FRONTList15: The Entrepreneurs

Following are the brief biographies of the FRONTList15: The Entrepreneurs from the March 2009 issue of Valley Business FRONT magazine:

David Booth founded Quality Coffee Company in 1981 after years of working for H&C Coffee, a Roanoke company that distributed its own brand of coffee regionally. Booth has been especially active in small business causes over the years and is a supporter of a number of them.

Vinod Chachra is president and CEO of VTLS, a library technology business in Blacksburg. He is an internationally recognized lecturer and consultant in the field of information system planning. In 1975, he designed the original software that in 1980 became Virginia Tech Library System (now called VTLS), which incorporated in 1985. The system provides state library systems to more than 900 libraries in 32 countries worldwide.

Bonz Hart founded Meridium in 1993 with an eye toward assisting asset–intensive industries in performance management. Hart has worked for industrial software companies, and has been part of start-up management teams, DuPont, where he created a team of technology partners to develop plans that helped significantly reduce operating costs. He helped form a consortium of companies to create an enterprise plant software system for manufacturing. He is president of Meridium, an international company.

Victor Ianello, CEO of Synchrony, launched the engineering/manufacturing business in the basement of his Roanoke County home a little more than 15 years ago. He had moved to Roanoke to work for Magnetic Bearings. His company has folded in a number of engineers, several from GE in Salem and Ianello has been a much-honored entrepreneur in the region. The company has grown significantly in recent years and has seen an infusion of funds from venture capitalists.

Nayier Imam has a dossier so long and complex that it is difficult to digest. In short, he is involved in business and strategic planning; international government relations particularly India and Dubai, general business management, education and training; neuroradiology, biostatistics and even a soft drink company, Nerd. Among his entrepreneurial efforts: co-founded HealthCite, raising $10 million dollars to develop this WebMD competitor; co-founded PanteQ Corporation, a software development company; founded MedicalOasis, an imaging center; founded American Teleradiology (which merged and went public in 2006); became an executive producer of an international film, Real Premonition. This could go on for weeks ...

Cameron Johnson, who is still just 23, has been busy since he was about nine, creating businesses, writing books, making lots and lots of money ($15,000 a day as a 15-year-old owner of an Internet company). He was an advisory board member to a Japanese company at 15 and was the subject of a biography the same year. He gives talks on business to international audiences and his newest book, You Call the Shots, is a top seller. He has also written You Call the Shots: Succeed Your Way—And Live the Life You Want—With the 19 Essential Secrets of Entrepreneurship. He’s a friend of Oprah’s, appearing on her “Big Give” television show. He is working to promote financial literacy among the young.

R.J. Kirk of Third Security in Radford is this region’s only billionaire and he is one of the wealthiest people in Virginia. Founder of New River Pharmaceuticals and co-founder of King Pharmaceuticals. Harvest Pharmaceuticals grew from New River Pharma. Helped fund a $5 million investments in Roanoke’s Synchrony (whose owner is Victor Ianello, above) and IntelliMat. Holds a law degree. Owns a large farm in Pulaski County. Sits on board of visitors at Radford University.

Todd Marcum and Tony Pearman were a couple of creative advertising people working for somebody else in 1993 when they determined they’d make a go of it on their own. Access was born and from the very beginning, there was steak with the sizzle. Very early, their little company—based in Roanoke’s business incubator—dominated the region’s advertising awards, taking control from the largest firm west of Richmond and it has rarely let go since. The company has expanded into public relations and is now full service.

Kent A. Murphy founded what was to become Luna Innovations in 1990 and has been president, CEO and board chairman since 1992. Murphy was a tenured professor in Virginia Tech's Bradley Department of Engineering before branching out. He has more than 35 patents, which have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in product revenue. In 2001, he was named Virginia SBIR Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2004 was recognized by the governor and the Science Museum of Virginia as the state's Outstanding Industrialist of the Year. Murphy is a founding member of the Virginia Research and Technology Adivsory Committee and a number of industry-related commissions and committees. He has testified before Congress as an expert witness.

Mary Guy Miller is the entrepreneur’s conscience in this region. She is not only a recognized visionary, she is also one of the most generous and available mentors in the region. She is president and founder (in 1991) of Interactive Design and Development Inc. (IDD) in Blacksburg, an award-winning information technology firm. Clients have included Dow Chemical, Hewlett-Packard, Citibank, Mead Johnson and Dole. Her company’s applications are used in public schools, universities and businesses across the country and throughout the world. She was recognized in 1996 as one of the Top 100 Multimedia Developers in the United Statesand she is chairwoman of the ITIB Executive Evaluation and Governance Committee. She is a founder and officer in the NewVa Corridor Technology Council (NCTC). She earned a master's of information science and a doctorate in instructional design from Virginia Tech. She is Assistant Governor for Rotary's District 7570 and a member of the Board of Directors for National Bankshares.

Dan Sable is president and CEO of 16-year-old VTP Inc in Blacksburg and a founder of the new VPT Energy Systems. VPT Inc. designs and manufactures DC to DC converters for military, aerospace and satellite operations. Customers are big: Lockheed Martin, ITT, Boeing, NASA among them. VPT Energy is involved in electric utility smart grid, plug-in hybrid-electric cars and intelligent power systems. Has his master’s and PhD from Virginia Tech and an SB from MIT. Has been chairman of Tech’s ECE Industrial Advisory Board.

Cindy Shelor has spent nearly half her life doing a man’s job—or at least what used to be considered a man’s job: she heads a roofing company. Shelor is the president of John T. Morgan Roofing and Sheet Metal Company, which recently celebrated its 75th birthday as a family enterprise. She’s been there 25 of those years. She, of course, is not the founder (her grandfather is John T. Morgan), but growth under her guidance has been steady and solid. Deeply involved in the community ( boards of Junior League, Virginia Western Educational Foundation, BBB, Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, among her activities). Quiet, modest and extremely competent.

nanoCom founder and president, Bob Summers has worked in the development of Internet communication software since 1992 and is considered a leading videoconferencing technology expert. He has been a consultant, software designer, author and speaker. MBA from MIT, training from Harvard Business school and a Computer Engineering degree from Virginia Tech. He co-founded 460 Capital Partners, a first seed and early stage fund and EnergyWare, a green computing company.

Ed Walker has been responsible for some of the highest-profile developments in downtown Roanoke in recent years: Colonial American Bank Building, Hancock Building, Cotton Mill and has had a hand in rejuvenation of Grandin Village. Helped found Downtown Music Lab. Considerable quiet work with entrepreneurs. Generous and attentive mentor to many. Former lawyer (W&L law) and graduate of UNC.

Tamea Franco Woodward founded customized metal finisher East-West Dyecom in 1987 after working as a watch maker. She took a class in metal working and discovered anodized aluminum and ultimately started a company from her home (with $1,300). She pumped gass and worked a lathe in the early days, keeping the company going. A woman of many—and constantly expanding—interests and a vast amount of curiosity.