Archive of Loudoun County business events covered by BizLoudoun

Wed., Sep. 14, 2011
Kate Zurschmeide of Great Country Farms was the guest speaker at the Sterling Women's Luncheon. Kate and her husband Mark own Great Country Farms located in the foothills of the Blue RIdge Mountains. Great Country Farmss is a 200 acre working farm that offers produce through its Community Supported Agriculture program and pick your own fields, as well as a "fun on the farm experience" for the whole family with its fourteen annual festivals, educational and special events. Over 75 women and men came out to enjoy lunch and listen to Kate tell her story of working on the farm. Jenet Ahn, Owner AnnaLee's Formal Wear, brought some of her gowns and dresses modeled by local business women and had everyone in awe at the beautiful gowns and dresses. Once again the luncheon ended with door prizes and laughter. Tue., Sep. 6, 2011
Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center celebrated its 30th anniversary on August 31 with a Bar B Que and live band. Over 50 residents, family members, workers, friends, and officials showed up to celebrate this great milestone. Randy Kelly, Inova Loudoun CEO, was on hand to welcome everyone and start the celebration party off. Elizabeth Kaeser, Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Administrator, addressed the audience and stated "We have a nursing home we can be very proud of". Wed., Aug. 31, 2011
It is a Jungle out there was the theme of this years Loudoun County Women's in Business Fall Fashion Preview and Cocktail Reception! Over 150 women and men showed up to see the latest fashions for the fall. D.C.'s Fashion Guru, Josh Hedrington, was the Master of Ceremonies. Proceeds were donated to the Tigerlilly Foundation. The 2011 Women in Business Series Sponsor is American Capital Planning. The show was held at the Belmont Country Club which provided hors d'ourves and the nights signature drink "Golden Goddess". Everyone had a good time networking and socializing before the show. Thu., Aug. 25, 2011
Youth Quest held their annual Golf Tournament at Trump National Golf Course on Monday August 22, 2011. Over 104 golfers which including Sports and Local Celebrities came out to show their support for the cause. This event raises funds to support the at-risk youth of our nation. The YouthQuest Foundation beleives the best way to prepare teenagers for productive lives, particularly at-risk teenagers, is through a quality education and the development of fundamental life skills. The future of our nation lies with our young people, yet many of these youth are faltering. Founders Allen O. Cage, Jr. and Lynda Mann were excited for all the golfers and sponsors that showed up to support YouthQuest. Allen O. Cage, Jr. is President of AOC Solutions, Inc., AC Consulting LLC, FEDAC Processing Co., Inc. and President and Co-Founder of 3 Delta Systems, Inc. Lynda Mann is President of Silver Eagle Consulting, Inc., and the Program Manager of a DoD contract evaluating a nationwide at-risk youth program. This is the 6th Annual Golf Challange. Wed., Aug. 24, 2011
Inova Loudoun Hospital is proud to be the presenting sponsor for the 8th Annual Family Fest, produced by JP Events & Consulting. A huge crowd came out between 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, August 20 at the Dulles Town Center. Attendees were treated to Irish Step Dancing, Back to School Fashion Show by Lord & Taylor, Hip Hop Larry, Cheer and Dance Exhibition and so much more. Everyone had the opprotunity to get free screenings which included blood pressures and body mass index, and educational displays and handouts provided by Inova Mobile Health Services. Other sponsors were Sterling Volunteer Rescue, Sterling Volunteer Fire Department, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, Curiosity Zone, Leesburg Rocket Robotics and much much more. Wed., Aug. 17, 2011
Pinkberry is set to open its doors at the Village at Leesburg next week. Pinkberry is a frozen yogurt store that dubs itself as the “original tart yogurt store.” Pinkberry started in L.A. in 2005 and has since been the hip yogurt spot for celebrities. It is made with live and active cultures and is gluten free. Pinkberry officially opens Aug. 26, but will give out free frozen yogurt Aug. 25 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tue., Aug. 16, 2011
Del Cowsette had the good fortune of playing his entire football career in the D.C. Metro area. Now, he’s giving back to it. The 6-foot-1-inch, 287-pound Cowsette, a University of Maryland grad who made the leap to the National Football League by joining the Washington Redskins as a defensive tackle in 2001, only played 32 games in his career. Still, he’s using that NFL platform to help others. Cowsette’s foundation In Between the Lines Sports helps mentor and support at-risk youths in Northern Virginia. On July 30, Cowsette and crew hosted their first rendition of Pros vs. Joes as a fundraiser for homeless Loudoun County teens of which there are a staggering 600. “Everyone that I’ve spoken with is very surprised that there are that many homeless teens in the area,” Cowsette said. “We were shocked when we heard. We were planning a different event and stopped immediately to do this event and get as much awareness as we can for these kids.” Thu., Aug. 11, 2011
Accountants may be numbers people, but they can be sensitive, too. Just ask the more than 20 employees at Updegrove, Combs & McDaniel, a firm comprising certified public accounts and consultants with offices in Leesburg and Warrenton. The firm has grown exponentially since its inception in Middleburg, when founder Sandra “Sandy” Perkins was the sole practitioner in 1976. Accountant and firm managing partner, Dave Updegrove joined the company in 1983. He claims clients have two main concerns: their health and their finances. One’s health and their finances can lead to anxiety, often leading to emotional stress that can oftentimes be cured by a professional. Therefore, he’s given himself the unofficial title, “the dollar doctor.” As accountants, you need to understand the importance of what people are dealing with, Updegrove said. Oftentimes there are underlying issues that you need to be sensitive to while remaining calm, confident and not adding to a person’s hype, he said. “You assure them there is something that can be done and you’re in it with them,” he said. The firm celebrates 35 years this year. Tue., Aug. 9, 2011
Members of the Communications Workers of America union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are on strike this week against Verizon, which is asking the workers to make compensation concessions. Caroline Greenfield, who has been working with Verizon for 30 years as a cable splicing technician, says that her job is extremely stressful. Fri., Aug. 5, 2011
Local Wachovia Bank branches, like this one on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg, have been transitioning into Wells Fargo branches after they were bought out by the banking firm earlier this year. Wed., Aug. 3, 2011
Supervisors Stevens Miller (D-Dulles) and Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac) braved the rain Aug. 3 to celebrate the groundbreaking of Dulles World Center, a mixed-use retail and residential project at the intersection of Innovation Avenue and Route 28 in Sterling. Upon completion, Dulles World Center will comprise 4.1 million square feet of office space in 11 buildings; 400,000 square feet of retail space; 1,300 residential units and a 350-room full service hotel. Construction on the center’s interchange began immediately. The interchange and all road improvements are privately funded by the developer, Dulles World Center LLC, and are expected to be finished in late 2012. Dewberry is the project designer/engineer, and Shirley Contracting will serve as general contractor. Mon., Aug. 1, 2011
Gov. Bob McDonnell cut the ribbon on a showroom for new, innovative technology, as Dell polished off its latest “solution center” in Herndon, a piece of the company's $1 billion investment in solutions and services. Mon., Aug. 1, 2011
The Village at Leesburg was presented with a Facility Access Management Excellence, or FAME, award for exceeding ADA compliance regulations and meeting the needs of persons with disabilities. The shopping center enhanced the parking along Village Market Boulevard, which created eight additional handicap accessible parking spaces to better serve visitors to the center. “Village at Leesburg’s decision to add eight additional handicap accessible parking spaces is a testament to their level of community spirit and dedication to ensuring equal access by all persons to the property,” staid Frank Lombardi, Chair of the Loudoun County Disability Services Board (DSB). Mon., Jul. 25, 2011
Curling up with an electronic reader on a rainy day may be the way of the future, as big-box bookstore Borders will close its doors by Sept. 1. Hundreds of people trekked to the book retailer in Sterling as “Going out of business” and “Everything must go” signs blared from its shop windows. A liquidation sale continues to draw bookworms of all ages – the check-out queue stretched to the far end of the store July 22, as residents aim to fill their home libraries with collections of paper and hardbacks that will surely be harder to come by in the future. Fri., Jul. 22, 2011
Are whoopie pies “in” and cupcakes “out” this year? Perhaps. A local entrepreneur may be part of the reason as she is creating a lot of whoop-la. Berkeley Gunnell, of Aldie, and her mom, Marcia Wiggins, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, started a company called Whoopsies last November (http://www.whoopsiespies.com). Gunnell, 38, is a single mom who has help from her chief tasting officer son, 8-year-old Thomas, and is literally working night and day to build a business from “scratch”. She is often up baking until 2 a.m. and sleeps for a few hours, only to wake up at the crack of dawn to make sure that her whoopie pies are safely couriered into downtown D.C. to sell at the Red Hook Lobster Truck. In addition, she holds a “day job” as an event planner. But she is fulfilling her dream to build a business making the best gourmet whoopie pies with unique flavors. Wed., Jul. 20, 2011
Grab some popcorn, a soda – or a vodka soda – and head into a movie this weekend. Cobb Theatres, Leesburg’s newest cinema, opened July 22. The 68,000 square-foot, 12-screen theater broke ground last summer. Moviegoers may be just as delighted at the selection of food and drink as they will for the feature flick. A full-service bar, complete with beer, wine and liquor, sits beside a two-story window on the main level that overlooks the main thoroughfare at the Village at Leesburg. Patrons can order a drink while seated around the bar from a server or they can order a cocktail and take it to their seat inside the theater. In addition to a concession stand, the grill menu selection may seem more expansive than most patrons are used to at a movie theater. Food items include Italian sausage ravioli, hand-made pizza, barbecue chicken nachos, chicken fingers, coconut shrimp and healthier fare including pita chips and hummus and frozen yogurt with fresh fruit toppings. When it comes time to settle in front of the big screen, the 12 theaters offer stadium-style seating with custom-designed, rocking seats, wall-to-wall curved high-grain screens, Real-D 3D cinema technology and D-Box seating. D-Box seating is a technology that introduces motion in the stadium seating – movement in the seats is concurrent with the action on the screen. Only a selection of the theaters offer this option. “[This] entire theater is an entire break from the traditional theater,” said Guy Austin, executive director of theatre operations. Fri., Jul. 15, 2011
The streets of Leesburg were alive the night of June 14 with the magic of Harry Potter fans eagerly awaiting the final segment of the Potter films to be released. At the Tally Ho Theater in Historic Downtown Leesburg, more than 175 tickets were sold out by Tuesday, June 12 for the double feature of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I and II. Fans were dressed up and even Hagrid made an appearance. Tally Ho offered prizes to movie-goers including official movie posters, box sets of the released DVD’s and free small bag of popcorn for anyone who dressed up for the premiere. Rachel East, 22, of Leesburg waited in line for over two hours to be the first one in line to see the premiere. “I started reading them when I was eleven, so twelve years of reading something it’s worth it,” East said. Tue., Jul. 12, 2011
Since 1983, the Leesburg based nonprofit International Partnership for Human Development has helped attain economic, social and cultural stability in poor countries all across the world. Throughout the past 28 years, IPHD has provided aid to such countries as Congo, Guinea-Bisseau, Moldova, Mexico, Central African Republic, Republic of Guinea, Romania, El Salvador, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and others. Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other United Nations agencies, millions of dollars have been used to provide aid through providing lunches, school improvements, malaria prevention, agricultural growth and the organization of Parent Teacher Associations. In Guinea-Bisseau, Adrian has seen enormous growth since the program’s inception in 2003. The nonprofit has provided more than $50 million dollars in aid and has fed more than 105,000 children in primary schools every month with prepared meals daily. In addition, Adrian has overseen the creation of the first national PTA organization, distributed more than 60 mosquito nets to aid in malaria prevention and school rehabilitation. Thu., Jul. 7, 2011
The Dandelion Patch held its ribbon cutting June 29. More than 250 family, friends, shoppers and community leaders came out to welcome The Dandelion Patch to the Villiage at Leesburg. Heidi Kallett, president and chief executive officer, welcomed everyone and treated them to great food, drinks and entertainment. The Dandelion Patch has a large selection of fine stationery, custom invitations, greeting cards and unique personal and corporate gifts. The shop also has bridal gifts, baby gifts and graduation gifts. Thu., Jul. 7, 2011
NOVAEXEC, a business magazine focused on the economics and business of Northern Virginia published by Times Community Media, held a launch party for its premier issue last week in front of a crowd of more than 500 attendees. The magazine is designed to inform high-level executives and their managers of conditions affecting their companies in a well-informed and entertaining format. The award-winning media company, Times Community Media, is owned by the Arundel family who are long-time Northern Virginia residents. The premier issue of the quarterly magazine profiled top 20 InNOVAtors in business of 2011 who are the leaders in their industries. The top three InNOVAtors were Jonathan Browning of Volkswagen Group of America, Scott and Becky Harris of Catoctin Distillery and David Guernsey of Guernsey Office Products Inc. Wed., Jul. 6, 2011
The Loudoun Free Clinic recently received $100,000 toward its operations from Inova Loudoun Hospital. The Loudoun Free Clinic in Leesburg opened in 2002. The clinic delivers quality medical care at no charge, serving uninsured residents of Loudoun between the ages of 18 and 64. The clinic is located within Inova Loudoun Hospital's Cornwall campus in downtown Leesburg. The recent financial contribution is in addition to the space, utilities and maintenance costs the hospital provides the clinic. “More than 11 percent of the Loudoun population is uninsured,” said Loudoun Free Clinic Board Chair Erin Smith, “and the Free Clinic's Board and staff are committed to serving the healthcare needs of residents who otherwise might go without medical attention due to costs.” Smith said patient volumes had nearly doubled from 2009 to 2010. In the first six months of this year, the clinic has treated more than 2,400 patient visits. For more information, visit http://www.loudounfreeclinic.org Tue., Jul. 5, 2011
Fortessa held its semi-annual warehouse sale recently. Fortessa Inc., is a designer, developer and marketer of tableware for the high-end commercial foodservice market globally, as well as for the luxury consumer market. Scott Hamberger, chief executive officer of Fortessa Inc., joined Corcoran Winery and Brewery for a barbecue and beer tasting. More than 200 locals came out to enjoy the food, beer and sale. Hamberger's two sons were on hand selling popcorn to raise money for their local boy scout troop. Tue., Jul. 5, 2011
Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation hosted their annual Wine and Cheese tasting to the theme of "Parisian Nights!". More than 300 people came out in their best Paris night life attire to raise money for the "Greatest Impact Fund" at the Hospital. Funds are critical in allowing the hospital to respond quickly by directing funds to areas patients need the most at any given time. Past projects funded through the Greatest Impact Fund include life saving emergency department equipment, child life specialists, improved mammography services, expanded surgical services and OB equipment for The Birthing Inn. Evening activities featured Parisian-style entertainment, live and silent auctions, delectable desserts and fine wine from Loudoun County Vineyards. Participating in the wine and cheese tastings were, Bluemont Vineyard, Loudoun Valley Vineyards, North Gate, Notaviva, Tarara, Village Winery, and Willowcroft Farm Vineyards. Thu., Jun. 23, 2011
Cole’s Closet has generously contributed $50,000 to create the Teen Room called Our Space. Lounge provides teen pediatric patients (ages 13 and up) an age-appropriate spot to escape the bed for a bit and entertain visiting families and friends Arcade-style basketball game Large-screen TV equipped with a gaming system Comfortable hang-out chairs and a phone Computer and printer; wireless Internet is also available The Lounge overlooks the hospital helipad, affording a great view of helicopters taking off and landing. Wed., Jun. 22, 2011
The Monthly Loudoun Chamber of Commerce After Hour Mixer was a huge success even during the rain. The mixer was held at the Lansdowne Resort. Over 50 chamber members showed up to enjoy a relaxing evening mingling and networking over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Grafton DeButts was the Chamber Host as he welcomed everyone to all the up coming events. Fri., Jun. 17, 2011
Over 100 women and a few men showed up for the June Sterling Women's Luncheon hosted by Kristina Bouweiri, Owner Reston Limousine. The featured speaker was Caren Merrick, Owner WebMethods, Inc. She is running for public office of Virginia Senate in the 31st district which now includes part of Loudoun County. Caren spoke on the balance of Women in the Workforce and Homelife. She explained that women make up a big part of the Small Business Work Force. She has been named to Washington's 2011 Tech Titans, !00 of the leaders of Washington's Tech World. There was plenty of networking and shopping as the ladies were getting ready for the lunch and speaker. Every month The National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia is the host venue for the Sterling Women's Luncheon. Thu., Jun. 16, 2011
Mil-tek hosted His Royal Highness the Prince Consort of Denmark at its Ashburn headquarters June 7. The Prince was a part of the worldwide launch of Mil-tek’s new recycling solution. Mil-tek recently chose Ashburn as its American headquarters and major distribution center for its environment-friendly baling and compacting solutions to the U.S. “Most people picture enormous machines when they think of balers and compactors,” said Mil-tek USA’s President and CEO Bryan Wingfield. “But with Mil-tek you have small footprint, single-person operated machines that bring the process closer to the source of the waste and helps our clients save significant resources and time, while fostering a safer and cleaner workplace.” http://www.miltekusa.com Tue., Jun. 14, 2011
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase Breakfast held monthly at the Belmont Country Club is always a hugh sucess.The Business Showcase Breakfast is Northern Virginia’s premier business networking event. The monthly breakfast offers sponsors an effective way to reach a highly sought-after business audience to create greater awareness for a company’s product and services. There are two sponsorship levels, each offering on-site display opportunities, complimentary seating and exposure in Chamber publications and on the Chamber website. With more than 150 attendees at the June event, it is becoming everyones favorite event. Sun., Jun. 5, 2011
Corcoran Vineyards was host to the after hours mixer of the Loudoun Young Professionals this month. Corcoran Vineyards is all about the wine: They're created using traditional methods that enable the full flavors of the grapes to be tasted in every bottle. They now are also a brewery. Corcoran Vineyards is set between the hills in beautiful Waterford. More than 50 young and young-at-heart professionals of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce showed up to taste the fine wines and beer that Corcoran has to offer. Networking was all abuzz as everyone had a wonderful time sharing business cards and stories. Wed., Jun. 1, 2011
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals were treated to breakfast with guest speaker Scott York, chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. More than 40 young professional came out for donuts and pastries to hear York discuss the business of Loudoun County. He touched on the economic developments and the transportation issues facing Loudoun County. Tony Howard, president of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce was on hand to welcome York to the Young Professional's monthly breakfast. Middleburg Bank was sponsor. Wed., Jun. 1, 2011
Ima'ge Salon and Boutique recently put on a beauty clinic with the help of several local businesses. Lisa Hall, owner of Ima'ge Salon and Boutique invited several businesses to come and showcase their works to make you look and feel more beautiful. On hand to answer all those cosmetic questions were Dr. William Lindsey, Robert Earley with Generations FP, SlenderNow Body Wrap of Ashburn, Loudoun Dental Smiles and Ralph Miller with RH Massage. Guests were treated to food provided by Dale Long, Food 4 Thought Catering and wine tasting by Dry Mill Vineyards and Winery. Tue., May. 31, 2011
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Luncheon was a huge success. The guest speaker was Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, America's first African American female combat pilot. Armour had the crowd laughing and smiling as she presented no how businessmen and women can take their organization from "Zero to BreakThrough!" Everyone was treated to the 7-step, battle-tested method for accomplishing goals that matter. The National Conference Center in Lansdowne was the host along with Comcast. Fri., May. 27, 2011
Belfort Furniture took the lead again this year as the Corporate Sponsor for the YMCA Loudoun County Annual Charity Golf Tournament. The event brought in more than $45,000. The proceeds from this event support the YMCA Loudoun County Building Bridges Program that provides quality after school and summer camp opportunities for families in Loudoun. The tournament took place May 5 at Loudoun Valley Golf and Country Club in Purcellville. Since Belfort Furniture became the sponsor in 2005, their efforts have helped raise almost $300,000 for the YMCA Loudoun County. Mike Huber, Belfort CEO, noted, “It sounds like such a simple thing…giving a kid a chance to take part in camp, learn worthwhile skills, have fun and make new friends. But it is not a small thing.” Thu., May. 26, 2011
Over thirty men and women came out to The Syndicates monthly luncheon to learn how to be branded in their companies. Andrew Hanelly, Director of Social Media and SEO of TMG Custom Media, was the guest speaker. He talked about the power of branding-what it is, how it works, and how it can improve your business. The luncheon was a success as everyone listen and enjoyed his talk as they dined at McCormick and Schmick's in Reston Town Center. Wed., May. 25, 2011
Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Stroke Program has been recognized by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for achieving the Silver and Silver Plus Performance Achievement Awards as part of its "Get With The Guidelines" (GWTG) program. GWTG is an acute-care, hospital-based quality-improvement program that empowers healthcare providers to consistently treat heart and stroke patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines. To earn a Silver Award, hospitals must follow treatment guidelines in certain key measures, and must maintain this performance level for one year. In addition, the Silver Plus Award is an advanced level of recognition that further acknowledges a hospital’s compliance to Quality Measures considered important to prevent and treat the incidence of stroke. “This award recognizes the high standard of care that Inova Loudoun Hospital provides stroke victims in our community. We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association,” stated Randy Kelley, CEO, Inova Loudoun Hospital Tue., May. 24, 2011
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Members were flying high at ProJet Aviation on May 19, 2011. Over 100 current and new chamber members dined on food provided by Anothai Restaurant from Ashburn, VA. ProJet Aviation hosted the event and provided tours of the facilities and members had a chance to sit and experience the feel the luxury of Loudoun County premier charter Jets. Wed., May. 18, 2011
The National Conference Center (NCC), is pleased to announce that Sarah Vining, who has been serving as marketing assistant, has now been promoted to marketing manager. Sarah began working at NCC last August after graduating from the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in corporate and organizational communications. "Sarah has effectively, and successfully, launched our entire social media program," stated Kurt Krause, general manager at NCC. "Her regular blog has developed a large following and is very unique within the conference center industry. She has single-handedly established an online following that we had never dreamed possible." Vining developed her social media and online expertise first as a marketing intern with 3D Travel, Inc. in Honolulu where she managed more than 5,000 locations for 3D Hawaii, the world's first virtual travel planning Web site. At NCC, she was able to further explore and hone her skills. "Sarah is a huge asset to our marketing team," Krause added. "Her hard work has greatly enhanced our market presence for training, meeting and banquet business in Northern Virginia." Vining currently resides in Bethesda, Md. She is the recipient of the "Distinguished Service" award from the College of Charleston Department of Communications and was selected as a "Featured Student" by the College of Charleston. She is also a Certified Tourism Ambassador. The National Conference Center (NCC), located in Northern Virginia 12 miles from Dulles International Airport and 35 miles from Washington, D.C., is one of the largest and most comprehensive conference centers in the nation. With 917 guest rooms and over 250,000 square feet of meeting space, NCC has become a hub for productive meetings and is on the GSA schedule. NCC is also home to West Belmont Place, Northern Virginia's largest ballroom with 16,500 square feet for holding an elegant wedding or accommodating a large trade show or special event. For information call 800-640-2684 or visit http://www.conferencecenter.com, or http://www.westbelmontplace.com. The National Conference Center is managed by ARAMARK Conference Centers. ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, http://www.aramark.com. Tue., May. 17, 2011
Kristina Bouweiri, President/CEO of Reston Limousine, was the honoree at the 14th Annual Loudoun County "Good Scout" Award Dinner May 10th at the Belmont Country Club. The Award is given by the National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America! Several Dignitaries were on hand to applaud the "Scout" for her hard work and dedication to the betterment of Loudoun County. Mon., May. 16, 2011
Spring had arrived at The National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia. The dresses were bright and the smiles were brighter at the Sterling Women Networking Luncheon hosted by Kristina Bouweiri, President/CEO of Reston Limousine. Over 130 guests were all networking and sat down to enjoy lunch and listen to keynote speaker Jen Sterling Owner of Red Thinking. For almost 20 years Jen had helped companies build awareness and brand preference in the marketplace. Jen speaks frequently to audiences on the topics of branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. She is a proud wife and mother and also speaks on the balance of work and home. Mon., May. 9, 2011
David Pagan Castano has joined Breaux Vineyards as its premier winemaker. Castano was previously the head winemaker of a destination winery on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. He comes from a family that has spent more than two generations in the grape growing and winemaking industry and his family owns Bodegas Castano, one of southeast Spain’s most prominent wineries. "We are very proud that we have been able to attract a winemaker of this caliber," said Christopher Blosser, general manager at Breaux. Castano started his winemaking career at his family's winery and 1,000-acre vineyard, and honed his winemaking skills in many of the world’s top wine-producing regions including Sonoma, California; Marlborough in New Zealand; Cotes-du-Rhône in France; Mallorca in Spain and, most recently, Lanzarote in Spain. "We were very impressed with his wines," said Jennifer Breaux Blosser, director of sales and hospitality at Breaux. "They exhibited great balance and finesse. This exemplifies his mastery of the craft and we are very excited and pleased that he is joining the Breaux family." Castano has a masters degree in Enology & Viticulture from Polytechnic University in Valencia, Spain and has taken post-graduate masters classes at the prestigious Ecole Superieure d’Agriculture d’Angers & De Toulouse, France. "My goal is to continue the quality winemaking tradition at Breaux Vineyards and to do my part to contribute to the growth of the rapidly expanding Virginia wine industry," Castano said. Castano and his wife have relocated to the area. He will begin working at Breaux Vineyards in May. Thu., May. 5, 2011
Spring was evident in the weather and the buzz around the aLoft Dulles North with Young Professional mingling and mixing. Over 50 young professionals turned out for a network mixer with the Loudoun Chamber of Young Professionals. Anna Lyons, General Manager of aLoft, was on hand to give everyone a tour of the Hotel. The event sponsor, Middleburg Bank had several attendees on hand. Prizes were given away and the big prize of the evening was a one night stay at the aLoft Dulles North. Plenty of food and drinks were available. A good time was had by all and people were already excited about the upcoming events. Wed., May. 4, 2011
Thursday's Storm and tornado watch did not put a damper on the Loudoun SBDC's "Making Connections!" event. They held their 4th annual Celebration of Loudoun Entrepreneurial Spirit seminars and networking event at The George Washington University Virginia Science & Technology Campus on Thursday April 28, 2011. More than 300 participants were on hand to listen to seminars put on by some of the leading experts in their respective fields. John May, Managing Partner New Vantage Group, Bob Steere, Founder Steere Consulting Partners, LLC, Shaun Kelly, Senior Vice President PNC Bank, N.A., Jim Chung Director Office of Entrepreneurship The George Washington University, Cheryl Beebe, Senior Vice President & Loudoun County Market Executive Cardinal Bank, and Scott M. Hamberger, Co-President, CEO Fortessa are just a few of the Speakers and Panalist on hand. Some of the topics covered were Start-up Financing, Small Business Lending Programs, Venture Capital Funding, Government Contracts, Best Blogging Practices, to name a few. Everyone is looking forward to next year already! Fri., Apr. 29, 2011
Inova Loudoun Hospital celebrated Earth Day April 22 with a variety of activities. Participants tasted three types of water available at Inova Loudoun Hospital: Water cooler, tap and bottled. One was named "Best in Taste." On hand were recycled crafts displays and demos and there was a Going Green Giveaway-recycled items which were waste items of the hospital. The Loudoun County Master Gardeners provided educational information on organic vegetable gardening and planting trees and shrubs. Wed., Apr. 27, 2011
Each congressional district in the country selects a best in show to hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year starting in June. This year more than 220 pieces of art were submitted by 149 students from 16 public high schools, six private high schools and four home school students throughout the 10th District. All the artwork was on display for the competition, which first started in 1982. Wed., Apr. 20, 2011
Last week, the Ashburn office of Fusion Dental outfitted 24 Stone Bridge High School boys and girls varsity lacrosse athletes with free custom mouth guards. Fusion Dental provided the mouth guards as a community public health service for local families. Voss Laboratories donated the lab work needed to make the devices. Mon., Apr. 18, 2011
Picking up trash, planting trees and learning about rehabilitated wildlife? Sure beats sitting in class. A group of sixth and seventh graders from Belmont Ridge Middle School spent the morning of April 15 out of school and getting dirty — opting to fish trash out of streams and fertilize baby trees near the neighboring National Conference Center. Earth Day is officially recognized on April 22, but Belmont Ridge Middle and the National Conference Center decided to hold festivities a week early to give the students—who will be out on Spring Break next week—the chance to participate. Fri., Apr. 15, 2011
Every year, Arthritis & Sports Orthopaedics & Physical Therapy donate toys and wear denim every year, with proceeds going toward Toys for Tots. Wed., Apr. 13, 2011
Sterling-based Curry's Auto Service opened its seventh shop this month at 9909 Main St., Fairfax. The new shop includes 4,000 square feet with five service bays. Curry’s Auto Service has six locations in Northern Virginia: Arlington, Chantilly, Dulles, Falls Church, Gainesville and Great Falls/Reston. Founded by Matt and Judy Curry in 1997, Curry's Auto Service was named "2010 Top Shop" by Motor Age Magazine. In June 2010, Curry's Auto Service was chosen by the readers of Northern Virginia Magazine as "Top Auto Shop" in Northern Virginia. In addition, Curry’s has received the highest AAA ratings in the country for customer satisfaction. Mon., Apr. 11, 2011
The National Budget, and the possible Government shutdown, was the topic at the monthly Men's Syndicate networking event April 8. Congressman Frank Wolf was slated to attend and speak, but was unable to attend due to budget talks on Capitol Hill. Wolf's chief of staff, Dan Scandling, came out to speak to more than 70 men and women that came out to the networking lunch. Scandling spoke about the current budget negotiations and stalmate that was happening on Capitol Hill. He also spoke on the current trend happening in regards to the toll hikes. Mon., Apr. 11, 2011
The Washington Mystics unveiled their new team uniforms and announced their new marquee partnership with Inova Health System last week. As part of the partnership, Mystic players will wear Inova Hospital System's name and logo on the front of their jerseys, shooting shirts and community apparel during the upcoming 2011 WNBA season. The partnership will tip off on April 29 at the anti-obesity summit held at the Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel at George Mason University. Mystics President and Managing Partner Sheila Johnson will deliver the keynote speech at the event. Thu., Apr. 7, 2011
The Loudoun Young Professionals of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce came out ready to mingle and network at Eggspectations at The Village of Leesburg. More than 30 young professionals dined on the calamari, hot wings, breads and dips put out by the general manager Mike Wilson and his staff. "I'm going to keep bringing out food until you say uncle!" He won the Challenge and everyone went away stuffed. Mon., Apr. 4, 2011
Around 75 men and women went to George Mason University's Patriot Center to mingle, network and experience some of the university's March Madness excitement on March 24. They dined on 'ball food: Chili, prime rib and beef burgers for the quarterly-network event, The Syndicate. Jimmy's Old Town Tavern served the cocktails. Tue., Mar. 29, 2011
The Daffodil Ball to benefit the Capital Hospice, a non-profit serving end-of-life patients, brought in some big names on Saturday, March 26 at the River Creek Clubhouse. Barry McManus, Jack and Janet Fox, Gabriella Guerra and G. Gordon Liddy were the honorees. Thu., Mar. 24, 2011
The Loudoun Young Professionals got together at the Executive Engagement Series this week. The event engages the emerging workforce with the established leadership of Loudoun County, creating deeper connections and an opportunity to learn from top business leaders over a casual, interactive breakfast. President and chief executive officer of Telos, John Wood, discussed how he went from computer hacker to CEO of a top government contractor. Thu., Mar. 17, 2011
A fashion show and celebration ushered in the Asian American awards this month. Jenet Ahn, owner of Annalee's Prom, Bridal & Special Occasion's, held a fashion show featuring some of her friends who donned a sampling of her creations. Thu., Mar. 10, 2011
Eggspectation, the Village at Leesburg's newest restaurant, hosted a benefit March 6, for Loudoun Cares and its nonprofit center. Mon., Mar. 7, 2011
The county's young professionals got together for some hot wings and networking at Buffalo Wild Wings in the Dulles 28 Centre last week. Attendees enjoy the pleasurable, mixed company of nearly 50 likeminded, self-motivated young professionals. Fri., Mar. 4, 2011
The 23rd annual Chocolates Galore & More honored the local businesses that make the area sweeter everyday. The winners of the event, which was held at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne include the critic's choices: Best Taste Dessert - Sweetz Bakery, Raspberry Champagne Mini Cupcake; Best Presentation Dessert - Lansdowne Resort, Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Pear Gelee Topping; Best Taste Hors D'Oeuvre, Market Salamander, Mallard Duck Rillette On Dark Chocolate Dipped Yukon Potato Crisp W/Bacon Caramel sauce; Best Presentation Hors D'Oeuvre, National Conference Center, Triple B Skewers - Beef, Bacon And Bleu Cheese. Wed., Mar. 2, 2011
Lucy Ritter opened COOK in January in Ashburn. COOK offers two-and-a-half hour classes that cost between $40-$45. Ritter, who had spent 19 years in the homebuilding industry, decided she wanted to bring home cooking right to Loudoun, and COOK was born. In addition to the usual classes, COOK, located at 44170 Cape Court #138, offers couples classes and occasionally offers unique events like “Middle School Mixers”. For more information, visit cookisjoy.com. Mon., Feb. 28, 2011
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce has recognized Peter Burnett as its first Community Leader of 2011. Burnett and his firm, Burnett & Williams, were recognized for their many years of commitment to the community and in particular for their work with Loudoun Cares and its ongoing effort to build a nonprofit center in downtown Leesburg. Burnett & Williams’ staff contributes individual volunteer hours as well as legal services in support of the acquisition and renovation of the Loudoun Cares building on South King Street. Fri., Feb. 25, 2011
A new exhibit featuring the art of photographer Gary Mester is now on display in the Leesburg Town Exhibit Hall. The show, which includes 30 photographs taken in Leesburg and surrounding areas, represents ten years of local history. Subjects include landscapes, nature studies and events. The exhibit will run through April 30. Wed., Feb. 23, 2011
Jennifer Seven, founder and president of Leesburg Weight Loss & Wellness Center by 7Company, announced that the company has passed its one-year milestone and its clients have lost in excess of 4,000 lbs. For more information, visit the website, http://www.7company.com. Fri., Feb. 18, 2011
Some of Loudoun’s young businessmen and women hit up Travinia Italian Kitchen at the Village at Leesburg last week for some good food and business networking for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s Loudoun Young Professionals event. Wed., Feb. 16, 2011
A group of eighth grade Belmont Ridge Middle School students visited the National Conference Center as part of their school business partnership program. The middle school's business partnership program includes six hands-on lesson plans held at NCC that teach the value of the hospitality industry. During the fourth session the students learned how to create a specialized dessert plate. After a demonstration from NCC’s executive chef, Craig Mason, the students were given a chance to create their own dessert plates to present to the group. Wed., Feb. 16, 2011
Dulles Gymnastics Academy, the newest gymnastics facility in Northern Virginia competed in two meets this month where they captured nine first place All Around scores. The competitive girls competed in the Dalmatian Classic in North Wales, Pa., featuring 15 teams and more than 450 athletes from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia. The Boys Team competed in the President’s Day Meet at Youth Sports in Woodbridge. Debi Walk, the owner and Head Coach, along with her Assistant Coaches Brain Ray and Erin Pettit were on hand for the girl’s first out of state meet. Mon., Feb. 14, 2011
Wes Bush, president and chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman, shared his thoughts on national security Feb. 11 at the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Titans event held at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner. Thu., Feb. 10, 2011
BOWA, a home remodeling company specializing in the design and construction of large-scale additions and renovations, was honored with a 2010 Capital “Contractor of the Year” Award by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Metro DC Chapter Jan. 29. The award for renovations totaling more than $1,000,000 was given to BOWA for a large scale home renovation in Great Falls, Va. Tue., Feb. 8, 2011
The Wedgewood Collective, above Madisonbelle in downtown Leesburg, is the joint effort of Rebekah J. Murray Photography and event designer Carrie Moe’s Fleurish Events. The Wedgewood Collective opened Jan. 21. The name was inspired by two colors: Wedgewood Gray, a Benjamin Moore paint color, and the trademark blue of Wedgwood china. The Wedgewood Collective is at 5 Loudoun St. SE in Leesburg. Mon., Feb. 7, 2011
Ralph Buona, the immediate past chairman of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, and senior vice president at Telos Corp. in Ashburn, is joining the race for the Dulles district seat on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as a Republican. Thu., Feb. 3, 2011
Visit Loudoun, or the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association, has named Patrick Kaler president and chief executive officer. Kaler was previously the senior director of travel industry and tourism development for LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Los Angeles. Kaler will start March 15. Kaler replaces Visit Loudoun’s former president and chief executive officer, Cheryl Kilday, who resigned July 7 to take the position of president and chief executive officer of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau in Spokane, Wash. Rick Webster had served as interim director. Mon., Jan. 31, 2011
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley recently appointed Michael A. Curto to serve on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors. Curto is the Deputy Chair of the Business Department of Patton Boggs LLP, a global law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Fri., Jan. 28, 2011
The Syndicate, a networking event started to focus on men, was held last week at the Syrah Restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel. Oh yeah, ladies attended, too. Thu., Jan. 20, 2011
Arch A. Moore III has joined the Bank of Charles Town as executive vice president in Charles Town, W.Va. Moore, 59, was previously executive vice president and chief lending officer with Middleburg Bank. He is the son of former West Virginia Gov. Arch Alfred Moore, Jr., who served from the late 1960s until the late 1980s. Robert F. Baronner Jr., president and chief executive officer of Bank of Charles Town announced Moore’s appointment Jan. 19. Tue., Jan. 18, 2011
More than 150 women were all ears for the advice of Jennifer Seven, President of 7 Company Weight Loss and Wellness at the Sterling Women's luncheon on Jan. 13. The Sterling Women's networking luncheon showcases women-owned businesses in the area. 7 Company features weight loss, massage and bodywork services. For more information, visit http://www.7company.com Sun., Jan. 16, 2011
The merchants of Brambleton Town Center donated $1,000 to Creighton's Corner Elementary School as part of the shopping center's "Holiday Shopping Spree" promotion. The school received the donation thanks to Kelley Brown, who listed Creighton's Corner Elementary School as her favorite school on the entry form she filled out for a shopping spree drawing. In addition to a $1,000 donation to the school, Kelley won a $1,000 shopping spree to Brambleton Town Center for herself. Fri., Jan. 14, 2011
The Salvation Army of Loudoun County’s annual Red Kettle campaign raised $161,186.79 during the holidays to provide food, clothing, housing, assistance with utility bills, medical bills and other services for the needy in Loudoun. This is an increase from last year's $156,381.92, despite a decision by Giant Food’s corporate headquarters to limit the number of days and hours the red kettles and their bell-ringers could be stationed at local Giant stores. Wed., Jan. 12, 2011
An adult boutique on the corner of King and Market Streets is the new spot in Leesburg. Le Tache, or “the spot” in French, opened Jan. 5, with mannequins donning lingerie and hosiery in its window displays, attracting the eyes of downtown’s passersby. Le Tache trades mainly in lingerie and hosiery, but its retail component also extends to lotions, adult toys and contraceptives. Biggs has been in retail for 22 years, so she gauges her retail offerings to what is selling. Lingerie sells. Le Tache has hardwood floors, sheer window dressings and antique chairs. The shop has one room selling women’s lingerie, underwear and hosiery. The most expensive item, a sequined, red corset has a $170 price tag. But, most underwear sells for less than $10. An adjoining room sells adult toys, videos and lotions. The X-rated merchandise is shielded behind drapery, and clientele must be 18 years old to enter. Wed., Jan. 12, 2011
LA Fitness, a sports club at 1490 Classic Path Way at the Village at Leesburg, will celebrate its grand opening Jan. 13. The club is a 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, featuring a full basketball court, three racquetball courts, a 25-yard, three-lane lap pool, a whirlpool spa and spacious locker rooms with showers and saunas, as well as a separate group exercise studio. The club also features a full array of equipment, including more than 75 pieces of the latest generation cardio equipment with individual viewing screens. For more information, visit lafitness.com. Mon., Jan. 10, 2011
Kitty Kearns has been named Middleburg Bank's senior vice president and regional executive in Leesburg. Kearns will oversee all aspects of the bank's business in the Leesburg market. She was previously with Middleburg Bank from 2000 to 2005. “We are excited that Kitty has returned to Middleburg Bank” said Gary R. Shook, president and CEO of Middleburg Bank. “Kitty’s experience and business connections throughout Loudoun County will help her make a significant contribution to the Bank’s continued growth." Wed., Jan. 5, 2011
GeoEye, Inc., a satellite and aerial-based geospatial information and services provider, has appointed Tony Frazier as its senior vice president of Marketing. Frazier most recently served as senior director of Product Management and Marketing at Cisco Systems, where he focused on bringing to market emerging technologies core to Cisco’s video and collaboration strategy. Prior to Cisco, Frazier spent ten years driving strategy, product management and field marketing at several innovative enterprise software companies where he developed a strong background in search, analytics and e-commerce. Mon., Jan. 3, 2011
Dr. George Bazaco, owner of Doukenie Winery, traveled to Haiti with the Medical Missionaries for a week to help Cholera victims in Thomassique. “The time I spend in Haiti helping those in need is most rewarding, especially when I know I can bring some relief to the children. There has now been a recent Cholera outbreak in Thomassique, along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border where the Medical Missionaries have built and support a clinic and hospital, the first medical facility in this region of more than 125,000 people. It is urgent that we support the victims of this recent outbreak in any way we can,” Bazaco said. Doukenie Winery donated its tasting fees and $1 for every bottle sold to the Medical Missionaries hospital in Haiti. Mon., Dec. 27, 2010
The Ashburn Business Connection division of BNI, and chapter president, Daniel Reed with NOVA Home Works, gathered at Landsdowne Resort for their weekly business networking breakfast. The chapter wishes everyone in Loudoun a successful and prosperous New Year. Sat., Dec. 25, 2010
The National Conference Center received first place in the mid-sized business awards category and the Platinum Award from the Loudoun County Green Business Challenge for its dedication in maintaining an eco-friendly property. The Platinum Award is the highest level. The Loudoun County Green Business Challenge honors companies that make a commitment to ensuring a healthy and sustainable life. The sustainability practices include water saving devices in the showers, toilets and sinks; motion-sensor heating and air conditioning devices in guest rooms and meeting space; and biodiesel vehicles that operate off of diverted fryer oil. Thu., Dec. 23, 2010
Kim Holcomb, chief financial officer of Sterling-based Curry's Auto Service, was named the CFO of the Year in the Business Services category by the Washington Business Journal on December 6. Holcomb joined Curry's Auto Service in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer. With a staff of three in the financial department, Holcomb oversees the budget for a $13 million company. Curry's Auto Service was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the U.S for 2010. Curry's ranked number 3972 with a 33% increase in revenues between 2006 and 2009. Tue., Dec. 21, 2010
Some of Belmont Ridge Middle School's eighth-grade students will get a real, behind-the-scenes look at business operations and various aspects of the hospitality industry at the National Conference Center this year. This is the 3rd year of this award-winning program. Sun., Dec. 19, 2010
The National Conference Center's Executive Chef Craig Mason will compete with other American chefs and earn a place in the international Copper Skillet Competition sponsored by The International Association of Conference Centers on Jan. 6. The chefs are vying to represent the United States at the international competition at the association’s annual conference which is scheduled for March. Thu., Dec. 16, 2010
Logan Paulsen #82 rookie tight end greets fans and patrons at the Greene Turtle in Leesburg. Tue., Dec. 14, 2010
Sterling-based Neustar was certified as a green business at the 2010 Loudoun Green Gala last month. AOL, Verizon, Inova Health Systems and Staples Inc. were also recognized. The gala recognized winners of the 2010 Loudoun Green Business Challenge, a partnership between the county government and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce to encourage local businesses to adopt environmentally sound practices. The certification was based on a points system that included more than 40 measurable steps businesses and organizations can take to become more energy efficient, implement more sustainable practices, and improve their bottom line. Mon., Dec. 13, 2010
Thomas Flynn, Loudoun's Department of Economic Development director, presented the county's Design Cabinet with the 2010 PlanVirginia Citizen Award December 10. The annual award is selected by the Citizens Planning Education Association of Virginia and recognizes an individual or group that has made a notable contribution to the harmonious and orderly development of its community, region, the state or the nation. The contribution must have a long-range objective worthy of statewide interest, provide a sensible answer to a real need, and create benefits beyond purely economic ones. Thu., Dec. 9, 2010
Althea Medspa celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Dec. 8 in Leesburg. Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd officiated. The salon will offer laser aesthetics, Asian massage and far-infrared sauna. For more information, visit http://www.altheamedspa.com. Wed., Dec. 8, 2010
Dulles is the nation's second busiest Global Entry airport, trailing only George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport by about 3,500 user sessions. Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiative to speed pre-approved trusted travelers through international arrivals processing, surpassed 75,000 users at Washington-Dulles International Airport on Dec. 6. Since its inception in 2008, Global Entry members have processed their international arrivals 75,058 times on one of the 14 Dulles self-help kiosks. Wed., Dec. 8, 2010
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership was awarded the Hall of Fame Award: A Commonwealth of Opportunity for Economic Development, from a foundation headed by Virginia’s first lady, Maureen McDonnell. The foundation is the First Lady’s Initiatives Team Effort, or FLITE. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership is a non-profit organization that raises awareness of the history in the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, which follows the Route 15 corridor in Loudoun. The Virginia first lady’s foundation recognizes programs, activities, organizations or individuals that embody the ideal of getting involved and giving back. Tue., Dec. 7, 2010
Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley has a new title: Professional potter. Fans flooded the sidewalk in front of the football player’s art gallery, The Cooley Gallery, at its Dec. 3 opening in Leesburg. “Art’s been something that’s always meant a lot to me,” Cooley said. For more information, visit http://www.thecooleygallery.com. Wed., Dec. 1, 2010
He may be one of the smaller members of the Washington Redskins football team at 5'7", but he's not short on talent. Wide receiver Brandon Banks, #16, greeted fans and fielded questions from Late Night Redskin Show host Chris Paul at the Greene Turtle Nov. 30. Wed., Dec. 1, 2010
With more than 150 pounds of gingerbread, and 100 pounds of frosting, the executive pastry chef at Market Salamander in Middleburg, Jason Reaves, designed and built a miniature gingerbread town for the restaurant’s display window. Market Salamander is owned by Sheila Johnson, founder of the entertainment network BET, and president of the women’s basketball team, the Washington Mystics. Mon., Nov. 29, 2010
It’ll be one of the coolest galleries to ever hit Loudoun. Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley will open an art gallery in downtown Leesburg on Dec. 3 during the town’s First Friday event. It’s grand opening is Dec. 10. The Cooley Gallery, at 12 S. King St., will regularly feature ceramics, painting, photography and artwork in other media. Much of the work will be Cooley’s own pottery and painting, but the gallery will also feature other artists—including Loudoun residents Richard Busch and David Norton. For more information, visit http://www.thecooleygallery.com. Tue., Nov. 23, 2010
Washington Redskins running back Keiland Williams sat down for a chat with Late Night Redskins Show host Chris Paul after a devestating loss against the Philadelphia Eagles Nov. 15. Despite the loss, Williams had much to smile about -- he scored three touchdowns during the game. Mon., Oct. 31, 2011
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The Middleburg Womens Luncheon featured a panel of Women in the Media. They were there to express how to juggle work, family and life. Over 150 women and a few men came out to share lunch and listen to these ladies speak about their personal lives as well as their business lives. On the panel were . Tue., Nov. 23, 2010
Lovettsville Montessori School, a planned preschool for children aged 3-6, and Oasis Healthware, a Dulles-based software company that electronically categorizes medical records, took the top awards at the Loudoun Small Business Development Center’s second annual Business Plan Competition awards Nov. 16. Finalists in the non-scalable category included second runner-up, Wine N’ Out, a wine bar to be located in Leesburg; and first runner-up, Market Alignment, a marketing company. Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Purcellville came in second place in the scalable business model category. Thu., Nov. 11, 2010
The Medical Spa at Nova and WD Designs Awareness Jewelry presented a check for $2,418 to Breast Cancer Network of Strength on Nov. 10. The two companies hosted a fundraising event on Oct. 6 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which benefited the Network of Strength. Approximately 55 people, and 15 breast cancer survivors, attended the reception. Thu., Nov. 11, 2010
Washington Redskins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong took a seat to discuss the team's season at the Greene Turtle this week. Armstrong grew up a Cowboys fan, but he now gladly sports the maroon and gold. Rumor has it he may also replace injured player Brandon Banks as the Redskins' punt returner. Thu., Nov. 11, 2010
The award winners weren't the only ones having a ball at the Chamber's Small Business Awards. Loudoun's business owners chatted amongst themselves -- swapping trade secrets and smiles. Fri., Nov. 5, 2010
The spotlight was on a handful of Loudoun’s small businesses Nov. 4 at the 15th annual Small Business Awards hosted by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. More than 430 business and community leaders gathered at Lansdowne Resort to applaud the nine companies that accepted awards. Below are the honorees. Wed., Nov. 3, 2010
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th) will serve his 16th term. Before the Nov. 2 election, Loudouners showed their Wolf support in creative ways -- including the Congressman's moniker mowed onto this Leesburg lawn. Wed., Nov. 3, 2010
A new Edward Jones financial planning offices headed by Richard Chambers opened in Ashburn last month. Here's a look at who was on hand to celebrate. Tue., Oct. 26, 2010
More than 900 techies attended TechCelebration, the annual banquet hosted by the Northern Virginia Technology Council. John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems Inc. discussed technology's role in global innovation and U.S. competitiveness. He also predicted that more than 90 percent of all consumer Internet traffic will be video. He challenged government and business to work together to restore our economy and improve U.S. competitiveness. Thu., Oct. 21, 2010
Some big names came out to support the Blue Ridge Invitational golf event, which held a charity tournament Oct. 11. at Creighton Farms. The center is the only nonprofit serving Loudoun residents with speech, hearing and developmental disorders. Last year, the center provided more than $115,000 in free and discounted services. Thu., Oct. 21, 2010
Washington Redskins player Casey Rabach drew in a crowd at the Greene Turtle, as a part of the Late Night Redskins Show with Chris Paul. The 33 year-old, 6'4" footballer chatted with Paul and entertained the crowd. Thu., Oct. 21, 2010
Wegmeyer Farms was host to an agricultural delegation from Hainan, China, who wanted to learn about their education and tourism programs. Wegmeyer's pumpkin patch, which is in its third year as a u-pick operation, was one of the stops on the delegation's tour across the U.S., which also included the U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.wegmeyerfarms.com. Thu., Oct. 21, 2010
The Medical Spa at Nova hosted a breast cancer awareness event last week, with more than 55 guests, 15 of which were breast cancer survivors. The event raised more than $2,000 for Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Vendors included Il Pioppo wines, WD Designs, Bravada Wigs, Diya Designs and Beijo Bags. Thu., Oct. 14, 2010
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Who knows more about that topic than Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley and guard Derrick Dockery? The players hosted the 3rd annual All Star Survivor luncheon with their wives, Christy Cooley and Emma Dockery, last week. The All Star Survivors then took their turn as Washington Redskins cheerleaders at the game against the Green Bay Packers Packers. (The Redskins won!) Thu., Oct. 14, 2010
Washington Redskins line backer, Lorenzo Alexander, was the special guest at the Greene Turtle's Late Night Redskins Show with Chris Paul this week. As always, a crowd came out to see the celebrity – and take photos and get autographs from him. Fri., Oct. 8, 2010
What better way to boost your business than at the Marketplace? The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce hosted their event this week with a Taste of Loudoun, a Technology Gadget Center, an Oktoberfest-themed networking reception and lots of business bartering. Tue., Oct. 5, 2010
REHAU, an international polymer innovator in the construction and automotive industries, held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 1 for its new “Polymer Solutions Center” in Leesburg. The building will show off the company's sustainable building and renewable energy products and systems. Mon., Oct. 4, 2010
"Redskins Late Night" is a televised talk show featuring a rotating roster of Redskins players and radio personality Chris Paul. The show discusses the 'Skins and their activities on- and off- the field. "Late Night" targets die-hard fans with comedy skits, fan questions and comments and segments on offbeat subjects ranging from players’ cars to the making of the annual Redskins Cheerleader Calendar. Mon., Oct. 4, 2010
Pat Wirth, is owner and president of Potomac Falls Express Lube & Car Wash in Sterling, gave the keynote address at the Middleburg Women's luncheon last month. The company is the only women-owned fast lube and car wash in Virginia -- and it is the only one to actively integrate innovative "green" services and eco-friendly products. Mon., Oct. 4, 2010
The Syndicate, an executive men's networking event, was held at the Volkswagen corporate offices in Herndon last month. Thu., Sep. 30, 2010
A full golf course of 144 golfers come out to support the annual Military Heroes Golf Classic last week at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville. The event raised more than $250,000 and was hosted by the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation, a nonprofit working to meet the needs of military personnel and their families. For more information, visit http://www.PentagonFoundation.org. Tue., Sep. 28, 2010
Twelve officials from Chengdu in the Sichuan Province of China visited the Leesburg Water Pollution Control Facility last week. The group showed particular interest in Leesburg's wireless, solar-powered utility metering system, the remote control camera system used to evaluate the condition of utility lines from inside the pipes and the biosolids processing facility which produces Tuscarora Landscaper's Choice fertilizer from the WPCF waste solids. Mon., Sep. 27, 2010
The new, 12-screen Cobb Theatre, which will make its debut in 2011 celebrated its ground breaking ceremony at the Village at Leesburg Sept. 27. Cobb Theatres feature stadium seating with custom-designed rocking seats for unobstructed viewing, wall-to-wall curved high gain screens that produce brighter colors and a sharper image, Dolby Digital Surround Sound, REAL D 3D cinema technology and DLP Digital Projection Systems. The location at Village at Leesburg will also feature an upscale bar & grill element. For more information, visit http://www.cobbtheatres.com. Mon., Sep. 27, 2010
American (and Loudoun) companies can weather the economic downturn by focusing on exports, said several speakers at the Sept. 14 "Exporting Essentials" conference at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne. The conference brought together business representatives from all over Loudoun, the United States and the world as they discussed the ways that American exports could benefit the local, national and global economies. U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) said that Loudoun as everything needed to export successfully. "There are a lot of businesses in Loudoun County that are making and doing things that we can sell abroad," he said. Mon., Sep. 27, 2010
The 3rd Annual Run for the Door 5K hosted by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage was held on Sunday, September 19 in Sterling. Loudoun Habitat for Humanity was the proud recipient of a check for over $12,000. The proceeds will be used to help continue the efforts to build homes for people in need in Loudoun County. Fri., Sep. 17, 2010
A local meal assembly chain, Let's Dish! recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of their Ashburn location. Thu., Sep. 9, 2010
Sodexo workers were joined by students who went on strike to protest unsafe conditions for the cafeteria workers at GMU in Fairfax Sept. 8 and 9. A report released earlier this month by Human Rights Watch, found that the company "threatened, interrogated and fired workers who tried to form a union." Thu., Sep. 9, 2010
Summer may be winding down, but the fun in Loudoun isn't. Family Fest, Inova Loudoun Hospital's annual event, featured interactive activities and entertainment focusing on family health and safety, nutrition, education and community awareness. Several Loudoun businesses and organizations set-up shop at the event, which also featured a professional dancer on a stage in the Dulles Town Center atrium. Thu., Sep. 2, 2010
Dulles Motorcars has operated in Leesburg for 20 years, owned by Brothers and co-owners Kevin and Hamid "Senior" Saghafi celebrated the grand opening of the new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram truck dealership at 219 Catoctin Circle on Saturday, August 28. Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher signed autographs and posed for pics with fans. Fri., Aug. 27, 2010
Loudoun's most fashionable ladies attended the Fall Fashion Preview & Cocktail Reception at Belmont Country Club Aug. 24. The event was hosted by the Chamber's Women in Business Alliance and proceeds benefited 100 Women Strong. The Leesburg Premium Outlets supplied the runway looks – and some women were even treated to a swag bag. Fri., Aug. 20, 2010
CEOs, CFOs and VPs rubbed elbows and chewed the fat at the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce's August After Hours Mixer at Goose Creek Golf Club August 19. Thu., Aug. 19, 2010
U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th) had a lot on his plate at a lunch meeting August 19. Wolf spoke at a Rotary Club meeting at 1757 Golf Course in Dulles. He said he'd like to see: Management of the national debt; U.S. jobs return from overseas and an Iraq study group to bring "fresh eyes" to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Wed., Aug. 18, 2010
Do you want to shout it from the rooftops how amazing your business is? There’s no need for that, just attend one of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s Business Showcase Breakfasts. Bring a stack of business cards and a smile to show. You never know how far networking can go. Thu., Aug. 12, 2010
Vinos reveled at Round Hill's Bogati Bodega winery and vineyard Aug. 7. The winery’s first releases include the white wines Seyval Blanc, Tango Blu and Viognier and the red wines Syrah/Mourvedre blend and a Malbec. BizLoudoun Photos/Tena McDonald Wed., Aug. 11, 2010
Cheryl Kilday, president of Visit Loudoun, the county's visitors and convention association, bid farewell to the county at a going-away party at the National Conference Center Aug. 10. She is returning to the West Coast, where she has family. Her replacement has not yet been named. BizLoudoun Photos/Nicholas Graham Wed., Aug. 11, 2010
"The State of the Recovery." The title of George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis director Dr. Stephen Fuller indicates that Loudoun's economy is on the rebound after one of the worst recessions in recent history. Fuller warned the nearly 200 businessmen and women in attendance at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's Policy Maker Series Breakfast Aug. 11 to mind their businesses -- and their spending. County Administrater Tim Hemstreet also presented. Tue., Aug. 3, 2010
Leesburg-based Vectronix Inc. celebrated its 25th anniversary with a picnic at Dulles Golf Center and Sports Park on July 30. Vectronix is a developer of integrated, hand-held, module, and precision systems for observance, detection, location and targeting solutions for the defense, homeland security and law enforcement communities. During the past three years, Vectronix has expanded from less than 10 to nearly 50 employees. Approximately 75 attendees played mini-golf, competed in a longest drive contest, basketball, batting cage and volleyball. For more information, visit http://www.vectronix.com. Mon., Aug. 2, 2010
It may be a one-nurse show, but the new Patient First facility has opened without a hitch. Patient First made its debut July 28 in Leesburg, with extended office hours for walk-in patients. Patient First has 12 rooms, a lab, on-site X-rays and basic medications. For more information, visit http://www.patientfirst.com. Tue., Jul. 27, 2010
Young professionals dined and schmoozed July 26 at Cookology in Dulles. The Loudoun Young Professionals event is hosted by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and is open to the young -- and young at heart. Mon., Jul. 26, 2010
More than 2,500 visitors partied it up July 17 at the Village at Leesburg’s Summer Block Party. Adults quenched their thirst at the beer garden, while kids were wowed by balloon sculpting, airbrush art, face painting and caricatures. American Idol Finalist Elliott Yamin and national touring band "emmet swimming," tickled the guitar strings for their listeners. Wegmans served "American Classics" and Faang Thai Restaurant and Bar featured Asian specialties. Proceeds totaled $1,500 and went to Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. http://www.villageatleesburg.com. Thu., Jul. 22, 2010
Donald Trump, owner of Trump National Golf Course in Lowes Island, took a tour of the greens with the course's architect, Tom Fazio, and his son, Logan Fazio. The men took golf members on a two-hour walking tour of the newly redesigned Championship Course earlier this month. The course opened July 17. Wed., Jul. 21, 2010
Dr. Grace Keenan, the founder and Medical Director of Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center Inc., was honored at the Morton’s Steakhouse Celebration of Women in Business luncheon July 20. “The Entrepreneurial Spirit” is a bi-monthly luncheon series presented by Morton’s Steakhouse in Reston Town Center, which is designed to celebrate the unique and valuable attributes of women in business. It provides a networking opportunity intended to unite and illuminate entrepreneurial women. Thu., Jul. 15, 2010
IL PIOPPO, is bringing unique varietals and special selections. Offering the most captivating wines, oils and food from targeted, boutique Italian producers to your taste buds. IL PIOPPO vineyards, farms and groves are the ones you've been looking for. http://www.piopposelections.com. Wed., Jul. 14, 2010
Sixteen women and one brave man trailed the Loudoun countryside on a bus leading to Loudoun Valley Vineyards in Hillsboro, where they sampled seven different vintages, as served by vineyard owner Bree Ann Moore. The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Reston Limousine, hosted The Women's Leadership Wine Tour July 14. Kristina Bouweiri, owner of Reston Limousine, organized the networking event for women to exchange business cards over tastings and a boxed luncheon prepared by Celebrations Catering. Tue., Jul. 13, 2010
8 Chains North is Loudoun's newest winery. It is named after a site where the winery's vineyard is planted near Waterford. During the Civil War, Confederate engineers made a river crossing on the winery's site that was 1.8 chains (one chain equals 66 feet) upriver of one of Col. White’s river fields in Leesburg. 8 Chains North opened July 3. http://www.8chainsnorth.com Tue., Jul. 13, 2010
Jersey Mike's is open for business. The sub shop opened July 14, with a VIP preview special the night before. Leesburg Mayor Kristin Umstattd and Supervisor Kelly Burk were on hand for the ribbon cutting. Thu., Jul. 8, 2010
'Round and 'round the networkers go. More than 150 business men and women attended the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's Business Showcase Breakfast at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn. It was a game of musical chairs to meet as many business owners and leaders as possible – with a one minute elevator speech. Business cards (and jaws) went flying. Thu., Jul. 1, 2010
Hawaiian-shirt clad attendees of the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Hot Ticket Awards enjoyed cocktails and an outdoor pool party at NVTC's President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg's home this week. The awards honored the region's best and brightest entrepreneurial technology companies. The winners are: Hottest Bootstrap; CustomInk.com. Hottest Emerging Government Contractor; Agilex Technologies, Inc. Hottest Exit; NISC. Hottest International Company; BroadSoft. Hottest Management Team; Zenoss. Hottest Social Buzz; ZoomSafer. Hottest Venture Capital Deal; LivingSocial. Mon., Jun. 28, 2010
The Syndicate, an Executive Mens Network launched Thursday, June 24 at Moore Cadillac in Chantilly. The Syndicate was inspired by the success of the Sterling Women Network. George Mason University's Dr. Steven Fuller was the keynote speaker. Randi Miller "The Voice of Metro" played emcee, and Morton's catered and Market Cellars handled the bar. Tue., Jun. 22, 2010
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce hosted a networking breakfast for the Loudoun CEO Cabinet, the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors June 22 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sterling. The group of approximately 100 attendees talked about the future of Loudoun's business community and how their voice has become more streamlined when they address the Loudoun Board of Supervisors. Thu., Jun. 17, 2010
In 1985, Jan Neuharth and her husband, Joseph Keusch, started Paper Chase Farms, a full-service equestrian facility in Middleburg. She orchestrated an agenda of horse shows, clinics with world-class equestrians, and corporate and charity events. But when she sold the equestrian center in 2000, she channeled her inner writer and authored three mystery novels set in the Virginia hunt country. Her third novel after "The Hunt" and "The Chase," entitled "The Kill," was released May 27. Mon., Jun. 14, 2010
Inova Loudoun Hospital hosted a magical, Moroccan cocktail party at Lansdowne Resort June 12. Guests enjoyed belly dancers and Moroccan music, auctions, fine cheeses, desserts and a selection of wines from Breaux Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, Hillsborough Vineyards, Loudoun Valley Vineyards, North Gate Vineyards, Notaviva Vineyards, Sunset Hills Vineyards, Wegmans, Willowcroft Farm and more. The evenings proceeds benefited Inova Loudoun Hospital's Greatest Need Fund. Thu., Jun. 10, 2010
Four stars in the CFO world were honored June 9. The Northern Virginia Technology Council hosted its 14th annual Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards at The Ritz-Carlton in McLean. Ted Leonsis – owner of the Washington Capitals, the Washington Mystics and the Washington Wizards -- was honored as the winner of the Michael G. Devine Hall of Fame award for his role as a businessman and technology pioneer, as well as for his leadership in the local community. The winners were: Public Company CFO: Joseph Greeves, Executive Vice President and CFO of Dulles-based GeoEye. Private Company CFO: Kevin Boyce, Datatel, Inc. Group/Division CFO: Marilyn Crouther, HP Enterprise Services. Community Service Award: Linda Gentry, Center for Innovative Technology Tue., Jun. 8, 2010
The Sterling Women networking event benefiting 100 Women Strong was held at King Pinz at the Village at Leesburg June 7. King Pinz, Leesburg's newest bowling alley, opened to the public June 8. The bowling alley is an upscale entertainment center: Bowling with plush, lounge seating; an arcade, billiards and an interactive game room; and a sports bar and grill with a contemporary menu. Mon., Jun. 7, 2010
Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley auctioned off his handy work at his inaugural art show June 5 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner. After Cooley suffered an ankle injury during the 2009 football season, the former art major returned to painting and pottery. He told the crowd that he frequently gifts his teammates, family and friends with his creations. More than 250 pottery pieces and 20 paintings were on display and quarterback Colt Brennan, tight end Lee Vickers and running back Clinton Portis lent a helping hand. Since 2008, Cooley's Education Fund has provided college scholarships to low-income high school seniors in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Cooley donates ten, $25,000 scholarships to underprivileged children annually. Thu., Jun. 3, 2010
Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (I-at large) presented a power point presentation at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's Policy Makers Series Breakfast June 3. He spoke of the county's transportation plan, the issue of staggered terms for board members and Loudoun's sign ordinance -- to which he joked that he would like to see Loudoun's businesses be able to display their company's names like those located in New York City's Times Square. Fri., May. 28, 2010
A VIP-arty was attended by Loudoun's Business VIPs at Belmont Country Club May 27. The Loudoun County Department of Economic Development hosted the networking event for the county's famous faces: Del. Tom Rust (R-Sterling), Tag Greason (R-northeastern Loudoun), Telos Corp. CEO John Wood, Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Edgar Hatrick and Loudoun Board of Supervisors Vice Chairwoman Susan Klimek Buckley (D-Sugarland Run), among others. Buckley presented a Resolution of Appreciation to the Loudoun business community for their help with the Local Composite Index. Thu., May. 27, 2010
The Women In Business Alliance hosted their inaugural leadership management conference May 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn Dulles North. WIBA's seminar was entitled "What Women Do: Lead. Inspire. Accomplish." Bonnie Hughes of American Capital Planning LLC, opened with the presentation "Managing Clients: Get them, Keep them, Love them or Leave them." Dr. Grace Keenan of Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center Inc. followed with "Managing Employees: from Good to Great." Debra Orbacz of Orbacz Strategy Group LLC closed with "Navigating the Leadership Labyrinth: Wisdom for Women in Leadership." Mon., May. 24, 2010
AOL – now branded as Aol. -- rang in 25 years with lots of cupcakes and ice cream in Dulles May 24. Aol employees past and present were on hand to celebrate with the company that once had its headquarters in Loudoun and has been here for 14 years. To kickoff the celebration, Aol. employees will donate their time to the following local charities: American Cancer Society, American Horticultural Society, Central Fairfax Services, City of Hyattsville, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, Earth Sangha, Food and Friends, Habitat for Humanity, Loudoun County Parks and Recreation, and more. Thu., May. 20, 2010
"I can't tell you what's happened in the past, but I can tell you now that we're going in the right direction," said Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan as a crowd of several hundred attendees erupted in applause. Shanahan was on hand to speak at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Leadership luncheon May 20 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne. He said he has a vision and a plan for the Redskins and that he's looking for players who have talent and can prove it on a day-to-day basis. Thu., May. 20, 2010
Going once, going twice ... going to fight for the cure! Washington Redskins player Chris Cooley and family hosted the second annual Cooley's for the Cure May 18. Last April, the first Cooley's for the Cure event raised more than $27,000 for Relay for Life. The second annual Cooley's for the Cure event was at Caliente – a Mexican restaurant in Ashburn. Proceeds benefited the Eastern Loudoun Relay for Life Briar Woods FBLA team. The event included a live auction by Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, quarterback Colt Brennan and fullback Mike Sellers. Kicker Graham Gano and Safety Reed Doughty also attended. Auction items included Redskin's memorabilia, gift baskets, salon treatments, weekend get-away, sports club membership, pottery by Chris Cooley and more. Wed., May. 19, 2010
John Wood, CEO and Chairman of the Board and Director at Telos Corp., was the honoree at the 13th annual Loudoun County "Good Scout" Award dinner May 18 at the National Conference Center. The award is given by the National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America. Famous faces in the crowd included Del. Joe May (R-western Loudoun) and Scott Hamberger, Chairman of the Loudoun County CEO Cabinet and CEO and Co-President of Fortessa in Sterling. Wed., May. 19, 2010
The Leesburg Economic Development Commission honored the winners of the ninth annual 2010 Business Appreciation Awards May 18 at the Thomas Birkby House. The nominations committee reviewed 120 nominees and 75 businesses. The winners were: The George C. Marshall Award: Robert Sevila; New Business Award: Talk Loudoun; Heritage Award: Tuscarora Mill Restaurant; Ambassador Award: Mom’s Apple Pie; Innovations Award: REHAU; Environmental Award: Doner Bistro; Home-Based Business Award: Milt Herd, Herd Planning & Design; Public Art Award: ArtSquare and Community Steward Award: Johnson Promotions & Events. Mon., May. 17, 2010
The Medical Spa at Nova celebrated its fifth anniversary with an open house, tours, demonstrations, gifts and door prizes May 5. The event was hosted by Dr. Grace Keenan, the medical director and founder of the spa and Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center, Inc. – one of the largest primary care practices in Loudoun. Keenan joined the Loudoun business community in 1988. Thu., May. 13, 2010
The Dulles Greenway is hosting its 5th annual "Drive for Charity" event May 20. At a rally for the event May 13, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (I-at large) joked that he hopes to spread rumors of a traffic jam on Route 7 that day in an effort to drive cars into using the toll road. Last year, 64,000 cars paid into the fundraiser. Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg) was also in attendance at the rally. The Dulles Greenway hopes to collect $235,000, which would bring the total proceeds to $1 million during the past five years. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit five Loudoun charities: Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Fresh Air/Full Care, March of Dimes, Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Dulles Greenway Scholarship. Wed., May. 12, 2010
"How many people got stuck in traffic today?" asked Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Sean T. Connaughton. Connaughton addressed more than 100 government officials and businessmen and women at the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce's Policymaker Series event at Belmont Country Club May 12. Connaughton told an anecdote of how he had previously asked that question to a crowd in Richmond. "Isn't that great? Isn't that fantastic? The reason why you got stuck in traffic is because people are going to jobs," he said. All jokes aside, economic activity, jobs and a growing population in Northern Virginia are factors many other cities and towns in the commonwealth would kill for, he said. But, he acknowledged that growth and economic activity can be stumped if transportation issues are not addressed. Mon., May. 10, 2010
More than 350 friends wished James E. Bennett, President & CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, a fond farewell May 7. Bennett made many passenger service quality improvements at Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport, including the Dulles AeroTrain that debuted in early 2010. The party, at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, was co-hosted by the Committee for Dulles, the Dulles Airport Airline Management Council, the Dulles Airport Airline Management Council, the Dulles Area Transportation Association, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Loudoun, among others. Mon., May. 3, 2010
Entrepreneurs and business owners alike pounded the carpet at George Washington University April 29. Attendees of the Loudoun Small Business Development Center's third annual "Building Business Together" day-long event had the opportunity to network, attend seminars and participate in a silent auction. The event's finance fair was the project of the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission’s Marketing and Business Retention Committee. The Loudoun Times-Mirror was media sponsor. Wed., Apr. 28, 2010
OpenSkies Airline is flying high in Loudoun. The airline celebrated its launch party at Washington, D.C.'s Hay-Adams Hotel April 28. It celebrated its maiden flight from Paris-Orly Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport Monday, May 3. OpenSkies is an all business-class airline with direct transatlantic flights on a Boeing 757-200. The aircraft has only 64 seats; 40 are "Biz Seat" class and the remaining 24 are "Biz Bed" class, offering flat beds that recline 180° in a private space. Tue., Apr. 27, 2010
South Riding -- Vintage 51 restaurant (sister restaurant of Vintage 50 in Leesburg) was host to the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's Loudoun Young Professionals networking event April 27. Mon., Apr. 26, 2010
Nearly 100 Loudoun business men and women tested their ABC's at the Loudoun Literacy Council's fourth annual Spelling Bee April 26 at Lightfoot Restaurant in Leesburg. The spelling teams competed to raise awareness and money for the Loudoun Literacy Council. Donations will benefit the council's family literacy and adult literacy programs. Congratulations to Hartrex Management Corp. of Aldie, whose team was victorious. Wed., Apr. 21, 2010
Kathy Kupka of Kathy Kupka Photography in Middleburg was the keynote speaker at the Middleburg Women luncheon at Briar Patch Inn Bed & Breakfast April 21. Kupka shared a story concerning her bout with cancer – during which she took several black and white photos of dogs. The images were the perfect forum for her to express the up-and-down emotions she faced while battling the disease, she said. Tue., Apr. 13, 2010
Several from Loudoun’s business community gathered at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne April 13 to honor the county’s everyday heroes at the 25th Valor Awards hosted by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. The awards honor first responders who made life-saving rescues throughout the previous year, as well as everyday citizens who committed acts of heroism. Some of the incidents that people were honored for include the July 10, 2009, crime spree in Leesburg, which included a botched armed robbery and two hostage situations, a citizen rescue of a young woman who ran off a road into a lake in Ashburn in November 2009, the rescue of a 17-year-old from a burning building, and the rescue of a Loudoun County Adult Detention Center inmate who tried to commit suicide by hanging himself. Thu., Apr. 8, 2010
Cate Magennis Wyatt, founder and president of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, was the speaker at the Sterling Women’s luncheon April 8 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne. The partnership is a four-state nonprofit corporation dedicated to sharing the heritage of the 180-mile corridor from Gettysburg, Pa., to Monticello. Previously, Wyatt was the secretary of commerce and trade for Virginia, president of Remington International, vice president of Xerox Development and vice president of Weston Capital Corp. Mon., Mar. 29, 2010
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual B2BizOps Business Opportunity Forum March 25 at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott. Representatives from 45 area companies and government agencies networked and talked about business opportunities in Loudoun. VIP Baseball was on hand to discuss what it’s doing to bring professional baseball to Loudoun. Fri., Mar. 19, 2010
A skeleton commercial space at the Village at Leesburg served as the backdrop for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Loudoun Young Professionals networking event March 18. Although much of the space is yet-to-be completed, the studio-style space afforded plenty of elbow room and views of the village for the business men and women in attendance. The Loudoun Young Professionals event was opened up to all Chamber members this month, jumbo-sizing attendance to more than 100. Rich Vaaler of Sperry Van Ness/Vaaler Real Estate and broker at the Village at Leesburg, spoke of his plans for the area. Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce President Tony Howard handed out door prizes and encouraged attendees to sign-up for upcoming events. Fri., Mar. 12, 2010
Supervisor Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac) headlined the Sterling Women luncheon March 11 at the National Conference Center. McGimsey gave insight into how her career began and encouraged attendees to vote, be more active in the community and be more Earth-friendly. A couple of ways she said to achieve these goals were to write letters to the editor, talk to the media, start up a blog, speak to the Board of Supervisors or join a local political party. Mon., Feb. 22, 2010
The Middleburg Women’s monthly lunch was Feb. 16, at Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn in Middleburg. The lunch is a time for networking, eating an elegant meal and hearing from prominent women from all walks of life. February’s luncheon featured Maureen Hanley, director of operations at Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg. Fox Chase was purchased in 2000 by Hanley’s parents. As director of operations, Hanley manages and produces horse shows, clinics and media events. She is also founder of Ride for the Cure Virginia, a breast cancer fundraiser held at Fox Chase Farm that raised more than $125,000 in 2009, according to the Middleburg luncheon flier. Hanley was previously an award-winning radio producer at National Public Radio, Public Radio International and Washington, D.C.‘s WETA-FM. Thu., Feb. 18, 2010
As keynote speaker of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell addressed nearly 500 residents, government officials and business leaders about Virginia’s great opportunities and tough challenges. He referred to Loudoun as the technology capital of the world and a great place to do business.