Have any business notes to submit to the paper? New store? New name? New location? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991 or e-mail maweber@connectionnewspapers.com
Over the last month, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) introduced the "Borrow with Confidence" campaign at three locations in Northern Virginia to help real-estate professionals assist home buyers in getting the best mortgage financing for which they qualify, as well as expanding homeownership opportunities throughout the area.
Approximately 250 Coldwell Banker sales associates attended and received credit for completing a three-hour class, "Low-Cost Financing Options for Today's Home Buyers," at the events in Annandale, Herndon and McLean. The associates attending were from CBRB offices throughout Northern Virginia. The mandatory training focused on low-cost financing and included programs that help underserved buyers and included important information about overcoming barriers to homeownership, such as lack of cash, impaired credit and high closing costs.
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage will also join local officials throughout Northern Virginia to create awareness about the issue of high-cost lending and to promote responsible lending.
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce November events are as follows:
Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Business mixer. 5:30-7:30 p.m., McLean Racquet & Health Club and The McLean Times, 1472 Chain Bridge Road.
Friday, Nov. 21 — Brown bag lunch. Special guest, Elise Neil Bengston, president. Come and meet the nonprofit members of the Chamber of Commerce. 12 p.m., in the Community Room of the Governmental Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean. For more information, call 703-356-5424
The Vienna-Tysons Chamber of Commerce The Vienna-Tysons Chamber of Commerce calendar of upcoming events is as follows:
Every Tuesday and Thursday — Lunch and Lead tip group, 12:15-1:30 p.m. at Shula’s Steakhouse, 8028 Leesburg Pike in the Tysons Corner Marriott. R.S.V.P. to Harry Silverman, 703-319-8806. Dutch.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Lunch and Learn, 12-1:15 p.m., at HQ Global Workplace, 8300 Boone Blvd., #500. Whole Foods lunch provided by speakers. R.S.V.P. to 703-281-1333. Space limited to 20 people.
Tiny Heirlooms, a store offering fine miniatures and dollhouse items, is now accepting reservations for craft parties of up to 12 guests. Call 703-288-3544 for details. Receive a free mini Tiny Heirlooms shopping bag for one’s dollhouse with any purchase of $10 or more. One per customer. Offer good while supplies last. Tiny Heirlooms is located at 1401 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 100, McLean, across from Langley Shopping Center. Tiny Heirlooms can be reached via e-mail at customerservice@tinyheirlooms.com.
Hal Berens, franchisee of The UPS Store located at 1350 Beverly Road, McLean, recently received international recognition by earning the Field Award for Distribution Management from SOLE - The International Society of Logistics. The award was presented at the organization’s annual convention in Huntsville, Ala. As The UPS Store of McLean franchisee, Berens is responsible for managing the distribution of all types of parcels and freight from a diverse customer base. He recently moved a federal government office of 840 employees from one building to another in Philadelphia as the prime contractor, while at the same time in the process of shipping several million dollars’ worth of equipment from Atlanta, Ga., back to McLean for a large corporate account and storing these items in a secure local warehouse. While performing these duties, his store continued to ship their customers’ parcels and freight.
SOLE is a nonprofit international professional society composed of individuals organized to enhance the art and science of logistics technology, education and management. SOLE was founded in 1966 as the Society of Logistics Engineers "to engage in educational, scientific, and literary endeavors to advance the art of logistics technology and management." There are over 90 SOLE chapters in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Chapters conduct technical meetings, symposia and workshops, all designed to provide the SOLE member with opportunities for professional advancement. Chapters and districts also sponsor regional technical meetings.
Bath & Body Works has launched a new design concept, which made its debut on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Bath & Body Works store in Tysons Corner Center in McLean. The flagship store concept features a complete renovation of the store and the introduction of new product lines for beauty, body care and the home.
The new design includes sleek white walls, modernized lighting systems, and three distinct performance rooms: beauty, body care and home fragrance, with new product lines.
Sam & Harry's of Washington, D.C., is offering a new option in its line of dining options: corporate and social catering services throughout the national capital area. Sam & Harry's Catering is operating from the Sam & Harry's Tysons Corner location, at 8240 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. Because this location is normally closed during lunch, the Catering Division can now offer on-premise private dining in any of five different rooms, at lunch during the week, for daytime events on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
Reindeer Sleds of Vienna, a manufacturer of snow sleds, recently introduced the Dasher model, with a steerable plastic runner. The Dasher model offers new design features, including the twisted-pipe runner structure and pivot-rope steering system, in addition to the modern plastic seat and footrest. The Dasher model utilizes flexible plastic runners for steering in lieu of the traditional metal runners. By bending a straight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe into the shape of the runners, this pipe is transformed into the foundation of the Dasher model. Due to its round cross-sectional area, these runners are structurally sound by themselves without the need for additional framing typical of a traditional runner sled.
Acumen Solutions Inc., a management and technology consulting firm, has been named to The Washingtonian’s list of 50 Great Places to Work in the Washington area. Acumen Solutions was recognized for its strong core values, tight-knit culture and innovative programs that illustrate the importance of its employees while reinforcing the company’s focus on social responsibility.
Hair stylist Tim Ngo, formerly of Great Falls Hair Cuttery, recently opened Magic Scissors, a full-service family hair salon and spa located at Leigh Corner in Great Falls. Ngo was named "Best Hair Stylist or Barber" by readers of The Connection Newspapers in 1991, and since 1998, Hair Cuttery has annually reported that he is the most requested stylist in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Born in Vietnam, Ngo immigrated to the United States in the 1970s after earning a UN letter for his work as a Boy Scout leader at a Malaysian refugee camp. In his spare time, Ngo enjoys playing the guitar and harmonica, fishing, dancing, photography and gardening. Magic Scissors is located at 1146 Walker Road #F, Great Falls.
The nonprofit operating arm of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board, the SkillSource Group Inc., is partnering with Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider of education funding, to create the Northern Virginia Career Skills Loan Program for adults seeking training in the information technology or health care professions in the region. Through the partnership, the Career Skills Loan Program will provide $500,000 in low-cost private loans to eligible students, helping them cover the costs of their training programs and related expenses. Sallie Mae established a similar program with the Northern Virginia Regional Partnership in 1998, which supported 455 adults as they took on new information technology training.
The Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board (NVWIB) was scheduled to present the 2003 Northern Virginia Workforce Leadership Awards at the 2003 Annual Community Forum on Nov. 13 at the Reston Hyatt Regency. Awards include the following: Outstanding Business Advocates for Northern Virginia Workforce Development — United Parcel Service, Fairfax County; Outstanding Private Sector Advocate for Northern Virginia Workforce Development — Dr. Gerald Gordon, president, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; NVWIB Youth Workforce Leadership Award — Northern Virginia Technology Council Foundation; NVWIB Special Recognition Award — The Training Futures Program, administered by Northern Virginia Family Service.