Biz Talk - Business Blog Roanoke and Beyond

December brings many Roanoke families together for the holidays.  Native young people return home to visit family and friends.  Stuart Mease and the City of Roanoke, along with MyHometownJobs, will capitalize on the young professionals returning to the area by hosting the second annual Roanoke Holiday Career and Lifestyle Fair on December 28 at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall.

Last years event was a huge success with over 800 people attending the event, most of whom were young professionals. It was promoted with 15 unique media exposures including traditional marketing as well as social media. 

What a great opportunity for businesses in southwest Virginia to exhibit!   The companies participating this year should see results exceeding last years.  In addition to the job fair there is also a special video gaming event being planned to attract more attendees. 

For more information about the event and to become an exhibitor, contact Stuart Mease at stuart.mease@roanokeva.gov.

The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce announced ten small business category winners along with an overall small business of the year.

Congratulations to Luna Innovations for winning the Small Business of the Year! Winner in the Technology category, Luna Innovations was chosen for it's phenomenal growth and national reputation.  Luna Innovations was founded in 1990 as a developer and manufacturer of new-generation products for the healthcare, telecommunications, energy and defense markets. Its products are used to measure, monitor, protect and improve critical processes. Luna Innovations has evolved into a recognized leader in transitioning science to solutions.

Category winners include:

• Small Business Advocate: Roger P. Scott, volunteer business counselor with the Roanoke SCORE Chapter 26.
• Construction/Real Estate: Thor, Inc., General Contractors and Engineers, a commercial, industrial, institutional, medical, and residential contractor and engineering firm.
• Manufacturing: Timber Truss Housing Systems, a manufacturer of building products and components.
• Micro-Business: SmithLewis Architecture, offers cost-effective sustainable design solutions to a diverse group of clients.
• Technology:  Luna Innovations.
• Business-to-Business Services:  Leisure Publishing, a leading city and regional publisher specializing in publications for the travel and real estate markets.
• Business-to-Consumer Services: Virginia Prosthetics, provides prosthetics and orthotics that help enable amputees to return to the life they once knew.
• Wholesale/Retail: Heavenly Ham & The Seafood Company, this company turned a franchise into a trendsetter while continually growing their business and services.
• Legacy Award: Davidsons, for almost 100 years three generations of one family have provided personal service to every customer.
• Not-For-Profit Arts & Culture: Roanoke Catholic School, for over a century this nationally-ranked school has shared in the rich history of the Roanoke Valley.
• Not-For-Profit Health & Human Services: Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, distributes food to 350 agencies that directly feed the region’s hungry.

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Roanoke and New River Valley business owners have a unique opportunity to increase the value of their businesses.  Rob Slee, national speaker and author of Midas Managers, will be in Blacksburg on October 10 for a seminar, In Search of the Midas Touch.  He will be joined by Blacksburg businessman, Joel Williams, contributing author, wealth manager and owner of Joel S Williams & Associates. 

The program will show owners and managers of privately held businesses how to dramatically increase the value of their businesses.

• Gain insights to double revenues and sharply raise profits in the next three years
• Implement new business models that will increase personal wealth
• Learn to become financially independent in the risky business environment

The event will be held at the VT Corporate Research Center on Wednesday, October 10 from 2:00pm - 5:30pm.  Click here for additional information and to register.  When registering be sure to look for the special Biz2Biz rate.

Did you feel the enthusiasm from the area's young professionals? Did you share in the willingness of the leaders to help and guide them to a brighter future?  If you experienced these emotions then you must have been one of the seven hundred plus participants at Valley Forward's Forum for the Future at the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday night.

John Lugar, Chairman of Valley Forward, opened the event by thanking those participating and explaining the format for the forum.  He encouraged the leaders and participants to listen to our young professionals and find out what is important to them.  He suggested the younger generation become energized by getting involved in the community.

Lugar stressed that we must showcase our community assets.  For a successful change we must consider what is GOOD for the Roanoke Valley, think differently, be solution-oriented, debate, discuss, decide and move on.  If we don't dream and think big our young people will move elsewhere.

Valley Forward takes an integrated approach to progress by focusing on Economic Development, Cultural Enhancement, and Community Involvement.  Platforms they have adopted include:

• Rebuilding of the Rockledge Inn
• Funding and awareness of Greenways in the Valley
• Building an Outdoor Amphitheater
• Carvins Cove conservation easement

The interactive forum then set off with attendees choosing informal roundtable sessions and panel discussions.  Speakers included various political and government officials along with local business experts.  Topics covered included business building tools, health and fitness resources, employment and jobs, sports, arts, museums and young professional organizations.  Ira Kaufman, President of Roanoke Biz2Biz, hosted a round table where he discussed blogs and websites and the marketing benefits from both. 

The night concluded with Tiki Barber, former NFL running back and NBC broadcaster.  He reminded the young professionals they can make a difference and encouraged them to get more involved in local government and push forward their agenda's and ideas of what they want the valley to become.  As Barber returned to his roots, he recounted how the Roanoke Valley has impacted his life as an NFL football star, author and TV broadcaster. 

It is my opinion the night was a success for the Valley Forward Group.  There is certainly room for improvement but I feel with the continued effort the next event will be bigger and better. 

One thing for sure, Roanoke would like to retain its young professionals. Events such as this that broaden the awareness in our government officials and community will make a difference. 

Business Leaders, City Officials and Political Organizations - our young professionals challenge you to LISTEN, OFFER OPPORTUNITY and THINK BIG!

Young Professionals in Roanoke and New River Valley - you are challenged to CHARGE FORWARD, BECOME ACTIVE and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

September 13 Valley Forward's Forum for the Future

Young professionals will have a chance to voice their opinions and ideas about the future of the region. Football great and Roanoke native Tiki Barber will be the keynote speaker. The event will include the keynote address, intimate round-table discussions, and interactive question-and-answer panels.

• 5pm - 9pm
• Roanoke Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd, Roanoke
• Cost: $20.75 or $10.25 for students with valid ID
• For information: Melissa Byrd 704-995-3232
• http://www.valleyforward.net/

As a continuation of Valley Forward's commitment to improving and energizing our community, they have organized the "Forum for the Future."  The goal of the September 13 event is to provide a voice for the Valley's young professionals, while also informing, inspiring, and encouraging action in the community.

"Forum for the Future" we will be holding a variety of engaging segments, including a powerful key-note address by Roanoke native Tiki Barber, intimate round-table discussions, and interactive question-and-answer panels, where attendees can have direct access to community leaders to communicate, ask questions, and offer suggestions.

For more information, including the Event Schedule and the participating Discussion Panalists and Round Table Hosts, click on the following link: virginiavarsity.com/valleyforward

For more information contact Melissa Byrd.

Are you a business owner? 
Are you thinking about starting a new business or expanding your existing business? 

Cultivating the Business of Arts and Culture in the Roanoke Valley is a free workshop sponsored by Woods Rogers for people interested in starting a business in the Roanoke Valley.

On Friday, October 5 starting at 9 a.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall experts from local, state and national entities will present material and resources that will help you begin a business or grow your existing business. A panel discussion from successful local entrepreneurs and more personalized breakout sessions will occur following the morning presentations.

This workshop is a featured event in accordance with the City of Roanoke's 1st Annual Arts Festival. Please plan to attend and bring someone with you. The event is free, but it requires you to register by clicking below.

Registration
http://www.rvarc.org/entfair/entexpress/expressregister.html

Flyer
http://www.vastartup.org/roanokeoct5.pdf

Facebook Group
http://vt.facebook.com/event.php?eid=4152622641

Have a Free Lunch with Professional Network Services & learn how your business can understand and leverage the powerful VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) applications in the Avaya IP Office Telephone Platform. Work From Anywhere (Out of office access eliminated)

• One Number access (publish one number for internal & external callers)
• Desktop Communication applications (eliminate expensive telephones)
• SoftConsole (GUI for Call Handling, visibility of users status from PC)
• Station to Station calling between locations (eliminate long distance $)
• Advanced Call Distribution (ACD) (Powerful ACD features & reporting)

When:  Tuesday, July 24th
Time: 11:30 – 1:30
Location: Professional Network Services
6711 Peters Creek Road
Suite 204
Roanoke, VA 24019 

Register and attend the “LUNCH & LEARN” session hosted by Professional Network Services to see the benefits and cost effectiveness of Avaya’s IP Office Telephone platform.   

To Register: Please contact Gary Klik @ 540-265-1200 ext. 211 or e-mail info@pnsinc.net  or FAX 540-265-1204.  Call today, Seating is limited to the first 10 recipients

A successful business owner is always looking for ways to improve marketing strategies and business development.  The Virginia Economic Bridge is a great resource for Virginia businesses.  It is a non-profit organization focused on creating an environment for economic growth in today's technologically advanced society.  The VEB promotes economic vitality and external competitiveness of the Commonwealth by fostering business, industry and educational relationships between Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, as well as other areas of the Commonwealth.

Carl Mitchell, President of Virginia Economic Bridge, shared many tools his organization has made available to the southwest Virginia business community at the Roanoke Biz2Biz Leaders Forum "Creating a Regional Presence". 

The VEB has recently partnered with Center/Council for Rural Virginia and the Virginia Association of Counties in organizing meetings in all southwest Virginia planning districts.  Accessing New Markets and Enabling Rural Business Growth, the meeting for Roanoke-Alleghany district is scheduled for July 26 at Virginia Western Community College.  To learn more about these meetings and to see a complete schedule with locations, check out OurValley.org. 

More on Creating a Regional Presence and Strategic Marketing Opportunties

On Friday, July 6 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. all local Young Professional Organizations (YPOs) will convene to the railside amphitheater in downtown Roanoke for First Fridays. First Fridays is in its 20th year of providing social fundraisers for charities in the region. During its tenure the organizations has channeled over $1 million to local groups. Started as a young professional networking event, First Friday's demographics have changed throughout the years to an older audience. With this event on July 6, the YPOs in the region will try to re-establish the audience the group had originally targeted 20 years ago. The Convertible Blondes, an 80's cover band, will be performing. Admission is $5. Drink tickets are $3. Come early and stay late.  Read More about this event and other activities for Roanoke Young Professionals.