Loudoun Business November 2011

NOVEMBER 2011 VOLUME 8 NO. 12

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INSIDE

Chamber Honors Top Small

Businesses...... 2

By Kara Clark, Staff Writer

The winner’s circle in Loudoun contin-ues to expand, thanks in part to the grow-ing number of ceremonies organized each year to recognize the county’s best and brightest businesses. In October and November alone, three such recognition ceremonies were held: the Green Gala and Small Business Awards, both organized in part by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce; and the Loudoun Small Business Development Center’s third annual Business Plan Competition.

Hundreds of local businesses vie for this recognition each year, and respect of their peers is not something any take for granted. Becky Harris, who co-owns Purcellville’s Catoctin Creek Distilling Company with husband Scott, knows a thing or two about that. The distillery was recently recognized as the Agribusiness of the Year during the Small Business Awards, and Scott Harris picked up Entrepreneur of the Year honors. At the Green Gala, the company won the Innovation Award for its environmental efforts.

Becky Harris said the couple has been “overwhelmed by the attention” and rec-ognition received as award winners. The business was also previously a participant and winner in the SBDC Business Plan Competition. “We just think it’s really cool that other businesses are excited by our business,” Becky Harris said. “We were inspired by a lot of different people around here with their small businesses.” Harris said the award recognition also gives Catoctin Creek a greater opportunity to promote its business.

“Being as small as we are in our indus-try we’re limited to the amount and kind of advertising we do. We rely on word of mouth and the attention we get in these kinds of competitions as yet another way to try to get our name out there, get people interested in what we offer, coming out, visiting, meeting us, trying our products are really key,” she said. “These mentions are worth a lot to us, because we can’t buy an advertisement in a lot of local outlets.” Julie Hoffmann said she and J&L Interiors co-owner Lori DuVal have been

‘Nothing Like Being #1’ Loudoun’s Businesses Stand Out In Awards Programs

By Danielle Nadler, Staff Writer

When developers David Southworth and Joseph Deitch bought Creighton Farms, the luxury golf course community near Aldie, in early 2009, they knew they had their work cut out for them. The gated rural subdivision—which was developed in conjunction with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and opened for home sales in 2006 —fell into financial woes in the height of the economic downturn. Much of the work on the property’s planned estates and facili-ties to enhance the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course had stopped; the road, water and sewer infrastructure was incom-plete and the maintenance building had just burnt to the ground. “For the first year of our ownership, it was really just a fire drill—no pun intend-

ed—in terms of getting our facilities rebuilt and completed,” Southworth, president and CEO of Southworth Development, said dur-ing a recent visit to Creighton Farms. Today, the 964-acre development is back on track, as Southworth puts it, with 20 homes occupied or under construc-tion, another 57 lots ready for construc-tion next year, and more than 100 fam-ily memberships at The Club at Creighton Farms, which played host to the Senior PGA Professional National Championship in October. And Creighton Farms is poised to open a new 30,000-square-foot American Vernacular-style clubhouse—complete with 10 suites for members and guests—in early December. “To see it like this is very rewarding and fulfilling,” Southworth said. “It’s

Creighton Farms’ Developers: ‘Here To Stay’

See Creighton, Page 2

See Awards, Page 10

Completion of the new clubhouse at Creighton Farms is the latest amenity at the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.

| Loudoun Business NOVEMBER 2011

Join us for our Second Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange! Come out to sample and collect

recipes at participating merchants just in time for the holidays.

Follow the red and green balloons throughout historic downtown Leesburg

for participating merchants.For all the details on Girls’ Night Out, please visit our website

at www.leesburggirlsnightout.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH • 6-9 pm

Historic Downtown Leesburg every developer’s dream to see their vision

appreciated by others.” “And to see families move here and create a community—and to know we were a part of that— feels good,” Deitch added. Southworth, 53, and Deitch, 61, have been family friends for 17 years, since their sons were elementary school class-mates in Boston. The two have worked at Southworth Development together for the past five years after first excelling in differ-ent industries on their own.

After work in hotel administra-tion, Southworth joined Willowbend Development at its inception in 1992 as president and CEO. In 2005, he founded Southworth Development. Deitch’s work as founder and chair-man of Commonwealth Financial Network earned him the title from Investment Advisor magazine as one of the nation’s “30 Most Influential People in the Wealth Management Industry Over The Past 30 Years.” He joined the Southworth team in 2006. Southworth and Deitch first were a part of Creighton Farms as the asset manag-ers on behalf of Fidelity Investments, which took over the property in 2008. Deitch said as soon as he saw Creighton Farms’ views, plush golf course and the plans for large estates tucked among the property’s trees and rolling hills, he wanted to be a part of it. “What they built was something literally magnificent up here. I’m good with mag-nificent,” he said. “I just can’t get enough of this place. I think to some degree, David and I consider ourselves stewards.” One year after Fidelity Investment took over Creighton Farms, Southworth Development stepped in to purchase the property. Southworth and Deitch agreed to drop the name Ritz-Carlton, because they said it just didn’t seem to fit the property’s character. The company was the third owner of the property, which meant a better deal and less risk for Southworth and Deitch. “They say it’s best to be the first son, the second wife and the third community owner, and that’s true,” Southworth said. “The initial visions are expensive to build, and typically by the third owner you’re not paying 100 cents on the dollar.” “When you come in at our point, so many rocks have been turned over, so the level of risk is enormously diminished,”

Deitch added. Although Creghton Farms has seen modest growth throughout the past year, Southworth and Deitch say it’s really just getting started. In late August, Southworth Development signed an agreement with Stanley Martin Homes to build on 57 lots in the fourth neighborhood of the develop-ment. The neighborhood, called Huntleigh at Creighton Farms, will offer homes on one- to seven-acre lots, and residents will have full access to the club, as well as recip-rocal access to Southworth Development’s international list of clubs and resorts. Several of the community’s amenities are also in the design and permit stages, including the Sports and Wellness Center with tennis courts, a pool and a fitness facility. That leaves 89 lots still to be devel-oped. At build-out, Creighton Farms will have 184 single-family estates. The homes start at about $1 million for a 3,193-square-foot house on 1 acre, and lot prices range from $495,000 to $1, 360,000. Developing in phases and avoiding investing in too much too soon is one major reason Southworth Development has done so well, according to Deitch and Southworth. They don’t begin building phase two of a project until the first phase begins to sell. Since Southworth Development start-ed the company 20 years ago, it’s survived three recessions, according to Southworth, and that’s because he and the company’s other leaders are measured and careful. “When things are really good, we never rode that high. We didn’t go out and buy airplanes and helicopters and that type of thing,” he said. “Then, when times were bad, we weren’t stuck holding a lot of debt.” Southworth Development is known for buying and reviving developments that are under tough financial strains. The com-pany owns The Village at Machrihanish Dunes in Scotland, Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, Renaissance Golf Club near Boston, and PGA Village in The Bahamas. Deitch said many developers have incredible vision, which is expensive to get off the ground. “Throw in a bad economy and it’s sort of a recipe for trouble, which is actually what happened here,” he said of Creighton Farms. “We’ve been fortunate to be offered some magnificent opportuni-ties.” And the two business partners plan to stick around to make the most of the opportunity they found in Creighton Farms. Deitch lives in Palm Beach and Boston, and Southworth lives in Boston and Cape Cod, but the two say they will continue their frequent visits to Loudoun to preserve Creighton Farms as the dynamic commu-nity they’ve envisioned. “At this stage in our business careers, we want to keep a few things forever, and this is clearly one of them,” Southworth said. “We’ll never sell it. We’re so proud to own it.”

CreightonContinued From Page 1

David Southworth and Joe Deitch

NOVEMBER 2011 Loudoun Business | PAGE 3

By Erika Jacobson Moore, Staff Writer

Representatives of some of the county’s most well known mixed-use developments spoke during the Oct. 25 BisNow forum and their message was similar: There is no need to continue talking about what the future holds for Loudoun. That time has come. “I am here to announce that the future of Loudoun County has arrived,” Art Fuccillo, who has been working in the county with Lerner Enterprises for decades, said. Fuccillo, along with One Loudoun’s Bill May, Dulles World’s Jim Duszynski and Kincora Village’s Dan Coughlan, all said that important and “good” things are happening from a development and business stand-point. While the county might not be out of the woods yet with the economy, the signs of a turn around are there—and there are plenty of opportunities for businesses and smart growth in the coming years.

Each of the developments included on the panel, which came before a packed ball-room at the Washington-Dulles Hilton, rep-resent Loudoun’s newest type of develop-ment, mixed-use, where each panelist said the future of economic growth lies. It used to be, they said, that planning was done so commercial was in one area and residential development was in a completely separate area. Now, those barriers are being broken down and the challenge for communities is to find a way to bring people closer to the jobs and closer to where they will be spend-ing their free time. County Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large), who was the event’s featured speaker, received accolades from the panel members for helping to usher in the age of comprehensive development plans in Loudoun, including the original Dulles Town Center plan and Kincora Village. In his remarks, York pointed out that Loudoun is

predicted to rank at the top in job growth in the coming years, and said it will take a willing Board of Supervisors to capital-ize on that. And, he said, the county will really need to sell itself, although there are already signs of good things to come. “We have interest,” he said, “not just nationally, but internationally. And it’s not just people kicking the tires to see what we have. There is real interest in people locat-ing here in the county.” One of the sectors that has seen tre-mendous growth in the county is data centers—the often noticed, seldom seen buildings located mostly between Rt. 7 and the Dulles Greenway in an area character-ized as “data center alley.” Part of the reason for the success of the data center industry in the county is because data centers’ primary needs are for power and fiber, something the county offers in large quantities. Loudoun also

offers the companies access to a wealth of talent, people who can work and run the centers without having to relocate. On the panel for data center discus-sion, Bob Holmes of Digital Realty Trust and David Haskell of Ashburn-based Latisys, said the market also is benefiting from the fact that the businesses in the county are all focusing on something different, instead of trying to “take each other out” they are benefiting. Loudoun is no stranger to the data cen-ter boom, and crash, as moderator Randy Minchew pointed out with the buildings of Loudoun Exchange that sat empty for years before being sold to Digital Realty Trust. But members of the panel said they do not anticipate a similar fate for the current data center market. Loudoun Economic Development’s Buddy Rizer noted that the vacancy rate


Elected leaders and those behind the Kincora Village development at the southwest quadrant of the Rt. 28/Rt. 7 interchange broke ground Oct. 19 on what they say will be a critical transportation improvement for the Rt. 28 corridor. The extension of Pacific Boulevard westward from the Rt. 28/Nokes Boulevard intersection is part of a transportation proffer from the Kincora Village project, a 424-acre mixed-use development which includes office, retail, apartments, a 167-acre park, trails, a minor league baseball stadium for the Loudoun Hounds, a per-forming arts center and heron rookery observation deck. Those who attended the ground-breaking praised the development and the transportation improvements that

come with it. Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) said the Pacific Boulevard road extension, part of a larger Gloucester Parkway project, “took vision.” “It took an idea from the very begin-ning not just seeing a field and trees but seeing what this [improvement] could be for Loudoun County and the entire [Rt. 28] corridor,” she said. Moving forward, Kincora Village rep-resentatives said they are hopeful that a Community Development Authority they have put before the Board of Supervisors for review would be approved to acceler-ate additional road improvements associ-ated with the development. Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large) said this was something he would support when it comes for a vote. He called it another “win-win” for the county that will help pay for needed infrastructure.

By Therese P. Howe, Contributing Writer

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Those words by Eleanor Roosevelt are the mantra that has guid-ed Tina Johnson’s career evolution from nurse to image consultant to maternity apparel rental shop owner to CEO of the Washington DC region’s top event manage-ment company. Johnson shared her story of personal and professional transformation at the Nov. 10 meeting of Sterling Women at The National Conference Center at Lansdowne. The monthly luncheon was founded by Reston Limousine CEO Kristina Bouweiri to create a networking opportunity for women in Northern Virginia. “The whole concept of (Sterling Women) is that we are showcasing women in business,” Bouweiri said. “We have a speaker who runs a multimillion dollar business right here in our community, she speaks for 20 minutes. After that we have about 50 door prizes and we also have an area in the foyer where women can show-case their business and there are shopping opportunities. So I think it’s the perfect networking experience for women because we like to network, we like to be inspired by a speaker, and we like to shop.” Speakers at the luncheon often take the opportunity to share company news, and Johnson announced a major change in her business: “Last month, identifying the company needed a rebrand, after 16 plus years as Johnson Promotions and Events,

on Oct. 1st we rebranded to our new name, JP Events and Consulting.” In an announcement on the Town of Leesburg website, Johnson added that “Our name change will be more in line with our core business structure, focusing on corporate event planning and consulting work.” In her speech, Johnson also chroni-cled her life, starting from her birth to teen parents in southern Virginia and ending up in foster care with some of her siblings. Despite an apparently tumultuous child-hood, she went on to have a successful marriage and career as a nurse. “Everybody carries their baggage and I think you have to decide at some point either you’re going to allow that baggage to control your life and dictate who you’re going to be or you’re going to say, I have the control, I have the power to decide who I’m going to be and the person that I choose to be,” she said in her speech. “And it takes getting older and more mature, realizing it’s up to me, it’s not up to any-body else for my happiness and success.” With the birth of the third of her four sons, she launched a high-end maternity clothes rental business for pregnant career women. A search for more clients for the business led to what would become the foundation of her business: the pro-duction of family oriented trade shows. She discovered that she loved the events industry and went on to produce some of

Panel: The Future Of Loudoun Is Now

Kincora Breaks Ground On Key Road Extension Johnson Shares Life,

Business Lessons

See BisNow, Page 8

See Johnson, Page 8


As a freshman at Georgetown University, I became interested in the crew team. I played football in high school and weighed about 220 pounds, so when I inquired about the crew team I was told that I was too short to be a heavy-weight rower and too fat to be a light-weight rower. I wasn’t growing any taller, so I decided to lose the weight. I turned the “freshman-15” on its head and lost 60 pounds during my first year of college, transforming a husky football player into a disciplined member of the Georgetown Lightweight Crew. From sophomore year on, I rowed at 147 pounds. Today, I’m a very happy 200 pounds. The beautiful thing about crew is it revolves around anonymous teamwork. There are no names or numbers displayed on the backs of the team jerseys. To the casual observer, it looks like everyone in the racing shell is doing exactly the same thing, but the reality is that each person

has an individual role and an individual skill set. A great crew team makes rowing look effortless. The reality is, rowing works more muscle groups and burns more calo-ries than just about anything else. Rowing is hard work, and a team only becomes a great team by working hard together capi-talizing on the many individual skill sets needed. What does that have to do with busi-ness in Loudoun County? Everything. When I became CEO of Telos Corporation, times were tough. For the first few years we struggled to make pay-roll. I believe in transparency, so this was no secret among the employee population. Everyone within the company did what they had to do to see those hard times through, regardless of rank or title. We trusted that our colleagues were working just as hard as we were to reach our com-mon goal. We worked hard, together. There is no question in my mind that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and School Board work hard—but they don’t work hard together. Loudoun gov-ernment should not consist of individual delegates acting in the best interest of their political parties or reelection campaigns. They should be acting as a team, toward a common goal, with no names or numbers on their jerseys. Anonymous teamwork. With every shortcoming is an oppor-tunity. Loudoun County’s elected officials have the opportunity to begin working hard as a team. Not as Republicans, Democrats, Independents or individuals. An individ-ual can accomplish nothing on his own within the School Board or the Board of Supervisors. You hear all too often, espe-cially during campaign season, that an individual board member will “Reduce the budget by 5 percent.” Yet, no one board member can accomplish anything without the agreement of four other people. Too often we hear, “I’m going to do this. I’m

going to do that.” No, you’re not—at least not on your own. It is important for our local leaders to stand together and break down their

political barriers to make this place the best it can be. Often it seems as though our local elected officials don’t trust that their colleagues are working towards a common goal. Do they have a common goal? That would be the first question to answer. The Board of Supervisors and the School Board should come up with six or seven items they want to accomplish. Once that has been established, those two governing bodies should come together and establish an overall list of goals for Loudoun County. These common goals would provide direc-tion for both governing bodies and will help to make Loudoun County the best place to live and work in America. There are too many theatrics in our local government. Elected officials have notoriously made comments from the dais that are an embarrassment to themselves

and to the county. Simply put, these theat-rics and partisan politics are bad for busi-ness. It goes without saying that businesses have a choice whether or not to locate in Loudoun County. In our current economic climate, we should be doing everything possible to encourage new investment in our region. The drama and disjointed gov-erning in Loudoun County is unattractive to businesses deciding whether to locate to Loudoun County (where I have joked that unanimous is 5-4). The outcomes of our local government are not predictable. New businesses will not risk their hard earned cash to invest in an unstable region. Predictability and stability are important to the business community. If the future of Loudoun is uncertain, then Fairfax County becomes a more attractive option. Some political divisiveness in local government is unavoidable, even neces-sary. Though, the political theatrics and punditry that happen in Washington, DC, do not have to happen here. Loudoun has the opportunity to lead by example, and show those on Capitol Hill that anony-mous teamwork is the path to a success-ful economy. Let’s take advantage of that opportunity. Crew taught me the perseverance to ensure a team succeeds, despite knowing an individual may not be recognized for his or her individual efforts. Let’s hope our local political leaders understand that it isn’t the individual recognition that they should pursue; rather, they should pur-sue the common goal of moving Loudoun County forward into the 21st century together.

[John B. Wood is the CEO of Telos Corporation in Ashburn, founder of the CEO Cabinet and current chairman of the county Economic Development Commission. His monthly column will appear in Loudoun Business. Follow John on Twitter at twitter.com/john_b_wood.]

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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderli-ness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimi-nation.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hear-ing impaired call (804) 367-9753. Email: [email protected]. Web site: www.fairhousing.vipnet.org.

By John Wood

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Loudoun's Leaders' Next Step: Working Hard Together

Company Seeks Nominations For Free Roof ReplacementNominations are now being accepted for DryHome Roofing and Siding’s “Free Roof for the Holidays” program. Struggling Northern Virginia families and area non-profits are eligible to apply for the annual charity program. For the ninth year running, DryHome, a Sterling-based roofing company, contin-ues its tradition of supporting the com-munity by giving a free roof away this holiday season to a local individual, family or nonprofit in need. To nominate an individual, family or nonprofit, go online to www.dryhome.

com or email DryHome at [email protected]. The nominator should include their name and phone number as well as the nominee’s name, address, phone number and reason why they are being nomi-nated. DryHome will evaluate and select the nominee with the greatest need. The nomination period closes Dec. 5, with the winner announced in mid-December. In 2010, 87 year-old Hubert Laconia, a World War II vet and grandfather of four from Sterling, was the recipient of a new roof. Other winners have included the Good Shepherd Alliance; Reston Interfaith,

a nonprofit serving the homeless; Falls Church Cub Scout House; Gabriel Homes, a nonprofit that serves adults with devel-opmental disabilities; and Bernie Cline, an elderly Alexandria resident in need of a roof replacement. DryHome Roofing & Siding, Inc. has been serving Northern Virginia since 1988. Locally owned and operated, DryHome is fully licensed, bonded and insured. More information about the company is avail-able at www.dryhome.com.


By Paul W. Bice, John Marshall Bank

With the poor economic news of today, you might assume that long lines of panicked people are stretching around sev-eral blocks to drain their bank accounts. That nervousness abounds with commu-nity banks dropping like flies, just like their gigantic step-brothers on Wall Street. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, community banks today seem to be thriving in the midst of this economic uncertainty. Why is that? With many of the big banks getting caught up in the mortgage mess of a few years ago, community banks have gen-erally escaped unscathed, or with little damage. A true community bank has its focus on the local people, businesses and organizations; it is involved locally and retains deposits locally. Officers of com-munity banks tend to remain longer in their positions without being transferred to other locations, allowing relationships with customers to be more long term and personal. As a regional president of one of the fastest-growing community banks in the DC metropolitan area, I am confident that our growth continues because we put the customer’s interest first, we maintain the integrity of trust and we act as a business partner with our customers in good eco-nomic times and bad. Community banks embrace a person-al, small-town style of service. Small banks understand banking isn’t just about how many branches or locations you have. They understand the importance of taking care of the people in their community and in being an unpaid consultant to assist in their client’s success. When you call to speak with a bank officer at a large bank, many times you

are surprised to find out your “local” call is being answered across the country, or even out of the country. With community banks, you have a local name and phone number you can go to, and often times, these are the same bank officers you see shopping at local stores, cheering at the high school football game or at other local events. It isn’t unusual for community banks and their customers to become like family. During tough economic times like today, community banks can be a small business owner’s best friend. Community bank customers know their banker’s name, and access to funds can be an easier process without the red tape one often has to go through with the larger banks. Community bankers make loans to small business owners with more flexibility and ease because they get the chance to know them. Often, small businesses don’t face the frustration with community banks as they do with the national banks after applying for loans. Instead of waiting and waiting and waiting for an answer to their appli-cation, only to find they don’t meet the big banks' criteria, small businesses are more likely to find a more streamlined and accommodating reception from a commu-nity bank. Besides, a good rate on a loan is just one piece of the puzzle. Having your banker with you during the tough times and the good times is more often than not the real test of a relationship. In the end, your banking relationship is more than just lip service. It boils down to trust and a personal connection. My bank knows its customers, and they know us. That’s the key to a true relationship bank.[Paul W. Bice is the Loudoun Regional President for John Marshall Bank.]

Community Banks Offer Bright Spots In Dreary Economy

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• The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors has elected Michael Curto as its new chairman and re-elected Thomas Davis III as vice chairman and Quince T. Brinkley, Jr. as secretary for 2012. Curto was appointed to the MWAA board in 2011. He is the deputy chair of the Business Department of Patton Boggs LLP, a global law firm headquartered in Washington, DC. Curto also is a mem-ber of the firm’s Management Committee

and head of the firm’s ERISA and Employee Benefits prac-tice, represent-ing corporate, nonprofit and g o v e r n m e n t sponsors of pen-sion and welfare benefit plans, and insurance companies in all

aspects of retirement, health and compen-sation issues. He currently is the chair-man for the Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Committee for Montgomery County, MD, and a member of the Annual Fund Committee for the Georgetown Preparatory School, which he previously chaired. He has served as vice chairman of the board of directors for the National Family C a re g i v e r s Association. He is an appointee of the Governor of Maryland. Davis was a p p o i n t e d to the board in 2010 and has served as vice chairman of MWAA since April. He is the director of fed-eral government affairs for Deloitte LLP. He represented Fairfax County as an elected official for 29 years at the local and federal levels. From 1979 to 1992 he served as the supervisor for Mason Magisterial District. From 1992 to 1994 he served as chairman of the county board, after which he rep-resented the 11th Congressional District of Virginia in the U.S. Congress until his retirement in 2008. During Davis’ congres-sional tenure, he accumulated a number of legislative accomplishments important to the National Capital Region. These include the DC Control Board Act, the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, which result-

ed in the closure of Lorton Prison, and the National Capital Transportation Amendments Act, which authorized capital reinvestment in the Washington Metro sys-tem. He is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Virginia Law School. Davis is an appointee of the Governor of Virginia. Brinkley was first elected vice president and secretary to MWAA in 2008. He comes to the authority with experience in banking, airport consulting, real estate development and finance. He has worked for the City of Chicago in the Office of Management and Budget and has served as a senior airport consultant with Unison Consulting Group, Inc. in Chicago, where he provided consulting services to air-ports across the nation. Brinkley has also worked in the real estate development and finance arena in the Washington, DC, region, Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC, with the Urban Residential Development Corporation, the Freddie Mac Corporation and Wachovia Securities. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The 13-mem-ber board of directors is appointed by the Governors of Virginia and Maryland, the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the President of the United States.

• Leesburg Pharmacy co-owner Cheri Garvin has been awarded the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2011 Prescription Drug Safety Award. The announcement was made during the association’s 113th Annual Convention Oct. 8-12. Sponsored by Purdue Pharma, L.P., the award recognizes pharma-cists who have reached out in their commu-nities to provide education on the benefits of the correct use of prescription drug products and the hazards associated with their misuse. After reading an Associated Press report about traces of prescription drugs being found in drinking water across the country, Garvin insti-tuted a drug t a k e - b a c k p r o g r a m that became a model for NCPA’s D i s p o s e My Meds p r o g r a m that helps p a t i e n t s s a f e l y dispose of prescription drugs. She also briefed members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security about drug disposal

in June 2009. Garvin routinely presents Medicines in My Home, an FDA program, at local middle schools to promote drug awareness and safe use of over-the-counter products. A practicing pharmacist for more than 20 years, Garvin is the president and CEO of Leesburg Pharmacy, Inc. Their three employee-owned pharmacies offer custom compounded medication, medical equip-ment, wellness screenings, immunizations, and gifts. Leesburg Pharmacy also provides services to local assisted living facilities. Garvin is a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, and has served as a faculty mem-ber there and at Shenandoah University. She serves on NCPA’s Steering Committee and is a member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, American Pharmacists Association, NCPA, Virginia Pharmacists Association, Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club, the National Association of Women Business Owners and the eWomen Network. “We are very proud to present Cheri Garvin as the NCPA 2011 Prescription Drug Safety Award winner, because she has been a lead-er in encouraging patients to practice safe disposal of prescription drugs and working to ensure federal officials are implement-ing programs that foster that outcome,” Robert J. Greenwood, NCPA president and

pharmacy owner in Waterloo, IA, stated. “Instead of simply complaining about the prescription drug abuse epidemic sweep-ing the nation, Cheri has been part of the solution from the start.”

• Leesburg-based FedConsulting, Inc., which celebrated its 20th anniversary Oct. 15, has re-branded the business as FCi Federal. The new name reflects the company’s growth from a one-person consulting boutique to a major federal contractor with almost 1,000 employees operating in 19 states and two territories at 53 geographically dispersed locations. Founded in 1991, FedConsulting, Inc., provided marketing and opportunity pursuit support to companies doing busi-ness with the federal government or want-ing to enter the federal market. In 2002, the company made the decision to exit that market and start pursuing its own direct contracts with the federal government. Over the last three years, the company’s revenue has grown from $2 million to more than $40 million, with projections of $60 million for 2012. The firm’s new www.fcifed-eral.com website provides key information about the firm and its services to federal government agencies, as well as company and industry news and thought leadership

In Brief

Curto

Davis

Garvin

Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center, Inc. is renovating its Leesburg office and expanding into Prince William County. “I’ve appreciated the support of Loudoun and Fauquier County residents over the past 23 years,” Dr. Grace Keenan, founder and CEO of Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center, Inc., stated. “We are expanding our facilities and services to better meet the ever growing needs of our patients. Our holistic approach with a western medical framework has prov-en to be very appealing to our patients and we are excited to introduce our personalized, integrative approach to the residents of Prince William County.” The 3,000-square-foot Leesburg office, the practice’s second facility, which opened its doors in 2002, will undergo an expansion and complete renovation over the next three months. The office will remain open during the renovation phase, with construction projected to be complete by January. Following construction, the facility will boast three new treatment rooms and an additional 1,591 square feet. On-site digital X-ray services will also be avail-able to patients post-renovation. The office will mimic the décor of the Ashburn facility, promoting a healing environment for patients with a soothing color palate of varying earth tones. Recently winning a Silver Award in the Loudoun County Green Business

Challenge, Nova plans to continue its green efforts through the Leesburg reno-vation. New, energy efficient lighting, CRI green label certified carpeting, and low VOC floor tiles will be installed through-out the facility. Interior walls will be painted with low VOC paint and all exist-ing lights that will be reused post-reno-vation will be dual switched to enable energy savings rating. Furthermore, at least 95 percent of all walls, flooring, con-crete, metals, copper, and other building materials that will be demoed from the site will be recycled, including the cabi-netry. In addition to the Leesburg reno-vation, Nova will expand into Prince William County with the addition of a fifth office. This winter, Nova plans to build a new, 4,034-square-foot facility in Gainesville with its doors slated to open in June 2012. The new building will feature eight exam rooms, trauma, an on-site laboratory, and digital X-ray ser-vices. In alignment with the company’s mission and vision, medical providers in the new facility will specialize in fam-ily and internal medicine with exten-sive functional medicine training. They will work collaboratively with Nova’s integrative medical team including the naturopathic doctor, licensed acupunc-turist, registered dietitian, and cognitive behavioral therapist.

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resources via its blog. Company officials stress the user-friendliness of the website as a reflection of their customer-focused corporate culture. “Although our roots go back two decades to our founding in 1991 as a one-person boutique, we have under-gone a total transformation in the last few years,” FCi Federal President Sharon Virts Mozer stated. “With nearly 1,000 people all over the country providing a wide range

of services, we knew we needed an online presence that more accurately reflected the scale, scope and depth of resources and expertise we have to offer.” FCi Federal is located at 602 South King St., Suite 102. For more information, visit www.fcifederal.com.

• First  Potomac  Realty  Trust  reports  that three new tenants have signed on at Sterling’s

Atlantic  Corporate  Park.  The  three  new leases total 23,802 square feet and the two-building project is 26 percent leased. New to the corporate park are American Medical Student Association, which signed a 10-year lease for 11,080 square feet; EduCap, a student loan administrator, which signed on for five years and 7,197 square feet; and OneVoice Communications signed a six-year lease for 5,525 square feet. Both AMSA and EduCap are relocating their corporate headquarters to the new Atlantic Corporate Park  location.  "Tenants  are  relocating  to Atlantic Corporate Park because it is the premier office park in Loudoun County and we are able to offer competitive leas-ing  rates  for  first-class space,” Tim Zulick, senior vice president of leasing for First Potomac Realty Trust, stated. “We have no doubt we will continue to add high-quality tenants to the roster at this best-in-class site in the coming months.” First Potomac acquired the newly-constructed Atlantic Corporate Park in December 2010 for $22.55 million. The property consists of two, four-story Class-A LEED Gold Certified office buildings, totaling 221,182 square feet, and is located between Atlantic Boulevard and Woodland Road in Sterling. 

• Colliers  International  has  been  selected to handle leasing services for the Kincora development’s 4 million square feet of office space. A joint venture between

Norton Scott,  LLC and TRITEC Real  Estate Company,  Kincora,  located  near  the  Rt.  7/ Rt.  28  interchange,  offers  more  than  6.7 million square feet of combined office, sup-portive retail and residential (apartments and  condominiums)  units.  In  addition  the project includes major transportation improvements, a performing arts center, a ballpark, and a 140-acre park, which con-tains a unique trail system that links the W&OD  Trail  with  the  Potomac  Heritage Trail  system.  Colliers  International’s  Andy Klaff, Chad Arnold and Katherine Camacho are handling marketing and leasing efforts, offering a full range of office solutions from secure campus environments to class “A” multi tenanted office buildings. Kurt Stout is responsible for marketing to government agencies and the GSA. “Loudoun County is an attractive location for large, headquarter requirements because of its proximity to an educated workforce, strong transportation infrastructure, and amenities. Kincora com-bines these three components, creating a world-class location where residents will be within walking distance to work, retail and entertainment options,” stated Klaff, execu-tive vice president of Colliers International’s Northern Virginia office. “We believe that Colliers brings significant experience to our team,”  added  Dan  Coughlan  with  TRITEC Real Estate Company. “We have the team in place to make Kincora a success.”

  The  grand  opening  of  the  Mason Enterprise Center Leesburg was celebrat-ed as an economic development game-changer in downtown Leesburg. Local elected leaders, including Mayor Kristen Umstattd, Vice Mayor Kevin  Wright,  Town  Council  members Katie Hammler, David Butler and Ken Reid, Supervisors Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg) and Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac) and Sen. Mark Herring (D-33), attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and partner reception, sponsored by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, Oct. 26. “We are ecstatic to have this center open,” Umstattd said. She pointed out that the center is already more than 50 percent leased and has filled up far more quickly than other Mason Enterprise Centers  in  the  region.  In  addition  for room for about 30 business clients, tele-working space and the capabilities for virtual clients, the center also houses the Small Business Development Center, the Leesburg Economic Development Department and the center’s regional manager, Susan Henson, who started her 

job at the incubator in September. Umstattd also noted that the idea for a business incubator in Leesburg first came from a feasibility study jump-started by the Economic Development Commission.   “This is a phenomenal opportunity,” Burk said. “This is an example of a great partnership between the town, the coun-ty, the university and the other partners that are here with us today.” Burk predicted the partnership, with both the town and county contributing funding for the incubator project, could be the reason the next AOL or Google hatches.  Roger Staugh, the vice president for research and economic at George Mason University, said the Leesburg incubator was the “start of our formal engagement and participation in economic develop-ment activity in the county and in the region.”  It  likely won’t  end,  Staugh  said, emphasizing that he believes the incuba-tor will lead into other projects between the town and Mason.

Leesburg Incubator Celebrates Opening

Local leaders celebrated the opening of the Mason Enterprise Center Leesburg Oct. 26 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and partner reception.


for data centers in the county is less than 4 percent, compared to a 12-percent vacancy rate for overall commercial development. “And they really focus on a ‘just in time’ delivery,” he said. “They are not being built on spec. They’re not building the next [center] until the existing one is at 60, 70, 80 percent capacity.” Indeed, Holmes noted that Digital Realty Trust’s building is 98 percent filled and it does not anticipate to open its next until January 2013, joking they almost wait-ed too long to expand. Both Holmes and Haskell said that the new cloud concept is not going to damage the industry either. Cloud refers to the deliv-ery of computing as a service rather than a product, where resources, software and information are provided to computers as a utility over a network, like the Internet. “There is still the idea that there is a physical infrastructure somewhere,” Haskell said, noting Latisys has a cloud service offering as well as collocation. “The cloud term is new, but the service pack is not new.” Holmes agreed that the cloud is not going to have the detrimental impact to industry as some might anticipate. “You would look at us as the plug in the wall. We’re the stable power supply,” he said.

Rizer also noted the county works with the companies that provide fiber regularly. “If they don’t have fiber in Loudoun County, they’re at a competitive disadvantage,” he said, because, as one of the largest Internet exchange points in the world, the county has more fiber than most metropolitan areas in the nation. Every discussion of economic develop-ment in Loudoun ultimately turns into a discussion about Metrorail’s extension into the county, and this time was no different. But when asked how important rail was to Loudoun’s economic future, the panelists had different answers on a scale of 1 to 10. Duszynski and May said “10” without hesita-tion, while Fuccillo put it more at an “eight or nine.” “For over 100 years Loudoun had an operating train from Purcellville to Alexandria,” May said by way of his expla-nation. “Everyone now loves that trail. But I wish it was still a train.” Coughlan placed the importance of Metro much lower, saying it was only a “four or five.” He noted that only 10-20 percent of Loudoun’s population will be captured on Metro going in and out of the county. That leaves about 80-90 percent of people on roads. “We are still going to need to improve the road network and get the roads widened to have more of an impact to the people of Loudoun County.”

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the most successful baby and parenting expos in Northern Virginia under a new business, Johnson Promotions Inc., which later became Johnson Promotions and Events in 1995. “I knew nothing, and I learned mostly by failure,” she said. “It was so much work for so little return, mainly because I still didn’t know what was doing.” By the late 1990s, her business was losing money and she knew something had to change. She applied and was accepted into George Washington University’s event manage-ment certification program and it was a move that “changed my life,” she said. “I was like a sponge; I couldn’t get enough information. …. After two grueling years I graduated with a master’s certification in event management.” After graduating, she made the move to refocus the business from event pro-ductions to management and consulting. It’s been a successful transformation, and today, JP Events and Consulting counts the Village at Leesburg and Inova Health System as clients. “Life is a journey of failures and successes,” Johnson said. “But you won’t know which one you have until you try.”

STERLING WOMEN DECEMBER The featured speaker at next month’s Sterling Women luncheon will be Maria Kopsidas, founder of Cookology, a hands-

on cooking school located in the Dulles Town Center. The monthly events, which take place at The National Conference Center, begin with optional networking at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and speaker at noon. The lunch ends at 1 p.m. and another half hour of optional networking follows. To register or for more informa-tion, visit www.sterlingwomen.org.

JohnsonContinued From Page 3

Tina Johnson, CEO of JP Events, stands with Reston Limousine CEO Kristina Bouweiri, founder of Sterling Women. Johnson was the featured speaker at November’s luncheon.

The fall months have been busy in Leesburg, with several businesses opening their doors in the county seat. In the downtown area, Knight Solutions Construction (above) celebrated its opening Oct. 28, with Mayor Kristen Umstattd and Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg) in attendance. The company is now located at 208 South King St., Suite 104, after Leesburg resident Knight decided to relocate his head-quarters from Washington, DC. Also new to the downtown is L Gifts & Home Furnishings, which celebrated its opening at 11 West Market St. Nov. 4. The open-ings will only continue through the end of the year. Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill plans a Nov. 16 opening of its Village at Leesburg location and Chick-fil-A makes its antici-pated debut at the Kohl’s/Target shopping center off Edwards Ferry Road Dec. 1.

Business Openings Continue In Leesburg


By Rosemary deButts, Contributing Writer

According to the Metropolitan Regional Information Service (MRIS), 379 homes were sold in the western Loudoun area (consist-ing of Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill, Hamilton, Lovettsville and Waterford) from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31. That represents an 11.5 percent increase over the total sales vol-ume in the first eight months of 2010 and a 24 percent increase over the sales volume over the same period in 2009. This is especially encouraging since the 2010 market was artificially stimulated by the First Time Buyers Credit. 2011 did not enjoy that boost and is still outper-forming 2010. By contrast, January through August home sales in the entire county totaled 3,234 units, 5 percent behind the 2010 total at the same time and 9 percent behind the 2009 total. In the second half of the year, sales volume typically declines so it is not unexpected to see a 19 percent monthly decline in western Loudoun in August. The good news though is that sales in August beat the August 2010 total by 12.5 percent. Purcellville continues to dominate western Loudoun with 37 percent of total sales volume. After a rare and dramatic decrease in July, the median sales price in western Loudoun rebounded 26 percent from $335,000 to $422,500. The year-to-date median sales price is $410,000 (equal to the 2010 median). Compare that with $365,000 in eastern Loudoun and $395,000 in Leesburg. So far this year, 40 percent

of home sales in western Loudoun were priced between $200,000 and $399,999, 32 percent were priced $400,000 to $599,999 and 3 percent were priced above $1 mil-lion. Other pertinent statistics include:• The average days on market spiked again in August. This time it reached 138 days, primarily due to the fact that five of the 54 total sales were on the market an especially long time—four took over a year to sell and one finally sold after more than three years. However, five units also sold in less than 30 days, three in 30 to 59 days and four in 60 to 89 days;• Compare the 138-day average in August in western Loudoun 45 days in eastern Loudoun and 47 days in Leesburg;• So far this year, the average days on market in western Loudoun is 134 days, 9 percent higher than the 2010 average;• The average close price to average origi-nal list price ratio measures sellers’ will-ingness to negotiate price. In August, the ratio fell to 90.5 percent from 91.9 percent in July. The comparable ratio in eastern Loudoun was 96.9 percent and in Leesburg it was 95.7 percent;• In August, 50 of the 54 western Loudoun

sales were single-family detached homes with an average close price of $459,420. Interestingly, four townhomes sold that month—two in Middleburg—with an unusually high average sold price of $404,999;• Perhaps a plentiful supply is the secret to western Loudoun’s success this year. One would normally think that the market is oversupplied when inventory levels are at 7.3 months but sales here are outperform-ing eastern Loudoun and Leesburg which have much lower inventory levels (2.4 and 3.5 months respectively); and• The year-to-date share of short sales and foreclosures (24.8 percent share of total sales) in 2011 rose slightly in August. Middleburg and Waterford have had only one distressed sale each so far this year explaining their low shares while the percentage exceeds 23 percent in the other local areas.

Spotlight On Hamilton(through the end of August)

• Forty-three homes have sold in Hamilton this year, 16 percent higher than over the same period in 2010 and a remarkable 48 percent higher than the 2009 total;• The August median sales price was

$465,000, 58 percent higher than the July median;• On average, the days on market for the homes sold in August was 87;• The close price to list price ratio was 91.4 percent in August, slightly better than the western Loudoun average;• So far this year, 24 percent of Hamilton sales have been distressed;• The average close price for the four detached homes sold in August was $491,725; and• The supply of available inventory amounted to 5.4 months. Fortunately, western Loudoun’s very low median sales price in July remedied itself in August and sales volume contin-ues to amaze. Even though houses take much longer to sell than elsewhere in the county, who would’ve thought western Loudoun would be boasting such a good 2011 record.[Rosemary deButts is a Realtor associated with Atoka Properties in Purcellville. She is certified by the National Association of Realtors as a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource and is a Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) from the National Association of Home Builders. Visit her website, www.housinganalyst.net, for

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abuzz with excitement over their win at the Small Business Awards, where the duo picked up Retailer of the Year honors. The Leesburg-based business plans to hold a Dec. 3 celebration to thank all its clients, many of whom voted for the business during public voting for the awards or submitted letters of recommendation on J&L’s behalf. “We want to give back to all those who helped make it possible,” Hoffmann said. She noted that many customers have stopped in or corresponded to offer con-gratulations. Going forward, J&L plans to leverage its big win in an advertising cam-paign that includes Retailer of the Year stickers on its envelopes, postcards for the Dec. 3 event and marketing the award win and media advertising with the “Retailer of

the Year” moniker. Pat Wirth, president of Potomac Falls Express Lube & Car Wash, said she and her team worked very hard for their win at the Green Business Challenge, where the small business was recognized in its category for its sustainable practices. “We found some great opportunities to make really great changes to our business and improve things,” she said. “People who are in the know about the Green Business Challenge recognize how difficult it is to achieve that.” Wirth said the company’s advertising boasts itself as “an environmental award-winning business,” something she said cus-tomers really respond to. “I think that people appreciate the fact that you have a business that is not some-thing you would think is about being able to do things in an environmentally respon-

sible way and is doing it,” she said. “People appreciate the fact that we’ve gone the extra mile.” At a time when the automotive services industry has been hit particularly hard, thanks to the down economy, Wirth said that recognition is most appreciated. “Almost every where I go people are saying congratulations. It’s been a nice bless-ing for my business,” she said. “Anything positive in our industry is a plus and this is certainly something that’s been a great posi-tive achievement. There's nothing like being Number 1.” Dr. Suzanne Nixon, whose Lansdowne-based company Inspirational Journeys, picked up third place in the SBDC’s Business Plan Competition Nov. 9, called the competi-tion “an awesome experience for me.” A “big takeaway” for Nixon was learn-ing so much from other Loudoun County

businesses and understanding that “the business support and business community is much more powerful than I really under-stood.” Going forward, Nixon says she believes her business is stronger because of the par-ticipation in the SBDC contest. “It’s given me more inspiration to keep on moving forward,” she said. But it’s not only businesses that benefit from the recognition. For the third straight year, a local nonprofit was honored during the Small Business Awards. The Waterford Foundation picked up Nonprofit of the Year accolades. “The award validates our long-term preservation efforts” and provides proof that preservation and business endeavors can complement each other, Waterford Foundation Executive Director Nancy Doane said.

AwardsContinued From Page 1


The Loudoun Small Business Development Center recognized the best in business plans Nov. 9 during its third annual Business Plan Competition gala. Held at K2M in Leesburg, the annual awards ceremony honors the best business plans as judged by a panel of nine local business leaders. Award winners are broken into two categories: Local Business Model and Scalable Business Model. The latter category is intended for businesses where the market opportunity is sufficiently large to develop annual sales of $50 million to $100 million. At the beginning of the awards cer-emony, nine finalists were whittled down from the 14 businesses in the competition. They were then given the opportunity to present their elevator speech to the dozens gathered that evening.• Back Office Solutions, LLC, and its owner Susan McGlohn were one of those finalists. McGlohn explained that her company offers bookkeeping and office administrative sup-

port services for small businesses. • Beltway Brewing Company and owner Sten Sellier offer a business-to-business brewery, where beers can be brewed exclusively for a company so it doesn’t have to build or expand its own facility. • CraftyStitches,  LLC,  and  owner  Jennifer Michael hope to revolutionize the “do it yourself” community with new products that encourage craftsmanship and bring back handmade and quilted items to the fashion world. • Inspirational Journeys, LLC, and its owner Dr. Suzanne Nixon organize week-long excur-sions and other gatherings to teach attend-ees about wellness and create an individual-ized wellness plan for each participant. • Fernando  Beltran,  of  PTSD  Film,  LLC, explained that the feature film he is produc-ing will be shot in Loudoun County and will be a psychological thriller about post-trau-matic stress disorder. •  The  Run Around Hound  LLC  and  owner Ashley Kennedy provide pet concierge services for all species and all breeds in Ashburn, Sterling and Leesburg.

• South Riding Health Consulting, LLC, is run by husband and wife team Zach Alsgaard and Jun Li. Li was a doctor in China and the two are bringing to the area brand new technology, in the form of a full-body scan, that develops a customized report of one’s body with nutrition and lifestyle advice.• Solar4Leesburg,  LLC,  and  owner  Mary Haberl have already drummed up a local fol-lowing with their customized solar systems for residential, commercial and governmen-tal customers. • Mix  Fitness,  LLC,  and  owner  Sara  Lewis are moving ahead with plans for a new fit-ness facility in Purcellville that will have one big difference from other gyms — each cli-ent is assigned a personal coach that keeps them accountable for their fitness. The top six finalists were then offered the chance to give a four-minute presenta-tion on their businesses. Beltway Brewing Company, CraftyStitches, LLC, Inspirational Journeys, LLC, The Run Around Hound LLC, Solar4Leesburg, LLC, and Mix Fitness, LLC, were announced as the top six. At the end of the evening, Beltway

Brewing Company and CraftyStitches, LLC, were the big winners. Beltway Brewing Company won in the Local Business Model category, while CraftyStitches, LLC, took home top honors in the Scalable Business Model category. Both winners took home cash prizes and a slew of services and gift certificates offered by local businesses. Mix Fitness took home second place in the Local Business Model category, while Solar4Leesburg, LLC, came in third. In the Scalable Business Model category, The Run Around Hound LLC won second place, while Inspirational Journeys, LLC, was second runner-up.   Other  contestants  in  the  competition were: Michael Chiosi, CULTIVA Solutions, LLC,  Social Media Maxima,  Solar Odyssey, Inc., and Wright Transportation. K2M President Eric Major said it was rewarding to see local businesses and entre-preneurs come together, especially given the economic environment. “This group represents the future of coming out of this,” he said. “You are going to be successful. You are going to be hiring people.”

By Norman K. Styer, Staff Writer

  Owners  and  representatives  of  doz-ens of businesses gathered at the National Conference Center Oct. 27 for the Loudoun County Green Business Challenge’s second annual awards program. While the night was built around the announcement of the top winners in this year’s competition, the event featured participants sharing stories of the rewards their companies and their employees found through the effort. Under the joint sponsorship of the Loudoun County Government and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, the program encourages companies to adopt

operational practices that result in energy conservation, lower material consumption and greater recycling. Participants report their activities on a scorecard, achieving points for establishing a company “green team” to spearhead the efforts; allowing telecommuting and promoting the use of mass transit; resetting thermostats on heat-ing; and cooling systems and water heat-ers, reducing the use of paper; purchasing recycled products; discouraging single use water bottles; using environmentally friend-ly cleaning supplies; and dozens of other conservation measures. Several business owners said they were surprised by how their employees

took their green knowledge home with them to get their families involved in the effort. Also, several of the employee green team members said they were surprised by the appreciation shown for their efforts by their companies’ owners and executives. Almost all said their company has saved money as a result of their efforts. Mark Duston, of MC Dean, said these types of efforts are not a passing fad, but a mega-trend. “Sustainability is going to change the way we do business—all of us.” The top award winners, those achieving the highest marks on the Green Challenge scorecards, were:  • Potomac Falls Express Lube and Car 

Wash, small business,  • Southland  Industries,  medium  size business, and  • Raytheon, large business. The Innovation Award was presented to Purcellville’s Catoctin Creek Distillery. Among the “out of the box” practices rec-ognized were converting unused distilled products into ethanol and providing left-over rye mash to area farms. Participation in the Green Business Challenge about doubled in its second year and organizers expect to see the same rate of growth next year as more businesses learn about the results experienced by other companies.

SBDC Honors Best Business Plans

Greenest Of Them All: Awards Honor Environmental Stewards


Nov. 15 Grow Your BusinessLoudoun Chamber of Commerce11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chamber offices, 19301 Winmeade Drive #210, Lansdowne “Staying Connected” will be the month-ly topic in a series that gets attendees up close and personal with experts in different business fields. Each luncheon in the Grow Your Business series features a prepared presentation followed by an extensive Q&A session. Lunch is provided. Cost for the event is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members and walk-ins. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.

Celebrate Small Business MixerLoudoun Chamber of Commerce5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Middleburg Bank, 102 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg Join the Women in Business Alliance for the annual mixer honoring the final-ists and winners of the Chamber’s Small Business Awards. Pre-registration fee is $15 for Chamber members and guests or $20 at the door. Small Business Award finalists and winners may attend free of charge. For more information or to register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.

Fundamentals of FranchisingLoudoun Small Business Development Center6 to 8:30 p.m., The George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Exploration Hall, Room 101, Ashburn Mark Kirsch, of Plave Koch PLC, will lead a discussion on franchising, including its advantages and disadvantages; expan-sion, sales, process and pitfalls; how to select the right franchise; and more. Pre-registration fee is $25 or $30 at the door. To register, visit www.loudounsbdc.org.

Nov. 17After Hours MixerLoudoun Chamber of Commerce5:30 to 7 p.m., Creighton Farms Golf Club, 22050 Creighton Farms Drive, Aldie Join Chamber members and guests as they power network around fine food and tasty beverages. Pre-registration fee is $15 for Chamber members and guests or $20 at the door. To register, visit www.loudoun-chamber.org.

Start Your BusinessLoudoun Small Business Development Center 6 to 8:30 p.m., The George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101

Academic Way, Exploration Hall, Room 101, Ashburn SBDC Business Counselor Ruth Cope and Art Thompson, principal with Keyser Thompson Insurance Agency, Inc., provide attendees with the basics of starting a busi-ness. Highlights of the seminar include: taxes and licensing; business plan devel-opment; sources of financing; marketing; insurance; and entrepreneurial traits. The pre-registration fee is $10 or $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.loudounsbdc.org or call 703-430-7222.

Nov. 18Northern Virginia Womens Business Conference 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne Join attendees from across the region for a day of inspiration, education and networking. The day’s schedule includes a continental breakfast and seated lunch. For registration and other information, visit www.novawomensbusinessconfererence.com.

Google Loudoun Loudoun Small Business Development Center & Visit Loudoun University3 to 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Washington Dulles North, 22400 Flagstaff Plaza, Ashburn Ray Sidney-Smith, of W3 Consulting, Inc., will teach attendees how to lever-age Google to find and convert potential customers to your Loudoun County des-tination. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is strongly preferred. To register, visit www.loudounsbdc.org.

Nov. 30NonProfit Initiative Legislative ReceptionLoudoun Chamber of Commerce5:30 to 7:30 p.m., The National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne The Chamber’s NonProfit Initiative invites guests to mix and mingle with local and state elected officials, some of whom were just voted into office this Election Day. Cost to attend is $20 for nonprofit members, $30 for business members and $45 for guests. To register, visit www.loud-ounchamber.org.

Dec. 2Loudoun County Economic Development Commission8 to 10 a.m., Loudoun Water, 44865 Loudoun Water Way, Ashburn

Join the county Economic Development Commission for its monthly meeting, where economic development and business mat-ters throughout Loudoun will be discussed. For more information, visit www.biz.loud-oun.gov.

Dec. 6Young Professionals MixerLoudoun Chamber of Commerce5:30 to 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Washington Dulles, 45425 Holiday Drive, Dulles The Young Professionals end the year in style with the third annual holiday mixer. As is tradition, a canned food drive will also be incorporated into the event to benefit a local nonprofit. Pre-registration fee is $15 for Chamber members and guests or $20 at the door. To register, visit www.loudounchamber.org.

Dec. 7Leesburg Economic Development Commission7 p.m., Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market St., Leesburg Join the town’s Economic

Development Commission for discus-sion of economic development issues per-tinent to the town. For more information, visit www.leesburgva.gov.

Dec. 8Business Showcase BreakfastLoudoun Chamber of Commerce7:30 to 9 a.m., Belmont Country Club, 43750 Tournament Parkway, Ashburn Join almost 150 Chamber members, new and old, at this monthly, signature roundtable networking breakfast. Early reg-istrants will have their name and company information displayed on the members-only attendee list. Fee for the breakfast is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. To register, visit www.loud-ounchamber.org.

By Therese P. Howe, Contributing Writer

Entrepreneurs and executives alike are invited to a special presentation by leadership coach Kristi Hedges, author of the book “Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others.” The free event takes place 6:30-8:30

p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at The Dandelion Patch’s store at the Reston Town Center. Seating is limited and advance registra-tion is required; register by sending an email to [email protected]. “I have always known her to have

that “something” that makes her stand out from a crowd,” Heidi Kallett, presi-dent and CEO of The Dandelion Patch, said. In her 20 years of coaching CEOs and teams in Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, government agencies, and small to medium-sized businesses, Hedges has “encountered every person-ality type imaginable, yet remains more than a little passionate that anyone can learn presence,” according to her online bio. At her presentation, Hedges will discuss how to build a powerful per-sonal presence that will help you com-mand respect and inspire commitment in the workplace. The presentation is aimed at anyone who wants to get their career on a fast track, whether you’re an executive, a mid-level pro-fessional looking for advancement, a job seeker, a professional transi-tioning between careers or a young professional new to the workforce. “I believe that communications is the heart of great leadership, most people want to be stronger leaders, and every one struggles to find time for development,” Hedges said in her blog. For more information about Hedges, visit http://kristihedges.com.

■ Business Calendar

Some Leaders Are Born, Others Are Taught


By Therese Howe, Contributing Writer

Winners at this year’s Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards gave kudos to families, business partners, the Chamber and the “amazing” business opportunities and support in the county. More than 410 business and com-munity leaders attended the gala awards banquet at the National Conference Center on Nov. 2. In its 17th year, more than 182 businesses were nominated for recogni-tion. That number was whittled down to 34 finalists by committees of business leaders and industry experts, as well as a “People’s Choice” online vote, according to the Chamber. “Chosen by their peers and other business leaders for this honor, the win-ners of the 2011 Small Business Awards are clearly among the most dynamic, inno-vative and successful companies in the region,” Chamber President Tony Howard

said, adding that this year’s competition was “incredibly fierce.” Taking the top honor of the evening was a company that was no stranger to awards from the Chamber: software tech-nology company Coveros Inc., the 2010 Technology Business of the Year, was named Small Business of the Year. The next highest award, Entrepreneur of the Year, went to Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, which also won Rural Business of the Year. The distillery is the first family-owned distillery in the county since before Prohibition times. In his speeches that evening, he thanked other rural business owners such as Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars and Jim and Lori Corcoran of Corcoran Vineyards, as well as his wife, Becky. “We work our tails off in this business but we love every single minute of it. … If you love it then you should do it. You only live once, go live your dream.” After the event, Harris said they were pleased and surprised by the accolades.

“Honestly, we’re flabbergasted by this; we didn’t expect to receive all these awards. We’re just really excited to be doing our business in Loudoun County – great people here, great community. We’re so happy to be doing it here, making whiskey like they did in the old days.” Other winners that evening included: • Franchisee  of  the  Year:  Comfort  Suites Leesburg• Nonprofit  Organization  of  the  Year: Waterford Foundation• Retailer of the Year: J&L Interiors Co-hosts Chris Charron of Charron Consulting and Carolyn Howell of Dulles Golf  Center &  Sports  Park  asked  the win-ners to offer words of wisdom during their acceptance speeches. Service Business Award winner Shawn Mitchell said “the best of thing you can do to grow your business is join the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.” Mitchell is founder and CEO of Modern Mechanical, an Ashburn-based home services provider.

Technology Business winner Mark Lenko expounded on Mitchell’s advice with his own: “Don’t only join the Chamber but get involved. It’s very important to be out there around the community and get involved.” Lenko, of Semper Technology, offered the opportunity to do just that by extending an invitation to come help at his Habitat for Humanity projects in CountrySide and Middleburg. “There are a lot of amazing mentors in Loudoun County,” said Wendy Wooley, who with her business partner Cathy Dorman won the Home Based Business Award. Together they own and operate WD Designs, an Ashburn-based company that offers a line of jewelry that promotes social awareness. “There’s amazing mentors within the business community, within the govern-ment community and within the Loudoun Chamber staff. And so tap into all of that because they’re a really big part of why we’re here today,” Wooley said.

Chamber Honors Small Business Leaders

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The 2011 Small Business Award Winners1. Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company—Entrepreneur of the Year

2. J&L Interiors—Retailer of the Year

3. Coveros, Inc.—Small Business of the Year

4. Modern Mechanical—Service Business of the Year

5. Waterford Foundation—Nonprofit of the Year

6. Catoctin Creek Distilling Company—Rural Business of the Year

7. WD Designs—Home-Based Business of the Year

8. Semper Technology, Inc.—Technology Business of the Year

9. Comfort Suites Leesburg—Franchisee of the Year

Loudoun Business November 2011

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