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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 Winning Business, Deals & Partnerships, Innovations, People, R&D / Intellectual Property, Trends, Other News, Commentary, Events, Click here to forward to a friend or colleague who might like this newsletter. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Expansions, Relocations & Launches  | |||||||||||||||||
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Sponsors: 
Legal Services |
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Heiden Group Expands in D.C., San Francisco RESTON--The Heiden Group, a IT-strategy consulting firm, is expanding its Washington, D.C., recruiting and consulting office and opening a recruiting office in San Francisco. The company also plans to open offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York later in 2006. The firm's revenue grew over 1,000 percent in 2005, establishing the company as one of the fastest growing in its market. In 2005, the company established clients in the fields of: executive permanent placement, M&A due diligence, market positioning and strategy, operational efficiency and temporary contract staffing. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Hot... | |||||||||||||||||
Investment banking  Email Marketing Experts Partners:  The Boomer Project 
Virginia FREE |
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BIA Digital Digs up $27 Million for Mezzanine Capital CHANTILLY--BIA Digital Partners, an investment management firm, has closed on $27 million of its second private equity fund, which will provide mezzanine capital to private telecommunications, media, entertainment, information service and business services companies. BIAA will make subordinated debt and preferred equity investments of $4 million to $10 million per transaction. Said Managing Principal Lloyd Sams: "Mezzanine capital of $10 million or less remains scarce for moderate sized communications and tangential business services firms." More. Razorsight Raises $10 Million in Venture Funding FAIRFAX--Razorsight Corporation has raised $10 million to support growth through expansion of sales, marketing, and R&D. Razorsight software transforms the way corporations manage, process and audit invoices and other data sources by providing visibility, cost control and compliance. Its proprietary data-capture technology mines information in financial records -- both paper and electronic - to deliver cost savings and operational efficiencies. More. Aptela Captures $5 Million in Venture Funding MCLEAN--Aptela, Inc., a leading provider of Internet-based communications technology, has secured $5 million in Series A financing. Proceeds will help expand the company's sales and marketing efforts. Said CEO Howard Freidman: "Companies have come to discover that the real value of Voice over Internet Protocol is in hosted voice applications like Aptela. They've come to this conclusion because the value proposition is compelling and because traditional phone systems were never designed for today's mobile, always-on world." More. In Brief... LEESBURG-StreamerNet Corporation, a developer of mobile, wireless video streaming solutions, has raised $1.0 million through private equity financings in the second half of 2005. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Winning Business... | |||||||||||||||||
National Association of Women Business Owners 
Searchable Business Database 
Virginia Technology Alliance |
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In Brief... ARLINGTON--CACI International Inc., is one of two companies awarded a contract, with a ceiling value of $450 million, to support Engineering, Technical and Operations Support Services for the U.S. Army. More. ALEXANDRIA--VSE Corporation has booked $103.2 million of federal contracts during its fourth quarter. More. ARLINGTON-DTI Associates, a subsidiary of Haverstick Consulting, has been awarded a five-year, $49.6 million contract to support the United States Naval Sea Systems Command at Dahlgren. More. CHANTILLY-The geospatial intelligence unit of Science Applications International Corporation has won a contract potentially worth $30 million over five years to provide support to the Signals Intelligence Applications and Integration Office of the National Reconnaissance Office. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Deals & Partnerships | |||||||||||||||||
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ORBIMAGE Acquires Space Imaging for $58.5 Million DULLES--ORBIMAGE Holdings Inc. has paid $58.5 million for the assets of Denver-based Space Imaging. With combined pro forma revenue of $160 million, the newly named GeoEye is the world's largest satellite imagery company. GeoEye operates an industry-leading constellation of three remote-sensing satellites including OrbView-3, IKONOS, and OrbView-2, with a fourth to be launched in 2007 to serve the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Said CEO Matthew O'Connell: "The much-anticipated consolidation in our industry will result in a stronger and more stable industry that will better serve the needs of its customers." More. Arc Second Sold to Belgian Firm DULLES--Arc Second, Inc., a developer of indoor GPS measurement solutions, has been acquired by Belgium-based Metris. Tracing its origins to research begun at Virginia Tech, Arc Second sells its products to the aerospace, automotive, robotics and other industrial markets. The Metris group has raised more than $40 million to finance key strategic acquisitions in the metrology sector. Said Metris CEO Bart Van Coppenolle: "Indoor GPS is one of the most exciting technologies in the metrology market today. Arc Second and its technologies will be a key engine fueling the growth of the Metris group in the future." More. Gannett Invests in 4INFO MCLEAN-Gannett, the newspaper and broadcast giant, has made a minority investment in Palo Alto, Calif.-based 4INFO, a company providing a suite of mobile search services. The two companies also entered into a marketing and distribution agreement. 4INFO's primary service allows people to use text messaging on their cell phones to retrieve local business listings, sports scores, fantasy statistics, weather forecasts, movie times and more. Said Jack Williams, president of Gannett Digital: "Mobile search is rapidly becoming a logical choice for consumers who want to have instant access to the information they need, whenever they need it." More. TNS Snaps up Brit Point-of-Sale Technology Firm RESTON--Transaction Network Services, Inc., a developer of transaction-oriented applications, has acquired Comms XL, of Surrey, England, in a deal that establishes TNS as a leading end-to-end point-of-sale technology provider. TNS now has the expertise to handle both ends of the retail process, from the transaction at the point of sale to processing the information with card issuers and acquiring banks. More. LEADS Snapped up by ITS ARLINGTON-The LEADS Corporation, a specialist in acquisition management and consulting, has been acquired by Oxnard, Calif.-based ITS Corporation. LEADS has approximately 90 employees and an estimated fiscal 2005 revenue of $15 million. More. Community Bankshares, Albemarle First to Merge WINCHESTER--Premier Community Bankshares, Inc. has announced a merger with Charlottesville-based Albemarle First Bank. The combination will create an institution with combined assets of more than $800 million and a network of 22 banking locations in Virginia and West Virginia. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Innovations | |||||||||||||||||
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SnagAJob Identifies America's No. 1 Hourly Worker RICHMOND-SnagAJob.com, a job-search site for part-time and full-time hourly jobs, has hired a spokesman who knows a thing or two about vying for a coveted position: Bill Rancic, Season 1 winner of "The Apprentice." Rancic put his experience to work as a judge himself - in a SnagAJob competition for America's No. 1 Hourly Worker. The winner, Edward Elvira, a Chuck E. Cheese employee in Yuma, Ariz., doesn't get a job working for Donald Trump, but he does take home $5,000. The contest is part of SnagAJob.com's Campaign to Hire America, a campaign that has placed more than 124,000 people in hourly wage jobs throughout the United States. More. IPIX Unveils High-Res Camera RESTON--IPIX Corporation, a developer of advanced visual intelligence technologies, has launched a three-megapixel version of its 360-degree CommandView product line. The improved resolution will help retail enterprises monitor a wider area with a single camera, letting users see farther with greater clarity and in lower light. More. Richmond Doc Rolls Out Treatment for Dark, Baggy Eyes RICHMOND-Michael Fiorillo, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, has launched Hydroxatone Revive, a skin care system designed to reduce wrinkles and reduce dark circles and bags under the eyes. Said Fiorillo: "The skin around the eyes is thin, making the area susceptible to dark circles, a problem that cannot be eliminated with surgery." An active ingredient, Haloxyl, purportedly uses a series of "natural enzymes" that break down the blood around the tender under-eye area. More. | |||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | R&D / Intellectual Property | |||||||||||||||||
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Hokies Expand Funding for Pathogen Portal BLACKSBURG--The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute has been allocated $2.5 million by the 2006 Defense Appropriations Bill for its pathogen portal (PortPath) project. The portal pools information from around the world about pathogens. Powerful computer analysis and visualization tools aid in the rapid detection, identification, and forensic attribution of high-priority pathogens. More. GMU Profs Probe Mysteries of Nerve Cells FAIRFAX--George Mason University researchers have discovered a new form of nerve cell homeostasis, or state of equilibrium: If one portion of a nerve cell is larger than average, another portion of the same cell will be smaller. Said Dr. Giorgio Ascoli: "This finding helps us better understand how our brain is organized from a structural perspective - how our cells arrange themselves to optimize the limited resources available inside our skulls. This quantitative description will eventually allow us to better understand and even treat diseases like epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's." More. Geological Research Grant Out of This World RESTON-The U.S. Geological Survey has received a grant from NASA's Science Mission Directorate to support the agency's Cosmochemistry Research Program. The program conducts laboratory studies on meteorites, cosmic dust, lunar and other extra-terrestrial materials with the goal of understanding the geochemical nature of the moon, planets and other satellites. More. | |||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | People | |||||||||||||||||
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Scher to Retire from Tredegar RICHMOND-Norman A. Scher, 68, has announced his intention to retire as CEO of Tredegar Corporation. He will be succeeded by Chairman John D. Gottwald, who had served previously as CEO. More. | |||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Trends | |||||||||||||||||
 Chmura Economics & Analytics |
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 Employment growth in Virginia has recently slowed and fallen slightly behind the national pace. In November 2005, employment in Virginia increased at a 1.4 percent year-over-year pace, while national employment advanced by 1.6 percent. From November 2004 to November 2005, Virginia ranked 25th in the nation in terms of employment growth. The monthly periodicity of employment data makes it the most timely and encompassing measure of regional economic growth. For details and forecasts of economic conditions across Virginia, as well as a list of Chmura Economics & Analytics (CEA) products and services, For the latest analytics on labor market and workforce trends across Virginia, click here, or call (804) 649-1107. Feds to Outsource $17.6 Billion by 2010 RESTON--The federal IT outsourcing market is expected to increase at a healthy compound annual growth rate of nearly eight percent, reaching $17.6 billion by fiscal year 2010, according to a report released by INPUT, a provider of intelligence on government business. Encouraged by the Bush Administration's management agenda and proven cost savings, federal agencies have, for the most part, accepted the need for competitive sourcing. Said Chris Campbell, senior analyst, federal market analysis: "Most often, outsourcing is prompted by the need to supplement internal technical resources, reduce costs, infuse new technology, or standardize and streamline operations." More. Happy New Year: Now It's Time to Get Really Worried ARLINGTON--Cyveillance, a provider of online risk monitoring and management solutions, has announced the top five IT risks for 2006. They include: -- Fraud and Identity Theft: Phishing schemes have increased during the past years and now encompass "spear phishing" which targets specific groups of people. -- Information Leaks: The threat of trusted employees deliberately or inadvertently distributing sensitive information is becoming a major concern. -- Unlicensed Product Sales: Sophisticated attackers, often from organized crime, are using the Internet's speed and anonymity to exploit unauthorized product distribution. -- Convergence of Physical and Cyber Security: Extremist groups and activists are connecting online and discussing methods to attack the critical infrastructure at organizations including energy and utility plants, transportation systems, and corporate buildings. -- Corporate Espionage: Competitors that obtain access to confidential files can leverage the information to their advantage resulting in a diversion of sales and revenue. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Other News | |||||||||||||||||
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Data Mining Boosts Newport News Catalog Profits NEWPORT NEWS-The Newport News Catalog, a women's apparel retailer, has added "millions" of dollars to the bottom line through the application of SAS customer-intelligence and data-integration technology. A customized point-and-click environment enables company executives to monitor critical information on a daily basis, such as how each catalog is performing or how specific customer segments responded to the most recent mailings. Said executive Van Rhodes: "Newport News Catalog has achieved significant lift in response rates to our mailings, better targeted and more effective campaigns, and enhanced customer satisfaction and retention. All these translate into increased profitability for Newport News Catalog and millions of dollars added to the bottom line." More. Sentara Streamlines Insurance Sales, Marketing NORFOLK-Sentara Health Plans has used a Customer Relationship Management solution delivered by Vancouver-based Pivotal Corporation to bolster the productivity of its sales and marketing program. Before implementing Pivotal's eBroker solution, Sentara's 200 external brokers were burdened with a laborious, paper-based system for interacting with the company and limited to Sentara's 8-to-5 day. The new system has enabled the company to shorten its sales cycle by 50 percent, achieve a 93-percent member retention rate and add 5,000 new health plan members. More. Carilion Upgrades Physician Portal ROANOKE-Carilion Health System, an eight-hospital health system, has implemented Dx Lab Connect, an physician portal provided by Park City Solutions, of Atlanta. The portal links Carilion's disparate clinical and administrative systems to provide a single view into clinical information for more than 1,000 physicians and clinicians. More. In Brief... RICHMOND-Overnite Transportation has been confirmed by Canada's Border Service Agency as a participant in both the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) and Customs Self Assessment Programs, streamlining the process for Overnite to move its trucks across the border. More. CHESTER--Vista Group, manufacturer of the Rainforest Preserve skin care line made with volcanic clays, will begin distribution of its products in Rico and the Caribbean. More. | |||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Commentary | |||||||||||||||||
 "Let Us Begin" Gov. Kaine drew upon four centuries of tradition at his Williamsburg inaugural, but he also pointed to a new way forward. More. |
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Judging Mark Warner Mark Warner left office with many positive accomplishments, as reflected in his popularity ratings. But let us not forget, he also violated campaign pledges and the state Constitution. Mark Warner leaves the Governor's Office with high public approval. He deserves credit. In general, he has performed competently, improved governmental management, preserved the Commonwealth's financial position, and avoided scandal and corruption. This is not meant as faint praise. At the same time, Warner has exaggerated his accomplishments, just as many of his predecessors have. More. | ||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Events | |||||||||||||||||
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