Appointed/elected
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art announced new board members for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The new executive board includes chair, Bruce Berlin, managing partner, Venture Realty Group; vice chair, Susan Cohen, partner, Spring Oak Associates; secretary, Connie O’Brien, senior vice president, marketing and digital operations, PRA; treasurer, Nick Louridas, senior client associate, Wells Fargo Advisors; past chair, Nicole Naidyhorski, marketing director, Kaufman & Canoles; at large, Jeff Fine, vice president of production, WHRO Public Media; at large, Scott Duncan, retired senior vice president /general manager, The Capital Group Cos.; and at large, Anne Fleder, community volunteer. New board trustees include Virginia “Ginny” Fogg, retired general counsel for Norfolk Southern Corp.; Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, endowed professor of Virginia Black history and culture, Norfolk State University; and Kim McCoy Webb, experienced professional, artist and student.
The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions elected members to its board of directors for another one-year term, including Robert Crum of Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
Tyler Johnson of Gloucester has been named president of the Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s board of directors.
___
Awards and honors
Amazon selected Cindy Degnan, a computer science teacher at Deep Creek Elementary and Indian River Middle School in Chesapeake, among hundreds of eligible teachers for the Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador Program. As one of only 50 educators nationwide chosen for this two-year paid fellowship, Degnan of Portsmouth will play a vital role in helping scale computer science equity in her local community and serve as a model for what can be done across the country. One of her first major projects will be to conduct a local listening tour, engaging with students, parents, educators, and community leaders to understand the barriers and challenges they face in STEM and computer science education. This understanding will help shape the future of computer science curricula. She will also pilot innovative instructional strategies for teaching computer science in the classroom and receive professional development training opportunities. Additionally, she will connect with a nationwide network of like-minded science, technology, engineering and math educators to share best practices. “I am completing my 24th year in public education, and I would say that my father is responsible for my love of computer science and technology,” Degnan said. “I hope to instill in my students the same love for technology that my father instilled in me. I want them to see how technology will be an important part of any job they hold in the future.”
The Virginia Health Care Association-Virginia Center for Assisted Living announced that Virginia Health Services President and CEO Mark Klyczek was selected by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living as a future leader in long-term and post-acute care. Klyczek will participate in AHCA/NCAL’s Future Leaders program, which provides year-long training and mentorship for professionals in long-term and post-acute care. He is one of 39 participants selected nationwide. Klyczek has more than 25 years of health care experience. He started with VHS in January 2020. Under his leadership, VHS established a registered apprenticeship program, opened a Dialysis Den in partnership with DaVita at Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hampton and improved quality care scores.
Williamsburg Landing announced the renewal of its five-year CARF Accreditation. It is among only 12-15% of Life Plan Communities to achieve this certification, and the first accredited Life Plan Community in the region. CARF, founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body that establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. Williamsburg Landing provides independent living, assisted living, memory support, Namaste, short- and long-term nursing and adult day services.
___
Grants and donations
In August, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott delivered $1 million in community project funding from federal appropriations to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. The funding will be used to expand cold storage capacity by building a second, smaller warehouse location to store produce and lean meats. These are among the most nutritious foods and are often least affordable for food insecure families. This funding will enable the Foodbank and its partner agencies to continue providing nutritious fruits, vegetables and lean proteins to the more than 61,000 individuals across the greater Virginia Peninsula that are chronically food insecure. The expanded storage will also save the Foodbank significant expenses in private external storage costs and will allow the organization to receive more donated produce items that currently may be declined due to space constraints.
Last year, Williamsburg Multiple Listing Service contributed $7,000 to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in support of its Backpack Program. More than 50,000 Food for Kids Backpack program bags were delivered to 35 schools across our community, including five in Williamsburg/James City County. This summer, the program has been providing up to 900 breakfast and lunch meals during the weekday for kids who attended summer camps, church programs and YMCAs.
Columbia Gas of Virginia distributed grants of about $1,500 to nearly 30 volunteer fire departments across the commonwealth, including Carrollton and Smithfield volunteer fire departments.
The Virginia Aviation Board, at its quarterly meeting on Aug. 9, awarded about $9.6 million for 28 projects at 19 airports across the commonwealth. The funding includes more than $1.2 million to Chesapeake Regional Airport for south apron rehabilitation construction, $2,900 to Hampton Roads Executive Airport for a spill prevention control plan update and $62,000 to Suffolk Executive Airport for three-phase power.
The ViBe Creative District was awarded a general operating grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts for this fiscal year. The ViBe nonprofit is the private operational partner to the city of Virginia Beach’s arts district that fundraises to meet and exceed city investment in the district. Commission funding supports ViBe’s year-round programming and events, all offered free and open to the public.
___
Opening
Cava opened on Aug. 16 at 2808 Sabre St. in Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven neighborhood. The fast-casual restaurant chain serves Mediterranean-inspired bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings. The restaurant employs 30-35 workers.
Darla’s Downtown Boutique opened on Aug. 10 at 126 N. Main St. in downtown Suffolk. The shop sells women’s clothing, jewelry, home and gift items. Its inventory includes a wide variety of items, ranging from clothes for women, teens and tweens to candles and teacher gifts. Learn more at darlasdowntown.com.
Blessed Hands Florist, a floral and retail merchandise shop that expanded from a home-based operation, opened at 150 W. Washington St., Suite E, in downtown Suffolk on Aug. 10. The shop, owned by Shameka Council, offers a unique and affordable selection of customized floral arrangements and retail merchandise, including shirts and cups. The inspiration for this business came from a deeply personal experience when Council’s cousin, Antonio Gates, died in 2013 and motivated her to create meaningful floral arrangements for funerals. Council plans to offer tutorial lessons for arts and crafts during holidays. For more information, contact 757-742-3797.
___
Partnership
Chesapeake-based INIT entered a five-year partnership with Seattle-based King County Metro to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its electric fleet operations. INIT will provide provide an advanced vehicle health monitoring system and smart charge management system from CarMedialab, a member of the INIT Group. The cloud-based technologies will be conveyed across an initial 45 battery-powered electric buses and trolleybuses, eventually extending to a total of 500 battery electric coaches and 174 trolleys over the contract term.
___
Remodel
The Walmart Neighborhood Market at 11214 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News celebrated a remodel, designed to improve and modernize the customer shopping experience. Aisle locations changed for a simpler experience and signage throughout the store was updated to increase visibility and access. The remodel included an expanded online grocery department, relocation of the bakery department to the front of the store and an expanded pharmacy department with a new two-lane drive-thru for pharmacy customers. The store presented grants to local nonprofit organizations, including Peninsula Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Thrive Peninsula, Bridging Gaps for Heroes and Enduring Keys.
___
Workforce development
The Regional Maritime Training System, led by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, participated in the NASCAR race weekend at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 10-11 to spotlight career opportunities available in the maritime industry. It also recognized Eamon Kane, a recent graduate of a 90-day welding internship at Q.E.D. Systems Inc., a partner of the training system. Tidewater Community College also partnered with the system to host a booth with a welding simulator for attendees to test out in the FanZone. In 2023, race sponsor RFK Racing entered a partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the nonprofit integrator for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base Program, and its BuildSubmarines.com initiative to reinvigorate America’s manufacturing workforce and promote the wide array of career opportunities across the nation to NASCAR’s fan base. Through the multiyear agreement, BuildSubmarines.com was featured as a primary partner for 10 races across RFK’s two NASCAR Cup Series teams in 2023 and in 18 races per season beginning this year.
