The Herndon Chamber of Commerce announces a series of special programs for 2009 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Chamber turns 50 years old in January. Launching the celebrations will be the Birthday Party Mixer, taking place at the Herndon Municipal Center on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center, located at 777 Lynn Street, Herndon. $15 Members; $20 Non-Members;. Reservations can be made at www.dullesregionalchamber.org/events.
The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce and Title Sponsor Access National Bank invite new and prospective members to be their guests for lunch at Chamber 101 on Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To RSVP, contact Vickie Walton, Membership Director, 571-323-5308. Chamber 101 will be held at the Dulles Regional Chamber's Chantilly Office, 3901 Centerview Dr., Suite R, Chantilly.
The Chantilly-Centreville Chamber hosts the monthly Power Networking Breakfast on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Select - Dulles Expo Center, 4335 Chantilly Shopping Center. Cost for members is $25; non-members $30. Contact the Chamber at 571-323-5304; or to register online, visit www.dullesregionalchamber.org/events.
Shortly after relocating their Fairfax City office to Chantilly, the accounting firm of Kossler Jones & Company, LLC, added Patty Kemmerer, CPA, CVA, as senior manager. Prior to joining Kossler Jones & Company, LLC , Ms. Kemmerer held a manager’s role at the accounting firm, Thompson, Greenspon & Co., and before that, she held senior roles at MillerMusmar, PC, for 10 years. Earlier, she ran her own tax and accounting business for 10 years. Kossler Jones & Company, LLC, is a five-year old firm now located at 14101 Sullyfield Circle, Suite 100-A, Chantilly. Web site: www.kosslerjones.com.
Curves of Chantilly is rolling out the red carpet to members of the Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program designed for older adults. Beginning Jan. 1, SilverSneakers members are eligible to join Curves of Chantilly at no cost. There are 6,500 Curves locations and more than 2.5 million women in the U.S. who are eligible for the SilverSneakers program. For more information about Curves of Chantilly call 703-961-1700.
Partial Scholarships Available for New ESL for Employment Courses. If you have advanced your English skills and have U.S. work documentation, but are still stuck in a low-paying job, you may qualify for a 50 percent matching scholarship for upcoming ESL for Employment classes! Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce are now enrolling qualified participants at many Northern Virginia locations for new ESL for Employment classes that start in February 2009. To qualify for the matching scholarship, applicants need to be from moderate-income households, complete NOVA’s ESL screening test and present documentation needed to work for U.S. employers.
An Open House will be held Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 7-9 p.m. at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, 3901 Centerview Drive, Chantilly. Just show up, or call NOVA at 703-450-2551
The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Leadership Circle invite women to a High Tea on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The program features a quartet of ladies from the area who have been named by the Washington Business Journal as among the most influential and powerful women in Washington.
Homaira Akbari is currently CEO of Skybitz, the fastest growing business in Virginia; she is the author of more than 50 scientific articles and serves as a judge at the MIT $100K business Plan Competition.
Kristina Bouweiri is CEO of Reston Limousine, the nation’s capitol’s largest transportation company; she grew the company from five cars to 150 cars in 10 years.
Frances Craig, CEO of Unanet, one of the original designers of web based time sheets, led the development of the first worldwide tracing and tracking system used by DHL.
Cynthia de Lorenzi is the Founder and former CEO of the North Texas Technology Council and now founder of Success in the City, recognized as one of the pre-eminent social networking organizations for senior level executive women.
These women will offer business tips and insight on how they grew their businesses. The program will be held at the National Conference Center, 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, from 3-5 p.m. The price is $45/person. Call 703-729-8000 to book a reservation.
The Chantilly-Centreville Chamber of Commerce, in affiliation with the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, will debut its Dulles Leadshare South, which joins the Dulles North and Dulles Central groups already in operation. The meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Leadshare is meeting comprised of business people -- one representative per industry – who meet regularly to exchange leads and develop business relationships. You must be a member of the Dulles Regional Chamber to join this group. There is no charge.
The Dulles Leadshare South currently has openings for the following industries: Business Lawyer; CPA; Mortgage Broker; Office Equipment; Physical Therapist; Home Inspection; Construction; Flooring.
For more information, contact Kirk Forman at mdkforman@aol.com.
Chantilly-based Frank Stitely, Partner, Stitely & Karstetter, CPAs, announced the launch of their interactive online Client Center in conjunction with their new Web site: www.skcpas.com. This is the first interactive online client management service of its kind to be offered by a CPA firm for individuals and businesses throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. The Client Center is secure, easy to use and provides access to clients’ tax preparation and return information seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It also offers clients and the firm the opportunity to be more environmentally friendly, eliminating much of the paper usually associated with CPA firms. Additional information is available on the Stitely & Karstetter web site: www.skcpas.com or you may contact Frank Stitely at 703-802-2309.
The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce will stage its premiere celebration with an Anniversary Gala titled Hour Story: Eat, Drink and Dance Your Way Through Five Decades. This will include silent and live auction, a scrolling visual history of the Chamber events and leaders interspersed with major events of those decades. The event is being held on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 7 p.m. to midnight, at Westfields Marriott in Chantilly.
Interested in doing business with the Commonwealth of Virginia? For free business counseling on eVA, the State's web-based purchasing system, or SWaM (small, women and minority) business certification contact the Mason Enterprise Center at 703-993-9415 or send an email to jleonard@gmu.edu. This program is provided by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. Seats are limited.
Meet local business owners and build your business network through the BNI Business Owner's Roundtable. Meetings are Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. at Eggspectation, 5009 Weston Plaza Dr., Chantilly. Cost is $8 for Continental breakfast or $12 for hot breakfast. Email Lauren Kirby at lkirby@turnaroundllc.com.
The Centreville Rotary Club has moved its meeting location from the I-Hop in Centreville to the EggsSpectations Restaurant in Chantilly. The Rotary Club meets Tuesdays from 11:30-12:30 p.m. for lunch. There is a new guest speaker every week with topics ranging from estate planning to how the Rotary helps during emergencies. Contact Gregg Caldwell at gregg@gandcauto.com.
The Clifton Business Connection chapter of BNI invites area business professionals to visit its weekly networking meeting held every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Heart in Hand Restaurant in Clifton. Visit www.bninova.com.