SPONSORS

Lunch Sponsor

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Event Supporter

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RESOURCE TABLE SPONSORS

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2010 ENTREPRENEUR FAIR COMMITTEE

Tom Kranz
The Franchise Mentor

Rob Mitchell
Strategic Risk Associates

Casey Quinlan
Mighty Casey Media

Hank Ramsey
Retired Entrepreneur

Rich Reinecke
Fahrenheit Finance

Will Thompson
Management Consultant

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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SOCIAL MEDIA SPONSOR

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Sponsorships Opportunities
are available to showcase
your business at
TVF Annual
Entrepreneurs' Fair

Click here for details
or contact The
Venture Forum 
804.267.3370

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - NO WALK-INS
ID MUST BE PRESENTED UPON ARRIVAL

April 30, 2010
8 AM – 1:45 PM
Capital One West Creek Campus
15000 Capital One Drive, Town Center,  Richmond, VA 23238
(DIRECTIONS at bottom)

Available Sponsorships

Event Sponsor
ONLY 1 AVAILABLE!

Lunch Sponsorship
SOLD OUT!

Special Thank you to:

Event Supporter

Special Thank you to:

Resource Tables
SOLD OUT!

Special Thank you to:

2nd Annual Entrepreneur Fair
Sponsorship Benefits

The Entrepreneur Fair is an ideal way to get your company’s name in front of the business leaders of Richmond’s emerging business community. More than 250 people are expected at the event and promotional materials listing sponsors are sent to more than 2,000 members and prospects. The sponsorship levels are:

Event Sponsorship ($5,000 ONLY 1 AVAILABLE)

• Opportunity to speak briefly about your company at the opening of the event
• Logo featured on event PowerPoint presentation
• Logo in the Entrepreneur Fair brochure
• Logo on Venture Forum website page promoting the event with link to Event Sponsor  website
• Featured on emails and correspondence to membership and prospects
• One year Corporate membership in the Venture Forum
• Five complimentary event passes

YES, contact me, I am interested in this sponsorship!

Back

Lunch Sponsorship ($2,500 SOLD OUT!)

Thank you to:

• Make introductions at lunch event
• Featured on event PowerPoint presentation
• Logo in the Entrepreneur Fair brochure
• Logo on website page promoting the event with link to Lunch Sponsor website
• Featured on emails and correspondence to membership and prospects
• Opportunity to place materials on lunch tables
• One year Corporate membership in the Venture Forum
• Two complimentary event passes

Back

Event Supporter ($1,000)

• Featured on event PowerPoint slides
• Logo in the Entrepreneur Fair brochure
• Logo on event PowerPoint presentation
• Logo on website page promoting the event with link to Event Supporter website
• Featured on emails and correspondence to membership and prospects
• One year Corporate membership in the Venture Forum
• Two complimentary event passes

YES, contact me,  I am interested in this sponsorship!

Thank you to our Sponsor!

Back

Resource Tables ($300 each, SOLD OUT!)

• Unique opportunity to showcase your organization, products, and services and interact closely with event participants
• 250 to 300 participants expected
• Logo in the Entrepreneur Fair brochure
• Logo on event PowerPoint presentation
• Logo on website page promoting the event with link to your company website
• Logo featured on emails and correspondence to membership and prospects
• Two complimentary event passes

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Back

David Ingram
President and CEO
Capital TechSearch

David Ingram is a successful entrepreneur who is always happy to share his knowledge and experience with fellow business owners.  He founded and currently serves as the President and CEO of Capital TechSearch, headquartered in Richmond, Va.

After its founding in 2001 as an executive search firm, Capital TechSearch expanded in 2004 to provide staffing services to its clients in the information technology industry.  Since 2004 the Company's revenues have increased by more than 463%, leading Capital TechSearch to be included on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the country's fastest growing companies in 2008 and 2009.

Capital TechSearch was not David's first foray into entrepreneurship.  In high school he created a landscaping company, borrowed enough capital to acquire a competitor, then in college sold the combined companies for a nice profit.  He has a deep understanding of - and great empathy for - the business challenges that his fellow entrepreneurs face.

David serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Council of CEOs, a nonprofit dedicated to executive education and the sharing of information amongst peers.  His first book "15 Bedtime Stories That Keep Entrepreneurs Awake at Night" was released in the fall of 2009.

Nationally recognized for his insight into entrepreneurship, staffing and executive hiring, David has been quoted in Forbes, HR, and Certification magazines.  Locally, he is often quoted in The Richmond Times-Dispatch, and his company was profiled in Henrico Magazine in January of 2009.

David has served as a guest lecturer for postgraduate classes at the University of Richmond Robins School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, and the East Carolina University School of Business.  A popular speaker for business events, he has also served as an expert panelist for many local and national organizations, such as Altria and the American Staffing Association.

A native of the Northern Virginia area, David graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a double degree in managerial economics and French.  He lives in Richmond with his wife, twin sons and daughter.

Contact Dave - dave@capitaltechsearch.com

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Darrell Jervey
CEO
Worth Products Group, LLC; Co-President of Worth Home Products, LP, Worth Commercial Products, LLC and Worth Medical Products, LLC; and Partner of Baby Fanatic, LLC.

From 1997 to 2003 Mr. Jervey was also an executive with Cotelligent, a public software and services firm. He served as Cotelligent's Senior Vice President of Operations and Corporate Development where he led the operating groups of the company. His responsibilities included mergers and acquisitions, and improving the efficiencies and effectiveness of all operations.

Prior to joining Cotelligent, Mr. Jervey was a Founding Partner of a software development company that specialized in international trade support products and consulting, which was merged with ExpoSoft in 1997. His company consulted with the International Trade Administration, Bureau of Export Administration, Small Business Administration, and Departments of Energy and Defense.

He has served as a New Business Developer for Thermo-Electron Corporation, as a Business Developer and Project Lead for Coleman Research Corporation, as a Finance Specialist for General Motors Acceptance Corporation, and founded or partnered with other business entities. Mr. Jervey has also consulted with large and small corporations and government in the areas of venture funding, corporate strategy, restructuring, project management, strategic planning and cost estimating.

Mr. Jervey has also founded business start-ups in fields a varied as Motion Picture production, Horticulture consulting, and Government service consulting.

He holds a BA degree from the University of Virginia and a Masters degree from George Washington University. He is married with three children and is an avid sailor, soccer player and coach, and restorer of classic cars.

Virginia Council of CEOs
Board of Trustees – Children’s Museum of Richmond
Founding Member – FoR Kickers
Richmond Venture Forum

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Jeffrey P. (Jeff) Marks
General Manager
Promotional Considerations, a Division of Vanguard Industries, Inc.

Jeff started Promotional Considerations in November of 1984 and served as the company’s president until July of 2006 when the company was sold to Vanguard Industries, the nation’s largest supplier of military insignia. Promotional Considerations supplies promotional products to over 1500 clients, including Jiffy Lube and McKesson.

Jeff is a 1979 graduate of the University of Richmond. Jeff has served in leadership positions for many organizations including the University of Richmond Alumni Association, the Retail Merchants Association, Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers, and Meals on Wheels. Jeff was the founder and chairman of the Ukrop’s Christmas Parade for 20 years, before stepping down in 2005.

In 1990 Jeff was awarded as the Outstanding Young Citizen award by the Richmond Jaycees and the City of Richmond.

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J. Benjamin English, Esq.
Attorney
Hirschler Fleischer


Ben English helps growing companies develop practical solutions to legal issues. Mr. English brings to client relationships a wealth of experience to help clients evaluate strategic opportunities, think creatively, and manage risk while preserving opportunity. Mr. English works closely with company management to understand their business strategy and ensure that legal strategy serves the business strategy.

Mr. English advises clients in structuring business entities, providing advice on business plans, capital structure, financing, shareholder agreements, employee compensation and benefits and intellectual property matters. Mr. English assists clients with relationships and transactions that contribute to their growth, such as private equity and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, technology licensing and strategic partnerships for product development and distribution. Mr. English also advises clients on a wide variety of business succession strategies ranging from transition of management and ownership to the next generation in a family business to the sale of a company to a financial or strategic buyer.

Mr. English received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

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Frederick T. Naschold
Principal
Dominion Partners, L.C.

Mr. Naschold co-founded Dominion Partners and has over 30 years of investment banking experience focused principally on middle-market companies in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. His activities have included mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, private debt, mezzanine, and equity financing, as well as public offerings of a variety of securities. He previously worked with predecessor organizations of Wachovia Securities and BB&T Capital Markets.

Mr. Naschold holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and a Master of Business Administration from Emory University. He was a founding director of University of Richmond Alumni Association, sat on the Virginia Home for Boys Board of Associates for more than a decade, and is a charter member of the Short Pump Rotary Club.

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Stan A. Maupin
Managing Director
Transact Capital Partners

Stan has more than 20 years' experience in providing advisory services in capital formation, business development and financial and strategic planning to emerging and growth oriented companies. His specialty is creating shareholder value for business owners. He is also a successful entrepreneur who has been a founder of several successful companies in a variety of industries.

Stan started his career with six years in the consulting divisions of large international accounting firms. He began working with emerging businesses by co-founding Office America, a big box retail chain that grew to more than $70 million in sales. He has worked with more than 100 growth-oriented businesses in projects ranging from start-up capital raises to securing growth capital to implementing exit strategies including buyouts, mergers, public offerings and joint ventures. His clients include TransPharm, Inc, a bio-tech firm that sold out to the British company that cloned Dolly and Commonwealth Technologies, Inc., the first Richmond based biotech firm to go public.

Most recently, Stan was a founder and the CFO of EverDrive, LLC, a company that connects the thousands of small automotive recyclers with the mass markets offered by retail automotive aftermarket chains. He initially consulted with the founder on development of a business plan and securing key contracts. He then joined the company as its second employee and helped raise the financing and execute the business plan that helped the company grow to more than 70 employees providing guaranteed used auto parts to consumers in more than 6,000 locations in the US.

He also has been active in political and community activities, having served as Chairman of a number of business organizations including the Richmond Venture Forum and the Greater Richmond Technology Council. He is also active in Virginia's political sector, having served as treasurer of several campaigns for the Governor of Virginia and the U.S. Senate. He received the Leadership Award of the Greater Richmond Technology Council in 1998.

Stan has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Darden School of the University of Virginia.

stan@transactcapital.com - Office: 804-323-6868 Ext. 103

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Carl Johnson
President
NBI Advisors

Carl Johnson has provided services to early stage companies and entrepreneurs for over 15 years. His interest in entrepreneurs began through his self-employment through high school and college. He was a founding member of the JMU chapter of the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs. In 1988, he graduated and moved to Richmond where he was the first college graduate hired directly into the Richmond office's Entrepreneurial Services Group. Mr. Johnson later spent five years with Virginia Ventures Corporation, a strategic consulting firm advising startups and early stage companies. He also assisted the founding of Richmond Ventures Magazine. Mr. Johnson left Virginia Ventures to join a client, the Database Solutions Company, where as CFO he assisted the company in raising $8 million in venture capital over three rounds. He also led the consulting division to its highest revenue quarter ever and contributed two product ideas which were commercialized.

At Smither & Company, Mr. Johnson gained experience with mergers and acquisitions while developing business plans, financial projections and performing due diligence functions. He was later recruited to join ideas2inc, a business accelerator that raised over $1 million to invest in early stage businesses. Mr. Johnson reviewed investment opportunities, conducted market research and provided services to clients.

In June 2001, Mr. Johnson formed NBI Advisors, Inc., a consulting firm providing capital acquisition, CFO and strategic and business planning services to entrepreneurs. Despite a difficult funding environment for seed and early stage businesses, NBI has assisted over a dozen clients to receive financing, in many instances without giving up equity.

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Kaye O. Crenshaw
President & Owner
Mobility Center
kcrenshaw@mobilityva.com

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Tom Kranz
Principal
The Franchise Mentor, Inc.

Tom, as Principal of The Franchise Mentor, Inc. (TFMI), at no cost, provides guidance to clients interested in investing in a franchise business, assisting them through the selection (matching) and due diligence phases of the formation.

Tom has 30 years of diverse business experience with expertise ranging from business start-up, due diligence, and process creation and improvement, to P&L management, transaction structuring and negotiation, as well as relationship management, business development and business plan writing. Prior to founding TFMI, Tom started and led a subsidiary for GMAC and helped build it into a business with a portfolio in excess of $2B.

Tom earned his MBA, with Honors, at Northwestern University with concentrations in Marketing and Finance. His undergraduate degree is from St. Lawrence University in Economics, cum laude. He is currently Chair of the Richmond, VA chapter of the Financial Executive Networking Group and on the Board of The Richmond Venture Forum. In his spare time he is VP of the board and Chair of the Finance Committee, of the Southside Child Development Center.

Hear Tom on Richmond FM radio 89.7, discuss franchising, Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m.

Tom Kranz
Principal
The Franchise Mentor, Inc.
2715 West Grace St.
Richmond, VA 23220
804-402-6529
TomK@TheFranchiseMentor.com 
www.TheFranchiseMentor.com 
http://www.linkedin.com/in/thefranchisementor

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Christopher J. Ziegler
Virginia Area Representative
Always Best Care Senior Services

In his role as Area Representative, Mr. Ziegler is responsible for locating great people who are passionate about helping people through business ownership. He then utilizes his extensive experience starting and operating businesses to help them to be successful in their new role as Always Best Care franchisees.

Prior to taking on this role he served as Co-Founder and President of Compass Energy Services, Inc. Chris’s primary responsibility in that role was serving as the catalyst for the organization providing the leadership and direction necessary to make the most of the talented individuals that made up the Compass team. Compass Energy Services was sold to AGL Resources in 2007.

Chris co-founded two other companies while serving Compass one of which has become a respected leader in the energy efficiency contracting field.

Prior to forming Compass Energy, Chris served as General Manager of Evantage, Dominion Energy’s Energy Services division and of Dominion Energy Direct Sales, Inc. its commercial and industrial commodity sales subsidiary.

Under his leadership Evantage established a track record of profitable growth in the demand-side energy services market while many similar companies were shrinking or folding altogether. Dominion Energy Direct Sales established as dominant position in natural gas sales in Virginia and became a large retailer of electricity in Pennsylvania and in Massachusetts. Ziegler also purchased the downtown district heating and cooling facilities in Cleveland, Ohio establishing Dominion Cleveland Thermal Inc.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Finance from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

In his off hours Ziegler serves on numerous charitable boards. He also teaches skiing to physically and mentally challenged individuals each winter.

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Lawrence Frank
AdviCoach

Lawrence “Larry” Frank is President of Frank Ventures Inc, which owns the Virginia and Georgia regional AdviCoach franchises.  Prior to establishing Frank Ventures Inc. in 2006, Larry spent 25 years as a telecommunications industry executive beginning with AT&T and Lucent Technologies and served as Chief Marketing Officer for InfiniRoute Networks and Comverse.

For the past 15 years, Larry has provided business coaching and advisory services to small businesses and their owners.  As AdviCoach’s regional developer for Virginia and Georgia, Larry supports ten business coaches who have been honored as the top performing region for three years running.  In addition, Larry was honored as the 2008 Regional Developer of the Year by FranchiseSource Brands International and the 2007 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association.

Larry was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Lawrence University, earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and did his post-graduate work in advanced management at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Larry resides in Goochland County with his wife of 26 years, Anne-Marie.  He has a son graduating this year from Norwich University in Vermont and a daughter who is a sophomore at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Larry can be reached at 804-545-0692 or lfrank@advicoach.com .

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Mark James
The Growth Coach Richmond

As The Growth Coach® (www.TheGrowthCoachRichmond.com), Mark James brings over 30 years of corporate, business ownership and military leadership experience to the business of Business Coaching - with Accountability.  He empowers business owners, managers and self-employed professionals to make higher profits, to work less by using leverage effectively, and to get more out of their businesses and lives, using a proven, powerful, and guaranteed process.  The motto of The Growth Coach® is, “Driving Success and Balancing Life,” and Mark is often invited to facilitate strategic retreats for the senior managers of local companies, trade associations and Chambers of Commerce boards of directors. 

At the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce, he serves on the board and is Chairman-Elect.  Mark and his wife Connie Maier also own a 25-year old retail business, the Hearth and Home Shoppe of Mechanicsville, providing sales, installation and service for fireplaces and outdoor kitchens.  The couple met at Duke University, where they earned their MBA’s.  They have two teenagers at James River High School.  Mark served the country as a U.S. Naval officer during the Cold War and in the Persian Gulf during the Teheran embassy hostage crisis.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy, and served as university instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State in Raleigh in shipboard engineering and navigation.

Mark can be reached at 804-301-5535 or at Mark@TheGrowthCoachRichmond.com .

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Bill Keeler
AdviCoach

Bill is the owner of MarketMakers, LLC and a Richmond, Virginia franchisee of AdviCoach. Bill has spent the last 17 years working directly with small business owners. He spent 14 years in the field of Radio advertising where he built, managed and coached winning teams, as well as taught small business owners how to develop target markets, unique selling propositions, and sales approaches. For the last three years, he’s used his experience helping coach small business owners to improve performance in sales, cash flow, marketing, team building, and strategic planning.

Bill has been honored as the 2008 Coach of the Year by AdviCoach .

Bill is a graduate of Randolph Macon College and earned his MBA from Averett University.

He resides in Richmond, is a classic rock junkie, and when not working with clients, can usually be found with any of his two bands playing on a stage somewhere in Richmond.

Bill can be reached at 804-332-6486 or bkeeler@advicoach.com

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Joseph G. (Joey) Woodfin IV
Founder & Chief Executive Office
EverDrive

Joey Woodfin began his entrepreneurial career in the fourth grade when he used the school bus to deliver used auto parts pulled from his family’s wrecking yard to his teachers and other customers. The Woodfin family had been in auto recycling since World War II when they began piecing together wrecked cars to meet the demand for vehicles created when manufacturing was focused on the war effort. Joey bought the business with the goal of finding a way to overcome the “junk yard” image of the industry, and bringing the value of used parts to the mass market. As Joey says, “If you buy a new part for a used car, you now have a car with 17,499 used parts and 1 new part.”

Using innovative marketing strategies, Woodfin Used Honda Parts became the largest retailer of used Honda parts in the US. Joey also launched one of the first websites selling used parts. Based on these successes, he developed a technology platform, pricing methodology and supply network that allowed him to offer nearly 1 million different parts for sale with little or no inventory. In 2003, he secured an agreement to offer those parts through the POS systems of more than 4,000 AutoZone retail locations and formed EverDrive, LLC to capitalize on that opportunity. Today, EverDrive sells tens of thousands of guaranteed used auto parts each year through a number of retail chains and on the Internet.

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Gary D. LeClair, Esq.
Co-founder and Chairman
LeClairRyan

LeClairRyan was founded in 1988 when Mr. LeClair and Dennis Ryan established a securities and venture capital legal boutique to address the special needs of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Mr. LeClair’s practice continues to include the representation of emerging growth companies as securities and general counsel. He also represents numerous private and public industrial, consumer products, financial services, retail and other commercial businesses. He has been the lead attorney in more than 500 private and public debt and equity financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and other major domestic and international transactions.

Mr. LeClair has served as a director of various business entities, including a bank, an independent trust company, a residential developer, an ecommerce business, a venture fund and a retailer.

A believer in community involvement, Mr. LeClair has served on the board of many civic organizations, including the Richmond Venture Forum, the Greater Richmond Technology Council, the Virginia Council of CEOs, the Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation, The College of William and Mary, Richmond 2007 and Tuckahoe Sports. He has served as General Counsel for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richmond Partnership. A former college football player, he has coached youth baseball, soccer and basketball. He also is the former Head Coach of Western Wildcats Football.

Legal Experience
LeClairRyan, Richmond, Virginia, 1988 – present
Hunton & Williams, Richmond, Virginia, 1983 – 1988
Law Clerk, The Honorable Sam J. Ervin III, U.S. Court of Appeals, 1982 – 1983
C.P.A., Price Waterhouse & Co., New York, New York, 1977 – 1979

Memberships and Affiliations
American Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association

Distinctions
Awarded the Ernst & Young Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1997
Received the Leadership Award from the Greater Richmond Technology Council in 1999
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, 2003 – 2010
Recipient of Virginia Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law, 2008

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Steve Kimball
Tuscan Advisors
steve.kimball@tuscanadvisors.com

Steve Kimball is a strategic advisor on accelerating and sustaining growth. He helps CEOs and their leadership teams bring differentiated products and services to market. He typically helps clients develop and refine growth strategies, marketing, sales and distribution strategies, and product launch strategies.

Steve founded Tuscan Advisors in 2004 to help companies build sustainable competitive advantage. He also serves as a Principal with the Chasm Group, a nationally recognized Silicon Valley firm providing Go-To-Market strategy services to high-technology companies. Steve is based in Richmond, Virginia.

Before his latest entry into management consulting, Steve spent over decade starting, growing, and reinventing businesses. His hands-on experience includes launching innovative business models, introducing new products, and acquiring and integrating companies. Steve’s last four executive management roles were with Silicon Valley firms and included a start up division of a $500 million company, a venture backed SaaS start up, and two $150mm to $300mm public software companies. Previously, Steve had a successful career at META Group (now part of Gartner), an industry analyst and consulting firm, advising startups and Fortune 500 firms on sales, marketing, customer service, and information technology.

Steve serves as a Director of RichTech (formerly known as the Greater Richmond Technology Council) and serves as an advisor to the Virginia Council of CEOs. He has also served as a Director of The Venture Forum. Steve is a graduate of Stonehill College. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Stonehill, located outside of Boston, #1 in its category for the past six years. He has also participated in Darden Graduate School’s Executive Program.

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Dave Phillips
Business Development Officer
Wells Fargo

Dave Phillips is a Business Development Officer with Wells Fargo SBA Lending.  He has over eleven years of direct SBA lending experience.  Prior to becoming involved in lending, Dave owned his own retail business and a consulting practice.  A native of the Richmond area, Dave lives in the Midlothian area with his wife Ashleigh and his daughter Lauren.

Dave Phillips has originated and closed over $125 Million in SBA loans, both in the state of Virginia and across the Country.  Wells Fargo SBA Lending is the biggest SBA lender in the business, will close over $1 Billion in loans this year.  Dave specializes in loans for business acquisitions, acquisition of owner occupied commercial real estate, and refinances of existing business debt.

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Will Loving
Chief Operating Officer
Ironworks

Will is the Chief Operating Officer at Ironworks with over 18 years experience in the technology consulting field. At Ironworks, Will oversees the day-to-day operations of Ironworks’ client delivery teams and leads the solution practice areas. In addition, Will is directly responsible for managing the relationships of some of Ironworks’ largest clients. Previously, Will served as the Office Managing Partner of the Richmond office for iXL, a national web consulting firm, growing it to 165 people and building a reputation as the premier delivery office in iXL. Prior to iXL, Will worked in consulting for Andersen and KPMG Consulting. Will has a BS in Finance from the University of Richmond. Will is an instrument-rated private pilot.

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Tabitha Geary
Partner
Fahrenheit Emerging Media

Executive and entrepreneur with over 18 years of social media marketing, monitoring and data analysis, corporate communications, and database marketing. Well-versed in creating and executing online marketing and communication strategies. Proven track record in building online social communities, engaging our client's customers to build brand loyalty while tracking and measuring the ROI in social media initiatives. Experienced in customer retention marketing and relationship building at all levels, with the ability to thrive in versatile work environments.

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Wayne Nystrom
President/CEO
Graphics Gallery

Starting his entrepreneurial career at a young age (as a newspaper carrier in high school and owner of a miniature golf course in college), Wayne Nystrom has started four businesses and has been brought in by the majority owners of four others as an investor & President.

Nystrom is currently the majority owner and President/CEO of Graphics Gallery, a 23-year old graphics production company that counts Apple, Altria, Carmax, Clear Channel Advertising, the Smithsonian Museum and Library of Congress as clients. Nystrom and one of his sons also owned the Richmond-area franchise of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for five years, selling it in 2008 to another franchise owner.

Nystrom’s experience in financing entrepreneurial ventures ranges from personal savings and credit card advances (you’re not a complete entrepreneur until you’ve experienced the “thrill” of making payroll with a cash advance”) to angel investors, a financial syndicate and strategic investments by large corporations.

Nystrom currently serves on the Board of the Greater Richmond Chamber, Retail Merchants Association and Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers. He was formerly the Chairman of the Venture Forum and a member of the Advisory Board of the Girl Scouts. In 2009, Nystrom was named the Business Person of the Year by the Henrico Business Council of the Chamber.
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Gordon G. Miller, III
President and CEO, G3 Systems, Inc. 
Managing Partner, G3i Ventures LLC

Gordon Miller has devoted more than 20 years to the pursuit of excellence in design and innovation. An accomplished designer and engineer in his own right, Mr. Miller first focused his attention on K-12 and higher education solutions and then corporate websites and decision support systems. Since 1996, Mr. Miller has developed a rapidly expanding base of mission critical government projects including efforts for the US Dept. of Defense, US Navy, US Army, US Dept. of Education, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, US Dept. of State and US Dept. of Homeland Security.

Before founding G3 Systems in November 1993, Mr. Miller was Founder and Director of the Multimedia Lab at Virginia Tech. While Director of the Multimedia Lab, Mr. Miller assisted over 400 faculty and students working on more than 150 projects during his 5 years there. Once he founded G3 Systems, Mr. Miller distinguished himself further by earning international design awards in the area of Corporate Presentations, Educational Applications, Technical Training and Interface Design.

While serving as faculty in the Dean’s Office in Engineering at Virginia Tech, Mr. Miller embarked upon his PhD studies in Human Factors Engineering, first in Industrial Engineering and then Computer Science before deferring his studies to focus on launching G3 Systems. Mr. Miller completed his Masters degree at Virginia Tech in 1991 and earned a Bachelors of Fine Art in Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1987. It is this unique balance of design, engineering and human factors that has formed the foundation for his ongoing success.

Mr. Miller is a Founding Fellow for the Center for Human Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech. He has guided G3 Systems through the Software Engineering Institute CMM Level 3 Certification process. Mr. Miller continues to focus his research and development efforts in the areas of Interface Design, Systems Integration, Training Development and Modeling and Simulation.

Mr. Miller is Founder and Managing Partner of G3i Ventures, LLC which serves early stage and emerging growth companies through a unique strategy based on dramatically increasing revenue in order to minimize the need for additional future investors thus maximizing founder value and preserving valuable founder equity. Mr. Miller uses revenue and profits from existing ventures to fund other ventures. Over the last 16 years, Miller has invested over $2 Million in 12 companies creating over $100 Million (50x) in value for those companies he has invested in while returning an average of a 5x personal return on investment (ROI).

“Innovation By Design”

http://www.gordonmiller.com
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Ashton Harrison
Shades of Light
4924 West Broad Street
Richmond, Va. 23230

Native of Richmond, Va.
Undergraduate degree, The University of Virginia 1975
MBA, The University of Richmond 1984

Vice President, This End Up Furniture 1977-1986
Founder & CEO, Shades of Light 1986-present

Opened Shades of Light with 1 retail store in 1986. 4 moves later, it now resides in a 15,000 square foot building which includes corporate offices & call center. 45,000 square foot capacity warehouse, also in Richmond, Va. services internet/mail order catalog business.

Other retail locations include 5000 square foot store in Virginia Beach, Va. and an outlet store in Richmond, Va.

Awards include Cataloger of the Year, Arts Award Lighting Showroom of the Year, Rug Retailer of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist.

Appearances on several TV shows including local news, Christopher Lowell show and NBC's LXTV Home Show.

Regularly featured in shelter magazines (see current list on blog on web site) and quoted in industry publications.
 

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Andrea Edmunds
Founder/CEO
PoshTots

Teaming up with technology entrepreneur Karen Adams, and interior designer Pam O’Hallaron, Andrea started a company that followed a simple winning business strategy; to satisfy a need in the marketplace. PoshTots.com started as an idea over coffee, and has grown over the past ten years into the pre-eminent brand for high end children’s furnishings, worldwide.

How did she do it? Hard work, smart marketing, good timing and a little luck.

Andrea focused her efforts on promoting PoshTots so that parents everywhere would know about her convenient, stylish shopping source for babies and kids. She placed her company’s collection in the hands of celebrities, on television and film sets, and ultimately into the pages of countless national magazines. Being able to mention the names of celebrities in possession of PoshTots products generated the free press that built the company. By serving an affluent niche that is not price-sensitive, the company succeeds through outstanding customer service, and a unique and exclusive product line.

While playing her primary role as Mom to youngest child Evan and his big sisters Emma and Madison, Andrea charted the course for her company’s growth and success, and in 2006 sold PoshTots to a larger, publicly traded competitor. Andrea stayed on with the new owners and later sailed through a subsequent merger with an even larger company.

After a record-breaking economic downturn in late 2008, The Parent Company, owner of PoshTots, filed for bankruptcy, and an opportunity emerged; Andrea was able to buy what she felt was a still-profitable brand, out of the wreckage.

Now, a year after Andrea re-gained control of PoshTots, and a decade after it all began, the company is enjoying record sales. She recently purchased an office building, with warehouse, overlooking the city of Richmond near Rockett’s Village to serve as the new corporate headquarters for their holding company Poshbrands, LLC.

Andrea resides in the Varina area and enjoys home life on the James River with her husband Andy and three children, along with 2 dogs, 1 cat, 5 chickens and Evan’s pet corn snake named Puddin’. She loves to spend free time in the family’s Cape Charles home on the beautiful Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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Harry A. Hoffon, Jr., CET, CFPS
President/CEO/Chairman/Principal
Eagle Fire Inc.

Harry Hoffon co-founded Eagle Fire Inc. in 1987 and expanded by introducing Eagle Fire Consulting, Inc. in 2002. Harry developed a business model that prides itself on service to the customer and providing highly trained technicians for incident-free outcomes. His knowledge and expertise in fire protection systems and life safety has enabled Eagle Fire to become one of the nation’s leading fire protection companies operating in Maryland, Virginia (Corporate/Mid-Atlantic Division--Richmond), North Carolina(Southeast Division—Charlotte) , South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Eagle Fire employs more than 90 full-time employees who work around the country.

Harry has over 35+ years experience and training in fire protection. He has served in many varied capacities: crash rescue/structural fire fighter, command fire scene officer, assistant fire chief—fire prevention for military R&D facilities for Atlantic Undersea Test Evaluation Center (Andros Island, Bahamas/tongue of the ocean) and the Ballistic Missile Command (South Pacific) where he was responsible for training and ensuring code compliance. Upon return to the Continental U.S., he embarked on a career with Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America—an International Fire Protection Company with responsibilities for inspection and testing of all types of fixed fire protection systems throughout the eastern half of the United States and for international clients. During the early 80’s, Harry started a consulting business. He obtained training in performing arson investigations from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in association with BATF and the FBI. Harry earned the designation as an “expert witness” and testified in numerous cases involving fire investigations.

Harry is currently a member of the Virginia Council of CEO’s and has served on its board. He is a founding member of the Local Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association and a long time member and the National Fire Protection Association. He is also an associate member of the local chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Harry has served as an instructor on Fire Suppression Systems at Rutgers University, presented to the American Petroleum Institute’s National Convention on Inspection and Testing of Water Based Fire Protection systems, and been a guest lecturer for postgraduate classes at Longwood University’s School of Business and Economics.

A native of Miami, Harry resides in Richmond with his wife Darlene Hoffon.
Contact Harry at harry.hoffon@eaglefire.com
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Robert J. Hilb
Founder and President
Hilb Group

In recent years, Bob Hilb has served as Chairman and CEO of Dahlgren Investments; a Richmond, Virginia based Investment Company. Dahlgren currently owns two industrial supply businesses and one sales and marketing consulting business. Bob has focused Dahlgren on acquiring companies in need of turnaround expertise and sales leadership, and in the cases of both industrial supply businesses he has more than doubled sales and profitability within three years of acquiring them.

Prior to starting Dahlgren, Bob Hilb was employed by Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Company, a Richmond, Virginia based NYSE insurance broker. During a 13 year career at HRH, he was a producer in the local retail office, corporate vice president responsible for building affinity sales teams, and served as a founder and ultimately CEO of HRH International.
Prior to his tenure at HRH, he worked at Lloyd’s of London and in the wholesale and program segment of the insurance brokerage industry. Bob Hilb is a graduate of Drake University and lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and three children.

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Paul O’Keefe
President
Edge Training Systems, Inc.

Edge Training was founded in Richmond in 1995 and has become a leading producer of corporate training programs and assessment instruments. Mr. O’Keefe’s past to present financing activities have gone from initial cash investment, cash flow augmented with credit cards, cash flow supported through factoring, evolving to Bank loans (SBA)and culminating in corporate bank loans and a commercial credit line.

 

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Steve Graham
TAB – Certified Facilitator
SBL – Certified Coach

Steve Graham’s professional career spans more than thirty years as an
executive, entrepreneur and trusted business advisor, to presidents,
CEO's and business owners. His background and experience includes:
• Business start-ups
• Organizational development & design
• Training design and development
• Executive and management coaching
• International human resources
• International compensation & benefits

His experience as a business owner and shareholder have provided him with a broad exposureto the vast array of challenges, opportunities, issues and problems that top executives and entrepreneurs face.

Steve is also President of The Oval Group LLC, a human resources consulting firm in
Richmond. Since leaving the corporate world nine years ago, Steve has focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses prosper by avoiding the pitfalls the corporate world has already uncovered.

Steve was looking for something that would compliment his human resources consulting work and allow him to leverage his extensive business background. “I looked into executive business advisory opportunities and was immediately drawn to The Alternative Board® (TAB),” says Steve. “TAB provided me with an opportunity to use the skills I’d developed in the corporate world and in my consulting practice and apply those not only to my own business, but to supporting other Richmond area business owners.”

Steve received his MBA master's in business administration, majoring in organizational behavior and marketing, from York University in Toronto, his BEd bachelor of education from the University of Western Ontario in London and a BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater & television from York University. Steve also holds CPBA (Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst), CPVA (Values), CPTA (TriMetrix), and CPDA (DNA) assessment tool certifications through TTI, Inc.

He is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management and American Mensa.

For more information contact:

Steve Graham
P. 804-370-1000
F. 804-360-8032
Steve@TABRVA.com
The Alternative Board
P.O. Box 4036
Glen Allen, VA 23059
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Dr. Susan Hardwicke
Chief Executive
Chief Executive, VABION LLC and Social Media Solutions LLC

EDUCATION:

* Ph.D., Psychology, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
* M. Phil., The George Washington University, Washington, DC
* B.A., Liberal Arts, with High Distinction, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA - Echols Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa

SUMMARY:

Dr. Susan Hardwicke, a cognitive psychologist with an extensive knowledge of nutrition, has pioneered the field of neuro-nutrition with products that measurably improve focus, reaction time, and memory. She is an inventor and entrepreneur with more than 25 years experience in areas diverse as defense systems, Internet technology, product development, business processing engineering, educational testing, cognitive sciences, neurofeedback, and life sciences. Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2002, she has become an advocate for women's health and wellness through prevention and recovery, and has founded Internet 2.0 communities and resources for health and fitness, and cancer survivorship. She provides research-based information on nutrition, nutraceuticals, and survivorship.

One of the pioneers in online educational testing, she founded Edutest, Inc., which was one of two dot com successes from the Richmond area. Through her efforts, Edutest was capitalized with $1.5 million in venture capital and sold less than two years later for $13.2 million. She founded kSero Corporation in 2002 at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park to improve the brain’s physical and mental performance, and received Federal grant funding that ultimately led to the creation of Virginia Bionutrients (known as VABION LLC) and a number of nutraceutical products. Through VABION, Dr. Hardwicke is applying for FDA approval for a number of formulae related to chemo brain, cancer recovery, and survival. These efforts represent the culmination of her lifelong goal of helping people everywhere to improve their minds, their performance, and their health. Dr. Hardwicke holds numerous patents and has received numerous awards for a board game she invented.

In 2009 Dr. Hardwicke entered the Social Media business and founded Social Media Solutions LLC, a company that develops online solutions such as Web 2.0 communities and content management systems and social media strategies for political races and issues, consumer products, and health and fitness businesses.

Specialties: Technology applications, neuro-nutrition, assessment, cognitive skill development, product development, early stage organization development, total quality management.

Inventions: Edutest (the first online educational testing system), Metanon: The Biocode Adventure (board game), Cognitive Portfolio Assessment, Cognitive Treatment Program, Fuser Energy Micro-bar, Diesel Energy Stix, Chemo Brain Recovery Supplement

DETAILED EXPERIENCE:

Dr. Susan Hardwicke is a cognitive psychologist with more than 25 years experience in the areas of cognitive sciences, neurofeedback, life sciences and product development. She has spent her career on leading edge issues related to the brain and human performance, and has pioneered the field of neuro-nutrition with products that measurably improve focus, reaction time, and memory.

Education and early career. As an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, Dr. Hardwicke researched and began using nutritional supplements for improving her fitness and academic performance. She graduated in three years with High Distinction, and an Echols Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Hardwicke began her journey in the study of mental performance with a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in Psychology from George Washington University. As an avid runner, she continued her lifelong interest in sports, fitness, and nutrition.

Dr. Hardwicke served as project manager on the U.S. Department of Defense Computerized Adaptive Testing project, and performed some of the earliest research on the human factors of computer-based testing. She designed and managed the predictive validity tests for the project and authored the validation reports. Dr. Hardwicke extended her interest in technology as a project manger for Logicon, Inc., currently owned by Northrup Grumman. In that capacity, she designed the user interface for a shipboard communications integrity device, managed the program, and headed her division’s total quality initiatives.

In 1992-1993 Dr. Hardwicke researched and taught a graduate level course on adult development at the California School of Professional Psychology. She started a consulting business on leadership effectiveness and contracted with the Center for Creative Leadership to evaluate and advise executives from companies such as Motorola, Nestle, Avery Dennison, and Monsanto. She assisted Reynolds Metals with their quality implementation, strategic automation planning, and developed culture and values surveys and feedback for their Research and Development division.

Inventions and entrepreneurial endeavors. A pioneer in online educational testing, she founded Edutest, Inc., the first online educational testing company, and built it into a trusted source for the nation’s school districts as they grappled with increased accountability measures and integrating technology into the classroom. She sold the company, now part of Plato Learning, for $13.2 million.

In 2002, Dr. Hardwicke founded kSero Corporation at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park and began her mission to improve simultaneously the brain’s physical and mental performance. Through her efforts, kSero received a federal grant to develop a cognitive skills program for improving academic performance. The research funded by the grant enabled her to augment the assessment and training offered by kSero with nutrition and lifestyle changes. The program Dr. Hardwicke developed attracted a large client base with a 60-year age range. She has helped hundreds of clients, including chemotherapy patients, improve mental performance and overcome or improve debilitating cognitive disorders with neurofeedback, diet and exercise improvement, and mental and physical exercise.

Dr. Hardwicke knows about the devastating effects of chemo brain first hand: In 2002, she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer and experienced first hand the debilitating effects of chemo brain. After her experience with cancer treatments, Dr. Hardwicke has become an advocate for health and wellness through cancer prevention and recovery.

In 2006, Dr. Hardwicke received the top Muse Award for the most creative business from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, her board game Metanon: The Biocode Adventure, for which she obtained design and process patents, received several honors and awards from the toy industry for its innovative method of teaching pattern recognition and decision-making.

Since 2005 Dr. Hardwicke has given numerous presentations on education, technology, the brain, and nutrition. She began publishing e-newsletters in 2005 and launched a Social Media company in 2009. Social Media Solutions LLC develops social media and online solutions in health and fitness, nutraceuticals, and politics. Current clients include

PERSONAL

A seven-year cancer survivor, she regularly speaks to cancer survivors and oncology professionals on Chemo Brain and Recovery, and supports the American Cancer Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Society through volunteer work and sponsorships. In 2009, Dr. Hardwicke completed the 150-mile MS Bike Coast along the Pacific Coast.

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE:

*Vice chair, The Richmond Forum (2008-2009)

*Board of directors, The Richmond Forum (2006-present)

*Board of directors, Hospital Hospitality House (2006-2007)

*Business Council. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (2002-2005)

*Chair, Student Internship, Joint Committee of St. Catherine’s and St. Christopher’s Schools (2003-2004); founded the student internship program

*Senior Warden, St. Peter’s Church, Del Mar, CA (1986-7)

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bicanich, E., Slivinski, T., Hardwicke, S., Kapes, J. (1997) Internet Educational Testing: A Vision or Reality. T.H.E. Journal. Vol. 25.

Hardwicke, S. (2009) Understanding the aging brain. Invited presentation at Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Conference, April 23, 2009, Richmond, Virginia.

Hardwicke, S. (2009) Chemo brain and recovery: A guide for survival. Invited presentation at 2009 Blood Cancer Conference, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, April 21, 2009, Newport News, Virginia.

Hardwicke, S. (2007) Compositions and Methods for Psychiatric Conditions and Cognition Enhancement, Patent Cooperation Treaty Application, patno WO07130581, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, November.

Hardwicke, S. (2006) Brain Health: Mending the Mind After Age 50. Age in Action. 22:4.

Hardwicke, S. (2006) Don’t Just Maintain, Make Gains in your Brain. Invited presentation, Lifelong Learning Institute, September.

Hardwicke, S. (2005) Cognitive Skills: The Missing Link Between Ability and Achievement. Virginia Biosciences Development Center, kSero Corporation, Inc., under FIE Grants U215K040311 and U215K0400364, December 16.

Hardwicke, S. (2005) Methods for cognitive treatment. US Patent App. 11/188, 035, 2005.

Hardwicke, S. (2005) Crawling from the Pit, Clawing Through the Fog: Recovery from Cognitive Impairment. Invited presentation from Henrico Doctors Hospital, Richmond, Virginia., November.

Hardwicke, S. (2005) Final Report: The Cognitive Learning Pilot Project. For FIE Grants U215K040311 and U215K0400364 Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, Virginia Biosciences Development Center, and kSero Corporation, Inc., October 28.

Hardwicke, S. (2005) Applying new brain research to education. Invited keynote address, Virginia Commonwealth University Emerging Technologies Conference, April 8, 2005, Richmond, Virginia.

Hardwicke, S. (2004) Bad News About TV Means Good News for the Toy Industry, IF... TD Monthly, July.

Hardwicke, S. (2003) What Makes an Educational Toy? TD Monthly, October.

Hardwicke, S. Fasteam: The Consultant in a Box. Total Quality Innovators, 1994.

Hardwicke, S., Yoes, M. (1984) Attitudes and Performance on Computerized vs. Paper-and-Pencil Tests. Proceedings of the Second Annual Air Force Conference on Technology in Training and Education.

Hardwicke, S.B., Vicino, F.L. (1984) Computerized Adaptive Testing: Implications for the Military Training Base (or There is More Than One Way to Skin a CAT), American Educational Research Association 1984 Annual Meeting.

Hardwicke, S., Eastman, L., Cooper, R., Vicino, F.L. (1984) Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT): A User Manual. Naval Personnel Research and Development Center Technical Report.

Hardwicke, S.B., Bryant, S.L. (1996) Implications of the Internet for Educational Assessment. 1996 Annual Meeting of the Hong Kong Educational Research Association.

Hardwicke, S.B., Bryant, S.L. (1996) Reengineering School Management Processes. 1996 Annual Meeting of the Hong Kong Educational Research Association.

Kapes, J.T. Martinez, L. Ip, C. Slivinski, T. Hardwicke, S. (1998) Internet-Based vs. Paper-Pencil Occupational Competency Test Administration: An Equivalency Study. Journal of Vocational Education Research, 23:3 201-19.

Slivinski, T., Hardwicke, S. & Kapes, J. (1997) Final Report: Internet Testing Project. Department of Education, State of Pennsylvania.

Vicino, F.L., Hardwicke, S. (1984) An Evaluation of the Predictive Utility of Large-Scale Computerized Adaptive Testing. American Educational Research Association 1984 Annual Meeting.
Vicino, F.L., & Hardwicke, S. (1984) Predictive Utility of Computerized Adaptive Testing. Naval Personnel Research and Development Center Technical Report.

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Steve Krickovic
USA Baby & Kids
www.usababyric.com
P: 804.379.0987
F: 804.378.1573

Over 20 years in sales, sales management with several start up and emerging companies. This entrepreneurial experience prompted me to make it official, and in the fall of '06 I acquired USA Baby. Over the last several years USA Baby has established itself as one of the largest baby furniture retailers in the Mid-Atlantic.

DIRECTIONS TO CAPITAL ONE CAMPUS:

From North of Richmond: Take I-95 South to I-295 toward I-64 West/Charlottesville. Follow I-295 for approximately 10 miles. Take the last exit on the right off I-295 toward I-64 West/Charlottesville. Follow I-64 West to the Route 288 South exit (exit 175). Turn onto Route 288 South and drive approximately 2.5 miles. Take the Capital One exit off Route 288. After taking the exit, follow the signs toward Capital One Drive and follow the signs for your building.

From Southside of the river: Take Robious Road to 288 North. Take the West Creek Parkway exit and take the first left on to Capital One Drive to the south entrance of Campus. Follow the signs for your building.

From Richmond (from the airport): Take I-64 West to the Route 288 South exit (exit 175). Turn onto Route 288 South and drive approximately 2.5 miles. Take the Capital One exit off Route 288. After taking the exit, follow the signs toward Capital One Drive and follow the signs for your building.

From Patterson: Going west on Patterson Avenue (Route 6), take a right at the West Creek Monument sign onto the West Creek Parkway. Follow West Creek Parkway for 1.5 miles and take Route 288 North. Take the Tuckahoe Creek Parkway West exit and make a left into the North entrance of campus. Follow the signs to your building.