INSIDE Chamber Honors Top Small Businesses ...... Page 12 N O VE MB ER 2 0 1 1 VOLUME 8 NO. 12
‘Nothing Like Being #1’
Loudoun’s Businesses Stand Out In Awards Programs By Kara Clark, Staff Writer
The winner’s circle in Loudoun continues to expand, thanks in part to the growing number of ceremonies organized each year to recognize the county’s best and brightest businesses. In October and November alone, three such recognition ceremonies were held: the Green Gala and Small Business Awards, both organized in part by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce; and the Loudoun Small Business Development Center’s third annual Business Plan Competition.
Hundreds of local businesses vie for this recognition each year, and respect of their peers is not something any take for granted. Becky Harris, who co-owns Purcellville’s Catoctin Creek Distilling Company with husband Scott, knows a thing or two about that. The distillery was recently recognized as the Agribusiness of the Year during the Small Business Awards, and Scott Harris picked up Entrepreneur of the Year honors. At the Green Gala, the company won the Innovation Award for its environmental efforts.
Becky Harris said the couple has been “overwhelmed by the attention” and recognition received as award winners. The business was also previously a participant and winner in the SBDC Business Plan Competition. “We just think it’s really cool that other businesses are excited by our business,” Becky Harris said. “We were inspired by a lot of different people around here with their small businesses.” Harris said the award recognition also gives Catoctin Creek a greater opportunity to promote its business.
“Being as small as we are in our industry we’re limited to the amount and kind of advertising we do. We rely on word of mouth and the attention we get in these kinds of competitions as yet another way to try to get our name out there, get people interested in what we offer, coming out, visiting, meeting us, trying our products are really key,” she said. “These mentions are worth a lot to us, because we can’t buy an advertisement in a lot of local outlets.” Julie Hoffmann said she and J&L Interiors co-owner Lori DuVal have been See Awards, Page 10
Creighton Farms’ Developers: ‘Here To Stay’ By Danielle Nadler, Staff Writer
When developers David Southworth and Joseph Deitch bought Creighton Farms, the luxury golf course community near Aldie, in early 2009, they knew they had their work cut out for them. The gated rural subdivision—which was developed in conjunction with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and opened for home sales in 2006 —fell into financial woes in the height of the economic downturn. Much of the work on the property’s planned estates and facilities to enhance the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course had stopped; the road, water and sewer infrastructure was incomplete and the maintenance building had just burnt to the ground. “For the first year of our ownership, it was really just a fire drill—no pun intend-
ed—in terms of getting our facilities rebuilt and completed,” Southworth, president and CEO of Southworth Development, said during a recent visit to Creighton Farms. Today, the 964-acre development is back on track, as Southworth puts it, with 20 homes occupied or under construction, another 57 lots ready for construction next year, and more than 100 family memberships at The Club at Creighton Farms, which played host to the Senior PGA Professional National Championship in October. And Creighton Farms is poised to open a new 30,000-square-foot American Vernacular-style clubhouse—complete with 10 suites for members and guests—in early December. “To see it like this is very rewarding and fulfilling,” Southworth said. “It’s See Creighton, Page 2 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
PAID Permit #78 Springfield, VA
Completion of the new clubhouse at Creighton Farms is the latest amenity at the Jack Nicklausdesigned golf course.