News from Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

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01.26.2012

In This Issue

Chamber Focus
New Members
Maximize Your Membership
Eggs & Issues
Business After Hours
January-National Mentoring Month
Highlander Construction Press Release
Leadership NRV
Events & Happenings
Contact Us

New Members

Help us WELCOME

our newest Members

Kimberly Merrell, CPA

Kim Merrell

1995 S. Main St.

Blacksburg, VA 24060

540.250.2210

Med Express Urgent Care

Courtney Crabtree

5430 Mac Corkle Ave. SE

Charleston, WV 25304

304.376.2519

Medexpress.com

American Janitorial Services

Brian Kegley

2720 Peppers Ferry Rd. Christiansburg, VA 24073

540.391.5328

Trane

Justin Vass

2303 Trane

Roanoke, VA 24017

540.563.2828

Trane.com

Inside Out Salon

Doty Beasley

4400 Peppers Ferry Rd.

Christiansburg, VA 24073

540.381.7895

Insideoutsalon.us

Chamber Connection

0.8285714285714286 Greetings,

Tuesday we had the first board of directors meeting of 2012 and I am so impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of this group of directors. You too should be pleased that they are representing you so well. We secured a new and larger location for Eggs & Issues, Business Breakfast Forum, starting February 2nd. Eggs & Issues will now be held at the Holiday Inn Christiansburg across from the mall. Come next Thursday at 7:30 am and hear Richard Caywood with VDOT discuss transportation issues.

This year's Ambassador Council is the largest we've had in years. On the 19th, we held our first Business After Hours of the year at the Courtyard Marriott and 16 of the Ambassadors were there greeting and welcoming new and old members. Many thanks to Kevin Shaw and Cindy Rollison for providing leadership to this Ambassador group. Kudos to Lauren Collins and Tom Norman of the Courtyard Marriott and their staff for an excellent job as well as Noah Shanks from Custom Catering for the food!

The 2012 Leadership New River Valley class is shaping up very well. Dr. Sharon Scott has interviewed participants for the class and their orientation is scheduled for February 22, 2012. I hope you've heard the overwhelming positive reviews of this class and their community project and want to see yourself and/or your employees develop these kinds of personal and professional relationships as well as giveback to the community. Please contact us and we'll work to get them into this year's program.

Another positive change this year is our new logo. Heather Toro Derrick of Communicate Consulting developed this logo after lots of input and understanding of what we believe is the very heart of the Chamber. Our mission is to serve members by promoting an environment where business can grow and prosper, enhancing the quality of life for all of Montgomery County. This mission is achieved through connecting, engaging and prospering. We have amazing testimonies of members who joined the Chamber, got engaged in the community and their business is thriving. We create the opportunities and we want you to take full advantage of what's available to you as a member. Everything we do is focused on building community and enhancing members' success. Your success is very important.

I am so grateful to serve as the Executive Director of this member organization and if I can do anything for you, please let me know.

Catherine

Maximize Your Membership

Membership image

Dear Chamber Members,

Congratulations on taking the time to mix and mingle at the Business After Hours last week hosted by The Courtyard by Marriott and Custom Catering. I encourage you to support both of these businesses in 2012. It takes time, money, and effort to host a Business After Hours and I'd like to congratulate our January Hosts for doing such a fine job!

Mark your calendars for February 16, 2012-the next Business After Hours hosted by the Holiday Inn University and Adventure World Fun & Skate Center. It will be held at the Holiday Inn University on Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg. They are planning a special Valentine's theme for our enjoyment!

I am receiving a lot of inquiries about how a business needs to use their Chamber tools to get the word about who they are and what they do! I decided to hold a BROWN BAG WORKSHOP on Wednesday, February 8th in the conference room at the Chamber Office. The topic is "Launching Your Chamber Membership." It is designed for Chamber Members that would like some help getting their Chamber Membership moving in the right direction. We will go over how to access your listing on the website, setting up a plan of action using the tools of your Chamber Membership and how to make our events work for you! Doors will open at 11:30 am and the program will run from 12 noon until 1 PM.

1.0476190476190476 WHO'S INVITED? Anyone that is a new member or wanting a NEW Start in 2012. Please RSVP to ncreed@montgomerycc.org by Monday, February 6, 2012. Space will be limited to 15. Just in case you are not familiar with the definition of a Brown Bag Workshop-it's an informal forum for a workshop or a presentation. However, if you want to eat lunch during the workshop, you have to bring your own. You can bring it in any container you like-the brown bag optional!!

Nancy

Thank you to Courtyard Marriott Blacksburg & Custom Catering for sponsoring the January Business After Hours mixer!

0.9878260869565217

PRESS RELEASE January 18, 2012

Contact:

LeeAnn Francis, Director of Marketing and Sales 540.392.6945

Francis.l@highlanderconstruction.com

CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. - January 18, 2012: Highlander Construction & Development is pleased to announce the company is partnering with the national charity, Homes for Our Troops, in order to construct a new home for a local veteran, Marine Sgt. Jeremy Austin, a Pulaski County native who was wounded while serving our County in Afghanistan. The land, materials, and labor for the new home come from donations from Home for Our Troops and the generosity of local vendors, contractors, suppliers, interested individuals and community organizations. Highlander Construction & Development is honored to have been selected to partner with Homes for Our Troops and we are very excited to get the projected started.

To learn more about Sgt. Austin, this project and/or to donate services or materials, please visit the Homes for our Troops website at Homes for our troops

About Homes for Our Troops

Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Taunton, Mass. founded by John Gonsalves in 2004. Homes for Our Troops mission is to build specially adapted homes for service members who have been severely injured in combat operations since September 11, 2001. All homes are built at no cost to the veteran through the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporate contributors. Homes for Our Troops has received a Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator.

About Highlander Construction & Development

Highlander Construction & Development is a value driven and vision oriented company specializing in single and multi family residential construction, custom home building, light commercial construction, and land development. Having built custom homes in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Giles and Pulaski, the company has been proudly serving as a premier custom home builder in New River Valley since 1999. Company President and Founder, James Oliver, also performs business, organizational, and marketing consulting for companies related to the building and construction industry.

Built on a commitment to integrity, value, superior craftsmanship, and unmatched customer service, Highlander Construction & Development is widely recognized as one of the premier builders and general contractors in Southwest Virginia. In 2009 the company was awarded "Builder of the Year" by the New River Valley Home Builder's Association in part for its attention to detail and steadfast dedication to excellence. In 2010 the company was awarded the "Design Excellence Award" by the New River Valley Homes Builders Association (NRVHBA) for the original design and construction of the Earthcraft energy efficient homes on Piedmont Street in Blacksburg, Virginia.

To learn more about Highlander Construction & Development, Inc. please visit the company website at highlanderconstruction.com

The Leading Lights committee is accepting nominations for the fourth annual awards until February 13, 2011. Area non-profit organizations have teamed up with the Virginia Tech German Club Alumni Foundation (GCAF) for the Fourth Annual "Leading Lights: Neighbors Honoring Neighbors" recognition awards for volunteers in our community. Leading Lights recognize volunteers in the NRV from all sectors who are making community-changing impacts and serving as models to inspire others. The group honors award-winners by donating $1,000 to the non-profit of their choice.

Culminating in a major gala to be held in early April, 2011 at the German Club Manor, the 2011 Leading Lights event honored the five awardees, forty-five nominated finalists, and leading area non-profit and government-service organizations. The 2011 Leading Lights award winners were, Community: Phyllis Albritton, Blacksburg; Pat Ballard, Christiansburg; Mary Ann Hinshelwood, Christiansburg; Collegiate: Victoria Sarbin, Radford University; and Youth: Jessica Vance, Blacksburg.

The five awards are given in three categories: community (three), youth (one), and collegiate (one). Nominees must be current residents of or currently enrolled in schools in the New River Valley. The award selection committee includes representation from across the New River Valley. Award winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

Strong community involvement
Demonstrated lifestyle of dedicated, continuous, long-term involvement to the community
Proven leadership
Creativity in initiating and implementing projects that lead to a better quality of life

Organizations and individuals are encouraged to submit nominations. Nominations can be submitted online or mailed. The nomination forms (online and downloadable) can be found at www.leadinglightsnrv.org. Mail nominations to Attn:Leading Lights, 1000 N. Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Nominations are particularly encouraged in the youth and collegiate categories. Persons who have been nominated before, but not selected as one of the five awardees may be nominated again. Any of the offices below can be contacted for the form or more information:

Community Foundation of the NRV: (540) 381-8999
United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd: (540) 381-2066
VT-Engage (540) 231-0691
YMCA at Virginia Tech (540) 961-9622

The deadline for nominations to be received by the Leading Lights committee is Monday, February 13, 2012. The 2012 annual Leading Lights banquet will be April 12, 2012. This major gala will be held at the German Club Manor adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. Seating will be limited.