Friendship's Garden Wins Award

Friendship Retirement Community’s Wandering Garden in Roanoke—a courtyard offering outdoor respite for patients with dementia and related illnesses—has been cited as an example of excellence. The Environments for Aging Showcase selected the Wandering Garden as one of 36 projects around the nation deserving to be included in Long Term Care magazine’s annual April design issue.

Roanoke Bond Rating Stable at AA+

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the City of Roanoke's AA+ bond rating with a stable outlook.

According to Fitch's assessment, "Roanoke is a regional economic hub, with a diverse economy that leverages the city's employment sector strengths in health care and transportation. Growing opportunities in biomedical research spearheaded by a joint partnership between Carilion Clinic and [Virginia Tech] lend additional employment and income stability."

The AA+ rating also reflects Roanoke's steady reserve levels, as well as its moderate debt levels and debt service costs. Fitch's assessment additionally recognizes the city's prudent financial
policies, including the practice of adopting a balanced budget excluding the use of one-time measures or existing fund balance.

Bond ratings of all municipalities are periodically reviewed by agencies such as Fitch, and are assessed by considering factors including economy, debt structure, financial condition, demographic factors, and management practices. Standard and Poor's Rating Services also recently assessed the City of Roanoke, and affirmed the city's AA bond rating with a stable outlook.

Hotel Roanoke Wins Prestigious Award

R.D. Wright accepts the first place award for the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, was recently honored with the company’s Best Property Operations - Americas East award at a Hilton Worldwide conference in Dallas.

R.D. Wright, director of property operations at the historic hotel and conference center, earned the prestigious honor after successfully obtaining the highest scores in property operation evaluations for three consecutive years. Only three such awards were given out within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels in the Americas East region – which includes Hilton Worldwide managed properties from North America, Central America and South America.

“We are thrilled to have received this tremendous honor amongst our peers that exemplifies the hard work, dedication and commitment of RD and his team here at the historic hotel and conference center,” said Gary Walton, general manager, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference.

The award is based on the best practices and scores that maximize the condition, life, and value of assets over the long term of the property and assesses the building’s structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and system infrastructure annually. To measure the effectiveness of those practices, performance operation reviews are conducted annually at each property that is managed, leased or joint venture by Hilton Worldwide.

'Work: It's Personal,' Anne Clelland's New Book is Available Now

Valley Business FRONT Workplace Advice columnist Anne Clelland has gathered up a group of her columns and published them as Work: It's Personal and it is available today. Take a look for yourself here.

Anne has gained quite a following because of her straight-forward, take charge attitude, one that puts personal responsibility where it belongs. Anne, who owns the small business Handshake2.0 and understands the problems of the workplace firsthand, has also been a counselor, journalist, coach and teacher. She uses all of that experience in writing her column.

Take a close look at her columns and the book and consider the purchase. Her Kindle version is very inexpensive and the paper copy satisfies the traditionalists at a reasonable price, as well.

Ramsey Broadcast at Roanoke County Library

HomeTown Bank is sponsoring a broadcast of nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey and his “Total Money Makeover Live” program to Roanoke. Ramsey will not be in Roanoke, but the show will be broadcast live. “Total Money Makeover” is the largest personal finance event in the country.

The live simulcast will be held from 12:45-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 17 at Roanoke County Library, 6303 Merriman Road. Tickets are available at the library for $39 and space is limited.

Ramsey is the author of four New York Times best-sellers. "The Dave Ramsey Show" is heard on more than 500 radio stations across the United States, including WFIR in the Roanoke Valley.

APCo Files for New Transmission Lines in NRV

Appalachian Power today filed an application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to construct a new $25 million electric transmission line. The company says the line would reinforce the electric grid and prevent potential overload conditions in the Montgomery County, Blacksburg and Christiansburg area that could occur as early as summer 2015.

Following a public comment period and environmental analysis, the company identified what it says is the least-impacting route possible for the 7.5 mile transmission line.

The new facilities, if approved, would be constructed using a combination of single pole structures with an average height of 100 feet in more developed areas and H-frame structures with an average height of 80 feet in more rural areas. Both types of structures will require a 100 foot-wide right of way.

Appalachian Power originally announced the Falling Branch-Merrimac project in 2008. After an initial comment period, the project was postponed. The company reitiated the project in 2011. Appalachian held multiple public workshops and received significant input from local government and property owners throughout the route identification process.

The company’s application identifies a preferred route for the project that minimizes human and environmental impacts. In addition to being the most direct route, the preferred corridor provides an opportunity to relocate approximately .6 mile of 69 kilovolt line in a densely populated area where the right of way has been encroached upon. The company is seeking approval of a 500-foot-wide corridor, within which the line will ultimately be constructed on a 100 foot-wide right of way.

Electric service in the area is primarily supplied by a single 138 kilovolt line and multiple 69 kV lines. Between 2003 and 2010, peak electric demand in the area increased by 34 percent to 278 megawatts and is expected to continue to grow steadily.

The addition of the new power line, which ties together existing electric substations and establishes a looped 138 kV system, will help prevent overloads and reduce the likelihood of interrupting electric service to the region. With a looped system in place, Appalachian can isolate problems when they occur and limit the disturbance they cause to customers, company spokesmen say.

(Photo: constructionequipmentguide.com)

Holnback Retires from Land Trust; David Perry Interim Head

The Western Virginia Land Trust has announced that Executive Director Roger Holnback (above) has resigned after 10 years with the organization. Assistant Director David Perry (left) will become interim director. Perry is a regular contributor to Valley Business FRONT.

Holnback has been with the land trust since 2001. Under his tenure, the land trust achieved several significant goals, including conservation easements on Carvins Cove Natural Reserve and Mill Mountain Park, as well as shepherding the organization to national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance in 2011.

“I’ve enjoyed a wonderful 10 1/2 years at the land trust, and it’s time to move on,” says Holnback, 57. “There is a lot I want to do in retirement.” That includes building hiking trails with a local volunteer group, golfing, adding a deck onto his home and finishing restoration of a fiberglass boat in his garage.

“We are accepting Roger’s resignation with regret,” says Board of Trustees President Sandy Light. “He truly cares deeply about our mission of conserving our resources for future generations.”

Perry has been with the land trust since 2006. “Roger has been a wonderful mentor and I’ll miss his passion for saving western Virginia’s beautiful places,” he said.

Harrington Named to Lead Spot at VTC

Daniel Harrington (right) has been named senior dean for academic affairs at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Two other faculty members have been appointed to key positions, as well. As assistant dean for clinical sciences for the preclinical years, Dr. Tarin Schmidt-Dalton will lead in the continued development and execution of the clinical sciences and skills portion of the curriculum. As assistant dean for clinical sciences for the clinical years, Dr. Aubrey Knight will coordinate the development and implementation of clerkship rotations through the various medical specialties.

Harrington, who oversaw the design of the third- and fourth-year clinical clerkships as the school’s senior associate dean, will now oversee the entire four-year curriculum. The position not only mirrors his current position as vice president for academic affairs at Carilion Clinic, but it also reflects his early role in shaping the school’s program.

“Dan has been in the trenches as an integral part of the leadership team that built this school from scratch,” said Dr. Cynda Ann Johnson, founding dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, in appointing Harrington. “His expertise in designing and delivering top-rate medical education has been a tremendous asset, even more so now in his new expanded role.”

Harrington served on the school’s original curriculum planning committee. To determine the best learning model, he visited medical schools with a range of successful approaches to education. Based on that research, committee members chose to devise a new, innovative approach: a problem-based, team-based learning model that incorporates a research-project requirement.

“I’m excited to deepen my responsibilities at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine,” said Harrington. “I have a wonderful, hard-working, and growing leadership team to help orchestrate the vision for an innovative medical education curriculum.”

Harrington will continue to serve as vice president for academic affairs at Carilion Clinic, where he oversees graduate medical education programs. He earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from West Virginia University, and he completed a combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency at the University of Virginia.

Donovan Leaving Technology Council Soon

Donovan with his wife, veterinarian Dr. Julie Sanders.

Cory Donovan of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council has announced he is leaving his job because of an opportunity his wife, Dr. Julie Sanders, a Roanoke veterinarian, can’t pass up. Donovan has been with the council a little over four years. He will remain at the helm during the transitions.

Carilion Clinic Adds Helicopter for Rockbridge Co.

Carilion Clinic will add a third helicopter to its fleet of medical aircraft serving southwest and central Virginia and sections of West Virginia and North Carolina. The helicopter, called Carilion Life-Guard 12, will be based in the Rockbridge County area.

Its presence will further extend Carilion’s ability to serve the region, which includes Allegheny County, Bath County, Pocahontas County, Greenbrier County and Lewisburg. Life-Guard 12 will significantly reduce response and transport time, providing fast, efficient critical care air services to those in need.

Life-Guard 12 will join Life-Guard 10 which covers the Roanoke Valley region, and Life-Guard 11, which responds in the New River Valley region from its base at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

While planning for the expansion, Carilion sought a partner who was best aligned with the organization’s needs and mission and selected Med-Trans Corp. based out of Dallas, Texas.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Carilion Clinic and able to contribute to their team’s continued commitment of caring for critical patients in need of air medical transport. Carilion’s air medical bases will continue to be a regional asset and industry leader providing an invaluable service,” stated Fred Buttrell, President/CEO of Med-Trans Corp.

Advance To Invest $8 Million and Create 75 Jobs

Roanoke-based Advance Auto Parts, an automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, batteries, accessories, and maintenance items, will add a Financial Services Commercial Customer Care Center to its Roanoke corporate headquarters operation.

Advance will invest $8 million to support this expansion, as well as other growth. Financial Services will manage the entire commercial customer credit experience including commercial customer master data setup, billing, accounts receivable and collections.

The project will create 75 new jobs over the next three years.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor Bob McDonnell said, “An investment of $8 million and 75 new jobs for the City of Roanoke is tremendous for the Company and the region. Advance Auto Parts operates more than 3,600 stores across the United States, and we are proud to be the home of this Fortune 500 company’s corporate headquarters and now growing financial services operations, for the 80th year. I am confident that the partnership between the Commonwealth and the Company will remain strong and continue to grow.”

“Advance Auto Parts is a leading Virginia-grown company that has thrived in Roanoke since 1932,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The new Financial Services Commercial Customer Care Center will add to the company’s impressive and growing operation, and I am thrilled that Advance chose Virginia for this significant expansion project

The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

Consumer Reports CEO To Speak at Tech

Jim Guest, president and chief executive officer of the internationally renowned Consumer Reports, will be the inaugural speaker for the Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Lecture in Consumer Affairs.

Guest’s talk is entitled “How to be a Smart Consumer and Engaged Activist in the 21st Century,” and will be held on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium at Virginia Tech. This event is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports is the world's premier consumer testing, research, publishing, and advocacy organization with more than eight million subscribers to its products and services.

ConsumerReports.org is the largest subscription-based publication website, Consumer Reports is one of the top-10-circulation magazines in the U.S., and the organization's advocacy arm, Consumers Union, has close to 1 million online activists who advance its role as a national powerhouse in promoting pro-consumer policies and market reform at both the federal and the state levels.

Guest’s lecture will cover some of the 76-year history of the non-profit organization as well as what it takes to be savvy in today’s world. There will be ample time for questions.

WestPlace Opens in Downtown Roanoke

Exterior of the old warehouse on Salem Ave. is now WestPlace.

Skylight illuminates the atrium area.

Living room/dining room combination in one of the small apartments.

View from a fourth floor apartment.

Three movies a week in the ground floor screening room.

Bar on the fourth floor.

Bill Chapman addresses the crowd.

Story/Photos by DAN SMITH

The West Station District of Roanoke continues to grow along what had been a hopelessly blighted area of Salem Avenue, mostly because developer Bill Chapman has never been steeped in Roanoke bias, he says.

Roanokers would tell you the place is not liveable, but Chapman's developments in the area around the Virginia Museum of Transportation continue to sell out to a combination of demographics from young people to retirees.

The newest is WestPlace and the next-door Beamer 25, a restaurant carrying Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer's name. They sit beside the Re-Store of Habitat for Humanity. The restaurant will open in late spring or early fall, Chapman says, and is being put together by his group, Beamer and Steve Parry, a restaurateur. It will serve Virginia foods and craft beers and will have outdoor dining. The restaurant will seat 100.

The new apartment complex is 60,000 square feet on four floors and has 71 apartments (1 and 2 bedroom) ranging in price from $500 to $1,050 per month. The size of the apartments ranges between 420 and 1,000 square feet. Agent Melissa Morgan says there are fewer than 10 apartments remaining to be rented.

There are a variety of amenities (for which residents pay $99 a month) including a movie room with a 125 inch HD screen, a weight room, a bar and off-street parking in a city parking garage across the street. "It is safe, covered, lighted and convenient," says Chapman. "Without the parking garage, there is no apartment complex. The city did a good thing when it built that garage."

The $7.6 million investment in the complex brings to $11 million Chapman's investment in what he calls the West Station District, which includes his Fulton Lofts, opened last year.

The location next door to Habitat is perfect, says Chapman, because recycle and renew are among the concerns in rehabilitating an old building.

This kind of investment requires a lot of belief in the area, he says. "You have to be confident. This is a tremendous risk with a lot of personal liability. In a building like this, when you start working, you don't know what's behind the wall."

The downtown area, he says, is much like the old Richmond warehouse district, which locals didn't want to develop. Outsiders did, however, and created an icon of the district. Roanoke "is small, walkable and doesn't have anything out of balance," Chapman says. "The YMCA created a new center of the city and the development is surrounding that.

Occupancy Down, Rentals Stable in Roanoke

Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group in Roanoke has released the results of its 25th Annual Office Market Survey, reporting overall occupancy rates trending lower with rental rates remaining stable.

The occupancy rate in the Central Business District (CBD) decreased from 95 percent to 92 percent largely as a result of Anthem’s reduction of office space in the Franklin Plaza Building. Both the South and North Business District experienced a 2 percent decrease.

Overall occupancy rates in the valley dropped by 3 percent to 88 percent in 2011 adding an additional 130,000 SF of available office space. Roanoke’s 88 percent occupancy rate continues to outpace the 83 percent National average as reported by the National Association of Realtors.'

“Additional inventory is healthy when new construction is non-existent," says Bryan Musselwhite of Poe & Cronk. "In the past 12 months alone, we have seen a substantial increase in activity from both existing tenants looking to expand and new businesses interested in locating in the Roanoke Valley. The most recent example is Optima Health which located its regional headquarters in Downtown Roanoke at the corner of Williamson Road and Campbell Avenue."

Poe & Cronk developed Roanoke’s Original Office Market Survey in 1987 and have conducted it annually using consistent criteria and methods of reporting. This year’s survey incorporates data covering more than 100 existing nongovernmental office buildings measuring 10,000 square feet or larger.

SML Chamber Presents Awards

The 2012 Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Winners are: (front, from left) Roy Enslow, Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals; Joanna Hudzik, Haywood’s Jewelers; and Cheryl Ward, Bank of Botetourt (back row) Harold Ingram, Haywood’s Jewelers; Matt Brown, Laker Media; Andie Gibson, Laker Media; Phil Hager, Phil Hager Insurance.

The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce recently presented the Norma Jean Teass Award for community leadership went to Cheryl Ward, Bank of Botetourt. Business of the Year is Bridgewater Marina & Boat Rental. Regional Advocate Award is Laker Media. Emerging Entrepreneur Award went to Tuscan Tavern. Enduring Enterprise Award was given to Phil Hager Insurance and the Service Excellence Award went to Haywood’s Jewelers.

300 Layoffs at ITT in Roanoke; More To Come

ITT Exelis in Roanoke County, a significant defense contractor with 1,400 employees in the Roanoke Valley, has furloughed 300 of its hourly employees.

ITT makes night vision goggles, mostly supplying the military whose needs are declining with the wind-down of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Apparently, more cuts were on the way before the end of January.

Energy Summit Scheduled at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering will be host for a Virginia Energy Summit Jan. 31, bringing together Virginia-based energy companies and related government agencies to identify industry opportunities.

Summit leader Shashank Priya (right) says the meeting will pave the way for partnerships that could spur high-paying jobs in the burgeoning energy harvesting sector. “We anticipate this meeting to play a vital role in bringing together small and large businesses towards development of energy generation and distribution technologies,” says Priya, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering.

“Energy harvesting is growing rapidly across the world, covering vital sectors of the economy such as defense, health care, infrastructure, construction, mining, and consumer electronics. Commercial transitions from laboratory to market are continuously happening, and in past few years many new companies have been formed to capture this growing industry.”

Priya said the summit will be led by Virginia Tech’s Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, which Priya directs, and could help the commonwealth form a leadership role in development of the U.S. energy harvesting market. “Virginia is uniquely positioned to be a dominant player in this market, creating new economy and high-paying jobs here,” he says. “The research conducted at our Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, and its partnering industries, is continuously paving the way for new opportunities.” Registration deadline is Jan. 20.

Ferrum, VWCC Sign Transfer Pact

Bobby Snadel and Jennifer Braaten sign agreement.

Ferrum College President Jennifer Braaten and Virginia Western Community College President Robert Sandel signed an Agreement of Articulation today to facilitate the transfer of students from Virginia Western’s Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science degree program to Ferrum College’s Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts degree program.

The agreement, signed during a ceremony at Ferrum College, guarantees that Ferrum will accept Virginia Western students who successfully earn their AAS Administration of Justice degree and meet outlined criteria.

“As educators we all need to make student success and employment readiness a high priority and that can mean removing barriers to higher aspirations,” says Braaten. “Two-year colleges are doing a tremendous job in encouraging so many of their students to seek higher goals. Our objective at Ferrum is to smooth the transition for these transfer students. This collaboration with Virginia Western will help achieve that aim.”

The articulation agreement ensures that Ferrum College will transfer credit for all Virginia Western Administration of Justice courses completed successfully with a grade of “C” or above at the 100-200 level, excluding SDV College Skills Courses, even when the student has not completed the Associate Degree. Virginia Western students who successfully complete 56 hours with a grade of “C” or above will be admitted to Ferrum College with junior status.

RAC Xpress Cuts Ribbon for Downtown Facility

Carlion CEO Nancy Agee at ribbon-cutting.

The new workout facility is ready for use.

Dignitaries cut the ribbon.

Developer John Garland (from left), Nancy Agee and Bud Grey of Carilion.

Crowd lines up along rail at the workout facility.

Bud Grey addresses the gathered.

Carilion Clinic and Spectrum Design cut the ribbon for the new RAC Xpress at 16 West in downtown Roanoke early this afternoon, opening a workout facility and returning the historic building to a longtime use.

16 West was originally a cafeteria, but since 1980 it has most often been used as a facility for working out, designed around the schedules of business people. It has become an anchor for a group of businesses that will occupy the building.

Carilion executives, including CEO Nancy Agee and Bud Grey of RAC, were on hand with the project's developer, John Garland of Spectrum design. Garland has two partners in the venture.

In addition to RAC Xpress, the building's tenants will shortly include a grocery delivery service, a smoothie bar, a cheese shop and a chiropractor.

RAC is operating its facility and memberships are $25 a month.

Tech's New Supercomputer Far Faster

Weng Fu and the new Tech supercomputer.

Virginia Tech crashed the supercomputing arena in 2003 with System X, a machine that placed the university among the world’s top computational research facilities. Now comes HokieSpeed, a new supercomputer that is up to 22 times faster and yet a quarter of the size of X, boasting a single-precision peak of 455 teraflops, or 455 trillion operations per second, and a double-precision peak of 240 teraflops, or 240 trillion operations per second.

That’s enough computational capability to place HokieSpeed at No. 96 on the most recent Top500 List, the industry-standard ranking of the world’s 500 fastest supercomputers. More intriguing is HokieSpeed’s energy efficiency, which ranks it at No. 11 in the world on the November 2011 Green500 List, a compilation of supercomputers that excel at using less energy to do more. On the Green500 List, HokieSpeed is the highest-ranked commodity supercomputer in the United States.

Located at Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center, HokieSpeed – the word “Hokie” originating from an old Virginia Tech sports cheer – contains 209 nodes, or separate computers, connected to one another in and across large metal racks, each roughly 6.5 feet tall, to create a single supercomputer that occupies half a row of racks in a vast university computer machine room. X took three times the rack space.

Each HokieSpeed node contains two 2.40-gigahertz Intel Xeon E5645 6-core central processing units, commonly called CPUs, and two NVIDIA M2050/C2050 448-core graphics processor units, or GPUs, which reside on a Supermicro 2026GT0TRF motherboard. That gives HokieSpeed more than 2,500 central processing unit cores and more than 185,000 graphics processor unit cores to compute with.

“HokieSpeed is a versatile heterogeneous supercomputing instrument, where each compute node consists of energy-efficient central-processing units and high-end graphics-processing units,” said Wu Feng, associate professor with the Virginia Tech College of Engineering’s computer science and electrical and computer engineering departments.

“This instrument will empower faculty, students, and staff across disciplines to tackle problems previously viewed as intractable or that required heroic efforts and significant domain-specific expertise to solve.”