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Virginia Tech to lead DoD’s new Acquisition Innovation and Research Center
Center to focus on acquisition system efficiency
The U.S. Department of Defense has selected Virginia Tech as one of three schools to lead its new Acquisition Innovation and Research Center (AIRC). The AIRC is funded by the DoD and directed by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The goal of the center (which also includes the New
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Va. Tech Transportation Institute director to step down
Tom Dingus to return to faculty after 25 years in position
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Tom Dingus, the director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) for the past 25 years, will step down from his position and return to the faculty, the university announced Monday. The endowed professor has been a driver safety researcher for the past 35 years and has had a keen focus on autonomous technologies for
Roanoke Valley office occupancy increases by 1%
Region closes 2020 at 88% occupancy
Published
The Roanoke Valley office market saw a 1% increase in office occupancy in 2020, ending the year with an 88% occupancy rate, according to Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group’s 34th Annual Office Market Survey. These figures are a promising sign “in one of the most challenging years in recent memory,” Poe & Cronk states,
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A diversified portfolio
Region brings in companies of different stripes
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From tea to trucks to technology, an eclectic blend of industries settled into the Roanoke/New River Valley region in 2020. Some companies brought new operations to the region, while others expanded existing facilities. Traditional Medicinals kicked off 2020 with its January announcement of a new facility in Franklin County, manufacturing herbal teas and supplements —
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Mack Trucks gets new medium-duty trucks out fast
Published
Once a big economic development is announced, it can be years before it comes to fruition. But that wasn’t the case with Mack Trucks Inc., one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, which took only nine months from announcement to starting full production of medium-duty trucks in the Roanoke Valley. In January 2020,
Roanoke College taps alumna for resource development VP
Kimberly Blair returns in new post in March
Published
Roanoke College announced this week it has appointed an alumna to become its new vice president of resource development. Kimberly P. Blair, a 1993 graduate, will join the college on May 22 and serve in President Michael C. Maxey’s Cabinet. Blair is currently Virginia Tech’s assistant vice president of advancement for Roanoke, where she leads
First Bank to acquire The Bank of Fincastle
Transaction to create bank with $1.2B in assets
Published
Strasburg-based First National Corp. (the bank holding company of First Bank) announced Thursday it will acquire The Bank of Fincastle. Financial terms of the transaction were not released, but the combined bank is expected to have approximately $1.2 billion in assets, $868 million in loans, $1 billion in deposits and 20 branch offices across Virginia.
SML Chamber names member relations, events manager
Erin Stanley joins Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce
Published
The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that it has hired Erin Stanley as its member relations and events manager, effective March 1. Stanley has previously worked in advertising, marketing, sales and business development with The Roanoke Times, Laker Media and WSLS-10. In the chamber’s newly created role, she will oversee member
Virginia Tech Innovation Campus director named to National Academy of Engineering
Lance R. Collins to be inducted Oct. 3
Published
Virginia Tech announced Monday that Lance R. Collins, vice president and executive director of the university’s Innovation Campus, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2021. The former Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell University was named as head of Tech’s Innovation Campus in February 2020. He had led Cornell’s college of
Virginia Tech professor named as engineering fellow
Raffaella De Vita joins American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows
Published
Virginia Tech announced Monday that biomedical engineering and mechanics professor Raffaella De Vita has been elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. The institute’s membership includes more than 2,000 fellows who are recognized leaders in the medical and biological fields. De Vita has been with Virginia Tech since