Consumers Drive the Recovery Forward - Massanutten Resort

The Advocate
Consumers Drive the
Recovery Forward
By Ann Battle Macheras, Vice President, Regional Economics
Division, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The national economy has now been
in recovery for twenty months, or for
longer than the recent recession that
lasted from December 2007 to June
2009. The recovery path following
a recession is inherently uneven,
especially coming out of such a deep
recession, and the current recovery
is no exception. However, there is
reason for optimism as the economy has entered 2011 with significant
momentum. After a couple of quarters of what economists
refer to as “below trend” growth, the economy grew at a more solid
3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010 (as measured by growth in real
gross domestic product*). The significant difference between growth
now and growth a year ago is that the consumer is playing more of
a role in driving the recovery forward. Indeed, consumer spending
grew at 4.4% - the fastest quarterly increase since early 2006. Since
consumer spending accounts for seventy percent of our economy, a
healthy recovery for the consumer bodes well for the sustainability
of the recovery.
Other factors also point to a stronger recovery this coming
year. Businesses share the optimism of the consumer and have
come through with consistent growth in spending on equipment
and software, which has been expanding since early 2009.
* Seasonally adjusted annualized rate of growth in real gross domestic product.
continued on Page 4
Look Inside...
Issue 01: Winter 2011
Harrisonburg & Rockingham County Lead
Job Growth in Virginia, pg. 5
Read more about our local economic indicators that were presented
at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Forecast on February 2nd.
Branding Our Community, pg. 4
A new branding initiative will enhance Harrisonburg &
Rockingham County’s ability to attract and retain key industries.
Invest in Our Area - Shop Local, pg. 7
The Chamber has created our own version of a “Shop Local”
campaign. Learn how to take advantage of the M2M program.
Chamber Hosts Military Support Fair, pg. 9
The Military Support Fair is an initiative to thank the brave men
and women who are currently serving and have previously served
our country in uniform.
Chamber Predicts 6.7% Jobless Rate will
Increase Job Seekers at Regional Job Fair, pg. 9
As the economy recovers, businesses are anticipating an increase in
demand for workers.
Chamber Adopts 2011 Plans of Work, p. 11
The Chamber has adopted an ambitious and exciting set of goals,
programs and events for the current year. See what’s to come.

Board of directors
JOSH HALE, Chair, Farmers & Merchants Bank
TOM MENDEZ, Past Chair, BB&T Insurance Services
STEVE TURNER, Chair-Elect, Daily News-Record
CHUCK AHREND, Agricultural Interests
HOBEY BAUHAN, Virginia Poultry Federation
GREG CAMPBELL, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport
PABLO CUEVAS, Rockingham County
KAI DEGNER, City of Harrisonburg
DAVID DENMAN, Cottonwood Commercial
RODNEY EAGLE, Eagle Carpet, Inc.
MELISSA FORTNER, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
ANGELA GOCHENOUR, Cold Stone Creamery
REBECCA HAUSHALTER, CrossKeys Vineyards
ANDRIA JACKSON, Steven Toyota
JENIFER JACKSON, Comfort Inn Harrisonburg
CRAIG MACKAIL, Harrisonburg City Public Schools
JILL MCGLAUGHLIN, Classic Kitchen & Bath
DICK MYERS, Dick Myers Chrysler Dodge Jeep
JATHAN PAYNE, Medicap Pharmacy
KEVIN ROSE, BotkinRose, PLLC
DR. JAMES SHAEFFER, SR., PH.D., James Madison University
STACY SHIFLET, PBGH, LLP
SARAH ELSON-STANIUNAS, Massanutten Resort
JUDITH TRUMBO, Rockingham Memorial Hospital
CHRIS WEAVER, Lantz Construction Company
GLENDA WESTERN, MillerCoors Brewing
LAURA WOLFE, Kline May Realty
chamBer staff
FRANK TAMBERRINO, President and CEO
STAN FARTHING, Director of Membership Services
KATEY HARBAUGH, Manager of Finance & Administration
KIM KIRK, Director of Communications
ROY KELLY, Administrative Assistant
Get the scoop
Whether you are a new or long-standing member of the
Chamber, you have many opportunities to stay connected with
what’s happening in our thriving business community.
WEBSITE: www.hrchamber.org
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/hrchamber
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/HR_Chamber
BLOG: hrchamber.bluekeyblogs.org
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/hrchamber
the advocate
The Advocate is a quarterly publication of the Harrisonburg-
Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. Read it online at www.hrchamber.org.
©2011. The information published in The Advocate are opinions of the
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
2 | The Advocate
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham
Chamber of Commerce has
been a long-time business partner
and personal investment of mine.
Over the years, the organization has
provided me with tremendous opportunities
in our community while
also helping me grow as a business
professional. As your Chairman for
2011, I will be focused on helping
the Chamber provide greater resources
to the business community.
We will achieve this through four
key areas: Promotion, Leadership,
Advocacy, and Networking.
PROMOte
The Chamber provides many
opportunities for you to promote
your business and gain visibility. As
a member, make sure you are taking
advantage of these benefits. Place
your business cards in the Chamber
lobby. Advertise or insert a flyer in
The Advocate. Check your business
listings in our online directory
(www.hrchamber.org). Submit press
releases to the Chamber so we can
update the community about your
business. Increase traffic to your
door by joining the new, exciting
Member-2-Member program, which
has added to the meaning of doing
business together.
LeAD
The Chamber is a premier organization
that is helping lead Harrisonburg
and Rockingham County into
the future. Our success is a result of
your dedication to help spread the
word about what our Chamber is
accomplishing. So, get involved in
the many Chamber committees and
help make a difference. Participate
in roundtable discussions to share
ideas and let your voice be heard.
The Chamber needs your leadership
and vision to guide us through the
Josh hale, farmers & merchants Bank
Chairman, H-R Chamber of Commerce
next decade.
ADVOCAte
The Chamber is about bringing
local businesses together, to work
cooperatively, and to speak with
one voice. We are committed to
advancing our business presence and
enhancing our local economy. To
achieve this, we will continue to
cultivate relationships with our
legislators. We will provide opportunities
for you to meet with our
representatives to talk about the
issues.
NetWORk
Networking creates relationships
and an environment to develop
business. It creates opportunities,
but they are what you make of
them. Many events that are held
throughout the year help us get to
know one another and our
business community. Take advantage
of the opportunities that the
Chamber provides and you will see
a difference.
In 2011, let’s look forward
together and focus on those things
that make our organizations and
lives successful and fulfilling. The
Harrisonburg-Rockingham
Chamber of Commerce can provide
the stepping stones. But, we
challenge you to design your path to
success.
Also, I want to take a moment
to recognize Tom Mendez for his
outstanding leadership in 2010 as
Chair of the Board of Directors.
Tom’s vision and passion for the
Chamber was evident in all that he
did and I look forward to working
with him as Past Chair for the 2011
Board of Directors.

When the U.S. economy was
booming a few years ago,
making money was not a given, but
business owners were positive about
their chances. Return-On-Investment
(ROI) was positive, although
the percentages might have been
relative depending on what business
you were in. Fast forward to
mid-late 2000s, and it became both
popular and critical to scrutinize the
bottom line, and every dollar that
contributed to it. Your Chamber of
Commerce is no different. We want
to make sure everything we invest
time and money into brings a result
or value to you as an investor in the
organization.
ROI has been at the forefront
when planning for 2011. We know,
and renewing Chamber members
confirm, that the Chamber provides
value (ROI on dues). We put a lot
of effort into increasing that value
last year. We know there is value in
business people networking, and we
expanded the number of networking
opportunities. We know there is
value in advocating for a favorable
business climate, so we took positions
and a higher profile on issues
affecting business and the economy.
We know there is a direct benefit in
members doing business with members,
so we instituted the Member-
2-Member program. We know there
is value in leadership training, so
we made leadership a component of
Connections2010. We took some
steps forward last year, and the yearend
membership survey confirmed
it - 87.8% of respondents believed
that we improved our
programs and events in 2010.
But in today’s world, value
and ROI are moving targets. Our
goal is to improve our members’
economic competitiveness through
more useful information, training
frank tamberrino
President and CEO
opportunities, business-to-business
opportunities and leadership skills.
We will accomplish this through
new programs and partnerships. We
will also broaden the reach of our
programs across the City and the
County.
We will continue to communicate
with you in multiple ways,
ranging from traditional printed
material and personal contact to
social media such as Facebook.
Chairman Josh Hale has described
(see Chairman’s column) how we are
approaching the Chamber’s four key
attributes this year – Lead. Advocate.
Network. Promote. We believe
each of these areas will be valuable
to you as a member, although the
weighting may vary based on your
needs and expectations.
In return for stepping up our
game, we ask for your continued
support of the programs and events
you like, your advice on improving
events and the opportunities that
we may be missing, and your help
in growing the organization. We
received a lot of great feedback from
the year-end membership survey
and new ideas are being generated
from member suggestions. We
have committees, sub-committees
and other opportunities for you to
serve and contribute. Please find
out where you can make a positive
impact on the Chamber and our
community.
We are at 800 members strong
and would love to see 900 by the
end of the year. With your help,
we can reach and surpass that
milestone. Volunteer for our new
Membership Committee or refer a
prospective member to the Chamber
staff. Your ROI increases as you
take advantage of what the Chamber
has to offer and as you get more
involved.
feBruary *schedule complete as of press time; subject to change
15 - ribbon cutting @ found design: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
16 - Business after hours @ Bridgewater college
5:00: Seminar: How to Get Financing in These Times
6:00-7:00: Business After Hours
7:00: Bridgewater College Men’s Basketball Game
17 - market Wise series with Jim Blair
Seminar 1: “100+ Marketing Ploys: Choosing Your Best 5”
12:00-1:15 p.m. @ McAlister’s Deli
22 - ribbon cutting @ edward Jones: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
24 - Business after hours @ rmh healthcare
4:00: Member Orientation
4:30: Networking 101
5:00 - 7:00: Business After Hours
march
11 - Business smarts: “Branding & Logos”
7:30-9:00 a.m. @ National College
15 - internet marketing “Lunch and Lecture” series
Seminar 3: “Social Marketing: Making Your Customers
Part of Your Marketing Team”
11:30 - 1:00 p.m. @ Clementine Cafe
16 - ribbon cutting @ furnish 123: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
17 - regional Job fair
Noon - 6:00 p.m. @ Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene
23 - military support fair
4:00-7:00 p.m. @ JMU Festival Conference & Student Center
24 - market Wise series
Seminar 2: “The Secret to Simple Selling”
12:00-1:15 p.m. | Location: TBA
24 - Business after hours @ solace studios: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
apriL
7 - Business after hours @ Golden rule homes: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
8 - Business smarts: “health care reform ii”
7:30-9:00 a.m. @ National College
calendar of events
12 - ribbon cutting @ martins home furnishing: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
21 - market Wise series
Seminar 3: “Effective Follow-up is like an ATM in your
Basement”
12:00-1:15 p.m. | Location: TBA
22 - Ribbon cutting @ open hart chiropractic: 11:30 a.m.
28 - Business after hours @ Big Brothers Big sisters: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
www.hrchamber.org | 3

economic Recovery, Cont’d from page 1
Spending to construct new buildings for
business use – retail, office, and industrial –
lagged the momentum for equipment and
software purchases, but in the final quarter
of 2010, even this sector of the economy
registered modest growth. At a minimum,
non-residential construction should not
continue to be the drag on growth that it
has been up to this point in the recovery.
Expansion in the job market has been
slower to take hold, causing many people
to feel that the economic recovery has not
reached them. To be certain, job growth
during 2010 was weak. Even though the
private sector added jobs in every month last
year, the average gain was a mere 112,000
per month. By comparison, the recession
of 1981-82, when job losses were similarly
severe, was followed by a period of net
job gain that averaged three times the job
gain we experienced last year. Fortunately,
most economists expect a faster pace of
job growth in 2011, with some economists
expecting job gains to reach 300,000 per
month later this year. Firms have been
investing in new equipment and have
increased production by extending hours
for existing workers. Having put off hiring
4 | The Advocate
Real Gross Domestic Product
for as long as possible, the time has arrived
for many businesses to bring back shifts that
were previously furloughed and to add to
current payrolls. Undoubtedly, it will take
some time before the unemployment rate
declines reflect this rising job growth, so a
strong pace of job gains will be the key to
progress on this front.
Finally, comments on the national
economy would not be complete without
mention of the housing market, where
activity remains at a weak level. Given that
there is still a large inventory of vacant
homes in many markets across the country
and more foreclosures will work their way
through during the course of the year, new
construction of homes will likely be slow
and uneven. In other words, construction
of new homes will not be a driver of growth
this year.
Unfortunately, when it comes to evaluating
the performance of Virginia’s economy,
we do not have as much information to
judge how the recovery is playing out – for
example, we do not know if investment is
picking up, although I suspect the national
trend holds true in Virginia. Employment
indicators provide a broad measure of the
economy, and here we have seen some progress
in Virginia. During the recession, Virginia
suffered a net decline of 130,000 jobs.
During 2010, Virginia’s economy started to
make progress against the losses of the recession,
with a net gain of nearly 35,000 jobs.
Most metropolitan areas of the state enjoyed
an increase in jobs for the year, including the
Harrisonburg metropolitan area. Although
Virginia’s unemployment rate remains
among the ten lowest unemployment rates
in the country, it has remained stubbornly at
around seven percent during much of 2010,
edging down to 6.7 percent by year end.
On balance, Virginia’s economy has
fared better than that of the nation as a
whole. While we have a long way to go to
return key economic indicators in Virginia,
such as house prices or employment, to prerecession
levels, it seems safe to be optimistic
about economic conditions in Virginia as
we look ahead through 2011 and beyond.
The fundamental strength and diversity
of Virginia’s economy places it in a favorable
position to grow as the recovery in the
national economy gains momentum.

Groundhog Day 2011:
Spring and an economic recovery are on the way
By Carly McAlister, Chamber Intern employees and a 43,000-square-foot facility.
The conversations coming from the conference
room on the 4th floor of the Grace
Street Building in Harrisonburg could be
heard down the hall as local business leaders
filled the room. Although the event was on
Groundhog Day, the weather forecast wasn’t
the topic of conversation.
Ann Macheras, Regional Research Vice
President of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Richmond, was among three presenters to
give an outlook of the economic conditions
for 2011.
Macheras kicked off the event with an
overview of national economic trends. In
December the unemployment rate in the
United States was at 9.4 percent; however,
this number is expected to decrease as more
jobs become available. Aggregate weekly
hours have also been increasing consistently,
which gives hope for greater job gains.
Virtually every sector of the economy is
making progress,” says Macheras. “And, we
certainly feel better going into 2011 than we
did in 2010.” For a complete overview of
Macheras’s presentation be sure to read the
cover story.
Billy Vaughn, Rockingham County
Director of Community Development, and
Brian Shull, Harrisonburg’s Economic Development
Director, also delivered presentations
on local economic indicators.
Vaughn and Shull reported that there
was $1.5 billion in retail sales in the city and
county during 2010, an increase compared
to 2009. General merchandise accounts for
approximately 65% of retail sales; however,
tourism also played a large role in helping
boost our local economy. Harrisonburg and
Rockingham County experienced an 18%
increase in travel-related expenditures. Lodging
and food is the second largest category
that contributes to retail sales.
The local economy experienced a decline
in the housing market in 2010, even
though our community continues
to experience a 1-2% increase
in population each year.
In addition to the trends
and stats for 2010, Vaughn and
Shull delivered some additional
positive news about companies
that are continuing to expand
such as Rosetta Stone and Harris
Corporation. They also reported
that SRI is on target with 35
Finally, Vaughn and Shull announced
some of the recognitions our community received
in 2010, including being recognized
as the #1 metro in Virginia for growth. The
city and county are also working on an effort
to brand our community and to help
market our area to leaders in the bioscience
industry. In October, the city, county, and
private sector participated in the Mid-
Atlantic Bio tradeshow in Maryland. The
Shenandoah Valley will also have a presence
at the International Bio tradeshow in D.C.
in June 2011.
Flip to page 6 to read the full story on
the branding initiative.
www.hrchamber.org | 5

Branding Harrisonburg & Rockingham County
Remarks by Joe Paxton, Rockingham County Administrator, at the “Developing a Community Brand & Marketing Strategy” Kick-off Meeting
Our community has faced significant
economic challenges over the past three
years. The diversity of the local economic
base has allowed our community to weather
these challenges better than most. The
Board of Supervisors’ priority in economic
development is to retain the businesses that
have made an investment in our community,
and to attract companies that, while complementing
the businesses currently here, also
provide employment in a wide range of sectors.
This strategy helps soften the impact of
economic downturns. Beginning with the
early efforts of the Rockingham Development
Corporation, success in achieving this
strategy by both the County and City has
paid dividends for our community.
As the members of the Board and
Council have attended the Vision 2020
meetings, the governing bodies have gained
perspective into the priorities of our business
community. The members of the City-
County Liaison Committee have discussed
how the two governments can cooperate
to facilitate a sustained period of economic
growth for our community.
There are important signs that indicate
positive movement toward recovery and a
return to steady growth in the local economy
- new housing starts are on the upswing,
industry continues to make investments in
existing plants and facilities, universities and
colleges are expanding, and the number of
inquiries and submittals for new business
6 | The Advocate
locations are rising. The members of both
governing bodies believe it is critical to
have a unified strategy for the Harrisonburg
Rockingham Metro area to attract investment
in existing business and industry, and
from business sectors expanding as the nation’s
economy recovers.
Over the past 30 years, our community
has been the envy of many around the
Commonwealth and in our region, as we
have been able to be selective in listening to
businesses that showed interest in our community.
Through the Shenandoah Valley
Partnership, developed under the leadership
of Executive Director Robin Sullenberger,
the region began to take a more active role
in marketing for business investment. Brian
Shull, Harrisonburg’s Economic Development
Director, and Billy Vaughn, Rockingham’s
Community Development Director,
have taken the lead in helping our community
be successful in maintaining steady
economic growth. However, the focus of
much of our current effort has been to react
to a business’s interest rather than to seek
new investment.
The challenge for the County and City
for the next 10 to 20 years is this - how do
we differentiate the Harrisonburg-Rockingham
Metropolitan area from the thousands
of other metro areas in the United States?
In this decade’s new economy, investors
are more selective, utilizing more stringent
critera and willing to take less risk. Target-
ing our marketing strategy to the business
sectors that our community wants to attract
is important to our success. Finding those
key attributes that make us unique is critical.
Developing a brand to be used by all sectors
of our community to sell our community, to
tell our story, will foster success.
The City and County are embarking on
a new initiative to develop an all-inclusive
marketing strategy, including a brand and
logo that will enhance our ability to attract
and retain key industries that will sustain
our local economy.
To help facilitate our success, the
County has employed Jane Van Ryan as a
marketing specialist. Ms. Van Ryan has recently
relocated from the Washington, D.C.
area. Her professional background includes
serving as Senior Manager for Communications
for the American Petroleum Institute;
as Assistant Vice President for Communications
for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute;
and as Vice President, Public Affairs at Science
Applications International Corporation
(SAIC).
This initiative to brand our metro area
will involve everyone in the community.
Therefore, the Board of Supervisors encourages
everyone to be an active participant in
this process. Look for updates in the coming
months.
Advertise in the Next Issue of The Advocate
uThe Advocate is mailed directly to more than
800 Chamber members four times a year.
Advertising in The Advocate is reserved exclusively
for Chamber members. There are multiple
ways to advertise in this valuable publication,
making it easy for your company to expand its
marketing goals by reaching your desired audience,
receiving positive recognition and gaining
visibility.
uTwice each year, in May and August, the
newsletter is also inserted into more than 22,000
copies of the Daily News-Record.
For rates and to reserve a space, contact:
Kim Kirk
800 Country Club Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
P: (540) 434-3862 ext. 108
E-mail: kimk@hrchamber.org

Community Sustainability: It’s More than a Buzzword
In January, thirty business leaders in our
community leadership program learned
about the importance of “community
sustainability”and the impact they can have
on our local economy. Chamber President
Frank Tamberrino and Brian Shull, Harrisonburg
Director of Economic Development,
emphasized the importance of shopping
local.
According to Michael Shuman, author
of Going Local, “Going local does not mean
walling off the outside world. It means
nurturing locally owned businesses which
use local resources sustainably, employ local
workers at decent wages and serve primarily
local customers. It means becoming more
self-sufficient and less dependent.” Community
sustainability, shop local campaigns and
other “support the community” initiatives
are important, but must be implemented
correctly.
Economically speaking, a community
has “basic” and “non-basic” industries (or
businesses). Basic industries produce goods
and services that are “exported” and therefore
bring in new dollars to a community
and create and build wealth. Non-basic industries
sell products and services within the
community and contribute to sustaining the
local economy, circulating dollars over and
over. A community needs a blend of both,
and the Harrisonburg MSA seems to have
a good balance compared to other areas. A
smart community creates a positive business
climate and takes care of all of its businesses,
large or small, locally or corporately owned.
We know that we live in a global
economy, but there are still good arguments
for shopping locally. Here are the ten basic
premises used by “shop local” advocates:
1. economic impact – Generally, locally
owned stores have a greater impact on
the local economy. Out of $100 spent at a
locally owned store, it is estimated that $73
remains in the community, versus $43 for a
non-locally owned business.
2. Investing in the community –
Local owners live in the area and generally
will reinvest over the long run and are less
likely to leave if market conditions change.
3. Local taxes – All businesses pay
taxes, of course. Local businesses generally
buy more local goods and services, helping
generate more local tax revenues. Small businesses
generally put less strain on infrastructure
(new roads, etc.), so there is a greater
ROI.
4. Reduce environmental
impacts – Typically, there is less trucking
of products, less consumer travel and
reduced environmental impacts when buying
local products or services.
5. Support for local non-profits
– Local businesses generally give more
dollars and volunteer time to non-profits
(although we are very fortunate with
the commitment of many of our larger
corporations and their employees’
involvement and support of our community).
6. Jobs – Across the US, small business
generates the majority of new jobs created
each year.
7. Service – Shopping local may not
guarantee great service (and many national
chains do make customer service a priority)
but it will frequently allow you to be faceto-face
with the company owner.
8. Unique goods and customer
preference – Consumers and producers/decision
makers are closer, so customer
preferences are personally taken into account
with choice and diversity of goods
and services. You also have a better chance
of knowing where your products come from,
which is a big selling point for the farmers’
markets in the region.
9. Local prosperity – Success breeds
success and a strong local business community
encourages additional entrepreneurs
and investors, which also attracts and retains
talented employees and other employers
looking for a vibrant local economy.
10. Community character – Every
community has a “commercial strip”, but it
is the local businesses that give a community
its true character.
Community sustainability should
be more than a buzzword. Therefore,
the Chamber encourages you to support
Chamber members and local businesses
before going in search of goods and services
outside of the Valley. To help you do that,
we’ve created our own version of a community
“Shop Local” campaign.
www.hrchamber.org
2
Member 2 Member
The Chamber’s
Member-2-Member program
(M2M) was created to encourage Chamber
members to support our local economy
by choosing Harrisonburg-Rockingham
Chamber of Commerce members for their
business and personal needs.
We kicked off the program in August
2010 by outfitting Chamber members with
an M2M card (pictured above). Members
simply present their card at participating
businesses to receive valuable discounts on
everything from restaurants and accommodations
to local attractions and services.
More than 50 businesses are offering
discounts and we expect many more in
2011. Visit www.hrchamber.org/m2mdiscounts
for a complete list of participants. If you
would like to offer a discount, contact Kim
Kirk at kimk@hrchamber.org. There is no
fee to participate in the program.
www.hrchamber.org | 7

In the words of owner Joseph Mills, Maddy Wagon is about
bringing the awesome back to transportation. “We want anyone
who rides in the Maddy Wagon to have more fun on the ride home
than they did when they were out on the town,” says Mills.
Maddy Wagon is Harrisonburg’s newest, on-demand shuttle
that can take you and up to 15 of your friends door-to-door, in
and around the Harrisonburg and Rockingham community for an
affordable price. It’s not yellow. It’s not your ordinary taxi. And, it’s
not only an evening shuttle. The Maddy Wagon also offers wine and
brewery tours in the local area. Essentially, they want you to have
fun with your friends while they take care of the driving.
Mills, a graduate of James Madison University, launched the
new service in the beginning of February. “It’s more than just a
ride” says Mills, who customizes all their vehicles to include sound
systems and more. Maddy Wagon is starting out with a giant purple
sparkly van but, according to Mills, there’s probably a limo somewhere
in the not-too-distant future.
For more information on rides, cost, winery or brewery tours,
wedding shuttles, or any of Maddy Wagon’s services, check out their
website at www.maddywagon.com, facebook.com/maddywagon or
call 540-246-8294.
8 | The Advocate
Hearing Healthcare
of Virginia
Hearing Healthcare of Virginia (HHVA) is a locally-owned and
operated company specializing in fitting digital hearing devices.
The company was founded in 2004 with one office in Waynesboro,
Virginia, and has quickly grown into six offices located throughout
central and western Virginia. Their Harrisonburg office is located
at 735D East Market Street and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Unlike hearing aid chain stores, there are no “middleman” costs
associated with national advertising or franchise fees and HHVA
works with a variety of manufacturers. Savings are passed directly on
to their customers making them an affordable, friendly choice when
you need hearing assistance. And, hearing evaluations are always free
as a service to the local community.
Providing the highest quality products and services is what
Hearing Healthcare of Virginia believes in. You can be sure you
will receive an objective assessment of your hearing. If devices are
required, expect exceptional service with a 60-day trial period and
3-year warranty including batteries, cleanings, adjustments, audiometric
screenings, loss-and-damage coverage, and more with
minimal deductibles. Visit their website at www.hearvirginia.com or
call 540-421-7736 or toll free 866-341-4327.

Chamber Hosts Military
Support Fair March 23
Last year, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
sponsored the first-ever Military Support Fair. Hundreds of
veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families came to
the Festival Conference and Student Center on JMU’s campus to
learn about area organizations, resources, and support available to
them. These resources included financial assistance, medical claim
services, veteran entrepreneurial opportunities, educational information,
and more. Organizations represented included Disabled
American Veterans, the Department of Veteran Affairs, Virginia
Wounded Warriors, several American Legion Posts, and many more.
The purpose of this event is to support and thank the brave
men and women who have served our country in uniform, both at
home and abroad. As an initiative of the Chamber’s Military Affairs
Committee, this event creates partnerships between organizations,
businesses, veterans, military personnel and their families in ways
that strengthen our community.
This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011,
from 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more
information on sponsorsing or becoming a vendor at this event, visit
www.hrchamber.org or call 540-434-3862.
The Wellness Center at VMRC
can help with the ups and downs of your business.
Employee wellness programs can increase productivity and
efficiency while decreasing lost work time and healthcare
costs. Let’s talk business; let’s talk wellness. Call for a consult
on developing a wellness program for your business.
– Jeff Hersh
Director, The Wellness Center at VMRC
The Wellness Center at VMRC, phone (540) 574-3850
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community Inc.
Need a Driving Class?
Learn how to avoid traffic accidents, negotiate curves,
drive in extreme weather or high traffic, and deal with road
fatigue as well as Aggressive Drivers. The Harrisonburg-
Rockingham Chamber of Commerce offers driver
improvement classes in English ($60) and online ($75).
• DMV/Court Approved 8-hour course
• Age 20 and up are eligible to take online driver course
• Can take course for safe driving points every 2 years.
• Get points off your driving record and/or a discount
on your insurance!
• Register in person at the Chamber Office
800 Country Club Road, Harrisonburg.
• Payment and I.D. are required to sign up.
For details: 540-434-3862
www.hrchamber.org
Regional Job Fair Slated
for March 17
The Chamber continues
its service to business and its
contribution to quality of life in
our area by hosting our Regional
Job Fair each year. This year’s
event will take place on Thursday,
March 17th, from noon to
6 p.m. at the Harrisonburg First
Church of the Nazarene (Iglesia
del Nazareno Esperanza Viva),
1871 Boyers Road (corner of
Port Republic Rd).
As the national and local
economies recover from the
most significant downturn in
many decades, businesses are
starting to look toward the need
to meet increasing demand,
and employers are anticipating
expanding their workforces.
The Valley is blessed with
a strong work ethic, and has
positioned itself to meet employers’
needs by investing in
education and training programs
at institutions such as Massa-
nutten Technical Center, Blue
Ridge Community College, and
others.
Attendance at the Fair
has grown every year since the
beginning, with more than 1000
jobseekers last year. With the
unemployment rate holding
steady at 6.7% in Harrisonburg
and 5.4% in Rockingham
County, we anticipate the trend
will continue this year.
Employers: please help us
plan for the Job Fair by responding
to our quick, 4-question
survey on our website at www.
hrchamber.org. (Click on the
“About tab” and find the Regional
Job Fair under “Chamber
events”)
Booth space at the Job Fair
is available.
• Non-Members - $50
• Chamber Members - $25
Visit the Web site now to sign
up for your booth!
www.hrchamber.org | 9

New Members support the following members who have recently joined the chamber
ACME Stove & Fireplace Center
Larry Parlee
1702 East Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-433-9181
American Health & Wellness Institute
Angie Vizachero
25 Professional Way, Ste. 101
Verona, VA 24482
540-248-1006
Augusta Aquatics
Tim Coleman
P.O. Box 1198
Fishersville, VA22939
540-949-5356
Bluestone Financial Solutions
David Larson, CLU, CFP
578 East Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-574-4391
Cambridge Court Apartments
Rebecca Vaughan
1203 Randall Road
Grottoes, VA 24441
540-249-4332
Coffee News
Jeremy Baxter
2254 Fadley Road
Bridgewater, VA 22812
540-209-7445
Doña Rosa Real Mexican Cuisine & Bar
Alberto Gutierrez
43 Linda Lane
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-746-1262
Edward Jones
Randy Nutter
4038 Quarles Court
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-2457
Essential Technology Solutions
Michael Engle
57 South Main Street, Ste. 606
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-560-1412
Expedia Cruise Ship Centers
Paul Shearman
3 Mill Stone Drive
Verona, VA 24482
540-849-9097
10 | The Advocate
First Tee of Harrisonburg
Randy Combs
690 Garbers Church Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-437-4239
Fix-It Home Repairs/Glass Doctor
Chad Wilcher
1740 Country Club Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-298-1776
Function4Sports
Anton Ganev
1854 East Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-433-7201
Furnish 123 of Harrisonburg
Liz Martin
182 Neff Avenue, Ste. S-1
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-432-2344
George’s Foods
Darlene Crosson
1620 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-984-6813
Hannah W. Hutman, PLLC
64 West Water Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-437-2970
Jalisco
Luis Xambrano
243 Neff Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-8634
John Graham - LPL Financial
John Graham
621 Blue Ridge Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-435-2461
Maddy Wagon
Joseph Mills
P.O. Box 1082
Charlottesville, VA 22902
540-246-8294
Martin’s Home Furnishings, LLC
Donna Tumer
160 Waterman Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-437-0690
Mountain View Dental Team
Kathryn Biery
4100 Quarles Court
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-432-0609
Open Hart Chiropractic
Nancy G. Taylor
610-B North Main Street
Bridgewater, VA 2212
540-828-1000
Organic Grounds Coffeehouse
Lee Ann Jeffer
625 Mount Clinton Pike
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-1800
StellarOne Bank - University
Mary Louise Monger
390 University Blvd.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-8495
Thistle Ridge Bed & Breakfast
& Winery Tours
Dixie Stromberg
11 Pops Lane
Bridgewater, VA 22812
540-828-4118
Union Station Restaurant and Bar
Cassandra Baker
128 West Market Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-437-0042
Valley Home Care
Michelle Seekford
14022 Spotswood Trail
Elkton, VA 22827
540-298-2273
Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance
Byron Frost
1938 Deyerle Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-434-6778
Vision Studios
Michael Vanderpool
1000 South High Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
888-876-7737
Wild Woods BBQ
Steve Byrd
610-C North Main Street
Bridgewater, VA 22812
540-828-2277
Winner’s Circle Enterprises
Regal Ross
370 Neff Avenue, Unit I, Ste. 8
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
404-840-7287

Chamber Board Adopts 2011 Plans of Work
In January, the Chamber’s Board of
Directors adopted its annual Plans of
Work for 2011 - an ambitious and
exciting set of goals, programs and
events for the current year. Here is a
summary of key elements included
in the Plans of Work:
Chamber operations
Strong, engaged Board of Directors;
ensure an efficiently run and fiscally
strong organization
Marketing & PR
Keep members and the public well
informed; leverage social media; provide
effective advertising and sponsorship opportunities
to members; increase community
awareness of Chamber
accomplishments
Member Services
This year’s focus is on membership and
membership value; member retention is key;
increase total number of members (10%+);
at least one membership drive; expand
M2M program; provide new and expanded
training opportunities; add roundtable or
business specific meetings; develop member
“road map to success”; additional member
benefits
Connections2011
Continue improvements from last year;
provide quality program of interest;
involve CLP alumni; offer business
centered exhibits
High School Business Symposium
Continue regional approach from last year;
offer student-centered programs; improve
sponsor value
Community Leadership Program
On-going reviews and improvements of
sessions; additional leadership components;
recruit 2011-2012 class
Military Affairs Committee/
Military Support Fair
Conduct second annual event, expanding
support services represented and attendance;
continue to communicate events supporting
the MAC goal
Regional Job Fair
Expand representation on planning
committee; improve scope of services at
event for job seekers; leverage event
marketing through workforce and
employment service agencies
Chamber Business Councils
Improve use and effectiveness of councils;
provide more value, geographically and to
small and minority businesses; quarterly
training/education programs; look for new
ideas and identify specific business needs
Public Policy
Identify top member issues for 2011; host
quarterly events, including pre- and postsession
breakfasts; host annual Economic
Forecast; continue to take positions to protect
and enhance business climate
Vision2020
Expand steering committee; Identify
“champions” and implement strategies
under four “cornerstones”; broaden local
government and community ownership of
Vision2020
Hospitality Committee,
business committees
Continue to provide forum for exchange of
information and best practices for hospitality
businesses; look for other areas to support
business segments and members
ValleyFest
Continue to build upon successful formula,
growing and improving the event and net
revenue for Chamber and community programs
Annual Golf tournament
Hold another successful event, increasing
number of golfers, prizes, etc.
Driver Improvement Course/test
Increase awareness of Chamber supported
program as a public service
If you are interested in getting involved
in any of these initiatives or serving on a
committee, please contact the Chamber at
540-434-3862.
www.hrchamber.org | 11

800 Country Club Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
www.hrchamber.org
VALLEYFEST
Beer &Wine
For more information, visit
www.hrchamber.org/valleyfest
www.facebook.com/valleyfest
12 | The Advocate
Festival
Sat. May 28
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
at Massanutten Resort
30+ Microbrews Wine
Live Music by Carbon Leaf,
The Hackens Boys, and
Mike Davis F ood
Crafts and more!
or current resident
Presorted - STD
US Postage PD
Permit #13
Hburg VA 22801