Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is holding an after-hours business mixer, Thursday, May 18, 5:30-7 p.m., at Cloud Nine Salon Spa & Boutique, 312 Market St., Leesburg. Cost $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Register by calling 703-777-2176, Ext. 9023 or crichardson@loudounchamber.org.
The next Loudoun County Procurement's Buyer/Seller Information Exchange is Friday, May 19, 10:30 a.m., in the Lovettsville Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E., in Leesburg. The purpose of the informal session is to give area businesses the opportunity to meet the county's procurement staff and become familiar with the county's procurement process. Call 703-771-5142 or send an e-mail to sfields@loudoun.gov.
Lisa Mathey has formed Adoption Educators to offer consulting services to prospective adoptive parents who desire to complete the domestic adoption process. The company provides information on how to contact an adoption agency, attorney, social worker and/or home-study agency when necessary; consulting and supporting the prospective parents; helping the parents meet state requirements; preparing the family's adoption profile and other help need to prepare a final dossier.
Relocation Systems in Dulles has hired an instructor to teach English to its native Spanish-speaking employees. The employees attend class three time a week.
My Safe Zone, 43723 Lees Mill Square, Lansdowne, a new company making safety and security realistic for families, opened operations April 14. The company will offer safety and security inspections by highly trained crime prevention and safety specialists, plus seminars, a safety and security kit and more.
My Safe Zone specialists will visit homes to check for 123 different criteria to protect against crime and promote child safety, emergency preparedness, fire prevention, cyber safety and identity theft. Homeowners will receive a comprehensive report, with practical recommendations they can complete themselves in a reasonable time or ask for advice in implementing. To keep the customerÕs interests foremost, the firm is not affiliated with area vendors; however, if the client elects, My Safe Zone can recommend resources to help homeowners make the recommended improvements.
David Harbour, a former Washington Redskin, formed the company with fellow real estate agent and former IT executive Jeff Lubell.
Juan Portillo has opened JP's Deli, formerly Hunter Mill Deli, in the Countryside Shopping Center, 104 Edds Lane, Sterling. JP's is a family restaurant offering dine in, carry out, delivery and catering.
The Nova Medical and Urgent Care Center Inc. has hired three new staff members to the Nova Medical Group.
Elise Schroeder, ND (naturopathic doctor), holds a BS degree in human biology from the University of Albany, and completed her Doctorate in naturopathic medicine at National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore.
Michael Jabalee, Lic. Ac., M.Ac., joins the group most recently from Mancos, Colo. He is a licensed and nationally certified acupuncturist practicing five element acupuncture for more than 14 years. He holds a BS in biology, pre-med from Salisbury State University and a masterÕs degree in acupuncture-herbs-nutrition from the TAI-SOPHIA Institute in Laurel, Md.
Stephanie Dacko, MS, RD, joins Nova having worked in outside medical practices for several years. She holds a bachelorÕs degree in dietetics from James Madison University and a masterÕs degree in exercise, fitness and health promotion from George Mason University. She is a registered dietitian credentialed with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University.
At its April 6 meeting, the Community Services Board recognized Michaels Arts and Crafts general manager, Jeff Green, and members of the River Creek Home and Garden Club for their support of people with mental disabilities.
Green, was recognized for the positive influence he is making in the lives of two clients that work at Michaels through the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Job Link Program, which helps people with mental retardation or serious mental illness get and keep jobs in the community. Green has altered hours, accommodated requests for extra supports, maintained and created positions during slow business periods and most importantly, has shown contagious enthusiasm for the success of his employees with disabilities.
The River Creek Home and Garden Club was recognized for its $1,794 donation to the Healing Garden at Friendship House, Loudoun County's psychosocial rehabilitation program in Leesburg that provides opportunities and support to people with mental illnesses allowing them to develop the work and social skills required to live successful in the community. The Healing Garden is a popular and truly therapeutic activity for many of its members.
Two staff teams were also recognized the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Community Outreach Services staff and the Division of Mental Retardation Potomac Terrace Group Home staff.
Mason Dixon Funding, a full-service mortgage lender, has been recognized by The Washington Business Journal as one of the regionÕs best places to work. The award recognizes the companyÕs achievements in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions and company culture.
Mason Dixon is the only mortgage company among the 50 companies from virtually every business sector to be named to the list, which is based on results of a survey administered to each companyÕs employees. In addition to being honored at the awards breakfast May 12, Mason Dixon and the other selected companies will be profiled in a special supplement to the publication published that same day.
Mason Dixon Funding, headquartered in Rockville, Md., with offices in Fairfax, Chantilly, Culpeper and Sterling.
Randy Collins, former president and CEO of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, has joined McLean Insurance Agency as its operations manager. Collins started his position March 13. Collins left the Loudoun Chamber in January after 10 years as CEO.
Relocation Systems, a Dulles-based moving and storage company, has hired Brian Martin. Martin has two years of moving experience in all aspects of the business, mostly recently in moving sales. He is pursuing a degree from University of Maryland.
The second Let's Dish! held a grand opening event, April 25, at Leesburg's Prosperity Center, 705 E. Market St., with Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd, Supervisor Jim Clem, and Loudoun Chamber of Commerce president Bob Steere on hand for the ribbon cutting and ceremonial ÒFirst Dish.Ó The company's Ashburn store has been open since August 2005.
On April 1, Laila Oinas, general manager of Candlewood Suites Sterling, was named operating partner by The Generation Companies LLC (Generation), a Research Triangle Park-based real estate developer, asset manager and operator of extended stay hotels. The Operating Partner Program, promotes proven talented and ambitious hotel general managers to owner-partners, giving them not only more autonomy, but also more financial interest in their hotel. To qualify, general managers must complete a rigorous application process, pay a good-faith deposit, and prove their operational expertise with high scores in the areas of quality assurance, guest service, preventative maintenance, phone sales, and revenue growth.
In the hospitality industry since 1987, Oinas worked with Howard JohnsonÕs, Econo Lodge, Quality Inn and Homestead Studios before joining Generation nearly six years ago.
Oinas has won numerous awards, including 2003 Assistant General Manager of the Year, Candlewood Suites-Herndon; Intercontinental HotelsÕ 2005 NewComer Hotel of the Year, Candlewood Suites Sterling; and 2005 Generation Squeaky Clean Candlewood of the Year, Candlewood Suites Sterling.
Vaaler Real Estate Company, in Leesburg and Winchester, has been chosen by Middleburg Bank as its exclusive broker to identify appropriate Northern Virginia building sites and assist with acquiring those new properties.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will be holding a LeadShare luncheon, Friday, June 2, 10:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Washington Dulles, 1000 Sully Road, Dulles. LeadShare members are free; nonmembers are $25. RSVP to Crichardson@loudounchamber.org.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce will be holding a small business golf tournament, Wednesday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, at Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club, 41601 Raspberry Drive, Leesburg. $100 per player, includes 18 holes, green fees, open range, barbecue lunch, prizes. Register by calling 703-777-2176, Ext. 123 or e-mail crichardson@loudounchamber.org. Sponsorship opportunities available, contact Roxane Remley at 703-777-2176, Ext. 125.
JK Moving & Storage will be on national television Friday, June 16, from 8-9 p.m., for its role on HomeTeam DC, a nationally-syndicated reality/ÒcauseÓ television show that airs in the Washington, D.C. market on WJLA-TV 7.
Filmed in dozens of markets throughout the nation HomeTeam selects deserving individuals or families to appear on the show, then surprises them with a new home of their own, by providing a cash down payment for the new home; as well as all of the housing costs, aside from utilities, for the entire first year; and significant home improvements and furnishings along with life skills and financial coaching.
As part of the product donations, JK provided the moving services. Sunday morning, April 23, a team of movers packaged and shipped the entire contents of a family's Landover apartment to their new single-family home in District Heights, Md.
The next Loudoun County Procurement's Buyer/Seller Information Exchange is Thursday, June 22, 2 p.m., in the Lovettsville Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E., in Leesburg. The purpose of the informal session is to give area businesses the opportunity to meet the county's procurement staff and become familiar with the county's procurement process. Call 703-771-5142 or send an e-mail to sfields@loudoun.gov.
The next Loudoun County Procurement's Buyer/Seller Information Exchange is Monday, July 24, 10:30 a.m., in the Lovettsville Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E., in Leesburg. The purpose of the informal session is to give area businesses the opportunity to meet the county's procurement staff and become familiar with the county's procurement process. Call 703-771-5142 or send an e-mail to sfields@loudoun.gov.