November 2016 by Virginia Business

Local business schools, p. 15

Biggest home renovations for the buck, p. 20

NOVEMBER 2016

SERVING THE ROANOKE/BLACKSBURG/ NEW RIVER VALLEY REGION

State Sen. Creigh Deeds is an advocate for mental health policy reform.

Working to heal Mental health and workplace violence

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CONTENTS SERVING THE ROANOKE/BLACKSBURG/ NEW RIVER VALLEY REGION

November 2016 F E AT U R E S COVER STORY

Violence at work

The complicated intersection of company policy, mental health and workplace safety. by Mason Adams

SPECIAL REPORT: DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Renovation payback

Hardwood floors and a finished basement are best investments.

by Jenny Boone

BUSINESS SCHOOLS ‘There’s so much you can do with a business major’

Focus on innovation and analytics attracts business school students. by Shawna Morrison

EDUCATION 175 years of educating women

During anniversary year, Hollins University looks backward and forward. by Shawna Morrison

D 24

INTERVIEW: Dylan Locke

Music promoter, co-owner of Floyd Country Store

‘Do the right thing’ Co-owner of Floyd Country Store feels obligation to keep the music going. by Beth JoJack

COMMUNITY PROFILE: BOTETOURT Bedroom community no more Botetourt County is getting new businesses and a new gateway.

by Gene Marrano 2

NOVEMBER 2016

27 E 35

NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER • • • •

Chamber Champions Event sponsorships New members Member news & recognitions

FROM THE EDITOR

Young ideas Contest suggests the kids are all right by Tim Thornton

four-person team from the University of Trento in Italy devised an app to warn drivers of a car horn or an approaching emergency vehicle. When the noise approaches, a driver’s smartphone vibrates and shows a color-coded display to let the driver know if that’s a police car or an impatient motorist closing in on them. The app also works with a smart bracelet, so two devices can alert drivers. The team of college students who presented their plan at the Inn at Virginia Tech on Aug. 18, has a working prototype and 30 pre-orders. They need just 610 users to break even. While hearing-impaired drivers are the main market, the app also can help people such as joggers and bikers who temporarily impair their hearing by turning the music in their headphones way up. The students who presented the idea and fielded questions about it were poised, knowledgeable and seemed to have a refreshingly low quotient of irrational exuberance about their road to profitability. But they weren’t among the winners at the seventh annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Entrepreneurship Challenge. Neither was the Chilean team that wants to put sensors on hard hats to keep construction workers from being injured or killed by cranes, or the Egyptian team that has a plan to replace passwords with brain signals. “You can’t really forget your brain signals at home,” says team member Aly Tarek Ibrahim. “They’re always with you, so that’s convenient.” A Virginia Tech team called Park and Diamond Inc. won the big prize – $25,000 and their name and university engraved on the Global Challenge Trophy. They’re building a better bike helmet. According to the team’s product pitch, their design takes bike helmets from bulky and dorky “to seamlessly fitting your lifestyle,” from “the stigma for being ugly to an attractive form of self expression … a modern helmet that fits our modern lives.” A team from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, won $10,000 for Construction Cloud. According to the pitch it’s “like the Instagram and Dropbox for the construction industry – a photo library stored in the cloud.” The team says Construction Cloud “saves time, improves team communication and protects companies in disputes.’’ The $5,000 People’s Choice Award went to eLog, of University of Kent, England. The team “aims to use technology to help displaced people across the world fleeing political persecution and war. Refugees use eLog to map their migration and provide evidence of their journey when applying for asylum as well as family records.” People have been complaining about “kids today” just about as long as people have been able to talk. But some of these kids today are pretty darned impressive.

NOVEMBER 2016

SERVING THE ROANOKE/BLACKSBURG/ NEW RIVER VALLEY REGION Vol. 5

NOVEMBER 2016

President & Publisher Roanoke Business Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Writers

Art Director Contributing Photographers Production Manager Circulation Manager Accounting Manager Vice President of Advertising Account Representative

No. 11

Bernard A. Niemeier Tim Thornton Paula C. Squires Mason Adams Jenny Boone Beth JoJack Gene Marrano Shawna Morrison Adrienne R. Watson Don Petersen Natalee Waters Kevin L. Dick Karen Chenault Ashley Henry Hunter Bendall Lynn Williams

CONTACT: EDITORIAL: (540) 520-2399 ADVERTISING: (540) 597-2499 210 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke, VA 24011-1702 We welcome your feedback. Email Letters to the Editor to Tim Thornton at tthornton@roanoke-business.com

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on the cover State Sen. Creigh Deeds AP Photo/Steve Helber

COVER STORY

Violence at work The complicated intersection of company policy, mental health and workplace safety

Anchor Chris Hurst (in rear) and Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner in the WDBJ newsroom the morning a former colleague shot and killed Alison Parker and Adam Ward during a live broadcast.

by Mason Adams

he video shocked America. For a few moments, Vester Lee Flanagan – known to the Roanoke Valley by his camera name of Bryce Williams from his time as a WDBJ-Channel 7 reporter – watched reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward do a live interview with Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. Then Flanagan opened fire. He killed Parker and Ward and wounded Gardner before fleeing to lead law enforcement officers on an hourslong pursuit that ended with his suicide along Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia. Reporters later traced Flanagan’s troubled career path, which included difficulties at a station in Tallahassee, Fla., as well as at WDBJ. His supervisors in Roanoke documented multiple instances in which he had lashed

NOVEMBER 2016

out at colleagues as he struggled to meet job performance standards. In June 2012, his supervisor, Dan Dennison, ordered him to receive support through an employee assistance program, writing in a memo, “We can no longer afford to have you engage in behaviors that constitute creation of a hostile work environment.” By the end of the year, not quite a year after he’d been hired, Flanagan was dismissed as an employee. Flanagan, who had complained of racism during his time at WDBJ, filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. He’d done the same thing a decade earlier in Tallahassee. In a letter he sent ABC News two hours after the shooting on Aug. 26, 2015, Flanagan referenced the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech and the 2015 shooting at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in

Charleston, S.C., as motivating factors in his decision to buy a gun and kill his former co-workers. The shooting represents a nightmare scenario for employers. How should they deal with an erratic, underperforming employee? And what happens when that employee becomes a danger to those around him or her? There’s no easy answer. Even when management strives to do things right, there’s no guarantee of a good outcome. However, mentalhealth-care providers and advocates continue to develop and offer services aimed at benefiting both employers and their workers, while policymakers are rethinking and refining rules that dictate how the system works. “It’s a real issue in Virginia,” says state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath AP Photo/Steve Helber

County. Deeds, a Democrat who has served in the General Assembly since 1992, became a prominent advocate for mental health policy reform after his son, Austin “Gus” Deeds, who had suffered from mental illness, attacked Creigh in November 2013 with a knife before fatally shooting himself. Gus Deeds had been detained under an emergency custody order but was released because officials at the Rockbridge Area County Community Services Board couldn’t find a vacant psychiatric bed for him. Two years after the incident, Creigh Deeds filed a $6 million wrongful death suit against the community service board (CSB) and the worker who handled his son’s case, alleging that at least five hospitals had available beds but that the worker only contacted seven from a list of more than two dozen. Deeds led a 2014 legislative effort to reform Virginia’s mental health system, including the establishment of an online registry of available psychiatric beds. It also gives officials more time to find beds for patients under custody, and if one can’t be found before the order expires, the state must provide one. The legislation also launched a four-year study of further mental health policy reforms. Deeds, who is participating on the joint subcommittee overseeing the effort, says Virginia gives employers lots of leeway to hire and fire employees at will, which may create big challenges for those suffering from mental illness. “Employment is a huge issue for the mentally ill,” Deeds says. “It’s difficult to get a job, and difficult to keep a job.” The loss of a job usually translates to loss of health-care benefits, too. Much of the subcommittee’s work is focused on how to catch individuals who fall through the cracks. Many psychiatric hospitals have closed – only a fierce legislative effort saved the state from closing the Catawba Hospital in Roanoke County in 2016 – and the burden of supporting much of the mentally ill population has fallen to CSBs, as well as police departments and jails. AP Photo/ Evan Vucci

It’s important to realize that mental illness, which includes anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and more, does not often lead to violence. In fact, people with mental illness are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence. Studies show that people with mental illness are more than twice as likely as the general population to be attacked, mugged or raped. But some people’s mental illness may not be recognized until they run afoul of the law. Virginia has 40 CSBs, including Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare in the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley Community Services in the NRV, that are tasked with two primary responsibilities: Providing emergency services when a person is having a crisis, and following up after that person is discharged from the hospital. “Beyond those two things, what they do is up to them,” says Del. Joseph Yost of Giles County, another subcommittee member. “The problem I see in the commonwealth is that what we do in New River Valley can be vastly different from what’s done in Fairfax or Loudoun County.” Deeds and Yost both repeated the same line describing the diversity of

Virginia’s CSBs: “If you’ve seen one CSB, you’ve seen one CSB.” Some of that variation comes from CSBs reflecting their communities; much of it stems from how they’re funded. Northern Virginia CSBs receive up to 90 percent of their funding from localities. In Southwest Virginia, that figure drops to 10 percent or even less. “The availability of care is different depending on where you live in Virginia,” Deeds says. He says only about 1,000 psychiatrists practice in Virginia, and few of them are found west of Charlottesville. Then there’s the question of standards and accountability. Lawmakers seek a balance between giving CSBs flexibility to reflect their communities while still meeting a baseline standard for quality and responsiveness. It’s not easy to find the right mix. Funding has proven daunting as well. Lawmakers passed early mental health reforms after the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, which left 32 students and faculty members dead, only to see those initiatives defunded during the Great Recession. Retaining funding for the 2014 reforms may prove tricky, too, as Gov. Terry McAuliffe in August announced a $1.5 billion funding shortfall. Deeds sees Medicaid expansion and the subsequent

State Sen. Creigh Deeds led the effort to reform Virginia’s mental health system, but funding problems have hampered progress. “The availability of care is different depending on where you live in Virginia,” Deeds says.

ROANOKE BUSINESS

Cover Story

Security personnel monitor the interior and exterior grounds at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

arrival of federal dollars to support it as an option, but Republicans have blocked attempts to expand Medicaid in the commonwealth. Yost calls for funding “evidencebased practices.” That includes Programs for Assertive Community Treatment — which use specialized teams of four or five people to provide intensive, highly targeted services to individuals who are hospitalized or jailed for mental issues — and dropoff centers. The centers allow police officers to deposit individuals at facilities staffed by emergency services personnel from CSBs. The dropoff center program started in 2012 with three centers, including one in Blacksburg, and now has grown to 37. Ultimately, Yost says, it makes sense to focus more effort in programs aimed at preventing people from getting to a crisis point. “You will save a ton of money down the road if you don’t have people cycling in and out of hospitals, in and out of jail systems,” Yost says. “It not only gives you skills to recognize mental health problems, but also goes a long way to de-stigmatize mental health issues.” 8

NOVEMBER 2016

This is where employers come in. More businesses have invested in building cultures that value employees and encourage them to engage in health-related activities. That doesn’t just build morale; it can also significantly save on health insurance policies. It’s true not just for physical health, but mental health as well. “There is greater public awareness these days that mental health conditions usually are medical concerns,” says Bob Carolla, spokesman for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group. “From the business community’s perspective, they realize they have an investment in employees. Frankly it’s in their own self-interest of productivity and employee morale to provide a more supportive workplace culture. That can vary depending on the business organization: Obviously a small business with 10 people may have a different approach than one that has 1,000 employees. What is a new trend is that specific companies are stepping forward and wanting to see what they can do to support employees and create a new culture.”

In Blacksburg, cloud-computing company Rackspace emphasizes mental, physical and financial health for its approximately 100 employees. “Rackspace really focuses on overall wellness and a work/life balance,” says Alison Thomasson, senior human resources business partner. A wellness committee in the Blacksburg office “does things like informing our employee base about our EAP [employee assistance program] and sponsoring things on the physical wellness side that influence mental health, like health challenges, hiking together, going to the gym, finding employees with a common interest in sports or just spending time outdoors.” The company’s location in Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center was designed to maximize natural light, with a nearby walking trail and convenient access to the Huckleberry Trail for employees who want to exercise on their breaks. Rackspace offers occasional seminars on topics such as financial planning and caring for elderly relatives, and it encourages managers to play a supportive role in their employees’ lives. “We definitely encourage managers to get to know their employees and to have regular one-on-ones where they’re not only focused on specific tasks or projects, but the overall happiness and engagement of their employees,” Thomasson says. One of the most useful, inexpensive tools for employers are employee assistance programs, or EAPs. “I have always said that it is the very best benefit that an employer provides for someone other than their paycheck,” says Carol Stockton, director of counseling at Family Service of the Roanoke Valley, which provides EAP services for more than 15 insurers. The programs link employees requesting mental health support with three to 12 therapy sessions. The program is free, confidential and links at-risk employees with a therapist within 48 to 72 hours. The sessions give those employees support when they need it, assisting Photo illustration by Don Petersen

them in dealing with personal problems that may be affecting their professional life. Stockton says EAPs benefit businesses by reducing “absenteeism, tardiness, workers leaving early and having to make phone calls at work — all kinds of thing that distracted from being able to do their job.” The programs help employees take a proactive approach to mental health, giving them a way to address potential issues such as substance abuse, relationship problems and early signs of mental illness before they turn into major problems. Some large employers maintain their own, in-house EAPs. Neely Conner manages Carilion Clinic’s EAP, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year. It provides services to Carilion employees and family members, as well as those of about 90 other organizations, for a total of about 145,000 people. “One of our goals in Carilion EAP is to provide a biopsychosocial assessment” — or a look at the whole person, Conner says. “If they need access to something beyond what we can provide under our roof, we link them to the right resources. That may be a primary-care physician. It may be a community resource, a legal resource, a financial resource. In the end you’ve got a service that acts as a portal of entry to the right resource at the right time. You can imagine how that would decrease health insurance costs.” The growing recognition of the relationship between business and workers’ mental health may seem daunting for bosses, but it also makes sense. Full-time employees spend 35 hours or more in a workplace each week. That’s a significant amount of time that may foster close relationships between co-workers or with a supervisor. “Ultimately, it is going to be the relationship between individual supervisors and the people who report to them,” says Carolla, of NAMI the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “If you have a mean boss, that’s not going to foster the kind of openness that’s needed. On the other hand, when you have relationships of mu-

tual respect and trust, it makes it easier for a person to quietly and to in confidence go to their own supervisor to explain what’s going on. Or you create a mechanism within the organization maybe by first going to the HR office to scope out what may be needed, and the HR person works as the lead.” There are, however, cases in which EAP support cannot salvage the relationship between employer and employee. In that case, depending on the nature of the contract between the EAP and business, benefits may sometimes be extended for 30 to 180 days after the employee is terminated. “We’re not going to just ignore those folks who may need help,” Conner says. “The other thing is that that’s where an EAP can be absolutely critical in helping the person not only access the services they need, but also help the organization address it in a way that’s not going to create a risk for doing something not in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities

Act, because that’s when you create legal consequences, potentially.” Advocates emphasize the relatively low correlation between mental illness and violence. Still, the experience of employment termination may trigger rage in the person being fired, whether mentally ill or not. In some cases it may become the inciting incident in the unraveling of that person’s mental state. As a result, employers sometimes contract a security firm during termination and the weeks that follow. Chris Ragone started Executive Security Concepts in 2005, providing uniformed security officers in Roanoke, as well as protection to members of the Saudi royal family in Northern Virginia. Today he employs both uniformed security officers and higher-level, state-licensed officers known as personal protection specialists, who work in plain clothes with concealed weapons. In the hours and days following the shooting of the WDBJ journalists, Pinkerton — a

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Cover Story multinational security firm with roots in the famous Pinkerton National Detective Agency founded in the 1850s — hired Executive Security Concepts agents to guard national news crews working the story at Smith Mountain Lake. “In the past few years, a lot of our business has been what we call highrisk terminations,” Ragone says. “A human resources manager contacts us about an employee who’s made some threats or comments in the workplace. They’re getting ready to terminate this person and have some concern about workplace safety. We can come in during termination, or more often after the fact. We’ll come in and guard the facilities or the manager who was directly threatened. Every situation is similar, where they’re worried about safety, but they’re all unique.” When the worst happens, it’s not just the mentally ill employee who is affected, but also his or her co-workers. The WDBJ shootings resulted in the death of three people associated

with the station, creating a tidal wave of grief for those who remained, even as they continued to carry out their jobs as reporters and news producers. WDBJ General Manager Matt Pumo, citing the station’s transfer of ownership to Gray TV in February, declined to comment on the shooting or mental-health-care services that its employees received in its wake. Conner, however, says she knows that WDBJ has an EAP and received an abundance of support for its employees. She says that although the publicity and scale of the incident set it apart, Carilion regularly assists its own employees who often witness traumatic situations. “Tragedy is seen on a day-to-day basis in our facilities, and it impacts people,” Conner says. “One of the things that we’ve done with Carilion is really working on trying to shift our cultural response to individuals when they are involved in a significant patient event. Our goal is to recognize that people can experience emotional

and spiritual trauma situations. To assume that they’ll get over it on their own is not a good approach. Over the past two years, we have worked on developing a good response to those individuals and situations.” Like much else in the realm of mental health care and policy, it’s a work in progress. NAMI spokesman Carolla says the shift in recognizing and acknowledging mental health as a medical concern is helping to gradually reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, which in turn goes toward improving how it’s treated. “If someone breaks a leg, it’s easier for supervisors and co-workers to understand what’s going on,” Carolla says. “If they don’t know much about mental illness and don’t understand the nature of it, that’s where it may make an environment more difficult to speak up or to be given some slack in terms of what they need to recover. That goes to the need, and it’s what we’re working on, to change the culture in the workplace.”

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SPECIAL REPORT: DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Renovation payback Hardwood floors and a finished basement are best investments

Jimmy Dollman, who owns a design-build firm in Roanoke, says many renovation projects will improve a home’s marketability.

by Jenny Boone

immy Dollman can’t get away from the question. Several times a week, the owner of Dollman Construction Inc. in Roanoke fields the same inquiry from homeowners discussing a home renovation project. Will we get our money back on this? “I encourage them to consider the intrinsic value,” he says. “Sometimes it’s not about the biggest value [of the renovation]. It’s also the marketability about it.” Value, or perceived value, is important to consumers, whether they are selling or buying a home. It’s especially important as the Roanoke Valley’s housing market continues its rebound after the national real estate crash several years ago. Home sales have gradually increased in the past few years, according to the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors (RVAR). The number of homes sold in the Roanoke Valley climbed about 25 percent from 402 in July 2013 to Photo by Natalee Waters

503 in July 2016, based on RVAR sales reports. For consumers who want to increase their home’s selling potential and recoup some portion of the costs of a renovation, Roanoke Valley home remodeling experts encourage them to remember an overarching point — modern, updated houses sell. Dated homes do not. In fact, one outdated room in a house could be a deal breaker. “Some people will not buy a home that has a 1950s kitchen. They just won’t buy it,” says Tim Gettier, owner of Franklin County-based Blue Ridge Service Co. From new kitchen countertops, hardwood floors, open floor plans and master bathrooms with double sinks, the list of features that make a house appealing to potential buyers can be long. Area home construction experts offer insight into the interior remodeling projects and housing upgrades

that are most attractive to potential homebuyers and that may result in a financial return for homeowners. Find the hardwood Go ahead, pull up the carpet. Homeowners may receive a 100 percent resale return on the cost of refinishing hardwood floors, according to the National Association of Realtors 2015 Remodeling Impact Report. Similarly, consumers may yield up to a 91 percent return by installing new wood flooring, the report states. “People don’t want carpet,” particularly in the main rooms of a house, such as the living room, Gettier says. “Refinishing [a hardwood floor] does wonders for a house,” he says. Still, Dollman cautions homeowners to consider the work that they want to do throughout the house before beginning a hardwood floor project. Work done in one room could impact another, he says. ROANOKE BUSINESS

Design & Construction Convert the basement Transforming a basement into a living area should also pay off. Homeowners who convert a basement into living space receive about 69 percent of the project’s cost in a resale, according to the NAR report. “That’s one place you can get more bang for your buck,” Gettier says. “All of your structure is already existing. You don’t have to worry about foundation or roofing.” “Most real estate valuations are priced per square foot of finished space,” he adds, explaining that a basement conversion increases a house’s square footage. “It adds value and broadens your market appeal.” But homeowners should choose their basement flooring wisely in a conversion. If a basement tends to be damp, a hardwood floor is not the best choice, Gettier says. For damp basements, he recommends using tile flooring or removable carpet. Cook up a new kitchen The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a house. According to the NAR report, homeowners may recoup a sizable portion of the money they invest in renovations to this popular room. Consumers could recover 67 percent of the cost of a complete kitchen renovation. Still, despite that estimated return, only 12 percent of Realtors surveyed in the report said that kitchen upgrades helped to clinch a deal that resulted in a home sale. The amount of the investment return depends on the work done in the kitchen. Though kitchen work is important for a house’s marketability, particularly the cabinets and countertops, it may not always bring a full return, Dollman says. That’s likely because kitchen renovations are expensive. A major kitchen remodeling project for a 200-square foot space could cost about $56,000, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report for the South Atlantic region of the U.S., which includes Virginia. Unless the home’s existing kitchen is 14

NOVEMBER 2016

Tim Gettier says finishing a basement pays off.

significantly dated, “you will get some [renovation] costs back, but you won’t get dollar for dollar back,” Gettier says. Let in light Windows make a difference. New vinyl windows, in particular, are a big selling point for potential homebuyers, according to the NAR report. Realtors stated in the report that homeowners may receive 80 percent of the cost of installing new windows upon resale. Windows and light fixtures that

Home interior projects and estimated percentage of cost recovery Insulation upgrade Hardwood floors Installing new windows HVAC replacement Basement conversion into living space Complete kitchen renovation Attic conversion to living area Bathroom remodel Closet renovation Source: National Association of Realtors 2015 Remodeling Impact Report

95% 91 80 71 69 67 61 58 57

look dated should be replaced first, since homebuyers are particularly focused on the aesthetic appearance of a house, Dollman says. Additionally, for energy efficiency, windows need attention, Gettier says. “Modern windows are easy to raise and lower, and they stay put,” he says. Also, a sunroom — a room with many windows — often increases a home’s appeal because it draws in natural light, Dollman says. Sunrooms give people the sense of being outdoors, while they also create a natural family gathering space that many consumers want in a house nowadays, he says. State of the bathroom A house with nice, upgraded bathrooms is attractive to potential buyers, but whether the state of these rooms will clinch a home sale is up in the air. Homeowners could recover about 58 percent of the cost of a bathroom remodel, though only 6 percent of Realtors surveyed by the NAR’s report said that a bathroom renovation sealed the deal in a home sale. In a bathroom remodel, homeowners often will upgrade tile showers and tile floors and install new vanities, Gettier says. Double sinks in the master bathroom are “almost a must nowadays,” he adds. Similarly, homeowners may recover about 52 percent of the project cost of adding a new bathroom, according to the NAR report. Even so, bathrooms don’t outrank kitchens as the most important rooms in a house. “Everybody lives in the kitchen nowadays,” Gettier says. No more formal dining Do away with the dining room. Gettier says he can’t remember the last time a homeowner wanted to add a dining room to their house. Today’s consumers want homes with open floor plans, which often combine the kitchen, living and dining rooms. “They may still have a dining table,” Gettier says, “but they don’t want it as a separate room.” Photo by Natalee Waters

Building and design resources A to Z COMPANY NAME

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

Roanoke firm providing in-home renovations and additions for senior and disabled citizens

540-985-9160

www.adaspecialties.com

Design and construction projects in the Roanoke and New River valleys

540-966-3635

www.alamdesigngroup.com

Architectural firm in Christiansburg

540-382-2804

Althaus Design Studio

Roanoke architectural and design services

540-989-8737

Appalachian Architect

Bent Mountain studio of Eldon Karr, in practice since 1978 and known for urban design projects

540-929-4532

appalachianarchitect.blogspot.com/

Roanoke full-service general contractor

540-904-1293

www.aloufcustombuilders.com

Blacksburg architecture and engineering firm specializing in university, commercial and residential projects

540-951-4853

www.architectsalliance.net

Maryland firm with an office in Union Hall doing design projects in the Smith Mountain Lake area

540-576-1110

www.architectsatwork.net

Roanoke architecture firm offering new construction and renovation services

540-793-3339

Christiansburg company specializing in remodels

540-381-0880

www.atmospherebuilders.com

540-982-3558

www.avisconstruction.com

ADA Specialties Inc. Alam Design Group and Family Builders LLC Alfred O. Cheavlier Jr.

Alouf Custom Builders Inc. Architects Alliance Inc. Architects at Work Architectural Design Service Atmosphere Builders Avis Construction Co. Inc. Balzer and Associates Inc.

Roanoke full-service building company Planners, engineers, architects and surveyors with offices throughout Virginia, including Roanoke and Christiansburg

540-772-9850 (Roanoke) 540-381-4290 (Christiansburg)

www.balzer.cc

General contractor for residential, commercial and property management construction

540-537-6056

www.bdcsite.info/index.html

Custom home builder

540-556-3293

www.benchmarkbuildershomes.com/

Roanoke-based energy and design consultants

540-345-0900

www.betterbuildingworks.com

Roanoke design/build focusing on commercial construction

540-342-7203

www.blakebuilt.com

Full-service Blacksburg-based custom design and remodeling

540-951-3505

www.blueridgehi.com

Roanoke general contractor

540-343-7798

General contractor based in Vinton

540-890-2049

www.bohonconstruction.com

New company serving the Roanoke, Salem and Blacksburg areas

540-389-8193

www.bgthomes.com

Roanoke home construction and additions

540-257-1138

www.bowtieconstruction.com

Branch & Associates Inc.

Roanoke full-service design/build construction company providing LEED and sustainable construction

540-989-5215

www.branch-associates.com

Building Specialists Inc.

Roanoke and New River Valley design/build offering a variety of commercial and residential projects

540-982-8200

www.bsiva.com

Salem-based construction company

540-537-9488

Christiansburg new home construction and commercial renovations

540-381-5676

www.builtrightinc.net

Burtis Contracting Inc.

Small Roanoke firm offering design/build and remodeling services, active in the U.S. Green Building Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southwest Virginia Chapter

540-525-9543

www.burtisci.com

Cast Construction Inc.

Narrows residential and commercial contractor

540-726-7203

www.castconstructionva.com

Blacksburg architect

540-953-2080

Roanoke-based home builders

540-774-3407

www.simpsonhomebuilders.com

Christiansburg-based regional architecture firm promoting socially and environmentally responsible building processes and affordable housing

540-382-2002

www.communityhousingpartners.org

Founded in 1920, one of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and largest full-service architecture firms with an office in Roanoke

540-982-0800

www.clarknexsen.com

Wirtz-based architecture design firm

540-721-3020

ericbuckhomedesigner.com/

Hardy-based company providing light commercial and residential contracting services and marketing/administrative help for licensed and insured smaller contractors

540-339-5279

constructionmarketingllc.com

Wirtz-based architectural company specializing in custom lake homes

540-721-1210

www.conwaydesignbuild.com

Hardy company specializing in Smith Mountain Lake construction projects

540-721-4600

www.coopercontractorsinc.com

Roanoke design/build firm specializing in custom residential renovations and additions

540-342-6938

www.cstonebuilders.com

BayWatch Development Corp. Bench Mark Builders Inc. Better Building Works Blake Construction of Virginia Inc. Blue Ridge Home Improvement Inc. Blue Ridge Residential Inc. Bohon Construction Co. Inc Boone Graham Thomas Home Builders and Developers Bowtie Construction

Britstin LLC Built Right Construction Inc.

Charles Comer Charles R. Simpson Inc. CHP Design Studio Clark Nexsen Architectural & Engineering Comprehensive Home Design Inc. Construction Marketing LLC Conway Design-Build Cooper Contractors Inc. Cornerstone Builders Inc.

ROANOKE BUSINESS

Design & Construction COMPANY NAME

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

Christiansburg full-service architectural firm specializing in commercial, residential and church restoration

540-382-0200

www.cornerstonestudioarchitect.com

Roanoke full-service residential builder

540-798-4205

www.crawfordgc.com

Roanoke architectural services

540-774-5326

Roanoke builder of custom homes and commercial businesses.

540-563-0200

www.cccoinc.com

Roanoke custom home builder and remodeler

540-767-5005

www.davidfrankhomes.com

David James Homes

Custom home builder with an office in Roanoke

540-563-5020

www.davidjamescustomhomes.com

Degen Architects PC

Roanoke-based architectural services

540-772-0800

Blacksburg architectural firm

540-552-6341

Floyd-based design/build company focusing on green, sustainable architecture

540-392-4087

www.designworksconstruction.com

Troutville custom home building and improvements

540-397-3445

www.deweeseconstruction.com

Roanoke-based firm doing residential, commercial, industrial and commemorative architecture

540-345-4040

www.dicksonarchitects.com

Roanoke-based design/build, renovations and restorations

540-765-9700

www.dollmanconstruction.com

Christiansburg construction, remodeling and home improvement company

540-392-2605

Roanoke commercial and residential contractor

540-387-0241

Blacksburg single-family home builder

540-552-8684

Locally owned Christiansburg company serving the New River Valley with remodeling and home repairs

540-357-1454

www.easternformyhome.com

Glade Hill custom home builders and commercial contractor

540-489-3789

www.equitybuildsml.com

Roanoke commercial construction, remodeling and maintenance company

540-985-9160

www.fsbuildinginc.com

Residential and commercial properties and historic rehabilitation projects in the Roanoke and New River valleys

540-774-4415

www.fwinc.com

Blacksburg private contractor specializing in home re-design and repair

540-268-0738

www.friedmanconstruction.com

Cornerstone Studio Ltd. Crawford Construction Craighead & Associates Architects Custom Construction Co. Inc. David Frank Homes LLC

Dej Design DesignWorks Construction Inc. Deweese Construction Co. Dickson Architects & Associates Dollman Construction Inc. DWA Construction Inc. E.J. Miller Construction Co. Inc. Earl Smith Contracting Eastern Construction Inc. Equity Builders of SML Inc. F&S Building Innovations Inc. Fralin & Waldron Inc. Friedman Construction

www.ejmillerconstruction.com

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COMPANY NAME

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

Blacksburg residential and commercial contractor versed in green and alternative building systems

540-641-4886

www.friendlystructures.com

Salem affordable housing, commercial and industrial contractor

540-387-5059

www.ghcontracting.com

Roanoke company doing residential and commercial projects

540-206-3397

Moneta-based log and stick home construction company

540-296-0869

www.loghomesbymustain.com

Floyd-based general contracting services

540-392-4670

www.gnucontractors.com

Green Valley Builders Inc.

Blacksburg-based general contractors specializing in custom residential and commercial buildings aimed at energy efficiency.

540-605-1150

www.greenvalleybuildersinc.com

Hall’s Construction Corp.

Elliston-based full-service general construction company since 1974

540-268-2285

www.hcc-va.com

Roanoke general contracting firm specializing in residential construction and remodeling

540-588-9260

www.hamlinbuilders.com

Friendly Structures LLC G&H Contracting Inc. Gilliam Katz Architecture & Design Glenn Mustain Construction Graham, Nolen & Underwood Contractors Inc.

Hamlin Builders Hanbury, Evans, Wright & Valttas Henmark Inc. Highlander Construction & Development Hill Studio Hill-Thomas Builders Ltd. Hughes Associates Architects & Engineers Hummer Construction Resources Interactive Design Group Friedman Construction

Blacksburg architecture, planning and building services

540-552-1995

www.hewv.com

Salem-based contractor and developer

540-389-1040

www.henmark.net

General contracting and design/build services based in the RadfordChristiansburg area

540-382-0824

www.highlanderconstruction.com

Roanoke-based architecture, community planning and historic preservation certified small business

540-342-5263

www.hillstudio.com

Blacksburg home builders, Certified Green Professional

540-921-0002

www.hill-thomas.com

Roanoke full-service architectural, engineering and consulting firm specializing in commercial and industrial projects

540-342-4002

www.hughesae.com

Roanoke’s small certified Woman-Owned Business (WBE) specializing in consulting, home décor and renovations

540-400-8650

www.hummer.construction

Roanoke full-service commercial/residential architecture and interior design firm serving Virginia and surrounding states

540-342-7534

www.idgarchitecture.com

Blacksburg private contractor specializing in home re-design and repair

540-268-0738

J and D Builders of the NRV

Full-service building contractor specializing in energy-efficient, stick-built homes

540-616-9401

J.W. Barton Construction

Boones Mill company doing new home construction and custom renovations

540-206-1000

www.jwbartonconstruction.com

Moneta firm providing custom homes in the Smith Mountain Lake area and Roanoke, Bedford and Botetourt counties

540-537-3679

www.Jtcsmlhomes.com

Architecture company in the New River Valley’s Riner community

540-382-0369

Roanoke architects and engineers

540-366-3335

Custom home builders at Smith Mountain Lake and the Roanoke and New River valleys

540-238-2114

www.keboconstruction.com

Christiansburg commercial and residential contractor

540-381-8500

www.keslercontracting.com

Larry Hartman & Son Inc.

Roanoke general contractor offering residential and commercial services

540-989-9729

www.larryhartmanandson.com

Legacy Builders NRV Inc.

Blacksburg custom home builder

540-951-2688

www.legacybuildersnrv.com

Roanoke general contracting services, including new construction and remodeling and additions

540-353-5851

Lionberger Construction

Roanoke general contractor with a full range of turn-key services

540-989-5301

Lozeau Construction Inc.

Rocky Mount contractor offering new construction, additions and remodeling

540-420-3522

Radford company providing architecture and design services for custom residential, commercial and universities

540-731-4474

MB Contractors

Roanoke design/build firm founded in 1912 concentrates on preconstruction involvement, construction management at risk, sustainable LEED construction

540-342-6758

www.mbcontractors.com

M.H. Eades Inc.

Hardy-based custom home builders and remodelers

540-719-4306

www.mheades.com

National architecture and planning firm with an office in Roanoke, specializing in design of sustainable architecture for public safety and forensic sciences

540-343-9500

www.mwlarchitects.com

Roanoke building and remodeling company

540-519-7900

www.mitchellsbuildingcompany.com

Christiansburg residential contractor

540-381-2179

Roanoke region commercial roofing contractor specializing in all types of commercial roofing and repairs

540-342-9901

Jeff Tester Construction Inc. Jerome R. Smith Architect Inc. Jones & Jones Associates Architects Kebo Construction Kesler Contracting & Property Management

Leonard’s Construction Co.

Martin & Co. Architects

McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie Inc. Mitchell’s Building Co. LLC Moser’s Construction Inc.

Mountain Roofing olio workshop OWPR Architects and Engineers Parsell & Zeigler General Contractors Inc. Peter Ozolins Architect

Blacksburg company with three women who specialize in design/build projects and interior and graphic design

www.lionberger.com

www.mtnroof.com www.olioworkshop.com

Blacksburg design/build and engineering firm

540-552-2151

www.owpr.com

Roanoke general contractor for homes and multi-family housing

540-342-2272

www.pzhomes.com

Blacksburg firm with a focus on sustainability and international development

540-552-1700

www.peterozolinsarchitect.com

ROANOKE BUSINESS

Design & Construction COMPANY NAME

Pitman Construction Inc. Prescott Construction Price Buildings Inc.Â Progress Street Builders Quantum Architects RA Home Builders RAC Construction Co. RBI Builders Reid Custom Home Builders Inc. RJS Building Services Inc. R.L. Lucas Construction Inc. R.L. Price Construction Inc. Rock Construction Inc. RRMM Architects Sams Brothers Inc. SAS Builders Inc. Schumacher Homes SFCS Inc.

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE

540-427-2001

www.pitmanconstruction.com

Roanoke full-service company specializing in residential and commercial renovations and custom design/build, Certified Green Professional

540-342-2164

www.prescottconstruction.com

Rocky Mount commercial general contractor, offers metal roofing and sidingÂ

540-483-7226

www.pricebuildingsinc.com

Blacksburg-based custom home builders

540-552-1812

www.progressstreet.com

Roanoke firm designs high performance buildings using Passivhaus technology

540-312-4800

www.quantum-architects.com

Christiansburg general contractors specializing in new home construction

540-392-4109

www.rahomebuilders.com

Roanoke general contractors and construction managers

540-342-5411

www.racroanoke.com

Radford residential and commercial contractor

540-639-1310

www.rbibuilders.biz

Blacksburg home building company

540-951-8342

Troutville design/build and new construction and repair services

540-293-0927

www.rjsbuilding.net

Roanoke-based contractor doing residential, commercial and historic projects

540-563-2947

www.rllucasconstruction.com

Salem general contractor offering residential, commercial and industrial services

540-375-3200

www.rlprice.com

Roanoke commercial construction services and historic renovations

540-525-2855

www.rockconstructionva.com

Full-service architectural, engineering, planning and design firm

540-344-1212

www.rrmm.com

Commercial and residential contractors in Dublin

540-674-6900

www.samsbrothers.net

Blacksburg-based residential and commercial construction and renovation

540-953-2080

www.sasbuilders.com

Greensboro-based custom home builder that builds in Roanoke

888-267-3482

www.schumacherhomes.com

Full-service architectural, engineering, planning and design firm with office in Roanoke, specializing in senior living, higher education and public facilities

540-344-6664

www.sfcs.com

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COMPANY NAME

DESCRIPTION

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

Blacksburg-based design/build company specializing in new homes, additions and remodeling with a focus on energy efficiency and environmental friendliness

540-951-0358

www.shelteralternatives.com

Slate Creek Builders

Blacksburg-based design and construction services for residential and commercial

540-449-3284

www.scbhomes.com

Snyder & Associates

Blacksburg-based general contractor specializing in commercial and light industrial projects

540-552-3377

www.snyderandassociates.com

Solid Rock Enterprises Inc.

Salem-based firm specializing in lifespan building and remodeling of homes for all ages and abilities, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists

540-384-2064

www.solidrockenterprises.com

Southern VA Construction

Glade Hill residential and commercial contractor who does structural repairs

540-270-4324

Spectrum Design

Roanoke full-service architecture and engineering firm specializing in schools, museums, municipal buildings and more

540-342-6001

Roanoke residential and commercial construction company

540-423-2977

Floyd custom home builder

540-763-2003

Roanoke-based contractors offering everything from new commercial projects to custom homes to energy-efficient Passivhaus structures

540-774-4800

www.facebook.com/structuresdb

Roanoke architects and designers specializing in historic and sustainable projects

540-915-1233

www.thesummitstudio.com

Roanoke contractors offering residential additions and remodeling, repairs, home inspection corrections

540-400-1597

Roanoke regional architectural and design for residential, retail, healthcare, military and other projects

540-400-7889

Tayloe & Co. Builders

Blacksburg contractor providing custom home building and house addition engineering

540-953-2839

Taylor Hollow Construction LLC

Radford-based home builders serving Southwest Virginia with structural insulated panel buildings

540-639-0195

www.taylor-hollow.com

Moneta-based general contractors specializing in remodeling, design, custom homes, historic renovations and home improvement projects, Energy Star Partner

540-484-4752

tbsbuilds.com

Telling Construction Co.

Floyd County residential contractor

540-789-7551

Ten Church Avenue LLC

Roanoke architectural firm

540-345-8020

Building performance consultants and architecture firm based in Roanoke

540-982-0335

Architecture services in Pulaski

540-980-2429

Blacksburg full-service architectural firm

540-951-4925

www.tkapc.com

Architects, engineers, surveyors and planners with offices throughout Southwest Virginia, including Radford

540-633-1897

www.t-l.com

Large Roanoke-based industrial and commercial general contractors/ engineers providing institutional services, historic restoration and other contracting services

540-563-0567

www.thorconstruction.com

Bent Mountain design/build contractor offering aging-in-place services to zoned surge protection

540-312-6540

www.totalhomecareremodeling.com

Roanoke-based residential remodeling company

540-722-7770

Third-generation home building company based in Salem

540-444-0555

Architectural services based in Hardy

540-719-5600

Large full-service contractors serving Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland with offices in Roanoke and Sterling

540-343-6749

www.turnerlongconstruction.com

General contractor based in Roanoke

540-312-4427

www.tylerstradeinc.com

Radford custom residential and commercial construction

540-639-1478

Unique Custom Homes

Copper Hill contractor offering custom homes and green building services

540-537-4698

www.uchva.com

Varney Inc.

A community oriented, employee owned, industrial and commercial MEP / integrated systems service contractor

540-343-0155

www.varneyinc.com

General contractors specializing in insurance claim handling, restoration and repair in the Roanoke and New River valleys

540-344-5544

www.vbsofroanoke.com

Major Virginia full-service construction firm opened a Roanoke office this year and is ranked on the Engineering News Record list of Top 400 Contractors

540-685-4747

www.wmjordan.com

Blacksburg-based residential and commercial contractor.

540-961-9200

Willard Companies

Wirtz-based umbrella for Willard Construction of the Roanoke Valley Inc., specializing in building and development at Smith Mountain Lake

540-721-5288

www.thewillardcompanies.com

Worth Inc.

Roanoke general contractors doing residential, commercial and medical projects for over 25 years

540-343-9741

www.worthinc.net

Roanoke contractor offers custom homes, renovations, additions

540-985-3440

www.ziaconstruction.net

Shelter Alternatives

Star City Construction Sticks & Stones Construction Structures Design/Build Summit Studio T. Allen & Associates LLC TAS Design Inc.

TBS Construction LLC

Terrazia PC Thomas Douthat Jr. Thomas Koontz Architect PC Thompson & Litton Thor Inc. Total Home Care Remodeling Town and Country Renovations Townside Construction Co. Trish England

Turner Long Construction Tylerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trade Inc. Unlimited Construction Inc.

Virginia Building Services of Roanoke Inc. W.M. Jordan Construction White Builders Inc.

Zia Construction & Remodeling

www.spectrumpc.com

www.tasdesigninc.com

www.terrazia.com

www.townsideconstruction.com

ROANOKE BUSINESS

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

‘There’s so much you can do with a business major’ A focus on analytics and innovation is attracting more students to area business schools

Pamplin College of Business Dean Robert Sumichrast says the school’s fastest-growing undergraduate degree is the one most associated with analytics.

by Shawna Morrison

nrollment in the business colleges at Virginia Tech and Radford University is on the rise, even as enrollment in the once-popular MBA programs is

NOVEMBER 2016

down. Leaders of the business colleges at both universities say they are focusing in large part on the highinterest areas of analytics and in-

novation, skills that can benefit students in a variety of business careers. Virginia Tech’s three key academic focus areas are business Photo courtesy Virginia Tech

analytics, global business, and innovation and entrepreneurship, says Robert Sumichrast, dean of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. Business analytics is “something that we do throughout the business school and that we connect with other parts of the university. It’s a field that’s in very much high demand from our students. There is very rapid growth in that area, both in business and in related fields.” Virginia Tech’s growing emphasis on analytics will be helped by a $225 million business and analytics complex. The school announced in September that the project will be composed of four new campus structures that would become the new home of the Pamplin College of Business, changing the school’s trajectory. In the meantime the Business Information Technology major, which Sumichrast says is the major most associated with analytics, is the fastest-growing undergraduate major, growing at a rate of about 20 percent per year for the past several years. “There are a lot of really good jobs in that area,” he says. “It’s a hot area.” Working on innovation is useful for everyone, says George Low, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Radford, because it helps students learn how to become creative problem solvers. “And it includes things like entrepreneurship and thinking entrepreneurially. Even in a big corporation, you can think like an entrepreneur does and be creative and come up with new solutions, new products, new services, new ways of doing things.” Low adds that graduates who are well versed in areas like analytics and innovation may be more valuable to employers. Professors also are emphasizing Microsoft Excel skills and encouraging more students to become Microsoft Excel certified, so that they will be comfortable with the software used Photo courtesy Radford University

George Low, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Radford University, is seeing an uptick in the numbers of students taking business classes.

by many businesses. A few years ago Virginia Tech created a community based on innovation: the Innovate LivingLearning Community. It brings together students from various majors who are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship, and they live together with a goal of “transforming opportunities into action.” The program started in 2013 with 35 students sharing an old fraternity house. Since then it has moved to a residence hall to make room for more students. It now includes 85 students, including a few upperclassmen. “Normally you have freshmen who live on campus because they have to, but we had eight upperclassmen who moved back to campus from an apartment so that they could be part of Innovate,” says Sumichrast. “I don’t think that’s ever happened before; I was certainly surprised. The upperclassmen are mentoring the lowerclassmen.” About half the students are business majors, Sumichrast says, but every college on campus that offers undergraduate

degrees is represented. Both schools are seeing an increase in the number of students taking part in business classes. In the fall of 2011, Low says, students were taking a total of 18,000 credit hours of business classes. In the fall of 2015, that number had risen to 22,500 credit hours. Some new classes have been added, and some sections added to existing classes to accommodate the growth, Low says. At Radford, the uptick in enrollment has occurred even as enrollment at the university slightly declined over the last few years. Enrollment hit a record high in 2013 with 9,928. The current fall class has 9,401 students. At Pamplin, Sumichrast says there has been an increase in the number of students applying at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate enrollment at Pamplin has steadily increased for several years, growing from 3,603 students in 2012 to 4,102 this fall. To accommodate the increase, the school either adds students ROANOKE BUSINESS

Business Schools Virginia Tech no longer offers a fulltime MBA program, but it offers a professional MBA at three locations, including the university’s center in Falls Church.

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to existing sections of a course or adds another section, depending on the availability of an instructor and a classroom. “I think a lot of it has to do with the terrific job opportunities that are available,” says Sumichrast. Some examples include jobs in the fields of tax/auditing accounting, consulting, cybersecurity, project management, analytics and big data. Plus, for many students, he adds, the classes “combine things that are technical with things that are applied that they can relate to.” Virginia Tech has increased the number of professional advisers available to students and holds advising hours on weekends. In addition, its sends advisers into the residence halls for advising sessions. “We’ve really made an effort in the last three years to better serve our students.” There has been a shift in career advising at Radford as well. Radford University over the summer hired Angela Joyner, former vice president and general manager at ConAgra Foods, as its executive director of career services. “What we’re focused on is helping to surround the students in creat-

ing a success team” that includes an academic adviser and a career adviser that align to the student’s major or college, Joyner says. An early start to working on career preparation is helpful for students, she adds, but “there’s so much you can do with a business major, and we want to help students see what the possibilities are.” If students know early in their college experience what career they want to pursue, they can begin building relationships with businesses and gain experience that will benefit them later. According to Low and Sumichrast, as the focus shifts to skills like analytics and innovation, enrollment in each school’s MBA programs has been on the decline. Virginia Tech no longer offers a full-time MBA program in Blacksburg, but offers professional MBA programs in Roanoke, Richmond and Falls Church. “As we were looking at demand patterns for the MBA, we were seeing fewer students who wanted to study on a full-time basis. More students wanted to study in an urban environment where they were working,” explains Sumichrast. Photo courtesy Virginia Tech

Radford still offers a full-time MBA program, though overall demand for MBAs is down. “It typically follows the economic cycle, so when the economy is doing well, I think there’s less demand in general for MBA programs because people are happy where they are; they don’t see a reason to move. What we typically see — when the economic cycle is in an economic downtown — there’s a higher demand for MBA programs because more people are looking to upgrade their skills and their resumé,” says Low. Low touts the Radford program because it is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. “I think there’s a quality perception that goes with the AACSB accreditation, and being one of the public universities in Virginia, we have, I think, a pretty good reputation regionally.” Low says he sometimes sees international students who choose to attend Radford for its MBA program, so

Trading room at Radford University

the school is looking into international students as a potential area of growth. While fewer students are pursuing an MBA, Sumichrast says more students nationwide are pursuing specialized business master’s

degrees. The most recent degree added to the lineup at Pamplin is a master of science degree in business analytics, which started this semester. A master of science in hospitality and tourism management also is now being offered at the Falls Church location. Four years ago, Radford completed its new College of Business and Economics building, a $44 million, 110,000-square-foot project that allowed the college’s faculty to come together under one roof. “There was a recognition that this was an opportunity to build a new flagship building and really make a statement that business was a big part of the future for Radford University,” Low says. “When potential students and parents walk into this building, they want to come here to be a student.” In April, the building was renamed Kyle Hall in honor of thenuniversity President Penelope Kyle. Kyle retired at the end of June.

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ROANOKE BUSINESS

INTERVIEW: Dylan Locke, music promoter, co-owner of Floyd Country Store

Dylan Locke and wife Heather Krantz are carrying on the traditions at the Floyd Country Store — and adding a few of their own.

‘Do the right thing’ Co-owner of Floyd Country Store feels obligation to keep the music going by Beth JoJack

he crowd at a February taping of the Floyd Radio Show cackled and catcalled when Dylan Locke’s name came up. The bit — part of the monthly variety show streamed live from The Floyd Country Store and packaged in podcasts — spoofed TV programs where fashion “experts” pick apart celebrity fashion. Here, a pair named Clarissa and Sabrina dissected the looks of Floyd County stars. Clarissa: Don’t look now, but I think I see Sabrina: It’s one of the owners of the store Clarissa: Dylan Locke is coming in Sabrina: Looking as he often does: sporty yet professional in a Carhartt hoodie. Clarissa: We’ve seen him wear Carhartt

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NOVEMBER 2016

on the red carpet many times before, and he’s mentioned they’re one of his favorite designers, so no surprises here. On a sweltering Friday afternoon in August, Locke had traded his Carhartt for a T-shirt, jeans and flip-flops. While he could easily blend in at a Phish show, Locke is one of Floyd County’s most prominent businessmen — a term that causes him to visibly flinch. “I think it’s totally possible for a business to have, you know, more of a heart, for a business to be focused on people’s experiences and their care and concern for music and art and the history of the community,” Locke says. “And for that to be something that is profitable — and I define profitable as feeding your soul and hopefully paying the bills, just sort of making it work.”

Locke’s father was a high school English teacher and poet. His mother was a painter. “They were music lovers, but not really musicians,” says Locke, who grew up in Lynchburg. “There was nothing extraordinary in our household as far as music other than we played old records and danced around and acted silly … It was a household that showed care for creativity.” By age 12, Locke had picked up a guitar. Before long, though, he switched to a bass. “I liked the role of the bass,” he says. “Sort of behind the scenes, not the front person. But, very foundational and fundamental to what was core to the music. I liked the responsibility.” Locke moved to Blacksburg to attend Virginia Tech but quit after a year to throw all his energy into the New River Valley music scene. He played with numerous groups, including funksters The Yams from Outer Space. Always, he found himself taking over the management duties of the band. “I would book the gigs and call the venues and try and make sure people came to see us play,” he says. Locke got tired of showing up for a gig and finding the stack of fliers he’d mailed to promote the show still sitting behind the bar. He thought he could do better. “Just playing music with other humans is an amazing experience,” he Photo by Natalee Waters

says. “I wanted more people to connect that way.” For his first big show, Locke brought bluegrass legend Sam Bush to the shortlived Salem venue Belly of the Beast. Locke can’t remember how much capital it took to coax Bush to Southwest Virginia in 1998. “It wasn’t a huge amount of cash, but I don’t think I had it,” he says. “I think it was a leap of faith. I do remember borrowing some money from people early on, from friends, to sort of get started.” Music fans packed the show, and Locke formed DLP Concerts, a production company. “Once I figured out it was something I was interested in doing, I sort of built relationships with some of the clubs in Blacksburg and also the Lyric Theatre. So, that didn’t take the risk out, but it placed it as a shared responsibility between myself and partners I was working for. Didn’t mean I was any more or less reckless. I always wanted to make sure it was a mutually beneficial situation.” Locke met Heather Krantz, who is now his wife, around 2001 while playing a benefit show. She quickly became his copilot at DLP. “She’s a great cook, a great foodie,” Locke says. “I would always have to provide backstage hospitality, and she made that infinitely better than how I was doing it.” When Locke came on board as artistic director at Roanoke’s Jefferson Center, Krantz took the reins at DLP Concerts, which has, over the years, brought performers such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Avett Brothers and Grace Potter to the Star City. Locke loved his work, but it took a toll. Locke commuted to Roanoke. First, from his home in Blacksburg and, after moving in 2006, from Floyd. “I drove two hours a day. I had small kids,” Locke says. “It was a pretty, pretty major commitment to the work I was doing.” In 2014, Locke and Krantz purchased the Floyd Country Store, which, for the uninitiated, is a real country store with food and merchandise (including Carharrt overalls). Locke estimates between 40,000 and 50,000 folks come in the doors each year. The store also hosts the famous Friday Night Jamboree, which features old-time string music and dancing so good it attracts tourists from, well, everywhere. The Friday night crowd averages 350 people, according to Locke. It packs the store. Last December, Locke said goodbye to the Jefferson Center to focus his energies in Floyd County full time. “You do anything for 13 years, it can be hard [to walk away],” Locke says of leaving. “It was just simply a choice. My kids are growing up. I wanted to be closer to them and my wife.”

Roanoke Business: A lot of couples find it hard to mix business with pleasure, as you and Heather have always done. Dylan Locke: I get that. I know people can do it, and they can’t do it, and it’s good to have separation. Truthfully, it hasn’t really been [an issue] for us. RB: How did you end up in Floyd? Locke: I like living in areas that are private. So I’ve always lived in the woods or outside of towns. Never really lived in cities or towns or neighborhoods other than when I was in Lynchburg. So Floyd offers a good bit of open air, if you will. And, you know, it’s just one of the best places in the world. RB:There’s some fogginess around the origins of the building that now houses the Floyd Country Store, but a business called Farmer’s Supply opened there around 1910. It served as a retail spot and music venue under a series of owners until the late 1990s. Woody and Jackie Crenshaw then bought the Floyd Country Store in 2006 and renovated it. Did you have any inkling the Crenshaws wanted you and Heather to take it over? Locke: We knew pretty early on, before it was public, that they were looking to pass it along to new owners … [Basically,] they knew they wanted to make sure it ended up in the right hands. RB:Had you ever told the Crenshaws that you and your wife had an interest in taking over? Locke: It had never crossed our minds. Other than caring that it continued with the right energy. We hadn’t ever imagined ourselves in a position of owning it. RB:Did the Crenshaws have to talk you into it? Locke: Well, it wasn’t an immediate [yes]. We weren’t immediately confident in ourselves. It was something that we sort of gained more confidence as we consulted with some of our peers, colleagues, friends, family, in our ability to be stewards of the Floyd Country Store. RB: What intimidated you? The mundaneness of running a business: paychecks, taxes, ordering? Locke: We felt perfectly confident in that. It’s more about the magnitude and longevity of it. Owning a venue and putting on a show at a venue are two different things. It’s a cultural icon of Southwest Virginia. That adds some excitement. You’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that would be really cool to take that on.’ At

the same time, it’s sort of like ‘Can we do it? Are we the ones?’ Self-doubt and making sure somebody else wasn’t better suited for it. But we gained more and more confidence that we were absolutely the right people. RB: How much did you pay for the business?   Locke: We’d like to keep that private … The Crenshaws put a ton of energy and resources into making this more of a stable institution. It’s going to be a challenge, and it’s going to be a journey, but it’s going to be an amazing journey because the people and the music are so rich. RB: You said you have 20 part-time employees. That makes you responsible for a lot of folks’ wallets. Locke: There’s a lot of responsibilities here. Maybe some outside the scope of things Heather and I are super comfortable with. RB:You recently launched the Handmade Music School, which offers classes, workshops and lessons on traditional Southern Appalachian music. What will make the school distinctive? Locke: The Handmade Music school is devoted specifically to this county and surrounding counties. That’s not necessarily narrowing down to a genre. It’s taking that approach of handing down music the way it happens in Appalachia, the way it happens in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where it was within the family or at the neighbor’s house … The concept and the philosophy of the Handmade Music School is to pass down, to hand down music from a mentor to a student in a way that is more phrase by phrase or, in dance, step by step. It’s not like, ‘Well, here’s a book. Take it home. Do this.’ You’re really learning the phrasing, you’re learning the language of the mentor. In that regard, it has its own dialect. It has its own regional flavor. RB:How is it working out? Locke: We’re off to a really good start. We had our first class. We had 13 people sign up for that. RB:What kind of class? Locke: It was a beginner guitar, banjo and fiddle class. The way it works is that it’s a four-week class, and everyone would get together in a circle and then they would break off into the instrument class. So all the guitars would go off, banjos and fiddles would go off into ROANOKE BUSINESS

Interview their group instruction for an hour. They would all learn the same songs, the same tunes that are commonly played at old-time jams around Floyd and surrounding counties. And then, after that hour of instruction, they would come back together and do a 30-minute or an hour jam session on that material … You know, [the Handmade Music School is] not as profitable … or it’s not as expensive – none of it is super profitable, quite honestly. It’s about doing the right thing for the right reason. Another thing that falls into the experiential category that builds our brand. I’m not oblivious to the fact that if people are having great experiences at the Floyd Country Store then they become our best customers. But it’s also not the motivation. The motivation is first to do the right thing and build a community of people. RB: A year ago, you and Heather launched a program called Pay It Forward, where patrons can buy a $5 coupon and leave it at the store for anyone to use. One coupon purchases a meal. What prompted that? Locke: Heather and I spent our careers in nonprofit, sort-of-experiential business programs and not profit-driven businesses. It’s interesting because the

Floyd Country Store is a sort of hybrid. Everything that makes it tick, its heart, is the music and the people and the stories and the camaraderie. That’s the heartbeat of it. It’s not the finance. But it’s going to take some really savvy business to help it survive. We bring a lot of the nonprofit, community-driven, mission-centric philosophy to a smalltown business. And so, something like a pay-it-forward obviously doesn’t help us with any kind of financial gain, [but it] is the right thing to do. Floyd County is a small county … There’s a lot of people who are struggling financially, and doing something like that that is a simple program where people can pay for it, and we can be stewards of the program. RB: Do people take advantage of the coupons? Locke: Absolutely … you have a lot of people who will throw an extra $5 or $10 on their lunch and leave it for people, and absolutely there are regulars [who use them]. We are always very sensitive to their anonymity and making sure they feel comfortable and safe here. RB: The café seemed to be pretty busy. Locke: The sales are easily up two

times what they were. The business has grown in kind of an amazing way. We’re very conscious of making sure the experience stays consistent and solid, and we’re not trying to overdo it. We would like to think we made the Floyd Country Store feel more welcoming and warm. Not that it wasn’t [warm] before, but we focused on sight lines around the store [and] areas for people to meet and enjoy the food, the music and each others’ company. We got rid of a lot of the retail display units and incorporated the merchandise into more consolidated areas. We brought the musical instruments up to the front of the store. The music is what we are about so we felt the instruments needed to be at the front. And one of the biggest moves was to move the sound board/ mix position from the center of the room to a perfect little nook off to the side. With modern digital mixing we are able to move around the room to mix so having a big mix position in the center of the room was killing a lot of valuable space. Now the center of the room is pretty much open from the front to the back. This really helps on a Friday night with capacity crowds. It also increased our seating capacity for a seated concert to almost 200 seats.

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NOVEMBER 2016

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EDUCATION

175 years of educating women

During anniversary year, Hollins University looks backward and forward by Shawna Morrison

ake a look at a timeline of the history of Hollins University, and it becomes apparent just how much has changed during the school’s 175year history. Founded in 1842 in Roanoke, milestones include the first time women were allowed to wear bloomers (1913), the year of the first Hollins horse show (1931) and the first year men entered the graduate program (1958). In spite of the many changes that have taken place at this small liberal arts school over the better part of two centuries, Hollins’ commitment Gray to educating undergraduate women hasn’t wavered, says Hollins President Nancy Oliver Gray, who is planning to retire at the end of the school year after 12 years as the university’s leader. “I think by almost any measure, especially given the changing, challenging times in which we’re living, we have to be proud of an institution that has flourished for 175 years and that we have remained true to our original mission of providing thorough and rigorous liberal education to women,” Gray says. In 1960, when many U.S. colleges and universities were open only to men, Hollins was one of about 230 women’s colleges in the U.S. Today, the Women’s College Coalition has 41 members. Three of those are in Virginia: Mary Baldwin College, Sweet Briar College and Hollins University. As the university community

Photo courtesy Hollins University

Hollins began educating women long before it was a societal norm.

kicked off anniversary celebrations with a schoolwide picnic in August, Hollins’ leaders were excited about another noteworthy event. This year’s incoming class was the largest the school has seen in 17 years, with 226 firstyear students, 17 transfers and 10 new students in the Horizon Program, which serves nontraditional students, says Jeff Hodges, the school’s director of public relations. There were 196 students in last year’s incoming class. Also at the beginning of the school year, Hollins partnered with the city of Roanoke and Mill Mountain Theatre to present Starcropolis, an evening of story-tell-

ing, plays and other entertainment for 500 guests who were shuttled aboard trolleys to the top of Mill Mountain. “Hollins has been known for climbing Tinker Mountain for 175 years, and so this year we decided it would be really cool and interesting to climb a different mountain, only this time bring the whole city of Roanoke with us,” says Ernest Zulia, artistic director and chair of the Hollins University Theatre Department. “It just turned into an incredible celebration of Roanoke, of the star, what it’s like to be living here and share this pretty special spot on the planet with lots of great people.” Zulia says the Hollins Theatre ROANOKE BUSINESS

Education Institute has developed a national reputation in academic circles for its theater program, especially its playwriting and creation of original works. “That’s really what Starcropolis brought to downtown,” he says, “a huge example of how we’re developing new works.” Hollins also is hosting wellknown speakers and holding a concert as part of the anniversary celebration. In the spring, Hollins will partner with Roanoke College, which will be celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2017, for events that include a service project, says Brook Dickson, executive assistant to the president, who is overseeing planning for the university’s anniversary celebrations. “What we’re trying to do is build on key events that we already have every year and plan special things in conjunction with things that are already happening,” she says. The university has revamped its website to include highlights of its history, information about some of its successful graduates and a gallery of old black-and-white photographs.

Ernest Zulia, chair of the Hollins University Theatre Department, helped create Starcropolis, an evening of story-telling, plays and other entertainment.

Hollins got its start in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary. It was renamed Hollins Institute after John and Ann Hollins made a donation to the school and changed its name to Hollins College in 1910. It became a university in 1998.

Hollins University Started in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary Current enrollment is 802 students (639 undergraduates) from 40 states and 20 countries Within a year, 96 percent of graduates are employed or in graduate school. Nancy Oliver Gray became the 11th president in 2005. Tinker Day, when students and faculty climb Tinker Mountain on a surprise October day, has been taking place since the 1860s. Martha Louise “Miss Matty” Cocke, a Hollins graduate, became the school’s president – and the first woman president of any college in Virginia – in May 1901, the day after her father, Hollins founder Charles Lewis Cocke, died. Hollins has lined up several speakers to commemorate its 175th anniversary, including Democratic National Committee Interim Chair Donna Brazile on Nov. 14 and Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and co-anchor and managing editor for The PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill, and Judy Woodruff on March 4, 2017. On Feb. 24, 2017, Maria Kitsopoulos, the secular society chair in cello at the New York Philharmonic, is scheduled to perform a concert in Hollins’ duPont Chapel with a Roanoke Symphony Orchestra chamber orchestra to honor past, present and future members of the Hollins board of trustees. The New York Philharmonic also is celebrating its 175th anniversary. Sources: Hollins University President Nancy Oliver Gray, www. hollins.edu

NOVEMBER 2016

“When you go back to the earliest beginning of our history, most opportunities for higher education in the country were closed to women. So we first existed to provide high quality education to women in the same way that it was afforded to men, because they didn’t have that opportunity,” Gray says. Later, as women began to gain more rights, including the right to vote, “we began preparing women in a more deliberate way to be citizens of the world and to lead very successful, personal and professional lives,” Gray says. 1958 brought the beginning of the Hollins Abroad Paris program. Since then, Hollins students have had the opportunity to study abroad in 17 locations around the world, including Costa Rica, Africa, Japan and Australia, with a goal of “preparing them to be global citizens,” Gray says. Though only women are allowed into the school’s undergraduate program, the graduate program is co-educational and has expanded to offer eight degrees. As it has added programs and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, Hollins also has worked over the years to introduce programs for nontraditional college students. In 1974, Hollins started the Horizon Program, designed for women who started college but didn’t finish. “We work particularly hard to create a community within the college for these women,” who tend to be older than the typical college student who is just out of high school. Staff members who work with Horizon students “work hard to make it relaxed and not scary,” Gray says. The Batten Leadership Institute for midcareer women was started 15 years ago. Five years ago, the Alumnae Engagement Initiative formed to help refer and recruit prospective students and connect students to internships and mentoring opportunities sponsored by alumnae. One change that Gray calls “profound” has been a shift in the Photos courtesy Hollins University

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Education Starcropolis, held on top of Mill Mountain under Roanoke’s star, was an example of how Hollins interacts with the rest of the community.

school’s student body. When the school was first founded, she says, “We were primarily a college for

Southern women, typically white and typically from rather affluent families. As America changed, Hol-

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lins changed as well, and we are very proud today that 34 percent of our student body are students of color,” including international students. “We are working very hard to make Hollins accessible and affordable to talented and motivated high-quality students from all over the country. As a result, we believe we are a much stronger campus for those differing perspectives represented by our students today.” Hollins has been looking at ways to make the school affordable for more students, adds Gray. “We are always looking at any cost-cutting we can do so that we leverage our resources in the way that has the most impact.” In recent years, there also has been a focus on raising money for the endowment and fundraising for scholarships. The school has eliminated its debt and works hard to operate within a balanced budget. Gray says Hollins has always been committed to keeping class sizes small — most classes have fewer than 20 students — and hiring the “highest-quality faculty possible.” Nearly all of Hollins’ full-time faculty members — 96 percent — hold the highest degree in their field. Hollins also has always been “outwardly focused,” Gray says. “Our tagline at Hollins is ‘women who are going places start at Hollins.’ And that ‘going places’ theme has really characterized Hollins from the beginning.” In the early years, women were going to Hollins to find educational opportunities that weren’t widely available. Later, Gray says, “women left from Hollins to go study abroad way before most schools were studying abroad. We were offering leadership development for women before most other institutions, and we are now working so hard to leverage our alumnae network and give our students internship opportunities so they are well-prepared for the world of work in what has been a challenging economy and changing economy in our country.” Photo courtesy Hollins University

COMMUNITY PROFILE: BOTETOURT COUNTY

Changes at I-81 Exit 150 give Botetourt County a new front door and new development opportunities.

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Bedroom community no more

Botetourt County is getting new businesses and a new gateway by Gene Marrano

erhaps no longer content with being a bedroom community for Roanoke and Roanoke County — their more populous neighbors — Botetourt County has scored several economic development wins over the past year, including a major new brewery and an auto parts manufacturer. Redevelopment now under

Photo by Natalee Waters

way by the Virginia Department of Transportation at the Interstate 81 Exit 150 interchange is expected to further encourage business growth in that major gateway to the county. So could a recent public referendum that allows liquor by the drink in the county’s Valley District at Exit 150 that may entice more diverse eateries. While all of

Virginia’s cities allow liquor by the drink, 10 counties in Southwest Virginia do not, and until recently, some parts of Botetourt County showed up on that list. Also coming along is Daleville Town Center on U.S. 220, the county’s attempt to develop a place where people can live and play in a more densely populated, urban ROANOKE BUSINESS

Community Profile

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setting. Now that Botetourt is officially a member of the Roanoke Valley Greenways Commission, a path to be constructed will link Daleville Town Center to the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, where residents of the complex may bike, run or walk to work. Eventually county greenways will be incorporated into the Roanoke Valley system, with the Tinker Creek Greenway being the likely connection. As for the big scores on the job front, start with Italian auto parts manufacturer Eldor Corp. The company announced in March that it plans to invest $75 million over the next five years to build a plant in Botetourt County, creating as many as 600 jobs. Eldor is expected to begin by building ignition systems here. Construction is scheduled to end late next summer. Gov. Terry McAuliffe was on hand for the splashy announcement in March, as was Eldor President and CEO Pasquale Forte and local delegates. It took place at the Greenfield Education and Training Center, which could become a hub for any workforce training required. “Once you bring one of these 32

NOVEMBER 2016

Part of the I-81 Exit 150 improvement project is Gateway Crossing, a new road connecting Rt. 220 Alternate to a new roundabout.

facilities here it really makes our ability to bring other [advanced manufacturing] companies in much easier down the road. This is a dynamic company,” noted McAuliffe. He also praised the mechatronics program offered at Virginia Western Community College, say-

ing it influenced Eldor’s decision. In May, the county got more good news when San Diego-based craft brewer Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits announced that it would establish its East Coast brewing operations in the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, creating close to 200 jobs and investing $48 million. As opposed to the uber-high profile campaign waged by Roanoke city to land Deschutes Brewery, Ballast Point came in under the radar and plans to open its plant next year — well before the Deschutes 2021 target date. Having a building already available was a big plus. Ballast Point purchased a 260,000-square-foot property formerly owned by Lawrence Companies. Also a key factor was access to a reliable, high quality water source. “The decision by the Board of Supervisors to join the Western Virginia Water Authority [in 2015 will] pay long-term dividends to the county and its residents,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Leffel in May. “Lots of high-quality water was very important to Ballast Point,” adds County Administrator Gary

Botetourt County Founded 1770 Area 548 square miles 33, 347 (as of July 1, 2015). About 250,000 people live

Population within 30 minutes of the county borders. About 87% of county residents are homeowners.

Government Largest Employers

A five-member elected Board of Supervisors, chosen to represent five districts, also hires the county administrator. DYNAX America, Boxley Aggregates, Altec Industries, Botetourt County, Pepsi Bottling, Gala Industries

Initially formed from Augusta County, Botetourt County originally stretched all the way to the Mississippi River – encompassing West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from the Town of Fincastle when Fast facts they were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase. The town was named after the son of Virginia’s last royal governor. The county itself is named for a governor of the colony of Virginia, Norberne Berkeley – the Baron de Botetourt (1768-1770). Sources: Botetourt County government website, Virginia Employment Commission, U.S. Census.

Photos by Natalee Waters

Gary Larrowe, Botetourt County administrator

Larrowe, who came aboard at the beginning of the year just as these economic development wins were being put to bed. Ballast Point also liked the growing craft beer culture in the region and the proximity to Roanoke, says Larrowe. Roanoke Regional Partnership Executive Director Beth Doughty

says the campaign the partnership has been pushing for the past few years by “contacting dozens of craft brewers” worked for Botetourt County. Doughty heard in March 2015 that Ballast Point was looking eastward: “We were able to connect them to what they needed to make this work.” A $2.4 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund assisted in sealing the deal; the county is providing $1.4 million in tax incentives and other sweeteners as well. As for the water, “It was a very good decision by Botetourt County to join the Western Virginia Water Authority,” notes Doughty. The county has formed a new Department of Economic Development, headed by Director Ken McFadyen, who came aboard in July. The department will incorporate and expand functions of the county’s tourism staff as well. “This move … saves financial resources, eliminates redundancy and allows [us]

Ken McFadyen, Botetourt County director of economic development

to work collectively and more effectively on economic development,” McFayden said in September when the reorganization was announced. The change means “Botetourt will be even more successful in growing existing businesses [and] attracting new businesses,” says Larrowe. In another step to draw eco-

ROANOKE BUSINESS

Community Profile Plans include a greenway connecting Daleville Town Center to the Botetourt Center at Greenfield.

nomic development, the county has broken ground on an industrial shell building at the Botetourt Center, one that can be as large as 200,000 square feet. It’s building it “on spec” in hopes of attracting yet another major tenant. That move was not without controversy since it was preceded by the relocation of a

former slave quarters and kitchen from what was once the pre-American Revolution William Preston plantation. An architectural dig for historic artifacts also took place before the builder broke ground. Earlier this year, the Virginia Community College System signed a lease for a building in Daleville

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FIRST-CLASS STUNNER

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Roanoke College’s New Cregger Center Combined Athletic and Academic Spaces, 2,500-Seat Arena, Indoor Track, Health and Human Performance Lab and Classrooms

Economic Impact: $1.4 Million Annually

roanoke.edu 34

NOVEMBER 2016

where it will centralize many services now offered at the state’s 23 community colleges. Once fully staffed, as many as 190 jobs may be created. The entry point for many people into Botetourt County is via U.S. 220 and Exit 150 on Interstate 81, now in the midst of an upgrade. The county is taking advantage of the renovation project and has christened the area Gateway Crossing. It includes a roundabout to help with traffic flow and some improvements to U.S. 11 in that area as well. Botetourt County’s leaders envision a mix of housing, shops and hotels at a location less than half an hour from the heart of the Roanoke Valley. The Gateway Crossing District and Daleville Town Center have also been labeled Urban Development Areas, with the county looking to update its comprehensive plan to reflect the designation. “We’re aware that the Exit 150 area is one that has potential for development,” says Planning Manager Nicole Pendleton, “with the ability to concen- Pendleton trate growth there.” She also sees a need to identify where in the county a different housing mix is needed — perhaps rentals that would appeal to younger people not quite ready to settle in one place and buy a home. Pendleton says the mindset is changing somewhat in the county, which wants to be seen less as a suburban, bedroom community where people commute to Roanoke for employment. “We would like to have a lot more young people in the county,” she says, “diversifying the housing stock and the opportunities for everyone to come live, work and play here.” The general consensus is that having companies such as Eldor and Ballast Point setting up shop will help create demand for changes that may attract some of those new residents. Photo by Natalee Waters

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Elizabeth Arden

Servpro of Roanoke, Montgomery & Pulaski Counties

Gentry Locke Attorneys LifeWorks REHAB (Medical Facilities of America)

Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC

MB Contractors

Woods Rogers PLC

Trane

EVENT SPONSORSHIP

NEW MEMBERS

Thursday Overtime – Sept. 1 Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy

The following new members joined the Roanoke Regional Chamber Aug. 13 to Sept. 12, 2016.

Policy & Pints – Sept. 1 Spilman Battle & Thomas

State of the City Address – Sept. 1 Appalachian Power Carilion Clinic Cox First Citizens Bank Grow Inc. Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group RGC Resources

Big Lick Boomerang Deschutes Brewery Inc. Fire and Life Safety America Jewell Machinery Roanoke Valley Resource Authority (RVRA) Steel Traders Shipping Ltd. Workforce Unlimited Woodforest National Bank

MEMBER NEWS AND RECOGNITIONS Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, recently presented its 2016 Vendor of the Year awards. Advance honored five companies, including GRI Engineering & Development, which received prestigious recognition as Advance’s 2016 vendor of the year. Additional vendor partner awards included: Cardone Industries, commercial excellence vendor of the year; Valvoline, DIY excellence vendor of the year; Dorman Products, superior availability vendor of the year; and Trico Products, supply chain reliability vendor of the year. Building Homes for Heroes and Advance Auto Parts have announced a donation of $2.1 million. The donation will be used by Building Homes for Heroes to build or modify homes that will be gifted, mortgage-free, to veterans who were injured during the time of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The sig-

nificant donation was made possible due to the generosity of Advance Auto Parts and its vendor partners. Advance Auto Parts has signed a seven-year sponsorship agreement with the Roanoke Star Soccer Club. The sponsorship agreement will support the soccer club’s goal of promoting growth and leadership in the youth participating in the club. B2C Enterprises is taking its own strategic business advice by launching a new television ad campaign promoting its marketing and advertising services. The campaign is a series of four 15-second commercials highlighting B2C’s abilities in advertising, media buying and public relations. The commercials are running on local television in the greater Roanoke area. The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, the Roanoke region’s leader in land conserva-

tion, has received renewed accreditation. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that the beautiful places which make the greater Roanoke region special will be protected forever. The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is among 38 land trusts across the United States to achieve accreditation or to have accreditation renewed in August. CowanPerry PC has announced that four attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in this year’s Best Lawyers in America. They are: James K. Cowan, David E. Perry, Douglas W. Densmore and Tara Branscom. Glenn Feldmann Darby & Goodlatte has announced that five of its attorneys are recognized in the 2017 rankings of Best Lawyers in America. Included are: Paul G. Beers, commercial litigation, labor and employment litigation, and employment law for individuals; Harwell M. Darby Jr., for corporate law and public finance law; Mark E. Feldmann, commercial transactions/UCC law; Maryellen F. Goodlatte, real estate law and real estate litigation; and Robert A. Ziogas, commercial litigation. Beers also was named the “Lawyer of the Year” in the Roanoke Valley specializing in employment law for individuals. Goodlatte was honored as “Lawyer of the Year” specializing in real estate law. Kim Mullins with Hall Associates has earned the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). The institute is an international comMullins munity of real estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximizing the value of investment real estate and promoting superior management through education and information sharing. For Hollins University students returning to campus this fall and wanting to see the season premiere of “The Walking Dead” while on campus, they did not need a television set. They needed only to pull out their smartphones, tablets or laptops. Hollins University is one of the first Cox Business customers nationwide, and the first in Virginia, to offer Contour on Campus, providing students with an easy way to watch TV on campus. HomeTown Bank has been named one of the Best Banks to Work For in 2016. The full list was featured in the September issue of “American Banker Magazine.” The program, initiated in 2013 to identify, recognize and honor the best banks to work for in the ROANOKE BUSINESS

SPONSORED CONTENT | Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce nation, is a project of American Banker and Best Cos. Group. In all, 60 banks achieved “Best Bank” status in this fourth year of the program. To be considered for participation, banks had to have at least 50 employees working in the U.S. and be a commercial bank, thrift, mutual association, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association or a savings bank. Jewell Machinery in Rocky Mount has been named to the 2016 Inc. 5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at an important segment of the economy – America’s independent entrepreneurs. This is Jewell Machinery’s third year making the list. Climbing 42 spots from 2015, it is ranked 1,231 overall and now joins Under Armour, Microsoft, GoPro, Square and Yeti Cooler among other prominent brands that have appeared on Inc.’s comprehensive list.

Ayers

Wallace

LeClairRyan has announced that 91 attorneys in 58 practice areas were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2017 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” Of those lawyers, eight are resident in the firm’s Roanoke office. They include: William E. Callahan Jr., bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, litigation – bankruptcy; John T. Jessee, medical malpractice law – defendants, personal injury litigation – defendants; Paul C. Kuhnel, medical malpractice law – defendants; Powell M. “Nick” Leitch III, medical malpractice law – defendants; Clinton S. Morse, employment law – management, labor law, management; Kevin P. Oddo, commercial litigation, litigation – banking and finance, litigation – bankruptcy; Joseph M. Rainsbury, appellate practice; and Lori D. Thompson, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights/ insolvency and reorganization law, litigation – bankruptcy. Thompson was also recognized as a Roanoke “Lawyer of the Year” in the litigation – bankruptcy category.

Eure Lemon

Ries

Creasy

Bentley

Johnson, Ayers & Matthews PLC has announced that six of its attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2017 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” Both clients and legal professionals regard the listing as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. Those named to the list are: Ronald M. Ayers, eminent domain and condemnation law, personal injury litigation – defendants; William P. Wallace Jr., personal injury litigation – defendants; John D. Eure, appellate practice, insurance law; Kenneth J. Ries, insurance law, personal injury litigation – defendants; Bryan Grimes Creasy, commercial litigation, litigation – real estate; railroad law; and Lori J. Bentley, personal injury litigation – defendants. Attorneys John D. Eure and William P. Wallace were also named as Roanoke “Lawyers of the Year” for 2017. Eure won the honor in appellate practice, and Wallace took the personal injury litigation – defendants title. 36 3 6

NOVEMBER 2016

The law firm Martin, Hopkins & Lemon has announced that Stephen W. Lemon has been included in the 2017 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the field of real estate law.

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea has introduced a new local dog walking wellness program called Marla’s Miles. The city of Roanoke’s Department of Parks and Recreation has teamed up with Angels of Assisi to encourage volunteers to get outdoors and walk a dog from the shelter before work, on lunch break or after work. The program was first developed by city employee Marla Robertson, who adopted a rescue hound named Gabby. Marla’s Miles runs until Nov. 23, and will resume in the spring of 2017. For more information, visit www.playroanoke.com.

to the Dallas Police Department honoring the fallen Dallas Police and DART Officers Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Brent Thompson, Sgt. Michael Smith and Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, who were killed in the line of duty July 7. Deputy Ferguson presented the plaque to Sgt. Warren Mitchell at the Dallas Police Department headquarters. The New River Regional Commission’s Kevin Byrd has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, which works with the state’s 23 planning districts to support collaboration with local, state and federal entities. The Hon. Bill Martin Sr. of the Roanoke ValleyAlleghany Regional Commission, will be serving as immediate past president, marking the ongoing effort of the region’s leadership in driving collaboration and livability in the commonwealth.

Ammar

Day

Melchionna

Pearl

Stark

Wellons

Matt Guilliams has been named the new head coach for the William Byrd High School boys soccer team. Guilliams, a 2012 William Byrd graduate and former Terrier soccer player, is a graduate of Concord University.

The law firm Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC announced that six attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” 2017 directory of leading attorneys. The following were selected by their peers in their respective areas of practice: N.A. “Nick” Ammar Jr., employee benefits law, trusts and estates; F.B. Webster Day, corporate law, public finance law; Olin R. Melchionna Jr., trusts and estates; Peter M. Pearl, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law; Douglas T. Stark, commercial litigation; and Hugh B. Wellons, banking and finance law, biotechnology law, financial services regulation law, securities/capital markets law. Day and Wellons were also named as “Lawyer of the Year” in Roanoke. Day received the honor in the public finance law practice area, and Wells was named in the financial services regulation law category.

Deputy Phillip Ferguson of the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office recently made a side trip during his vacation to deliver a plaque

The Spot on Kirk’s board of directors has announced the organization has been formally granted 501(c) (3) nonprofit status. The

Ben Amos has been named the new boys baseball head coach for the Glenvar High School Highlanders. Amos, a graduate of William Byrd High School and Roanoke College, was the assistant coach for Glenvar before being named head coach.

determination will allow The Spot to accept tax-deductible donations from the community and broaden its access to resources. The Spot on Kirk gears its operations toward bringing the art of live music to Roanoke while boosting the local economy and highlighting music education.

responsible for cleaning 5 million square feet of academic and administrative space at Virginia Tech. He is also responsible for the operational and financial affairs of the unit and oversees contracts with outside vendors to clean 1.2 million square feet of university and leased space.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has announced the 17 winners of the annual Governor’s Technology Awards at a special ceremony at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium held in Richmond. The City of Roanoke and Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority received the CrossBoundary Collaboration on IT Initiatives award for its Connected Fiber Platform project. Roanoke County won the IT as Efficiency Driver – Government to Citizen award for its Mountain Valley Pipeline Viewer project.

T. Daniel Crawford, professor of chemistry in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, was recently named the Ethyl Corporation Chair in Chemistry by the Virginia Tech board of visitors. CrawCrawford ford joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 2000 and has since been recognized for his groundbreaking work in theoretical and computational chemistry.

Virginia Tech will expand its footprint in downtown Roanoke in November when it opens its leadership coaching institute for the health-care and life sciences industries. The Healthcare Coaching Institute is a partnership of Virginia Tech’s Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement and the Pyramid Resource Group of Cary, N.C. The institute will open at the same time a Health Science and Technology Innovation District that is under development in Roanoke in partnership with Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech.

Becker

William Becker has been appointed associate professor in the Department of Management at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. Becker previously taught at Texas Christian University.

Richard C. Benson, the former Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Chair of Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of Paul and Dorothea TorgBenson ersen Chair of Engineering Emeritus and Dean Emeritus by the Virginia Tech board of visitors. Benson came to Virginia Tech in 2005.

Canaday

Gregory M. Canaday has been named associate director of facilities operations/director of housekeeping at Virginia Tech. Canady manages a team of more than 100 housekeepers who are

Johan Foster, associate professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been named the Thomas G. Digges and Thomas G. Digges Jr. Faculty Foster Fellow by the Virginia Tech board of visitors. Foster has been a member of the Virginia Tech community since 2014. Victoria Fu, professor of human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emerita by the Virginia Tech board of Fu visitors. She has been a member of the university community since 1972. Rosemary Carucci Goss, professor of apparel, housing and resource management in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been reappointed the Residential PropGoss erty Management Advisory Board Professor by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and Executive Vice President and Provost Thanassis Rikakis. She has held the professorship since 2001. Three new appointees have joined Virginia Tech’s board of visitors after being named to three-year terms by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. The new appointees are: Greta Harris, president and CEO of the Better Housing Coalition; L. Chris Petersen, a partner at Morris, Manning & Martin LLC; and Jeff Veatch, co-founder of Apex Systems.

Greg Jenkins, professor of accounting and information systems in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the John E. Peterson Jr. Professorship by the Virginia Tech Jenkins board of visitors. Recipients hold the title of Peterson Professor for five years. Jenkins has been a member of the Virginia Tech community since 2005. Alison Matthiessen has been named director of communications for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She will lead a comprehensive communications program for the school, overseeing develMatthiessen opment and distribution of content to internal and external audiences. She will coordinate efforts at the school through collaboration with its two key partners, Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic. Beth Osborne, director of finance and administration in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been named director of operational effectiveness in the college’s Apex Systems CenOsborne ter for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In her new assignment, Osborne will oversee the administrative and operational affairs of the center. Mark Pitt, longtime Virginia Tech College of Science professor, has been named chair of the Department of Physics. Pitt joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1997. He takes over the department chair’s posiPitt tion from Patrick Huber, who served as interim chair for one year. Georg Reichard, associate professor of building construction in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech, has been named a Preston and Catharine White Fellow by the Virginia Tech board of visitors. Reichard He has been a member of the Virginia Tech community since 2004. Clifford A. Shaffer, professor of computer science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the W.S. “Pete” White Chair for Innovation in Engineering Education by the Virginia Tech board of visitors. Shaffer has been a member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 1987. ROANOKE BUSINESS

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