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McLean-based Appian acquires Germany’s Lana Labs

McLean-based cloud computing company has acquired Germany’s , developer of the artificial intelligence-driven LANA process mining platform, the company announced on Aug. 5.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With the addition of Lana’s native process mining capabilities, Appian will be able to expand its low-code automation suite, which allows nontechnical users to create websites with minimal coding. The LANA platform has a leading proprietary learning algorithm that automates analysis of complex business workflows, according to Appian’s news release.

“There is natural synergy between process mining, process modeling and automation,” Appian CEO Matt Calkins said in a statement. “We believe that our of Lana Labs means that only Appian will be able to take customers from knowing to doing, in a unified suite.”

Appian was founded in 1999 and employs approximately 1,200 . offers code digitization programs that allows companies to write their own software by “drawing” rather than writing code. Founded in 2016, Lana Labs is based in Berlin and has about 30 employees.

Roanoke accounting firm sells building for $2.27M

Roanoke firm has sold its building for $2.275 million, according to a news release.

Brown Edwards, which is expanding into a larger space at a local office park, sold the building at 319 McClanahan Ave. to , which places medical professionals in practices across the country.

The accounting firm is one of the largest across the Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee region. Brown Edwards will be relocating to 3906 Electric Road in a space formerly occupied by Long and Foster , which is moving its office across Fallowater Lane.

Frank C. Martin III of Inc. represented the seller and Matt Huff of Inc. represented the buyer.

 

ASGN Inc. acquires Fairfax consulting firm

Richmond-based Inc., a Fortune 1000 provider of and , acquired -based Enterprise Resource Performance Inc., a health care consulting and data analytics firm that delivers federal healthcare transformation services, ASGN announced Thursday.

‘s 250 consultants will become part of ECS, ASGN’s Fairfax-based federal contracting subsidiary.

ERPi was founded in 2001 and provides IT solutions, data analytics, artificial intelligence/machine learning and health care domain expertise to government clients, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Indian Health Services, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Army.

“Joining ECS is an incredible next step for ERPi. Our customers will not only benefit from ECS’s deep enterprise resources and program-level experience, but also from their digital transformation, cybersecurity, data and [artificial intelligence] solutions. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to join the ECS and the broader ASGN platform,” said ERPi President Bill Hummel in a statement.

ECS President George Wilson said, “The of ERPi deepens ECS’s capabilities across a number of exciting solution areas and provides key contract vehicles that will bolster our current healthcare industry offerings. We are thrilled to bring their team’s experience to new and existing customers across industry and government.”

This marks the second acquisition in as many months for ASGN. The company bought Reston-based Indrasoft in July.

 

McGuireWoods promotes Herring to Richmond office managing partner

Former Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring has been appointed managing partner of ‘ Richmond office, the announced Monday.

After 13 years as Richmond commonwealth’s attorney, Herring resigned in 2019 to accept a position as a partner at McGuireWoods. Herring specializes in commercial litigation, government investigations and white collar criminal defense matters.

Prior to his election in 2006, Herring was a partner at firm Bricker & Herring, where he represented clients in medical malpractice and criminal defense cases.

Herring is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.

He succeeds George Keith Martin, who was managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Richmond office for more than 12 years. Martin practices , and local government law.

W.M. Jordan Co. hires business development manager

W.M. Jordan Co. has hired as the firm’s business development manager, the Newport News-based firm announced on Aug. 3.

Viola will focus on seeking new business and building relationships across the Hampton Roads region, according to a news release from W.M. Jordan.

The Maryland native previously worked for civil construction firms Iron Sheepdog Civil and Branch Civil. She is active in the Hampton Roads Association for , the Virginia Economic Developers Association and the Urban Land Institute.

“I grew up in the construction and development world and then married into , as well.” Viola said in a statement. “I have always been intrigued by taking a raw development opportunity and watching it into something great.”

Viola earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in .

Proposals for Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall redevelopment narrowed to 3

Three groups have submitted full proposals to the city of to redevelop .

In late 2020, Norfolk put out a call for developers to turn the struggling mall into a thriving mixed-use community. The city narrowed the list to four, but on Friday, just three proposals were released by the city, including one from a group that includes Grammy-winning superstar .

Norfolk’s Authority purchased the 75-acre property for $11 million and the nearby DoubleTree Hotel property for $2.4 million.

Two of the proposals include 15,000-seat arenas, and the third proposes an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. All three propose medical office space, green area, residential communities and hotels.

Crossroads Partnership, which includes S.B. Ballard Company and NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith’s company, describes its project as “a wellness development.” The group proposes a 15,000-seat arena as the anchor, 987 apartments, a Sentara Healthcare office campus, a sports complex, space for retail, a 128-room Hyatt House hotel, green space, and cultural and educational partners.

Crossroads proposes building the first phase from Jan. 2022 through Oct. 2025, to include the arena, sports center, four parking decks, and work with the existing mall building. would be about 3.5 million square feet of space and cost about $550 million. Then in the second phase, June 2023 through July 2026, it would build a school, retail and office space, and three more parking decks. It would be about 1 million square feet and cost about $128 million. Finally in the last phase, June 2024 through December 2029, it proposes the residential, and retail components, including a grocer. This would be about 1 million square feet and cost about $240 million. 

The Well, the proposal from Norfolk MC Associates, is shown in a rendering. Courtesy city of Norfolk

In its proposal, Crossroads writes that this project would bring 3,100 during construction and 1,800 jobs during operations and $1.4 billion of new net revenue generated by the arena. 

Norfolk MC Associates LLC , which includes Virginia Beach developer Bruce Thompson’s Gold Key | PHR, submitted a proposal called “The Well,” which is centered around a 9-acre-lake and 40 acres of park and open space. It promises $663 million in new capital investment, $17.7 million in annual tax revenues and $643 million through 2056 for Norfolk. 

The group projects 2,200 job opportunities; 1,800 permanent and 400 construction and would retain and enhance Sentara’s presence in Norfolk. 

The proposal would expand Norfolk State University’s campus with an on-site business center for small business startups and other programs. It adds 40 acres of parks and open space, 864 apartments of “market, workforce and senior housing,” an outdoor performing arts amphitheater, recreation center and calls itself a “model for sustainability.” 

“The Well” would include nearly 400,000 square feet for Sentara Wellness Village offices, about 86,400 square feet of office space, a 200-room hotel, about 160,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space and an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.

It, too, promises a new grocery store.

The Wellness Circle, which includes Pharrell Williams as a partner, includes an arena in its proposal to redevelop Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall. Courtesy city of Norfolk

A third proposal, from Wellness Circle LLC includes Williams and Live Nation as partners.

Wellness Circle proposes using 4.83 million square feet on 89 acres, including a nearly 500,000 square foot arena with 15,400 to 16,500 seats,  1 million square feet of office space including a medical office campus, 143,000 square feet of retail, 80,000 square feet for food and beverage, a 210 room hotel, 54,700 square feet of community space, including a YMCA facility, and one of Williams’ Yellowhab schools, along with a pedestrian trail. It would also have residential space — 708 multifamily units, 147 townhomes and 288 low-income tax credit units.

Norfolk Next, a group that included The Garcia Cos. and Andrea Kilmer, was the fourth group of investors named earlier in the process, but it was not included in Friday’s announcement.

The next step in the process is to collect public input and a survey is being developed.

Winchester manufacturer to build $1.25 million plant expansion

Winchester-based will invest $1.25 million to enlarge its plant in , creating 84 , announced Friday.

The company will add a second production line, triple its facility space and increase production for its major customers, including Home Depot, according to a news release.

“Evolve … is a key employer in Frederick County, and we are pleased to support the growth of another manufacturer reinvesting in the commonwealth,” Northam said in a statement. “This expansion is further evidence of the Valley’s ability to attract and retain businesses with its infrastructure, workforce and livability.”

Founded in 2013, Evolve Manufacturing is a specialty composite manufacturer that owns the Evolve Stone, Evolve Play and Createk by Evolve Custom companies. The company is expanding the Evolve Stone line, which is an artificial stone that is face nailed — sent perpendicular into material, rather than driven at an angle into the side to hide .

“Evolve chose Virginia as its home because of its business-friendly environment, access to a diverse workforce, and small business support network,” Evolve CEO Greg Fritz said in a statement. “Virginia is the complete package for doing business.”

The Virginia Partnership worked with Frederick County to secure the project and will support the company through the , which provides state funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.

Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce announces leadership class

The announced this week the selection of its 2021-2022 Southside class.

is a nine-month program that introduces participants to the Dan River Region and offers skill building, leadership development and networking building, according to a news release.

This class will meet once a month from August to April, graduating in May 2022. Participants will travel to the Capitol in January for Chamber Day to speak to General Assembly legislators.

The following are members of this year’s class:

  • Kirsten Aherron, River District Association
  • Laura Ashworth, City of Office of
  • David Coffey, City of Danville Fire Department
  • Amy Davis, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
  • Madison Eades, Danville Chamber of Commerce
  • Conner Finney, Sovah Health
  • Hailey Fowlkes, Sovah Health
  • Charly Emerson Harris, T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trust
  • Tammy Hurt, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
  • Cassie Williams Jones, Averett University
  • Brandie King, Negril Inc.
  • Pete Kostopanagiotis, Daniel, Medley & Kirby PC
  • Amy Parikh, Carlisle School
  • Doug Plachcinski, City of Danville Office of Community Development
  • Jaketta Scott, Danville Pittsylvania Community Services
  • Benjamin Sharpe, Clement Wheatley
  • Donald Smith, City of Danville Police Department
  • Jarrett Stone, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
  • Brad Stowe, Chandler Concrete
  • Martina Tatum, Gateway Health
  • Tammy Turner, ValleyStar Credit Union
  • Kellie Smoak Wyatt, Dan River Nonprofit Network

Chancellor of Virginia’s community colleges to retire in summer 2022

Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the , will retire at the end of June 2022, he announced Tuesday.

DuBois was hired in July 2001 and is the longest-serving chancellor in VCCS history. He has led the system through three strategic plans and into a fourth.

“I announce this today knowing that with our new equity-focused strategic plan, Opportunity 2027, we are on the right track,” DuBois said in a statement, “and we are in very good hands. And I am excited – just as I’ve always been – by what we will accomplish by working together.”

The State Board for will conduct a national search to find the next chancellor.

“While I congratulate Glenn on a well-deserved retirement, I know that we have big shoes to fill,” Board chair N.L. Bishop said in a statement. “Thanks in large part to Glenn’s , the Virginia Community College System is seen as a national leader.”

Recently, DuBois presided over community college name changes — like John Tyler Community College becoming Brightpoint Community College — after the VCCS requested that their colleges examine their school and building names in fall 2020.

Thursday, DuBois announced that students and employees will be required to wear masks while indoors at VCCS schools.

Before coming to Virginia, DuBois held executive roles in such as the commissioner and CEO of what was then New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges and director of community colleges for the State University in New York.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society presented DuBois with their State Community College Award of Distinction at its 2008 national convention.

DuBois has a doctorate in higher education administration, research and policy from the University of Massachusetts. He holds a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University, a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and an associate of science degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale.

30 acres in Chesapeake sells for $3.65 million

Approximately 27.48 acres of -zoned land along the Southern Branch Elizabeth River in sold for $3.65 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Wednesday.

Agrium U.S. Inc. sold the land, located at 700 Weaver Lane, to Waterway Properties LLC.

William C. Throne, a certified commercial investment member, and Robert L. Phillips Jr., both members of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, handled the sale for the buyer.