The Virginia Cooperative Extension is hosting several free workshops across Virginia covering legal liability in agritourism. A Managing Legal Liability in Agritourism and Direct Marketing workshop is set for March 21 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at Bobby Williams Orchard in Wytheville. For more information, contact Linda Jones or Dr. Martha A. Walker, Virginia Cooperative Extension, by phone at (434) 766-6761 or by e-mail at walker53@vt.edu.

Here is a press release from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Exposure to legal liability increases when farmers add agritourism activities and direct marketing to their business plans.  In addition, the growth in farmers’ markets has created complex questions on products liability and appropriate insurance coverage.

Virginia Cooperative Extension invites farmers, ranchers, farmers’ market vendors, direct marketing entrepreneurs, and other agriculture stakeholders to attend the “Managing Legal Liability in Agritourism and Direct Marketing” workshops scheduled in four areas of the state.  Participants will discuss the issue of legal risks, the need for liability insurance and appropriate business structure, and analyze insurance options.  Working directly with Virginia Tech professor and attorney Jesse Richardson, producers will evaluate different insurance coverage, business organization alternatives, and liability protection strategies. Read more »

The Virginia State Police are hosting a Women In Policing Recruitment Fair tomorrow at their headquarters in Salem. Fourteen new female trooper-trainees will be welcomed to the program the day of the fair. Interested women and men can stop by the headquarters from 9 to 11 a.m. to get more information on a career in law enforcement.

Here is a press release from The Virginia State Police.

SALEM – The Virginia State Police are currently hiring and looking to Virginians to help fill the ranks of “Virginia’s Finest.” Those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement are encouraged to drop by the Virginia State Police Salem Division Headquarters this Saturday for a special Women in Policing Recruitment Fair.

“The Virginia State Police recognizes the importance of reflecting the society we serve,” said 1st Sgt. Paul M. Branch, Jr., Recruitment Unit Commander. “Therefore, we are always looking to increase our ranks among women and minority populations.” Read more »

Visitor and Undergraduate Admissions Center

The Visitor and Undergraduate Admissions Center at Virginia Tech was given the Eagle Award for excellence in construction by Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. Carolinas Chapter. Criteria must be met in order to  receive the Eagle Award including innovative ways to tackle construction challenges, safety programs and building quality.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 24, 2012 – Virginia Tech’s new Visitor and Undergraduate Admissions Center was recently recognized for excellence in construction by the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) Carolinas Chapter.

Virginia Tech received an Eagle Award as part of ABC’s Awards of Excellence Program. The awards program has become the premiere competition within the industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation. Read more »

Susan D. Day (left) and Sarah Gugercin helped develop the soil restoration criteria for the SITES sustainable landscapes rating system.

Three landscaping projects are being constructed using new criteria under the  Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). Developed by sustainability experts, scientist and design professionals, SITES  is a comprehensive rating system used for sustainable design, construction and maintenance of landscapes. Virginia Tech Assistant Professor of Urban Forestry Susan D. Day helped develop the soil restoration criteria used by the new rating system.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 23, 2012 – The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) has developed the nation’s most comprehensive system for rating the sustainable design, construction, and maintenance of built landscapes and has selected three pilot projects to be certified under the new system, which was created by dozens of the country’s leading sustainability experts, scientists, and design professionals.

Susan D. Day of Blacksburg, Va., assistant professor of urban forestry in the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, helped develop the criteria for soil restoration, one of many criteria used in the SITES rating system. Read more »

A doctor of veterinary medicine student helps "surgically repair" child's stuffed animal.

Virginia Tech’s veterinary college is holding an open house at the end of March. The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech  March 31 open house will feature guided tours, police dog demonstrations, a teddy bear repair clinic and more. Events will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here for more information.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 22, 2012 – The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech will host its Annual Open House on Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the 225,000-square-foot complex, watch a police dog demonstration, see how tiny cameras take veterinarians inside dogs and cats, and learn about opportunities in food animal medicine, among other topics. Read more »

National Tire and Battery will host a job fair on Thursday at Merchant’s Tire on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. NTB is looking to fill 10 positions immediately throughout the Roanoke area. Online applications as well as walk-in applications will be accepted. For more information, contact Mike Carley at mcarley@tirekingdom.com.

Here is the press release from TBC Retail Group. Read more »

Virginia Business Magazine and Best Companies Group has named Tuck Chiropractic Clinic to their 2012 Best Places to Work in Virginia list.

Results from a survey of  business operations and an employee survey are used to determine the businesses who are named to the list. To learn more about Tuck Chiropractic, visit tuckclinic.com.

Here is the press release from Tuck Chiropractic Clinic:

BLACKSBURG, VA (February 20, 2012) – Tuck Chiropractic Clinic was recently named as one of the 2012 Best Places to Work in Virginia. The annual list of “Best Places to Work” was created by Virginia Business Magazine and Best Companies Group.

This survey and award program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state’s economy, its work force and businesses. The Best Places to Work in Virginia list is made up of a total of 70 companies, split into three groups: small employers (fewer than 100 employees), mid-sized employers (100-250 employees), and large-sized employers (more than 250 employees). Read more »

Ken Ferris, VT KnowledgeWorks

VT KnowledgeWorks President’s Councils will be expanded to Roanoke. The councils are networks of executives who share and learn from each other, increasing self-discovery and professional growth. Roanoke entrepreneur Ken Ferris will be the moderator of the Roanoke group.

New members are being accepted into the President’s Council. Contact VT KnowledgeWorks Executive Director Jim Flowers at 443-9100 ext. 1 for more information about membership. Here is a press release from Virginia Tech:

Blacksburg, VA)  – VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to expand its Presidents’ Councils to Roanoke, Virginia.  Presidents’ Councils are private networks of experienced executives working together to increase energy, share insight, reduce risk, and improve leadership skills.

Roanoke resident Ken Ferris will serve as moderator for this group.  Ken is a serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience which has included being on the founding team of three technology start-up companies, each of which was sold to a large, publicly traded company.  The product technologies involved included fiber optic communications, DSL, wireless sensors, and medical devices.  He is currently President of Brookewood Management Advisors, assisting technology companies with strategic business planning and operations.  Ken, an engineering graduate of Virginia Tech, is past President and currently on the Board of the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC).   Read more »

Kevin Hasset

Kevin A. Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute will give a lecture “Capitalism and the Poor” at Virginia Tech as part of the BB&T Distinguished Lecture Series on Capitalism. Hosted by the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, this free lecture will take place Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.  at the Inn at Virginia Tech’s Latham Ballroom.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech. Read more »

Charles Harrison will be speaking during Virginia Tech's mini-symposium, "Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Two Perspectives on African-American Involvement in Product Design and Development."

Virginia Tech is hosting a mini-symposium that will explore the role of African-Americans in product design. “Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Two Perspectives on African-American Involvement in Product Design and Development” symposiums will be presented on Wednesday and Feb. 29.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech. Read more »