Loudoun Chamber + EDC + CEOs + BOS + BOE = Evidence of an Enlightened Business Community

A unique Loudoun County business leadership meeting took place on Tuesday (at the brand new , Doubletree Hotel Dulles Airport-Sterling) among key leaders and representatives of the Loudoun CEO Cabinet, the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce (LCCC) and the Loudoun Economic Development Commission (EDC). This was billed as an exchange of ideas, goals and strategies for 2010, and introduced the realignment of the Loudoun CEO Cabinet officially now under the LCCC. Notable government reps included Supervisors York, Water, McGimsey; Board of Education reps Hatrick and Stevens; VA State Delegates Greason, May and Herring.
Here’s some of the newsbytes that resonated across the group and panel.

Some pics over at Loudoun Times - BizLoudoun, June 22..

Ralph Buona, SVP for Business Development of Telos Corporation delivered the LCCC message, including:

The Chamber is large, healthy and growing, with a recent survey indicating that 96% of members thought the Chamber was very relevant to their business – though room for improvement included a retention rate of 77% and 81% satisfaction with marketing efforts. The recently approved merger of the Greater Manassas/Prince William County Chambers will displace Loudoun as the DC region’s largest Chamber. 2010 initiatives underway include a “Political Process Committee” to help groom business leaders for political office, improved LCCC brand development and a number of new non-profit support initiatives.

Scott Hamberger, CEO of Sterling-based Fortessa Inc. (a Tableware Company), followed with the Loudoun CEO Cabinet overview:

“We’re experiencing an awakening of the Loudoun business community, like lights going on in a previously dark house. Loudoun is at an inflection point…and we can either learn from other areas with similar growth patterns (like Charlotte/Mecklenburg and Austin) or continue as a DC bedroom community”. The affiliation of the CEO Cabinet under the LCCC helps consolidate activity, focus and align outreach and information-sharing between the business community and the Loudoun County government (i.e. ostensibly taking the “shadow government” issue off the table). The CEO Cabinet helps drive professional education and outreach, foster an informal “neural network” of professional information sharing, raise funds for actions taken on behalf of the overall business community and alignment with neighboring jurisdictions, but has no desire in advancing purely parochial interests.

John Wood, Chairman and CEO of Telos followed with the EDC comments:

“We’re at a stage of enlightened self-interest in terms of the business community, with much more focus on children and education, employee needs, congestion issues (both physical and virtual, online), and infrastructure needs. He laid out the simple math of “unpacking the commercial tax base”, comparing the fact that every dollar of commercial tax revenue generates 93 cents profit to the County, while for every dollar of residential real estate property tax raised, the County actually spends $2 to support. So with the forecast growth in residential properties and school cots, we’re looking at over $400 million in near term incremental expenses that aren’t covered by projected tax revenues…this is a clear indicator of the need for the County to drive commercial location/relocation here to Loudoun. He also included some remarks regarding how the EDC, supporting the Department of Economic Development (DED), is a reasonably effective voice to the BoS – though he supports the concept of more “at large” Supervisors, since the concept of “District Supervisors” is an inherent conflict of interest.

Discussion followed - by far the best exchange was with Lori Waters asking the panel how the BoS was actually doing, in supporting the shared strategies of the Economic Development Commission, CEO Cabinet and LCCC - the fundamental answer revolved around "too many 5 to 4 BOS votes", as John Wood put it, and other evidence of an extremely unpredictable and partisan BOS with respect to the issues that current and future County business investors care about.

An historic meeting, for sure, but hopefully the first of many more, and with many more businesses represented...

Team USA Soccer and an American Brewfest in Loudoun!

What's better than the finest American craft beers, the best DC area live bands, the Loudoun countryside in the Summer, and World Cup USA? All in one day?

Through the combined efforts of Vintage 50 Restaurant & Brew Lounge, OnPoint Digital Solutions and the quick action of Capital Party Rentals, we are able to provide the Vintage 50 and On Point Sports Lounge at the Loudoun Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest in Leesburg this weekend. YES, that means the USA vs. Ghana Soccer match will be viewable on two 50” tv’s under a 900 square foot tent. In fact, all of the soccer matches will be available as well as other weekend sports.

Thanks to Anthony Cavallo at Vintage 50, John Dwyer at OnPoint Digital Solutions and the fine folks at Capital Party Rental!

After all this is a Celebration of American Beer, and a nice hot summer day! GO USA!!

Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest and Live Music Concert Event - Morven Park, Leesburg VA

DC and Northern Virginia's 2010 premiere outdoor live music festival centered on craft beer and breweries is preparing for its 3rd annual incarnation, Saturday to Sunday June 26-27. The Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest and its "Celebration of American Beer" will feature over 50 of America's best breweries and beer sampling in Loudoun County at Leesburg's Morven Park, along with a wide variety of interesting food, a family fun area for the kids, local artisans, a cigar stand and a spectacular collection of DC, Maryland and Virginia regional bands performing live, outdoor music. A lone, but exemplary representative of DC's Wine Country joins the fun as well.

For craft beer, microbrew and local beer lovers here in DC's Beer Country, this festival is marking a resurgance of local breweries and brewpubs, including the Vintage 50 Brewery in Leesburg, the new 28 North Brewhouse (soon to be producing versions of their Rhinochasers beers onsite), the Holybrew gang producing and distributing from Leesburg, and other great local restaurants like Leesburg's Fireworks Pizza that sell oodles of fantastic regional variations on "the good brew".

(Follow the latest local brew news @NovaBrewFest on Twitter!)

New this year are extended hours (11-9 PM Saturday, 11-7PM Sunday) plus several shuttle options for offsite parking (check the site for updates), including from the Vintage 50 Brewery in Leesburg and possibly (to be announced) from the Vintage 51 Brew Lounge in South Riding.

Saturday Northern Virginia Live Music

1:00 - White Ford Bronco

2:45 - Gypsy Sons

Wrong Side Of The Tracks

The Gypsy Sons | MySpace Music Videos

4:30 - Miguel Aubertin

6:15 - What Mama Said - two sets!

Sunday

12:45 - Big Mouth

2:30 - American Giant

4:15 - Monster Band - two sets!

TMB at Seacrets

The Monster Band | MySpace Music Videos

...And here are the breweries and beers! (list subject to some change)

• Abita Brewing Co.
  
  
• Allagash Brewing Co.
  
  
• Anheuser Busch
  
  
• Baltimore-Washington Beer Works
  
  
• Bear Republic
  
  
• Bells Brewing Inc.
  
  
• Boston Beer Co.
  
  
• Brooklyn Brewing Co
  
  
• Callys
  
  
• Clipper City Brewing Co./ Oxford B.C.
  
  
• Dogfish Head Brewing Company
  
  
• Fordham Brewing Company
  
  
• Harpoon Brewing Company
  
  
• Hook and Ladder Brewing Company
  
  
• Lagunitas Brewing Company
  
  
• Lancaster Malt Brewing Company
  
  
• Mad River Brewing Company
  
  
• Magic Hat brewing Company
  
  
• Mendocino Brewing Company
  
  
• New Holland Brewing Co.
  
  
• Old Dominion Brewing Co.
  
  
• Otter Creek Brewing Co./ Wolavers
  
  
• St. George Brewing Co.
  
  
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
  
  
• Stone Brewing Company
  
  
• Stoudt Brewing Co.
  
  
• Starr Hill Brewing Company
  
  
• Victory Brewing Co.
  
  
• Vintage 50 Restaurant and Brew Lounge
  
  
• Wild Goose
  
  
• Flying Dog
  
  
• Williamsburg Ale Works
  
  
• Yuengling Brewing Company
  
  
• North Coast Brewing Company
  
  
• Kona Brewery
  
  
• Lexington Brewing Company<
• Smuttynose Brewing Co.
  
  
• Oskar Blues Brewing Co.
  
  
• Fisherman Brewing Co.
  
  
• Coors Brewing Co.
  
  
• Blue Moon Brewing Co.
  
  
• Miller Brewing Co.
  
  
• Leinenkuegals Brewing Co.
  
  
• Pyramid Brewing Co.
  
  
• Mad Fox Brewing Co.
  
  
• Anchor Brewing Co.
  
  
• Spoetzl Brewing Co.
  

South Riding Festival and Vintage 51 Ushers in the Northern Virginia Brewfest Season

Celebrate South Riding is here - 15 years of community growth (25,000 residents and counting) celebrated over two days of Summer fun, Friday and Saturday June 4-5th! We've seen this event grow very quickly and professionally, and this year looks to be amazing. It's relocated, however, now to the Dulles Multipurpose Center grounds at 24950 Riding Center Drive. Here you'll find a farm-themed children's area, "Extreme Scene" rides and games for the older kids, four live bands on the main stage, and the very special "15 Year Tribute" Friday night light and laser show - capped off Saturday with the traditional South Riding fireworks finale.

Also new this year is a greatly expanded cafe' area called "Corks, Kegs and Crafters", hosted in cooperation with the Vintage 50 Restaurant Group and Vintage 51 restaurant in South Riding. Enjoy 20 different microbrews from local and regional breweries, and learn some tips from the Vintage 50 Master Chef and Brew Master. Keep the summer fun rolling over at Vintage51 in Market Square this weekend - the pet-friendly outdoor patio's open, free wireless Internet (it's our new favorite business lunch location), plasma TV's and projectors, plus of course over 14 micro/craft brews and LIVE entertainment Fridays and Saturdays (John Kaplan this Friday, 6/4).

This is a great way to kick off the Summer brewfest and craft fair season here in DC's beer country; next stop is the extremely popular Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest series, on Saturday and Sunday June 26-27 - tickets are on sale now, for seven (!) live bands, very local and interesting food options, over 70 microbrewery options to try, and even a lone, local loudoun winery to sample.