April 2009
Volume 9, No. 3
The E-newsletter of the Roanoke County Economic Development Department is
designed to showcase the investments and achievements of our existing business
partners. For additional information about doing business in Roanoke County,
visit our website www.yesroanoke.com.
ITT NIGHT VISION COMMEMORATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
1959-2009
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, issued a proclamation to commemorate the 50th ANNIVERSARY OF ITT NIGHT VISION; and
proclaim Tuesday, March 17, 2009, as ITT Night Vision Day in Roanoke County. Congratulations to Mike Hayman and his colleagues on this
milestone achievement.
Within the past five years, ITT Night Vision has made a capital investment that exceeded $46 million in 2005, created 430 new jobs and
renovated and expanded their Roanoke county facility which now totals 285,000 square feet of manufacturing and administrative space.
During the last six years, ITTNV has received a total of $2.7 billion in orders of their night vision equipment. The corporation has grown
to 1,509 employees in 2009 from 54 employees in 1959. ITT Night Vision is one of the largest and most highly skilled workforces in Roanoke
region.
To read more, click here.
www.itt.com
www.nightvision.com
DAPROSYSTEMS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
1984-2009
DaProSystems is recognized as a premier provider of Public Safety Software and Support Solutions. The company has focused exclusively on the Public Safety
marketplace since 1996. Targeted clients include Sheriff’s Offices, Police Departments, Emergency Communications Centers and Colleges & Universities. DaProSystems
provides both the experience and the expertise necessary to support the essential applications found in today’s Public Safety environment.
Founded and headquartered in Roanoke County in 1984, DaProSystems employs staff personnel for software development, customer support, technical support, system training,
sales/marketing, and administrative functions. Additionally, DaProSystems supports over 150 successful system installations to provide additional hardware, software, web
and network support services.
In December of 2008, DaProSystems moved into their new office building located on Electric Road in the Olde Dominion Office Park. Congratulations to John Lewis and his colleagues on this achievement!
www.daprosystems.com
TWO OF THE ENTREPRENEURS FROM VBF'S FRONTLINE 15 LIST
Two Roanoke County entrepreneurs were listed in the March 2009 issue of
Valley Business FRONT magazine are:
Victor Iannello, CEO and Founder
Victor Iannello, CEO of Synchrony, launched the
engineering/manufacturing business in the basement of his Roanoke County
home a little more than 15 years ago. He had moved to Roanoke to work
for Magnetic Bearings and has become a much-honored entrepreneur in the region. The company has grown significantly in recent years and has seen an infusion of funds from venture capitalists.
www.synchrony.com
Tamea Franco Woodward, President and Founder
Tamea Franco Woodward founded customized metal finisher East-West Dyecom in 1987 after working as a watch maker. She took a class in metal working and
began experimenting with anodized aluminum and ultimately started a company from her home (with $1,300). She pumped gas and worked a lathe in the early days, keeping the company going. A woman of many-and constantly expanding-interests and a vast amount of curiosity.
www.eastwestdye.com
Courtesy of Valley Business FRONT magazine
CHOCOLATIER CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN WEST VILLAGE
Chicago native Bayla Sussman is an entrepreneur with a success story. Fourteen years ago, she moved to Roanoke and later began a
home-based candy business. One of her major supporters was Gwenda Kellett who asked Bayla to serve her chocolates at Kellett's receptions
and open houses at Plantagenet Rose in West Village. Gradually Sussman built a base of local retailers and the demand for her product began
to grow. She soon realized that her southwest county kitchen made a great candy workshop, but she needed space to grow and the ability to
hire employees to help her meet the customer orders.
The former actress and marketing research analyst turned chocolatier celebrated the opening of her first retail store, Baylee’s Best, on
February 6, 2009, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to highlight her grand opening. Sussman and her husband, Michael Bonney, invested about $100,000
in renovations and equipment in an upscale retail space in West Village. Congratulations Bayla!
www.bayleesbest.com
Cave Spring Supervisor Charlotte Moore joins owners Bayla Sussman and Michael Bonney at the grand opening
ribbon cutting for Baylee's Best in West Village.
AT&T OPENS ITS DOORS IN PROMENADE PARK
Left to Right: Supervisor Charlotte Moore congratulates CEO Tyler Sugden and presents a Certificate of
Appreciation in honor of the grand opening.
Last month, a new AT&T sign appeared at 3554 Electric Road in
Promenade Park. An official ribbon cutting was held on Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m., but a soft opening had been conducted two weeks previously.
Tyler Sugden, CEO of AT&T, explained that the
company already has a retail store on the north side of Roanoke, but wanted to locate a site in southwest county also.
Promenade Park offered a corner unit and great view sight from Route 419 which has promoted walk-in traffic.
AT&T’s store hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 540-400-8885.
www.att.com
TUCK CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC ADDS NEW LOCATION IN CAVE SPRING AT PROMENADE PARK
Tuck Chiropractic opened a new Cave Spring office on March 23, at Promenade Park located at 3538 Electric Road. Dr. Ray Tuck, County Supervisor Charlotte Moore and other
business leaders were on hand to celebrate the event with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Also introduced during the ceremony was Dr. Craig Camidge, who serves as the new
chiropractor at the Cave Spring location.
Tuck Chiropractic Clinic offers chiropractic manipulative therapy and utilize spinal x-rays, physiotherapy, neuromuscular re-education, and therapeutic exercise. The clinic
is complete with an adjustment room, consult room, several private therapy areas and examining rooms.
Tuck Chiropractic has 9 office locations to serve patients throughout the Roanoke and New River Valleys.
For more information about the company visit:
www.tuckclinic.com
Supervisor Charlotte Moore cuts the ribbon with Dr. Ray Tuck and Dr. Craig Camidge with the assistance of business colleagues and Debbie Kavitz of the
Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce.
RVTV's ROANOKE COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS
Business assistance programs provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia is the newest feature show on
Roanoke County Business Partners. The program provides an overview of two timely programs in the current economic climate:
The International Trade Division
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Interview with Paul Grossman, Director of International Trade
and
Virginia Jobs Investment Partnership
Virginia Department of Business Assistance
Interview with Debbie Melvin, Project Manager
Also featured in the program were Optical Cable Corporation for developing trade relationships in 60 foreign markets and ITT Night Vision for its training investment of
800+ employees.
 
Join Roanoke County Business Partner's hosts, Melinda Cox, Doug Chittum and Jill Loope as they explore assistance programs available to county business partners by the state
of Virginia. Roanoke County Business Partners airs every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on RVTV Channel 3. For additional programming information,
please click here
www.rvtv.org.
VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGEPRESENTS GROWING $ALES SEMINAR
www.emarketingwebinars.com/vwcc
eMARKETING TECHNIQUES WEBINAR SERIES FOR
VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please
click here. Your email address will not be shared with others. Your
comments and feedback are appreciated.
|
