A founding partner of Cyrus Capital Partners in New York, Bias and his wife, Lauren, have turned a passion for fine wine into a successful business, Sugarleaf Vineyards in Albemarle County. They started small, by growing grapes for other vintners, then built the business step by step, never losing sight of their goal to establish a high-quality
boutique winery.

Sugarleaf has exceeded expectations since the first vines were planted in 2002. The Biases expect to sell about 1,100 cases of wine this year — nearly twice their original goal — and medals keep coming in. Recently, Sugarleaf’s 2006 Petit Verdot won a silver medal in judging involving 3,500 wines at the international Dallas Morning News Wine
Competition. “It’s overwhelming,” Jerry says of the business.

Sugarleaf occupies a four-acre block in a 126-acre tract in the foothills south of Charlottesville. Massive oaks and maples climb the slopes of what began as a country getaway from New York, where the Biases live and where Lauren was born. (Jerry’s connections to the Charlottesville area are through the University of Virginia. He is a 1990 graduate.)

A vineyard wasn’t in the plans until a friend issued Jerry a challenge. “He said, ‘You like drinking great wine — why not make great wine?’” Before embarking on the venture, the couple consulted wine guru Gabriele Rausse, scientists and others to analyze soil characteristics, elevation, drainage and other qualities.

They started by supplying grapes to other vintners. In 2004, the Biases broke ground for a winery designed to blend modern technology with a welcoming, rustic character. A tasting room provides space for leisurely sampling.

In addition to the Petit Verdot, Sugarleaf’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Viognier have garnered medals in competitions.

Much of the credit for the wine’s quality goes to Daniel Neumeister, Sugarleaf’s winemaker and vineyard manager. Lauren, a former model and mortgage banker, also plays a key role as chief operating officer.

The winery’s location on the Monticello Wine Trail is fortunate, she adds, because fellow vintners understand the passion behind dreams such as Sugarleaf. “Obviously, you follow your head as well as your heart,” Lauren says, “and we’ve been very fortunate to be in a supportive environment.”

The industry

The dream of creating a thriving wine industry in Virginia dates to Thomas Jefferson’s time, but that centuries-old vision has reached fruition only recently.

In 1979, only six wineries operated in the state, which traces its wine-making tradition to 1608. The number grew to 40 by 1995, when the scene exploded. Over the next decade, the acreage devoted to viticulture in Virginia doubled, according to the Virginia Wine Board.

The state now is home to 130 wineries and is fifth in the nation for the number of wine producers, according to the Virginia Tourism Corp. The July issue of Travel and Leisure magazine rated Virginia one of the top five new wine travel destinations in the world.

Beyond the pleasure and satisfaction of producing fine wine, the vineyards fuel local economies. For every dollar spent at a winery, says Virginia Tourism, seven additional dollars are spent elsewhere locally.

Wine trails now lace the state and link the vineyards, and October is designated Virginia Wine Month by state officials.

Destinations

Barboursville Vineyards: The estate has ties to Thomas Jefferson, and the vineyard, established in 1976, is among Virginia’s most venerable. On state Route 678 in Orange County.  http://www.barboursvillewine.net.

Afton Mountain Vineyards: Nestled in a scenic setting, Afton pioneered modern viticulture with plantings dating to 1978. At 234 Vineyard Lane in Nelson County. http://www.aftonmountainvineyards.com.

Williamsburg Winery: With more than 50 acres producing some 60,000 cases annually, Williamsburg boasts the state’s largest winery. On Lake Powell Road in Williamsburg. http://www.williamsburgwinery.com.

Gray Ghost Vineyards and Winery: The name evokes the memory of one of the Civil War’s legendary figures, Confederate Col. John S. Mosby, and the wines have won awards galore. On state Route 211 in Rappahannock County. http://www.grayghostvineyards.com.

Events

Events abound throughout the year and peak in October. Here are a few. For more, go to http://www.virginiawines.org or http://www.virginia.org.

June 14: Summer Celebration Wine Festival in Newport News. (757) 888-3371. http://www.VirginiaWineTour.com.
Aug. 9: Wine-making workshop with Gabriele Rausse, at Monticello in Albemarle County. (434) 984-9822. http://www.monticello.org.
Aug. 22-24: Virginia Wine Showcase, Dulles Expo & Conference Center. (703) 823-1868. http://www.vawineshowcase.org.
Aug. 30-31: Discover Virginia Food and Wine Festival in Greene County. (800) 985-6663. http://www.discovervirginia.net.
Oct: 25: Pick of the Piedmont Fall Wine Festival in Orange County. (540) 672-5216. http://www.visitorangevirginia.com.

Lawrence G. Cohen, named secretary and general counsel to INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. of Chesapeake. Cohen recently retired as a senior partner in the law firm Vandeventer Black LLP where he was chairman of the International Business Group. (News release)

Paul F. Cullum III, named a partner in LeClairRyan’s Litigation Group. He will be based in the Williamsburg office, developing the firm’s estate litigation practice. (News release)

Bill Ermatinger, named vice president of human resources and administration for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News. He joined the company in 1987 and has held a number of positions dealing with human resources. (News release)

Ashleigh K. Fiero, named marketing communications manager for Optima Health, a Virginia Beach-based health plan. Fiero had held positions with ValueOptions Inc. in Norfolk. (News release)

John P. Matson, named senior executive vice president for TowneBank’s Corporate Banking Group. His focus will be serving operating companies in Hampton Roads with revenues in excess of $15 million. (News release)

Kirk Michealson, chosen as a Lockheed Martin Fellow for his work in the area of operations analysis. The Fellows program recognizes excellence by company engineers, scientists and technology workers. Michealson works at Lockheed’s Suffolk facility. (News release)

Matthew J. Mulherin, named vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding where he will oversee all Newport News operations. Mulherin joined the Newport News operations in 1981 and has led programs for the construction of aircraft carriers and submarines. (News release)

Dr. Jerry Nadler, named chairman of the internal medicine department at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Nadler had chaired the endocrinology and metabolism department at the University of Virginia Medical School. He will work to recruit top talent to EVMS to develop nationally competitive research operations. That $8 million
effort will be underwritten in part by Sentara Healthcare. (The Virginian-Pilot)

Dennis W. Napier, named executive vice president for TowneBank Oyster Point. Napier is part of the Real Estate Finance Division. (News release)

Barbara Niland, named senior vice president of business management and CFO of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. She joined Northrop Grumman in 1979 and has held a number of management positions with the company. (News release)

Tony Parrow, named general manager for SpringHill Suites Norfolk Virginia Beach Hotel. He was general manager for the Residence Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (News release)

Karen Riddle, named executive director of the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce. Riddle has had a number of corporate sales and marketing positions in the U.S. and abroad. She returned to America in 2002 and settled in Virginia. (The Daily-News Record)

Lee Shuler, named regional vice president in the Harrisonburg office of Richmond-based Bankers Insurance LLC. He will oversee sales and customer service. (The Daily-News Record)

John J. Sygielski, president of Lord Fairfax Community College in Winchester, accepted the presidency of Mount Hood Community College near Portland, Ore. Sygielski was president of Lord Fairfax for five years and previously served as vice chancellor of work-force development for the Virginia Community College System. (The Winchester Star)

Dot S. Baynes, named regional vice president of the Danville Region of Bankers Insurance LLC where she will oversee the sales and customer service efforts. She has been with the firm for five years. (Danville Register & Bee)

Brain R. Charville, named partner at the Danville law firm Daniel, Medley & Kirby. Charville is a board member of Goodwill Industries, Downtown Danville Association and several other local organizations. (Danville Register & Bee)

Brian Higgins, named nature and heritage tourism project manager for the Dan River Basin Association. He will work on developing nature and heritage-based tourism, as well as water quality and river access programs. Higgins was a projects manager for the consulting firm Jones & Stokes and worked for several years as a whitewater river guide.
(Danville Register & Bee)

Laurie S. Moran, re-elected secretary of the National Association of Workforce Boards, an organization representing more than 550 state and local Workforce Investment Boards across the country. Moran is president of the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce. (Danville Register & Bee)

Steve Beach, associate professor of finance, and Alex Orlov, associate professor of economics, both at Radford University, won the Swisscanto Award for Best Professional Paper in Financial Markets and Portfolio Management. The paper, published in the June 2007 issue of Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, examined the Black-Litterman
model of portfolio allocation. (News release)

Stacey Campbell, named vice president of strategy and business development, Delta Dental of Virginia in Roanoke. She joined Delta Dental in 2000 and has been director of strategic planning and business development since 2004. Previously, she was a senior product manager with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (News release)

Terri Jones, named Advertising Person of the Year for efforts in advancing the advertising industry in the Roanoke Valley. Jones is a senior vice president at AccessPR. (News release)

William Kennedy, named associate counsel for Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. of Roanoke. Kennedy was an attorney with the National Western Life Insurance Co. in Austin, Texas. (News release)

Brad Knopf, named vice president of underwriting and actuarial at Delta Dental of Virginia in Roanoke. He joined Delta Dental in 1996. Knopf has 23 years of experience in health and dental insurance marketing and finance. (News release)

Edward D. Barnes received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section. Barnes is founder and CEO of the Chesterfield law firm Barnes & Diehl PC, and is one of the founders of the National Center for Family Law at the University of Richmond. (News release)

Dennis Belcher, named president-elect of the American College of Trusts and Estate. Belcher is a partner in the Richmond office of McGuireWoods LLP and focuses his practice on the estate planning and administration. (News release)

Shawn Boyer, named Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Boyer is president and CEO of SnagAJob.com, the nation’s largest job site for part-time jobs and full-time hourly jobs. (News release)

Matthew Brotherton received the National LTCi Sales Achievement Award for leading long-term care insurance specialists. Brotherton is with the Mid Atlantic Agency of John Hancock in Richmond. (News release)

Gregg Crowe, named campus director for the University of Phoenix, Richmond. Crowe was most recently enrollment manager at the University of Phoenix, Pittsburgh. (News release)

John G. Douglass, named dean of the University of Richmond law school. Douglass has been serving as the school’s interim dean. He joined the UR faculty in 1996 and teaches criminal law and trial advocacy courses.  (News release)

C. Burke King, named president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, replacing Tom Byrd who earlier announced plans to leave the company. King joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia in 1992 and most recently headed individual businesses product management for WellPoint Inc., Anthem’s parent company. (Richmond Times-
Dispatch)

Paul G. Mahoney, named dean of the University of Virginia law school. Mahoney joined the U.Va. faculty in 1990 and is an expert in corporate law. (The Daily Progress)

Walter W. Price III, named headmaster of The Miller School of Albemarle. Price is currently co-acting head of school and dean of students for Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. He succeeds Lindsay R. Barnes Jr. who is assuming the post of headmaster of Hawaii Preparatory Academy. (News release)

Phyllis M. Rubinstein, named shareholder in the Richmond law firm of LeClairRyan. Rubinstein focuses her practice on commercial real estate issues. She is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women. (News release)

Jay Turner, named partner in the Richmond law firm Williams Mullen, returning after serving as senior counsel at SunTrust Bank since 2004. His practice focuses on estate and trust issues. (News release)

Steve Roberts, named senior vice president of advertising sales and strategy for LevelVision of Roanoke. Based in San Francisco, Roberts will be responsible for advertising sales, product sales, placement and strategic planning. Previously, he directed business development for Buzzlogic and Technorati. (News release)

Catherine Underwood, named director of construction management at Branch & Associates in Roanoke. She joined the firm in 2000. (News release)

Richard P. Colombo, named director of the Federal Systems division of Avineon Inc. in Alexandria. Colombo has more than 30 years of government experience, most recently as program manager and computer specialist with the Internal Revenue Service. (News release)

Joseph K. Dodd, named vice president of business development and marketing for the intelligence group of Northrop Grumman Information Technology in McLean. Previously, he was director of business development and marketing for the same group. (News release)

Scott Freund, named president of the Wealth Management Division of GCC, a McLean-based merchant banking firm. He founded Family Office Research and was a vice president and private client adviser at The Private Bank at Bank of America. (PRNewswire)

David Goldberg, named assistant vice president of operations and chief growth officer at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. Previously, he was president of planning and development for Inova Loudoun Hospital. (News release)

Alex Pineda, named general manager of The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson in Sterling. He previously served as corporate human resources and accounting director for Fairbrook Hotels. (News release)

She came across a beautifully photographed book by Peter Nelson on treehouses of the world. “I brought it home and started reading it, and I thought, ‘This is it!’” says Fowlkes, executive director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.

She attended a workshop in Oregon, met with Nelson and embarked on building her own woodsy getaway on her 120-acre farm south of town. A hill overlooking the Virginia Creeper Trail provided the perfect location, and a sheltered white oak proved sturdy enough to bear the structure.

Now, she has a two-story treehouse nestled in a copse of birches, hemlocks and oaks with a narrow bridge and stone walkway providing access. “I come out here and lose all sense of time and purpose. It’s a great way to relax and get unplugged,” Fowlkes says.

Completed in June, the 300-square-foot treehouse took a year’s work and about $175,000 to build. Reclaimed and “found” wood — Douglas fir for walls, cedar for floors, locust for posts, cherry for elegance — accounted for most of the materials. Nelson drew the design, and Seattle builder Joel “Bubba” Smith did the bulk of the construction. Virginia craftsmen, from arborist Kevin Sigman of Abingdon to Woody Crenshaw of Crenshaw Lighting Corp. in Floyd, played key roles.

The cumulative effect combines outdoorsy ruggedness with refined craftsmanship and homey amenities — hot water, bathroom, kitchen and propane fireplace. “This is not somebody’s jack-legged structure stuck up in a tree branch,” says longtime friend Ned Stephenson, director of investments with the Virginia Tobacco Commission. “It’s very substantial, and it’s very, very charming.”

Stephenson and his wife, Susan, spent New Year’s Eve in the treehouse. They are in a small circle of family and friends who are test-driving the treehouse, which Fowlkes one day hopes to rent to tourists.

An Abingdon resident since 1969, Fowlkes has seen explosive growth in ecotourism and is on the advisory board of the Virginia Creeper Trail. Offering a cozy nest to hikers, bikers and birders is a way to share her love of the outdoors as much as to supplement income. “The treehouse is environmentally friendly,” Fowlkes says. “It’s really taking good care of the land.”

Ecotourism

Tourism is one of Virginia’s largest industries. In 2006 (the most recent year for which figures are available), tourism generated $17.7 billion in spending, 208,200 jobs, $706.8 million in state taxes and $503 million in local tax revenue, according to the Virginia Tourism Corp.

In Southwest Virginia, where mountains, lakes, rivers and valleys combine to offer a cornucopia of outdoor activities, ecotourism feeds a variety of business ventures — outfitters, fishing guides, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and retailers offering boots, boats, backpacks, binoculars and more.

The Virginia Creeper Trail alone supports about 30 jobs, generates about $670,000 in local income and provides about $1.6 million in local economic activity, according to a state report.

“Obviously, tourism in general is a huge economic engine for Washington County,” says Christianne E. Parker, assistant county administrator in charge of community and economic development. Abingdon assets such as the Barter Theatre, the Martha Washington Inn and a thriving arts community serve as magnets. “What we’ve seen also is growth
in ecotourism, and not just in the Creeper Trail. That’s been very exciting.”

Events
Virginia Highlands Festival: July 26 to Aug. 10 in Abingdon. Arts, music, living history, bird walks, farm tours, ecology workshops, performing arts and more. http://www.vahighlandsfestival.org.

Appalachian Trail Days: May 16-18 in Damascus. A celebration of the AT and outdoor recreation in general. http://www.traildays.info.

Grayson Highlands Fall Festival: Sept. 27-8 at Grayson Highlands State Park. Music, crafts, camping and fall foliage. http://www.graysonfallfestival.org.

Old Fiddlers’ Convention: Aug. 4-9 in Galax. Music, camping, competitions. http://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com.

Destinations

The Virginia Creeper Trail: Stretches 35 miles between Abingdon and Damascus. Bikes and shuttles are available through several area businesses.  http://www.vacreepertrail.com.

The Appalachian Trail: Stretches 2,175 miles from Maine to Georgia, with Virginia accounting for the largest section of any state. Damascus, known as “Trail Town USA,” serves as a primary access point for hikers. http://www.appalachiantrail.org.

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area: Features include Virginia’s highest peak (Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet), Whitetop Laurel Creek (renowned for trout fishing) and numerous trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/mr.

Grayson Highlands State Park: On 4,822 acres adjoining the Mount Rogers area. Camping, trout fishing and numerous multiuse trails. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml.

Martha Washington Inn: Dating to 1832 and renowned as an example of Southern hospitality, the inn recently completed a natatorium and now offers a spa in addition to 62 guest rooms and three restaurants. http://www.marthawashingtoninn.com.

“It’s become a good way of training and getting your mind in a certain place,” he says. That’s important in the high-energy, high-tech world where Rymsza circulates as president and CEO of Reston-based Vettro Inc. The company, which has offices around North America and in Great Britain, specializes in customized, mobile software applications for devices such as BlackBerries used by on-the-go executives.

Rymsza’s climbing wall — 15 feet wide and 10 feet high with 45- to 50-degree overhangs — answers an important question for an executive who flies thousands of miles a year and wants to make the most of his time. “It was one of my ideas to deal with [the question of] how do you stay in shape to be able to get out on the rocks on a limited basis?” he says.

Rymsza has been rock climbing throughout the country. He plans to visit Mount Rainier and the Grand Tetons later this year. But climbing is only one of his outdoor passions, which include kayaking, hiking, running, mountain biking and fishing. They provide an outlet for him, his wife, Lisa, and their two children at his Great Falls area home.

“It’s a suburban and an urban environment, but you can go a mile and a half on your bikes and you’re really in a different world,” says Rymsza, 40. The Potomac River, the rocks and the network of trails feed his need for big spaces, long workouts and being in touch with nature.

A veteran of the New York and Chicago marathons as well as mountain bike endurance races, Rymsza preaches the benefits of outdoor recreation to others in his business circles. “For me, as with many people, it’s a way to get a release from the day-to-day activities in the office and to think about things in a different way,” he says.

*********
The Business

Active outdoor recreation — biking, hiking, camping and other activities — contributes about $730 billion annually to the national economy, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. That figure does not include more than $30 billion spent on boats and other big-ticket items. Sales of outdoor gear and money spent on trips total about $289 billion.

In the eight-state South Atlantic region that includes Virginia and Washington, D.C., the total economic impact is $67.6 million (no figure for Virginia alone was available).

About 5.2 million Americans older than 6 participated in bouldering or climbing in indoor gyms in 2006, according to the association. Traditional outdoor climbing, including mountaineering and ice climbing, drew about 1.9 million participants. (Bouldering is a subset of climbing involving short, quick climbs up boulders instead of high, steep rock faces. Ice climbing involves climbing the ice faces of mountains and glaciers.)

Indoor climbing is enjoying growth, according to USA Climbing, the governing body for competitive sport and speed climbing and bouldering events. Membership has grown steadily during the past five years, and participation in sanctioned events has risen from 21,000 people in the 2002-03 season to about 47,000 in 2005-06. More than three-quarters of USA Climbing members are 21 or younger.

****************
Places to climb

From Belle Isle to Wintergreen, from Great Falls to Mountain Lake, Virginia abounds in outdoor climbing opportunities. And just across the line in West

Virginia, Seneca Rocks, about 70 miles northwest of Harrisonburg, beckons as a climbing mecca.
Indoor climbing gyms in Virginia include:

• Peak Experiences in Midlo­thian, (804) 897-6800, http://www.peakexperiences.com.

• Sport Rock Climbing Centers in Alexandria, (703) 212-7625, and Sterling, (571) 434-7625, http://www.sportrock.com.

• Lifetime Fitness Climbing Wall in Centreville, (703) 266-6200, http://www.lifetimefitness.com.

• Rocky Top REC in Charlottesville, (434) 984-1626, http://www.rockytoprec.com.

• Virginia Beach Rock Gym in Virginia Beach, (757) 499-8347, http://www.vbrg.com.

Robert L. Cramer, Manager Human Resources Services Planning of Norfolk Southern Corp., was nominated to a two-year term as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Business Coalition (VBCH) on Health, effective Oct. 1, 2007.

Jimmy Reade Chisman, elected to the board of directors, Old Point Trust and Financial Services in Hampton. Chisman is a member of the board of the Virginia Air & Space Center, president of the Jackson Feild Homes Foundation and treasurer of Jackson Feild Homes. (News release)

George Compo, president and treasurer of Compo Construction of Norfolk, elected chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Virginia. (News release)

Keith B. Hawkins, named executive vice president and commercial loan officer for SuffolkFirst Bank. (PR Newswire)

Evan M. Kalfus, named partner of the accounting firm KPMG. Kalfus, based in the firm’s Norfolk office, has 15 years of experience in federal tax services and audit support. (News release)

Thomas M. Lucas, named partner in the Norfolk law office of Willcox & Savage. Lucas was formerly a partner at Troutman Sanders. Lucas represents management in a range of labor and employment issues. (News release)

David W. Mykins, named senior vice president of Stroud, Pence & Associates Ltd. and manager of operations for the Virginia Beach office. He joined the firm in 1986 and was manager of the Raleigh, N.C., office. (News release)

Edward W. Pence Jr., named president of Stroud, Pence & Associates Ltd., Virginia Beach. Pence has been senior vice president for more than 20 years. (News release)

Kevin Freeland, named executive vice president, supply chain and information technology, Advance Auto Parts Inc., Roanoke. He was most recently president and founder of Optimal Advantage, a boutique retail consulting firm. (News release)

Michael Norona, named executive vice president and CFO, Advance Auto Parts Inc., Roanoke. Norona succeeds Michael Moore who resigned to pursue other business opportunities. Norona previously spent 19 years serving in various financial posts with Best Buy Inc. (News release)

G. Michael Pace Jr., managing partner of the Roanoke law firm Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, was elected president of the Virginia Bar Association for a one-year term. (News release)

Nancy Rutherfoord, named director of contracting and licensing at Shenandoah Life Insurance Co, in Roanoke. She joined the firm in 2003 as a contracting and licensing specialist. (News release)

Anne Carter Adams, named a trustee at Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Adams is a Richmond-area dentist and past president of the Richmond Dental Society and Virginia Dental Association. (News release)

Guy N. Adamson, named vice president and investment adviser for Bank of McKinney Investments. Adamson previously worked for Eastern Virginia
Bankshares. (News release)

Steve Braun, named director of AT&T Inc.’s Small Business Sales for Virginia and West Virginia. Braun has held a number of sales and management positions with the company in Richmond and the
Washington-Baltimore markets. (News release)

L. Lee Byrd, named to the board of directors of Richmond law firm Sands Anderson Marks & Miller. Byrd, chairman of the firm’s business and professional litigation group, joined the firm in 1992 and became a partner in 1998. (News release)

Barry D. Crawford, named a director for Paragon Commercial Bank in Raleigh, N.C. Crawford is president of Fidelity Group LLC, a Richmond investment company. (News release)

Joe Hoyle, associate professor of accounting at the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business, was named the Virginia winner of the U.S. Professors of the Year competition, one of 300 top professors in the country. (News release)

James F. Jollay, named a trustee for Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Jollay is a partner at The Capital Management Corp. (News release)

Stanley K. Joynes III, a former partner at the Richmond law firm LeClairRyan, rejoined the firm as an executive officer to oversee the firm’s growth initiatives. He was president of the firm for nearly 10
years before leaving in 2001 to pursue other projects, including the development of the Rocketts Landing mixed-use village. (News release)

Elizabeth G. Robertson, named a partner in the Richmond law firm Goodman Allen & Filetti PLLC. She joined the firm in 2004 after serving as in-house counsel for Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C. (News release)

Rex L. Smith III, named a trustee for Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Smith is president and CEO of the Bank of Richmond. (News release)

Jill Venton, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Virginia, received a $50,000 grant from Eli Lilly and Co. for her work on designing tools to measure neurotransmissions in the brain in real time and to advance the study of neurochemical changes. (News release)

Rhonda Griffin named director of Halifax County-South Boston Regional Library, effective April 1. She has been systems administrator for Hyconeechee Regional Library in Hillsborough, N.C. (Danville Register & Bee)

Former state Sen. Charles Hawkins named a citizen member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. Hawkins retired from the Senate last year after serving since 1992. (Danville Register & Bee)

Martin Williams named product manager for home office, home entertainment and accent tables categories at Stanley Furniture of Stanleytown. Williams joined the company in 1993. (Danville Register & Bee)

Andrew U. Ferrari, named chairman of the board of Trex Co. Inc. of Winchester. Ferrari was previously CEO of the wood products company. He succeeds Anthony J. Cavanna, who will continue to serve as a director and interim chief financial officer. (Business Wire)

Ronald W. Kaplan, named president, CEO and a director of Trex Co. Inc. of Winchester. He was previously CEO of Continental Global Group Inc., a manufacturer of material handling systems. (Business Wire)

Gloria Shiley, was named president and CEO of Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury retirement community in Winchester. She had previously been director of accounting and nursing home and assisted living administrator. She succeeds David Goff, who retired Jan. 25. Westminster-Canterbury has about 400 residents. (The Winchester Star)

Peter D. Aquino, received a contract renewal as president of CEO of RCN Corp. of Herndon, a provider of voice, data and video services. Aquino received a new three-year agreement. (Business Wire)

Christine M. Candio, named CEO of Inova Alexandria Hospital. Candio was executive vice president of Hallmark Health System and CEO of Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Melrose, Mass. (News release)

Lisa Hook, named president and COO of NeuStar Inc. of Sterling. Hook held several executive positions with AOL and Time Warner. (PR Newswire)

Michael E. Katzenstein, named non-executive chairman of the board of RCN Corp. of Herndon. Katzenstein has been an independent member of the board since 2005. (Business Wire)

James F. Mooney, retired as executive chairman of RCN Corp. of Herndon. Mooney became board chairman in 2005. (Business Wire)

Brian P. Morrison, named principal in the accounting firm Cocke, Szpanka and Taylor CPAs PC, Reston. (News release)

John M. Persil, named principal in the accounting firm Cocke, Szpanka and Taylor CPAs PC, Reston. (News release)

Robert S. Silberman, named CEO of the Year by Morningstar Inc., a Chicago-based provider of investment research. Silberman has been CEO of Arlington’s Strayer Education Inc. since 2001. Previously, he was president and COO of CalEnergy. (News release)

R. Michael Sorrells, named partner in the Vienna office of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP. He was national director of nonprofit tax services for BDO Seidman. (News release)

John R. Vogt, named chief business development officer at Chain Bridge Bank in McLean. He was previously executive vice president and head of the Washington office for The Bond Market. (News release)

The Virginia Bar Association renamed its Distinguished Service Award in honor of former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles, now director of the Miller Center for Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. The first recipient of the renamed award is Virginia Senior Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy. (News release) Peter D. Aquino, received a contract renewal as president of CEO of RCN Corp. of Herndon, a provider of voice, data and video services. Aquino received a new three-year agreement. (Business Wire)

“There were things on the menu that I had no idea what they were. I said, ‘What’s a squab?’” Randy Rarick says and laughs. “For us, it was just a delight to try all those different things.”

A tradition of delighting guests has made the Inn first in the hearts of many seeking the sublime in food and hospitality. From the crudest of beginnings three decades ago — part of the building once was a garage — chef Patrick O’Connell and former partner Reinhardt Lynch built a business that has earned five-star ratings and superlatives from culinary critics and travel experts.

In an atmosphere of plush chairs, tapestries, thick rugs and dark wood, guests enjoy intimacy without isolation. The service is marked by attention without pretension.

O’Connell’s trademark is American cuisine using local products whenever possible. But when you take the first taste of mint-infused English pea soup, for example, you know you are in for an adventure transcending traditional bounds. A four-course meal served on a Sunday in June, for example, included tequila-seared prawns on charred onions and pan-roasted Maine lobster.

Such an unforgettable experience doesn’t come cheap. That meal cost $158 per person, not including beverages, taxes, and gratuity. Randy Rarick, however, says the experience is worth the price. “Would you do that every week? No,” he says.

The Raricks’ stay in Little Washington was just the ending the couple sought to their Southeastern tour. “I would have to say this was one of our best trips ever,” Randy Rarick says. 

A sampling

A stroll through Little Washington — population, about 200 — should include a visit to The Packing Shed Gallery on Gay Street. Run by Tucker Hill and June Jordan, it displays work by local and regional artists in an old apple-packing shed. The space represents a loose confederation, says Hill, a printmaker with Richmond roots. “There’s really no plan for it.” You’ll hear much the same from Joanie Ballard. She and her husband, Robert, run R.H. Ballard Art Rug & Home, which earned Southern Living Magazine’s pick as one of the top 50 shops in the South for its mix of art and craft. French jacquard linens share space with Oriental rugs and original lithographs by Matisse and Chagall.

Though the Inn sets the town’s tone, there are other places to eat and sleep — Heritage House, the Gay Street Inn, Middleton Inn, the Foster Harris House.

And the rural reaches of the region offer myriad attractions — pick-your-own orchards and vintners such as Rappahannock Cellars and Gray Ghost Vineyards.

To go

The town of Washington is off U.S. 211-522 between Sperryville and Flint Hill in Rappahannock County.  Details: http://www.town.washington.va.us.

The Inn at Little Washington requires reservations. Details: (540) 675-3800 or http://www.theinnatlittlewashington.com.

The Rappahannock Association for Arts and the Community holds events throughout the year. Details: http://www.raac.org.

The Theatre at Washington’s schedule is at http://www.Theatre-Washington-VA.com.

A guide to bed-and-breakfasts in Rappahannock County is at http://www.bnb-n-va.com.

The Shenandoah National Park nearby offers biking, hiking and motoring along the Skyline Drive. Details: (540) 999-3500 or http://www.nps.gov/shen.

Economic engine

Over the past 30 years, the Inn at Little Washington has grown into the economic heart of a town that trades on its history, art, charm and rural grace. The town’s operating budget includes $347,000 from meals and lodging taxes. Owners of inns and bed-and-breakfasts in the area immediately around the town report 1,000 guest nights. About 20 percent of that, 200 guest nights, comes from spillover from the Inn at Little Washington.

Sate and national registries recognize the historic value of the town (surveyed by George Washington in 1749), and architectural covenants
dictate its preservation.

The preservation effort owes a debt to Peter and Joyce Kramer. They came to Little Washington in the 1970s after living in New York City.

“I wanted to make furniture and had been making furniture, and I wanted to find a more rural setting,” Peter Kramer says.

He and Joyce, now divorced, helped gain historic designations for the area, and Peter built a world-class cabinet and custom furniture trade on Gay Street.

Art shops, galleries and The Theatre at Washington combine to give the town a vibrant sense of culture, yet the energy remains balanced with the peace of rural repose. Claudia Mitchell, president of the Rappahannock Association for Arts and the Community, says the area’s natural beauty — farms and orchards thriving in foothills rising to the Blue Ridge Mountains — draws artists, particularly painters.

Though the diversity of interests serves as a magnet for many, there’s no question that the Inn is big business in Little Washington. They’re like 85 percent of our income,” Mitchell says.

Blending the art of cooking with the comfort of home has been at the center of businesses such as Custom Kitchens Inc., founded 50 years ago in Richmond.
“It’s the heart of the home, where many people live, cook, do homework, entertain or watch TV,” says Meg Hendrick Downs, marketing director for Custom Kitchens.

Wood and stone elements reflect the popularity of creating a natural look, and the “green” movement has propelled use of energy-saving appliances, Downs says.
Still, the professional look and function of stainless steel define many kitchens. Pullout drawers — some for warming, some for refrigerating — keep food at fingertips, and luxury ice machines can produce up to 30 pounds of perfectly shaped ice cubes a day.

While electric and gas appliances are stalwarts in many kitchens, induction cooktops have gained popularity for their sleek appearance and safety — the technology heats the cookware, not the cooktop. Also in favor are convection ovens, where fans circulate the heated air for uniform cooking.

Events

*The Nelson County Historical Society’s 20th annual Tour of Homes will be held May 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (434) 263-7015.

• The eighth annual Kitchen Kapers tour of Winchester-area kitchens will be held Sept. 14 to benefit the local Shelter for Abused Women.
(540) 662-7147.

• The fifth annual Grand Kitchen Tour to benefit the Central Virginia Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society will be held in Richmond in early October (dates to be announced). (804) 591-3032.

• The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour will be held Oct. 3-5. (540) 297-8687.

• The Fall Richmond Home Show will be held Oct. 11 and 12 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. (804) 425-6556.

* Homes tours will include kitchens.

Players

The National Kitchen & Bath Association provides a list of its members and certified kitchen designers within a 50-mile radius of any ZIP code.

Go to the association’s Web site at http://www.nkba.org and click on “Find a professional” under the NKBA for Consumers menu.

A certified kitchen designer must have seven years experience, have earned 60 NKBA education hours, and have two affidavits and two client references.

Cornett, owner of Hooter’s, Topeka’s Steakhouse ’n Saloon and Max & Erma’s restaurants in Richmond, uses the expansive kitchen in his West End home like many folks — for family meals, entertaining and just hanging out.

Unlike many foodies, though, he and his wife, Stacie, have an agenda: They test recipes that have the potential to join items such as Baby Oh Baby Back Ribs and Nut Crusted Mahi on Topeka’s menu. “We work things out here, really,” says Phil, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

Designing the kitchen was a collaborative effort that required substantial reconfiguring of space in the home, which dates to 1908, says Stacie Cornett. To pull off a French Old World feel similar to that of their previous home in western Henrico County, she relied on color — pale blue Florida slate flooring, alabaster cabinets with dark bead insets, brown counters of Italian giallo granite and a shade of muted salmon above the cabinets. Specialists at Custom Kitchens Inc. in Richmond coordinated the design in both homes. The new space required modifications, but the purpose was unchanged.
“We had to provide for one or two cooks at any given time in a small work triangle in a large kitchen,” says Marie “Mint” Schlief, a certified designer with Custom Kitchens.

A six-burner Wolf Pro Range and accompanying convection oven dominate one wall. A central island affords additional work space with a small sink and plenty of elbow room.

The kitchen has a spacious elegance, thanks to recessed lighting and applied wood fronts that conceal the Sub-Zero stacked refrigerator-freezer. Features like the “appliance garage,” where the toaster, knives and knickknacks are stored, enhance the clean lines.

The Cornetts’ passion for fine wine shows in the two-zone Sub-Zero storage unit, and details such as glass insets in the Sonoma ceramic tile splashes and slanted spice trays in the island’s drawers add character to the design of the kitchen.

While the kitchen serves multiple purposes, it retains a central function — as home base for the Cornetts. “We’ve always lived in the kitchen,” says Phil Cornett. “It’s the primary social part of the house for us.”