Biz Talk - Business Blog Roanoke and Beyond

Has the current job market and slumping economy caused you to think about starting your own business?  Fortune Small Business on CNNMoney.com canvassed the country to find towns with the best mix of business advantages and lifestyle appeal. They put together a list of their 100 top picks for the perfect place to launch a new business and build your dream.

The list included 4 Virginia area's that are great locations to for a startup company.  Southwest Virginia was included on the list as Blacksburg was noted as the # 43 best city.  Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech and the Corporate Research Center and was listed as one of the 6 Technology Launching Pads.   CRC is a 120-acre research park and incubator, with 130 private companies in occupancy, ranging from corporations to tiny startups and covers technologies from computer hardware to pharmaceuticals.

Southwest Virginia can now boast about adding to their list of BEST's. Not only are we among the best areas to launch your business but we are also one of the Best Places to Retire.

Press Release

Best Mailing Service and Best Computer Services have merged together to form BMS Direct, Inc, a one stop marketing solution. BMS Direct, Inc. offers a complete direct mail marketing package from creative design and printing to mailing and fulfillment services targeting Virginia, Maryland, DC, and North Carolina markets and serving clients nationally.

Lynchburg, VA (PRWEB) September 5, 2007 - Best Mailing Service (BMS) and Best Computer Services will merge together to form BMS Direct, Inc. The merger will combine the services of both companies to form a progressive direct mail marketing solution targeting Virginia, Maryland, DC, and North Carolina markets and serving clients nationally. The merger will become effective September 1, 2007, at which time customers will continue to receive the same high quality and personal customer service they have been accustomed to for the past 34 years.

BMS Direct, Inc will provide a one stop solution for our customers, from creative design and printing to complete mailing and fulfillment services. James LaPrade will continue to serve as President and Leif Aagaard will be Vice President of the new company. LaPrade explains "By combining our businesses together we will be able to reduce costs and improve our operations without jeopardizing the valuable service and customer support we provide our clients."

BMS operates multiple facilities in Virginia. They are headquartered in Lynchburg, where they maintain an 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that includes their corporate offices, production and warehouse space. The Roanoke location houses their Presort Division and serves as their disaster recovery site.

For additional information on the merger of Best Mailing Service and Best Computer Services contact James LaPrade at 434-455-7724 or visit http://www.best-mailing.com

About BMS Direct, Inc. - A full service direct mail marketing company providing data processing, printing, letter shop, fulfillment and warehouse services in Virginia, Maryland, DC and North Carolina.

BMS Direct Press Release - September 5, 2007

New River Valley busness Webmail.us is listed as one of America's fastest growing private companies by Inc. magazine.  Located in Blacksburg, Webmail.us is an email hosting service for small and mid-sized companies. 

Christina Rogers reports in the Roanoke Times, Webmail.us CEO Pat Matthews, credits their success to staying focused on one product.

"Many companies provide email services, but it is the only thing we do.  We got really good at it.  We've become a recognized leader in the industry," says Matthews.

There were 35 Virginia companies listed in the top 500.  Webmail.us is the only company from Southwest Virginia.  Here is the list of all Virginia businesses on the Inc. 5000 list.

In last weeks Biz Links post I included an article about two Roanoke businesses featured in Business Week.  Congratulations are in order for these two local businesses.  The article, Hands-Free HR, When does outsourcing make sense? interviewed Chris Nininger, owner Bug Man Exterminating with his experience using a PEO (professional employer organization) to outsource his HR and payroll services.  Payroll Solutions Plus is owned by local businessman, Len DeShano. 

"Nininger uses Payroll Solutions Plus in Roanoke, Va., to oversee the human resources duties - from payroll and insurance administration to writing employee handbooks." 

Check out both company websites to learn more about these businesses.  Again, congratulations to Chris Nininger, Bug Man Exterminating and Len DeShano, Payroll Solutions Plus.

For Immediate Release
August 7, 2007

GOVERNOR’S CABINET COMMUNITY DAY PUBLIC SHEDULE
Seventh Cabinet Community Day Session

Tuesday, August 14

Roanoke Cabinet Community Day

Governor Timothy M. Kaine and his Cabinet will be conducting their seventh Cabinet Community Day session. On Tuesday, top Administration officials will spend the day in the Roanoke Region. In 2006, Cabinet Community Days occurred in Hampton Roads (Wednesday, August 9), Abingdon (Monday, September 18), the Shenandoah Valley (Tuesday, October 17), and Northern Virginia (Monday, November 27). The most recent sessions took place in Southern Virginia (Thursday, June 7) and on the Eastern Shore (Monday, July 9). The Governor plans to hold four meetings a year, visiting eight regions of the state twice, over the course of the administration.  ** Suggested dress is business casual ** 

Nonprofit Presentations and Reception. Governor Kaine and members of his Cabinet will receive presentations from Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) and the Council of Community Services’ Nonprofit Resource Center of Western Virginia. A reception will follow. Open to the press and public.

When:         9:00 a.m. 

Where:       Dumas Center for Artistic & Cultural Development
                108 First Street NW
                Roanoke, Virginia

Virginia Veterans Care Center. Governor Kaine and members of his Cabinet will hear about the Veterans Care Center and receive a briefing on Executive Order 19 recommendations. Time to meet with the Governor and his Cabinet will follow. Open to the press and public.

When:         10:30 a.m. 

Where:       Virginia Veterans Care Center
                 4550 Shenandoah Avenue
                 Roanoke, Virginia 

Valhalla Vineyards. Governor Kaine and members of his Cabinet will tour The Cave and receive presentations from Valhalla and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Time to meet with the Governor and his Cabinet will follow. Open to the press and public. 

When:         12:15 p.m.

Where:       Valhalla Vineyards
                 6500 Mount Chestnut Road
                 Roanoke, Virginia 

Franklin Center Opening. Governor Kaine and members of his Cabinet will hear presentations from The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise and the Council on Virginia’s Future. Time to meet with the Governor and his Cabinet will follow. Open to the press and public.  

When:           2:45 p.m.

Where:         The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise
                   50 Claiborne Avenue
                   Rocky Mount, Virginia

Tinker Mountain. Governor Kaine and his Cabinet will hear from a public-private partnership that placed a highly visible 250-acre area on Tinker Mountain under land conservation easement. A reception will follow. Open to the press and public.

When:         5:00 p.m.

Where:       Hollins University 
                7916 Williamson Road
                Roanoke, Virginia

Contact:               Jeff Tiller                
Phone:                  (804) 692-2599
Cell Phone:            (804) 432-6728
Internet:               www.governor.virginia.gov

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