Acquisition
Virginia Business Systems, headquartered in Richmond, has joined forces with Apex Technologies/JMD Solutions of Chesapeake.
Jim Dotter, president of Virginia Business Systems, a document management company that's been in business for more than 60 years, said in a prepared statement:
"The acquisition of Apex Technologies/JMD Solutions allows us to increase our impact in the Hampton Roads marketplace. Though we have had a service and technology presence here for the last eight years, the expertise and breadth of services that Apex provides allows VBS to bring the best of their competitive pricing, their document solutions expertise and their award-winning technology and service to this critical market."
In acquiring Apex, a 23-year-old business that was previously a Xerox agent, VBS is retaining the Apex staff. This includes David Bogart, who will be general manager of the new VBS office; John Day, handling IT and network support; Tina Donnell, Mike Molodow and Tony Layne as document management consultants; Nelson Jett, service technician; and Sharon Boykin, branch administrator.
VBS delivers products from leading vendors in the industry including Konica Minolta, Xerox, Lexmark and Hewlett Packard. The company has been named an "Elite Dealer" for the last 15 years by ENX Magazine/This Week in Imaging.
VBS and its sister company, Edwards Business Systems, have 11 offices in Virginia and Pennsylvania.
New locations & services
On March 1, Avanzaro.com will launch a digital employment marketplace that aims to connect Hispanic job-seekers with employers in Hampton Roads and advertisers that want to reach both groups.
The company has already opened the site to employers to post jobs for free so that the site will be populated in time for its launch date.
In a prepared statement, Stephanie Salazar Inderlied, CEO of the company and a Hampton Roads entrepreneur, said:
"There is a large need other than word of mouth for Hispanics to have a trusted and efficient alternative to finding quality work. That's why we created Avanzaro.com."
Inderlied said that the site has been built from the ground up for Spanish speakers. The entire user experience, including the advertisinig component, can be carried out in Spanish.
The site focuses exclusively on hourly and blue-color jobs across these Hampton Roads industries: construction, cleaning services, hospitality, landscaping/golf course maintenance, restaurant, retail, manufacturing/food processing and warehouse/production.
Cordell & Cordell, a domestic litigation firm with more than 100 offices across the United States focusing on representing men in family law cases, has opened its first office in Virginia Beach.
The office, at 780 Lynnhaven Pkwy., Suite 400, specializes in equal rights for men facing divorce, according to a press release.
"Our firm protects and promotes men's family and financial interests before, during and after divorce," said Joseph Cordell, co-founder and principal partner of the firm, in a prepared statement. "Men choose Cordell & Cordell because they want to feel that their interests and the interests of their children are aggressively championed."
Grants
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced that $565,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants is available for the development of specialty crops in Virginia.
Agricultural associations, industry groups, community-based organizations and producer groups that seek to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia are eligible to submit proposals for grants up to $60,000 per project. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting applications through April 2 at www.vadcs.virginia.gov/marketing/scrop.shtml (click on application form).
Specialty crops are categorized as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, including floriculture, that are not typically covered by traditional crop insurance. Specialty crops do not include standard commodities such as corn, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, cotton or tobacco. Processed foods are eligible as long as they enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
For more information, contact Melissa Ball at melissa.ball@vdacs.virginia.gov.
Exchange program
A new exchange program has been created between Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and the Bar-llan University Medical School in Safed, Israel, which opened in the fall of 2011.
Dr. Steven Warsof, EVMS professor of obstetrics and gynecology, helped bridge the relationship between the two schools, according to an EVMS press release.
The first phase of the exchange program allows students in their last year of medical school planning to specialize in OB/GYN the opportunity to broaden their medical experience before starting residency training. The program got under way last year with two EVMS students traveling to Israel and two BIUMS students to the U.S. for a four-week stint.
The Israeli school shares EVMS' community focus as it was created to provide improved medical care in an underserved community. Because of the mixed socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds in both Hampton Roads and northern Israel, there are potential opportunities for community health and public health projects for students and doctors in the exchange program.
The EVMS student exchange program is being funded by a gift from Virginia Beach residents Ron and Cindy Kramer and their family. The BIUMS student exchange is being funded by a grant along with gifts from members of the Maimonides Soceity of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
The next phase of the program will involve faculty exchanges and the final phase will take on developing collaborative research.
Contracts
Stoller Newport News Nuclear, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries, has begun field mobilization as part of a fixed unit rate contract awarded by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. on Dec. 30. The contract is valued at up to $2 million.
SN3, a nuclear operations and environmental services company, was created in January when HII merged its Stoller Corp. and Newport News Nuclear subsidiaries.
SN3 supports CH2M Hill's groundwater and soil characterization efforts at the Hanford site in Washington state by providing spectral gamma, neutron moisture and other specialized logging services. Prior to its consolidation with Newport News Nuclear, Stoller provided these services at the Hanford site since October 2006.
SN3 will execute the new contract through FY 2017 with an option year valued at about $1.4 million.
In the 1940s, the Hanford site was used to produce plutonium for weapons production processes that left solid and liquid wastes that posed a risk to the environment. In 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology entered into a legally binding accord, the Tri-Party Agreement, to clean up the Hanford Site.
"Stoller Newport News Nuclear is proud to continue supporting the cleanup efforts at the Hanford site," said Pete Diakun, vice president, energy programs, at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division, in a prepared statement.
W R Systems Ltd. of Norfolk has been awarded an order by Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support for the establishment of a mini stock point for wireless communication and navigation systems. This contract will serve as the government's commercial stock point and will assist in the expediting of requisitions to the fleet.
Academics
Florida Institute of Technology will hold information sessions that include meet-and-greets with faculty and staff for those interested in pursuing a master's degree from the school's Hampton Roads site, on March 12 and April 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
The event location is Herb Bateman Army Education Center, 1500 Madison Ave., Building #1500, Fort Eustis.
Participants need to register in advance at http://info.fit.edu/esd-instant-decision-day-hampton-roads.
Awards & honors
The National Marine Manufacturers Association presented an Innovation Award to Volvo Penta for its new forward drive propulsion system in the Alternative Drive Technology category at the recent 2015 Miami International Boat Show.
Volvo Penta's patented FWD system features forward-facing dual counter-rotating props with an adjustable trim drive. This pulls the boat through the water rather than pushing it, and, according to a press release, opens the way for boat-builders to create new models optimized for recreational water sports.
Tidewater Community College's phlebotomy program is the best in the state of Virginia and among the top 30 in the nation, according to a resouce for students in that health care profession.
PhlebotomyTrainingSpot.com considered program reputation and accreditation in selecting its Best Phlebotomy Education Award winners. Nearly 1,000 programs across the nation participated in the process, according to a press release.
Phlebotomists collect, handle and process blood specimens for analysis.
TCC's 12-credit program, which includes hands-on clinical instruction, can be completed in one semester. Graduates who receive the Phlebotomy Technician Career Studies Certificate are prepared to take the national certification exam.
Prospective students may attend an open house on the third Thursday of each month of the spring semester, at 4 p.m., at the Regional Health Professions Center, Room MW310, on the Virginia Beach campus.
The program is eligible for grants, loans and scholarships. For more information, contact program director Angela Bell at 822-7276 or abell@tcc.edu.
Nestlerode Orthopedic Rehabilitation LLC is the winner of the Jump-Start Elizabeth City (N.C.) Downtown Business Plan Competition, and the Photography Co. is the runner-up.
Launched in September by presenting sponsors Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. and the Elizabeth City Area Committee of 100, the competition was open to entrepreneurs interested in opening or relocating their business in downtown Elizabeth City before Nov. 13. Seven applicants submitted business plans.
Nestlerode Orthopedic Rehabilitation, which is relocating from the Charlotte area, will receive $5,000 in cash jointly provided by Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. and the Elizabeth City Committee of 100; advertising valued at $2,500 in the Daily Advance newspaper; six months of Internet service from Inteliport; a year's free membership in the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce provided by TowneBank; a year's free membership in the Downtown Business and Professional Association; and a set of business cards from MMT Printers.
Photography Co. will receive advertising valued at $1,800 in the Daily Advance; a discounted chamber membership; three months of free Internet service; a free Downtown Business and Professional Association membership; and a set of business cards from MMT.
Children's Harbor will host its 14th annual Safe Harbor Awards & Silent Auction May 14 at 6 p.m. at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
Nominations are sought for individuals, organizations, family-friendly businesses and distinguished young people making a difference in the lives of children. The deadline to nominate is March 6, at 6 p.m.
To receive a nomination or sponsorship package, email info@childrensharbor.cc or call 397-2981.
Tickets to the event are $50 each.
Fellowship program
Worldwide business news network CNBC recently announced the launch of the CNBC Summer Fellowship Program in partnership with Hampton University's Scripps Howard School of Journalism & Communications as well as the Missouri School of Journalism and New York University.
Set to start this summer, the fellowship is designed to focus on diverse or underrepresented students and give them the opportunity to explore business news journalism and the fundamental skills of new production as well as the chance to work in a live newsroom.
NBCUniversal will also offer fellows access to professional development events designed to enhance skills as well as networking events with the pros.
