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nia Virgiefit Ben ration o Corp
Norfolk Fair Trade Company Norfolk Fair Trade Company is a Virginia Benefit Corporation with a social purpose of advancing the knowledge of entrepreneurism. They do this by offering various learning sessions and an apprenticeship program. These sessions are set in a live business setting where entrepreneurs can practice business skills in a “learning lab,� and then apply what they have learned in their own business. Launch Hampton Roads, a local entrepreneur educational program, is an example of where learning sessions complement a business planning program at ODU. A benefit corporation operates as a for-profit business, and does not receive any tax incentives. In order to fund the learning lab, Norfolk Fair Trade sells unique fair trade gifts from local and global makers to the public. Benefit corporations also seek to work with other community businesses as well as benefit corporations. An example of this is their partnership with 757 Makerspace in Ghent, where they help makers get into the marketplace by selling their products at Norfolk Fair Trade Company. Purchases help to support the entrepreneurs who look to get their business off the ground, and create a positive impact on the community.
& Foodrage Beveducts Pro
Sabrosa Foods Inc. Duane Thompson’s passion for salsa sparked in the mid-1990’s after having a tough day. After the college football team he played for had a particularly awful game, Duane returned to his dorm room exhausted only to find that his friends had raided his fridge, including the bag of garden fresh vegetables his grandmother had delivered to him that morning. With the few vegetables and half a bag of tortilla chips he had left, Duane created his earliest version of Sabrosa salsa. By 2000, demand for his homemade salsa had grown so high that he decided to quit making the salsa altogether so he could figure out how to bring it to market while maintaining his standard of local, wholesome ingredients. In 2006, he founded Sabrosa (Spanish for “tasty”) Foods Inc. and began manufacturing his salsas. Today, Sabrosa Foods is focused on growing its product distribution both locally and internationally with a future interest in new product line acquisitions and strives to be the leader in the healthy, high end, natural food products industry while promoting sustainable business practices and environmental consciousness.
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Work Program Architects Work Program Architects was founded in 2010 by Thom White and Mel Price. Located in the historic Monticello Arcade in Downtown Norfolk, WPA has an open studio environment that encourages collaboration between staff, consultants, clients, and the creative community. WPA is focused on educational and government work, civic landmarks, places of business, and any place where people gather. WPA strives to make architecture that is bold and NOW, that makes a positive dialogue with its physical and historical context, that is durable and responsible in its utilization of resources, and that is FUN in the process of its formation and execution. Their commitment to community is evident in their ongoing involvement in the Downtown Arts and Design District and the relocation of the PLOT from downtown into that district. As the City of Norfolk’s contracted urban designers, WPA in collaboration with UDA and Ray Gindroz is actively engaged in studies that will shape the future of the City’s underdeveloped neighborhoods as well as strengthening its economic corridors.
xTupleCon13, ultimate user conference for the world’s #1 open source ERP community
th Grow any p m o C
xTuple Headquartered in downtown Norfolk, xTuple ignited the open source world in 2013 with its inaugural user conference — a standing-room only showcase of software advances and community achievements. The first “xTupleCon” drew over 120 attendees from every corner of the globe — customers, value-added resellers, technology partners, and users of the free and open source PostBooks. xTuple, selected for InfoWorld’s 2013 best open source business application, is management software which gives growing companies control over operations and profitability. xTuple integrates all critical functional areas in one modular system: sales, accounting and operations — including customer and supplier management, inventory control, manufacturing and distribution – powerful tools to Grow Your World®. As a commercial open source company, xTuple works with a global community of tens of thousands of professional users who have the ability to tailor solutions with multi-platform support for Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile as well as flexible licensing and pricing options.
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Table Seven Antiques Table Seven Antiques is a startup tabletop antiques and accessories store in Ghent. Leigh Greer, owner, opened the shop just a year ago, turning her passion of antique table settings into a business. Today’s hostesses and brides are looking for that vintage unique touch and Table Seven provides that. The store sells - and rents - everything for events from small dinner parties to 100 plus person weddings. The shop has recently added a variety of gift items, such as tea towels, candles, books, cards and more. Table Seven was recently featured in The Virginian-Pilot and also on a number of wedding blogs. Leigh has had a few speaking occasions on table setting etiquette and is planning on holding etiquette parties for local women’s groups and sororities.
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Marathon Development Group Buddy Gadams, owner of Marathon Development Group, is running at a fast pace to redefine the Norfolk lifestyle. As a marathoner, he has completed over 25 marathons, a 50-miler and a 150-mile foot race across the Sahara Desert. He’s also a family man, married with 3 kids 1, 8 and 11, and has lived in Ghent for 20 years. Marathon is currently working on 9 projects – in Downtown, East Beach and Richmond with a combined value over $150 million; comprised of condos, retail, office and multifamily. To date, Marathon has completed over $175 million worth of projects. By 2015, the Marathon portfolio will include 1000 apartments ranging from affordable to high end offerings, all with unique amenities. The wide spectrum of projects clearly shows his high level of dedication and passion for his community. Buddy is a big supporter of James Madison University where he earned his BBA in Economics and Finance.
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Ciniva Ciniva Web Agency (CWA) is a collaborative team of extraordinary designers, thoughtful strategists, pithy writers, clever media marketers and elegant programmers. CWA has helped clients large and small to reinvigorate their brand, strategy, design and marketing efforts by applying a combination of human ingenuity and good, oldfashioned data. Stand in the studio for five minutes - the creative energy is palpable. CWA consistently hears from clients that their attention to detail and strategically targeted recommendations unlocked niche opportunities and revealed new possibilities. Their desire to go above and beyond is the constant that guides this team in an industry full of variables.