fredericksburg regional business magazine - february 2015

FREDERICKSBURGREGIONAL BUSINESSTHE REGION’S PREMIER BUSINESS PUBLICATION Volume 1 Issue 2

February 2015

– 2015 GALA PHOTOS ON PAGES 12-13 –

Legislative Update 10

Military Briefing 16

Transportation 17

Economic Development – Selling the Fredericksburg Region at home and abroad

Economic Development Leaders in the Region

FEBRUARY 2015 Fredericksburg Regional Business 3

By Susan Spears

It was last fall when we received confirmation that we had our Title Sponsor – BB&T Bank – for the 2015 Annual Awards and Gala. Once that terrific news was in, the usual flurry of activity began – booking the venue, deciding on a theme, contacting the awards committee, booking a band, etc.

With her usual flair, Member Services Director Whitney Watts worked with an energetic group of member volunteers who cheerfully brought in unique and wonderful items for our Silent Auction. Indeed, the excitement started early as our office phones seemed to ring off the hook with folks lining up to be part of this prestigious annual occasion.

A strong delegation of our elected officials ranging from federal to local offices signed up to attend. A significant number of Chamber Trailblazers joined us this year and they were side-by-side with an unprecedented number of new members. Before we knew it there was once again a significant “buzz” in the community about the Annual Awards and Gala.

We could not be more proud to know how much you – our members – enjoy attending this signature event every year.

We love that you enjoy coming together and pausing for a moment to recognize small and large Chamber businesses that exceled in 2014; to recognize an entrepreneur who has persevered in a tough economic climate; to highlight an outstanding nonprofit that has had a significant positive impact on the community.

It’s beautiful that your Chamber takes time to thank a business for maximizing opportunities to utilize “green” practices. And it speaks volumes of your love of community when you stand to recognize a dedicated community leader who has devoted countless energy and resources to our region – with the highest ethical standards – over a long period of time.

We took a moment to thank our outgoing chairman of the board of directors, Mike Fidgeon, and officially welcome our new chairman, Greg Calvert.

And then we put our dancing shoes on. Rumor has it that some of you (I won’t name names) tore up the dance floor while others enjoyed sparkling conversation that may or may not have been all about business.

Truly, this celebration was a night to remember. I’m so glad you were there to help us kick off what I know will be another terrific year for the business community of the Fredericksburg Region.

From the Desk of the PresidentChamber Awards and Gala gives big start to exciting New Year

Susan Spears is president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

FREDERICKSBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 240Fredericksburg, VA 22401(540) 373-9400 Fax: (540) 373-9570www.fredericksburgchamber.org

For advertising opportunities in Fredericksburg Regional Business, contact Howard Owen at Stafford Printing, (540) 659-4554 or [email protected].

MISSIONThe mission of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce is to build relationships and create competitive advantages for a healthy business environment.

INSIDE5 Feature: Regional

Economic Development

8 Conversation with FRA President Curry Roberts

9 Workforce NOW

10 Legislative Update: State Sen. Bryce Reeves

12 Gala 2015

14 Spotlight: Infinity Technologies

15 Spotlight: Mary Washington Healthcare

16 Military Briefing

17 On the Move: CTB Member Hap Connors

18 New Members

19 Chamber Members in the News

22 Calendar

On the cover:Economic development officials of the Fredericksburg Region (front row, l-r) Amy Peregoy, economic development specialist, City of Fredericksburg; M.C. Moncure, marketing manager, Stafford County Economic Development; (back row, l-r) Todd Gillingham, vice president, FRA; Nick Minor, manager, FRA; Tom Rumora, director of economic development for Spotsylvania County; FRA President Curry Roberts.

Photograph by Robert A. Martin

Save the Dates— March 5 —

State of the Chamber

— April 25 — STEM 16 Summit

FEBRUARY 2015Fredericksburg Regional Business4

By Greg Calvert

Greetings! I hope you have gotten off to a good start in 2015. It’s hard to believe that a month of the New Year has already passed.

By the time you read this, the Chamber will have honored a number of businesses and individuals for their leadership in our community. Let me thank them – and all of you – for your continuous efforts to make the Fredericksburg Region a better place to live and work.

I am very excited about the opportunities that lie before the Chamber this year.

Our annual Awards and Gala was just the first of many big events we have scheduled for 2015.

I hope that you will regularly check the Chamber’s website and social media pages to keep up with what we’re doing to serve you. More than that, I want you to make time to participate in the many events we have planned.

I cannot emphasize enough that your personal involvement is fundamental to your enduring success. When you attend Chamber events, you have the chance to meet new people from different sectors of the business community. Let me challenge

you to make 2015 the year you consistently interact with Chamber members you don’t know well. After a simple hello, it shouldn’t take too long for you to find mutual interests and perhaps even discuss some shared business challenges. It is those common threads that build the relationships that eventually will benefit your businesses and theirs.

I know from personal experience that getting to know fellow Chamber members has been indispensable to the growth of both my business and my ability to make a difference in our community. The Chamber’s mission is to build relationships and create competitive advantages for a healthy business environment. I have experienced the networking opportunities first-hand and our company has enjoyed the fruits of that labor as we gained more business. I hope you will join me at many Chamber networking events in 2015 as together, our businesses thrive. Let’s make 2015 our best year ever!

Chairman’s UpdateMake 2015 a breakout networking year for you and your business

Greg Calvert is vice president of the Kloke Group.

™


Continued to page 6

Economic Development – Selling the Fredericksburg Region at home and abroad

Photo: Kenneth Lecky

Feature

“The Fredericksburg Region

offers a great variety of investment opportunities including large, shovel-ready parcels, as in Caroline County, to sites for urban commercial investment in the City of Fredericksburg. With low taxes and a great work force, Caroline and the region are the right choices for business location.”

Gary R. Wilson, Director, Caroline County Economic Development & Tourism

By George Whitehurst

“All the world’s a stage,” the Bard famously declared.

When it comes to economic development, it resembles a chessboard.

Local and state government officials, and business and civic leaders carefully position pieces on the board to attract companies seeking new homes and to foster entrepreneurism.

A wrongly placed pawn can cost a region new jobs, additional tax revenue and economic vitality.

In playing the game, localities must also strike a balance between attracting outside companies and nurturing homegrown enterprises.

In 2010, the City of Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority granted $125,000 over five years to LibertyTown

Arts Workshop in order to retain and expand its operations in the downtown business district.

In 2013, D.D. Lecky and her husband, Kenneth, purchased the business and put the grant to quick use.

“We’ve been able to use the incentive program previously put in place to expand our business line, hire some new employees and make some courtyard improvements,” she said.

The quick expansion couldn’t have occurred without the grant, Ms. Lecky said, noting that art-related businesses often suffer during times of economic uncertainty.

“It would have been a much riskier venture. When there are shifts in the economy, luxury goods are typically the first things that go,” she said. “It’s enabled us to do a lot more marketing… and be a little more aggressive than we would have been normally. That’s huge. It’s good for small business.”

Stafford County’s Department of Economic Development offers a variety of tools to help small businesses, including production of a series of promotional web videos. John McQuiddy, president of McQ Inc, offered kudos to Stafford for providing this kind of marketing muscle.

“They commissioned and paid for a video on our company that they distribute,” he said. “That’s materially good. As a small business, you don’t have a budget to go out and advertise. Here’s Stafford putting it not only on their website but on YouTube.”

Chris Hornung, who chairs Fredericksburg’s EDA, describes such grants and programs as a generally sound investment.

“The goal should always be to be sure you’re supporting your


Continued from page 5

FeaturePositioning King George County for the futureBy Linwood Thomas

By all accounts, King George County succeeded economically in 2014.

The largest single accomplishment was the addition of Commercial Metals Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company, and the accompanying $12 million expansion project that will bring critical infrastructure improvements to the King George County Industrial Park.

Other highlights include:

• The addition of 95,000 square feet of new retail space.

• Assisting more than 50 small businesses with their start-up and expansion needs.

• The creation of an online quarterly economic development and tourism newsletter to promote King George.

• A new quarterly breakfast to spotlight resources for small businesses.

All told, in 2014 the Department of Economic Development worked 11 new projects totaling more than 1 million square feet and potential capital investments for the county of more than $180 million.

Looking to 2015 and beyond, King George County enjoys a number of advantages, including modest business costs and some of Virginia’s lowest tax rates.

Our strategic location between Washington, D.C. and Richmond and between two major shipping corridors – Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 301 – ensures that half of the nation’s population lives within one day’s drive. Despite this prime location, land costs remain reasonable.

To attract the best opportunities we must continue to improve our utility infrastructure. King George’s comprehensive growth plan will deliver roughly a 49 percent return to the tax base on the initial investment.

Today businesses seek plug-and-play sites that are ready to break ground. Time is money, after all. Those investments in infrastructure will position King George County to attract and retain new and existing businesses.

Linwood Thomas is King George County’s director economic development.

existing businesses,” he said. “An existing business costs far less to keep than attracting new businesses. They have a number of advantages. They are typically locally owned, so the owners have a little bit more stake in the community.”

That said, Mr. Hornung supports efforts by localities and regions to attract outside investment.

“It’s also really important that we continue to increase the variety of and diversity of the types of businesses we have in the city. There are a number of businesses that would complement our city that are not expansions of existing businesses,” he said, pointing to the technology sector as ripe for development in the Fredericksburg Region.

Selecting industrial sectors that complement a region’s existing business base requires the foresight of a chess master.

Maurice Jones, Virginia’s secretary of commerce and trade, encourages regional leaders to adopt this long-term view by developing sound infrastructure, training the local workforce, encouraging business start-ups and creating a positive economic climate.

Regional cooperation, he declared, is the most important tool of successful economic development.

“To do economic development well in the 21st century is a team sport. You’ve got to bring to the table the most important assets from the region,” he said. “What [businesses] want is confidence they have a team to work with at the state and local level to solve problems. If they have [that] confidence, they’ll make the investment.”

Getting the chance to pitch the region to business leaders is the key, according to Tom Rumora, Spotsylvania County’s director of Economic Development and Tourism.

“Once we can show them where we are and they realize our location and other advantages, the strengths of the region sell themselves,” he said. “Besides our proximity to D.C., we have an excellent diverse workforce and an affordable cost of living and doing business. It then becomes an easy choice for business leaders to expand into the area.”

Applying scientific principles to an ever-changing free-market economy is challenging. A region cannot – and should not try – to be all things to all

businesses.

In late 2013, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance commissioned Chmura Economics and Analytics to conduct a cluster analysis to explore the business sectors most compatible with the area’s existing industrial base.

That study proved useful for Tim Baroody, Stafford County’s director of Economic Development and the team at Stafford’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

Maurice Jones


FeatureFredericksburg is the core of a strong regional economy By Karen Hedelt & Bill Freehling

Fredericksburg packs a wealth of economic diversity into 10.2 square miles, creating a variety of opportunities for business development.

Midway between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, much of Fredericksburg’s identity and sense of place is linked to its historic downtown.

Downtown’s walkability, history, trails, events, riverfront location, parks, train station, retailers and restaurants draw residents, visitors and businesses. Financial services and legal firms have long been attracted downtown, and an emerging startup culture is rising.

Fredericksburg’s Economic Development Authority and Main Street Initiative have played key roles in improving downtown’s look and feel, leading to low vacancy rates and high levels of business and residential interest. Mixed-use projects such as Parkview, Liberty Place, Amelia Square and Mill District will bring more residents downtown, attracting new businesses.

Economic development opportunities extend beyond Fredericksburg’s historic district.

The University of Mary Washington and Mary Washington Healthcare provide significant high-quality, stable employment. They also stimulate business expansion and investment.

The UMW Foundation has transformed the U.S. 1 corridor with its mixed-use Eagle Village project. The Mary Washington Hospital campus has attracted many additional medical offices and healthcare providers.

Government contractors enjoy Fredericksburg’s citywide status as a HUBZone. The Battlefield Industrial Park includes a commercial printing plant, an agritourism-focused farm, recycling centers and many other industrial firms. Central Park remains the region’s dominant retail center and is the development of choice for national retailers seeking a regional presence. Celebrate Virginia South is anchored by Wegmans grocery store, and additional tourism-centered development is on the horizon.

Although redevelopment is a focus, Fredericksburg has several greenfield opportunities that offer fresh opportunities.

Fredericksburg’s economic development continues its partnerships with economic development staff in surrounding counties as well as organizations such as the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance and Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce to build upon the tremendous assets already in place.

Karen Hedelt is the City of Fredericksburg’s director of economic development and tourism. Bill Freehling is the city’s assistant director for economic development.

In 2013, Chmura Economics & Analytics conducted an industry cluster analysis for the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance. The report provided an overview of industry sectors with a strong presence throughout the area.

Based on that data, Chmura recommended that local economic developers focus on the following six clusters as priority targets for recruitment and home growth:

• Business Services

• Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate

• Health & Life Sciences

• Information & Communications

• Manufacturing

• Public Administration

Source: Chmura Economics & Analytics

“It really confirmed what we already knew – which is that our workforce and existing business base is evolving,” he said. “The analysis also helped us refine our business retention and attraction marketing efforts, making them more laser focused on pursuits that build on our current strengths.”

Not that the Fredericksburg Region’s localities are monolithic in the types of businesses they seek. Indeed, Brian Baker, executive director for economic development at University of Mary Washington’s Center for Economic Development, praised the localities for broad-based efforts to make the region attractive to investment.

“There is good diversity of direction that, when seen in its entirety, has great regional attraction,” he said.

He cited as examples Fredericksburg’s Main Street Initiative, expansion of Germanna Community College in Spotsylvania, the growth of Caroline County’s Meadow Event Park, King George’s support of expansion at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and Stafford’s Technology and Research Park.

As the Fredericksburg Region escalates its business recruitment efforts, it confronts robust competition from across the United States and around the world.

Despite this, Mr. Jones offered a sunny outlook on economic development prospects for the area and all of Virginia.

“In Virginia, we have an abundance of assets. We really are a blessed commonwealth,” he said. “We’ve got great talent, great infrastructure, great businesses, 23 community colleges, an incredible veterans workforce…”

He tempered that optimism with a call for Virginia to develop a broad economic vision that moves beyond its traditional dependence on defense and government contracting.

“We are too reliant on the public sector for our job growth and economic prosperity,” he said. “The job, for all of us who have some influence, is to catalyze the private sector.”


Conversation With:FRA President Curry RobertsCurry Roberts serves as president of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance at the University of Mary Washington. He has 30 years of non-profit, public and private-sector executive experience. He joined FRA after serving as a principal with Hirschler-Fleischer Consulting, LLC of Richmond.

Serving as Virginia’s Secretary of Economic Development (now Commerce and Trade) under Gov. Gerald L. Baliles, Mr. Roberts was responsible for oversight of 15 state agencies covering agriculture, ports, industrial development, tourism, OSHA and the arts. During his tenure, 400,000 new jobs were created and 100 domestic and overseas companies located or invested in Virginia.

Following his service in state government, Mr. Roberts headed JWK Properties, Inc., a combination of diverse private businesses valued at more than $100 million. He served as president and CEO of the State Fair of Virginia through the pivotal transition to its new home in Caroline County.

Mr. Roberts is a Bedford County native and a 1980 Virginia Tech graduate.

Q: How has the economic development game changed since you served as Gov. Gerald Baliles’ Secretary of Economic Development?

A: “Like everything else, the Internet has changed how we do business. The whole way you approach marketing has had to shift into an information age. Site consultants do a lot of their research online, and can rule a region in or out before anyone knows there is a project. Two, regional alliances really didn’t exist when I was secretary. There were only a couple of them. It was really during Gov. Allen’s administration that the state began encouraging regional cooperation on economic development.”

Q: Does the anonymity of online site prospecting sometimes cost communities opportunities?

A: “Yes. On the other hand, because of the kind of data you can get now, you can target your marketing to industries where you have a competitive advantage. We would not be competitive for lower-skill, lower-wage manufacturing. There are all kinds of advanced manufacturing and distribution that we could be competitive for. As a region, we have strengths to market to industry clusters. So it is our job to put our region before those clusters.”

Q: What is the benefit of collaboration between local governments, private industry and institutes of higher learning?

A: “They are pooling their resources. Prospects start by looking at regions before they ever look at a locality or a site. Second, the way the state provides opportunities, they put those through a regional alliance. It’s our job to help develop initial responses to requests for information from the Virginia Department of Economic Development and directly from site consultants. Another strong reason is we’re a public-private partnership between the localities and businesses in the region. Fifty percent of our funding comes from the localities, and the other 50 percent comes from private-sector investment. So it’s an additional way

for localities to leverage their marketing dollars.”

Q: What is the biggest challenge the Fredericks-burg Region faces as it courts businesses from across the country and around the globe?

A: “I don’t see a big thing that is a hurdle or impediment for the region to put its best foot forward. It has so many assets, that any negative I could come up with pales in comparison.

The one thing over the next year to two years … that we’re going to be having discussions about is improving our inventory of marketable sites that are shovel-ready.”

Q: What makes the Fredericksburg Region attractive to those looking to relocate an existing business or start a new company?

A: “We are within in a day’s drive of about 60 percent of the country’s population and then we’re in the middle of the East Coast. Even being between Washington and Richmond is a tremendous geographic advantage for the region. Another is the quality of the workforce. Thirty-two percent of the population in the region has a bachelor’s degree or higher. I think the quality of life here… you’ve got urban, suburban and rural options within the region. That makes us a microcosm of Virginia has a whole. While there are still some challenges with transportation, we have many positive attributes from a transportation standpoint – interstate highways, four-lane primary roads, rail, and two general aviation airports. The educational system is also a tremendous asset.”

Q: What are the primary factors businesses consider when scouting communities to which they might want to relocate?

A: “Workforce. If you can’t get labor, you can’t operate. Geography. It’s all location, location, location. Access to transportation. Healthcare has jumped as something that’s important. For a region this size to have two major healthcare systems is very beneficial. Quality of life. And then, business climate. Virginia has historically competed very well in terms of business climate.”

Q: What is the proper balance between attracting outside companies and encouraging the creation of homegrown businesses?

A: “There are three legs to economic development. One is encouraging entrepreneurship locally. The second is existing industry expansion. How can we assist them in doing that? A lot of the same incentives available for a new business coming in are available to existing companies seeking to expand. About 60-70 percent of the new jobs created are created by existing business expansions on an annual basis. When someone is looking to relocate to a region, they are going to talk to existing businesses in that region. So your existing businesses are your best references.”

Curry Roberts


Workforce NOWWorkshops offer vital skillsLast October, Workforce NOW held a Professional Development Series that offered needed skills for new and first-time employees. Sheila Roberson of Roberson’s Music attended the sessions, along with her employee, Ann Bulwinkle.

Ms. Roberson shared her thoughts during a recent Q&A with Chamber member and Workforce NOW Board Member Leigh Anne Van Doren.

Van Doren: What inspired you to enroll in the course?

Roberson: “Several of the titles struck me as being relevant to my business. I signed up for all the classes since the pricing worked out to be the equivalent of one free class. You can always learn something.”

Van Doren: What is the most valuable thing you learned from the course?

Roberson: “First, the various styles of leaders and personalities and how to blend them to make a cohesive workplace. But even more valuable was the course on better understanding of the generational needs and styles. This was a big eye opener.”

Van Doren: How much time did the course take?

Roberson: “The course consisted of five mornings, once a

week, for two hours. There was half an hour of networking at the start of each session. The sessions were Building Trust in Relationships facilitated by Dr. Bob Kenney; Problem Solving by taking the Initiative facilitated by Ray Gill; Team Collaboration facilitated by James Potter; Generations in the Workplace facilitated by Veronica Curry; and Tap into your Leadership Style facilitated by Kim Rodenberg.”

Van Doren: What surprised you about the course?

Roberson: “I guess it would have to be that not more people took advantage of professional development at such a worthwhile investment.”

The next Workforce NOW Professional Development Series will take place at 8 a.m. each Monday during March at the Germanna Center for Workforce and Community Education. Participants can earn CEUs and receive a Professional Development Certificate upon completion of the series.

Individual sessions are $25. The cost of registering for all five classes is $100.

For more information contact Sheri Wikert at [email protected] or call (540) 373-9400.

2300 Fall Hill Avenue, Suite 415

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Phone: 540.371.2402

Marketing Advertising Design Branding Research www.theMediaPartners.com

Contact us today and get your business moving.

Shawn Sloan Katharine [email protected] [email protected]


By Sen. Bryce Reeves

This year’s legislative session started fast and hasn’t slowed down. Short sessions, like the one this year, tend to move more briskly in order to handle the volume of legislation, and there’s a lot of legislation to consider.

Even before the deadline to file legislation hit, the number of bills and resolutions submitted had climbed to over 2,000. That’s more than 14 pieces of legislation filed by the average lawmaker.

You might be wondering if there are more than 2,000 things wrong with Virginia. The answer is “no.”

A lot of legislation is not filed to correct things that are necessarily wrong. If you examine bills filed by legislators, many are items that require addressing or attention, some dealing with the operations of state agencies, some with local governments, and some with our courts and criminal justice system.

One of the underlying reasons for the volume of legislation filed is that Virginia’s government is structured in a manner that requires the approval of

the people’s elected representatives – the 100 delegates and 40 senators – to enact changes.

Virginia’s governor has the power to execute our laws and administer state government, but the power to determine what those laws are, and how much is spent administering them and delivering services, is reserved for the General Assembly.

Of course, one of our main goals in Richmond is to make it easier for businesses to become established and to flourish in the commonwealth. This year there were many bills focusing on tax credits for hiring veterans, decreasing unnecessary regulations on small businesses and creating more incentives for businesses to move to Virginia.

I would recommend that anyone who wants to learn more about what bills were presented and passed this past session, please visit the website for the General Assembly, www.VirginiaGeneralAssembly.gov or our legislation tracking website www.lis.virginia.gov.

If my office can be of any assistance to you or answer any questions you may have, please reach out to us at [email protected] or (540) 645-8440.

Legislative UpdateBusiness legislation takes center stage in General Assembly session

State Sen. Bryce Reeves represents the 17th District, which includes the City of Fredericksburg; Orange County; and portions of the counties of Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Albemarle and Louisa.



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Gala 2015Celebrating the Fredericksburg Region’s business pacesetters

The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber recently celebrated the contributions of some of the region’s outstanding business leaders at the 2015 Chamber Awards and Gala. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you for your contributions to the Fredericksburg Region!

Marstel-Day/Stafford Printing Green Frontier Award

Michael Silver accepted the award on behalf of his family, which has run Silver Ridge Farm in southern Stafford County for more than 100 years. Silver Ridge has earned designations as a Virginia Century Farm and a Virginia Clean Water Farm. Its no-till, crop-cover system enhances soil health and

makes it more drought resistant, as well as cutting erosion and chemical runoff. In 2013, the Silver family worked with Stafford County to place 88 acres of historic, environmentally sensitive land into a Perpetual Conservation Easement. Silver Ridge has taken steps to prevent surface water contamination by its livestock operations, as well as running an extensive recycling operation.

Entrepreneur of the YearBillie Armstrong, founder and owner of Salon 730, won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which recognizes a person who successfully plans and executes a business proposal to fill a regional economic niche. She founded Salon 730 five years ago to offer women and men a complete line of hair and cosmetic services. The Salon 730 team provides a world-class salon experience by always making the guest the primary focus.

Small Business of the YearInfinity Technologies won the Business of the Year Award for a company with 25 or fewer employees. Opened in 1996, Infinity has, for the last 15 years, focused the bulk of its work on IT consulting and project management. Its team constantly adapts to and offers services for new technology platforms, always aiming to stay ahead of the technology curve. At the same time, Infinity works to help customers reduce costs and achieve greater productivity. The Infinity team provides pro-bono services to several area non-profits, including Empowerhouse, The Gladys H. Oberle School, and the Thurman Brisben Center.

Large Business of the YearGEICO won the Business of the Year Award for a company with more than 25 employees. A member of the regional business community for 25 years, the company employs more than 3,500 associates at its facility in Stafford County. GEICO is active in the Chamber and partners with a number of local institutions – including University of Mary Washington, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, Germanna Community College, Rappahannock United Way and Stafford Hospital Foundation – to build a stronger economy and a higher quality of life.

Community Impact AwardCentral Rappahannock Regional Library won the Community Impact Award, which honors a business or organization that benefits the Fredericksburg Region on a daily basis. The CRRL team works energetically to meet the community’s educational, recreational, technological and informational needs. The library system sponsored programs that encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) studies and has created a Maker Lab with a 3-D printer. CRRL also has set up vegetable gardens at two of its branches, which have supplied more than 1,300 pounds of fresh vegetables to local charitable organizations.

Prince B. Woodard Leadership AwardUMW President Rick Hurley won the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award, which salutes an individual who has provided a lifetime of service to the Fredericksburg Region. Since assuming UMW’s presidency in 2010, he has overseen a period of robust growth that includes construction of the Anderson Center convocation and athletics arena, the opening

of the UMW’s Dahlgren Campus and development of the Eagle Village mixed-use development. In addition, he is active in the community, having served on the Chamber’s board of directors, the boards of Rappahannock United Way and Fredericksburg Regional Alliance; and established the Town and Gown Committee to strengthen relations between the university and the City of Fredericksburg.

The Chamber would like to thank

the following sponsors for making possible

the 2015 Awards & Gala:

Title

Band

Hospitality

Bar

Table Wine

LinenWells Fargo

PlatinumGermanna Community College,

Hilldrup Companies

GoldComfort Keepers,

Community Bank of the Chesapeake, Jarrell, Hicks & Waldman, PC;

Kloke Group, Premier Eyecare: Angela Tsai, OD & Assoc.,

SimVentions, Splitsville

BronzeCTI Real Estate, DLR Contracting, Dr. & Mrs. J. Richard Garnett, Jr.;

Joe Greene, Mr. & Mrs. Willard R. Heidig, Long & Foster, McAvinney & Assoc.,

Open Hand of Fredericksburg, Providence Service Corp.,

Worrell Management


By Eric Watkins

Security experts estimate that less than 5 percent of small businesses could withstand a serious attack on their computer’s security system. Here are five growing threats to keep in mind as you tend to your IT security in 2015.

Threats to mobile devices

It’s not just your smartphone that’s at risk of a security breach. Any mobile device, be it a pad, tablet, laptop or any device with Wi-Fi or Internet access is vulnerable. When your employees use their personal mobile devices in office settings, they’re inadvertently connecting to important networks. They inadvertently open your business system up to malware, ransomware, viruses and worms that could cripple or shut down your business for hours, or even days.

It’s not about the money

Not every hacker wants to drain your bank account. Intelligence and data are the new gold for Internet thieves. Intellectual property, financial information, health records, and industry blueprints are all more valuable than money alone. There’s a global underground community just waiting to buy all kinds of data.

In 2014 huge companies like ICANN, Target, Sony, Wal-Mart and others were hit with billion dollar losses over the theft of customer data. Small businesses are the new targets in 2015.

Hacks don’t have to be complex, high-tech assaults on a system. Phishing, the art of pretending to be a legitimate website or link in order to get a person’s password, is becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Spearphishing, targeting CEOs, CFOs and those who might have more secure access to larger accounts, project info and contracts and other sensitive data is also on the rise.

Mobile workflow means greater risks to mobile security

Does your business use mobile payment apps? As a consumer do you pay with a smart phone app? Leaks and breaches from mobile payment apps will increase in 2015. Most small business owners can’t tell if they’ve been hacked or if something has been leaked on systems. Neither can most consumers who pay with such apps.

Organized crime threat

Cybercrime is no longer limited to talented phishers and

hackers in developing nations looking for fast money. Organized and well-funded organized crime groups around the world are now launching targeted attacks on all types and sizes of business. They target the weakest links, not the biggest companies. Small businesses are at greater risk than ever in 2015.

Every day brings new threats

Hackers and phishers are highly motivated to create new threats as their old ones are disabled. As a result, new threats are being created daily. The federal government recently claimed that they neutralized the extortion software “CryptoLocker.” However, the hacker gang responsible for the malware is already creating and implementing new hacks such as “CryptoWall.” Ransomware continues to be a big threat globally. No one has a cure for it, and the fact it is big business in some countries means it’s probably never going to be eliminated.

How can you mitigate these risks?

It’s what you don’t know that you don’t know that can hurt you. Some things that can help you protect your current system:

• Set up a secure wireless network.

• Create and enforce user policies regarding the use of personal computers, smart phones and tablets at work by employees.

• Enact preventative measures for threats to your network.

• Hire a computer security expert.

If you’re interested in learning more about the security issues that can threaten your company, visit Infinity Technologies’ website, www.it-va.com and check out its white paper – Office Network Security 101. The white paper covers an introduction to network security and how to prevent common risks to your office network. Download your copy at www.it-va.com/networksecurity.

SpotlightTop IT network security threats for 2015

Infinity Technologies is a Microsoft-certified IT service provider that specializes in addressing the needs of small and mid-sized businesses. For more information, call (540) 479-4343. Infinity Technologies is a Chamber Trailblazer.


Spotlight

America’s hospitals and healthcare systems are catalysts for health and access to care. They also are directly aligned with the economic health of the communities they serve.

According to The American Hospital Association, the economic impact of hospitals is often overlooked.

“The healthcare industry is one of the mainstays in economic downturns, providing stability and at times growth. Hospitals purchase from other businesses creating additional economic value for communities,” according to the AHA.

Mary Washington Healthcare has provided quality healthcare and been one of the largest drivers to the Fredericksburg Region’s economy since 1899.

Stephen Fuller, Ph.D., director of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, described Mary Washington Healthcare as a major regional economic contributor in his most recent MWHC economic impact study.

“The economic importance of MWHC has shown to be significant as a major source of employment, income and business activities,” he wrote. “The magnitude and breadth of these impacts, both geographically and economically, have made MWHC a catalyst for business investment and location that will contribute to the growth of the Fredericksburg Region as a major business and employment center.”

As a fully integrated, regional medical system, MWHC provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 40 facilities and services located on several medical campuses.

Mary Washington Healthcare is a nonprofit health system and has a long-standing commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing valuable prevention services. Through the Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals’ Foundations, MWHC supports other local nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health of our communities.

The Affordable Healthcare Act has produced many changes to the healthcare industry. Healthcare costs have continued to increase nationally while reimbursements for care from Medicare continue to decline. MWHC has not been immune to those changes. As a non-profit healthcare system, MWHC has remained focused on implementing

cost-reduction programs while sustaining the highest level of quality care.

Included in the cost-reduction programs, MWHC has balanced employee health insurance coverage options with keeping the price affordable. MWHC has taken steps to lower out-of-pocket expenses for employees by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, and rewarding employees for participating in and maintaining healthy living practices.

A growing national movement to improve the health management of patients includes the development of accountable care organizations. These localized efforts provide patients with a coordinated approach to their healthcare.

MWHC has partnered with over 400 primary care and specialty physicians, along with other healthcare entities, to provide superior healthcare and value through an integrated provider network. The network, Mary Washington Health Alliance, supports patients throughout the Rappahannock Region of Virginia, between Richmond and Washington, D.C.

Mary Washington Health Alliance was recently selected as this region’s Accountable Care Organization by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, covering approximately 18,000 Medicare fee-for-service patients.

Mary Washington Healthcare’s total economic activity within the Fredericksburg Region accounted for two percent of the region’s $18.1 billion gross regional product. Regional economic health and quality of life are two major reasons businesses choose to locate in a specific area. World-class medical care is essential for great quality of life. MWHC ensures world-class medical care is available to all people right here in the region.

Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit, fully integrated, regional medical system that provides emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care through 40 facilities and services, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a Chamber Trailblazer.

Healthcare sector helping drive regional economy

Mary Washington Healthcare


By Col. David Maxwell

Friends, Neighbors and Family of MCB Quantico:

As we head into 2015, it is good to look back at the past year and the successes that we have had in sustaining our mission and in strengthening our relationships with the surrounding communities of Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford counties as well as the towns of Quantico, Fredericksburg, and Dumfries.

MCB Quantico has continued to focus on its core mission of providing operational and training support, infrastructure and community services to meet supported organization requirements.

Much of the support and success we have enjoyed has been a result of the on-going partnerships with our military affiliated support organizations such as the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee.

I cannot express enough how important I feel the relationship is between the MAC and MCB Quantico.

We reached a milestone last summer when we completed, and the three counties adopted, the recommendations of the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for MCB Quantico. A collaborative effort involving the entire community, the JLUS provides us a guide for development of common interest areas that will serve as the basis for continued collaboration.

Thanks to Stafford County for taking the leadership on this and shepherding it through the process.

Over the past year, MCB Quantico has intently pursued improvements in the areas of energy and environmental conservation. Projects include expanded facility metering, installation of LED streetlights, the construction award for a Camp Barrett Heat Plant microturbine project, and the construction of a new water treatment facility by Camp Upshur.

I believe it is important that your Marines be a visible presence in the community. Fredericksburg again hosted the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, generating an estimated $20 million economic impact to the community. Individually, your Marines logged more than 6,500 hours of volunteer work in support of more than 80 separate regional community activities, including the Toys 4 Tots program, which collected and distributed more than 143,500 toys to children in need.

We have a number of highlight events planned this year.

In June we will host the Warrior Games for the first time. We will host events associated with the World Police and Fire Games, and we will host the Interallied Confederation of Reserve

Officers competition.

Additionally, on Oct. 25 we will conduct the 40th running of the Marine Corps Marathon.

We anticipate completing some significant construction projects, including an $80 million expansion/construction of the Warner Center as part of Marine Corps University, a new consolidated elementary school and Phase II widening of Russell Road to alleviate traffic congestion entering and exiting the installation.

We also expect construction efforts to begin on the third rail expansion of CSX.

Significant efforts have occurred to help the commonwealth’s transitioning service members move into the next phases of their careers. This year we would like to work to connect these great initiatives, to better serve our transitioning veterans by facilitating the connection to the services being offered, whether it is education, vocational training, mentoring or hiring.

If you are interested in being a part of this solution, please contact Parissa Featherson with our Career and Professional Development Office.

The opportunities that we have to continue our cooperation and the mutual support are paramount in sustaining the mission of the organizations and activities aboard MCB Quantico, as well as taking care of our servicemembers and their families, who live, work and go to school in our communities.

Since 1917, Quantico has grown with the region. Through depression, recessions and wars, our missions and your Marines and their families, have grown together as good neighbors and dependable partners.

We recognize that much of the support and success we have enjoyed has been a result of the on-going partnerships with important organizations like the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce MAC.

From me and on behalf of all of your Marines at Quantico, I thank you.

Military BriefingMarine Corps Base Quantico 2015: Serving the Nation Since 1917

Military Affairs Council

Col. David Maxwell, USMC, is commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Semper Fidelis


By Hap Connors

“Always on My Mind….” Not just a great song by Willie Nelson, but it also describes the importance of transportation in the Fredericksburg Region. It is always on everyone’s mind.

I have managed transportation issues at the local and regional level and now, as a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, at the state level. It is complex, and yes, at times, frustrating.

Transportation in this region and at the state level is being driven primarily by three factors: funding, prioritization and innovation.

New Funding

In 2013, Gov. McDonnell and the General Assembly passed HB 2313 – the first comprehensive transportation funding bill since 1986. It included a more diversified revenue stream of sales, recordation, motor vehicles and other taxes to generate more revenue while providing some stability.

But because those revenue streams are linked to economic conditions, the fund is down by $1 billion. Moreover, state law requires VDOT to maintain the highway network first.

VDOT annually accepts about 200 miles of new road for maintenance. Before the passage of HB 2313, VDOT increasingly borrowed money from construction funds to pay for maintenance services such as snow plowing, paving, drainage, and pothole repair.

Though funding projections are down, we are taking in twice as much revenue as in 2009.

Prioritization

Last year, Speaker Howell and Gov. McAuliffe crafted a prioritization plan that won bi-partisan support in the General Assembly. The intent of HB 2 is to funnel money to projects that meet these metrics: congestion mitigation, economic development, accessibility, safety and environmental quality.

As a result, the CTB and VDOT moved $416 million in funding from a group of more than 60 projects. They meet the law’s criteria: they are not fully funded and have not completed the federal environmental and study phases. Six

of our regional projects are now part of that process, the majority of which were huge I-95 improvement projects. Because federal and state officials know we need to improve the section of I-95 in our region, that money will most likely be restored once we clear the process. Meanwhile, we have $150 million on the I-95 improvement project at Route 630, and enough funding remains on the other projects to continue work.

Innovation

While the HB 2313 funding bill is advancing projects, the fact remains that we will never have enough money to fund all of our transportation needs. We need to improve land-use decisions and keep commuters off the road or rails with new local jobs, innovation and telecommuting opportunities.

On the latter, I am working with VDOT and other officials to use and leverage VDOT assets to expand broadband coverage in this region and across Virginia.

We will also see the expansion of public-private partnerships (P3) to leverage investments, and more technologies being used to create intelligent transportation systems. An example of this is the newly opened 495/95 Express Lanes, which use electronic tolls and dynamic pricing to increase capacity on these major corridors.

We have hard choices to make when it comes to transportation. We need to discuss innovative ways to move people and goods in an increasingly digital economy.

We face challenges, and must look at all of the opportunities to create a transportation system that serves the region while saving our important historical and natural treasures.

On the Move

Hap Connors represents the Fredericksburg Region on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which allocates highway funding to specific projects, locates routes and provides financing for airports, seaports and public transportation.

Transportation is “Always on My Mind”

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WelcomeA.D.S. Meeting & Training CenterAlayna Stiffler107 Westwood Office ParkFredericksburg, VA 22401Phone: (540) 370-0000Conference/Banquet Facilities

American Made FighterJimmy Canales2757 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 121Stafford, Va 22554Phone: (703) 870-4942info@americanmadefighter.comamericanmadefighter.comFitness Centers/Training

Breathe 4 Me CPR TrainingChaya StevensonStafford, VA 22556Phone: (540) [email protected]/Supplemental

Engineering For Kids FoundationJoshua Kovacs100 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 209Fredericksburg, VA 22406Phone: (540) [email protected] Profit

Estenson LogisticsRich Weaver560 W. Brown Rd., Suite 3001Mesa, AZ 85201Phone: (480) 940-8800Fax: (480) [email protected]

Fred M. Rankin IIIFred Rankin4 Derby Dr.Fredericksburg, VA 22405Phone: (540) 273-0422Member Emeritus

Juice PlusJamie AllenFredericksburg, VA 22401Phone: (719) [email protected]/Nutrition Products

Knowledge Advisory GroupAngie Sullivan4108 E. Parham Rd.Richmond, VA 23228Phone: (540) 840-2007Fax: (703) 997-7778angie@KnowledgeAdvisoryGroup.comKnowledgeAdvisoryGroup.comConsultants

Life Done RightLeah CourtnagePhone: (757) [email protected] Related Services

Me-Show’s, LLCRoben WilliamsSpotsylvania, VA 22551Phone: (855) [email protected] Linen

Memorable Moments/Party EleganceDavid Canty4800 Jefferson Davis Hwy.Fredericksburg, VA 22408Phone: (540) [email protected] Party/Equipment

Muster Me. LLCLibby O’Malley1220 Payne St.Fredericksburg, VA 22401Phone: (619) [email protected] Develpment

Pelorus Counseling & Consulting, LLCTiffany Harvey3330 Bourbon St., Suite 115Fredericksburg, VA 22408Phone: (540) 371-3412Fax: (540) [email protected]

Project Management & Consulting, LLCBryan Rock4121 Plank Rd., Suite 329Fredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: (540) 735-2726Fax: (800) [email protected] Management

River Rock OutfitterApril Peterson915 Sophia St.Fredericksburg, VA 22401Phone: (540) 372-8708april.peterson@riverrockoutfitter.comriverrockoutfitter.comSporting Goods/Collectibles

Rosner FordTom Olney16057 James Madison Pkwy.King George, VA 22485Phone: (540) 709-1280Fax: (540) [email protected] Dealers

Sleep Inn SouthpointPat Gray5400 Southpoint Centre Blvd.Fredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: (540) 710-5500Fax: (540) [email protected]/Motels

Summit Brokerage ServicesJonathan Freeze725 Jackson St., Suite 204Fredericksburg, Va 22401Phone: (540) 621-8295Fax: (540) [email protected] Services

The Supply Room CompaniesJ. Eric Reynolds, Jr.502 Interstate Business ParkFredericksburg, Virginia 22405Phone: (804) [email protected], Equipment & Furniture

Hillcrest LaundryWilbur Greer2012 1/2 Lafayette Blvd.Fredericksburg, Va 22407Phone: (540) [email protected] Cleaning & Laundry Services

Tra’ Chic BoutiqueTracye Weeks9679 Jefferson Davis Hwy.Fredericksburg, VA 22407Phone: (540) [email protected]

uBreakiFixEric Miller1909 Plank Rd.Fredericksburg, Va 22401Phone: (540) [email protected] Services/Systems

Welcome New MembersThe Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes the newest members of the Chamber family. Be a good partner – remember them when you do business.


RAF ranked among largest U.S. radiology practicesRadiologic Associates of Fredericksburg is among the 100 largest privately owned radiology practices in the U.S., according to Radiology Business Journal. The Journal’s “Radiology 100” ranking for 2014 named RAF the 85th-largest privately owned radiology practice in the nation, based on its 29 full-time equivalent radiologists. RAF was one of seven practices in Virginia recognized in the ranking.

“As a practice we have chosen to maintain the size necessary to ensure high-quality services to our patients, referring physicians, and health facilities,” said Dr. David L. Glasser, president of RAF. “We believe that our role as consultants to the physicians in our community does not end after normal office hours. Whenever a patient’s physician has a question or needs to discuss a case, 24/7, 365 days a year, one of our local radiologists is available for a consultation.”

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer hits recordCushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer is pleased to announce its 2014 transactional volume exceeded $2 billion, a 34 percent increase from 2013 overall volume. Robust activity in December pushed volume over the $2 billion mark, with more than 3.7 million square feet of sales and lease transactions for the month. In December, the firm’s 10 Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina offices completed 126 lease transactions totaling more than 1.6 million square feet with a transactional value of more than $119 million. Industrial building transactions of over 863,000 square feet accounted for the largest amount of space leased. Office and retail leases totaled more than 472,000 and 264,000 square feet, respectively.

Lombardi earns promotionCommunity Bank of the Chesapeake has named Christy Lombardi as its new Chief Administrative Officer. Ms. Lombardi will be responsible for the bank’s administrative and corporate governance matters while continuing to oversee human resources. She joined Community Bank in

1998 and was promoted to Executive Vice President, Director of Human Resources and Administration in 2014. Ms. Lombardi holds a Masters in Management and is currently pursuing an MBA, which she expects to complete in 2015. She is a graduate of the Maryland Banking School.

PBMares names Perrine as partnerPBMares, LLP, a regional accounting firm, has elected former Fredericksburg resident Nick Perrine as a new partner. Mr. Perrine started his professional career

in 2003 working in the Fredericksburg office. In 2010 he was promoted to Tax Manager and relocated his family to the Shenandoah Valley to work in PBMares’ Harrisonburg office.

Mr. Perrine has more than 11 years of public accounting experience and specializes in the areas of real estate, healthcare, manufacturing and construction. He is a frequent speaker at professional events, seminars and webinars and is PBMares resident expert on the Affordable Care

Act. In 2012 and 2013 he was recognized by Virginia Business Magazine and the VSCPA as a “Super CPA” in the Young CPAs category.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting from James Madison University.

He participated in the inaugural class of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fredericksburg Program.

Tulip Salon & Spa named to Top 200 Salons listSalon Today has named Tulip Salon & Spa to its 2015 Top 200 Salons list. Tulip was honored in the category of growth and has pending nominations in the categories of marketing, technology and compensation/benefits.

“This is a very prestigious award and takes many hours of hard work in the areas such as growth, technology, marketing, training, staffing and leadership,” said Tulip owner Priscilla Priebe. “We feel very honored to receive this recognition for the second year. This is a wonderful recognition and for Tulip, it is a huge thank you for the community support.”

SimVentions named top workplaceSimVentions, Inc. was recently named as one of 2015’s Best Places to Work in Virginia. The annual list was created by Virginia Business and Best Companies Group. This statewide survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The 2015 list contains 100 companies.

“SimVentions is excited to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Virginia for the third year in a row! We believe it is our servant-leadership style alongside our commitment to our core values of customer satisfaction, employee development, technical excellence, integrity and teamwork, enthusiasm and effort, innovation, and business growth and profitability that provides us ‘the heartbeat of success’ as we seek to serve God and country,” SimVentions CEO Larry Root said. “Our servant-leadership style and core values keep our corporate culture and work environment something that everyone loves to be a part of!”

Chamber Members in the News

Continued to page 20


Companies from across the commonwealth entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Virginia.

Eligibility criteria included:

• status as a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government entity

• status as a publicly or privately held business

• possess a Virginia-based facility

• employ at least 15 workers in Virginia

• at least one year of business operation

Since 2000, SimVentions has delivered engineering, program and acquisition management, and training solutions to America’s armed services. For more info visit www.simventions.com. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkVA.com.

Community Foundation awards grants

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region has awarded almost $15,000 in grants to five local nonprofits through the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund.

The fund, established in 2010, supports preservation programs and children’s outdoor activities. The grant recipients are:

• Central Virginia Battlefields Trust - $2,500 for Pelham’s Monument preservation and enhanced interpretation

• Ladies Memorial Association - $3,310 for Confederate stones replacement

• Meadowview Biological Research Station - $2,500 for a wood chipper to convert cut brush into path mulch, sustaining trails on the Central Virginia Preserve Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Birding and Wildlife Trail

• Riverside Foundation for the Performing Arts - $3,500 for a two-week summer camp for low income/at-risk children that teaches the basics of on-stage performance through music, choreography, acting and technical projects

• Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center – $3,000 for the continuation of the Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center

SRMC’s Casavant earns LANA certificationThe Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) has awarded LANA certification to Serena Casavant, an experienced physical therapist with Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Ms. Casavant successfully completed 135 hours of training in lymphedema therapy skills and has also passed a

voluntary North American certification examination that tests the therapist’s knowledge of lymphedema management. She provides instruction in self-care techniques to patients with lymphedema, a swelling that generally occurs in one or both arms or legs. Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to lymph nodes as part of cancer treatment but may have other causes.

Ms. Casavant graduated in 2010 from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND with a doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has worked in both in-patient hospital and outpatient settings and received her lymphedema training through the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy in 2013. She has since worked as the lymphedema specialist at SRMC.

Bank branch soldCushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer is pleased to announce the sale of a former bank branch located at 4540 Lafayette Blvd. in Spotsylvania County. The 4,448 square-foot bank branch property situated on 0.87 acre was purchased for $740,000 by an undisclosed buyer from Union First Market Bank.

Passera named as CVFR Member of the YearChancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue has named Capt. Mike Passera as its Volunteer Fire & Rescue Member of the Year. The award honors a CVFR member who embodies the best of Chancellor in the areas of leadership, dedication, service and excellence. A CVFR member since 2007, Capt. Passera was recognized for serving as a positive role model for new firefighters, being active at covering shifts and always motivating his team at the station.

REC recognized for safety practicesKeeping safety as a top priority has earned Rappahannock Electric Cooperative national recognition for safety in the workplace. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) awarded the Cooperative certification in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP).

“Our employees work in one of the most dangerous industries in the country,” said Maxie Rozell, manager of safety, security and risk management at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. “We are very thankful for the RESAP recognition but most importantly to the commitment our employees have placed on working safely and maintaining a safe work environment.”

To become certified through RESAP, electric cooperatives complete an assessment that includes benchmark performance measures, annual self-assessment, and a safety culture assessment. The intent of the RESAP program is to establish a foundation for continuous improvement that emphasizes leadership engagement towards improving safety results.

Chamber Members in the NewsContinued from page 19


SRMC taps Collins for Chief Nursing OfficerSpotsylvania Regional Medical Center has named Teresa Collins as its Chief Nursing Officer.

She replaces Nancy Littlefield, who is now the SVP/System Chief Nursing Officer at Riverside Health System in Newport News, VA.

“Teresa’s years of experience and desire to provide dynamic nursing management, physician integration and quality of care, will provide a positive dynamic for our hospital’s growth as we continue to cultivate service lines, quality, safety and employee engagement.” said Greg Madsen, Spotsylvania Regional’s CEO.

Ms. Collins currently serves as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Northside Hospital and Tampa Bay Heart Institute in St. Petersburg, FL, where she is responsible for all quality, productivity, budgeting and patient satisfaction metrics. Prior to that, she worked as the director of Emergency Services for the same hospital and has served as the director of Emergency Services for John Randolph Medical Center in Richmond, VA.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Spotsylvania team as their new CNO,” Ms. Collins said. “Spotsylvania Regional is a dynamic facility with a bright future and I look forward to supporting their mission of providing exceptional care and service to the community that we serve.”

Ms. Collins earned her Masters of Science in Nursing from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. She is a Board Certified Nurse Executive, member of the American Nurses Association and the Virginia Nurses Association.

RUW offering tax filing helpTax season has arrived and once again the Rappahannock United Way Free Tax Services Program is offering free tax help to people who earn $60,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns

RUW is committed to helping families that qualify get the maximum benefit from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Last year, more than 614,000 Virginians received more than $1.4 billion in EITC refunds. Those who worked in 2014 and had income of less than $52,427, should explore their eligibility for EITC.

IRS-trained RUW volunteers will ask questions to find out if a worker qualifies for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, also prepare and electronically file the tax returns of those seeking help at no cost to them.

“Our community volunteers help you get EITC and the maximum refund you’re due,” said Rappahannock United Way’s Adrienne Ross. “Our goal is to help you get it and get it right. This is money you can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home. Let us help make your life a little easier.”

Visit www.RUWFreeTaxes.org for free tax site locations and a schedule.

Bring the following information to the filing session:

• valid driver’s license or other photo id card

• Social Security cards, a Social Security number verification letter or the ITIN, individual taxpayer identifying number, for all persons listed on the return

• birth dates for all persons listed on the return

• all income statements – Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements, such as pensions, stocks, interest and any documents showing taxes withheld

• all records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest, or real estate taxes

• copies of last year’s state and federal tax returns

• bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund

• dependent child care information, including: name and address of who you paid and either the caretaker’s Social Security number or other tax identification number

• both spouses to sign forms to e-file a joint tax return

• household health insurance coverage information

10.5 ac property on Hunting Run Resevoir with approx. 1,000 ft of waterfront. House location, perk & site work done in 2007updating. Small community of 4 homes. Seclusion & privacy abound. For buyer who wants gorgeous waterfront with no HOA. 15 min to I-95 & Fredericksburg. Asking $395,000

Aquia Realty, Inc.Land, Commercial, Industrial, Residential

Leasing & Property Management

Specializing in Waterfront Properties

Potomac Riverfront Dream Home!!

Gated entry, hardwood floors, Bombeck Crystal Chandeliers, incredible gourmet kitchen, 2 gas FP. The MSTR BA is to die for! Screened & open deck, walkout BSMT. From patio to sandy beach. Incredible views throughout! Sauna & More! Commuter rail in 5 min. Quality inside & out! Asking $1,289,000

10.5 Waterfront AC to Build Your Dream Home

10.5 ac property on Hunting Run Resevoir with approx. 1,000 ft of waterfront. House location, perk & site work done in 2007ñ just needs updating. Small community of 4 homes. Seclusion & privacy abound. For buyer who wants gorgeous waterfront with no HOA. 15 min to I-95 & Fredericksburg. Asking $395,000

OPPORTUNITY IN THE HEART OF STAFFORD!

Commercial Building for sale across from Stafford Courthouse. For 30+ years has operated as an automotive parts store (NAPA). Zoned B-2 Commercial. Ample Parking. 3,200 SF. Deeded space on US RT 1 Hwy for signage. Asking $425,000

Specializing in Waterfront Properties Jo D. KnightGRI, CRS, CRB, CREA

Principal Broker

Visit us at www. AquiaRealty.net for more info on Available Lots & Rentals

Come to Aquia Realty to take care of all your Property Management needs! We will maximize your investment income & minimize expenses.

www. Aquiarealty.net * [email protected] (540) 659-2192 * 2101 Jeff. Davis Highway


Schedule of EventsFebruary 2015 4 – Mid-week Motivation – Ristorante Renato

5 – Leadership Roundtable – Hyatt Place Fredericksburg Business After Hours – Home Instead Senior Care

9 – Healthcare CEO Panel – Lee’s Hill Medical Plaza

11 – Lunch with the Chamber President – Pancho Villa at Massaponax

17 – CNEW Luncheon – Fredericksburg Country Club

18 – Workforce NOW Workshop: Digital Marketing Strategies – Chamber office

19 – Business After Hours – Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District

24 – MAC Roundtable – UMUC at Quantico Corporate Center Non-Profit Business Builder – Chamber office

26 – Small Business Builder – Chamber office Ribbon Cutting – AAA Tax Plus

March 2015 5 – State of the Chamber – Fick Conference Center

10 – FredTech Tech Tour – UMW Info & Technology Convergence Center Stafford Roundtable – Stafford Hospital, noon

11 – Member Orientation – Chamber office

12 – Ribbon Cutting – Dodson Property Management

13 – Next Generation Reverse Raffle – Fredericksburg Country Club

17 – CNEW Luncheon – Fredericksburg Country Club

20 – Ribbon Cutting – Goodyear Auto Service Center

24 – Non-Profit Business Builder – Chamber office

26 – Small Business Builder – Chamber office

31 – MAC Roundtable – Fredericksburg Country Club

Chamber members, check your QuickNotes e-mails for additions or changes to the above. For more information or to register for these and other events, call (540) 373-9400 or go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org.

Save the Date: STEM Summit

Area business leaders, students and educators will celebrate all things science and math

at the fourth annual STEM 16 Summit.

Hosted by FredTech, the Chamber and University of Mary Washington, the event will spotlight regional achievements in Science, Technology,

Engineering and Math (STEM). For more information, contact Sheri Wikert at [email protected].

What STEM 16 Summit

When 10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 25

Where University of Mary Washington

Anderson Center

Admission Free and open to the public

Exhibit Booths No charge for

schools/non-profit organizations

$150 for businesses

Workforce NOW Workshop Series At 8 a.m. each Monday in March, Workforce NOW

will host a series of workshops that provide employees with what they need to succeed.

The workshops will take place at Germanna Community College’s Fredericksburg Campus.

For more information or to register, call (540) 373-9400.


Chamber Staff

Board of Directors

Michele Renee Dooling, Director of Finance & Human Resources

Katie Hansen, Executive Assistant & Member Services Support

Stacey Hicks, Administrative Support

Tricia Benson Matthews, Membership Account Executive

Erin Meadows, Member Services Assistant

Kasey Nabal, Military & Govt. Affairs Manager

Susan Spears, President & CEO

Whitney Watts, Director of Member Services

George Whitehurst, Director of Communications

Sheri Wikert, Member Services Coordinator

Nick Cadwallender, Plants Map, Inc.

Dr. J.R. Flatter, Flatter & Associates

Eric Fletcher, Mary Washington Healthcare

Adam Fried, Atlantic Builders, Ltd.

Paul Giambra, Quarles Petroleum, Inc.

Kathy Hoffman, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Ron Holmes, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Regis Keddie II, Davenport & Co.

Greg Madsen, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center

Dr. David Sam, Germanna Community College

Woody Van Valkenburgh, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries

Deirdre Powell White, DPW Training & Associates

Joe Wilson, Perma Treat Pest Control

Nate Wood, BB&T

Legal CounselMaragaret Hardy, Sands Anderson PC

OFFICERSGreg Calvert, Chair The Kloke Group

Bill Hession, Vice Chair Lockheed Martin

Michael Fidgeon, Immediate Past Chair Providence Service Corporation

Shawn Sloan, Treasurer The Media Partners, LLC

Susan Spears, President & CEO Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce

VISIONTo be the leading convener for the business community, assuring that the Fredericksburg Region is a major economic center in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

CONTACTPhone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .540.373.9400

Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .540.373.9570

www.fredericksburgchamber.orgwww.celebratemayfest.com www.celebratemayfest.com 540-373-7643540-373-7643

Annual Plant Sales - Over 100 varieties ● Food ● Live Entertainment ● Face Painting ● Silent Auction● Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block ● Moon

Bounce ● Raffle Drawings Rappahannock Adult Activities is a program of the

Rappahannock Area Community Services Board and a partner agency of the Rappahannock United Way

Proceeds benefit adults with Intellectual Disabilitiesserved by Rappahannock Adult Activities

Join Rappahannock Adult ActivitiesJoin Rappahannock Adult ActivitiesSaturday, May 2, 2015Saturday, May 2, 201510:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Rain or Shine!Rain or Shine!Breakfast Served at 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

750 Kings Hwy., Fredericksburg (Just 3.9 miles east of the Chatham Bridge)

29th Annual

Plant SalesStart April 25th

410 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 115 E. Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646

Bank local, bank better.

(540) 899-2265 • www.VirginiaPartnersBank.com •

The better choicefor banking.

If you want a more personal banking experience, you’ll find it here. Our bank was founded by local people with a commitment

to the community and the success of its people and businesses. Come in and see for yourself.

fredericksburg regional business magazine - february 2015

Documents

business community

president chamber awards

annual awards

love of community

large chamber businesses

terric year

new chairman

awards committee