Mary Washington Hospital Foundation Presents FXBG BREWHAHA Craft Beer & Food Pairing Event Wine will also be available Saturday, November 19, 2016 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. A. Smith Bowman Distillery One Bowman Drive | Fredericksburg, VA 22408 H Food Pairing: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. H H Dessert Pairing: 7:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. H H Live Music by Shannon Peterson H To Purchase Tickets Online: brewhaha.mwhc.com By Phone: Mary Washington Hospital Foundation 540.741.1512 In Advance: $75 per person | $140 per couple At the Door: $85 per person | $160 per couple Proceeds Benefit: Regional Cancer Center
<strong>Chamber</strong>’s Military Affairs Council continues to play a vital role By Susan Spears It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since we hosted our first Military Affairs Council (MAC) event in <strong>October</strong> of 2006. The sold out “Report to the Community” event drew a crowd of more than 150. U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis provided keynote remarks, stating “the Fredericksburg region’s business and civic leaders must remain vigilant in order to protect the military installations that have long helped drive the area’s economy.” For the first time, <strong>Chamber</strong> members had the chance to get to know leaders from the region’s military bases – Col. Charles A. Dallachie, commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico; Capt. Judy Smith, installation commanding officer, Naval Support Activity South Potomac; and Lt. Col. Michael S. Graese, commander, Fort A.P. Hill. At the end of the night, I vividly recall hauling supplies to my car long Susan Spears is president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional <strong>Chamber</strong> of Commerce. after everyone was gone. I heard familiar voices engaged in a friendly conversation nearby in the parking lot. There stood Col. Dallachie and Lt. Col Graese, having connected at our event. I am certain a strong relationship developed that night - thanks to the <strong>Chamber</strong>’s new MAC. The MAC was formed in August 2006 under the capable leadership of Ted Hontz, Vice President of BCI (Basic Commerce & Industries, Inc.). Hontz, a retired Navy Captain with 28 years of active-duty service, was also former commanding officer for the Aegis Training and Readiness Center at Dahlgren. In a <strong>September</strong> 21, 2006 article published by the South Potomac Pilot, Hontz stated, “the <strong>Chamber</strong> put together a strong program for BRAC (Base Realignment & Closure ’05) that drew together people from many areas across the community. But, we had to start from scratch…the MAC will help us as a community to be better prepared and postured to support all the military installations through scrutiny by future BRAC commissions…our broader responsibility and long-standing mission will be to support the business community as it relates to area military bases.” A lot has changed in our region over the past 10 years, but the MAC’s mission has not, nor has the <strong>Chamber</strong>’s strong support for its MAC. It is rewarding to look back at our beginnings and to continue to see so many of our original founders deeply connected to the MAC. At the same time, we enthusiastically look ahead to an even brighter MAC future for our region. Sequestration knocked us to our knees, but it certainly did not stop us. Another BRAC is rumored for 2017. We will be standing ready, prepared to advocate for our military bases, commands and installations in the region, and in doing so, we will support the interests of the military, their families, the local defense industry and the region as a whole. Special thanks to all of the amazing individuals and businesses that have been with us for the first 10 years. Let’s make the next 10 even better! On the cover… Plants Map business partners, (left) Bill Blevins, Tracy Blevins and Chris Muldrow, were the 2014 Made in FredVa grand prize winner for their online website that hosts botanical collections. Photo by Bill Blevins From the President 1916-2016 The mission of the Fredericksburg Regional <strong>Chamber</strong> of Commerce is to build relationships and create competitive advantages for a healthy business environment. 2016 Board of Directors: Officers: Chairman Bill Hession Lockheed Martin Vice Chairman: J.R. Flatter Flatter & Associates Immediate Past Chair: Greg Calvert The Kloke Group Treasurer: Shawn Sloan The Media Partners, LLC President & CEO: Susan Spears Fredericksburg Regional <strong>Chamber</strong> of Commerce Directors: Brian Baker, UMW Center for Economic Development Michelle Caldwell-Thompson, CTI Real Estate Rob Dodd Jr., DLR Contracting Inc. Janel Donohue, Rappahannock United Way Kevin Fastabend, Virginia Partners Bank Mike Fidgeon, Pathways Eric Fletcher, Mary Washington Healthcare Adam Fried, Atlantic Builders, Ltd. Paul Giambra, Quarles Petroleum, Inc. Ron Holmes, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Stacy Horne, Allstate Jeremy McCommons, Foundation Companies Deirdre Powell White, DPW Training & Associates David Sam, Germanna Community College Legal Counsel: Margaret Hardy, Sands Anderson PC <strong>Chamber</strong> Staff: Susan Spears, President & CEO Whitney Watts, VP of Member Services Michele Dooling, Dir. of Finance & Human Resource Diane Zumatto, Military & Government Affairs Director Dawn Haun, Communications Manager Sheri Wikert, Member Services Manager Stacey Madigan, Executive Assistant Stacey Hicks, Office Manager Desiree Suggs, Membership Account Executive Sara Branner, Member Services Coordinator A publication of Fredericksburg Regional <strong>Chamber</strong> of Commerce Editorial: Dawn Haun Printing & Mailing: Stafford Printing www.staffordprinting.com FREDERICKSBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTABLISHED 1916. inside 540-373-9400 • www.fredericksburgchamber.org • Fax: 540-373-9570 • Located: 2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 240, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 WELCOME 3 President’s Message 4 Chairman Update FEATURES 5 Made in FredVA 11 Elections COLUMNS 13 Technology 17 Transportation NEWS 19 Facebook 25 Goodwill Awards NEWS 26 Leadership Fredericksburg 29 New Members NEWS 31 Member News 35 Calendars SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 Fredericksburg Regional Business 3
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