleen A. McLaughlin Colleen A . McLaughlin, Ph.D., SPHR, currently ser ves as a professor of Human Resource Managemen t at L iber t y Uni ver si t y. She has owned and operated three businesses as well as provided human resource consulting to various organizations. She has been in education for more than 13 years and has held the positions of Interim Administrator and Director of Education. Colleen is a senior certified HR professional and holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major emphasis in Computer Science from Central Texas University, a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Tarleton State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organization and Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management from Capella University. She is currently the President for the Central VA chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management [SHRM] and also manages the School of Business student ambassador program at Liberty University.
political candidates who traveled through Lynchburg. Now an English teacher at Jefferson Forest High School, Jennifer spends most of her time teaching the craft of writing, though she does continue to write for local publications.
MELISSA SKINNER Melissa is a recent graduate of Liberty University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in journalism. As a student, she was actively involved with writing for the marketing department at Liberty, the student run newspaper, The Liberty Champion, as well as freelancing for Lynchburg Business. Melissa will be interning with the National Journalism Center in Washington, DC, this fall.
Rachael Smith Rachael Smith is a freelance writer living in Lynchburg. She graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. While studying there, she wrote for and worked as a section editor for the universit y newspaper, The Tartan. Rachael currently freelances for the News &Advance, as well as Lynchburg Living and Lynchburg Business magazines.
Hilary Sutton Hilary Sutton is a freelance writer, digital media consultant and actor. Her work has been featured in multiple Central Virginia publications. Whether she’s writing a magazine feature, ghostwriting a blog, writing a press release or a biography, Hilary is passionate about telling stories. When not writing, you are likely to find Hilary on a stage. She has performed regionally with Mill Mountain Theatre, Liberty University, Endstation Theatre Company, Wolfbane Productions and Roanoke Children’s Theatre. She and her husband, Juan Carlos Lagares, reside in Lynchburg. For more about Hilary visit HilarySutton.com.
DAN Vollmer Dan Vollmer is an Associate Broker at Re/Max 1st Olympic and has served home buyers and sellers in the Lynchburg region since 2006, earning several designations including the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI) and the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) early in his career. He earned his Broker’s license in 2008, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Lynchburg Association of REALTORS and the
Drew Menard
Lynchburg Rotary Club. Dan holds a degree in Communications from Liberty
Drew Menard has written, edited and designed for a handful of magazines,
University. When not working, Dan and his wife volunteer at their church and
newspapers and online publications. He is an award-winning columnist, most
enjoy time with their three children. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
LynchburgBusinessMag.com
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Inside
BY THE NUMBERS Freedom 4/24 and Global Human Trafficking
161 9 4
Countries affected by human trafficking as either sources, transit centers or destinations. Number of domestic partners Freedom 4/24 supports. Number of international partners Freedom 4/24 supports.
Estimated number of slaves worldwide.
Amount the human trafficking industry brings in a year, with numbers increasing daily.
1.2 million
Number of children sold into slavery every year.
Number of girls currently living at Christine’s House, along with are children and two “house moms.”
30
+
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Number of girls on the waiting list for Christine’s House.
80%
Percentage of trafficked victims who are female.
12
Average age of trafficking victims worldwide.
4
NUMBER OF FREEDOM 4/24 STAFF
1 Full-Time, 3 Part-Time, along with and Countless Volunteers
Number of Run 4 Their Lives races that Freedom 4/24 will host in 2014, with races in 10 states, 7,000 registered runners and more than 1,500 volunteers. 8
it costs to provide healthcare, education, housing, food, living necessities, trauma counseling and spiritual discipleship to one survivor of sexual exploitation at Christine’s House, which was built by Freedom 4/24 and Sports Outreach Institute, in Uganda.
27 million
$32 BILLION
18
$6
AMOUNT PER DAY
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
Age of Christine Gelatt, the founder of Freedom 4/24, when she conceived of the nonprofit as a college student.
19
Read more about Freedom 4/24 and the mission of Christine’s House beginning on Page 32.
business profile
UN D E R
Business t en
y ea r s
1311 Capital Investing for Others to Impact the Needy Worldwide by Drew Menard
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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business profile
C
hris Devlin has a knack for investing. “I don’t know if I am good at it because I love it or if I love it because I am good at it,” he said. “The whole idea of compounding, it made me realize that if [you stick] with it and do it through time and make wise decisions, that you could pursue any dream you want.” But before he founded 1311 Capital—which currently manages more than $5 million in investments—he quickly realized that making money wasn’t the dream. Within an aging house downtown at 1310 Church Street, the operations center of Lighthouse Ministries, Devlin occupies an upstairs bedroom for his company’s headquarters while a new office location is under construction. Sitting at a dark-stained table in his office, adorned with some religious art and tapestries bearing popular company logos, like that of Coca-Cola and Facebook, he recalled the journey that led him to start 1311 Capital. Devlin moved to Lynchburg shortly after graduating from Penn State in 2007 to work as a nuclear engineer for AREVA. He also got his real estate and real estate appraisal license and began buying and selling property locally. As he was analyzing options for building his wealth, he began to weigh the benefits between investing in properties and in stocks. “I immediately just kind of understood that these were businesses; they are companies that are earning money that can be bought and sold and you are going to make a piece of it,” Devlin recalled. While many shied away from the market during the financial crisis, Devlin stormed the gates and soon discovered his gift for investing. In addition to his own, he started investing money for 15 of his friends and started his own LLC, Charis Equity. Devlin managed to accrue about a quarter of a million dollars over a three-year period.
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business profile
Despite the success, Devlin found himself conflicted. He became a Christian during his senior year of college, and although he said he was giving generously and serving others through church, Devlin feared that wealth might change him. “When I was reading through my Bible … I started to feel really convicted that I might [become] the rich young ruler, where all I cared about was money,” he said. Devlin explained that no matter how much he gave away, as long as he had wealth it would be difficult for him to minister to the poor and still feel at peace about his own luxury. It was routine for him to put in a full day at AREVA only to come home and spend another eight hours researching and buying stocks. He said he would often wonder whether or not he would be able to give it all up if Christ showed up one day and asked him to. So rather than wonder, one day Devlin did just that. He gave it all up. In 2010, he quit his job at AREVA, forfeiting a handsome salary, closed the LLC and let his real estate licenses expire and began an M.A. in theology and apologetics from Liberty University. While immersing himself in religious studies, Devlin continued to grapple with how to use his talent and passion for finance while still honoring his personal convictions. “It is kind of a tricky thing,” Devlin said. “If you give away everything you make all the time you can’t compound it, so it doesn’t grow … you need money to make money. … I was torn between the two.” Then, while on a mission trip to India, Devlin had an epiphany. “I had this dream that I could run this investment firm where I charge a management fee—which is pretty standard—where I could and grow other people’s money and give away all of mine,” he explained. “That way it compounds, so every year (I could) give away more and more and it compounds because the fees get bigger each year because the people who you are managing money for, their accounts are growing.” Out of that dream was born 1311 Capital, which Devlin formed in 2012 and began managing accounts for clients in early 2013. Anyone can open an account with 1311, which is named after the biblical reference Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (ESV). “That really is the heart of investing,” Devlin said. “If you want to get rich quick, you are going to fail. If the objective is to gain as much money as you can every month, every quarter, every year, you are going to fail at it. [But], if you have a long-term vision, and you build wealth little by little, you are going to succeed.” Including Devlin, 1311 has three full-time and two part-time employees, managing about 225 accounts. Though the company is still
working toward being profitable, it is exceeding expectations. Currently, 1311 is on pace to surpass its 2014 goal of managing $5.9 million and is projected to eclipse next year’s goal of $11 million. Devlin reads about companies all day through their SCC filings, looking for good investments. “We try to find businesses that have little to no debt,” he explained, “companies that are undervalued that have strong competitive positions and do something important.” His team then builds a “wish list” of companies they would like to invest in and monitor them daily. They then look for a short-term event that causes the stock price to fall temporarily and pounce. “When those events occur and people are fearful, we are buying up,” Devlin said. The company has managed to continuously outperform the market by a healthy margin. “Our goal is to beat the S&P 500 index over three- and five-year period(s),” Devlin said. “We are not going to beat it every year, but we want to perform better over long periods of time.” Devlin plans to use the company’s profits—every last penny of his stake—to go toward improving the lives of others. Though it will be dispersed among local ministries and other causes, his primary vision for 1311’s profits is to build a university overseas for children from third world countries. He explained that child-sponsorship programs help needy children all over the world get through high school. But once they turn 18 there are not a lot of options. Devlin’s dream is to find the brightest of these, the innovators and leaders, send them to a university free of charge, and then help them get support to return to their native lands and put their gifts into action. “[Thriving societies] stem from healthy economies, and healthy economies are built on the backs of talented visionaries,” Devlin said. “That’s why I would like to find them, train them, empower them and see if we can help build God’s kingdom and change the world.” Devlin sees his company not only as a way to fund these sort of endeavors, but also to connect people, namely his clients, to the needs of the world. Though his customers are not obligated to give anything they make from his services, he hopes that his generosity and vision will serve as an inspiration, and that the impact, like the investments, compounds over time. Learn more at www.1311capital.com.
Previous Page, Bottom: Chris Devlin, owner and founder of 1311 Capital, at his office in downtown Lynchburg. Top Right & This Page: Investors at 1311 watch the stock market closely to spring on money-making opportunities for their clients.
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business profile
o v e r
Business t e n
y e a r s
Lancaster Galleries W here q uality spea k s f o r itself
S
By James Ebrahim
prawled across five buildings and more than 33,000 square feet are sofas, recliners, mattresses, lamps and almost every other type of furniture imaginable. Lancaster Galleries on Memorial Avenue has been providing quality furniture to Lynchburg and the surrounding area for more than 50 years. First opening in April 1961, the store is now owned by Jon Philips, grandson of the founder. Though he has been around the shop his whole life, Philips first started full-time at the company in 1985. “I went away to school and got my MBA. I like Lynchburg—it’s home. I wanted to come home, and I caught myself coming home almost every weekend,” Philips said. Jon’s wife, Bernadette, joined the staff in 2001. Bernadette graduated from Liberty University with a degree in accounting.
Samples of wood colors for a side table sit on display inside Lancaster Galleries in Lynchburg.
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“I snagged her two weeks before she had to go back to Florida,” Philips laughed. The couple has now been married for more than 20 years. Since 1961, Lancaster Galleries has been consistently expanding, growing from one building of 6,000 square feet to their current size. “We’ve grown substantially since I took over 14 years ago. We added the back of the main building and a warehouse in the later 60s. Then, about three years ago, I added a major warehouse in the back,” Philips said. The Galleries purchased two more buildings in the 1970s and a third 10 years ago. Remodeling the buildings was a laborious effort that included tearing out office units. The galleries now span both sides of Memorial Avenue. Philips said even in all that expansion, the emphasis at Lancaster Galleries has always been on quality. “First, we look at quality. We always look at price because there are some great brands out there that are just extremely overpriced,” he said. “There’s a fine line when you are trying to find something that is wellbuilt but also priced-well because that’s what the customer wants. He wants the most bang for his buck without overspending.” Philips said he also spends a lot of time finding out which brands perform the best. Because the Galleries service everything they sell, brands that have problems do not last on his watch. Even though the emphasis is on quality, affordability is also a chief consideration. “We have a wide variety of things to choose from and a wide range of pricing. There’s something for everybody,” Bernadette said. “I feel like anyone who comes in can find something that is within their budget and is something that they are really going to like.” Lower-end sofas are kept in a separate building to distinguish them from the high-quality sofas. “Sofas are a lot like cars,” Philips said. “You can get a stripped down Ford Fiesta or you can get a Mercedes. Sofas are the same. A $399 sofa is not going to perform like a $799 sofa.” Philips is careful to go over the differences with each and every customer.
business profile
“People just might want to get a sofa for their kid who is going away to college. They wouldn’t spend $899 on a sofa and I wouldn’t either.” With more than 75 lines of furniture, Lancaster Galleries has a large selection to choose from. Philips looks for the balance between carrying a lot of lines while still being important to each manufacturer carried. “Some store managers feel like the manufacturer needs them more than they need the manufacturer, but I need the manufacturers,” he explained. A warehouse on the premises means that the customer can go home with the product on the same day. “If you want it, I can get it to you today,” Philips said, gesturing around. “This lady just brought a mattress set and we are going to get it to her today. She lives in Amherst and we are going out there to make sure she gets it.” Custom upholstery is the best-selling category at Lancaster Galleries. Because they employ an upholsterer, what you see is not always what you get. The customer can change the color or choose from countless fabrics to build their pieces just the way they want them. Along with the Philips, Lancaster Galleries is run by a small but dedicated staff, which includes Susan Luria, an interior decorator who moved to Lynchburg from New York. “A lot of people don’t know what to do with interior design. They are just dumbfounded by the whole situation,” Philips said. “[Susan] has a New York flair so she is a little bit more bold in her colors than most. She really puts life into a room.” Philips added that Lancaster Galleries is willing to buck trends in the industry to ensure quality goods for their customers. “We have a wide selection of two-sided mattresses. Most of the mattresses in the industry now are no-flips, which is a deep disservice to the customer because you have lost a whole sleeping surface,” he said. “We’ve decided to sell against it.” However it expands and grows in future years, Philips said Lancaster Galleries will still strive to sell the best furniture in the area, and let the quality speak for itself. Learn more about Lancaster Galleries at www.lancastergalleries.net.
Top: Jon and Bernadette Philips carry on the family business and its legacy at Lancaster Galleries, which has been in business for more than 50 years. Inset: From Broyhill fabric swatches to chairs, sofas, tables and much more, there's not much furniture shoppers won't find in Lancaster's 33,000 square feet of offerings.
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Education
Thriveworks
®
F
“You Can Thrive. We Can Help.” by Heather J. Cravens
or many who contact a professional counselor to make important life-changing decisions, the experience can be less than personal, overwrought with fear, anxiety and uncomfortable surroundings. One group of professional counselors is trying to turn the tide on that experience locally through Thriveworks, a practice in Forest, dedicated to creating a better experience with a focus, care and commitment to using proven methods that help their clients succeed. When Thriveworks Founder and CEO, Dr. Anthony Centore, was first starting the practice, he called a variety of counseling offices in various regions for networking and professional advice. In turn, what he received were more than 40 voice messages instead of the personal care and attention that a counseling office should be known for offering. That impersonal experience led him to strive for more attention to detail as he opened his first practice in 2008, ThriveBoston, in Massachusetts. “Those voicemails led to the creation of Thrive,” Michael Reffner, Director of Clinic Operations, who oversees the corporate offices, said. Reffner said there are many factors that differentiate Thriveworks from other counseling practices. Notably, one of the primary differences he described is that when a client calls to schedule their first appointment, they will speak to an actual person, not an answering machine. Then a counseling session will be scheduled as soon as possible, often within 24 hours. For the practice in Forest, located at 1059 Vista Park Drive, Suite B, and the one coming to 1000 Jefferson Street in downtown Lynchburg in November 2015, this means almost immediate attention and face-toface interaction with a licensed, local counselor. In addition, Thriveworks offers live support 24 hours per day, as well as online counseling, which is tailor fit to a client’s schedule and lifestyle. Clients also have direct access to their clinician, by both telephone and email, adding to the personal framework that Thriveworks is based upon. Thriveworks’ website states, “Counseling helps millions of people, even successful people, live more productive, happier lives. In other words, everyone (even people who already are very successful) can benefit from a counselor or coach, not only those who are suffering.” With this in mind, Reffner said it is quite common for them to see myriads of clients ranging in age and stage of life. The substance of their practice is not limited, and reaches to individuals, couples and children, needing therapy, psychological testing, ADHD intelligence, head trauma, as well as brain injury. Their counselors are a wide variety of people who are leaders in their fields with varying expertise, according to Reffner, and they offer a full continuum of care for those who want or need that.
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Thriveworks is currently on all major medical plans, but one of their goals as a company is to get all of their therapists on all insurance panels to help with the affordability of their services. Reffner said they do their best to find a rate that people can afford by using a sliding scale to help determine fees, which helps to offer an affordable range to all people. “We really try to find a rate that works for them and is manageable,” Reffner said. In addition, they also offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). An EAP is an employer-sponsored service that is provided by many larger companies to its employees. It is designed to help employees and their families get help for personal or family problems, so that they can effectively continue their job while working through issues such as mental health, substance abuse, various addictions, marital problems, parenting problems, emotional problems or financial and/or legal concerns. “We would love to be able to connect with more people through EAP and let them know we have that benefit,” Reffner said. “It’s a neat benefit that costs nothing to the employee, with no co-pay or deductible.” There are many pre-conceived ideas about counseling and therapy offices, one of which is that it is only for people with a major problem. Reffner said that Thriveworks, however, uses every opportunity to meet
Education
each individual’s personal needs. For some, that just means a tune-up or coaching them through their professional development. Coaches will help with communication strategies, career counseling and evaluate how they’re managing and coping with various things as an individual and employee. Reffner said that often what people need is “somebody who is just listening—who actively listens on a regular basis.” In addition, therapy offices tend to be thought of as sterile, white walls with old and outdated furniture. Thriveworks has made it their goal to introduce their clients to a comfortable environment where they can sit down, enjoy free refreshments and “start the healing journey,” Reffner explained. “We are the Starbucks of counseling,” Reffner said. “We look the same regardless of the location. The model is one people really love.” Since Thriveworks has offices located in Virginia, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and more are being added each month, the idea is that whether a client is in their Forest location or in another state altogether, they want their experience to remain the same. “What keeps them coming back is the progress of personal goals and the atmosphere that they already know and are comfortable with,” Reffner said. “The Region 2000 area has been a great place to start a business.” Since Thriveworks also has franchise offices, there are certain principles that have to be maintained and certain furniture choices that must remain consistent so that they can maintain the culture and brand recognition they strive towards. Within their first year of offering franchise opportunities, Reffner said they exceeded their goal by opening nine franchise locations. Thriveworks is not the country’s first franchise counseling company, but it is one of the fastest growing, Reffner said. Franchise owners are not only buying into the Thriveworks brand, but also into their resources, as well as their scheduling and billing services. Reffner added that they have also worked really hard on brand recognition by providing a strong presence on the internet, which is how the majority of their clients find them. As their website states, “Even though our reach continues to grow, our intentions remain the same as the day we started: To offer growthcentered care that helps individuals, couples and families thrive.” “We love to network with people,” Reffner said. “We would love to see more referrals.” For more information, visit www.thriveworks.com.
Well-designed, comfortable spaces are created at Thriveworks to help put clients at ease.
The Future of Education Career Readiness Lynchburg City Schools has added Criminal Justice to its expanding Career Tech course offerings. See our complete course list online.
www.lcsedu.net/NEXT
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Heritage Baptist Church
Piedmont Fleet Services
Select Bank
Building It Right – Repeatedly. coleman-adams.com | 434-525-4700 Class A Contr. Lic. #541
Architecture, engineering & Construction
h
nk
– Nydree Flooring
Local Flooring Company Reaching Stadium-Size Clientele by Jennifer Redmond
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Architecture, engineering & Construction
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Nydree Flooring was used in the Opera House (Page 17) inside the Toronto Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, which also incorporated the flooring extensively throughout the centre's concourse and stairs, shown above.
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he English art critic, John Ruskin, once said, “We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing [of] their practical duty well; then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it.” Thus a good building requires both function and beauty. And Nydree Flooring, based in Forest, Virginia, capitalizes on the marriage of these two qualities. “Manufacturing acrylic-infused engineered wood flooring is what Nydree does best,” Jason Brubaker, vice president of sales and marketing, said. This process of acrylic-infusion guarantees that their flooring is “300 percent more dent-resistant than standard wood flooring,” Brubaker explained, so the beauty of their product is well-preserved for years to come. “We’ve grown 20 to 30 percent each year over the past three years by using the best materials we can find to create a desirable, design-driven product offering,” Brubaker added, who attributes the company’s consistent growth to their aggressive focus on innovation and sales. “We try to think like a start-up.” Current high-profile projects speak to the quality of Nydree’s work, and their ability to create practical, durable flooring that still looks beautiful. Nydree flooring can be found in the American flag exhibit of the Smithsonian Museum where the flag from Fort McHenry—inspiration for “The Star-Spangled Banner”—is displayed. The Four Seasons Centre is another unique project that used wood for everything from seating to handrails to flooring and more; it occupies a full city block in Toronto and features Nydree products as well. Most recently, Nydree has contributed to the flooring used in Levi’s Stadium of San Francisco. The company supplied 45,000 square feet of wood flooring, which has been placed in the Hall of Fame and Club Level. “It’s an honor for us to be a part of such a large project [when] the result means millions of people will be walking across our flooring,” Brubaker said. High levels of attention also bring increased scrutiny, and providing the flooring as requested was an involved and lengthy process, one that began in
Architecture, engineering & Construction
2012 and is only now nearing completion. The design team working on Levi’s Stadium asked that knots in the wood planks be limited in number and size; Brubaker explained that this led to challenges in sourcing and treating the wood, but Nydree worked closely with their vendors to deliver their product as requested. Not only did Nydree supply specialized flooring in respect to aesthetics, they used reclaimed oak for 20 percent of the project, adding to the sustainability of the stadium as a whole. Nydree is committed to sustainability, improving several aspects of their production process to become certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and FloorScore. “We’ve seen an increasing market demand for green products, but we also know it’s the right way to make products for our employees’ and consumers’ health,” Brubaker said. Additional projects include opting for third-party certification of the ingredients used in manufacturing Nydree flooring products. A Health Product Declaration was published by the company for consumers of their flooring in 2013; its goal is to promote “safety and toxicity transparency,” according to the Nydree website. These steps towards greater sustainability have strengthened Nydree’s offerings to private consumers as well. Last year, Nydree launched their Korus brand to be used in residential homes. “The acrylic-infusion process lends itself to high-traffic application like shopping malls, airports, retail stores, etc.,” Brubaker said. “But, we have brought that same level of durability to residential homes [as well].” Though Nydree flooring may cost a bit more per square feet, Brubaker added, “Consumers are getting a very highly sustainable and durable product for just a couple dollars more than standard product.” Nydree’s innovative roots go all the way back to the mid-1960s, when two competing companies were started with help from federal funding. They focused on consumer wood products that ran the gamut from knife handles to toys. By 2003, Jason’s father, Barry Brubaker, had purchased Gammapar and its main competitor, Permagrain, merging them to form Nydree. “As we grow we haven’t lost our personal touch,” Brubaker said, explaining that his father named the company he founded after a farm near his hometown. “Being in the flooring business provides us the opportunity to provide jobs and American-made craftsmanship to a product that is welcomed into the most intimate spaces: people’s homes,” Brubaker explained.
Today, the company is committed to growing a global presence and expanding more into the residential market. They represent the philosophy of many local companies who appreciate the offerings of this region while still taking advantage of an international marketplace. For more information on Nydree Flooring, visit www.nydreeflooring.com.
Top: The United Club on the Main Concourse Bottom: Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. Hall of Fame inside the 49ers Museum presented by Sony. Photos courtesy of 49ers.com
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Going Green
Bold Branch Beef “ W e r aise beef the way it was mea n t t o be r aised ” by Rachael Smith | Photos by Foster & Asher
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here are a few unusual things about Breck Light and his chosen profession. For starters, his age. According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the average age of a Virginia farmer was 59 ½ years old in 2012. Light, owner and founder of Evington-based Bold Branch Beef is 24. After graduating with a degree from University of South Carolina in Investment Finance in 2012, Light came back to his hometown of Lynchburg to get his Masters of Business Administration from Lynchburg College (LC). His plan was to follow in his father’s footsteps as a financial advisor. It was his time there, however, while working on a school project that he realized that he could use his degree to do something he really loved: sustainable farming while serving his community. “I realized you don’t have to have a stuffy job, you can go out and be a farmer all day,” Light said. “LC taught me that I could do something I enjoy and loved while turning it into a business.” Bold Branch Beef is located on farmland that’s been in the Light family since the 1880s. The 500-acre farm is in Campbell County, just 15 minutes from downtown Lynchburg. The name originates from the creek that runs through the property. “We’re blessed to raise beef in a traditional manner on such an historic farm,” Light said. Up until the 1920s, the farm had livestock, berries and crops that the family would sell in the community. Light said he always had a desire to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps and farming the land. “There is romanticism in farming,” he said of working seven days a week and often 12 hours a day. “It’s a tough life so you have to be attracted to the land because it’s hard.”
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Going Green
Breck Light interacts with his herd at his farm in Campbell County.
BBB was established as a grass-fed farm in May 2013. Grass-fed and finished beef means that the animals only eat grass for their entire lives. “This helps create a leaner, healthier piece of meat, one that we think tastes better,” Light said. “Our beef is never fed grain, given antibiotics, or administered growth hormones. In nature, cows are designed to be herbivores that turn a low source of nutrition, namely grasses, into protein that has high nutritional value. By giving cows large amounts of grain, we disrupt and undermine an animal husbandry process that stretches back to the dawn of time.” Light is prideful of his business’ goal to provide healthy, local, nutritious beef that is raised in a humane and environmentally sustainable way. “This outward focus means that we have an open-door policy as well as do events aimed at educating people about the food system and their food options,” he said. “By doing this we’re able to promise the customer that the beef is raised to a certain set of specific and exacting standards, all of which help ensure the beef is healthy, all-natural and devoid of things like grain, antibiotics, GMO’s (genetically modified organism) or antibiotics. It’s advantageous to the food consumer to have healthy, natural, local food choices.” Though he now acts as an educator within the local food community, Light said it was his own education at Lynchburg College that truly set the stage for his business. “It’s crucial [to have the MBA],” he said. “To be able to apply some of that business education has been instrumental to the success and the growth of Bold Branch Beef.” Bold Branch Beef is sold at the Forest Farmers’ Market, area health food stores, restaurants and home/work deliveries. Light sells in small quantities, by the pound, in order to make it convenient for all types of people to eat healthier beef. “The goal of these—especially the home delivery—is to make it as convenient as possible for folks to get our beef,” he said. “Many families struggle to find ways to get nutritious, local foods for their children. When people are happy with a product, they tell their friends. People do the work for us because they love what it stands for as well as the taste.” Light hopes to continue expanding his herd and customer base but isn’t planning on growing too fast. “One of the biggest dangers to growing a business … along the way you get away from the ideals you started with,” he said. “That is
why we are growing slowly and responsibly all the while focusing on maintaining the local family farm values. That was the motivation for starting the farm business in the first place.” Among those values is acting humanely. Light believes it’s very important that he raise and treat his herd with compassion and respect. “Sometimes [the slaughtering] does make me sad because you really do get attached to these animals,” he said. “You see them every day of their life. There is a lot of responsibility on my part to raise them right, to treat them well.” The farm even has its own mascot—a pet cow named Simon whose mother abandoned him. This past October, Light brought the cow into the basement to warm him up for three nights during the frost. He later moved Simon to the barn and adopted him as a pet. After a year in business and creating a client base, Light has learned that people in the community want to see others do well and support their neighbors. “Business is more than just about money, it’s about fulfillment,” Light said. “I wanted to do something that was significant. There’s a feeling of completeness when you’re doing something you love and you’re passionate about and pays homage to the people who went before you and did it.” For more information about Bold Branch Beef, their practices and where to buy, visit www.BoldBranchBeef.com.
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Human Resources
Celebrating Human Resources in Central Virginia
by Dr. Colleen McLaughlin, SPHR, Associate Professor of Business, Liberty University
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ypically considered only a cost-center of the organization, Human Resource professionals are not often the first to be recognized, rewarded or celebrated for their contributions within companies today. Yet, without their valuable contribution to your employees and the organization, the sustainability of your company would not be the same. Human Resource (HR) management has come a long way over the last couple of decades. Previously known as “personnel management,” the function primarily consisted of administrative tasks. Some would say the personnel department in their organization was best known for party planning, paper pushing and handing out pink-slips. This lessthan-professional view of the activities of these dedicated employees did not aid in the contribution of ideas and strategic initiatives of these individuals being effectively embraced by the executive team. Historically, the administrative tasks in the personnel department frequently did not receive the attention deserved and were not considered to be directly linked to the strategic goals and plans of the organization. Certainly times have changed in most organizations today. Not only do we now refer to this necessary function of every organization as “human resource management,” but a successful organization now recognizes the impact the HR activities have not only on its bottom line but also on the long-term sustainability of the organization.
The Value of HR Today, organizations around the Lynchburg regional area are able to reap the benefits of highly qualified, dedicated HR professionals. These individuals are not only committed to excellence but consistently add value to the organization as well as to the organization’s most valuable resource—the people the organization employs. Day in and day out, HR professionals juggle a myriad responsibilities that span a wide range of activities within your organization. Some of these activities may include developing and implementing strategic initiatives to attract and retain top talent, providing individual employee career counseling, personnel and talent development, performance management, as well as tracking and measuring the impact of its activities on the organization’s bottom line. According to the Department of Labor (DOL), these individuals are ultimately the link between the organization’s leadership and its employees. These high-performing professionals have the ability to think critically and are able to perform either reactively or proactively dependent upon the situation. Effective HR professionals may have to respond reactively in a crisis situation, yet at other times perform proactively by accurately forecasting and meeting the emerging needs of the organization.
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HR professionals not only add value to the organization and its employees, they are also cognizant of the needs of the community by consistently and intentionally connecting with and serving those in the Lynchburg region. Last, but certainly not least, the HR professionals in your organization have the ability to accurately apply the numerous state and federal employment laws and regulations so as to maintain organizational compliance thereby reducing liability. This is not a small task with the frequent amendments, new regulations and laws put into place each year. The continued viability of your organization rests in the skilled and competent hands of your HR professionals.
Retaining Your HR Professionals The DOL has forecasted a 13 percent increased need over the next several years for HR managers. This means organizations in the Central Virginia region will need to ensure they are committed to retaining their HR professionals so as to not lose them to the competition. Recognizing the valuable contribution these remarkable employees provide is a start to this retention effort. Additionally, it will be important to ensure you are including your organization’s HR professionals as part of the decision-making efforts of your organization as all strategic goals established by the organization impact the HR function and vice versa. Effective communication will be a key to the successful development and implementation of HR initiatives that will aid in the sustainability and competitive advantage of your organization.
Let’s Celebrate HR Central Virginia’s professional organization dedicated to serving and supporting the HR profession is the Lynchburg Regional Society for Human Resource Management (LR SHRM) chapter (formerly SHRM of Central VA). On October 22, the LR SHRM chapter is hosting an event celebrating HR professionals in Central Virginia. If you are a local HR professional, plan on joining the LR SHRM chapter at City View on the James in downtown Lynchburg from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the HR profession in Central Virginia. RSVP to the LR SHRM secretary at Caitlin.King@occva.com by October 16. Support your HR professionals by acknowledging the value they add to your organization and take the time to identify how you can further integrate your HR professionals into the strategic endeavors of your organization. Take a moment today and thank the employees who have the responsibility for managing the HR activities in your organization for their impact in the lives of your employees and service to your company.
Weaving Wellness
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into Workplace
Healthcare
C ul ture
By Andrea Cheshire, Centra Panoramic Director
ability to set smaller, short-term goals that will get you there. The key is eamwork, responsibility, excellence, loyalty, service and pride: These setting up short-term goals along the way to build excitement and enthusiasm meaningful words are hallmarks of nearly every mission statement. towards achieving a healthier workforce. A team walking challenge, wellness They reflect an organization’s values, priorities and commitments. Cuttingcoaching and creating a wellness committee are simple examples and pace an edge industries across the country are now weaving a new platform into organization towards its end goal of better employee health. their mission—healthier, happier employees. With obesity and chronic illness skyrocketing in the U.S., forwardGoals and expectations must match reality. Wellness is an investment. thinking businesses are looking to curb poor health habits and rising There are many different types of investments, with different risk levels and healthcare costs. In response, employer wellness programs have become different up-front costs. Successful programs have goals and expectations an integral piece of growing a healthier workplace culture. Great customer for their investments that line up with what they are willing to invest up service, superior products and competitive prices are meaningless without front. While that investment may be often thought of as financial, it may also healthy and happy workers to carry out a company’s mission. include time, available resources or policies. The reality is if an organization is not willing to take the risk during their journey of So why wellness? Industry leaders realize employees So why wellness? setting policies, making long-term goals or incentivizing are their biggest asset and understand that creating a their population, rarely will wellness work for them. Many wellness culture is simply a way to care for and support Industry leaders times it ends in frustration with a company either giving the backbone of the organization. Employers committed realize employees are up or starting over year after year. Creating a culture of to a wellness culture care for employees and their families wellness will not happen overnight. If a business wants in several ways. They are, most importantly, sincerely their biggest asset a strong foundation, resources, time and funds must be interested in an employee’s health and happiness. These and understand that dedicated to building a sustainable program. leaders also show concern by crafting an environment that easily allows employees to thrive. This could include Leadership and policies set the example of where the creating a wellness healthier vending options, groups that walk together at culture is going. An ideal wellness program makes health culture is simply a lunch, financial counseling, easy access to physicians, and fitness inseparable from the company’s mission. one-on-one coaching or a variety of other benefits. That mission and the policies that are in place to support way to care for and Not convinced? As an added benefit, employees who it must be known and committed to by leadership. For support the backbone employees, knowing that there is the opportunity to make feel well and enjoy work are more productive and boost morale across the organization. For years, businesses have “well” choices and knowing that choice is supported of the organization. tracked absenteeism—employees who are habitually out by their supervisor offers a much different opportunity. of work, most notably for health reasons. Lost time clogs up work flow and To make a program successful, employees need to feel both the support puts a strain on other employees. Human resources directors have watched of their supervisors, and have the ability to make the “well” choice easy for years as healthcare costs have climbed with no real end in sight. through supported policies. In turn, rather than having one champion for the program, each worker is dedicated not only to their own health, but the Most recently, presenteeism (working while not feeling well) has gained attention. Presenteeism is more difficult to track, but can cause havoc on the health of coworkers and the organization. With eyes focused on a realistic end goal, business leaders know their job site. Employees who do not feel well are typically less productive and investment in corporate wellness strategies will pay dividends, not just often negative. financially, but personally. Every dollar invested and each step moves the When you add in workers’ compensation claims that could potentially team a little further towards the finish line with long-term health and vitality be prevented with better health, proper movement patterns and stability, as the final prize. It’s a mission worth celebrating. along with the cost of replacing employees who don’t feel valued, an initial investment in wellness seems like common sense. Andrea Cheshire is the director of Centra Panoramic, which offers Enter corporate wellness solutions. With an emphasis on making the full-service, corporate wellness solutions. For more information, visit workplace healthier one employee at a time, corporate wellness strategies PanoramicWellness.com or call 434-237-5433. are ideal for business leaders with big picture vision. Leaders who have Centra Panoramic provides a robust, comprehensive and convenient developed wellness cultures within their organizations have three things in corporate wellness program. With a complete array of employer health common: they know that wellness is a long-term plan not a quick fix; they services, Centra Panoramic offers efficient, smart, scalable and goal-oriented match their goals and expectations with reality; and leadership and policies solutions. Centra Panoramic focuses on four key services, including wellness set the example. services (wellness program design and management), health assessments, Wellness is achieved over the long haul. Let’s be honest: Making a habit wellness coaching, biometric screenings and incentive campaign design and management, occupational medicine, employee clinics and health risk change is uncomfortable and wellness often means making changes and management. For more information about Centra Panoramic services, email developing new habits. When setting organizational wellness goals, it is info@panoramicwellness.com or call (434) 237-5433. important to have the vision to see what you want in the future and the OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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LIVING E RTAI NMEN T MAG AZIN IER LIFES TYLE & ENTE LYNC HBUR G’S PREM
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Be Rocking out Why you Should Scene to the local MuSic By Suzanne RamSey
a concert hall takes the stage at Canvas, night when Arson’s Harbor t’s after 10 on a Friday center in Lynchburg. of The Plaza shopping located on the backside cross, stage, a large wooden but to the right of the the place is dimly lit, room’s full-time function As one might expect, the wall and belies the of thorns, leans against hearing is rock ’n roll, complete with crown music starts, what you’re home. Church. But when the who call Lynchburg as sanctuary for Mosaic and performed by artists original music, written not “Rock of Ages,” and even restaurants, backyards music all over Lynchburg—in it, “all the hippy dudes You can find live, original Jane Marczewski put where, as singer-songwriter 150 or 200 strangers.” Jefferson Street lofts open their houses to over to the sides and just move their furniture watching now: Lynchburg bands worth few up-and-coming That said, here are a
I
a way with words. Harbor, has always had and songwriter for Arson’s more time to Chad Lowry, lead singer on the backburner to devote who recently put college In fact, the 22-year-old, in Alaska. an English teacher, perhaps music, once aspired to be the city of of it” intrigued him, particular thinking Alaska, but said the “idea Lowry had never been to the 49th state also got him it seemed. Thinking about in a small, fictitious Anchorage and how desolate that would tell a story set album, a series of songs about writing a concept Harbor. Alaskan town named Arson’s and Nathan Stidham formed Cole Young, Clement Villar they began tossing Last fall, when Lowry, in a Leesville Road basement, a band and started practicing and settled on Arson’s Harbor. around what to call themselves fire and harbor Lowry said. “Arson represents Good and evil. I try to “Arson’s Harbor is conflicting,” a struggle between the two. the being water and how there’s follows the storyline and two themes at once. One write songs [that] carry normally resonates my song, the in message hidden other, a profound, deeper, own personal life.” stay for lyrics, Lowry tries to mine their life experiences While most songwriters school crushes and the too “fleeting,” such as high away from topics he finds like singing his diary entries. like. For him, it feels almost
Arson’s HArbor
Jeanne Clabough; Company: (Left to right) The Margareaders & Cheryl Simpson-Freeman; Dane; Diane Burroughs; Tucker; Anne Jacobs; Tiger, Jeanne's Great Freeman; Bernadine Cheryl's daughter, Maddie breed. Not pictured: Rochelle Clabough. Jeanne's mixed Regina Schwabe; Obi,
initial bond,” the in animals that formed the “It was our pets and an interest of a book club emerged. not until 2006 that the idea group concurs, but it was completed four grueling of our members had just books The group expounds, “One a forum for reading and discussing years of vet school and wanted around readers who suggested a book club centered other than textbooks. She The first read for our an abiding interest in books. had horses and dogs and Grandin.” in Translation by Temple small group of four was Animals
and the group met at a joined shortly thereafter, Three additional members that the group named session. It was at this gathering restaurant for a planning themselves The Margareaders.
to our writing.” “I like a little more intellect away from Lowry, also tries to stay singer and comedian Mark other members Lowry, nephew of gospel band.” While he and the Arson’s Harbor a “Christian labels, specifically calling they’ll get thrown on you.” “labels are tricky because are Christians, Lowry said,
settling “We’re not OK with just “If I with our songs,” he said. a song had 100 people tell me I didn’t was really good, but I would think it was up to par, scratch.” trash it and start from
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gather occurs when longtime friends here is a certain magic that speaks and immediate warmth that together; a sort of informal trust. This feeling seems to of shared experiences and complete of The Margareaders, a seven members permeate each meeting of the come to be that has, thanks to its members, Central Virginia book club
Villar, (left to right): Clement Arson's Harbor members Young, Chad Lowry. nathan stidham, Cole
Christian music lacks the He also thinks a lot of popular for Arson’s Harbor. emotional depth he envisions
something much more.
Jeanne, Bernardine, Cheryl, Diane, The seven Margareaders—Anne, literature, food all women who enjoy good Regina and Rochelle—are that is where all passionate for animals, but and margaritas, and they are to 70, they have end. Ranging in age from 40 their similarities essentially
zip codes. lives and, most remarkably, diverse careers, interests, personal the fact different parts of Virginia, making Further The women hail from several a testament to their strong bond. that they meet in person monthly for this story group answered questions demonstrating their unity, the on the answers easily. together, arriving at a consensus
member began meeting monthly, each From that point on, The MargareadersAccording to the group, the meetings selector. rotating as hostess and book elements: dynamic always include the following last about four hours and of course, margaritas. discussions, good food and, conversation, in-depth book
various each other for decades through The Margareaders have known one is another’s one was another’s teacher, love of connections and coincidences: veterinarian and so on. A shared daughter-in-law, one is another’s >> connections into friendships. animals solidified these various m urgliving.co w w w. ly n c h b
SEPTEM BER/OC TOBER
had ordered “Everyone coincidentally question of a name margaritas when the seemed came up. The almost-homonym that,” the drank to self-evident. Everyone women laughed in recollection.
“It’s not for me,” he said.
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TAS T E
[ RECIPE]
TASTE HOME
Homemade Yogurt
H OM E
[ home] Mikael Blidö, The Swedish
PreP Time: 2 minuTes Cook Time: 10 minuTes hours FermenTaTion: 8-12 Yield: abouT 6 CuPs
Baker
LYRICAL GENIUSES
IngredIents 8 cups whole milk 2 Tbsp sugar 4 Tbsp unflavored yogurt Chobani)
with live culture (like
specIal equIpment double boiler Candy thermometer jar or equivalent one half gallon mason
historic one of Lynchburg's Italianate home on From Top: The 1886 soon the heart, of the caught the eye, and 14 years ago; Jeff and streets immediately were house shopping view of downtown from Schneiders when they their home; the stunning screened-in porch. Sally in the foyer of the home's welcoming their back brick patio;
Footprints from the Past:
“We were excited that the
city was growing,” Sally
ToTal Time: 1 hour PreP: 10 minuTes
said. city very quickly,” Jeff “We fell in love with the It is view of the city from here. “There is a spectacular a million dollar view.”
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decorating visions. >>
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almonds
3/4 cup shredded, sweetened coconut nuts, 3/4 cup raw cashew lightly chopped 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup raisins (optional) dIrectIons degrees F. add Preheat oven to 275 and coconut oats, cashews, almonds 1-inch sides. to a baking sheet with maple syrup, Combine brown sugar, oat mixture oil, and salt. Pour over combine. bake for and use spatula to brown, mixing 1 hour or until golden cool and store in every 15 minutes. let up to six months. airtight container for
job for yogurt that gets the Here’s a simple recipe you probably already done with everyday things it with some have in your kitchen. Combine granola and some fresh delicious, easy-to-make breakfast! berries and have a champion-level
moved into the were underway, the Schneiders of While the extensive renovations began the arduous process their historic house, and basement apartment of a screened porch, all while kitchen. They also built gutting the bathrooms and their own designs and house cosmetically with enhancing the rest of the
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1 cup slivered or sliced
a person who complained I don’t think I ever met too big. Drawers, about their kitchen being have a tendency to fill cabinets and counter tops of us. In my case, the up pretty quickly for most is an abundance of kitchen space hogging culprit hardly ever use. My favorite tools, most of which I like perform multiple tasks, tools are the ones that the worst offenders a chef’s knife. Subsequently, that only do one thing— are the kitchen gadgets book is the yogurt maker. and the worst one in my
take a year calculated that it would and accepted, the couple After an offer was made in Northern Virginia, it sold put their house on the market to the Lynchburg to work on, but when they So with no ties or association quicker than they ever expected. and headed for Central Virginia. up the moving truck in 2000 community, they loaded
T
IngredIents 3 cups rolled oats
yogurt Your guide to gadget-free making and glorious granola
work old home that we could “We always wanted an on,” Jeff explained. on and put our own touches
in District is an iconic neighborhood he Diamond Hill Historic Diamond At the turn-of-the-century, downtown Lynchburg. the community, prestigious areas in of Hill was one of the most In time though, many of architectural styles. boasting a vast array or boarding houses were turned into apartments the Victorian homes insight, knowledge in the area. With the due to economic downturn these neglected homes, who saw potential in and care of individuals upright and in 1978, again began to turn however, the area once district. >> Lynchburg’s first historic Diamond Hill became
25 minuTes
Cook: 1 hour Yield: abouT 8 servings
Preparing the Perfect Parfait
said. “We love it here.”
a tour of several historic back down and lined up Not long after, they drove their 1886 Italianate house home, so when they found houses. Jeff wanted a brick R.C. Burkholder, they by locally renowned architect four on Washington Street, built square feet, the home hosts to the Hill City. At 3,800 living began considering a move windows, and a formal 11-foot ceilings, 10-foot bedrooms, three bathrooms, guest room and basement. library, family room, office, room, dining room, kitchen,
of Love The SchneiderS’ Labor
M urgliving.cO w w w. ly n c H b
a tall bucket, pot or one clean tea towel
Granola
and maintaining an old to take on the task of updating to Not everyone is willing thing that brought them Schneider, it was the very in house, but for Jeff and Sally and while he was stationed in the Navy for 27 years was the community. Jeff served Asheville, where their son would drive down to UNC road to Northern Virginia, they U.S. 29 as an alternate their son suggested driving the Schneiders’ future. living. During one visit, suggestion completely altered were avoid traffic. That one small lunch in Lynchburg and town, they stopped for realized As they were passing through a real estate magazine and homes. Sally picked up amazed at the beautiful were. in the downtown districts how affordable the houses
2014
bowl
a colander dIrectIons to do early evening This is a good project heat milk in double so it can sit overnight. until it reaches 180 boiler on medium-high it heat and let cool until degrees F. Turn off add sugar and yogurt reaches 110 degrees. a minute. Pour milk and whisk for about gallon jar, put the lid mixture into your half Your the bucket or bowl. on and place jar in the milk at about 100 goal now in is to keep 8-12 hours. degrees for the next (not too hot!) into Pour hot tap water and leave on your bucket to cover jar an hour or so, add counter or in sink. after to to your water bath some warm tap water up. repeat one more back get temperature for at least 8 hours. time and then leave more warm water You don’t have to add throughout the night.
g Out Why You Should Be Rockin to the Local Music Scene
jar out of water in the morning, take rig by placing bath. Create a draining sink or over a bowl, your colander in the inside the colander spreading the tea towel and shake your yogurt (think coffee filter) the towel to drain. out of the jar and into drain for an hour or leave the yogurt to leave it to drain, the more. The longer you will become. Clean more “greek” your yogurt your drained yogurt out your jar and pour until use. back into it and refrigerate
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T r Av El
TR AVEL
gA r D E n
[ t r av e l ]
FE AT U RE
[ Garden]
Victory Declar e Veggie GARDENS
contain one pickles, he points out, only in the super market. His cucumbers, the dill, the earth as an vinegar! The rest—the item he didn’t grow: the his knowledge all his. Choosing to share the garlic, the onions—are Green Toes established the Lynchburg and experiences, Larson to ask and of victory members could have a forum Pack introduced the idea for Facebook group so that In 1917, Charles Lathrop and public and to get ideas and suggestions war gardens, in which private answer each other’s questions gardens, also known as as farm and contribute to the food supply future crops. gardens were planted to first world war were recruited into the agricultural labor forces so they can help would win point of independence, Wilson predicted that food “I like to get people to that effort. President Woodrow run by the U.S. School Garden Program, themselves,” Larson said. the war and funded the than 5 million the end of the war, more Bureau of Education. By resource of food stuffs had Green Toes as an instant and $1.2 million worth So, with a group by Lynchburg gardens had been planted II, with and the was repeated in World War library’s garden collection been produced. This success (along with your local public consumed throughout vegetables offices the of Extension 40 percent victory gardens producing experts in the Virginia Cooperative Let’s get started. time. time to join the movement? by Americans during this Central Virginia), isn’t it has reappeared in garden the term “victory garden” While no longer at war, Planning a Victory supply, ensure with clay soil, which is reconnect with our food to contend desire the gardeners As our lexicon. of the In Central Virginia, local economies our families and support much amendment. So, regardless the safety of what we feed difficult to till and requires new meaning. for a Victory victory garden takes on gardening is an easy choice increases, the idea of a space available, container might be seeking, spinach and herbs garden (real or desired!) or a raised bed. Lettuce, Whatever victory your Garden, be it a clay pot raised bed and pot as they are in a 4x6 you’re not alone. are as happy in a decorative the grocery that most often appear on by day, dad are among those vegetables the summer, patio local auto-body repairman significant cost). During Just ask Thor Larson, a Lynchburg list (adding up to some Other pantry Larson, founder of Facebook’s also easily grown in pots. and gardener by night. and takes great tomatoes and peppers are garlic, potatoes gardening for four years container produce include Green Toes group, has been daughters, staples that make great into with nutritious food. His gardens are easily stretched joy in providing his family and carrots, and onions. Further, container are more easily chose a vegetable (cabbage simple adjustments and 8 and 4 years old, each Their time in winter growth with some thus eliminating and harvest—and EAT! from insects and disease, respectively) to grow, nurture and imbues protected (organically) a family, keeps them connected and fertilizers. the garden, together as the need for chemical pesticides and accomplishment. them with a sense of pride plan that can at an easy victory garden Convinced yet? Let’s look raised bed garden few as five pots or a 4x6 be planted this fall in as
to are returning our trowels Perhaps we as a culture or both. act of freedom, rebellion
Studio by nan CarmaCk of Little Eden Farm and Master Gardener and Owner my rural road, I enjoy n an evening walk down nestled between peeking at the gardens home or behind a the road and a neighbor’s about the sight offering a hint fence in a field, each tomatoes Favorite views include hands that planted it. or rows of corn, marching intermingled with marigolds in sights are unsurprising in tidy formation. Such it wherever one drives, the country but, increasingly, in to spy a vegetable plot doesn’t take much looking or even a cucumber the tightest of neighborhoods balcony. What’s afoot? vining over an apartment used petunias and ivy that Where are the geraniums, home garden? to dominate the decorative
many asked, there will be as As many people as are emerge from such answers but several themes food to reconnect with our conversations: the desire with the chemicals ingested supply; concern over of consuming the potential effects commercial produce; cost vegetables; the increasing genetically modified for imprint of food shipped of fresh food; the carbon produce a simply the desire to thousands of miles; or where so much is disposable. tangible item in a society well-being ownership of human The concept of taking farmers new one—sustenance through food is not a ages, and, throughout the gave birth to our country freedom to its prosperity and Americans contributed of gardening. >> through the simple act
explained, “I choose this,” Larson of freedom “because it gives a sense for all the and the reward of harvest hard work.”
value of growing organically— Larson also noted the economic organic produce compared to purchasing pennies on the dollar when
with a few pots thrown
The MARGAREADERS
liSt Fall Produce Selectioncandidates include lettuce
Good Pick a leafy green (or several). easily grown of kale. These are the most mixes, spinach, chard and for easy that is rectangular in shape all produce. Choose a container at most big Add organic soil (available planting and harvest of rows.
>> Chincoteague Wild ponies have inhabited and are a years Island for hundreds of Manor House, common sight near Island one of our featured retreats.
Photo by Kenny Lewis, Commission Shore of Virginia Tourism Courtesty of the Eastern
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Toast to Life, Literature and
benefits creative minds, the or writers, artists and on the plentiful. Pressing pause of quiet retreat are clarity and power inspiration, daily grind can restore for one’s craft. a renewed appreciation ultimately leading to artistic work is or creative hobby, highly Whether it is a career deadlines and fastoften dominated by taxing, and in a field newfound unplugging can bring paced production, temporarily head for a restful right-brain thinkers vision. But where should and the regular routine? retreat, free from distractions
F
in.
om urgliving.c w w w. ly n c h b
m URgliving.co w w w. ly n c h b
inspiration inspiration Creative For Creative For Getaways Getaways Quiet FiveQuiet Five By Morgan McCartyMcCarty By Morgan
Produce victory is within a few reach, starting with 4x6 raised bed gardens.
WITH THESE SIMPLE
O
reats reats Ret nia Ret Virg Virgiinia
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The answer is closer than
you might think.
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Friendship
RY | DECLARE VEGGIE VICTO + WORKING OUT IN OF US | FESTIVUS FOR ALL CRUNCHY MUNCHIES
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Go to www.LynchburgLiving.com
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Leader o f
the
Month
Leader Month of the
Teresa C. Sheppard
Occupation: Personal Lines Account Manager/Campbell Insurance Age: 52 Hometown: Brookneal, VA
Teresa, tell us a little about you and your work. How long have you been with Campbell Insurance? I have had the great honor of working with the Campbell Insurance Team for 34 years, coming to work here right out of high school. I have done a little bit of everything at Campbell Insurance (which is the great thing about being an Insurance Professional; no matter what you love to do, insurance has a place for you). I started out running their very first computer system, Continental’s Time Machine (what a cute name), and progressively moved into operating each new company computer system implemented, back before the WWW days, then moved into rating and issuing one Agency Bill carrier we represent. Once I obtained my Property & Casualty license, I moved into a Customer Service Representative role and attained my first professional designation— ACSR (Accredited Customer Service Representative). I was bitten by the insurance and education bug and from that moment on, I have successfully completed the requirements for 11 additional insurance designations and certificates in Underwriting and Supervisory Management. I am certified to teach Continuing Education (CE) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. I have played the roles of Agency Systems Manager and Quality Control Supervisor and, at the current moment, am doing a little OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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Leader o f
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bit of everything as an Account Manager in our St. John Insurance Office in my hometown of Brookneal. I am responsible for quoting and sales of life and health products as well as filling in with personal lines products, servicing accounts and handling claims as well. Needless to say, I love Campbell Insurance and I love my job.
We hear you receive a big award in October. What is the significance of this award and why do you think you were chosen for it? I am truly honored to have not only been selected Virginia’s 2014 Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year in June of this year but I was also selected the 2014 National Winner by a panel of judges out of 42 other state winners in October 2014. This award is one of the greatest professional honors that a customer service representative can receive. It confers recognition of the highest order—an acknowledgement of the recipient’s dedication and ability, commitment and outstanding achievement.
Why did you decide to go into the insurance industry? In a word: “InVEST.” My senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to take a program at our local Vo-Tech Center and little did I know that would change my life forever. After taking the program, my instructor was approached by Campbell Insurance (then W. D. Campbell & Sons, Inc.) to see if she had any recent high school graduates that would be qualified to run their first computer system. She said, “yes” and the rest, as they say, is history. For more information on InVEST, check out their website at www.investprogram.org.
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What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job? I would have to say helping others. I originally wanted to be a nurse in the Air Force, to help others, but when I became involved with InVEST and Campbell Insurance, I quickly discovered that the insurance industry was a fabulous outlet for my desire to help others in so many different ways. I help our clients protect their most valuable assets—their lives as well as the lives of their loved ones, their homes, vehicles, boats … anything of importance and value. Insurance is there to protect and make new and whole when possible. I guide them through the maze of products available and when they experience a loss, I am there to help them through the difficult and sometimes trying claims jungle.
What is the most challenging? Working with the public can be challenging at times. You have to develop a Client Relationship Manager mentality and not just an Account Manager or Customer Service Representative mentality. Every person, situation, claim are in some instances the same but yet so different you can’t cookie cutter your service or products. Each is unique in its own way and we have to figure out what is best for each individual and make the best use of each opportunity we are presented.
What is on the horizon for you that you are the most excited about? In November, I will successfully complete my 13th Professional Designation, the AIAM (Associate in Insurance Account Management). In this day of constant change, we have to continually educate ourselves on the new and ever changing marketplace. There are also some upcoming programs at “246 The Main” Cultural Arts Theater in my hometown that I hope to be involved with over the coming months.
Leader o f
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Why do you enjoy living and working in Central Virginia? It is HOME. Being here in Central Virginia allows me the opportunity to be close to my family and to friends that I have had since childhood. While Brookneal is a small, tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone or is family to someone you know, in just a few minutes or an hour or so you can be in the heart of Lynchburg, Roanoke or Richmond where you can experience the “big city feel.” Central Virginia has it all! You are close to arts, entertainment, education, shopping and award-winning healthcare facilities, yet you have quaint, safe and loving environments in which to raise a family. Who could ask for anything more?
When you are not on the clock, what can you be found doing? Spending time with my family, reading, performing at 246 The Main [in Brookneal], working on IAIP (International Association of Insurance Professionals) and IPCV (Insurance Professionals of Central Virginia) related tasks as well as being active in my church.
Tell us another interesting fact or two about your work and family life. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Phillip; we just celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary. We have three amazing children, Matthew, Nathan and Ceara, and I am “Nana” to Luke and Jason. I have been a member of IAIP/IPCV for 33 years and served on the Campbell Insurance team for 34 years. I guess you could say when I see a good thing, I grab on tight and stick with it until the end. I believe in dedication, determination, hard work and always doing your best no matter what the situation and then doing just a little extra. If you live for God first, others second and yourself last, you have things in good order and if you stay true to God, yourself and your roots, you can never stray too far from the right path that always leads you home.
A wall of Sheppard's accomplishments and motivational mantras in her office at Campbell Insurance.
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in the News
in the news
LOCAL NONPROFIT CHANGES NAME TO REFLECT MISSION
After more than 100 years of service, Presbyterian Homes & Family Services and the Family Alliance in Lynchburg has changed its name to HumanKind. Bob Dendy, President and CEO of HumanKind, said the new name is more reflective of the dynamic organization the nonprofit has become and its work serving members of the human family. “Our name is changing. Our mission is not,” Dendy said. “Every day we build stronger bodies, minds and spirits, and ultimately encourage, enrich and empower lives and the communities we serve. We believe the transition to HumanKind is a more approachable name that will help us reach more people in more places.” More than two years ago, the nonprofit’s Board of Directors recognized the need for a shorter, more all-inclusive name. HumanKind is the result of a careful, collaborative process that included in-depth input from staff, volunteers, donors and broader market research. Dendy said HumanKind will continue to honor its Presbyterian legacy of being founded in 1903 by leaders committed to caring for children. The name of their historic Lynchburg property will be preserved as Presbyterian Homes Campus. HumanKind’s programs will remain the same, with a focus on Early Childhood Development, Economic Empowerment, Mental Health Services, Residential Care and Safe and Healthy Living. More information can be found at www.hkind.org.
ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS’ CAMPAIGN PASSES $4 MILLION POINT The Academy of Fine Arts in downtown Lynchburg has reached another fundraising milestone of $4 million toward the restoration of the historic 1905 Academy of Music Theatre. The campaign, launched in October 2012, has gained financial support from businesses, foundations and individuals who, according to Executive Director David Jenkins, understand the benefits of a restored Academy and the project as a catalyst to further downtown revitalization. “Seems like just yesterday we celebrated $3 million in campaign donations,” Jenkins said. “Thanks to the generosity of our community and rapidly growing support, this dream is quickly becoming a functional reality.” The $4 million mark was reached in part from a $20,000 gift from the Richard Gwathmey and Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust, and a capital grant of more than $44,000 provided by the Easley Foundation for a new video projection system, to be used in the restored theatre when it opens, and in the Academy’s Warehouse Theatre in the meantime. The $16.6 million campaign is segmented into four giving goals: Corporate, Individual, Government and Foundational support. Jenkins said 44 percent of the Corporate giving goal and 33 percent of the Individual giving goal is now achieved. “Foundational support, corporate support and many large gifts, both named and anonymous, have projected this campaign forward,” Jenkins said. “Our community is showing its support in a big way, and with each new donation, the campaign grows closer to meeting our goal.”
R. Edward Fielding, Inc. parking lot layout & marking
tennis courts • athletic tracks industrial safety aisles phone : (434) 845-1740 mobile : fax : (434) 846-2856 (434) 841-8676 refielding@verizon.net
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The Academy’s fundraising campaign will result in the complete restoration of the historic Academy of Music Theatre’s multi-building arts complex, encompassing all the essential services required to operate the theatre and programming. Learn more at www.AcademyFineArts.com.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE CHARITY HOME TOUR OPENS DOORS OCTOBER 10-12 The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour will once again open the doors to some of the lake’s loveliest homes on Columbus Day weekend, October 10-12. This event—a major fund raiser for eight charities that serve the needy in the area—has raised more than $3.7 million in its 24 year history. Attendees may arrive by car or boat to tour the homes and gather design, decorating and landscaping ideas. More than 1,000 volunteers give time and talent to plan and implement the event, including many supplied by the charities themselves. Leading the list of most important supporters of the 2014 Home Tour is VC Design and Build, Inc., a residential and commercial designer and building located in Lynchburg. The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour is among the most well-know and widely attended fundraisers in the area. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.smlcharityhometour.com.
THOMAS JEFFERSON WINE FESTIVAL COMING TO POPLAR FOREST Saturday, November 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thomas Jefferson called wine “…a necessary of life with me.” On November 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., thousands of like-minded vino lovers will gather at Poplar Forest for the sixth annual Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival. Wines from 15 Virginia wineries will be available for tasting, as well as fare prepared by local food purveyors. Guests may shop the festival market brimming with works by local crafters and artisans and enjoy the musical entertainment. Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Bill Barker, and the renowned Virginia vintner Gabriele Rausse—who is credited as father of modern viniculture in Virginia— will engage in an off-the-cuff discussion about wine making in Virginia. The Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival is held inside large, heated tents, rain or shine. Tasting tickets, which include a complimentary wine glass, are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Guests must be 21 or older. Valid ID required. Non-tasting tickets are $10 for ages 12+ (ages 11 and under are free). Visit thomasjeffersonwinefestival.com to order tickets.
UPCOMING AREA EVENTS October 3-4
Disposable Film Festival Rosel H. Schewel Theatre, Riverviews Artspace, 901 Jefferson St., Lynchburg Screening times announced on Riverviews.net. This juried film festival features movies created with disposable equipment such as iPhones, pocket cameras and webcams.
October 4
23rd Annual Helen Clark Berlind Symposium Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College Jenny Lynn McNutt, one of seven artists represented in the 103rd Annual Exhibition, discusses her work at 11 a.m. Then, a 1:30 p.m. panel discussion with McNutt, poet Tom Sleigh and Randolph philosophy professor David Schwartz. Reception at 3 p.m.
in the News
October 16
Madeline Levine, PhD, Speaks on “Teach Your Children Well” James River Day School, Carrington Field House, Lynchburg 6 p.m. James River Day School hosts Madeline Levine, PhD, a psychologist and a New York Times bestselling author of Teach Your Children Well, speaks about raising children in today’s complex societ and other parenting topics. Free and open to public.
October 18
Women Education Leaders of Virginia Conference Alice Ashley Jack Room, Smith Memorial Building, Randolph College 7:30 a.m.
October 22
November 15
November 1
Seventy area artisans and crafters offer their handmade wares during this holiday shopping experience. Outdoor food vendors. Sponsored by the GFWC Bedford Woman’s Club. Part of proceeds from $2 admission benefit local organizations.
Red Cross Blood Drive Smith Banquet Hall, Smith Memorial Building, Randolph College Noon
Third Annual Chili Cook-off Holy Cross Regional Catholic School, 2125 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg Noon to 4 p.m. $15 entry for adults/$5 for children and includes chili, hotdogs, sodas, children’s activities and live music. Spirits available for an extra fee.
40th Annual Arts, Crafts, and More Show Bedford Elementary School, Below National D-Day Memorial, Bedford 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 21
Downtown Diva Crawl Downtown Lynchburg businesses along Main Street 5:30 p.m. Dine, shop and score great deals downtown. Live entertainment by DJs. For more info, visit DowntownLynchburg.com.
Meet with other area educators to learn about building an effective teaching career.
movers & shakers Justin Henderson has been named the new Director of Development for the Lynchburg Retail Merchants Association and the Retail Merchants Association Foundation. Henderson is also a licensed agent with DeWitt Real Estate. He holds a bachelors degree from University of Northwestern, and an M.B.A. from Liberty University. Gleaning For The World’s Disaster Relief Coordinator Roy St. John was recently recognized by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for his work in the area of disaster relief. St. John plays a critical role in the way Gleaning responds to natural disasters, overseeing the management of supplies, coordinating deliveries and connecting the nonprofit’s response to local needs. Several members of Lynchburg-based Southern Landscape Group, Inc. have passed the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association’s certification program, each receiving a Certified Horticulturist designation. These team members are: April Hamilton, Landscape Designer; Tim Hess, Landscape Designer; Jason Kennedy, Landscape
Professional; and B.J. Poindexter, Landscape Team Leader. The designation certifies a thorough knowledge of a wide range of horticultural subjects, an ability to learn technical information and the desire of the recipient to provide home gardeners with accurate and reliable horticultural information. To receive this designation, candidates must pass a four-hour exam covering a wide range of topics covering basic botany, insects, pesticides, plant propagation, landscape design and water quality and much more. Approximately 100 people receive certifications each year. Liberty Christian Academy has announced the addition of one new administrator and a change in position for another:
Pastor Louis “P.J.” Preston has moved from his current position as High School Assistant Principal to the role of full time PreK–12 Campus Pastor. He is now responsible for the spiritual program at the academy and act as a spiritual counselor for LCA students. With degrees from Virginia Tech, Longwood University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Preston has consistently served in ministry and school administration since 1994, in addition to serving in this capacity previously at LCA.
Matt Hildebrand has accepted the position of Assistant Principal/Dean of Men in the high school. Hildebrand will also act as the girls’ basketball coach. He played basketball for Liberty University and then went on to play for the Canadian National Basketball Team. He
has masters’ degrees in Education specializing in both Specific Learning Disabilities as well as Administration and Supervision. Hildebrand brings a great deal of experience to LCA, including coaching and teaching at Rustburg High School and, most recently, serving as the assistant principal at Altavista Elementary School.
Dawn Fields Wise has been named the new Director of Community Engagement and Public Relations for the United Way of Central Virginia. A native of Lynchburg, Wise has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit and education sector, including a variety of public relations and community development and engagement roles. She was the Public Relations and Visitor Services Manager of Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum for eight years, where she created various programs and events, including the popular Candlelight Tours. Wise was most recently employed by Sweet Briar College’s Education Department, where she was the school liaison for all field placements. During her time at SBC, she also assisted in the creation of a new marketing program for the College’s Graduate Programs. Wise earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Virginia in History, and has completed post-graduate studies in the Masters of Teaching program at Mary Baldwin College.
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nc C u s t o m B a n k i n g S i e 1 9 08
nc C u s t o m B a n k i n g S i e 1 9 08 MeMber fdic
Financial
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W hat ' s S marter —P aying O f f D ebts or I nvesting ?
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By Jeff Boyer, Edward Jones Financial Advisor
t probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but from time to time, you have some extra disposable income. When this happens, how should you use the funds? Assuming you have adequate emergency savings—typically, three to six months’ worth of living expenses—should you pay off debts, or fund your IRA or another investment account? There’s no one “correct” answer and the priority of these options may change, depending on your financial goals. However, your first step may be to consider what type of debt you’re thinking of paying down with your extra money. For example, if you have a consumer loan that charges a high rate of interest, and you can’t deduct the interest payments from your taxes, you might conclude that it’s a good idea to get rid of this loan as quickly as possible. Still, if the loan is relatively small, and the payments aren’t really impinging on your monthly cash flow that much, you might want to consider putting any extra money you have into an investment that has the potential to offer longer-term benefits. For instance, you might decide to fully fund your IRA for the year before tackling minor debts. (In 2014, you can contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.) When it comes to making extra mortgage payments, however, the picture is more complicated. In the first place, mortgage interest is typically tax deductible, which makes your loan less “expensive.” Even beyond the issue of deductibility, you may instinctively feel that it’s best to whittle away your mortgage and build as much equity as possible in your home. But, is that always a smart move?
Increasing your home equity is a goal of many homeowners—after all, the more equity you have in your home, the more cash you’ll get when you sell it. Yet, if your home’s value rises (which, admittedly, doesn’t always happen), you will still, in effect, be building equity without having to divert funds that could be placed elsewhere, such as in an investment. In this situation, it’s important to weigh your options. Do you want to lower your mortgage debts and possibly save on cumulative interest expenses? Or would you be better served to invest that money for potential growth or interest payments? Here’s an additional consideration: If you tied up most of your money in home equity, you may well lose some flexibility and liquidity. If you were to fall ill or lose your job, could you get money out of your home if your emergency savings fund fell short? Possibly, in the form of a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage, but if you were not bringing in any income, a bank might not even approve such a loan, no matter how much equity you have in your house. You may more easily be able to sell stocks, bonds or other investment vehicles to gain access to needed cash. Getting some extra money once in a while is a nice problem to have. Still, you won’t want to waste the opportunity so, when choosing to pay down debts or put the money into investments, think carefully. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
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nonprofit
Lyn chbur g Organiz ation Missi ons t o
Let Freedom Ring Across the World By Morgan McCarty
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n the thick of Uganda’s war-torn land, there’s a beautiful sound that can be heard each morning—a melody of hope, lifted by the voices of joyful young women. This is a refreshing sound in Gulu, a community still recovering from decades of war, terror and displacement. One lasting effect is the family structure breakdown, an issue that contributes to widespread sexual abuse of young girls. In a society where there is already low emphasis on a woman’s value, victims of rape have little hope for the future. Many are disowned by their families or even shunned from their villages. When support is needed most, young girls are labeled and shamed. Many are on a downward spiral of hopelessness, and starving in every sense of the word. To combat this harsh reality, a Lynchburg-based nonprofit organization has helped build a foundation—a safe haven for exploited women, and a catalyst for lasting change. Through the funding of a group home in Gulu, Uganda, Freedom 4/24 provides a place for women to heal from the pain of sexual abuse. Christine’s House, named after the organization’s founder, is an enriching environment, where tears of anger are turned to songs of hope. And each morning, as the residents begin their daily chores, their singing is a testament to the work that is being done; a prelude to the bright futures that are to come.
The Vision for Freedom The vision for Freedom 4/24 began in 2008, when founder Christine Gelatt traveled to red light districts in Bangkok, Thailand, witnessing first-hand the pervasive exploitation of women and children. When she returned to Lynchburg, sharing her desire to see these women freed, a movement was started and the organization was launched. By promoting awareness, raising funds and hosting events such as their widely successful “Run 4 Their Lives” races, Freedom 4/24 has grown into a global effort. Their work involves partnering with other organizations to provide financial support, ultimately achieving freedom and justice for women in the darkest parts of the world.
Opening photo: Ryan Barr, Executive Run 4 Their Lives Race Director, with the Pigwini tribe in Gulu. Photo by Amanda RockinsonSzapkiw. This Page: The women's of Christine's House, which was completed in early 2014. Photos by Lindsay McFarland.
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nonprofit
The Philosophy In the words of President Tim Spaulding, “We fund good organizations that are doing great work.” The organization’s philosophy is simple and smart: focus on awareness and fundraising, so that those who are called may remain in the trenches. “We recognize that, for fundraising purposes, many organizations have to pull their greatest workers out of communities that are in desperate need,” Spaulding explained. “It doesn’t make much sense, especially if those people are not gifted to fundraising.” Freedom 4/24’s ability to raise money on behalf of likeminded groups adds value in a practical way. They partner with both domestic and international organizations: currently in Thailand, India, Kenya, Uganda and the United States. Each partnership provides the resources necessary to rescue and seek justice for women and children who have been trafficked or exploited. Funding also affords rehabilitation facilities for victims and their families, and services to meet their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. “We look for organizations that are not only rescuing women and children out of trafficking or sexual exploitation, but those that address the cultural issues giving rise to the problem in the first place,” Spaulding said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution ... what you encounter in one country is often completely different than what you find in the next, and factors contributing to the problem are equally as varied. ” With partners who have direct knowledge of diverse cultures and sociological issues, Freedom 4/24 can identify an area’s greatest needs then work efficiently to make a difference.
The Road to Uganda In December 2012, another Lynchburg-based organization, Sports Outreach Institute, approached Freedom 4/24 about a need they had seen in Northern Uganda. “We knew Sports Outreach had been working in Uganda for years and trusted their vision,” Spaulding stated. “Their goal to build a safe house for women recovering from sexual exploitation was a clear mission fit.” 34
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Nonprofit
This partnership paved the way for Christine’s House, a facility that can house up to 20 women and children. As wounds begin to heal, residents are also equipped with valuable life skills, English language training and Biblical insight. “It’s a place where they can come to realize that it’s not their fault,” Spaulding said. “A place where they can see that their future doesn’t have to be defined by their past.” Christine’s House was completed in early 2014, and by May, it was filled with young women and children. The initial group of residents has already experienced enormous transformation. For several of them, the next step will be university. Others may seek meaningful jobs or return to their families if the environment is stable. Though the women will only stay for six months to a year, the outcomes prove valuable for generations. “We fully integrate them into our mission,” Spaulding said. “After they have recovered, they can go back into their villages and share their experience, hope and faith. Giving them the ability to talk about their past is powerful. They hold their heads high, and they’re not ashamed. When you can impact someone who has dealt with heavy trauma, you can stop something that is generational. In Uganda, there’s immense opportunity to turn the tide. Rebuilding a girl’s life and setting a framework for others … it doesn’t take a lot.” The impact that a single donor can have is enormous. It takes less than six dollars a day for a girl to live at Christine’s House.
G e t I n v o lv e d To learn more about Freedom 4/24, visit www.Freedom424.org. There are numerous opportunities to get involved, including Run 4 Their Lives races and other fundraising events.
F R EEDO M 4 / 2 4 F U ND R A I S I N G FA LL EVENT S October 11
Run 4 Their Lives Lynchburg College Learn more and sign-up at www.Freedom424.org/r4tl/races/ lynchburg-va.
November 13
Freedom Gala Tresca on 8th, downtown Lynchburg Details and reservations at www.Freedom424.org.
Previous page, top: Morning worship and fellowship time at Christine's House. This page: The girls at the house get their nails painted by a team from Lynchburg. Photos both pages by Linsday McFarland, Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw and Justin Snyder.
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Legal
Safe Rental Housing is Everyone’s Right
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by Pamela R. DeCamp, Esq., Virginia Legal Aid Society
veryone who rents a home in Virginia has the legal right to a safe and healthy rental. All landlords and tenants have specific duties to keep rental property safe.
Under Virginia law, all landlords must:
• Follow building and housing codes affecting health and safety. • Make all repairs needed to keep the property fit and habitable. • Keep in good and safe working order all electrical, plumbing,
sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances that the landlord supplies or must supply. • Supply running water, hot water, air conditioning if provided and heat in season; unless the tenant alone controls the heat, air conditioning or hot water, or unless provided directly by a utility company to the tenant on a separate meter. • Prevent and remove accumulation of moisture and growth of mold. • Prevent and remove infestation of rodents. A tenant and landlord may agree in writing that the tenant will perform some of the landlord’s duties, but the duty to follow building and housing codes affecting health and safety must remain the landlord’s responsibility. Any agreement giving responsibilities to the tenant must be in writing and must be made in good faith. Landlords have additional responsibilities if they rent multi-family dwellings such as apartments; if they rent rooms in hotels, motels or boarding houses to any tenant renting more than 90 days; or if they rent more than a minimum number of single family residences. These landlords and rentals are covered by the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA). The minimum number of single-family residences required for the VRTLA to apply is currently more than 10 residences in a county or more than four residences in a city. However, as of July 1, 2014, that law applies to landlords anywhere in the Virginia that rent more than two single family residences. 36
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In rentals covered by the VRLTA, landlords must also:
• Keep clean and safe any common areas used by more than •
one tenant household. Provide and maintain trash containers (except for single family houses).
Virginia tenants also have certain responsibilities for keeping rental property in safe repair. Every tenant must:
• Follow building and housing codes affecting health and safety
• • • • •
imposed on tenants, (such as keeping the property interior free from excess garbage and allowing access by building code officials investigating code violations). Keep the rented space and plumbing as clean and safe as conditions permit. Use all utilities and appliances reasonably and dispose of trash. Not destroy or damage the property, or allow anyone else to do so. Not remove or tamper with any properly functioning smoke detectors. Use the property in a way that will prevent accumulation of moisture and growth of mold.
In rentals covered by the VRLTA, tenants must also:
• Keep the rented space free from insects and pests and notify the •
landlord of any insects and pests. Not remove or tamper with any properly functioning carbon monoxide detectors.
When problems arise, Virginia law provides a precise and effective method for insuring that repairs are made. If the problem is one that the landlord has a duty to repair, the tenant must do the following to protect his or her rights:
• Give the landlord notice in writing of each repair that needs to be made.
Legal
• Allow the landlord a reasonable amount of time to make the requested repairs.
• If the repairs are not made, take the landlord to court. If a landlord has not made necessary repairs, the tenant cannot just stop paying rent. If a tenant does not pay rent when it is due, he or she can be evicted. In order to request repairs by going to court, the tenant must be up to date in rent and stay current while the lawsuit is pending. Any notice to the landlord of necessary repairs must be made in writing. Telling the landlord in person or by telephone, even repeatedly, is not enough. The notice should be sent to the landlord by certified mail, return receipt requested. If court action is later necessary, the tenant will need the certified mail receipt and return receipt along with a copy of the letter sent. A reasonable time to repair will depend upon the repair to be made. If the problem is an emergency, such as no heat in winter, or no water, the landlord must make the repair right away. For other repairs, more time may be reasonable. The law presumes that a reasonable time to make repairs is 30 days or less. If the landlord does not make repairs after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to make them, the tenant can take the landlord to court. Such a lawsuit can be filed in the General District Court in the city or county where the rental property is located or where the landlord resides. The tenant’s rent must be paid up to date when the lawsuit is
filed. While the case is pending, ongoing rent must be paid to the court “in escrow” within five days of the date it becomes due.
In such a “rent escrow” lawsuit, the tenant can ask and the judge can order any of the following relief:
• That repairs be completed by the landlord before the rent is
released to the landlord. • That repairs be completed and some or all of the rent money be returned to the tenant. • That the lease be terminated without the tenant owing future rent. Virginia law provides protections for landlords and tenants alike. When parties to a rental agreement cannot resolve problems by agreement, an aggrieved party can obtain relief in his or her local court. Virginia Legal Aid Society (www.vlas.org) is a nonprofit law firm providing free legal assistance to low income persons and families with many types of civil legal problems, including housing. The preceding is for general informational purposes only and not intended to constitute specific legal advice or form an attorney/ client relationship. Please seek the services of a licensed attorney for specific legal advice. These articles are intended to inform Virginians of their rights and responsibilities concerning housing and landlord tenant issues.
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retail
“Fresh, Locally-Sourced and Affordable” A u bu rnl e a Farms C orn e r M ar ke t C o ming to C o rn ersto ne
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By Emily Mook Hedrick
s Thanksgiving and Christmas draw nearer, calendars begin filling up with more and more gatherings to celebrate the holidays. Food plays a central role in these events, and deciding where to purchase healthy, quality ingredients to feed a large group can be stressful. This fall, Campbell Countybased Auburnlea Farms will bring a new option to the table when it opens Auburnlea Farms Corner Market in Cornerstone’s City Center on Greenview Drive in Lynchburg. The market, which is set to open in November, will offer local and organic foods supplied by Auburnlea Farms and other local farms. Auburnlea Farms is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Rick and Becky Bennett and their six children. According to Becky, farming has been an integral part of their lives for years. “My husband has always farmed, at least part-time,” she said. “He grew up farming in southeast Georgia, managed an agricultural seed store, and graduated from college with a farm management degree. I’m a nurse by trade, but I have learned farming through marriage.” The Bennetts had been living in eastern Virginia when they heard about a farm for sale in Gladys. Despite the distance, they went to check it out and knew almost immediately it was a good fit. “We purchased the farm about five, almost six, years ago. We were looking for a farm to purchase, and the land prices on this side of the state were less expensive than where we were living,” Becky said. “A friend of ours saw the farm advertised about a year or so before we purchased it. We finally came out to see it, and it was just the right thing. We had prayed about it for years and years, and we just had a sense of peace about it being the right move.” Bennett noted that the landscape and soil quality in Campbell County were additional selling points: “It’s not a severe landscape; it’s rolling. We can utilize the entire farm. And the mineral content in the soil in this area is transmitted into the plants. We have plant-based meat, and the minerals give the meat a superior flavor.” The significance of both of these elements is reflected in Auburnlea Farms’ name: “’Auburn’ refers to the red, clay-based soil and ‘lea’ means ‘rolling meadow,’” Becky explained. These favorable natural conditions, combined with the Bennetts’ business savvy, have facilitated Auburnlea Farms’ growth from a farm to a farming enterprise. According to Becky, “We first started selling beef and chicken in bulk but it was hard for people to fit that much meat into their freezers. We
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needed a place to sell it just by the pound—a place where people could come purchase meat for dinner or for the week.” This realization led to the creation of the Grainery Farm Store on-site at Auburnlea Farms. “We converted the old barn, which is almost 100 years old, into a little country store. We offered other natural foods to accompany the meat, and it just grew from there,” Becky said. When they realized that the potential for growth extended beyond the walls of the Grainery Farm Store, the Bennetts knew that it was time to open a new store. After a meeting with Mark Borel, developer of Cornerstone, plans for the Corner Market began. Borel expresses enthusiasm about the new addition to Cornerstone’s City Center. “We are extremely excited to have the Corner Market come to the Cornerstone City Center and think it will be wonderful complement to the community,” he said. “We believe its healthful, fresh and local offerings will provide a great asset not just to Cornerstone, but to the entire region.” Becky expounded on the market’s fresh offerings with equal enthusiasm. “The Corner Market is like The Grainery on turbo-boost! Right now we do not offer produce or dairy [at the Grainery Farm Store] because that’s a whole different program. At the Corner Market, we’ll have
The Bennett family at Auburnlea Farms in Campbell County.
retail
a full grocery with produce and dairy. We’ll also have a fresh meat butcher shop. We will have the meat slaughtered by the USDAinspected plant, bring it in and have it dry-aged in our own cooler, and then have our own butcher cut the meat to order. The meat will come from our farm as well as several other local farms to meet the demand. We will also get the produce as locally as we can.” The Corner Market will also feature a café and an old-fashioned “soda shoppe,” both of which will feature organic ingredients. Becky emphasized the absence of artificial ingredients throughout the store as its most unique and important attribute. “The difference between us and other grocery stores is that when you walk from the front door all the way to the back door, everything is clean. There are no articificial ingredients in anything, from the time it was raised to the time it’s prepared and served. Even at the soda shoppe, we’ll make our own organic syrups in-house,” she explained. For the Bennets, turning this “farm-to-table concept” into a reality is certainly one of Auburnlea Farms’ main goals for the Corner Market, but Becky takes their ultimate objective one step further. “It is very exciting to me as a mom, a consumer and a farmer to be able to offer a one-stop shop where everything is clean,” she said. “Our main goal is to offer the highest quality food available anywhere at an affordable price.” To learn more about Auburnlea Farms’ Corner Market, visit www.CornerMarketVA.com.
Construction underway on Auburnlea Farms Corner Market at Cornerstone in late September. The grocer is scheduled to open in November.
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Marketing & Sales
P
How to Write a Blog Post That Actually Gets Read by Hilary Sutton
icture this: A friend of yours shares an article on Facebook. The title sounds interesting so you click on it. You then realize it sounds familiar. This post was circulating around the Internet a solid year ago. And here it is, making the rounds on news feeds all over again. Has this happened to you? This is a prime example of why blogging is arguably the most effective online marketing tool a company can use. A well-written, engaging, informative post can live on and attract new readers, new site visitors and potential customers for months and even years after it has been written. So, how do you write a compelling post that gets shared again and again?
1 . M a k e i t d i g e s ta b l e . Keep paragraphs short; three or four sentences are perfect. A reader should be able to glance over the entire post and not feel bogged down in any given paragraph. They should feel like they can read the entire post in two minutes or less.
2 . K e e p i t b e t w e e n 3 0 0 a n d 7 0 0 w o r d s. Shorter is not always better but longer is almost always worse. There is no more distracting technological medium than the web, so make sure your posts are concise so the user actually reads it from start to finish. If it’s not incredibly sharp, they will move on to the next article before finishing yours.
3. Include an image.
Photos draw readers into the story you are telling. The image should help you tell your story better. You can get stock images online or grab your smartphone and take them yourself.
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4. Make the purpose of the post clear from t h e s ta r t. Being coy does not work in online writing. If you do not make the point crystal clear in the first few sentences, you’ve lost your readers.
5 . D o n ’ t t h r o w away yo u r h e a d l i n e . The most important part of the post is the headline. Make your title compelling. This is your chance to draw your reader in with a tantalizing question or a promise. Pay attention to the kind of headlines that catch your eye online and adopt similar habits. 6 . G e t c o m f o r ta b l e i n yo u r v o i c e . Your blog posts need to sound like you at your most polished, well-organized and confident. Include personal stories. Be authentic. Your blog will resonate with people when you write with honesty and candor.
7 . F i n i s h w i t h a q u e s t i o n o r c a l l t o ac t i o n. Give your readers an opportunity to respond, whether it’s by answering a question or clicking through to your website. Never simply end a post with a concluding thought. Give your audience an opportunity to engage. That is the beauty of this technology: the two-way conversation. Blogging is one of the greatest opportunities to create lasting content on the web. When done well, blogging is an incredible tool to use to establish credibility, build a personal brand and increase web traffic.
Real Estate
What Did You Expect?
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by Dan Vollmer, Associate Broker, ReMax 1st Olympic
h, how quickly we forget. Remember that time, when you were around 8 or 9 and your friend got a puppy? So you went to your parents and asked if you could have a puppy. And what did they tell you? “A dog is a lot of work. You have to feed him and walk him and clean up after him. You have to teach and train him. It’s not going to be easy.” And what did you say? “Sure! I can do it! Please, oh please, oh please, can we get a puppy?” Or how about that college professor who started off Day One with the proclamation that every other Friday there would be a quiz. And throughout the year, not only did that professor tell you what was going to be on the quiz, but every other Friday, like clockwork … guess what? There was a quiz! Funny how that works. The point is, in things big and small—from movies to marriage and everything in between—we all have expectations. Sometimes there are those in our lives who are wiser or more experienced, and they will attempt to help set our expectations. After all, they love us, so they want us to know what to expect. We experience this in all aspects of our lives, but in my little corner of the world, it’s particularly important when it comes to real estate transactions. When buying or selling a home, people already have certain expectations. If I’m doing my job well, I have to sense what they are and help “re-adjust” if necessary. For example: If you don’t work in real estate, you likely do not have any idea how long it will take a home to sell. Now, you may have heard a great story about some guy a couple blocks over who sold his house in 36 hours. But that’s called an anomaly. It’s not the reality of the market. When I sit down with sellers for the first time, I like to discuss the most current stats and how those will impact the process of selling their home. As of this writing, both market wide as well as in Lynchburg City, the average number of days on market (for recently sold homes) is 135 days. That’s four and a half months. That’s the average, so for every person who sells in three days, there are just as many who sell in 11 months
(or longer). Both extremes are the exception; more than likely, you will fall into the average. Another thing I prepare my seller clients to expect is that they will receive an offer for less than their list price. They key here is ‘how much less?’ Again, as of this writing, the average home (sold in the past 30 days) sold for roughly 96 percent of the list price. If I’m meeting with a seller to discuss the price of their home, both verbally and in writing, I will show and explain that the price we list the home for is not the price we will actually get. If your home is worth $200,000 and we list it for $200,000, then guess what? You can expect to get an offer somewhere around $192,000. One final area that helps to discuss is the showing activity. This one is hard to average. There’s no real way to predict it, and that in itself is a good way to quash certain expectations. I’ve had homes listed that had 20 showings in the first 30 days with no offers. I once had a home listed for three months with no showings, and the first person to look at it bought it. The buyer activity will depends on everything from the weather, to the time of year (holidays, back to school, etc.), to interest rates and more. And that’s all assuming your home is priced accurately and shows perfectly. When I discuss these factors, I’m helping to appropriately set (and often re-set) my clients’ expectations. The tricky thing is, we’re all human. And as such, we drift back to what we “think” is right and appropriate. Just like you with that puppy. Your parents prepared you, they told you what to expect and you agreed. And then what happened? Two months later, you were griping about having to feed and walk the dog. In college, you forgot about the Friday quiz. In spite of your best efforts, expectations drifted away from what you were told, and back to where you started. So, if you’re putting your home on the market, let your agent set and guide your expectations. And then expect it to go that way. Fight the drift. Trust me, it will save you from experiencing added stress in the process.
LOCATION! LOCATION! With close proximity to Lynchburg General Hospital, 2215 Langhorne Road offers a prominent location for medical or office users in Lynchburg; 6,700 SF available for lease on the main level.
No matter what the requirement, we’ve got the solution. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Norman Moon, Jr., CCIM, SIOR, CRE, FRICS norman.moon@thalhimer.com
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PHOTO BY Meridith De Avila Khan/Sweet Briar College
Technology
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Technology
Sweet Briar’s online
“GroceWe”
service takes off
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by Melissa Skinner
n the midst of a chaotic class schedule, college students often do not make it to the dining hall on time, nor do they always have access to a car, leading them to eat unhealthy foods on the go. Sweet Briar College in Amherst County is trying to change that through its recently released, student developed program called GroceWe, which provides a worry-free grocery delivery service to students for only a $5 delivery fee per use. Every Sunday by 5 p.m. students requesting the service must have his or her virtual shopping cart filled and have their selected items paid for in full. The GroceWe girls who run the program accumulate specific orders, then do the shopping Monday morning. The items are delivered to the students’ rooms by noon the same day. “Our service is able to fill a void in the market because no other service currently provides a fresh food delivery to Sweet Briar College,” Thomas B. Scott, Business Department Chair, said. “Not only that, but no other food delivery service delivers to our school, not even a pizza delivery service. We are especially unique because we were founded and are fully operated by our own students.” According to Scott, the grocery delivery idea was first developed in the Senior Seminar Entrepreneurship course at the college. During the first few weeks of the course, the students were provided with a variety of ways to brainstorm ideas, and they were responsible for individually pitching three of their best ideas to the class during this time. Following the presentations and a discussion among the students and professor, the class decided which projects they would like to develop and divided into teams to aggressively pursue that project. “Our business students are required to inquire, research and think in order to understand the status quo and to envision their role in improving it. An educated, inquisitive mind certainly helps when it comes to thinking innovatively,” Scott said. Because of its somewhat rural location, the college does not have grocery stores or restaurants within walking distance of campus, as many other larger colleges do, so students without vehicles have limited dining options. “We have found that not only are students excited and eager to use our new service, but the community as a whole has been supportive of Sweet
Briar students taking the initiative to start their own business,” Scott said. According to Scott, GroceWe has only received positive feedback from the students, which he attributes to the success of the Business department. “In the Business department, we focus on providing a strong foundation in the business disciplines, and in understanding how they must work together to develop effective business strategies,” Scott said. “We also believe that a high level of experiential learning not only a llows students to better understand the relevant applications of their learning, but to keep them engaged in the learning process throughout their time here.” As of now, GroceWe is only available to students, faculty and staff while the program is in its beginning stages. For more information, visit www.grocewe.com or www.SBC.edu.
GroceWe co-founder Caroline McMillian '15 with business professor, Tom Scott. Photo by Meridith De Avila Khan/Sweet Briar College
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We love this city,
and started OurLynchburg to tell you why by Marcelo Asher Quarantotto PHOTOS BY FOSTER & ASHER
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’m not a Lynchburg native, but sometimes I feel like I am. I moved here for college in 2003, like so many others from alien lands, inundating this city with yet another wave of sensibilities from thousands of hometowns around the planet. A form of assimilation takes place, but it’s more a matter of fitting certain-shaped pegs into certain shaped holes. It groans on, fraught with friction and fiction.I’ve been anywhere from coffee shops to bars to city council meetings where the locals bemoan how certain higher education institutions, attended largely by out-of-towners, want to take over their city, and folks from the institution cry, “DISFRANCHISEMENT!” The ubiquitous criticism: “They act like they own Lynchburg.” (Slap “Take Back Our City” stickers on their bumpers). Counterpoint: “Without us, there would be no Lynchburg.” (Deforests mountainside.) There’s truth and falsity in both statements. Yes, our local institutions bring a lot of people to the city who likely would never come otherwise, but who’s to say that others wouldn’t come in their place? The rift between natives and transplants is real, but we cannot claim it unique, externally nor internally. We carry half-joking preconceived nations for what people are like, based on their zip codes alone. We see clear lines of racial segregation just by walking (or driving—depends on where you live) along Rivermont Avenue. And I don’t have the time to
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parse the multitude of complex religious divisions, many among those who pronounce the same faith. On and on the landscape breaks, and our community spreads thinner. My purpose here is to talk about why Matthew Addington, Carlina Muglia and I started the community awareness initiative known as OurLynchburg. I could have lead with imagery-stuffed descriptions of a river, hills and trails, but as much as we love Lynchburg for the weird ol’ turkey she is, there are many areas that we as a community have the ability to address, promote and change for widespread benefit. The biggest problem, from our vantage point, is the fragmentation. Imagine if community leaders stopped feuding with one another and came together to solve the problems that ail them both? Getting multi-million- (or billion-) dollar organizations to cooperate is a lofty goal, one we file in the “long-term” category. Right now our focus is on our immediate circles. If we can get our friends and local business owners to collaborate, then maybe we have a chance at encouraging a wider demographic to do the same. So that’s why we started OurLynchburg: to draw attention to potential areas of growth—primarily Lynchburg’s progress-halting separations— and to celebrate what inspires us, namely the Hill City’s beautiful people, geography and story.
Tourism & Transportation
Origin Between December 2013 and into the spring, Matt, Carlina and I would slip into what seemed like secret meetings with Marjette Upshur, director of Lynchburg’s Office of Economic Development (assistant director Anna Bentson would later join), and Geoffrey Kershner, co-founder and artistic director of Endstation Theatre Company, to exchange our dreams for the city and how we can take steps toward making that happen. The original concept was to create and project a few Lynchburg-centric film reels onto the sides of various buildings around town. The projections would lead up to the Fifth Street Opportunities Fair at the end of June. June 28, to be exact, which happened to also be the opening night for Endstation’s adaptation of Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. When talking with Kershner about the play’s themes, specifically the fleeting nature of life, the conversation turned to the here and now. What can we do to excite people into recognizing that we are all here, each distinct group, living in Lynchburg at the same time and—together— uniquely equipped to overcome challenges, and even to just simply enjoy our environment (which includes one another). Naming the initiative “OurLynchburg” seemed obvious. We were granted the opportunity to create videos and photographs of the things we love about Lynchburg, but we wanted OurLynchburg to exist as more than an unannounced and unexplained projection series. We wanted to create a positive spectacle, and to pair it with a direct call to action. On the night of our first projection event, we invited a few talented people to come perform their original music (and yoga) on the Main Street parking lot between Scene3 and In-Jera, the new Ethiopian restaurant. The reel played on the side of Scene3’s building. We included prompts to “be involved,” visit www.ourlynchburg.com and to use the #OurLynchburg hashtag on Lynchburg-centric tweets or photos. There has been almost no talk about who is behind the project. We are only three people out of 77,000. Instead, we want to keep the focus clear: talk about why this city is great, the people that make it that way and best practices for making it even better.
Images captured of scenes from around Lynchburg by author Qurantotto and business partner, Matt Addington, for the OurLynchburg project.
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B e ( i n g ) I n v o lv e d As of this writing, there are more than 5,500 photos on Instagram tagged #OurLynchburg. On Facebook, it’s not uncommon for our page to reach tens of thousands of people in a week. I think the engagement has been so high because what we’re doing speaks to our truest intentions, our hopes and (in a way) to a reality we’d like to believe in. People want to live at peace with one another. People want to be proud of the community they live in. People want to be a part of our collective human story. Ultimately, the reality we believe in and wish to endorse is based on the simple understanding that despite how prone we are to separating ourselves from others for every reason we can come up with, humans are at their best when unified by common, mutually beneficial goals. In a relatively controlled environment such as Lynchburg (a small city where everyone seems to have at least a few mutual acquaintances), I see the opportunity for a collective self awareness to occur where our challenges are identified and solutions are devised objectively, and not in a way where we’re too bound to what we’ve always done to see how to effectively move forward. Instead, I see a lot of people competing for a slice of pie, completely missing that with pooled resources, we could simply make more pies. When confronted with scarcity, our response should be one of collaboration, not competition. We have this opportunity, quite literally, to be an example to the world for what it looks like when people work in harmony. When industries attempt to offer products and services that actually provide value in exchange for harder and harder earned dollars—business interactions where both parties benefit, instead of one where each party schemes to not be the one who gets worked over. (There’s this tension that arises in what should otherwise be a friendly interaction: Someone has a product or service and another wants to pay for it. The former wants to charge as much as the market can bear and the other wants to pay as little as possible. In this circumstance where both parties are trying to win, both lose.) When we began OurLynchburg, we had assumed it would take about a year to generate the amount of traffic and involvement we’ve already seen. My suspicion is that you’re like me. You’re frustrated with the circular bickering and continual celebration of the safe, the predictable and the mediocre. We ask, “Surely, there’s more to life than grief and disappointment. Surely there’s a life I can lead were I’m not an undervalued citizen or employee tasked with living and working in a way antithetical to what we were raised to believe, that the world is a place where the beautiful and the true can exist.” Serenity now. 46
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I m ag i n a ry L i n e s Our alone-ness and separation are imaginary. We live in an age where within a matter of a couple decades, our written communication has quantum leaped from letters, to email to chat rooms, to instant messenger, to text messaging and to social media. Community has gone from something local to something global, but the transitions between these modes of human-to-human interaction happen so fast that our ethics strain to keep pace. Conversations now happen for all the world to see, and our first inclination is still to throw elbows (or worse) at our neighbors, all from behind the Internet’s highwalled anonymity. It’s as if we’ve re-entered the sandbox arena where instead of learning how to share, we’re learning how to not be horrific toward each other. It’s no wonder, though, considering how even people in a small city like Lynchburg are still learning how to play in the sandbox, how we still see diversity as a threat instead of an ever-renewing pool of opportunity to recognize that our differences are far outweighed by the fact that we’re all living in this same city at the same time, and together we have a unique potential for learning how to live in such a way that shows we value ourselves and others. Unfortunately, I don’t see the benefit in providing a clickbait story, such as, “These 20 Ways Lynchburg Can Grow Will Reduce You to Tears of Joy” or “14 Things You Should Never Say to Someone from Lynchburg.” It would spoil the beauty of self-discovery. The interworking of the various elements that make Lynchburg a great place to live is a mystery that’s best when experienced, not solved. Our news feeds are filled with enough distracting, point-missing headlines, and I’d hate to be yet another example of the few telling the many how to be. The point of this piece and of OurLynchburg is to draw attention to conversations we should all be having, conversations about what we love and what we don’t, what works and what doesn’t, and how we can reconcile the two. It’s up to “we the people” to re-create what life looks like in Lynchburg from the ground up, and not the responsibility of city government (or anyone else’s) fiat. And imagine, if we could learn to do so locally, then perhaps our Lynchburg-positive online presence can inspire other cities to do the same. You can join the conversation at any moment. See what we’ve already been talking about on our website and social media accounts. Use the hashtag to share what about Lynchburg inspires you. Better yet, step outside of your home, survey your community and become a true native of where you live. It doesn’t matter where you were born, only where you choose to live, to grow and to make a difference. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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Carroll Ave Back Cover.pdf
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