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Soli Organic hires former Tesla exec
Rockingham County-based Soli Organic Inc. has hired former Tesla executive Jeff Jackson as its chief infrastructure officer, the indoor farming company announced Friday. Jackson was the director of infrastructure for Tesla, which manufactures electric vehicles. At Soli Organic, he will support the strategic development of the co[...]
YHB chooses next CEO
Winchester-based accounting and consulting firm Yount, Hyde & Barbour Principal Tom Milburn will become the firm’s CEO on Oct. 1, succeeding CEO Scott Moulden. YHB announced Milburn’s election by its board on Tuesday. “As part of our new strategic plan, the YHB board recognized that there is value to identifying the n[...]
Incubator hopes to grow Virginia winemaking
Tim and Ben Jordan are first-generation grape growers on a Shenandoah Valley farm that has been in their family since the 1700s. Although the brothers “leapt off the ground quite blindly” to pursue their passion, Tim Jordan says — first planting grapes in 2007 — their dream of building a winery on the farm proved [&hel[...]
Cadence acquires Conn. device components manufacturer
Staunton-based medical and drug delivery devices manufacturer Cadence Inc. has acquired Connecticut-based miniature medical device components manufacturer Utitec Inc., Cadence announced Tuesday. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Utitec specializes in miniature, deep drawn medical device and commercial components. The company has a medical facility in Costa Rica. “Acquiring Utitec better positions Cadence [&helli[...]
MGCC workforce center to offer trades training
The Mountain Gateway Community College Real Estate Foundation will renovate a downtown Buena Vista building into the Wilson Workforce Development Center, likely starting early this year. It’s named for Buena Vista philanthropist Joe Wilson, who purchased the 8,750-square-foot former car dealership at 2019 Forest Ave. for $370,[...]
Wholesome Foods to expand in Shenandoah County
Wholesome Foods Inc. will expand its meat processing operation in Shenandoah County by adding a new, USDA-inspected slaughter facility with a $1.2 million investment, creating 12 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. Nearly all the livestock used at the new facility will be sourced from Virginia farms, according to Youngkin’s office. “We are excited to […]
State industrial fund awards $24.7M to projects
The governor announced more than $24.7 million in Industrial Revitalization Fund grants going to construction projects across Virginia on Tuesday, including Danville’s White Mill, South Boston’s John Randolph Hotel and other historic properties. “The transformation of older, vacant or blighted structures into produ[...]
Farmer Focus taps new president/COO
Harrisonburg-based organic poultry producer Farmer Focus announced leadership changes Tuesday, including tapping a new president and chief operating officer as well as a new chief commercial officer. Stephen J. Shepard is the company’s new president and COO, a promotion from executive vice president of operations, a positi[...]
Richmond restaurant refuses service to Family Foundation
A German-inspired restaurant in Richmond canceled a reservation for a conservative political organization’s private event last week, saying in a statement posted online Thursday night that the decision was made to protect their staff, many of whom are women and/or part of the LGBTQ community. The Family Foundation, the organiz[...]
Class conflicts
Makena Massarella, a 20-year-old junior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, is well on her way to becoming part of the solution to one of the most vexing problems facing Virginia and the nation: the shortage of teachers. She wants to be an elementary school teacher, the most in-demand position out of 10 critical shortag[...]
Valley of the entrepreneurs
The Shenandoah Valley has long been recognized as fertile ground for agricultural endeavors, but it’s now being seeded to grow an entirely different kind of crop — entrepreneurs. During the past few years, local and regional governmental bodies, nonprofits, and private and educational organizations in the valley have been co[...]
Tech-savvy ski resorts weather climate change
Warmer winters mean ski resorts must manufacture more snow to keep slopes open, but improved technology has helped offset costs and streamlined the process. Wintergreen Resort has more than 400 snow guns that over the season can cover 26 trails in 3 feet of snow, says General Manager Jay Gamble. Under optimal conditions over 24 [...]
