First, there’s the legacy that Lynchburger Barbara Lichford McGehee is continuing and passing down through her family business, Century Beverage Distributors. A third generation owner, McGehee has brought her two daughters aboard the ever-growing family business that distributes local and regional beers, wine and sodas, among other beverages.

Meanwhile, Lynchburg business owner Crystal Swinton’s gift for organization is adding up to personal success, simply by doing the daily office chores that most people dread. This former daycare owner turned office organization expert is helping local businesses keep all their files and papers straight and labeled, among other things, all with a smile on her face. Click on the Business Profiles tab to read more on how Smart Way Solutions is letting her live out her life-long dream of owning her own business.

At 99 years strong, the Woman’s Club of Lynchburg is still giving back as much, if not more so, than they were nearly a century ago. Sponsoring scholarships and creating charitable cookbooks, this group of ladies are a far cry from an afternoon knitting club. Learn more about their efforts to give educational opportunities to other women, while also recruiting the next generation of member, under the Nonprofit section.

And for those who doubt that volunteering your time doesn’t qualify as a “job,” meet Frances Giles. As Amazement Square’s “Honorary Goddess” at the upcoming Gathering of the Goddesses fundraiser, Giles puts the rest of us mere mortals to shame with the amount of time, energy and passion she infuses into local causes. Many, many local causes. Her list of pro bono efforts, from co-chairing local boards to giving back to her alumnus, Roanoke College, read like the resume of a professional volunteer—and most would argue that that is exactly what she is, and a heck of a good one at that.

Leading Ladies of Lynchburg, we salute your savvy, smarts and successes in business, the community and the home. Without you, our area would be a pretty dull place to live and work.

To Wonder Women,

Prototype Media

It might not come as a surprise that the new President and CEO of Centra has undeniable Midwest charm. But it might catch you off guard that this diehard Indiana University fan is also a sucker for a Southern accent.

The father of three and grandfather to one loves to be at home, but also looks forward to taking up biking because “that’s what people do around here.”

And when it comes to healthcare reform, Bryant believes that traditionally conservative Lynchburg can be unconventionally trailblazing when it comes to setting an example to the rest of the country for how things can and should be done.

No doubt, Centra offers “excellent care every time,” as is their motto, and Bryant is content to keep it that way. Yet, he is discontent to stop progressing forward.

Affable and likeable, Bryant comes across much like his predecessor, George Dawson. But unlike Dawson, who tended to direct quietly from behind the curtains, Bryant is more than ready to step into the very public spotlight in order to move Centra and healthcare into what he says is a new and necessary era of reform.

Read more, in his own words, from the man at the forefront of our area’s healthcare system about his plans for the future and why he says he has some of the best new neighbors around, starting on Page –.

Yes, Michael Bryant is somewhat of a paradox. But he might just offer the perfect amount of contradiction to take Centra from already excellent to truly exceptional.

Of those people, four in 10 are children. Moreover, with the coldest of winter’s temperatures just around the corner, BRAFB’s statistics show that half of this same group says they must choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or fuel. Perhaps what’s most statistically striking is that hunger is a growing problem, not a shrinking one, but several local nonprofits are committed to a solution.

Enter Hunters for the Hungry. Started by a successful hunter in 1991, and born out a desire to distribute quality venison to Virginia nonprofits and food banks, Hunters for the Hungry now supplies deer meat to more than 3,500 member nonprofits. Last year, nearly 408,000 pounds of venison were donated to provide 1.6 million servings to those in need. This year, Hunters for the Hungry hopes to exceed that number. Learn more about their program, in the Nonprofit section.

Whether or not you hunt, you can help aid food-driven causes like the one championed by Hunters for the Hungry. When you consider that a $20 donation adds up to 25 processed pounds of deer meat, that Andrew Jackson in your wallet starts to take on new meaning. Each simple, small contribution equals several meals for those who need it most—and that’s food for thought that can actually make a big difference to the hungry in Virginia, one hunter and one donation at a time.

Prototype Media

When it comes to the wine industry specifically, Virginia has grown by leaves and vines. In our area alone, the Southern Virginia Wine Trail, comprised of 10 nearby wineries, is gearing up for prime tourism season as many are preparing to host annual fall events and festivals over the next few months. Poplar Forest in Forest, Virginia, is also playing host to the Thomas Jefferson Wine Festivals and while it is still in its first few years of existence, the event has already gained quite a following, with growing crowds expected again this year. All this adds up to tourism dollars, bolstered by recent marketing tourism grants handed out by the Virginia Tourism Corporation to the above mentioned vino promoters, as well as other local places that promote a new sector of tourism, called “agri-tourism.” Read about this segment of Virginia tourism under the Transportation & Tourism tab.

Of course, fall also means schools are back in the swing of things. This year, local students will once again get to participate in an online financial literacy learning program called My Money, My Future ^SM sponsored by the Genworth Foundation. Designed by the Washington D.C.-based company, EverFi, the program is intended to educate students about personal finance issues. Click on the Technology section to learn how it uses the latest technologies like 3D gaming, social networking, online animation video and messaging tools to make complex financial concepts compelling and relevant for today’s digital generation.

No matter what has you excited about fall, be it football, wine festivals or educational opportunities, one thing is for certain: Central Virginia is ripe for the harvest this season.

Cheers,

Prototype Media

With a month and some change officially left in summer (fall starts Sept. 23), a lot of folks will be cranking their air conditioners up even higher while adjusting to sending the kids back to the books. Fortunately, with the return of school in session comes a predictable boost to the local economy. Store aisles are typically flooded as parents and kids search for that perfect backpack, pencil case and calculator. And, as college campuses fill back up, students begin to once again, eat, shop and work at nearby establishments.

While it’s business as usual for many schools and students, at Lynchburg College, Liberty University and Appomattox Public Schools, it’s more business than usual. For starters, Liberty is finally breaking ground on the long-discussed tunnel and crosswalk to connect their campus to Wards Road. Our “Architecture, Engineering and Construction” section details how this new pathway will allow students to safely cross over Lynchburg’s notoriously busy, four-lane traffic hub to reach their shopping destination.

Up the road, Lynchburg College is expanding its green initiative by installing a massive solar water heating system atop Montgomery Hall. Designed to save water while servicing the more than 250 students living there, the system is expected to pay for itself in less than 10 years. Read more about this sun-harnessing system, under the “Going Green” tab.

In Appomattox, students at the public schools are now “swiping in” every time they leave or enter the building. This tracking system is designed for greater safety, less truancy and more accountability for students and their parents. Learn more about how a “cut” class or unpaid library fine can result in an automated email or text message to the offending student’s parent, in our Education article.

The dog days of summer often mean a natural shift into “education mode” for many around our area. With new plans, systems and transportation options (learn more about the new Lynchburg-Roanoke bus connection in the Tourism & Transportation section) coming into play all around the area, the official end of vacation season may seems a bit less bittersweet for some. Now, if only that were enough to give our collective HVAC systems a rest!

To Apples and ABCs,

Prototype Media

Sometimes, businesses are created with the purpose of making more than just money. In cases like those above, they are designed with people in mind and the hope of offering them a bright, new experience, a listening ear or a way to relax. For some, there is no monetary gain at all—just the knowledge that one life is better, stronger or better understood because their idea, site or company exists.

For the Fresh Air Fund and Dimmi.com, this is exactly the case. One offers the chance for kids from big cities to experience life as we know it—a bit more rural, a bit slower of a pace and a whole lot greener. Host families from our area open their homes to these children to show them a different way of living, in hopes that their perspectives will be a bit more well-rounded when they return home. For Dimmi.com, the motivation to get people from all walks of life talking—in many cases, complete strangers united by similar struggles—is driving the team of Consolidated Shoe Company, the Lynchburg-based company that created the site, to spend countless hours of their own time to champion its cause.

Then there’s Pints O’Plenty in Forest, Virginia. While it admittedly exists to make a profit, the company was born out a local man’s love to brew his own beer, and his passion for sharing that experience of creating something unique. Some may say that he’s in the business of helping others chill out; others may argue that he is opening a door to a fun, new hobby. One thing is for certain: Pints O’ Plenty is a business born out of discovery and desire—the discovery of creating something meant to be enjoyed responsibly, and a desire to share that knowledge with others.

Not all businesses are built to be philanthropic or about invention, and that’s certainly okay. It takes all kinds. But when you come across those that are, it can lead to a wealth of ideas within our own minds for entities that can be both business-savvy and human-centric. We hope the three stories mentioned above, expanded in this issue, will inspire you to think beyond the norm. Perhaps it will even generate the next great company driven to help others in our area find a little more excitement, enjoyment or empathy in their lives.

To Dreaming,

Prototype Media

A multitude of different personality types in

the workplace can be both a pleasure and a nuisance. When those around us communicate differently than we do, it can cause a rift in relationships and productivity. Thankfully, most people find that working through conflict on the job helps them to be better leaders in their respective fields. It also often leaves them more apt to better handle future disagreements with coworkers, and even friends and family, about work- and non-work related issues.

In our area, Centra is one of the top employers, meaning there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different personalities in play throughout their company at any given time. So, it’s perhaps not surprising that one of Centra’s directors, Scot McCarthy, is trained in deciphering Briggs Myers, a personality test that can reveal much about a person’s interpersonal skills and career aptitude, as well as how each personality type can work together in harmony. For insights from McCarthy about how juxtaposing personalities can spell success in the workplace, click on the Human Resources section of this Web site.

While it’s rare to find a person who believes that their tendencies, habits and methods of communicating need to change, a brush-up on how your personality leads you to respond to situations at work can never hurt. In fact, a little self-exploration may reveal that you are, in fact, the one getting under your coworkers’ skin, and a simple change of attitude and approach, or simply closing the door to your office at given times, can alleviate unwanted animosity. After all, no matter what your personality type is, a quarrel-free workplace is likely something that no one will argue with.

Cheers,

Prototype Media

We often take tourism’s impact on Central Virginia for granted, but it is a big revenue-producer for our area. Now, with the Lynchburg Regional Airshow predicted to bring more than 40,000 people to our area on May 21 and 22, it seems tourism season is set to take flight in a big way this year. Learn more about the airshow, and tourism’s impact on Region 2000 in the Tourism and Transportation section.

Just up the road, in light of the busy tourist season kicking off, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest has unveiled two new, tech-savvy educational tools to give visitors an interactive experience. Read how virtual landscape capabilities and handheld GPS units are enhancing visits to Jefferson’s retreat home under the Technology section.

Of course, more visitors to our area means more waste as well, but the City of Lynchburg is up to the challenge. Find out about the programs that keep the city looking clean and green, and how your business can take part, in our Going Green section. Meanwhile, as downtown Lynchburg strives to stay spick and span and bring in more tourists this year, the organization that embodies downtown revitalization—Lynch’s Landing—has a new leader at the helm. Hear what new Executive Director, Anna Bentson, has to say about the challenges and opportunities ahead of her in her new role, in the LB Leader of the Month section.

As for local residents, perhaps it is time for each of us to contribute to the tourism industry by challenging ourselves to visit a local park, historical site or museum. Chances are, there are several right by where you work or live that you’ve never been to. So, why not see what tourists from all over the country—and the world—know already about our area … and that’s simply that it’s definitely worth the visit.

Happy Touring,

Prototype Media

From financial struggles to a dwindling student population, the writing seemed to be on the walls that the school of dance was on its last proverbial legs, though the staff inside the school argues that more could have been done to save it. The story, from both sides, unfolds in the Education section of this Web site.

On a more upbeat note, there are many other stories of local businesses that have triumphed, from the quick and rapid success of the still-budding Lynchburg event known as Kidz Kraze (Retail), to the 90 years of steadily growing accomplishments of Foster Fuels (Business Profiles). In the mix are also the tales of the sugary sensation known as Sweet Frog (Business Profiles), to what developers hope will be a similar success at the soon-to-open Farmer’s Market in Forest (Going Green).

Every business has a lifecycle, and whether yours is on the verge of opening or expanding, an imperative resource from the Commonwealth is the new Virginia Business One Stop (BOS) Web site, which gives access to the complete resources, forms and connections every small and growing business or entrepreneur needs to reap the rewards of opening its doors. Read more about what it has to offer your company, in the Technology section.

No matter what stage your business is in, we hope to offer insight and inspiration from the booming businesses within these pages, while also paying homage to VSA—one nonprofit business our community is sad to see go.

Best,

Prototype Media

This month clicks our season over to spring (which officially begins March 21) and our clocks forward an hour. Meanwhile, lawn mowers are starting to emerge from hibernation and mulch is taking over where dead leaves and twigs took up residence around our landscaping this winter. It’s quite a sight—one no one would want to miss. In fact, that’s what makes March perfect for “Save Your Vision Month” and “Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month.” Both remind us that our eyes, while easily forgotten until something goes wrong, are worthy of our time and attention. Check out the “Healthcare” section on this site, where local optometrists weigh in on how to keep your sight at its best, even if your job puts them under stress for 8+ hours a day.

Speaking of refreshing sights, has anyone been to the dentist lately? Not what you expected us to say, right? But many local dental offices have recently undergone a complete make-over, giving them a more spa-like “zen” feel than one of medical-like starkness. Check out what inspired the change, on under the “Architecture, Engineering and Construction” tab.

Of course, from the creative construction of VC Design & Build (see “Business Profiles”), to the delectable, to the eco-friendly dishes at the Starlight Café in Lynchburg (“Going Green”) and the aerial views many students are getting through Liberty University’s expanding School of Aeronautics (“Technology”), there’s a veritable feast for the eyes in this March issue of Lynchburg Business.

So, sit back and enjoy the contents. Just don’t forget to put on your reading glasses, if you need them. We hear eye strain is bad for your vision.

Best,

Prototype Media