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<pc>Photo by Monique Laventure
V-0416-107
<lst>The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce upcoming meetings are as follows:
Every Tuesday, a Lunch and Lead Tip Group allows members to meet and network, share leads and mingle, 12:15-1:30 at the Hyatt DoubleTree Hotel at Tysons, 7801 Leesburg Pike. R.S.V.P. to Harvey Silverman, 703-319-8806.
Every Friday, a Business-to-Business Tip Group meets, 12:15-1:30 p.m. at Shula's Steakhouse, 8028 Leesburg Pike, in the Tysons Corner Marriott. R.S.V.P. to Jodi Scholes, 703-255-1500.
On Thursday, May 8, the monthly luncheon will feature the election of the VTRCC Board of Directors and guest speaker Rep. Tom Davis (R-11). Begins with 11:30 a.m. networking and continues with a noon lunch at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. $30 for members with reservations, $35 for non-members and walk-ins. R.S.V.P to 703-281-1333.
On Wednesday, May 21, the Lunch and Learn will feature Norman Hecht, Small Business Advocate, from Allfirst Bank-Tysons Corner speaking on the topic "How to talk so banks will listen and how to listen so banks will talk." 12-1:15 p.m. at HQ Global Workplace. Healthy lunch from Whole Foods provided by speakers. Free. R.S.V.P. to 281-1333. Space limited to 20 people.
On Thursday, May 22, the Evening Networking Mixer will provide a chance to meet more area business owners and fellow chamber members. 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Whole Foods Market, Vienna, 143 Maple Ave., E. R.S.V.P. to 703-281-1333 or www.vtrcc.org/rsvp.htm.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the VTRCC Health Fair at Viva Vienna will feature Evolution Health and Fitness and the Grove Center for Chiropractic and Wellness outside of Evolution Health and Fitness, 216 Old Dominion Road, N.E., providing a variety of health screenings, products and information. Some screenings cost a small fee.
Giant Food Inc. is offering its customers the opportunity to support American troops and local military families by contributing funds to the Metropolitan Washington United Service Organizations (USO). Customers may donate to the USO through the purchase of $1, $3 and $5 donation vouchers located at the checkout registers at each Giant and Super G store.
Contributions will be used by the USO to help fund care packages for our troops and to help support other USO efforts related to the call-up of our armed forces personnel.
HQ Global Workplaces is sponsoring a "Get Out of the House" contest for home office professionals. Those who work from home are invited to submit their funniest, worst or most embarrassing home office experiences in 500 words or less via e-mail to contest@vollmerpr.com. Three metropolitan-area winners will be announced on May 26. More information is available at the HQ Global Workplaces business centers at 2010 Corporate Ridge, McLean; 8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Vienna; or by visiting www.hq.com.
Jim Solomon of Vienna was recognized with the Task Team Recognition Award by the American Cancer Society Mid-Atlantic Division for his outstanding service in planning the Society's annual fund-raiser gala, the Capital Baron's Ball, which raised over $500,000.
Ron Sherman of Vienna was recognized with the Special Events Award by the American Cancer Society Mid-Atlantic Division for his volunteer leadership in the Society's annual fund-raiser, Relay for Life, where he helped produce significant increases in areas of funds raised and volunteers recruited.
Atlantic Realty Cos. of Tysons Corner is pleased to welcome J. Esther Reiz as senior counsel. In addition, Atlantic has hired Marc Witowski as senior leasing director and Carl Taylor as leasing director, responsible for the leasing of Atlantic's Washington, D.C., metropolitan-area portfolio of some 30 commercial buildings housing over 500 tenants. Founded in 1992, Atlantic Realty Cos. is one of the greater Washington metropolitan area's largest commercial real estate development firms.
Potomac Bank of Virginia has announced the opening this summer of a new, improved and expanded office at 414 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. The bank is moving its branch operations from 133 Maple Ave. E. The Potomac Bank of Virginia is a full-service, state-chartered bank that opened in August 1998.
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce held its annual community awards dinner at the Marriott Tysons Corner on March 27. Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn (R-Dranesville) was honored for his service by the chamber and the community at large. Mendelsohn announced last fall that he would not seek re-election. A tree will be planted in McLean Central Park in his honor.
Chamber member Lucy Chatelain was recognized at Volunteer of the Year. Other honorees included teachers and students of the local high schools, firefighters and police officers.
The Arc of Northern Virginia, a group that provides support to families of the developmentally disabled, is looking for corporate sponsors for the 25th Annual Patriot's Cup Challenge 8K Race to raise funds and awareness. The event will take place on Sunday, May 4, at the Fairfax campus of George Mason University. For more information about participating as a sponsor, team, individual runner or volunteer, call 703-532-3214 or visit www.thearcofnova.org.
Leadership Fairfax Inc. is seeking candidates for its two leadership programs, Leadership Fairfax Signature Program and the Emerging Leaders Institute. The location of the Recruiting Preview on Wednesday, April 30, has been changed to 5801 Rolling Road, Springfield., 5:30-6:30 p.m., 703-569-2121. This information session is free and will provide prospective candidates with overviews of the two programs and the application process. Call 703-749-0409 or e-mail info@leadershipfairfax.org.
The Business and Professional Women of Greater Fairfax will host Nancy Scesney, director of Education for Independence, for the discussion "Running a Nonprofit Services Agency" at its monthly dinner meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 6:30-9 p.m., at Tysons Corner Embassy Suites, 8517 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. The cost is $25. For information and reservations, call Elyse Galik at 703-471-4604.
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce upcoming meetings are as follows:
May 1, 6 p.m., Program and Special Events Committee meeting at the Chamber Office;
May 7, 7:30-9 a.m., networking seminar with Ardell Feeson of the Tower Club. At McCormick & Schmick's, 8484 Westpark Drive. $20;
May 8, Membership Committee meeting, 11:30 a.m., in the Community Room at the Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road;
May 12, Board of Directors meeting and retreat, 2-8 p.m., at the McLean Community Center;
May 13, Marketing Committee meeting, 4 p.m., at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 6832 Old Dominion Drive;
May 14, Rise 'n' Shine networking breakfast, 7:30 a.m., at Cafe Oggi, 6671 Old Dominion Drive. $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers;
May 16, brown bag lunch with the executive director, a new-member and prospective-member orientation, noon, in the Community Room at the Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road;
May 21, Education Committee meeting, 8:30 a.m., at Sunrise Assisted Living of McLean, 8315 Turning Leaf Lane;
May 21, business mixer and election, 5:30 p.m.;
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce reservation policy states that payment must be made in advance or at the door. No-shows will be billed unless the reservation is canceled 48 hours in advance. A $25 fee will be charged for returned checks.
"Giving them the shirt off your back" will have a new meaning at the grand opening of the new H&M clothing store on Friday, May 2, at noon at Tysons Corner Center, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. The first 100 shoppers to take off their shirts - or any other gently used clothing item - and donate their garments to benefit the Children's National Medical Center will be given a free H&M T-shirt as well as 20 percent off the purchase of any single item at H&M on opening day. H&M offers fashions and accessories for women, teens and children.
The Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Awards Banquet will take place on May 15 at the Sheraton Premiere, Tysons Corner. The banquet recognizes individuals for their outstanding accomplishments in the areas of mentoring, entrepreneurship and technology. For more information, visit www.womenintechnology.org.
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce invites the membership to attend the annual meeting to be held on May 21 at The Capital Grille, 1861 International Drive, McLean. At this meeting members in good standing will elect officers and Board of Directors members to fill vacancies for terms beginning July 1. Bring guests for a mixer preceding and following the annual meeting. The mixer will commence at 5:30 p.m., $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers. Guests may stay for the meeting. R.S.V.P. by calling 703-356-5424, or e-mail info@mcleanchamber.org.
Norbert Bender, Ph.D., M.D., and Michael Kirchengast, Ph.D., have joined PRA International, the world's largest privately held global drug development organization, as vice president of operations and senior director of strategic consulting, respectively. Bender and Kirchengast will be located in PRA's Mannheim, Germany, office. PRA International is headquartered in McLean.
United Bankshares Inc. announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement with Sequoia Bancshares, headquartered in Bethesda, Md. United will acquire Sequoia Bancshares and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, SequoiaBank. Sequoia Bancshares, with $547 million in assets, has 12 full-service offices located in Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and Montgomery County, Md. Upon completion of the acquisition, it is anticipated that SequoiaBank will be merged with United's Virginia subsidiary, United Bank, the third largest Virginia-headquartered bank.
Stephan Quinn Cassaday, CFP, CFS, president of Cassaday & Co. Inc., a McLean-based financial planning and investment management firm, will receive the 2003 Leadership Award from the National Capital Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) during the chapter's annual gala on June 30. Peers in the planning progression give the award to the member whose contributions to the overall success of the chapter merit exceptional recognition. Cassaday served on the board of directors of the FPA for 11 years, during which he introduced several new FPA initiatives, including the annual FPA Gala. The gala serves as a fund-raising event for the Good Samaritan Foundation, an area charity.
The Mail Boxes Etc. store located in McLean joined over 3,000 other Mail Boxes Etc. stores across the country as they officially changed their name to The UPS Store. New low shipping rates direct from UPS, as well as the traditional full range of packaging, postal and business services, are aimed at saving customers time and money as a part of the company's national re-branding campaign.
Bank of America is opening a new Tysons Corner banking center, located 1934 Old Gallows Road. The 1960 Gallows Road Bank of America location will be relocated to the new banking center, which will feature six lobby teller stations, two walk-up and two drive-up automated teller machines and a night depository. To celebrate the banking center's opening, customers will be offered a free companion airline certificate when opening any personal or small business checking account; a 1.9 percent introductory annual percentage rate for qualified applicants who open a Bank of America credit card; a $200 Bank of America Visa gift card for customers who take out a mortgage; a $75 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse gift certificate for opening a home equity line of credit; and free, unlimited online bill pay when signing up for online banking.
The banking center's hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, has added two intellectual property attorneys to the firm's Technology and Commerce Practice Group in its Northern Virginia office. Nanda Alapati and Barry Goldsmith will bring their experience as electrical engineers as well as previous experience in technological patents to enrich Womble Carlyle's team, which already possesses an extensive knowledge of domestic and foreign intellectual property law.
The eWomen Network will host an "Accelerated Networking" luncheon on Wednesday, May 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Tower Club, 8000 Crescent Towers, Suite 1700, McLean. The event will provide attendees with a structured networking environment and give each the opportunity to promote what they have to offer to others. Admission costs $60 for nonmembers, $45 for members. Register online at www.eWomenNetwork.com.