Morgantown Entrepreneur Named 2010 W.Va. Small Business Person of the Year

    CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – In the late 1980’s, Craig Hartzell had a desire to create a company that could successfully compete for- and win- Department of Defense contracts. The U.S. Army Special Forces veteran was aware there were business opportunities with the military and that no West Virginia companies were doing so at the time. He also knew it would take an extraordinary effort because West Virginia’s economy was considered resource-based and not technology-based.

    But through his persistence and leadership abilities, Azimuth, Incorporated was created which resulted in Hartzell, the company’s president and CEO, being named West Virginia’s 2010Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

    Hartzell will be honored at the annual West Virginia Small Business Awards luncheon on Thursday, May 13,  at the Tamarack Conference Center in Beckley. He will also be recognized at the 47th annual National Small Business Week gala in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 25, where Hartzell will learn whether his name will be called as the National Small Business Person of the Year.

    Azimuth specializes in engineering, fabrication and engineering services in support of the U.S. Department of Defense. Hartzell as the founder and first full time employee of Azimuth has over thirty years of experience in the fields of electronic communications, special operations and business management.

    Hartzell realized in order to be successful, he had to create a company that could win contracts, provide outstanding support and build a solid reputation. He wanted a company that incorporated sound ethical principles, customer loyalty, and the highest standard of integrity and honesty. Although Azimuth is known by these principles today, they didn’t evolve without overcoming several obstacles.

    Hartzell found he was competing for contracts with larger, well-established companies and coming up short. He realized what he needed was more experience and some clout. To overcome this disadvantage he entered into a Department of Defense Mentor/Protégé Program with Electronic Warfare Associates, (EWA) Inc., a large prime contractor for the DoD, serving as Azimuth’s corporate mentor. This association led to Azimuth’s first contract of $79,000 which allowed Hartzell to hire his first employees. It also provided Hartzell with some of the tools and experience he needed to build a solid performance core.

    With a Mentor/Protégé agreement in place, Azimuth seemed to be on the right path to win government contracts. However, Hartzell soon realized the company lacked the necessary capital to meet the financial challenges of successful contract bidding.

    A loan through SBA’s 7(a) guaranty loan program was secured through a local lender that helped alleviate some of the initial funding issues. More frequent contract awards led to the need of another SBA-guaranteed loan. Hartzell credits the receipt of those two loans as being absolutely critical to the initial survival of Azimuth.

    Through all of these efforts, Azimuth has evolved into a reputable defense contractor of nearly 100 employees operating in four facilities in West Virginia – two in Morgantown and two in Fairmont – and in satellite locations in Maryland, Virginia, Florida and North Carolina.

    West Virginia SBA Director Judy McCauley said Hartzell epitomizes the criteria for the Small Business Person award and is an excellent representative for small business success in West Virginia.

    Hartzell was nominated by Sharon Stratton, center manager for the West Virginia Small Business Development Center in Morgantown.

    Also being honored at the 2010 West Virginia Small Business Awards Celebration on May 13th event are: Jalon “Jay” Petre, president of Renick Millworks, LLC, Renick as SBA Young Entrepreneur; C. Thomas and Rosemary Grant from First Choice Bookkeeping, Inc. in Huntington as Financial Services Champions; Diane Lewis, president of Action Facilities Management in Morgantown as Minority Small Business Champion; Kara Gray, owner of New Horizon Consulting in Dallas as Women in Business Champion; Scott M. Hedges, president & CEO and Michael J. Grady, vice president from Power Sonix, Inc. in Martinsburg as Small Business Exporters; and David M. Hughes, John M. Hughes and Fletcher G. Herold, Jr. from L.J. Hughes & Sons, Inc. in Summersville as *Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business. (*L.J. Hughes & Sons, Inc. also received this award for SBA Region III which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.)

    The Awards Celebration is being hosted by the West Virginia Women’s Business and Training Center and will run from noon until 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 13. Cost is $40 per person. To register, contact Karen Jones at (800) 766-4556, via email at kjones@westvirginiawbc.org , or register online at www.westvirginiawbc.org .

SBA, SCORE to host free 'Facebook for Business' webinar

    CHARLESTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE will host a free webinar Facebook for Business featuring Kara Gray of New Horizon Consulting on May 11 at noon. Register at www.wvscore.org . Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. 

    According to Gray, “Facebook is a great way to grow your online relationships and promote your business. We’ll show you how to create a Fan Page and then how to integrate Facebook with other social media tools and develop a smart Facebook strategy.”

     Gray specializes in high-tech public relations and marketing copywriting, including news releases, case studies, web copy, newsletters and by-lined articles. Her work includes a variety of clients in the private and federal technology sector, including the NASA Commercial Technology Program.

    This clinic is one in a series of free small business clinics and webinars for small business owners. Upcoming sessions include:

·     LLC v. S-Corp: Which is Right for You? webinar, featuring Larry Ickes, CPA, May 18.

   · Small Business Loans: No Hype, Just the Facts clinic, featuring Christy Scott, Sun Trust Bank, May 20.

    · Deductible Business Expenses webinar, featuring Larry Ickes, CPA on June 15.

    · Taxes v. Liability: Business Legal Organizations Explained clinic, featuring Joetta Kuhn, CPA, June 17.

    Registration for all of the above clinics can be made online at www.wvscore.org .

Unemployment down in most state counties in March

    CHARLESTON — West Virginia's unemployment rate declined eight-tenths of a percentage point to 10.1 percent in March 2010. Nearly every county reported a declining unemployment rate as well, WorkForce West Virginia has reported. 

    The number of counties recording an unemployment rate considered much worse than average when compared to the state rate was unchanged in March. This group included Wetzel (15.3), Wirt (15.4), Brooke (15.9), Clay (16.2), Roane (16.9), and Calhoun (18.8).

    The number of counties recording an unemployment rate considered better than average when compared to the state rate grew slightly in March. This group included Cabell (8.5), Boone (8.4), Harrison (8.4), Kanawha (8.3), Marion (8.2), Putnam (8.1), and Jefferson (7.7). 

    Once again, Monongalia (5.6) was the sole county recording an unemployment rate considered much better than average when compared to the state rate.

Insurance executive to deliver annual Weese Financial Services Lecture at WVU

    MORGANTOWN -- A top insurance executive will speak at West Virginia University on business leadership during the College of Business and Economics annual Samuel H. Weese Financial Services Lecture.

    John E. Schlifske, president of Northwestern Mutual, will speak on "The Long Run: Driving Sustainable Long-Term Enterprise Value" Tuesday, April 20, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair Gluck Theater. The event is free and open to the public with a reception to follow.

    Schlifske became president of Northwestern Mutual and a member of the company’s board of trustees in 2009.

    Previously, Schlifske was president and chief executive officer of Russell Investment Co. and Northwestern Mutual’s executive vice president for investment products and services. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of the company’s investment products and services business, including annuities, mutual funds, advisory products and the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co.

    Schlifske joined Northwestern Mutual in 1987 as an investment specialist and began to hold positions of increasing authority. He managed company investments in private placements, leveraged buyouts, private equity and public convertibles, as well as mortgage loans and real estate.

    The Weese lecture was established in honor of Dr. Samuel H. Weese, who earned an undergraduate degree and MBA from the WVU College of Business and Economics and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He was insurance commissioner for West Virginia from 1969-75.

Federal Agencies Reach Out to Small Businesses Owned by Service Disabled Vets

    CLARKSBURG - Small businesses owned by service disabled veterans have a terrific opportunity to learn the ins and outs for doing business with the federal government. The U.S. Small Business Administration, West Virginia District Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington and Pittsburgh offices, are cosponsoring a federal and prime contracting event on Wednesday, April 21,  in Fairmont - Dynamic Networking for Small Business. There will be two workshops to help service disabled veterans who own a small business or who are starting a small business. 

    There are four information tracks covering the day’s activities. Along with the workshops for the service disabled veterans there will be panel presentations by agencies and large businesses looking for subcontractors, SBA certification programs, tips and tricks for government contracting and much more.

    Experts will be on hand to provide advice and suggestions about how to succeed with doing business with the federal government. The event has been designed to streamline the information process so all small businesses can get the information they need to get to where they want to go in their future. 

    “We are so excited to be doing this with the Corps of Engineers,” said Judy McCauley, District Director. “They are a highly skilled agency which makes them a perfect complement for reaching out to a very valuable segment of the small business community – our service disabled veterans.”

    Anyone interested in attending the free event being held at the I-79 Technology Center Research Park can preregister with Naomi.bassel@sba.gov .

Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner set for May 19

    HUNTINGTON — BB&T will present the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 119th Annual Dinner with Keynote Speaker John Jung, BB&T’s Capital Markets Operating Officer, on Wednesday, May 19, at the Pullman Plaza Hotel, 1001 Third Ave., Huntington. 

    Jung is Senior Marketing Director of Scott & Stringfellow, a BB&T Corporation Affiliate and full-service regional brokerage subsidiary. A member reception will be at 5 p.m. followed by the dinner with seating beginning at 5:45 p.m.

    Jung has 26 years of experience in the capital markets business and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Virginia.

    BB&T Corporation, headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., is among the nation's top financial-holding companies. Its bank subsidiaries operate more than 1,800 financial centers in the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Texas and Washington, D.C.

    Various sponsorship opportunities are now available, contact the Chamber at (304) 525-5131 for information.

Richmond Fed president details financial crisis during speech at WVU

    MORGANTOWN – As he constantly consumed information on the financial crisis that recently pushed the country into a recession, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker saw a lot of reports that placed blame on economists for failing to predict the factors leading up to it.

    “I’m going to attack that notion for you today,” Lacker told his audience of mostly business and politics students at West Virginia University on Wednesday (April 14). “I’m going to try and demolish that notion.”

    Calling the assumption that economists should have predicted the details of the recession “unfair,” Lacker pointed to the ways in which economists had tracked and predicted in the last few decades the forces that led to the financial crisis.

     As he gave the audience a background of economic research, Lacker brought up points of concern that the researchers had noted. As far back as 1977 economists noticed that depository insurance had an influence on the risks taken by banks and consumers. If the bank was insured, it took on more risk and its consumers were less likely to monitor the bank’s practices.

    Lacker spoke of other economists who noted that as banks became insured, oversight on their behavior would relax. Also, with the insuring of banks, panic attacks of bank runs were rewarded by the promise of a 100 percent return immediately. An alternative strategy proposed was that of offering something like an 80 percent return on investment after a certain point, which put a penalty on panicking.

    But what may have been most telling about the most recent financial crisis was that the government took on a role of rescuing large financial institutions, those “too big to fail,” fueled by an undefined perception by the public that these banks would be shepherded by the government in the event of a crisis.

    “This is a huge problem,” Lacker said.

    He pointed to two of the biggest names in news in the last two years as an example. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both mortgage insurers, were not regularly financially supported by the government, but they were bailed out due to a public perception that they would be bailed out.

    “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been more expensive than anything else in this crisis,” Lacker said. “Over $100 billion and still there’s more losses to come for us taxpayers. They were able to borrow at much lower interest rates than competitors in the mortgage securitization market because they were perceived to be too big to fail.”

    Lacker pointed to how the recent bailout precedents have only enlarged this undefined safety net. In 1999, economists at the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank found that 45 percent of the liabilities in the country’s financial community “enjoyed explicit or implicit government support.”

    Following the last round of bailouts, that percentage has climbed to 59.

    The problem, Lacker believes, is ambiguity and “a lack of clarity.”

    What policymakers can do to change this is define who is in the safety net and who is not, and to make the safety net smaller in an effort to encourage individual responsibility.

    And institution failure doesn’t have quite the consequences that some feared, Lacker said. When Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, the only firm that failed as a result was a money market investor engaged in fraudulent activity.

    Lacker said bills are in both the Senate and House side of Congress now that are attempting to fix this problem, but which offer government leeway with an option for bailout funding to use at Congress’ “discretion.”

    “That to me just sets up this dynamic, just perpetuates this dynamic that gave us ‘too big to fail’ to begin with, and so I think it would be a mistake,” he said.

    After discussing the hows and whys of the recession, Lacker underlined his belief that economics has a positive role to play in the discussion.

    “I hoped to have convinced you not to give up on economics if you ever did,” he said.

    Lacker’s division of the Federal Reserve oversees Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, the District of Columbia and West Virginia, except for the northern panhandle.

West Virginia's unemployment falls slightly to 10.1 percent in March

    CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s unemployment rate fell eight-tenths of a percentage point to 10.1 percent in March, WorkForce West Virginia has reported. The number of unemployed state residents declined 6,800 to 78,800. Total unemployment was up 18,400 over the year. 

    Total nonfarm payroll employment rose 11,500, with gains of 8,000 in the service-providing sector and 3,500 in the goods-producing sector. Within the goods-producing sector, employment gains occurred among all major industries, including 2,700 in construction, 600 in manufacturing, and 200 in mining and logging.

    Employment increases within the service-providing sector were led by a gain of 3,300 in government, fueled by the addition of federal census workers to the survey. Other gains included 1,500 in leisure and hospitality, 1,100 in educational and health services, 900 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 500 in professional and business services, 400 in financial activities, 200 in other services, and 100 in information.

    Since March 2009, total nonfarm payroll employment has fallen 14,500, with losses of 10,000 in the goods-producing sector and 4,500 in the service-providing sector. Declines included 4,600 in construction, 3,900 in mining and logging, 2,700 in leisure and hospitality, 2,200 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 1,500 in manufacturing, 1,500 in professional and business services, 900 in financial activities, 600 in information, and 100 in other services.

    Employment gains included 2,000 in educational and health services and 1,500 in government.

    West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5 percent, while the national rate remained at 9.7 percent.

Business Basics Workshop Set For South Charleston

    CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Businesses) is taking reservations for “Start Up Basics and Business Concepts” on Saturday, April 17 at the South Charleston Public Library at 312 Fourth Avenue, South Charleston, WV, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. Register online at www.wvscore.org or call (304) 347-5463. 

    “If you want to succeed in business, you’ve got to take a hard-nosed look at your business idea first,” said Tommie Brown, instructor and SCORE volunteer. “Frankly, it could be the best idea in the world, but if you can’t pay your bills doing it, then you probably shouldn’t sink any of your time and money into it.”

    “This workshop is the first step in helping you to determine your next business steps,” Brown added.

The workshop is one of the four-part series Quick Start Your Business, which continues with:

• The Marketing Plan-- Saturday, May 1
• Financial Projections-- Saturday, May 15
• Funding Sources & Next Steps-- Saturday, June 5

    The Quick Start Your Business workshop series is sponsored by Charleston SCORE Chapter #256 and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

WVU Maintains International Business Accreditation

    MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University's College of Business and Economics has maintained its accreditation for both business and accounting programs, one of only 173 schools worldwide to have the dual accreditation.

    "This maintains an unbroken, 56-year streak of accreditation and shows that our faculty and students continue to perform at the highest levels," said Nancy McIntyre, the College's associate dean for academic affairs.

    "This accreditation comes after an extensive review of the College just concluded this year, and validates the direction we have been moving," McIntyre said. "Our faculty has produced more articles in peer-reviewed journals, we have increased internships and have created model curricula in accounting and fraud investigation programs among other achievements."

    The accreditation comes from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the oldest global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

    Only 593 schools of business, or fewer than 5 percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. Of these schools, only 173 have additional specialized accreditation for their accounting programs.

    To maintain accreditation both the business program and the accounting program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs. 

    “It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.”

    The West Virginia University College of Business & Economics was founded in 1950 and has maintained continuous accreditation by AACSB International since 1954. The college offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with five majors: Accounting, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing as well as a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. To further serve the University’s mission, B&E offers three University minor programs: Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, and Economics. At the Master’s level, B&E offers a Master of Business Administration, an Executive Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Industrial Relations, a Master of Professional Accountancy, a Master of Arts in Economics, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics.

    To learn more about the College of Business & Economics at West Virginia University visit http://www.be.wvu.edu . Or to learn more about AACSB International accreditation, visit the accreditation section of the AACSB International Web site at: http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation /.

Governor Releases April 'Open for Business' Report

     CHARLESTON — Gov. Joe Manchin has released the latest “Open for Business” report documenting the state’s economic progress. The April 2010 report highlights projects and related announcements from businesses both large and small that will assist with the creation of new jobs and the preservation of existing jobs.

New mineral wool plant to create up to 45 jobs in Jackson County
Armstrong World Industries has announced plans to invest $30-$35 million to build a mineral wool plant next to the former Century Aluminum Co. facility in the Jackson County Maritime and Industrial Centre in Millwood. When operational in mid-2012, the new 30,000-square-foot plant is expected to create up to 45 new jobs. Armstrong said competitive electricity rates and proximity to railroads and the Ohio River were factors that went into its selection of Millwood. Mineral wool is a raw material in the manufacture of Armstrong’s acoustical ceiling tiles. Armstrong World Industries manufactures floors, ceilings and cabinets. The company’s flooring plant in Randolph County employs nearly 700.

GST holds April 1 open house for new Innovation Lab in Marion County
The new Innovation Lab (iLab) established by Global Science & Technology (GST) opened on April 1 in the Alan B. Mollohan Innovation Center, I-79 High Technology Park, Fairmont. The iLab provides innovators with desk space, wireless network and access to experts. The focus is on projects that can produce commercial offerings in one of four areas: social and new media networks; mobile observation platforms; personalized content production; and collaborative business structures. The April 1 open house included demonstrations of innovation campaigns such as the Mobile Platform Environmental Data (MoPED) System funded by the National Weather Service; Real-time Environmental Data for Decreasing Unfavorable Concentration of Emissions (REDDUCE); and Med Wall, which provides radiologists with low-cost methods for viewing multiple images for increased collaboration and more informed diagnostics. GST has built a highly specialized work force that includes experts in key domains of engineering, science, communications and information technology. For more information, visit the GST iLab Web site ilab.gst.com.

Marion County firm fills 25 positions, recruiting for 20 more, for NOAA project
Diversified Global Partners (DGP) has filled 25 new positions and plans to recruit 20 more to support its project with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A joint venture firm, DGP consists of Global Science & Technology (GST) and DB Consulting Group. The partnership was created to support the NOAA-CLASS contract, valued at $200 million over the potential nine-year period of performance. Of the 25 hired so far, 16 now work at the GST facility in Fairmont. Out of that number, seven are working for GST, six for DB Consulting Group, and three for the major subcontractor Computer Science Corporation. The new staff will be added to the more than 40 people who have been supporting the NOAA/CLASS contract in Fairmont since 2000. The CLASS program supports the mission of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service to archive and disseminate environmental data.

West Virginia small businesses receive SBA honors
Several West Virginia small business owners have been singled out as 2010 award winners by the U.S. Small Business Administration, West Virginia District Office. All the winners will be honored May 13 in Beckley by the SBA. Craig Hartzell, president of Azimuth in Morgantown, has been named Small Business Person of the Year. Jalon Petre, president of Renick Millworks in Renick, was selected as SBA Young Entrepreneur. C. Thomas & Rosemary Grant of First Choice Bookkeeping, Huntington, were designated Financial Services Champion. Diane Lewis, president of Action Facilities Management, Morgantown, was honored as Minority Small Business Champion. Kara Gray, New Horizon Consulting, was selected as Women in Business Champion.

West Virginia launches E3-WV technical assistance program for businesses
West Virginia recently introduced E3-WV, a technical assistance program to help small businesses and manufacturers improve their economic, energy and environmental performance. Three organizations headquartered at West Virginia University will work together to carry out the project. The Industries of the Future-West Virginia and the Industrial Assessment Center will provide energy assessments for industrial and commercial businesses, helping businesses to cut costs and identify energy efficiency opportunities. The West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership will deliver environmental and carbon management services to industry, documenting their operations’ impact on the environment, as well as review manufacturing processes for energy and material savings.

WVEDA approves $800,000 for business loan
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) approved a loan totaling $800,000 for a Hardy County company during its March meeting:
Grant County Mulch (GCM), $800,000, to establish a firewood production facility in the town of Baker. The company anticipates creating up to 42 jobs over three years. GCM produces and sells bulk and bagged mulch, wood chips, color enhanced mulch, potting soil, pine nuggets, composted leaf humus and stone.In other action, WVEDA will allocate up to $53.1 million in federal stimulus bonding authority to counties. The bond authorization legislation is known as the Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond program. County commissions have been notified that the funds are available for reallocation. The deadline for counties to apply is April 1. The deadline to issue bonds is Dec. 31.

Cost of doing business in West Virginia third lowest in U.S., Moody’s reports
The 2009 Moody’s North American Business Cost Review noted that West Virginia has the nation’s third-lowest cost of doing business. Among the factors contributing to West Virginia’s strong showing were its competitive wage rates, ranked 14th best in the nation; and its low energy costs, the second lowest in the country.

WVU research cited in ARRA Report
Research under way at West Virginia University is among the projects spotlighted as examples of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at work one year after stimulus program’s launch. ARRA is helping the College of Engineering and Mineral Industries to research better ways to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure while reducing carbon emissions and increasing West Virginia jobs. WVU’s work is among the success stories recounted in the report “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act One Year Later: Recovery Act-Funded Research Advancing Science, Aiding the Economy and Contributing to America’s Prosperous Future.” The report was produced by the coalition group ScienceWorksForUS.

Charleston rates among top five housing markets ripe for recovery
Charleston, W.Va., holds fifth place among U.S. housing markets ready for recovery, real estate expert Barbara Corcoran recently reported on NBC’s Today Show. Charleston earned its spot on the list with a low foreclosure rate, relatively low unemployment and a median home price of only $121,000.

West Virginia Development Office participates in industry exhibitions
The West Virginia Development Office (WVDO) recently exhibited at the 30th anniversary Data Center World exhibition and conference, held in Nashville, Tenn. The conference attracts attendees in data center system infrastructure, operations and maintenance, security and processing. WVDO also participated in the 31st Annual WV Construction & Design Exposition in Charleston. The event attracts companies in construction, engineering and architectural industries from across the state.

Rebuilt Welcome Center in Monongahela County hosts April 2 grand opening
Hospitality is now being dispensed from the newly-constructed I-79 Morgantown Welcome Center. The new center’s grand opening is April 2 at 1 p.m. The four tourism travel counselors had been operating from a temporary facility since 2008. In 2007, the center received 387,599 visitors.

Hospitality Cup winners to represent West Virginia in nationals
Winners were recently selected for the West Virginia Hospitality Education and Training (WV HEAT) ProStart Hospitality Cup Competition. Buckhannon-Upshur High School ranked first in management. Greenbrier East High School captured top honors in the culinary competition. The winning teams will now represent West Virginia in the culinary and management events at the National ProStart Invitational in Kansas in April.

Retired Lockheed CEO to link higher education and jobs at WVU's Festival of Ideas

    MORGANTOWN – Norm Augustine knows a lot about the business world, and on April 8 he will share his knowledge with the West Virginia University community.

    Augustine, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corp., will present "Want Jobs? Invest in Our Universities" as part of the 2010 David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas at 7:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

    He was a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

    Augustine was chairman and principal officer of the American Red Cross for nine years, chairman of the National Academy of Engineering, president and chairman of the Association of the United States Army, chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association and chairman of the Defense Science Board. He is also the former president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Boy Scouts of America.

    He has received the National Medal of Technology and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Public Service Award. Augustine has received the Department of Defense's highest civilian decoration, the Distinguished Service Medal, five times.

    He has been awarded 23 honorary degrees and was selected by Who's Who in America and the Library of Congress as one of "Fifty Great Americans."

    Augustine received his bachelor's and master's degrees in aeronautical engineering from Princeton University.

    Augustine will be the sixth speaker at WVU’s 2010 David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas. The lecture series is scheduled to feature nine events and seven outstanding professionals.

    The series is supported in part by the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas Endowment, which was established in 2007 by the WVU Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts from individuals and organizations for the benefit of WVU.

    To view the complete 2010 Festival of Ideas schedule, visit http://festivalofideas.wvu.edu .

SBA to offer free online training series in April

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a Webinar series in recognition of National Financial Literacy Month during the month of April. Topics will highlight the importance of financial education and the opportunity to learn practical money skills and financial wellness. Participants will learn basic money management and financial skills for today’s business world.

    Webinar presenters and topics include:

Becky MacDicken, Financial Education Specialist
Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education
Topic: The Importance of Financial Education in the Workplace
Wednesday, April 7 at 11:00 a.m.


Luke Reynolds, Chief of the Outreach & Program Development Section
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection Community Affairs Branch
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Topic: Basic Banking/Financial Tips for Small Business
Wednesday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m.

Jennifer Matthews, President and CEO
Creating Financial Literacy, LLC
Topic: Spring is Here! Planting Seeds to Grow Your Own Money Tree
Wednesday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m.

Starrlese Jones, Financial Management Specialist
Division of Financial Integrity, Office of Federal Assistance Management
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
Topic: Your Money, Your Choice$, Your Future
Wednesday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m.


Jennifer Lane, Certified Financial Planner
Compass Planning Associates
Topic: Personal and Business Money Management
Wednesday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m.


Margo Mitchell
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Topic: Identity Theft
Wednesday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m.

For free visual and audio access to the Webinar go to www.ReadyTalk.com

Click “join a meeting” and enter access code 3761101

Then dial 866-740-1260 and enter access code 3761101 (plus the # key).

Justice Family Group Purchases The Resort at Glade Springs

    DANIELS -- Businessman Jim Justice has announced that the Justice Family Group, LLC has purchased The Resort at Glade Springs for an undisclosed price. The purchase is the second resort ownership for the Justice Family Group which purchased the world-renowned Greenbrier Resort in May 2009.

    "The Resort at Glade Springs is an ideal addition to the amenities and services offered to our clientele at The Greenbrier," said Jim Justice, chairman and owner of The Greenbrier. "With this acquisition Glade Springs will become an outpost to The Greenbrier and it allows The Greenbrier to be so much closer to all the wonderful West Virginia outdoor adventures, such as rafting, skiing and ATV riding. The sister resort relationship offers both resorts the opportunity to present a broader range of options in price and quality to their many loyal guests and corporate clients."

     The previous owner, EMCO Hospitality, will continue to manage Glade Springs as it has for the past six years and will continue to employ the existing staff.

    "The acquisition of Glade Springs by the Justice Family Group under the leadership of Jim Justice presents tremendous opportunities for the resort," said Elmer Coppoolse, Chairman and CEO of EMCO Hospitality, Inc. "Working together, The Greenbrier and Glade Springs will increase the status of West Virginia as a destination for travelers and corporations nationwide. We are confident that the combined amenities and opportunities for recreation and meetings will be extremely attractive and competitive with other destination resorts in the country." The Greenbrier is a leader of luxury resorts around the world.

    The Resort at Glade Springs is located on 4,100 acres of land 39 miles west of The Greenbrier. The resort features 203 rooms, cottages and villas, over 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space, three eighteen hole golf courses, spa, equestrian center, indoor and outdoor pools, bowling, tennis and a myriad of outdoor adventure offerings. (www.gladesprings.com )

    The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. As a National Historic Landmark, The Greenbrier's classic architecture, exquisite interior design, abundant scenic beauty, and outstanding amenities have hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778.

    This renowned property offers 721 rooms, including exquisite guest and estate houses and more than 50 recreational activities including three championship golf courses, a world class casino, PGA TOUR, FedEx Cup event (July 26 - August 1, 2010), indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a 40,000-square-foot spa, along with its fabulous exclusive residential sporting club and more. (www.greenbrier.com )

10 finalists to compete April 9-10 in Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition

    MORGANTOWN — The fourth annual Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition will wrap up with a final round of competition among 10 finalists April 9-10 on the campus of West Virginia University. 

    

    Two $10,000 prizes will be awarded to the winners.

    

    The field of 10 finalists includes teams from WVU, Glenville State College, Marshall University and the University of Charleston. This year’s competition will end on April 10 at the Mountainlair Student Union on the campus of WVU, where the winners in two categories will be announced—and presented $10,000 checks.

    “The 10 finalist teams have a lot invested in terms of their time and effort,” said Mindy Walls, WVU Entrepreneurship Center director and the director of the Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition. “This year, 98 applicants from seven colleges and universities throughout the state submitted proposals to be considered for the competition. These teams carefully thought out and presented their ideas, made it through when the field was narrowed to 20 teams and now find themselves among the finalists.”

    Walls said a $10,000 prize will be awarded in each of two categories, Lifestyle and Innovation. The two winning teams also receive professional business services, which they will use to build small businesses within the state. Winners receive space to run their businesses from the WVU Incubator, legal services from Spilman, Thomas & Battle and accounting services from Dixon Hughes.

    The competition spans the academic year and typically begins early in the fall semester. The competition draws full-time students from four-year institutions of higher education statewide.
“These teams are very driven and believe in their prospective businesses,” said Walls. “They have worked the entire academic year preparing for this event. Each finalist team has been working with a coach from the business community to assist in planning their start-up.”

    Finalists are encouraged to enroll in an online entrepreneurship course through the WVU College of Business and Economics designed to support their efforts in an academic setting.

    The competition expanded to all four-year institutions statewide in 2006, with the goal of promoting entrepreneurship in higher education by providing leadership, skills training and peer support to students interested in building small businesses in West Virginia. 

    For more information on the Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition, visit the Entrepreneurship Center website at: http://www.be.wvu.edu/bpc or contact Director Mindy Walls atmfwalls@mail.wvu.edu or via phone at (304) 293-7861.