December 19, 2006
Volume 6, No. 5
The E-newsletter of the Roanoke County Economic Development Department
is
designed to showcase the investments and achievements of our existing business
partners. For additional information about doing business in Roanoke County,
visit our website www.yesroanoke.com.
Packaging
Corporation of America
Grows in Roanoke County
Don Woodward, PCA General Manager, and Chris
Loker, PCA Sales Manager, display the Roanoke County commemorative
tapestry presented by Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Wray.
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), a manufacturer of corrugated
shipping containers for industrial and commercial use, has relocated its
Roanoke operations to the former Ingersoll Rand facility at Shadwell
Drive. The company has completed significant renovations of
approximately 170,000 sq. ft. of industrial space at the Shadwell
facility and currently employs 75 people. Based in Lake Forest,
IL, Packaging Corporation of America is a world-class manufacturer of
containerboard and corrugated packaging and operates other Virginia
facilities in Harrisonburg and Richmond. "At
 PCA, we are excited about
the changes and the improvements we have been able to incorporate into
our new building. Our move was a result of careful planning to
improve our operations and continue to grow our business. We
appreciate the warm welcome that Roanoke County has given us and look
forward to increasing our involvement in the community," said Chris Loker, Sales Manager for the Roanoke operation.
PCA’s location in the Roanoke Valley of southwestern Virginia, allows
for next day service to western and southern Virginia as well as eastern
West Virginia. ISO certified and committed to a total quality
system which
enables PCA to not only meet but exceed their customers' expectations.
Please visit packagingcorp.com.
James River Equipment's Expansion New Facade is an
Enhancement to the Route 11/460 Corridor
Celebrating the Grand Opening of the new building with
a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony were JRE Account Manager Jimmy Williamson,
Economic Development Director Doug Chittum, Supervisor Butch Church, JRE
President Mark Romer, JRE VP & General Manager Darrell Printz, and JRE
Executive VP Gail Simmers.
James River Equipment (JRE) began in Holly, Colorado in the 1920’s
and moved to Virginia in 1977. The company has a strong business
relationship with the John Deere company and owns several dealerships
in the US. JRE sells complimentary equipment brands such as Timberjack,
Sullair and Sakai and has locations in North Carolina and South
Carolina in addition to Virginia.
On October 19, 2006, James River Equipment at 3902 W. Main Street held
its Grand Opening which included celebration activities such as an Open
House and Customer Appreciation Day. The warehouse and office expansion
totals approximately 16,800 square feet for a total of 30,000+ square feet
in the JRE complex. President Mark Romer of James River Equipment
corporate presided at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Roanoke County
Supervisor Butch Church.
Visit
jamesriverequipment.com.
Wachovia's Roanoke Operations
Center Creates 150 New Jobs
Wachovia’s Operations Center has announced the creation of 150 call
center jobs at its location on Plantation Road. “Wachovia choose to bring
these jobs to the Roanoke Valley because this region has proven to provide
a strong and qualified work force,” said Andy Lisk, Roanoke Site Leader
for Wachovia. “The Roanoke call center is known within Wachovia for its
top performance and service excellence, which is a testament to the great
workers the Roanoke Valley offers.”
The job creation is a result of the company’s growth and effort to
continue to provide outstanding service to its new and existing customers
as well as to support its decision to re-enter the credit card business.
The new call center positions will provide customer service for
traditional retail offerings, mortgage and lending products and the
company’s new credit cards. Wachovia, one of the largest employers in
Roanoke County, is committed to providing an inclusive work environment
where all employees have the opportunity to grow and succeed. For more
information about these positions, visit
wachovia.com/careers. Please
enter the job number 173182 into the keyword field and click search to
apply.
The Egg Factory's Golden Egg - IntelliMat®, Inc.
The IntelliMat is a full-color, portable, wireless PC designed as a
floor mat. In fact, it is constructed to be walked on and have shopping
carts roll over its surface. The IntelliMat is composed of four 15 inch LCD
screens which can be programmed with television quality promotion on
store products with color, motion and sound at the tip of your toe. This
product is the only network-capable digital media floor display that
contributes to increased foot traffic. Future innovations for IntelliMat
are expected to be interactive with customers especially regular store
shoppers who may receive personalized messages to assist in the shopping
experience or programmed with community emergency messages from a remote
location.
The company recently announced a $5 million Series A round of
investment from NewVA Capital Partners, Third Security LLC and SPI
Investments. IntelliMat has also formed a strategic alliance with 3M for
distribution and is protected by 18 patents world-wide. In September,
IntelliMat hired the Detroit-based company, Malibu Technologies, as its
manufacturer in the initial phase of production. Visit intellimat.com.
Optical Cable
Corporation Honored by the Commonwealth of Virginia
Optical Cable Corporation announced in October that it has received the
inaugural Compass Award for Excellence in International Trade from the
Commonwealth of Virginia. The award was presented to Optical Cable at the
58th Annual Virginia Conference on World Trade by the Honorable Patrick O.
Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Compass Award for Excellence in International Trade was created by
the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to honor a
Virginia-based business that has excelled in the arena of global commerce.
The criteria for the award are that the recipient has increased its export
and international profile while promoting the best interests of its
employees and surrounding community, and that the recipient has
contributed to the overall economic health and quality of life of
Virginians while increasing the Commonwealth's profile in the
international export arena in a positive light. "Optical Cable is
extremely honored to be the recipient of the inaugural Virginia Compass
Award," stated Mr. Neil Wilkin, President and CEO of Optical Cable
Corporation. For more information, visit
occfiber.com.
FasTracKids
FasTracKids is a nationally franchised enrichment education center
whose courses challenge students to think productively. The courses
emphasize creative and critical thinking to enhance the knowledge of
pre-school students. However, learning tracks are available for children
from birth to 8 years of age as this is a critical brain development
stage. Programs range from music to economics to technology to biology.
One example of an early development course is Signing Smart ™ which is a
development learning course for infants and teaches the baby to sign for
what he or she wants.
Classes are held in Suite 103, Starkey Station at 6405 Merriman Road
directly across from Penn Forest Elementary School. The classroom is very
rich in color and technology for the two hour classes which fit nicely
with local day care curriculums and early public school education.
Director of Operations, Rita Dunkin, is a former Roanoke County principal
at Back Creek Elementary and is joined by Director of Instruction, Billie Hodson, a colleague
from Back Creek Elementary. For more information, visit
FasTracKids.com.
New Health and Fitness Pavilion
LifeWise Fitness is designed to combine all of the desirable aspects
and services of traditional health clubs, gyms, and personal training
studios into an affordable, up-scale, express fitness package. The
state-of-the-art equipment, nationally certified training and medical
staff, and unprecedented health and fitness tracking system, offered via a
non-intimidating, economical, pay-as-you go format, will prove to be the
most innovative in fitness today.
LifeWise Fitness is building a new 12,000 square foot health and
fitness pavilion in Southwest County at 4633 Brambleton Avenue. The new
facility will employ approximately 15 trainers and support staff including
nutritionists and dieticians. LifeWise is also affiliated with Lucas
Therapies which will offer physical therapy services. For more
information, call 400-7733 or visit
www.LifeWiseFitness.com.
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