InsideNoVa/Prince William, Community Guide 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

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2 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

Meet Your NEIGHBORS

I

t’s exciting to share news about new stores opening at Manassas Mall or Potomac Mills. We’re proud of stories that have helped hold local government officials accountable for misspent tax dollars or embarrassing behavior on the national stage.

But some of our favorite stories are simply about terrific people in Prince William County doing great works or volunteering their time for a good cause. Since deciding on the theme of this year’s Prince William Community Guide, we’ve learned so much about the people you’ll read about.

You’ll be seeing most of them for the first time in these pages, including Ann Marie Moore, an Osbourn Park graduate now teaching and coaching in those same halls eight years later.

Other names might look familiar, but you’ll see them in a

A

different way, including Historic Manassas Executive Director Debbie Haight, who comes from a family of first responders, and Coles District Supervisor Mary Nohe, who shares the story of how a fill-in role at a single meeting launched a decade of work advocating for transportation improvements.

B

D

C

E

F

For this year’s guide, we’ve added a bevy of photos from events throughout the year to fit as many “people of Prince William” as we can.

You can read more profiles from our archives and see more pics at InsideNoVa.com. And we’re always looking for more unique stories about the people in our communities, as well as great photos of your local events. Email your tips to info@insidenova.com.

Greg Hambrick Senior Editor, InsideNoVa

Get Healthy

G

H

I

J

A. Marty Nohe

F. Debbie Haight

B. Betty Dean

G. Ben Goodman

C. Carlos Castro

H. Anne Marie Moore

D. Sam Hill E. Mike & Robyn Johnson

I.

Paul Roy

J. Vibhu Sethi

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 3

Supermarket success

D.C.’s ‘best dishwasher’ becomes business leader EMILY SIDES

CARLOS CASTRO

esides@insidenova.com

T

odos Supermarket, with grocery stores in Woodbridge and Dumfries, is celebrating 28 years in business. Between the two locations, owner Carlos Castro has 185 employees.

Life in America was a big adjustment for the immigrant — Castro moved to the U.S. in 1980, going from a technician in El Salvador to a dishwasher in D.C. “I was the best dishwasher in D.C.,” Castro said. “That’s what my father taught me.”

The young Castro worked in demolition and then became a remodeling contractor. One of his happiest years was 1985, when he bought his first home.

Also that year, he received his immigration green card to become a permanent resident of the U.S. “I was like ‘Hey, things are happening,’” Castro said.

Over the years Castro learned to identify opportunities as the community has grown, he said. As more people can order products online or through a delivery service, Castro said he’s focused on

Owner of Todos Supermarket

Married, four kids, two grandkids Education: Industrial engineering in El Salvador; construction management education at Northern Virginia Community College

Carlos Castro came to the U.S. in 1980 and now owns Todos Supermarket in Woodbridge and Dumfries.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA

keeping customers loyal, which is why the larger location, in the Marumsco Plaza, has a clothing store and barber shop, and offers services like notary work, tax preparation, money transfers and a post office.

“Our motto is: ‘Identify the needs of the community,’ ” Castro said.

The company started in 1990 at anoth-

Favorite thing about PW: “It’s a big county, but I like the small-town atmosphere.

People know you. Prince William County gave me that closeness to the community.”

er location that was 2,500 square feet in Woodbridge, he said.

“The problem was that we didn’t know the first thing about the supermarket business,” he said.

“The community is so diverse: Puerto Rican, Dominican, Latin American, Central American. So it was a very hard learning curve,” he said. “We were on

the verge of selling the place a couple of times. Luckily the last time — when I actually had money on the table — I was able to analyze the numbers and realize that the business was going well. We were just tired, overworked, overspent.”

Then Castro opened a second location in 2003 in Alexandria. In 2008, the company sold the Alexandria location and opened the Dumfries location.

The most important business lessons he’s learned are identifying opportunities and continually learning. As the company grew in Woodbridge, Castro opened the 50,000-square-foot location in 2011.

“It’s a matter of staying focused on the business and taking the risk of borrowing money to lease buildings,” Castro said, noting renovations to the building cost about $500,000.

“If you spend the money wisely, you can recuperate it easily,” he said.

Since then Castro added 24,000 square feet to accommodate headquarters offices and storage.

In August, about 60 people attended Sen. Tim Kaine’s campaign event called “Prince William County Latino Community Conversation” in the conference space upstairs at the Woodbridge store.

Castro said he has an open door policy.

He said his politics are Republican, but in recent years — in light of rhetoric that stigmatizes Latinos — he said doesn’t feel like he fits in the party.

“I think the Republicans have lost their way of how to embrace a diverse community,” Castro said. “They’re trying but they’re having a difficult time.”

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4 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 5

Due to the community’s relationships and legislation passed last year, the Workhouse Arts Center, the Occoquan Regional Park in Fairfax County and the Town of Occoquan formed Virginia’s first interjurisdictional arts and cultural district.

“That happened because relationships were formed and people decided to collaborate,” Dean said. The ORC dissolved its nonprofit status last year and is now the Occoquan Regional Communities Alliance.

“The great part is, we feel like what we set out to do, we did. So that’s pretty cool,” Dean said. She realized the sense of community that she found won’t be preserved if residents don’t participate.

Dean is also vice president of the Prince William Area Coalition for Human Services. The coalition has dozens of members, including the county’s social service department, that meet and discuss issues so as not to duplicate efforts, Dean said, adding that it leads to frank discussions.

As the community continues to grow, Dean said, the community should be welcoming. “We want you here and we welcome you here,” Dean said.

She said she loves the county. “It’s a remarkable place to live,” she said. “We can’t take it for granted.”

Dean feels fortunate for the friends in the community. “We wake up every day, we marvel at how lucky we are to have found our way to this place with these people in these times,” she said.

Business Advocate

Chamber chair sees exciting times ahead EMILY SIDES

BETTY DEAN

esides@insidenova.com

A

Chair of Prince William Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

fter moving to Occoquan from Wilmington, Del., in 2000, Betty Dean said she found a com-

munity.

“There is a sense of people caring for each other and the community, and to be able to participate; we think it's really special and wonderful,” Dean said.

Now the chair of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Dean has been active with the chamber since 2001.

Before moving to Virginia, Dean worked in financial services marketing and then worked at Didlake in Manassas.

She now owns a consulting firm, Betty Dean & Associates, that works mostly with nonprofits.

“I'm the poster child of the chamber,” she said. “All of my business today is indirectly or directly due to relationships I’ve made through the chamber, so that’s why it means a lot to me to give back and play a leadership role in the chamber.”

Dean became chair of the chamber’s

Family: Married Occoquan resident Education: Bachelor of Arts in English/Communications; Bachelor of Science in business administration; M.B.A. in marketing

Betty Dean considers herself a “poster child” for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA

board of directors on July 1. She said she is heading into exciting times where she wants to be a vocal advocate for the business community and continue encouraging chamber members to do business with one another.

How people work and how people form relationships have changed in the

Favorite place in PWC: Bottle Stop Wine Bar and Bistro L’hermitage in Occoquan

last 30 years, Dean said, so she wants to make sure the chamber adapts.

During her time living in Occoquan, she has seen the community blossom.

About 10 years ago, Dean and her husband were involved with the Occoquan River Communities that formed to help push for the area’s development and potential.

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www.montclairfamily.com 6 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 7

BEN GOODMAN Statistician and public address announcer for Hylton High School football

Family: Married with a daughter and a son Education: Hylton High School, George Mason University

Ben Goodman is making an 8 1/2 hour drive to Woodbridge from Ann Arbor, Michigan, each Friday to announce the football games at C.D. Hylton High School.

DAVID FAWCETT | INSIDENOVA

Favorite place in PWC: Hylton and watching the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium

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8 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

Shannon Shy, who usually does the PA at football games, went to Afghanistan for ant to know how many Hyl- work.

Goodman doesn’t mind doing both. ton football players have He has Madison Walton, a 2016 Hylton rushed for over 300 yards in graduate, helping him as a spotter. He also a game? Curious if the Bulldogs have ever doesn’t mind making the 8 1/2-hour drive produced a losing season? Or wondered one way each week to Woodbridge from how many times Hylton has scored 50 Ann Arbor, Michigan. points or more in a game?

Goodman taught special education at No matter how common or obscure Hylton from 2001 to 2018, but his famthe question, there is only one source for ily moved to Ann Arbor in July after his accurate and immediate information on wife, Stephanie, Prince William took a job in enCounty’s most vironmental consuccessful prep sumer relations football program: for a chemical I have to do it because Ben Goodman, company.

I feel like I made a otherwise known For a Friday commitment to [Hylton as the Hylton game, G o o dcoach Tony] Lilly and the football answer man leaves home school to keep this history man.

Thursday night alive. I can sacrifice the While head and stays with his tolls and the gas. co aches have parents in Mont– BEN GOODMAN come and gone, clair before reGoodman returning Sunday. mains a mainstay “I have to do it in the press box, because I feel like busy plugging stats into his iPad while I made a commitment to [Hylton coach calling the action on the field.

Tony] Lilly and the school to keep this A Prince William County native born history alive,” Goodman said. “I can sacat Potomac Hospital, Goodman has worn rifice the tolls and the gas.” many hats over the years at his high school Goodman began helping at Hylton afalma mater. He started as an underclass- ter his father suggested he find a way to man filming Hylton football games when assist then-head coach Bill Brown, who the school opened in 1991 and fielded its went to Gar-Field with Bill Goodman. first varsity team.

He enjoyed filming the games and The 41-year-old has announced bas- soon took on other tasks. His time under ketball games since 1999, along with vol- Brown and then-Hylton activities direcleyball, soccer, field hockey and baseball tor Jim Qualls started Goodman on a path games at various times. He and his father, he’s grateful for.

Bill, even spent a summer day compiling “They told me to do what is right for a Hylton football record book. the kids,” Goodman said. “That started it Since 2010, he has served as Hylton’s of- and then I did it for the people who work ficial football statistician. But this season there and the community … You give he’s pulling double-duty as the stats per- back to the community that’s given you son and public address announcer after so much.”

DAVID FAWCETT

dfawcett@insidenova.com

W

SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 9

Let us be their guide.

Let us be their guide.

Let us be their guide.

MARTY NOHE County supervisor, R-Coles; chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

It’s It’stheir theirworld. world.

We help them It’s their world.

Wecan can help themlive live comfortably We can help in them comfortably init. it. live

Family: Married, four kids Education: Woodbridge High School; Bachelors of Economics from George Mason University; graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia

comfortably in it.

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As chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Marty Nohe is helping represent Prince William County’s needs for regional support.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA

Favorite place in PWC: Prince William Forest Park

Mobility Magnet

Nohe carves out regional role EMILY SIDES

W

esides@insidenova.com

hen asked about how he became chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation

Authority, Marty Nohe said there is one

thing he’s known for: You don’t come to Marty Nohe for short answers.

The authority was created by the General Assembly in 2002, but voters didn’t approve a referendum to fund the agency through taxes.

“The referendum failed and the reflexive instinct was to eliminate the NVTA,” Nohe said, but the organization persisted.

The NVTA is composed of each jurisdiction’s chief elected official, either the mayor or the chair of the board. He isn’t the chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, but Nohe was asked to be an alternate to the meeting.

“I was told that the meeting won’t be particularly controversial,” Nohe said.

“Because at the time the NVTA didn’t have any funds by which to actually do the kind of work we’re doing.”

Before voting on a long-range transportation plan, Nohe said, he decided he had nothing to lose if he argued for a project in Prince William to be included.

“It’s my first meeting at the NVTA but thinking that it’s probably my last meeting; I’m just here as a one-time alternate. I decided to stand my ground,” Nohe said.

“I got in a big fight with a state senator; a screaming match that got a little heated.

Then when I won the vote, the state senator stormed out of the room, angry.”

Nohe said he thinks other NVTA members were more impressed with his “moxie than my argument.” Either way, he became the county’s representative on the NVTA board and has served as chair of the NVTA for nearly a decade.

Through the years, state leaders have worked toward figuring out how to fund the authority, eventually settling on raising taxes in the region. “Now the bigger challenge is allocating [funding] in a PAGE 11

10 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

Transportation Planning Board, which is responsible manner,” Nohe said, noting the federally designated planning orgahe’s proud to lead an organization that nization for metropolitan Washington, D.C. Nohe has learned that when planbecame more than an advocacy group.

Transportation issues affect where ning transportation projects, focusing homes and jobs are in the community, on just the locality you’re in can mean you miss “bigNohe said. In June, the auger opportunithority’s board ties to solve bigapproved fundger problems.” ing 44 projects Nohe thinks in a six-year the NVTA reIf we don’t plan totaling gional model think regionally, $1.285 billion could be repliin fiscal 2018 we’re setting cated for issues through 2023. such as the opiourselves up to The NVTA oid epidemic. be steamrolled has a l lowe d Nohe is also Nohe to carve by the rest of the the president out a spot to of Appliance region. serve regionConnection in ally. “First and – MARTY NOHE Woodbridge. foremost I’m a “My life is Prince William about balancCounty supering,” he said. “I visor,” he said.

“It’s important for Prince William Coun- feel like I have three, full-time jobs [as president of his company, as county suty to think regionally.”

Still, as the southern-most jurisdiction pervisor and as chair of the NVTA]. I do represented in the NVTA, “if we don’t it by choice.”

As a Prince William County native, he think regionally, we’re setting ourselves up to be steamrolled by the rest of the re- works in different capacities because he loves his community. gion,” he said.

“I want this to be a great place to raise Next year, Nohe is set to serve as the chair of the National Capital Regional a family,” Nohe said.

FROM PAGE 10

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 11

Multitask Master

Roy always at attention at Quantico High DAVID FAWCETT

PAUL ROY

P

dfawcett@insidenova.com

aul Roy loves to multitask; in his eyes, the more responsibility the better. It’s understandable then why Roy is in constant demand at Quantico High School.

When he arrived at Quantico in the fall of 2000, the retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel held two titles: head of the new JROTC program and head of the baseball team.

But over the years, Roy added other positions. He became athletic director, assistant and now head football coach, and head boys and girls basketball coach.

All the different jobs are time-consuming, but the 69-year-old embraces each one to the point that he keeps putting off retirement.

“I’ve thought about it, but I have no idea what I’d do,” Roy said. “My hobby is my work. I’m pretty boring.”

Although he was the Washington Redskins 2016 High School Football Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to

JROTC instructor, athletic director, head football, girls basketball and baseball coach at Quantico High School

Married, four kids, two grandkids Family: Married with two sons, a daughter and two granddaughters Education: Winslow High School (Maine); Thomas College (Maine) Favorite local places: Working at Quantico High School and watching sports on ESPN with his family

Paul Roy is in his fifth year as Quantico’s head football coach. He is also the school’s athletic director, baseball coach and girls basketball coach and oversees the JROTC program. DAVID FAWCETT | INSIDENOVA

an 11-1 mark and their first state-title appearance since 1996, the Maine native takes pride in seeing students get better whether the team or individual wins. He feels the same way toward students who earn JROTC scholarships and get into

the service academies.

“They are almost like my own kids,” Roy said.

At one point in his life, Roy wanted to become an athletic director and coach.

But he delayed that move following

They are almost like my own kids.

– PAUL ROY

college graduation when he joined the Marine Corps. He served for 21 years before retiring in 1995 and seeking opportunities elsewhere.

He worked as the JROTC instructor at Highland Springs High School in Richmond for five years until one day in July of 2000 he stopped by Maj. Gen. Thomas Jones’ office at Quantico and asked him if he wanted to go for a run aboard the base. While jogging together, Jones told Roy that Quantico planned to start a JROTC program and needed an instructor.

They went to the high school and met with Quantico principal Coleman Starnes that same day. Starnes offered Roy the JROTC job and the baseball coach position. To Roy, it was the best of both worlds: the military and sports.

This school year, just over 50 percent of the 121-person student body is in JROTC, including many of his athletes.

“I look at it like any other coach,” Roy said. “I enjoy the kids.”

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12 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

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MANASSAS VIKING FESTIVAL

The first Manassas Viking Festival was held May 12, on the lawn at the Manassas Museum. While Josephine Mellott, 3, tries on a helmet, visitors were able to get a good look at a 40-foot Viking ship on Prince William Street.

Events included iron work, tool making, wood carving, cooking, working with wool, period fighting and family games.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 13

ANNE MARIE MOORE Teacher at Osbourn Park High School

Family: Single Education: Osbourn Park High graduate; bachelor’s in English and Master of Arts and teaching in secondary education at James Madison University; currently pursuing master’s in educational leadership at George Mason University.

Former Osbourn Park High student Anne Marie Moore, photographed here during a trip to China, is back at the Manassas area school as a teacher.

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nne Marie Moore once attended Osbourn Park High School, playing lacrosse and field hockey when she wasn’t in the classroom. Now, Moore is in her fourth year teaching at the school, currently as the 11th-grade English and language arts teacher for both

advanced placement and ESOL classes.

“My goal the entire time was to get back to Osbourn Park,” Moore said. “I love my experience here. As a student I enjoyed my teachers and the staff. In college I got to go into different schools and into different environments; I enjoyed all of them, but there was always something special about OP that I remembered.”

Moore spent two years as a teacher at Stonewall Middle School before joining some of her former teachers and coaches at Osbourn Park.

“It was funny. Everybody when they first see you, kind of reacts like you’re still a student, especially being young and not too long out of school. I enjoy them just as much as co-workers as I did as teachers,” she said. “They’ve been great and supportive.”

As a student, she was in the biotechnology program, which draws students from around the county.

“There’s still that strong sense of community,” Moore said. “So it’s kind of cool how everybody can come together despite the fact that we don’t necessarily live all in the same area.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” was one of her favorite books in high school and now she teaches it to her students.

“With discussions and reading, the students can all have their own personal interpretation. So even if I taught a book before, every year I do it I get something different out of it, and that’s solely based on the kids in the class,” Moore said.

For six years she’s been involved with the lacrosse program, working as JV coach, head coach and now assistant coach as she pursues her second master’s degree. She’s also involved with field hockey.

“I wanted to get involved with coaching from day one,” she said. “I really enjoyed the experience of being on a team and creating those relationships. As a teacher, it’s a good way to get to know the kids outside of the classroom.”

PAGE 15

14 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

Top: Colgan Senior High School’s first graduating class celebrated the milestone on June 2 with more than 350 graduates walking across the stage.

Bottom: Prince William library events include Bollywood dance classes at Chinn Park Regional Library. See more at insidenova.com/ calendar.

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Moore works with about 40 students on JV and varsity lacrosse.

“I always have at least a few that I teach during the day and then they’re on the team as well, so you get to see them in two different settings,” Moore said. “And that’s always interesting; how they change.”

As a high school student, Moore used to go to Tony’s NY Pizza before football games and after practices.

“Now I go with co-workers for lunches on teacher work days or after school. So it’s always been this place that I’ve been with friends, from high school to now,” Moore said.

Over her years in the community, Moore said she has enjoyed seeing Old Town Manassas change with new restaurants.

“It’s ever-growing but at the end of the day it still has that small-town feel,” she said.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 15

Helping Young Athletes

MIKE AND ROBYN JOHNSON

Johnsons provide a home away from home

Residence: Manassas Titles: Mike is an accounts receivable analyst with iDirect; Robyn is a business management director with Freddie Mac Family: Two daughters, one son and three grandchildren

DAVID FAWCETT

Education: Osbourn High School; Robyn graduated from Radford University

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E

ach Friday, the Manassas townhouse of Mike and Robyn Johnson would fill up with at least five boys in need of a ride the next day to their Greater Manassas Football League game.

If their parents couldn’t get them there because of work, the Johnsons stepped in. They had the room, and Mike, as their coach, felt the push to reach out. They still do.

Since that time in the mid-1990s, the Johnsons have become a home away from home for boys and young men who need a temporary place to live. Robyn estimates seven have lived with the family over the years, including NFL player Lucky Whitehead.

They are not troubled kids. Sometimes they arrive because a parent moved away and the boy wants to stay in Manassas.

Whatever the reason, the Johnsons’ door is always open.

“They come for Coach Mike’s wisdom and my prayers,” Robyn said.

Coach Mike, as Johnson is typically

Robyn Johnson,left, Lucky Whitehead, Karen Morris (Whitehead’s mother), Mike Johnson.

I’d challenge others to do it.

I want to be a mentor and help where I can.

– MIKE JOHNSON

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known, sees himself as a mentor, not a replacement father.

“We’re extended family when needed,” Mike said.

Or as Robyn puts it: “We’re joining in.”

Both have a considerable influence in Manassas, where outreach is important to them. Mike is tied to his roots, especially Osbourn. It’s rare to find him sporting any other team colors besides his

What is your favorite place in PWC: For Mike, Osbourn High, especially football games and running on the school track. He also likes LA Fitness.

Robyn likes to run the streets of Manassas (she once ran to every “Welcome to Manassas” electronic sign). Also she works out four to five times a week at CrossFit Manassas.

beloved Eagles.

“He’s true Osbourn blue and gray,” Robyn said.

Mike and Robyn, who first started dating in the seventh grade and graduated together from Osbourn in 1983, view their role as a calling.

“I’d challenge others to do it,” Mike said. “I want to be a mentor and help where I can.”

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Learn more at: bit.ly/advancema 16 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

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HOOPS FEST InsideNoVa held its 23rd annual Hoopsfest event April 11, at Woodbridge High School with dozens of participants from across Prince William County. Left: Patriot High teammates cheer on Naomi Hanton during the 3-point shootout.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 17

DEBBIE HAIGHT

305 Mill Street B-1, Occoquan, VA 22125

Executive director, Historic Manassas

Community: Manassas Family: Husband, Wayne; two daughters, Jennifer and Tiffany; one stepson, Matt; seven grandchildren ranging in age from 7 months to 17.

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Favorite Place in PWC: Downtown Manassas

Civil servant box checked

Haight happily shares hidden treasures in downtown Manassas these little niche shops and these great mom-and-pop restaurants,” she said.

Haight said it’s exciting to see people strong sense of service and discover all that Manassas offers for the community permeates the fi rst time. lives of Historic Manassas “On the other hand, it’s a little disExecutive Director Debbie heartening to know they've lived here, Haight and her family. and it has been in their backyard all the One of Haight's daughters is a detectime and they haven't enjoyed it,” she tive sergeant with the Prince William County Police Department and the said.

When Historic Manassas was formed other is a teacher, and her stepson is a firefighter at Fort Belvoir. Also, Haight 30 years ago, its mission wasn't to necand her husband are long-time volunteer essarily spread the word about the city's firefighters. history, she said.

“I started a family here,” she said. “I “We started to encourage downtown have the civil servant box checked.” revitalization,” Haight explained. “When A native of the malls came on the Midwest, Haight scene, everything relocated with her kind of pushed family to Prince away from small William County There’s always towns. There were when she was 5 so many great something new here. years old. Haight people in Manas– DEBBIE HAIGHT graduated from sas who said we Virginia Tech and can't let that hapwas assistant dipen.” rector of the SERVE homeless shelter Haight said that for Historic Manassas, for a number of years before making the it’s all about the economy and redevelopswitch from working for a nonprofit to ment. working for New Construction Homes.

“That's what promotes a safe, vibrant “The bottom fell out of that,” she said. downtown,” she said.

“I was out of a job that I'd been working Although two battles were fought in at for 13 years.”

Manassas, the city's downtown began to Finding herself looking for a new cabe developed following the Civil War and reer path in 2009, Haight learned of an opportunity to become manager of the is actually post-Victorian, said Haight.

“The train depot was built in 1914, Visitors Center in Manassas thanks to burned down twice and was rebuilt,” she her time at SERVE, when she had been said. introduced to the former center manToday, Historic Manassas employs ager. four full-time and 10 part-time employ“I knew a little bit about Manassas, and ees, and a number of volunteers who staff she brought me in,” said Haight. “She was the Visitors Center 363 days a year. ready to move on, and she asked me if I'd Haight said downtown Manassas is take it.” her favorite places to spend time in the Haight said that when most people think of Manassas, they think of the Civil Prince William County region.

“I love going into restaurants and havWar battlefield, and not the city's vibrant ing the owner come up and say hi,” she and growing downtown area.

“For years people have lived here and said. “And the different stuff in shops. not been to this historic downtown, with There's always something new here.”

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The Prince William County Fair returned for the 69th year in 2018, but the tradition appears likely to end with next year’s 70th anniversary. Property owners announced they were putting the fairgrounds up for sale in early September. Kenny Shephard, left, and Jack Fennell, both from Nokesville, lounge in the antique tractor barn on Aug. 11. Gladice Hernandez and her daughter Mia, 2, from Manassas, ride the carousel.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 19

Transplant settles in

Sam Hill excited about Woodbridge, NVCC and the future GREG HAMBRICK

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O

ver the past 13 years, Dr. Sam Hill has watched Prince William County grow. Entertaining guests from out of town recently, Hill was pointing out new developments since he relocated to the area. “They told me, ‘It might be a shorter conversation if you

told us what was here back then.’”

The provost at the Woodbridge Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, Hill moved to the area in 2005 after 14 years at Kankakee Community College in Illinois. His daughter still lives in Kankakee, but Hill said he and his wife are proud residents of Prince William County. “We consider this our

home,” he said.

The biggest adjustment when he arrived was facing Northern Virginia’s unique traffic challenges.

“You learn to appreciate the disclaimer ‘depending on traffic,’” he said. “And you don’t measure travel distance in miles, you measure it in minutes.”

Traffic aside, Hill easily extolls the area’s virtues. “Its proximity to the nation’s capital, the diversity in the county now and the pride in its diversity,” he said, noting Prince William is the first majority-minority county in the state.

“I’m especially pleased with the pride in our school system and the enthusiasm for the quality of life.”

Hill’s pride goes beyond the community to include the students he has seen shine as professionals, including a student serving in a surgical residency at the coveted Cleveland Clinic, along with another former student taking a leadership role in cyber security in the region.

Hill’s also excited about the next evolution for the Woodbridge campus. They’ll soon launch a 12- to 18-month renovation of the Seefeldt building.

“It’s a little challenging and scary, but

DR. SAM HILLS Provost, Woodbridge Campus of Northern Virginia Community College

Family: Married, one daughter Favorite place in Prince William County: “I really like walking the hall in the Seefeldt building and looking out on the lake at the campus.”

I’m especially pleased with the pride in our school system and the enthusiasm for the quality of life.

– SAM HILL

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20 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

Left: First Mt. Zion Music Ministry, from Dumfries, offers up some gospel favorites at the Manassas African American Heritage Festival at Metz Middle School on Aug. 4.

Numerous groups sang and played throughout the day.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA Below left: Members of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Choir perform at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program and Youth Oratorical Contest on Jan. 15 at Cecil D. Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge.

PAUL LARA | FOR INSIDENOVA Below right: Visitors stop by Glory Be in Occoquan to check out the Jurassic Park peeps during the town’s annual “Peep Show” March 31.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 21

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22 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018

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Restaurant owner risked all on franchise GREG HAMBRICK

ghambrick@insidenova.com

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ibhu Sethi immigrated to the U.S. from India in 1999 and moved to Northern Virginia after going to school in Boston.

“I’ve worked in restaurants my whole life — I went to Johnson and Wales University and got my master’s degree in restaurant management,” he said.

Sethi settled in the area for a job with Chicken Out, a popular chain at the time, but eventually moved on to work as a general manager at a Woodbridge Applebee’s. By then, he was ready for something more.

“I was working 65-70 hours a week — working a lot of nights. At times, I wouldn’t get home until 4 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “I just found the rewards and the salary didn’t match the effort I was putting in.

At that point, California Tortilla was looking for a new owner for the Sudley Road restaurant. Sethi maxed out his credit cards and joined the world of Mexican-inspired fast-casual dining. In two years, he paid off the debt and has now owned the business for eight years.

“Owning and managing are completely different, but, honestly, all the surprises of restaurant ownership were good surprises,” Sethi said. “Even when you’re working more, it doesn’t feel like work.”

He’s got some employees that have been with him for eight years.

“What makes our location stand out is the level of customer service — caring about people. We’ll recognize people’s cars in the parking lot and start making their meal.”

Sethi works nights at the store and will often visit with diners. “People are surprised. Nobody expects someone to come check on them,” he said.

In promotional videos for the company a few years ago, Sethi talked about dreams of a second franchise location.

He keeps his eye out for opportunities, but he’s taken a different route to grow his partnership with the company. Sethi now spends most days working as a franchise consultant for California Tortilla, working with new owners across the country by offering advice from his success.

Sethi loves his community in Haymarket and the schools in the area as he raises his two children.

“There’s so much to do,” he said.

“You’re still close to the D.C. metro area, but you’re away from the hustle and bustle when you want to be.”

VIBHU SETHI

Manassas restaurant owner, franchise consultant at California Tortilla

Family: Married, two children Education: Master’s in restaurant management from Johnson and Wales University.

Favorite place in PWC: His Haymarket community

2018

SEPTEMBER 2018 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • 23

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24 • PEOPLE OF PRINCE WILLIAM • SEPTEMBER 2018