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| Business Intelligence for Virginia's Entrepreneurial Economy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In This Issue... Expansions, Relocations & Launches, Who's Hot, Who's Not, Who's Winning Business, Deals & Partnerships, Innovations, R&D / Intellectual Property, People, Trends, Commentary, Events, Click here to forward to a friend or colleague who might like this newsletter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Expansions, Relocations & Launches  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sponsors:  Legal Services  Investment banking  Email Marketing Experts Partners:  The Boomer Project  Virginia FREE  National Association of Women Business Owners |
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Lockheed Martin Adds Combat Air Simulation to Suffolk Facility SUFFOLK--Lockheed Martin Corporation will enhance its Center for Innovation by adding air combat simulation capability to its powerful network-centric laboratory. Two simulators will investigate capabilities of the next-generation F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft within the framework of the network-centric battlespace. Said executive Paul Bavitz: "Understanding how net-centric operations are reshaping future combat operations and the projection of force are at the core of this enhancement." As the world's only fifth-generation fighters, the F/A-22 and F-35 are the first aircraft to combine stealth and supersonic speed with the ability to exchange vast amounts of battlespace-critical data with a wide array of combat assets in the air, on the surface and in space. More. Blue Canopy Expands to India RESTON-Blue Canopy, a strategic IT management partner, has established an engineering and operation center in New Delhi to support the launch of the company's 4pi nVision performance dashboard, which integrates all of a business' IT processes into a single interface. Plans call for hiring up to 50 engineers and business consultants over the next six months. More. Spectrum Holdings Launches Middle East Initiative FALLS CHURCH--Spectrum Sciences & Software Holdings Corp., a technical engineering solutions company, has formed UCH Engineering Limited with the support of Middle Eastern investors. The goal is to position Spectrum as a leader in the fields of environmental assessment and restoration, procurement and acquisition, security, geospatial solutions, and business management programs. Said CEO Darryl K. Horne: "The Middle East governments will continue to look for ways to take advantage of the improvements in stability in Iraq. Kuwait, for example, is currently experiencing a major return of investment capital. That, combined with high levels of liquidity owing to robust oil revenue, has contributed to an impressive surge in construction projects." More. ORBCOMM Expands Network to Kazakhstan DULLES--ORBCOMM, a global satellite telecommunications company, has commissioned a new Gateway Earth Station in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to be fully operational in December. Gateway Earth Stations (GES) are terrestrial links to the ORBCOMM network of low-earth orbit satellites. The new GES provides a 1,500-mile coverage radius enabling ORBCOMM to expand near real-time service into parts of China, Russia and the Middle East through its low-earth orbit satellite network. More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Hot... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Searchable Business Database  Virginia Technology Alliance |
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Cadmus Relocates Maryland Operations to Columbia RICHMOND--Cadmus Communications, a provider of content management and production services for periodicals, has relocated its Content Services Operation in Linthicum, Md., to a new facility in Columbia, Md. The new 65,000-square-foot facility offers improved meeting facilities for customers, a more organized work floor, and space to accommodate future growth. Said Cadmus executive John Grinnell: "We needed additional space to grow and meet the changing needs of our customers. The new facility was designed to focus on our customer-specific teams with all associates located in close proximity to facilitate seamless communication and quicker response times." More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Not... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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QuadraMed Reports $4 Million Loss RESTON--QuadraMed Corporation, a provider of IT services to the healthcare sector, has reported a net loss of $4 million for the 2Q of 2005, compared to a loss of $16.3 million for the same period a year before. The losses include a $3.2 million executive severance package due to the recently announced departures of three executives. More. Allied Defense to Restate Earnings VIENNA--The Allied Defense Group announced that it would restate its financial results for the periods ending March 30 and June 30, 2005. The company had not met the documentation requirements needed to apply hedge accounting to certain foreign currency exchange contracts. More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Winning Business... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Northrop Grumman Awarded $2 Billion IT Contract MCLEAN--Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded an interim contract by the Commonwealth of Virginia to help transform and improve its information technology infrastructure. Upon review by Virginia's General Assembly, the interim contract will transition to a 10-year contract valued at $2 billion. Northrop Grumman's Information Technology sector will support the Virginia Information Technologies Agency in its IT infrastructure transformation of 91 executive branch agencies. IT services will include network services, desktop services and e-mail, data-center consolidation and management, customer-care services, call centers, and other infrastructure projects and services. More. And more. Payerpath Expands into Four New Markets RICHMOND--Payerpath Inc., a provider of Internet-based financial transaction solutions for healthcare providers, has closed contracts with hospitals in Milwaukee, Wis., Modesto, Calif., Crawfordsville, Ind., and Knoxville, Tenn. Said Jim Riley, vice president of sales: "It is our belief that healthcare is locally driven, so as Payerpath expands nationally, we will continue to focus our efforts on establishing relationships with the dominant payers in each individual market. This approach enables us to develop close, interactive partnerships with payers and providers, thus leading to reduced claim denials, better reporting and expedited payments for our provider customers." More. In Brief... RESTON-MAXIMUS, a provider of government services, has been awarded task orders totaling $39.2 million over three years to perform appeals for the Medicare prescription drug coverage program. More. MCLEAN-Project Performance Corporation has won a contract potentially worth $10.2 million over five years to deliver IT support services to the Office of Environmental Management within the Department of Energy. More. NORFOLK--ValueOptions has been selected as the exclusive provider of mental health benefits to health plan participants in Liberty Health Advantage, a New York managed health organization. More. RICHMOND--Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. has won new contracts totaling nearly $2 million, adding to its contract base in bio-defense and vaccine development support activities. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Deals & Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CarrAmerica Pays $123 Million for Tysons Property TYSONS CORNER--CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, a Washington, D.C., real estate investment trust, has paid $123 million to buy Tysons International Plaza, a two-building, Class A office project in Tysons Corner. Said CarrAmerica executive Phillip Thomas: "Tysons International Plaza affords CarrAmerica a great opportunity to create value with below market rents currently in place and approximately 115,875 square feet of space available to lease in a rising market." Especially attractive, he added, is the fact that the property is located within walking distance - "a rarity in this market" - of numerous restaurants and high-end retailers. More. AOL Partners with CBSNews.com DULLES-Under a new agreement between America Online and CBS Digital Media, CBS News.com will supply up-to-the minute broadband video and text news programming to the AOL News channel. The news programming builds on AOL's effort to provide a "comprehensive and engaging" news experience on the Web. AOL News combines news with polls, blogs, and multimedia features offering real-time dialogue, reaching a monthly audience of more than 21 million. BB&T to Acquire "Joisey" Brokerage Firm RICHMOND--BB&T Corporation, a Winston-Salem, N.C., bank-holding company, will acquire brokerage and investment banking firm Bergen Capital Inc., of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. Bergen, a full-service brokerage firm will be integrated into Scott & Stringfellow Inc., BB&T's brokerage and investment banking subsidiary. Said Scott & Stringfellow CEO Walter Robertson: "We're excited about adding a growing, high-quality firm known as much for its emphasis on client relationships as it is for putting together quality investment strategies in the bond market." More. RoomStore Partners with Furniture.com RICHMOND-RoomStore, Inc., a furniture retailer with 65 stores in the Mid-Atlantic and the South, has partnered with Furniture.com, gaining exclusive geographic rights to its web address, online sales and customer service technology platform. The partnership will be an integral aspect of RoomStore's growth in 2006 and beyond. RoomStore expects to gain new customers through the Furniture.com address and website, as well as added in-store traffic from website shoppers seeking real-life touch tests in local showrooms. More. Hall Hodges Sold to Texas Minimill Company NORFOLK-Hall-Hodges Company, a reinforcing steel fabricator, has been acquired by Commercial Metals Company, a steel mini-mill company headquartered in Irving, Texas. The Norfolk facility, which began operations in 1925, will operate as part of CMC's Rebar East Group of facilities that fabricate reinforcing steel and supply construction products to contractors throughout the Eastern United States. More. MicroStrategy Engages Wipro as Reseller MCLEAN-MicroStrategy Incorporated, provider of business intelligence software, has reached a global reseller agreement with Wipro Limited, a global IT services company based in Bangalore, India. Wipro will resell MicroStrategy's technology to enterprise-scale customers across a wide spectrum of industries. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Innovations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PBS Launches PBS KIDS Next Generation Media ALEXANDRIA--PBS has announced a five-year initiative, PBS KIDS Next Generation Media, defining the role PBS will play in the changing digital children's media landscape. The initiative includes a preschool "multi-platform destination" and a 24-hour multicast service for early elementary school kids, both to launch in the fall of 2006. Said PBS executive Lesli Rotenberg: "PBS intends to lead the industry to the next phase for this new generation of children who consume and access media differently than previous generations." More. Cavalier Telephone Introduces Broadband TV Network RICHMOND--Cavalier Telephone will offer a full suite of video products to customers in its Mid-Atlantic marketplace, beginning in Richmond. Cavalier Broadband TV will deliver 150 digital video and music channels, an interactive program guide and other features using the new "MPEG4" video technology. Broadband TV will be bundled with DSL Internet access and local/long distance phone service for $95 per month. Said CEO Brad Evans: "We intend to go head-to-head with existing cable & satellite firms showcasing our superior picture quality and network reliability." More. Cloakware Unveils PasswordManager Express VIENNA--Cloakware Inc., a developer of products that protect digital assets, has announced the availability of Cloakware Server PasswordManager Express, created and priced for companies with 200 servers or less. CSPM Express increases the security of users' data center operations and improves the efficiency of managing their servers. More. OpenMFG Expands Development Partner Program NORFOLK--OpenMFG, a provider of open source-based enterprise solutions for small manufacturers, has expanded its OpenMFG Partner Program. Under existing agreements, customers and value-added resellers have full access to application source code, and any enhancements made to the product flow back to OpenMFG for review, quality testing, and possible incorporation into the baseline product. The expanded program will embrace third-party developers who wish to sell applications and solutions that integrate with OpenMFG, or could be packaged as separate modules of new functionality. More. SunRocket Unveils Three-Cents-a-Minute International Calling Plan VIENNA--SunRocket, an Internet phone service provider, has rolled out a new program, SunRocket SunSpots, charging only three cents per minute for calls made to a group of 31 countries plus an additional 10 major foreign cities. Said co-founder Joyce Dorris: "SunRocket members don't need to place calls from their computer to enjoy free calls to loved ones around the globe. Members can just pick up the phone, dial any phone anywhere in the world, and enjoy free or steeply-discounted calling." More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | R&D / Intellectual Property | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VCU Finds Potent Cancer-Fighting Drug Combo RICHMOND-Two new drugs, when combined, killed up to 75 percent of breast cancer tumor cells in mice and suppressed the re-growth of tumors, according to researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. The drugs work by inhibiting protein kinases, part of tumor-survival signaling pathways. Said lead researcher Paul Dent: "In addition to potently inhibiting cells and suppressing tumor growth, these drugs are also part of a modern class of drugs that are less toxic to non-cancerous cells." More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | People | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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webMethods Taps Chiarello as COO FAIRFAX--webMethods, Inc., a provider of business integration and optimization software, has appointed Richard P. Chiarello to the post of COO. Chiarello had served since 2004 as the company's executive vice president of worldwide operations, responsible for global sales and services operations. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Trends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Chmura Economics & Analytics |
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 Retail sales in Virginia grew 7.0 percent for the year ending with September 2005 after posting 6.6 percent year-over-year growth in August. The pace of retail sales growth in Virginia has remained relatively stable over recent months and has not fallen below 6.2 percent since December 2004. For the year ending with September 2005, retail sales growth in Virginia advanced at a pace slightly higher the United States pace of 6.6 percent. For details and forecasts of retail sales across Virginia, as well as a list of Chmura Economics & Analytics (CEA) products and services, click here or call (804) 649-1107. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Other News | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Red Zone Waves Red Flag Over Six Flags ASHBURN-Red Zone LLC, a private investment group run by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, has stepped up his campaign to take managing control of Six Flags, Inc., the world's largest operator of theme parks. Red Zone owns 11.7 percent of Six Flag's stock, and Snyder is vying for support from other shareholders to replace three of seven directors with his own slate of candidates. Six Flag management, charged Snyder in a letter to shareholders, has "overseen the destruction of over $2.6 billion in shareholder value while the value of your shares plummeted from over $40 in May 1999 to less than $4 in May 2005." More. Ukrop's Upgrades Data Warehouse RICHMOND--Ukrop's Super Markets, a 30-store supermarket chain serving Central Virginia, has upgraded its data warehouse. Ukrop's, which uses the storage for its strategic marketing initiatives, was facing storage capacity issues, and the process of storing, retrieving and analyzing data had become inefficient. The new technology supplied by Teradata, of Dayton, Ohio, will increase the retailer's storage capacity by 750 percent while lowering the company's overall IT budget and expanding the versatility of the system. Said Chellam Manickam, vice president of IT: "The system will help us improve our one-to-one marketing activities, empower our category managers and store managers with accurate data." More. Crutchfield Launches Spanish-Version Website CHARLOTTESVILLE--Crutchfield Corporation, the nation's largest direct marketer of consumer electronics products, has launched its complete website, with thousands of products and technical information "En Espanol." Crutchfield now offers more Spanish content online than any other consumer electronics retailer. More. Virginia Launches Business Support Portal RICHMOND--Businesses seeking information and services from the Commonwealth of Virginia now have a new centralized starting point. The new online portal (www.business.virginia.gov) is available through the state's official website and consolidates information about Virginia's various business assistance and support services such as grants, loans, workforce training, and licensing in one online location. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Commentary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Give the Guy Some Credit The morning-after pundits are attributing Tim Kaine's victory over Jerry Kilgore to everybody and everything but Tim Kaine himself. Fact is, the Timster ran a darn smart campaign. More. |
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New Man, New Ideas Tim Kaine's victory will transform Virginia's dead-end debate over how to raise more money and build more roads. The big new theme: How to manage travel demand. Tim Kaine won the 2005 gubernatorial contest by campaigning as Mark Warner Redux: If you liked the last four years, a vote for Kaine was a vote for four more. Yet the Governor-elect is taking Virginia's transportation policy, the top issue on the legislative agenda in 2006, in a very different direction. The ballots had barely been counted last week when Kaine promised to hold summits around the state with the goal of building a statewide coalition for his transportation program. More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VA Newswire is a free, email-based weekly newsletter that covers news and events from around the state. If you have any news, events, job openings, or office space availability that you would like to include in next week's newswire, email jim@vanewswire.com. Click here for a free subscription. Click here to unsubscribe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
