<i>Send announcements to the Gazette-Packet, by e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com, by fax to 703-917-0991 or by mail to 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Call Meghan Williams at 703-917-6407 with questions.</i>
Alexandria businessman Don Kelly received a Champion Award for Outstanding Community Technology Leader in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Sept. 23. The award was presented by the Education Technology Think Tank and by U.S. Rep. Major Owens (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Education Braintrust recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence while managing, working in or volunteering in community technology programs. Kelly, a local Patent Agent and Technology Consultant, was honored for his longtime efforts to foster inventive thinking in classrooms across America. Kelly helped develop the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office educational outreach initiative Project XL. More recently Kelly has served as an advisor to a national public/private sector alliance partnered with the ByKidsForKids Company dedicated to inspiring and motivating kids to develop their creativity.
MacNair Travel Management/American Express announced that President and CEO Michael MacNair was featured as a speaker at the National Business Travel Association’s 38th Annual Convention and Tradeshow in San Diego, Calif., in August. MacNair provided his expertise during a session titled Partnering with the Right Travel Service.
MacNair will be leading his next Travel Management Teleconference Workshop, titled “Take the Online Route to Lower Fares and Fees”, Oct. 13. Contact Jennifer Thomas at 301-261-9640 or fsrventures@comcast.net, or visit
www.macnairtravel.com.
Shawn McLaughlin, president of McLaughlin Investments, LLC has been named the 2005 Alexandria Business Leader of the Year by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. McLaughlin will be honored at the Chamber’s Business Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on First Street. Outstanding small businesses in Alexandria will also be honored that evening. Tickets to attend are $75 per person. To register, contact Elizabeth Randolph at 703-549-1000, Ext. 207, e-mail erandolph@alexchamber.com or visit www.alexchamber.com.
O’Keeffe & Company, Inc. of Alexandria, a full-service marketing agency focused on delivering tangible results for Information Technology and Telecommunications leaders, announced the addition of Anteon, DataPath, Juniper Networks, Tumbleweed Communications and VBrick to its client roster. The wins represent $3 million in total new annual billings for the agency. O’Keeffe & Company will create and execute integrated marketing programs to increase visibility and accelerate sales traction for each new client. O’Keeffe & Company will develop and execute tailored programs to produce immediate visibility and traction within key markets — public sector as well as commercial — for its new accounts.
The Mount Vernon Toastmasters Club meets at the
Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, at
7:30 p.m., the first and third Mondays of each month.
Guests are welcome and may participate in "table
topics." Call 202-861-5370 or e-mail mtvernontm@yahoo.com.
Employment Club. The Laurie Mitchell Employment Center hosts "The Job Club" every Monday 4:30-5:30 p.m. The group is for those with mental illness and others who need support in their job search. The center is located at 8794 S. Sacramento Drive.
The Virginia Bar Association has announced the names of local lawyers who have earned the designation of “community servant” for completing 50 hours of non-legal community service or “pro bono servant” for completing 50 hours of pro bono public legal service. VBA community servants include: Barbara S. Anderson, Alan S. Anderson, E. Andrew Burcher, Kathleen D. Burgess, Robert L. Calhoun, Mary Elliott, Jeanne F. Franklin, Carolyn M. Grimes, Hon. Becky J. Moore, Jean K. Niebauer, Gordon P. Peyton Jr., Gant Redmon, Daniel F. Rinzel, and Peter T. Straub. VBA pro bono servants include: H. Bradley Evans Jr., Stephen C. Swift and George E. Tuttle Jr.
Senior Services of Alexandria offers free employment services. To list employment needs, call or e-mail Ron Hoekstra or Moya Atkinson. SSA refers qualified, experienced persons, each of whom is at least 55 years old and a resident of the City of Alexandria. Phone 703-894-0311, fax 703-836-1252 or e-mail: jobsssa@pop.net.
Small Business Development Center provides counseling, training and information in all aspects of small business management. The SBDC can help start, manage and grow businesses. It provides confidential services at no charge. For a complete listing of free or low cost local courses, visit www.AlexandriaSBDC.org.