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.
Loudoun Women Business Forum, April 6, noon, ZeffirelliÕs Restaurant, Leesburg. Speaker: Maret McCoy. Topic: Increase Business Effectiveness and Performance. $15, includes lunch. Call 703-728-8900.
The Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce is holding a Better Business Luncheon, held monthly at Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Tuesday, April 11, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Includes hot buffet lunch and guest speaker Cindy Gavelek of C-Scape Inc., who will explain how to become a power user of a contact management tool to gain more revenue. Register online in advance by Friday before the event or by calling 571-323-5300 or send an e-mail to info@herndondulleschamber.org. Fees chamber members $25 in advance or $30 at door; $35 nonmembers in advance or at door.
The Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce mixer is Thursday, April 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at HRI Associates, 505 Huntmar Park Drive, Suite 220, Herndon. Sample wines, cheeses, etc. Fees $10 for chamber members; $15 for nonmembers. Register online at HerndonDullesChamber.org or call 571-323-5300 or info@herndondulleschamber.org.
The Loudoun Arts Council recently welcomed the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Creations by April, a design showroom in Sterling, into its Arts in Offices program. The program partners local artists with area businesses, giving artists the opportunity to show and sell their work in locations where it can be viewed in conference rooms, waiting rooms and other public areas.
Seven venues and 14 artists now participate in the Arts in Offices program. Visit the Arts CouncilÕs Web site at http://www.loudounarts.org. Artists and businesses in Loudoun who wish to participate in the program should contact the Loudoun Arts Council at 703-777-7838 or info@loudounarts.org.
Goodwill of Greater Washington is now also offering new goods. As the local nonprofit organization continues to rebuild its brand, it is not only redesigning all of its retail stores to make them more contemporary and colorful, but it is also supplementing its donated vintage merchandise with brand new merchandise.
Goodwill has specifically designated more than 400 square feet in four of its local retail stores including Sterling and northeast Washington, D.C., with new merchandise.
Goodwill began selling new merchandise in September and will continue to evaluate its success over the next several months. The goal is to provide a greater selection of items and to become a one-stop retail store for its customers.
Dr. Namrata "Sonia" Choudhary of Women First OB/GYN, P.C., in Reston and Sterling, announces Dr. Reepa Shah has joined the practice.
Shah recently completed her residency training at George Washington University Hospital. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Shah is marries and has a 1-year-old son. She is fluent in English and Gujarati and speaks some Hindi and Spanish.
Robert Dawson, director of sales for Ambassador Worldwide Moving, was inducted as a board member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce at the Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne. In his expanded role with the chamber, Dawson will also be chairing the Annual Expo, a key activity of the chamber.
Nichole Towers, resident of Ashburn, has opened an additional Kinderdance educational dance and fitness center at Chesterbrook Academy-Cascades, Logan Way, Sterling. Towers is now teaching more than 45 students in a total of eight different authorized Kinderdance centers.
On March 4, Lansdowne Resort opened Spa MinŽrale, pronounced Min-er-al, a 12,000-square-foot, full-service luxury spa. The new spa, which will open as one of the largest luxury spas in the Washington, D.C., area, is one of the final additions of an estimated $60 million renovation and expansion campaign.
Close to 700 people attended the YMCA Loudoun County's Chocolates Galore and More, Feb. 17. The event raised nearly $37,000 for the Y's Building Bridges Campaign, which provides financial assistance to families that want to participate in YMCA programs. Awards were handed out by judges, as well as people's choice. Judges' awards went to Patowmack Farms, Dinner in the Garden, best dessert presentation; Cilla's Cookies and Confections, best dessert taste; Stratford University, bet hors d'oeuvres presentation; and Lansdowne Resort, best hors d'oeuvres taste. The people's choice awards went to Stratford University, best dessert presentation; Chantell's Cakes and Pastries, best dessert taste; Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, best hors d'oeuvres; and Tuscarora Mill, best hors d'oeuvres taste.
FunKtion Auto Group, a Dulles-based automobile dealership, maintenance shop, racing group and auto enthusiast club announces the grand opening of its 9,000-square-foot facility at 44264 Mercure Drive in Dulles. The Òone stop auto shopÓ sells, services, maintains, races and stores automobiles for its customers.
Friberg Financial Group has opened a second location in Lansdowne, in addition to their primary office in Round Hill. Friberg has been providing financial planning services for 10 years.
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce is holding the Valor Awards, April 18, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Washington Dulles Airport Marriott Hotel, 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles. Recognizes members of the various public-safety departments, as well as everyday civilians, who have placed themselves in harm's way over the past year to ensure the safety of others. Guest speaker, H.C. "Barney" Barnum Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Reserve Affairs). Advance $50 member, $60 nonmember; at the door $60 member, $70 nonmember. Register by calling 703-777-2176, Ext. 23, or RSVP to crichardson@loudounchamber.org.
The Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce is holding Chamber 101, Wednesday, April 19, for prospective and new members to learn how to use chamber events and programs most effectively. Includes a free lunch, a mini workshop and networking with 30-40 other businesses, bring business cards. Sponsors: Access National Bank and Washington Business Journal. Mini workshop topic is Advertising and Marketing: An Expense or an Investment? Free, but preregister with membership director Ellen Kaminsky, 571-323-5302 or by e-mail membership@herndondulleschamber.org. At ITT Technical Institute, 14420 Albemarle Point Place, Suite 100, Chantilly.
The next Loudoun County Procurement's Buyer/Seller Information Exchange is Friday, April 21, 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 second Let's Dish! store is holding a grand opening event Tuesday, April 25, from 4-7 p.m., at Leesburg's Prosperity Center, 705 E. Market St. Approximately 5,000 people have "dished" at the company's Ashburn store since it opened in August 2005.
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.
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.
Abbey Carpet Flooring and Design Center will hold a grand opening of its new 11,000-square-foot retail showroom, located at 21465 Price Cascades Plaza, Sterling, Saturday. April 8, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., including a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. The new showroom features floor coverings, kitchen designs and window fashions from suppliers around the world.
Bowman Consulting announces itÕs participation at LaBash 2006, an annual national student landscape architecture conference. Speakers at the conference include experts from within the industry and will be lecturing on topics related to urban design, environmental planning and sustainable land development practices.
In addition, the panel of landscape architecture speakers will discuss the reclaiming of city parks, waterfront redevelopment and low impact development techniques.
Beyond Closets, a local company focusing on custom home storage announces its move to a larger facility that includes a new showroom and an 8,000-square-foot state-of-the-art, computerized manufacturing facility. The new showroom and manufacturing facility is located at 109 Executive Drive, No. G, Sterling.
Northrop Grumman, has announced that it will join with the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) as the founding sponsor of a new 750-square-foot USO lounge at Dulles International Airport.
The new USO lounge, expected to open in late fall of 2006, will be located on the arrivals level next to the international arrivals building, convenient to ground transportation and the new walkway to Daily Garage 1. The space has been donated to USO-Metro by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
The USO Lounge at Dulles International Airport will be the fourth airport assistance center run by USO-Metro staff and volunteers. Additional facilities include the International Gateway Lounge at Baltimore-Washington International Airport as well as USO lounges at Reagan National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base.