Highlights from the State of the Chamber - State of the Community

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

Jim Charapich

March 18th, 2013

Highlights from the State of the Chamber - State of the Community - Friday March 15th:

A community network can be difficult to see. The daily activities to “Move Culpeper Forward” requires that community leaders work together as public, private, and institutional sectors. Lisa Peacock, Director of Culpeper Department of Human Services put it so well “ We are interdependent, and our success going forward will rely on our ability to leverage resources through collaborative efforts.”  The relationships forged through years and even decades are a rare and treasured asset to a community. Those who have only known life in large population areas may not be able to see the rich heritage of such a network. However, today’s speakers confirmed that Culpeper stands tall as a community with a strong network, founded in traditional values, with a constant energy to be the best.

Dave Durr, Chairman of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce pointed out that we are on the way to 600 members, a new milestone.  Anthony Clatterbuck, President of the Fire & Rescue Association described that the 11 departments servicing our area handled over 6000 calls last year supported by some 600 volunteers. Chris Hively, Culpeper Town Manager shared the recent success of the Town in locating an additional source of groundwater that could supply 2 million gallons per day.

Culpeper County Administrator, Frank Bossio, offered discussion about the digital environment and our need to be progressive. The statistics described in the presentation pointed to the need for advancing digital sophistication as a community. Dr. Johnson, Superintendent, Culpeper County Public Schools offered a very dynamic presentation showcasing our progress in contemporary education. Culpeper students are graduating at a rate higher than the state average thanks to the passionate investment of our educators.

John Marshall, VP & General Manager Bingham & Taylor shared the observation that our local workforce is a strong asset to our community. We have the resources to be adaptable in competing globally. Walt & Terry Cheatle, Trigon Homes, LLC - Century 21 New Millenium described the local housing conditions. Things are looking up, Inventory is low and appraisals are moving up. Jeffery Mitchell, Owner, Culpeper Cheese Company recognized the opportunites to leverage technologies enabled by smartphones in order to bring more consumers to Culpeper... especially those that are residents of Culpeper. We were fortunate to have a representative from the LIbrary of Congress, Packard Campus, to share with us the May 2014 plans for an Audio Visual Festival in Culpeper. Plus he reminded the audience that we have free movies shown every week at the LOC campus in Culpeper.

Lee Kirk, President & CEO Culpeper Regional Health System noted the recent “A” in the National Leapfrog Hospital rating survey. Dr. Sam, President of Germanna Community College shared that the need for knowledge workers is growing. Germanna Community College is perfectly positioned to help educate our workforce, fueling our economic vitality.

Ed Dalrymple, President Cedar Mountain Stone, shared insights about the Transportation Bill awaiting approval by Governor McDonnell. Delegate Ed Scott, concluded the comments by offering a summary of the legislative efforts in the 2013 Virginia General Assembly. The big issues are long term funding for transportation and health care reform.

Whew.. I am so impressed with our community. The positive thinking and dedication of our leadership is impressive. “Move Culpeper Forward” of course, it part of our culture...

State of the Chamber 2013

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

Jim Charapich

March 11, 2013

The State of the Chamber - State of the Community luncheon is planned for this Friday at the Country Club of Culpeper. The Culpeper Chamber hosts the annual event for our business community to hear from area leaders on important issues. The format has grown to be one of the most popular events of the year.

In addition to the snapshot of the current state of the industry that will be covered by each speaker, we have asked them to add their view about what they see as ways to “Move Culpeper Forward”. The pace of the event is always fast and interesting since the speakers have 3-5 minutes to give their updates and insights. It takes talent to bring the heart of an industry into focus in 3-5 minutes, and thus our speakers are challenged to provide the most interesting information.

Our line up for the program include: David Durr General Manager Culpeper Farmers Coop & Chairman of the Board for the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, Anthony Clatterbuck - President Fire & Rescue Association, Chris Hively - Culpeper Town Manager, Frank Bossio - Culpeper County Administrator,  Dr. Bobbi Johnson - Superintendent Culpeper County Public Schools, John Marshall - General Manager Bingham & Taylor - Major Industry,  Walt & Terry Cheatle - Trigon Homes, LLC - Local Housing, , Jeffery Mitchell - Culpeper Cheese Company - Local Retail, Greg Lukow - Library of Congress Chief MPB&R,  Lee Kirk - President & CEO Culpeper Regional Health System, Lisa Peacock - Director Culpeper Human Services, Dr. Sam - President Germanna Community College - Workforce and Community Education, Ed Dalrymple - President Cedar Mountain Stone - Transportation, Delegate Ed Scott - Virginia General Assembly 2013 Update, and Jim Charapich - President & CEO Culpeper Chamber of Commerce.

State of the Chamber is a way for businesses to gain an understanding of our community in helping to support good decisions for the direction of their business. In addition, there are often needs and opportunities for business to take advantage of and revealed in the course of the presentations. The variety of perspectives usually build on each other, with speakers referring to each other as they illustrate the collaborative linkage of relationships necessary to "Move Culpeper Forward".

Join us for the State of the Chamber - State of the Community Luncheon Friday March 15th - for this multifaceted gem of knowledge from our community leaders. Register today at www.CulpeperChamber.com

Culpeper's Silver Lining

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

March 4, 2013

Jim Charapich

Normally I stay focused on the positive aspects of our community. However, I am going to take a break from being positive to address a concern that I have for our economic vitality. The scale of our community allows us to be very sensitive to subtle changes in the business ecosystem. This past week I noticed what seemed to be a change in the attitudes of local business leaders.

The changes in Washington do not usually show up on the radar quickly. However, our proximity to Washington leaves us more vulnerable to the effects of the fabled “Sequestration”. Whether there is truth to the “Cliff” or not, consumer confidence is affected by the avalanche of media coverage and the spectacle in Washington. Many of our businesses rely on the traffic from the Washington Metro Area to support sales for restaurants, hotels, and retail shops in Culpeper.

 
In addition, the impact of health care reform is beginning to take root. With businesses considering how to reposition their workforce for 30 hours or less in order to avoid paying for health care benefits, the business outlook is cautious. Health care benefits can add significantly to the cost per employee and thus the business is faced with the dilemma of lowering hours, increasing employee count, or raising prices to cover the cost of healthcare. Who wins in this equation? Consumers pay more, businesses overhead goes up, and the economy is in a “cautious mode”. Washington has dealt us a challenging hand and yet I see a silver lining for Culpeper in the midst of this cloud of government imposed snow.

If sequestration and healthcare reforms force costs and prices upward, then business and consumers will look for ways to save. Beltway contractors that are supported by government spending will need to find cost reduction solutions that preserve their ability to do business and make a profit. They will also need to consider their employees quality of life and their ability to keep employees in the escalating cost environment. Consumers will look for locations to escape Washington for easy getaways. They will seek local venues for day or weekend trips rather than traveling to distant more expensive locations.

 

 

The answer of course is right in the NoVa back yard, Culpeper, VA. The business friendly environment is perfect for government contractors to have access to Washington via car, rail, and air. Our area has the infrastructure to support even the most robust uses of power. The fiber infrastructure for high speed data is world class. The Culpeper Regional Hospital is part of the University of Virginia Health System, allowing for access to state of the art health care technology in a friendly rural setting. In addition, the emerging fitness community here is leading the way in a cultural shift to preventative health care with strong outdoor cycling, mountain biking, running, and strength training communities. 

The quality of life at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains is like being in a small town at the foot of the Italian Alps – fine food, local wine, unique shopping experiences, and the fresh air to enjoy them all. Our strategic opportunities are at hand.

Developing Our Workforce

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

Jim Charapich

February 25, 2013

 

Who is involved in Workforce Development? What is Workforce Development? When is Workforce Development a priority? Where can one find the best resources regarding Workforce Development? Why is Workforce Development so important? Who, What, When, Where, Why... Should workforce development be “Top of Mind” for the success of our region?

Culpeper, Orange, Madison, Rappahannock, and Fauquier counties make up what is referred to as Planning District 9 - aka PD 9. Our area is known for many things, including that we are very friendly to business. In addition, Virginia is known as one of the best States to do business. Further, the USA is certainly the best country in the world to do business. Therefore, our region, by deduction, could be considered one of the best places in the world to do business.

At the core of our economic success are the people that live, work, and play here. These are the people that make up our workforce. These are the people that make our region stand out in the global economy. Our knowledge, skills, work ethic, capacity for innovation, health, fitness, and quality of life are a primary focus for business to locate, grow, and remain in our area. Workforce development touches all of these factors. We are in a constant state of competition with other areas, states, and countries to be the best environment for economic prosperity. Workforce development is therefore very important to our continued success.

There are many partners in the formula for workforce development; at the center,  is Germanna Community College. The community college system in Virginia is designed to educate our workforce. They have the greatest influence in our capacity for innovation. Our workforce requires access to resources for continuous learning. In addition, our community libraries play a big part in supporting the expansion of a culture of continuous learning. Both resources can translate into an attractive advanced capacity for innovation for our workforce.

Our area has pioneered new initiatives in serving those in the workforce that have employment challenges. This may include workers that are displaced, economically challenged, with disabilities, reentering the workforce from incarceration, returning veterans, and other areas of special need.  Our PD 9  - Career Resource Center, also known as the “One Stop,” offers services to these workers and others seeking employment assistance. The One Stop is the hub for the many agencies that serve the mission of workforce development in our region. 

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the One Stop and Germanna Community College, is also taking an increasingly active role in serving the region to strengthen one of our greatest resources for economic prosperity - our workforce.  Cultivating a quality workforce means attracting more and higher quality jobs, a priority worthy of investment.

Building a Better Tomorow

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 18, 2013

Jim Charapich

 

 

I have a new appreciation for educators in our schools. I had the opportunity to provide E Squared students with three workshops on how to write a business plan last week. The sessions were 90 minutes and in all that meant that I had 4 ½ hours of air time. Knowing that our educators are able to provide instruction all day, five days per week, is amazing.

I am sure they would see me as a lightweight for even mentioning the ½ day of instruction as challenging. However, the opportunity to talk with students about business plans was very rewarding. The E Squared program offers the participating students an opportunity to gain a big step forward in their professional development.

By this time in the semester long program, students have selected their company names and have a product concept. They are in the process of developing the various parts of the business plan. The business plan development is supported by a template and process that is refined each year. Students have access to one of the best resources for business plan development at www.EsquaredCulpeper.com. Though the concepts are complex, the students are offered step by step reference materials.

The students will have several more workshops including Marketing, Operations, and Finance. At the end of the semester, the students will have developed a comprehensive business plan. They will then present the plan to a set of “Faux”Venture Capitalists. The VC’s are local business leaders. Students will need to develop public speaking skills and present their ideas in a public forum. They are scored heavily on their public speaking and presentation skills. However, the written business plan has the most weight in the overall competition scoring.

In my comments to the students, I point out that the program is a rare partnership with educators and business. The partnership is a significant reason for the continued success. Educators provide the pathways for education and the business community provides practical experience lessons.

Our students have the benefit of access to coaching from local executives as they develop their plans. The students also have the benefit of learning to work in a team, developing the highly valued soft skills of communication and teamwork. Soft skills are often the differentiator in opportunity for jobs and promotions. The students were impressive, professionally dressed, motivated, and well spoken. Their ideas and business concepts are very creative.

Our students are competing for jobs in an increasingly global context. The E Squared program is a resume builder. It is so impressive that our students will be able to discuss a business plan in an interview for a job. Our E Squared students will stand out while also having a fundamental understanding of wealth creation.

When I asked what the students could do with newly created wealth. One answer…. give back to Culpeper County Schools. Many of the business leaders contributing to the E Squared program are graduates of Culpeper County Schools. Another lesson passed on… What a great legacy.

A Culture of Continuous Learning

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 11, 2013

Jim Charapich

We have a great community. I am simply amazed at what we can do when we work together to improve our opportunities. The Culpeper Chamber hosted the 4^thAnnual Professional Development Conference last Thursday. There are so many that collaborated to bring the program together with such success.

When I speak of collaboration, this event brings together both the Non-Profit Community and Small Businesses to elevate awareness on subjects that are important to “Strengthen the Business of Non-profits and Small Business”. Our volunteer corps of Non-profits and Small Business that identified our subjects, drafted our speakers, and developed our sessions are remarkable. I cannot name them because I inevitably omit someone by accident and I do not want to diminish a BIG Thank You to them for making the day possible.

Our speakers brought subject matter expertise from Loudoun, Fauquier, Madison, Rappahannock, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Culpeper. To our speakers – Thank you for your time and energy. You helped raise the level of potential in Culpeper by sharing your expertise. Knowing what you do not know is a big part of business success. The Professional Development Conference (PDC) opened pathways of new thinking. The next step is the broad range of classes at Germanna to advance the learning concepts from the PDC sessions.

We have had several immediate positive comments from those that attended. They too came from a regional audience. Among their comments was the appreciation for the smooth and efficient way that the program unfolded throughout the day. This was due in large part to the professional staff at Germanna Community College - Daniel Technology Center. As a Co-host of the event with the Culpeper Chamber, Germanna’s commitment to education and workforce development in our community is significant. It is easy to take such resources for granted. I do not… Thank you to Germanna, and especially Dr. Sam for your leadership and excellence in community support.

Finally, our events are very fortunate to have support from a full range of sponsors. The Northern Piedmont Foundation and Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (Healthy Culpeper, Aging Together, Rusty Bowers Suicide Prevention Coalition, and Scott M. Fisher Suicide Prevention Coalition) were responsible for helping to keep the event cost so affordable. Thank you for your extremely important support for this community effort.

In addition, the PDC was supported by Culpeper Regional Health System, Culpeper Star Exponent, Verizon Terremark, TE Connectivity, Culpeper Times, WJMA / 105.5 Sam FM / WCVA Radio, The P.I.G. Legacy, Comcast Spotlight, Culpeper Car Wash, and Fantastic Sam’s.

I encourage you to go www.CulpeperMedia.org – Click - Video on Demand to hear the keynote speaker Chic Thompson’s session “What a Great Idea”. He is an inspiration!!! Thanks to Culpeper Media Network for filming the keynote address for the community.  (Editor note:  if the video is not up yet, it will be, shortly).

There are few things that can move a community forward more than a culture of continuous learning. 

Big Business Happenings In Culpeper

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 4, 2013

Jim Charapich

 

 

First I want to congratulate the Century 21 Team for their success. They put Culpeper on the map in many ways every day. However, this time, they did in real fashion. Number #1 Nationally is hard to beat. It is a rare pleasure to share in such great success for one of our community businesses. Way to go Century 21 New Millennium - Culpeper.

Next, The Culpeper Star Exponent event – The Bridal Show was a fantastic event. I was invited to attend and so glad that I did. Though I am not in the market for wedding services… yet… I was inspired by the businesses that supported the event. They were very creative and energetic in displaying their products. The setting was like a Hollywood production. I especially applaud the Star Exponent for recognizing the need for this in our region and then delivering with such class. Well done CSE.

There was a significant event that went almost unnoticed in the past month. I need to say thank you to Chris Hively, and his team at the Town. Under his leadership, the Town identified a new reserve of water. While our headlines are dominated with dramatic events, the Town was quietly securing our community’s future water needs. This is a big deal in my estimation. Our community was fortunate to have visionary leaders in developing the water supply such as Mountain Run Lake and Lake Pelham. Mr. Hively, Mayor Coleman, and the leadership at the Town deserve a lot of credit for this milestone. This is excellence in Government.

In addition, the Chamber celebrated the graduation of the 2012 Class of Lead Culpeper this past week. The class began last spring and completed their final session in January of this year. Our hope is that the Leaders that participated in the program will exercise their knowledge to move Culpeper forward. They were inspired by the many leaders that have paved the way for our community success today. There are several organizations that have already taken advantage of these newly minted leaders by asking them to serve on committees and boards. One has even applied to volunteer at the State level in forming plans for the future of Virginia Business, representing Culpeper. Congratulations to the Class of 2012 – Lead on!!!

Finally, looking to the future, The Chamber, in partnership with Germanna, many Non-Profits, and Businesses, will bring some of the most interesting speakers to our Professional Development Conference.  The event is this Thursday February 7^that Germanna Community College – Daniel Technology Center. There will be sessions on Health Care Reform, Doing Business with Local and State Government, Seven Effective Practices for Organizations, and Search Engine Optimization to name a few. Go to www.CulpeperChamber.com to register today. Lunch and CEU’s are included.