<i>Send announcements to The Reston Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.</i>
May Reston Chamber Luncheon: Small Business Administration, featuring a senior official with the Small Business Administration. Thursday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Reston Hotel, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston.
Serving as the economic engine of the nation, small businesses play a crucial role in regional economic development, job creation, and corporate community involvement. In this special luncheon, a senior official from the U.S. Small Business Administration will address current trends in entrepreneurship and the impact small business has on the big picture. Also, celebrate Business Appreciation Week, May 15-21. Members, as part of the May Membership Campaign, bring a prospect and they only pay the member rate. $35/45 nonmembers. Visit www.restonchamber.org and click on events for registration information.
Design Studios of Reston announces an opening reception at ARTWORKS Gallery & Studio Friday, May 13, from 6-8 p.m., as part of the Second Friday Studio Series. The exhibition will present the works of artists from the "Painting Out of Your Mind" workshop and will run from May 13-29.
The exhibition features a group of Washington-area artists who have been participating in the monthly workshops taught by Brenda Belfield, artist and owner of ARTWORKS Gallery & Studio. Belfield’s workshops teach abstract painting through a variety of techniques and processes that develop intuitive creative thinking, rather than image making. Several Reston artists are featured in this exhibition, Charlene Gridley, Ginny Moore, Patty Chisholm, Aline Chen and John Dusenberry.
ARTWORKS Gallery & Studio is located at 11411 Sunset Hills Road, Suite G, Reston. For information on ARTWORKS, call the studio at 703-464-7477 or visit www.belfieldartworks.com.
Owner and director, Tina Carlo, announces that "Dance With Me!" Ballroom Dance Studio is moving from Sterling Plaza Shopping Center in Sterling to the 251 Sunset Business Park at the intersection of Sunset Hills/Spring Street and Fairfax County Parkway in Herndon on April 4. After being at its Sterling location for the past six years and at other local locations for a total of 18 years, Dance With Me! will settle in with new programs such as lunch-time, drop-in classes and after-work classes. The studio plans classes in salsa, Latin, ballroom, swing, "Nite Club Survival" and extensive wedding preparation classes. The studio's new "Club" look will lend itself to small weddings as well as great dances and social events and is available for such rentals. Call 703-444-3061 or visit www.dancewithme.net.
Dragonfly and Mayflowers are continuing the Second Friday Studio Series each month from 6–9 p.m. Gallery talks are at 7 p.m. May 13: Living Outdoors – create a whole new room.
Dulles Rail: How When, Why and How Much? Co-sponsored with the Loudoun County, Central Fairfax and Herndon Dulles Chambers, Committee for Dulles, Dulles Area Transportation Association and Dulles Corridor Rail Association. Friday, May 13, from 7:30-10 a.m., at the Hyatt Dulles, 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd., Herndon.
Receive an up-to-the-minute update on Dulles Rail including the construction timeline, financing package progress and economic impact indicators. Featuring a Project Overview by Sam Carnaggio, project director of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Funding overview and discussion panelists include Tom Rust, state delegate; Richard Stevens, Fairfax County; Kirby Bowers, county executive, Loudoun County; and James Bennett, president/CEO of MWAA. Moderated by Karen Rae, director, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Visit www.restonchamber.org and click on events for registration information.
Economic Update Series: Planes, Trains & Automobiles: A Travel & Tourism Update. Wednesday, May 18, 8-10 a.m., at the Hyatt Dulles, 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd., Herndon.
With the commonwealth's revived focus on travel and tourism, this seminar will teach attendees about travel trends and how businesses can benefit from targeting tourism. The second in a special Economic Update Series. Members, as part of our May Membership Campaign, bring a prospect and they'll only pay the member rate. $25 admission. Visit www.restonchamber.org and click on events for registration information.
Nonprofit Roundtable Breakfast: Using Marketing Mindset to Bolster Development Efforts. With Edward Robinson, president and founder, Capacity Building Solutions Inc.
Friday, May 20, from 7:30-9:30 a.m., at Northrop Grumman, 12011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston.
In today’s highly competitive and fragmented nonprofit environment it pays to have a competitive edge. One way to accomplish this is to become more strategic rather than tactical about your development efforts. Learn how to sharpen your marketing focus so that you can best hone in on your fundraising potential. Admission is free for member nonprofits; $10 nonmember nonprofits. Visit www.restonchamber.org and click on events for registration information.
May Network Night at Oracle. Tuesday, May 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Oracle, 1910 Oracle Way, next to Plaza America, Reston.
One of the Reston chamber's largest Network Nights of the year, this special networking function features high-level interaction with chamber board members, ambassadors, staff, and other members. Find new clients and business partners and learn how to take advantage of the last days of the May Membership Campaign for additional membership benefits. Members, as part of our May Membership Campaign, bring a prospect and they'll only pay the member rate. Visit www.restonchamber.org and click on events for registration information.
Northern Virginia companies can now apply for the 2005 CARE Awards (Companies As Responsive Employers) administered by Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). Applications are available online and must be submitted by June 10.
The CARE Awards recognizes businesses located in Northern Virginia that are leaders in promoting a positive work-life balance for employees through company policies and benefits. Since 1992, the CARE Awards have identified the best places to work in Northern Virginia. The application can be downloaded from the Northern Virginia Family Service website at www.nvfs.org/applyforcare.pdf.
Applicants are evaluated against other businesses of like size and resources by a committee comprised of human resource professionals, previous CARE Award winners and Northern Virginia Family Service staff. CARE Award winners are recognized at an awards breakfast to be held Thursday, Nov. 17.
Business and Professional Women (BPW) of Greater Fairfax will host Elisabeth Gehl, director of Public Policy and Legislative Affairs for BPW/USA, speaking on "Legislative
Advocacy" at its monthly dinner meeting Monday, May 9, 6:30-9 p.m., at Tysons Corner Embassy Suites, 8517 Leesburg Pike (Rte. 7), Vienna. Cost is $25 for members and
$30 for nonmembers. For information and reservations, call Elyse Galik at 703-652-8364.
The National Women’s Business Center Inc., a nonprofit organization serving entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, in partnership with Maryland and Virginia Governors Robert L. Ehrlich and Mark R. Warner and Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced the First Annual National Business Women’s Conference. The Conference will be held June 7, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.
The National Business Women’s Conference will feature remarks by Williams, Warner and Ehrlich. The opening session and luncheon will be highlighted by keynotes from prominent business leaders. The morning and afternoon breakout sessions will present insights by industry experts on key topics related to federal procurement; state issues and advocacy; marketing and public relations; business and financial management; and international trade.
Small business owners will have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one appointments with federal agencies and corporate buyers interested in quality women-owned suppliers. And, to top off a highly energized, information-packed day will be a reception and networking that precedes the NWBC’s Annual Awards Dinner and Gala.
The conference price is $245 ($215 NWBC member) if paid before May 31, after that date the cost is $275. Registration for information is available online at www.businesswomensconference.com or by calling 202-785-4922. Sponsorships are still available and details can be found at the Web site.
Reston Hospital Center has received this year's Hospital of Choice Award from the American Alliance of Healthcare
Providers (AAHCP), which recognizes America's most customer-friendly hospitals. Reston Hospital is one of only four Virginia hospitals to win this recognition.
The Choice Awards status is granted to health-care facilities that provide the very best customer service to patients and their families, as well as active involvement in the communities they serve, according to AAHCP President, R. Vincent Parr. Designation criteria include meeting high quality management standards for improving patient care, strong physician and nursing leadership, support for continuing education and development, and effective community involvement.
The goal of the American Alliance of Providers, based in Alexandria, is to help consumers make educated decisions about the quality of their. The organization's strategy is to build systems of improvement that will help identify, measure, and monitor key indicators necessary for outstanding.
Reston Hospital Center, a 160-bed facility located in Reston Town Center, is an expanding full-service medical/surgical hospital that has served the residents of growing western Fairfax and eastern Loudoun Counties since 1986. When its current expansion project is completed, Reston Hospital
Center will feature 187 beds in all-private rooms.
Reston Hospital Center and its sister facilities, Northern Virginia Community Hospital, Fairfax Surgery Center, Reston Surgery Center, and the proposed Broadlands Regional Medical Center, are affiliates of Nashville-based HCA, the nation's leading provider of health-care services.
Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC), welcomed J. Michael Pitchford as its new CEO and president serving as community development equity executive for Bank of America, he led a team of real estate professionals who developed more than 23,000 units of affordable housing since 1994.
CPDC works with residents, governments and financiers to turn around troubled communities and preserving those subjected to market pressures and rising rents. Wardman Court (formerly Clifton Terrace), Edgewood Terrace and Southern Ridge in Washington, D.C., and Admiral Oaks in Annapolis, Md., represent model successes where crime and mismanagement once ruled. Island Walk in Reston and 1330 Seventh St. in the District are examples of where complex financing allowed for sustainability and the opportunity for residents to eventually own their homes.
In the wake of the December tsunami, CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) executives offered to send a few coworkers to Thailand if the coworkers could collect $100,000 in donations. As part of this program the selected workers would assist Habitat for Humanity International in rebuilding homes for two weeks to leverage both money and (wo)manpower in helping victims.
When the CDW-G Tsunami Fund Drive closed at the end of February, coworkers had surpassed the milestone by raising more than $103,000 in donations. As promised, the company's executives held a "raffle" to select coworkers who contributed to the fund. In addition to coworker donations, CDW founder, Michael Krasny, made a personal contribution of $100,000 to the fund drive. Krasny's generosity, combined with the donation match program brought CDW-G's total donation to $306,000.
Selected coworkers will travel to help with relief efforts from July 9-23. Money raised for the victims will go to the American and Canadian Red Cross organizations, CARE International, and Habitat for Humanity International.
Angela’s Happy Stamper offers free Learn at Lunch programs every Tuesday from 12–2 p.m., free make and take opportunities and many new classes. Currently, Happy Stamper customers are creating and donating all kinds of stationery for the charity, Support Our Troops. In Iraq, stationery is in short supply for those wishing to send mail home.
Greater Reston area business people have a new professional networking opportunity. A.M. Executive Connections is held the third Wednesday of each month, 8-9:30 a.m., and features a full, hot breakfast, complimentary display table for promotional literature and door prizes. Contact Barbara LaRock, 703-709-8600, e-mail at bml@barbaralarock.com or visit www.barbaralarock.com.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a delivery order to adapt its Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) for use in a service-oriented environment by joint service war fighters.
The JMPS automates mission planning through the development of common components and software that can be shared across all platforms, including various aircraft, smart munitions and some ground vehicles.
The Framework 1.3/1.4 delivery order, valued at $23 million,
was awarded under the Mission Planning Enterprise Contract (MPEC), a five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract managed by the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, based in Reston, is a
global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems and services for defense, intelligence and civil government markets. The sector's technology leadership and expertise spans areas such as strategic systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; command and control; technical services; and training.