Updated April 25

We received additional information from Gary Myers, treasurer of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club about awards previously given to other bicycle friendly businesses in the area. The League of American Bicyclists gave East Coasters Bike Shop and Share Bike silver awards. The Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission and Roanoke City received  bronze awards from the LAB.

Posted April 18

The League of American Bicyclists recognized three Roanoke organizations as Bicycle Friendly Businesses in the Roanoke Valley. The Roanoke Regional Partnership and Carilion Clinic’s Riverside campus received bronze awards while Norfolk Southern received an honorable mention. The LAB recognizes businesses that improve their workplace and community with bicycle programs and facilities.

Here is a press release from the League of American Bicyclists.

ROANOKE, Va.,  April 18, 2012 – With Earth Day just around the corner, the League of American Bicyclists has recognized the Roanoke Regional Partnership, Carilion Clinic’s Riverside campus and Norfolk Southern as Bicycle Friendly Businesses in the Roanoke Valley.

They join a visionary group of more than 400 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the United States, including several already in the region, that are transforming the American workplace.

“Businesses and organizations like the Roanoke Regional Partnership, Carilion Clinic’s Riverside campus and Norfolk Southern are at the forefront of a movement to make American businesses more competitive, sustainable and attractive to the best and brightest employees,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “An investment in bicycling enhances employee health, increases sustainability and improves the bottom line.”

Bicycle-friendly businesses improve the workplace and contribute to the community. For example, the Roanoke Regional Partnership, which received a bronze award, helps to attract and retain bicycle-centered businesses while promoting bicycling events and races.

Carilion’s Riverside campus, also a bronze winner, encourages bike commuting by providing convenient bike parking, showers and locker rooms. The campus is located on the Roanoke Valley Greenway, which Carilion supports financially. The healthcare leader also uses bicycles at work, including for emergency medical technicians and security patrols, and supports community cycling events.

Norfolk Southern received an honorable mention.

“A bicycle-friendly community has a positive impact on a region’s economic development, quality of life and health of its citizens,” said Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “Being recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business reinforces the Partnership’s message that this region has a strong outdoor culture.”

“As the region’s primary health care provider, Carilion is dedicated to working with our communities to improve the overall health of the people we serve,” added Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion Clinic’s president and chief executive officer. “Bicycling is one way our employees can improve their own health and be role models for the importance of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle. Besides, we live in such a beautiful place, it’s fun to be outside!”
“As a Bicycle Friendly Community, Roanoke is proud to have three businesses that have already received Bicycle Friendly designations,” said Mayor David Bowers. “The addition of designations for Carilion-Riverside, Roanoke Regional Partnership and Norfolk Southern fit right into Roanoke’s economic branding and demonstrate our community’s desire for a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere for residents, employees, and customers in our city.”

They join the ranks of other Roanoke businesses that have already received the Bicycle Friendly Businesses designation, including East Coasters Bike Shop, Share Bike, and the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission.
As part of the designation, the three organizations will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.

To apply or learn more about the free BFB program, visit the League online at bikeleague.org/businesses

A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house will take place at the new Roanoke Express Employment Professionals office on March 20 at 11 a.m. Business owners in Roanoke and Salem are invited to attend. The new office is located on Electric Road.

Here is the press release from Express Employment Professionals.

Roanoke, Va., March 14, 2012 – The Roanoke Express Employment Professionals office moved to 1910 Electric Road. On Tuesday, March 20, Express will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Debbie Kavitz, Director of the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce will host the ceremony, and business owners in Roanoke and Salem are invited to attend. Read more »

The top 50 companies that support women’s advancement and representation in management only included one utility company. American Electric Power was recognized by the National Association for Female Executives based on a survey that evaluates organizations based on women’s advancement, work force profile and company culture.

Here is the press release from AEP. Read more »

Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg has launched a bachelor of science in applied management program in collaboration with Babcock & Wilcox and Ranken Technical College. The school will hold an information session Aug. 11. Here’s more information from CVCC:

Central Virginia Community College, in partnership with Ranken Technical College and The Babcock &Wilcox Company (B&W), is pleased to announce a new Bachelor of Science program for Region 2000.  Students with college credit in technical areas such as welding, machining, manufacturing and engineering now have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management (BSAM) degree from an accredited technicalcollege in a local setting.

The program was developed to meet the needs of area students – many of them current employees at B&W and other Region 2000 employers – who are seeking a flexible undergraduate degree program that builds on their technical aptitude and existing college and/or work experience while providing the business-related knowledge needed to pursue supervisory or managerial positions.  By partnering with Ranken to offer bachelor’s-level courses online, CVCC is able to offer students an accessible degree that has been expressly designed to meet the needs of Region 2000 employers. The BSAM program’s curriculum, which was developed with input from B&W includes project management, global business strategy, risk management, marketing, employment law and small business management. Read more »

Here is information about the latest workshop from the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council:

A Lessons In Leadership Workshop – “Alignment Leads to Engagement”

Thursday, August 11, 2011
8:30am-12:30pm
New River Community College
(at the NRV Mall Location in Christiansburg)

Growing businesses often struggle with many seemingly unrelated problems. These challenges consume a lot of time and resources and ultimately hinder profitability. While keeping all of the plates spinning, it may be hard to see that many of these challenges stem from misalignment and leadership issues. The RBTC community is full of companies in transition and to help you assess the status of your organization, we have prepared a half-day workshop with insights from 3 leadership gurus. Read more »

The financial services firm Edward Jones Ranks has been ranked second by Virginia Business and its partners on the 2011 “Best Places to Work in Virginia” list. Here is a press release from Edward Jones:

The financial-services firm Edward Jones was named the No. 2 large company on the Best Places to Work in Virginia ranking, according to Ben Hartman, a financial advisor in Cave Spring, Roanoke area.

Virginia Business teamed up with the Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, Pa., and local partners – the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Society for Human Resources Management State Council – to rank the state’s best employers.

Fifty companies were named Best Places to Work in Virginia for 2011, divided into 20 large companies, 16 medium-sized companies and 14 small companies by the number of people they employ in Virginia.

The ranking was based on employer inventory of practices and an anonymous survey of employees, who were asked to agree or disagree with dozens of statements about the firm, teamwork and their individual experience at the firm.

Edward Jones has 219 branches all over Virginia. The firm is growing, adding branches and seeking new financial advisors who are interested in operating an entrepreneurial office with the support and benefits of one of the oldest and largest firms in the industry.

Ben Hartman is located at 3247 Electric Road SW, Suite 1B. He may be reached at 540-989-1219.

Applications for the Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards, sponsored by the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, are due June 30th. Here is some information from the Tayloe Murphy Center:

The deadline for the Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards is approaching on June 30th, just less than one month away.  There is still time to share the word with businesses in your area who you think might be strong applicants.

As you know, this award highlights strong businesses in Virginia that have thrived even in the face of difficult local economic conditions and have remained committed to their communities.  Last year’s winners benefited from new access to lending, connections to local leaders, and opportunities to learn new ways to grow their businesses through Darden Executive Education.  You can read more about last year’s winners on our website at http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/Tayloe-Murphy-Center/Resilience/Home/.

You can also see some recent media coverage of this year’s competition in this editorial in the Petersburg Progress-Index, this story in the Danville Register & Bee, or by listening to this interview on radio station WCVE in Richmond.

You can also still nominate businesses online at http://www.resilienceawards.org/suggest.php and we will reach out to them to help them with the application process.

The Department of Defense has asked that employers fill out a survey measuring the guard and reserve impact on the workforce by July 6. Here is a press release from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve:

The Department of Defense is asking employers to submit their responses to its national survey by the July 6, 2011 deadline. The Department of Defense National Survey of Employers was provided to 80,000 employers of every size and industry, across America. The DoD is using the survey to gain insight into how the service of Guard and Reserve members has affected America’s employers, who provide remarkable support to their military employees. The July 6 deadline affords employers the opportunity to provide comprehensive replies. Officials are encouraging all survey recipients who have not yet submitted their responses to do so today to ensure the study captures reliable results. Read more »

The insurance firm Rutherfoord Receives Workplace Wellness Award for its healthy living program. Here is a press release from Rutherfoord:

Rutherfoord, one of the nation’s most respected risk management and insurance brokerage firms, received the 2011 Wellness in the Workplace Award from the Virginia Business Coalition on Health (VBCH). The VBCH is a non-profit, catalyst-coalition committed to improving the quality and value of health care in the communities they serve. With more than 300 employees, Rutherfoord’s award is in the less than 500 employees category.

Rutherfoord offers a Healthy Living Program that builds awareness and provides education and enrichment about fitness, wellness, physical and emotional health. In addition, fitness activities and challenges are used to qualify employees for credits that reduce their out-of-pocket costs for health insurance premiums.

The companies competing for the award were evaluated based on wellness program comprehensiveness, creativity, sustainability and measurable outcomes.

DePaul Community Resources is hosting a Job Fair and Reality Store for foster teens in Vinton today from 4 to 7 p.m. Here is a press release from DePaul:

What:
To help teens in foster care find a job and provide a dose of reality, DePaul Community Resources is holding its second annual Career Fair and Reality Store event, On My Own: Real Jobs for Today’s Youth. At risk youth, ages 14-21, from surrounding areas are invited by DePaul to meet with potential employers and participate in the Reality Store, a financial simulation in which participants are given a paycheck and real-life budgeting scenarios to solve.

“This event will provide at-risk young adults with information about real career possibilities,” says Sue Bentley, Executive Director of DePaul Community Resources. “The Reality Store will introduce attendees to the challenges life brings, while also providing guidance on how to overcome these barriers. Together, the job fair and Reality Store will hopefully assist the participants in making better life choices, which will help them towards becoming productive members of our community.” Read more »