As part of the aviation industry's centennial celebration of powered flight, Messier-Dowty of Paris, France plans to donate an Airbus A330 main landing gear to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Last month, the landing gear was shipped from Messier-Dowty's Gloucester (UK) facility to Messier Services America in Sterling, a few miles north of the museum construction site. Currently, the gear is undergoing restoration, including the use of a sophisticated plasma cutter to expose its inner workings, such as the unique space-saving retraction mechanism. The gear and associated display materials are scheduled for delivery to the Udvar-Hazy Center in early 2004, shortly after the museum's mid-December opening.
The idea of donating a landing gear to the new museum came from Dave Athey, manager of technical support engineering at Messier Services America. A lifelong Virginia resident and retired U.S. Air Force technician, he helped locate the donor gear, contacted museum officials, and arranged all logistics including air and ground transportation.
Athey's father Sam Athey, flew B-29 missions in the Pacific during World War II.
Photo attached: Dave Athey (Manager, Technical Support Engineering, Messier Services America) with part of the donor Airbus A330 main landing gear.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for awards to honor outstanding small businesses at its annual awards event on Nov. 18 at Lansdowne Resort. Nominations are sought in the following categories:
Retail Business of the Year
Service Business of the Year
Agri-Business of the Year
Home Based Business of the Year
Product of the Year
Technology Business of the Year
Franchise/Distributor of the Year
Entrepreneur of the Year
Small Business of the Year
To be eligible for a Loudoun Chamber Small Business Award, the business must have the following:
* Revenues of $5 million or less;
* 25 or fewer employees (full and part time);
* If the company that is being nominated has won an award (2000-2002) then it is ineligible for an award in the same category. The company may be considered however for the 2003 Small Business of the Year;
* Any business located in Loudoun County is eligible, member or non-member of the Chamber.;
* Businesses located outside of Loudoun County must be a Loudoun Chamber Member.
Deadline for nominations is Sept. 30.
For a clarification of each award category, and for nomination forms, visit www.loudounchamber.org or call the Chamber at 703-777-2176.
The Loudoun County Chamber Small Business Awards program is being chaired by Paul Bice with James Monroe Bank. Sponsorships for the event are available by calling Johnson Promotions & Events at 703-777-8577.
Adelphia Channel 3 Loudoun TV has announced several changes in their local programming line-up. The station has added a new segment entitled "Meet the Candidate" which will air at the top of every hour from 6-11 p.m. Every weeknight through October viewers will meet one of the candidates seeking office in this year's elections. The segments will each be five minutes in length and will replace "Channel 3 Loudoun News" which formerly aired in those time slots.
The daily news has been incorporated into "This Week in Loudoun," a weekly news show that airs Saturdays and Sundays. The long-running show, hosted by former NBC News correspondent Bill Brown, provides viewers with a weekly look at news and events happening around the county. Amy Hiett, who anchored the daily news, will serve as producer and field reporter for the newly re-vamped weekly program.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will hold it's 21st Annual Golf Classic on Monday, Sept. 8. The Golf Classic will be held at the Belmont Country Club, an Arnold Palmer signature course. The tournament supports the Chamber and local charities. Companies interested in fielding a foursome or sponsoring for tournament play should call 703-777-8577. Visit www.loudounchamber.org.
Following the May 2003 bankruptcy announcement of FirstPay, a payroll services company based in Silver Spring, Md., the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to minimize the damage done to the Loudoun business community. Many FirstPay clients have discovered that their state and federal payroll taxes were never paid. The IRS has estimated the total outstanding tax liability at $11 million.
Chamber members were alerted of the situation through an e-mail bulletin. Member and non-member businesses have the option to fill out an online form if they wish to receive regular updates from the Chamber. All interested companies are invited to participate as well as those affected. The Chamber requests input from payroll services companies, insurance vendors, tax accountants and lawyers. As the circumstances on the case progresses, the Chamber will publish status reports at www.loudounchamber.org. For more information, call 703-777-2176.
The Small Business Association's (SBA) Washington Metropolitan Area District Office will sponsor a Minority and Women Business Empowerment Panel designed to provide information regarding resources available to minority and women entrepreneurs. The event will be held Thursday, Aug. 21, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Topics will include SBA programs and services, IRS taxpayer education and assistance and Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise Certification. The event is free. To register, call Delcine Montgomery at 202-606-4000, Ext. 331 or e-mail Delcine.Montgomery@sba.gov.
"Meet With the Lender" is designed for individuals who have completed a business plan and are ready to approach a lender. Half-hour appointments, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., are being scheduled for Aug. 21 and Sept. 25 at the Loudoun County Small Business Development Center, 21145 Whitfield Place, Suite 104, Sterling. To register contact Delcine Montgomery at 202-606-4000, Ext. 331 or e-mail Delcine.Montgomery@sba.gov.
The Technology Committee of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will present "SPAM, SPAM, SPAM" on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at Old Dominion University, 21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling. Bring a lunch to this two hour brown bag seminar. Brian Chavis, a 19-year veteran of the Information Technology industry, will present. Register online at www.loudounchamber.org. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for non-members. Space is limited. For more information, call Stephanie Norton at 703-777-2176.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will hold a free financial seminar, "Four Steps to Creating a Successful Financial Plan," on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 8-9:30 a.m. Michael May of Sagemark Consulting will present. For more information, call event chairman Dave Trosko, of Legg Mason, at 703-762-5060 or e-mail to ndtrosko@leggmason.com. Pre-register online at www.loudounchamber.org, or call 703-777-2176, Ext 25.
Area vendors are invited to the 2003 Loudoun County Purchasing's Buyer/Seller Information Exchange sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to give area businesses the opportunity to meet the county's purchasing staff and become familiar with the county's procurement process. Representatives of area businesses are invited to attend any of the next sessions on Tuesday, Sept. 16, Thursday, Nov. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. and Friday Oct. 24 at 10:30 a.m.
The sessions are held in the Lovettsville Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., in Leesburg. To reserve a seat, call 703-777-0403 or send an e-mail to pcogle@loudoun.gov.
"Start Your Business," sponsored by the Loudoun County Small Business Development Center, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Eastern Regional Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, from 8-9 p.m. Participants will learn the essential steps for starting a successful small business. The seminar is free of charge, but pre-registration is required. Call 703-430-7222 or e-mail sbdc@loudounsbdc.org to register and obtain additional information.