Vol. 2, No. 2, 2002

Roanoke County Business Partners Newsletter

August 2002
Vol. 2, No. 2, 2002

Roanoke County's Economic Development Department created the eNewsletter as a means of providing an additional avenue of communication between local government and the business community. It also provides an opportunity for the Existing Business Program to showcase the achievements of our business partners. Items shown in BLUE are clickable.  To make suggestions or have information on your company included in the electronic newsletter, please call 772-2185 or email mcox@roanokecountyva.gov

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Business Announcements

Valley Bank - Vinton Branch
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Certificate of Appreciation
May 28, 2002

RR Donnelley
VVP Star Worksite Award
June 24, 2002

Thomas Benton Interiors, Inc.
Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Certificate of Appreciation
June 28, 2002

Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine
Grand Opening & Certificate of Appreciation
June 30, 2002

Linda Staley Public Relations
Certificate of Appreciation
July 1, 2002

Blue Ridge Color Company
Certificate of Appreciation
July 3, 2002

Carilion Parkway Physicians - Vinton
Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Certificate of Appreciation
July 21, 2002

Blue Ridge Business Journals' 20 under 40
http://www.roanokebiz.com/
Congratulations to our business partners who were recently recognized by the Blue Ridge Journals' 20 under 40 special focus for the Blue Ridge Region.

Keltech, Inc.
http://www.keltech-va.com/
Keltech on HiTech Road has been named as one of Virginia's Fantanstic 50 by Virginia Business magazine in the May 2002 issue. To be eligible, contestants had to be privately owned and headquartered in Virginia. They needed to have revenues of at least $200,000 in 1997, the year used to establish the company's four-year revenue growth rate. By 2000 companies had to have a positive net income. Also, their most recent fiscal year revenues must be below $100 million. The accounting firm of Goodman and Company conducted the review of company financial records to determine the winners. The contest is organized by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Business. Keltech experienced a 242% in growth from 1997 through 2000.

Merge Computer Group
http://www.mergecomputer.com/
Merge has announced a partnership with Excelsius of Greensboro, NC. David Hensley of Excelsius, a senior level UNIX administrator and Oracle DBA, will be working with Corning in Blacksburg. Merge has also hired Julie Mannor who will relocate from Michigan to Roanoke to work on a data warehousing project for Norfolk Southern. Mike Mallett of Richmond has also been relocated from Richmond to serve as a consultant to Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Optical Cable Corporation
http://www.occfiber.com/
Optical Cable Corporation announced on April 25th that its Board of Directors has named Mr. Neil Wilkin President in addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer of Optical Cable. Mr. Wilkin, age 38, joined Optical Cable in September 2001as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and was named Acting-President in December 2001. Mr. Wilkin is also a member of Optical Cable's Board of Directors.

CERTIFICATIONS/AWARDS

Amrhein Wine Cellar
http://www.roanokewine.com/
On June 17th, Russell and Paula Amrhein received the coveted Virginia's 2002 Governor's Cup for its 2001 Voignier. The vineyard had its first crush in 1999 and specializes in German style wine offering unique layers of fruit full of rich aroma. Amrhein's Voignier was the top winner, being selected as the best wine overall. For more information, go to www.roanokewine.com and click on the new Twisted Vine Club.

Valhalla Vineyards
http://www.valhallawines.com/
In the May 31st issue of WINE SPECTATOR MAGAZINE, Valhalla Vineyards' wines were reviewed:

• The 1999 Syrah received the highest rating for any wine in the southern US
• The Gotterdammerung won second highest score
• The Alicante Bouschet was also rated and Valhalla is the only vineyard outside of state of California to produce the Alicante
• The 2000 Viognier received second highest score

WINE SPECTATOR is the largest most respected wine magazine in the country.

TechNite 2002
http://www.nctc-va.org/
The following awards were presented to members of the Roanoke County business community by the New Century Technology Council on May 2, 2002.

• Novozymes Biologicals received the New Century Region's High Tech Corporation Award. The company was jointly nominated by Roanoke County and the City of Salem.
• Keltech, Inc. was an Award Finalist for the New Century Region's High Tech Company Award.
• Leon Harris was an Award Finalist (Keltech, Inc.) for the New Century Region's High Tech Leadership Award.
• M/A-Com Roanoke was an Award Finalist in the New Century Region's High Tech Corporation Award.
• Victor Iannello was an Award Finalist (Synchrony, Inc.) for New Century Region's High Tech Entrepreneur Award

Medeco High Security Locks
http://www.medeco.com/
New City Media created a website for Medeco High Secuity Locks which won a Gold Addy at the 2001-2002 Western Virginia ADDY Awards on February 23. The Medeco site won in the category for Business-to-Business site, 20 pages or more. Medeco was the only winner in its category.

An intranet site designed for Medeco also won a Silver Addy.

EXPANSIONS/INVESTMENTS

The following businesses have expanded their buildings, invested in new equipment, or hired new employees. The County wants to thank each of these corporations for their contributions to our economic base and for doing business in Roanoke County.

RVTV'S ROANOKE COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS

The second program of ROANOKE COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS is currently airing on RVTV 3 on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. The purpose of this show is to showcase the successes of our business community and to provide an introduction to the businesses for our citizens.

ROANOKE COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS featured in the most recent television show were:

If your company has achieved a new certification, is expanding your business, celebrating an anniversary, or another unique opportunity and would like to be filmed for the show, please call Melinda Cox at 772-2185.

CORRECTION:
In our last newsletter, Linda Barker, owner of Custom Desktop, was omitted from the address list. Please note email address as mailto:jmbbike@aol.co.