Long-time local business consultant Dr. Grant Tate recognized as Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce bestowed upon Dr. R. Grant Tate its 2008 Chamber Small Business Person of the Year award at a luncheon on Thursday, May 29. Dr. Tate, who grew up in Orange, Virginia and now lives in Fluvanna County, is CEO of The Bridge LTD, a management development consulting firm. In addition Dr. Tate was recognized for his civic involvement. He is chair of the Fluvanna County Economic Development Commission, a member and past chair of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, co-editor of Capital Talk and EntreNews and was a Director of the Charlottesville Venture Group, which is now incorporated into the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council.

“Experience is one competitive edge,” said Dr. Tate. “(At The Bridge LTD,) we have the MBAs and we know the theories, but we’ve found over the years of doing this, that there is no substitute for real-world experience.”

The luncheon keynote address was given by Dr. William Bosher, outlining the challenges of enhancing education in the nation, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Greater Charlottesville communities. Charlottesville Tomorrow has a podcast of Dr. Bosher’s speech.

Gary Henry, GF Henry & Associates, named Chamber 2008 Volunteer of the Year

Gary F. Henry, founder and principle of GF Henry & Associates, today received the 2008 Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award was bestowed at the Chamber’s annual Commonwealth Breakfast.

“Gary Henry just maybe our area’s most focused advocate for support and nurturing of, technology businesses – and – a regional business and civic environment that welcomes and encourages strategic technology enterprise,” said Mary Loose DeViney of Tuel Jewelers, 2007 Chairwoman of the Chamber Board of Directors and Chair of the 2008 Chamber Recognition Awards Committee.

A news release from the Chamber notes that Mr. Henry has a particularly powerful interest in “lighting up” young people to the excitement and wonders of science. He has been involved with the Virginia Piedmont Regional Science Fair for more than 20 years. As a winner of the international science fair competition as a youth, this organization has had a great impact on Mr. Henry’s life. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Virginia Piedmont Regional Science Fair’s Board of Directors and as Fair Director. In this role, he spearheads securing sponsors, judges and awards for the event and helps marshal all of the resources that make the Fair possible for 300 of the region’s students each year. At the Chamber, in addition to his service on the Chamber Board of Directors, Mr. Henry volunteered to spearhead the Chamber’s computer, information and telephony technology overhaul.

Nominations Open: Better Living’s Golden Apple Award

Better Living Building Supply & Better Living Furniture is sponsoring the 8th Annual Golden Apple Awards for outstanding teachers from area school systems. These awards are presented to faculty members from the public and private schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City, including CATEC. Eligible private schools are those that are members of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS).

One candidate is selected to represent their school and receives a Golden Apple, as well as gift certificates from local businesses. As a “Golden Apple” teacher, each candidate is then eligible to receive a Golden Apple Grant ($1000). Grants are awarded to eight ( candidates: 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high school candidates of the public schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City and CATEC, and to 1 candidate from the schools that are members of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). The grant award may be used to support the candidate’s continued professional development.

The Golden Apple Awards will be announced on May 22, 2008. Nomination forms are available form the local schools or online at www.betterlivingvirginia.com or www.k12albemarle.org. Deadline for Nominations: March 3, 2008 - return forms to the local school.

Questions? Contact Regina Kirk, Albemarle County Schools, 296-5820, or at rkirk@k12albemarle.org

Call for Nominations: CYFS Family-Friendly Employer Award

Children, Youth & Family Services is seeking nominations for two awards to be presented at its annual Community Breakfast in April, 2008. One of those awards is the 2008 CYFS Family-Friendly Employer Award. This award honors an employer with practices that instill a family-friendly work culture. You must be an employee of the organization or business in order to nominate it for this award and only organizations, businesses or other employers are eligible.

Is Your Employer Family-Friendly? Visit www.cyfs.org to download a nomination form. Deadline for submission is February 15, 2008.

The second award is the 2008 John L. Snook Child Advocate Award. This award honors an individual who has demonstrated over time a continuing commitment to the well-being of children and families in the community and to the advancement of children’s issues through volunteer or professional services and/or public advocacy.

CATEC recipient of $2,500 Timberland Grant through SkillsUSA

As part of SkillsUSA’s $2,500 Timberland grant opportunity, the Culinary Arts class at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) submitted a community service project entitled One year of Blessing, Caring, and Thanksgiving to people in need, a commitment that never ends. With 950 projected community service hours dedicated to this year long project, the Culinary Arts program is the recipient of the $2,500 grant under the Highest Impact/Involvement category.

The class project, which began in November 2007, will be completed in December 2008. The first objective is to fully engage 28 CATEC Culinary Arts I and II students in Community Based Service Learning by providing quality food, quality service, and exposing students to real life situations involving people in need. This provides opportunities that involve various competencies, hands on learning, student creativity and class teamwork. The second objective is to expose the community to the talents and gifts of the students.

Harold Wright receives Chamber’s annual citizenship award

Harold B. Wright, Jr., founder of Virginia Broadcasting Company, WVIR/NBC-29, Greater Charlottesville’s first local television station, received the prestigious Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner, Wednesday, November 28.

“Harold Wright came to our community nearly 50 years ago and as a citizen and businessman,” said Cathy Smith Train, President of the United Way – Thomas Jefferson Area, Past Chairwoman of the Chamber Board of Directors and Chairwoman of the Chamber Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award Committee. “He has been, and remains, a force for success in business and for many important civic and charitable efforts.”

The Chamber’s news release notes that Mr. Wright’s community involvement is both “extensive and focused.” He is a founding member of the Blue Ridge Rotary Club and has served on the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital Committee and the UVA Health System Community Relations Committee. He was an active member of the Jaycees and he and his business are active in many aspects of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber.

Mr. Wright has been particularly focused on the continued success of NBC-29’s “Children’s Miracle Network Telethon” to benefit the UVA Children’s Hospital and pediatric patients throughout Central Virginia. In 1983, the first telethon raised $23,000; this past year’s telethon total topped $2 million. Over the 24-year run the NBC-29’s Children’s Miracle Network Telethon has raised more than $20 million.

The Chamber of Commerce established its Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award in 1975 to recognize outstanding citizen contributions to the greater Charlottesville area.

Cardinal Point wins gold at Virginia Governor’s Cup

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery’s 2006 Viognier earned one of only 25 Gold medals awarded in the 2007 Virginia Governor’s Cup Wine Competition. Cardinal Point’s signature wine, the 2006 A6, a blend of Viognier and Chardonnay, won Silver, and their Reserve Cabernet Franc, Barrel Select Chardonnay, and 2005 and 2006 Cabernet Franc wines won Bronze. The Governor’s Cup competition is open to Virginia wines only, and Cardinal Point’s wines were among 352 total Virginia wines entered. Noted Tim Gorman, winemaker at Cardinal Point, “Winemakers in Virginia are making some of the finest wines in the country; I am honored that one of my wines has been chosen as a standout in such elite company.”