The New Century Venture Center

abeedle.com moved into the Center in January 1999. The company, owned and operated by Andrew Beedle, provides web site design, Internet strategy and e-commerce solutions to educational clients and select small companies. Its offerings are geared towards adding value to client products/services by making client web assets more competitive in their respective markets. abeedle.com expanded within the Center in December 1999. Beedle is a former university professor and administrator with experience in computing, information design and university marketing and development. abeedle.com graduated from the Center in February 2001 and moved into new offices located in The Professional Arts Building in downtown Roanoke.

Access, Inc. opened in September 1996 by copywriter Todd Marcum and art director Tony Pearman as a combination design studio and advertising agency. Both have extensive advertising/marketing backgrounds with over 80 advertising and marketing awards to their collective effort. Access offers accessibility to these two creative forces with an attractive pricing structure; ultimately appealing to those who may be unable to afford the larger agencies or merely intimidated by their size. Together, these creative individuals hope to build an agency accessible to the company desiring streamlined communications, creative product, and cost effective measures. Since opening, Access has won numerous awards locally and nationally. Tony Pearman was named Ad Person of the Year at the 1998 local ADDY Awards. In October 1998, Access expanded its leased space in the Center. Access graduated on March 31, 1999, when they purchased a building and moved to 1902 Denniston Avenue in the City of Roanoke.

Advanced Cleaning & Coatings, Inc. moved into the NCVC on February 16, 1998. The company is a specialty contractor that provides concrete repair and restoration, waterproofing and drainage systems, and application of many special coatings such as anti-slip, epoxy floors, sealants, and protective coatings for all types of surfaces. They also specialize in acoustical ceiling tile restoration and other preventative maintenance services that offer the building or homeowner solutions to costly repair problems. The company is able to provide commercial and residential customers a professional, fast and reliable service by using the latest methods and products available. The company began as a home-based business in 1996, and is owned and operated by Tim and Lisa Ziegler. Advanced Cleaning & Coatings graduated from the Center in September 1998 when they purchased a Handyman franchise and relocated to Oak Grove Plaza.

Adventures in Advertising, doing business as Dill Promotional Products, moved into the Center on March 16, 1998. The company designs and implements custom, high-impact promotional programs built around top-quality custom imprinted products. Adventures in Advertising is a national leader in providing imprinted promotional products and custom designed programs to corporations. The company is independently owned and operated by Kevin Dill. AIA graduated from the Center in March 2002 and moved to new offices in downtown Roanoke.

ALLCOM Technologies, which opened October 1, 1996, provides various communications products and services to the community and surrounding areas where its operations are based. By offering such services as long distance, cellular, paging, Internet access, and personal communications, and products such as cellular phones and entire phone systems, ALLCOM Technologies proposed A one-stop shopping for their customers? business and personal needs. ALLCOM Technologies is owned by Wes Allen and Mark Rhodes who emerge from extensive telecommunications backgrounds. ALLCOM will be able to help their clients successfully tap into all aspects of telecommunications and its ever-growing lines of services and products. In April 1997, ALLCOM was acquired by KCI Communications and began operating as One Source Communications of Virginia with Mark Rhodes remaining as the president. One Source graduated in June 1997 and moved into a retail facility on Valley View Boulevard. Since that time, One Source has opened an office in Lexington, Virginia, with plans to open seven other operations across Virginia, creating 75 new jobs.

American Biosystems, Inc., produces and markets biological products used in Agriculture, Aquaculture and Industry. Specialized bacterial cultures are grown and harvested to produce enzymes ... nature?s catalysts. These products can be incorporated into animal feed as a natural alternative to hormones and antibiotics while providing many of the same benefits. For Aquaculture, bacteria digest uneaten feed and waste products, providing cleaner water and producing less stress on farm-raised shrimp. For Industry, target markets include complex manufacturing processes, bio-medical cleaning products, waste reduction and recycling. Bacteria and the enzymes they produce are nature?s way of breaking down wastes into harmless components or building blocks man can use to rebuild or remake other products. The company was founded in 1982 by Lewis E. Goyette, Ph.D, and is now managed by his son Edward M. Goyette. The company markets in over 15 countries through overseas distributors and currently has two employees in The New Century Venture Center. American Biosystems moved into the center on May 31, 2002.

Chemical Resources, Inc. moved into the Center as a transitional tenant in May 1999. This operation is a chemical and equipment manufacturing and marketing company to Mexico and Latin America. They supply chemicals for refineries, petrochemical, steel and textile, along with the supporting pump, controls, and valves to get the products to function. The USA office will be at the NCVC, and another office will be in Puebla, Mexico. The company is owned and operated by Rafael Gonzalez. In October 2000 the company changed its corporate name to Xelera and expanded its product offerings. In May 2001, Xelera moved to their new location in Salem, Virginia.

Cox Brothers LLC located in the Center on December 1, 2000. Cox Brothers is a construction company focusing on remodeling projects and specializing in vinyl siding, sunrooms, and replacement windows. The company is owned by five brothers: Barry Cox, president and director of finance; David Cox, director of marketing; Michael Cox, director of purchasing; Andrew Cox, director of sales; and James Cox, director of operations.

Digital Allusions, a video post-production service opened in the Center on May 23, 1997. The company, owned and operated by Rick Pingry, Jr., utilized computer generated graphics to provide 3D animation, non-linear editing, character generation, and special effects. The services offered by Digital Allusions are in great demand in and around the Roanoke Valley, and agencies currently needing animation in their video production are often forced to outsource the work to companies in Richmond and even New York. Before starting his own business in September 1996, Pingry was the Production Coordinator for Morpheus Interactive in Utah, and created video games for the 3DO multi-player system. Future plans for the company include web page development, interactive CD ROM development, and education/games CD distribution. Digital Allusions closed its Roanoke operations in May 1998 when Rick Pingry relocated to Colorado. He is currently with NewTek in San Antonio, Texas, working with the team programming the ?Video Toaster?. He also runs his own business with custom programming, and consults with a military sub-contractor writing Laser Hazard Analysis software for them.

Owners Mendy and David Cudworth opened their business on June 23, 1997. Diversified Marketing Consultants (DMC) is a full-service marketing solution which implements three critical components of the marketing process; market research, desktop publishing, and project management. Their objective is to assist in the marketing efforts of businesses seeking to gain market share and profitability. Since opening, DMC has spun off a new operating division, Outsource Communications, which specializes in desktop publishing services. DMC graduated in June 1998, when it opened two offices, one at Towers Mall and one in Salem.

Hamilton Technical Services, Inc. provides process engineering, microscopy services and process and quality training for cement manufacturers. These services are mainly related to the pyro-processing operation that is the center of the cement manufacturing process. The business was started in 1993 as a sole proprietorship of Floyd Hamilton (process engineering/training services), converted to a partnership in 1994 to include Fran Hamilton (quality control and microscopyservices), and became an S corporation in 1997, with Fran Hamilton as its president. Of the 100+ cement manufacturing plants in the United States and Canada, the company has served over 30, to date. HTSI moved into the Center in April, 2002, in order to expand available services to include the individual instruction in microscopy techniques for use at the plant level. Individual training will begin in June, 2002.

HGA Research, Inc. is the incorporated name of Homegrown Audio Company owned by Kevin and Holly Walsh. HGA manufactures and sells pure silver cables, kits, and do-it-yourself supplies for high-end stereo systems. Thanks to the internet, their customer base is global, with approximately 30% of sales shipping to audio enthusiasts overseas. HGA moved to the Center in June 2001 and has since hired three employees to help with sales, customer service, and assembly.

Just the Fax... opened in the Center on May 25, 1999, bringing the latest innovation in advertising to the Roanoke area. With daily opinion polls, jokes, and other tidbits, Just the Fax... delivers free fun via area fax machines every Monday through Friday. Publisher and President Pete Roberts released the first issue in late June 1999. Just The Fax graduated from New Century Venture Center on May 15, 2000 and relocated to the Boxley Building in downtown Roanoke.

M3:Grafix is an animation company formed in 1998. Specializing in broadcast animation and video post-production, M3 offers web and interactive design when needed. M3:Grafix, owned by Jamal Millner, is one of the areas leading animation companies winning six ADDYs and one District ADDY in its two years of competing. M3:Grafix located in the Center in June 2001 and expanded its leased space in October 2001 and April 2002.

Millennia Systems, Inc., a new start-up company focusing on advanced network interface adaptation, located in the Center on February 16, 1998. The company will initially provide consulting in communications equipment architecture and design and evolve into a supplier of turnkey product development services, delivering complete production documentation. Millennia?s services will be offered to major networking and telecommunications equipment providers who need expertise in developing network interface adapters to support the convergence of local and wide area networks in the next millennium. The company?s founders include two of the top product development and marketing executives and technologists from Litton-FiberCom in Roanoke. Together they bring to Millennia a combined total of over 50 years experience in Wide Area Network and Local Area Network equipment design expertise. Since opening, Millennia has expanded several times and increased its leased space to 5,009 sf. In August 2000, Millennia was acquired by Carrier Access, Inc. of Boulder, Colorado, for $13 million. The new operation will stay in Roanoke and operate under the name of Carrier Access Millennia Technology Center. The company graduated from the Center in March 2001 and relocated to the former MBI Building at Valley Pointe.

Donna Dilley holds the franchise for the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions, which opened at the Center on June 2, 1997. She began her business in September 1994 and conducts the junior cotillion program for sixth and seventh graders in Roanoke, as well as teaching personal business manners to college seniors. She also conducts corporate etiquette programs and seminars in the Roanoke Valley. Dilley has received various awards and national recognition for her corporate cotillion program. While a tenant, Dilley formed a new corporation, ProtoCorp, to conduct corporate training programs. Dilley graduated in June 1999 when she relocated her business to Salem.

Office Design Solutions, Inc. moved into the Center on October 14, 2002. This new company is owned and operated by John C. Eddy who has over 30 years experience in the field. The company offers commercial interior design, space planning, and office furnishings.

P.T.I., Inc. is a computer services company that offers small and medium sized companies a comprehensive set of Internet, Intranet and development services that include hardware and software integration, training, World Wide Web access and marketing, advanced graphics (including imaging, 3D modeling and animation) and multimedia application development. Founded in 1992 by Richard Parrish and Thomas Marano, P.T.I., Inc. provides tailored packages to companies to promote the client?s business, train staff, and provide extensive technical support. The company located to the Center in July 1997, and intends to provide a single source for computing and networking technology needs by scaling its services to suit the needs of small businesses. PTI graduated from the Center and closed its physical business locations in Roanoke and Christiansburg in July 1998, when it begin to operate as a totally virtual company, as originally planned in their business plan.

Precious Cargo Shuttles, Inc. moved into The New Century Venture Center on October 10, 1997. The business, which started in 1995, is owned and operated by Vincent Stover and Anthony Wallace. The company offers safe, reliable, and affordable alternative transportation specifically tailored to transporting children (ages 2-16) and the elderly (55 and over) from point to point throughout the Roanoke Valley. By utilizing this service, parents do not have to compromise or disrupt their work schedules to transport their children to school, day care, or outside activities. Comparably, elderly citizens without transportation outlets can be taken to and from the grocery store, doctor appointments, church, or group activities. Precious Cargo Shuttles currently utilized nine modern 15-passenger vans, which are well equipped, including child safety seats. The services of the company are available on a per-ride basis or a contractual basis to individuals and businesses. In August of 1998, the company expanded to offer handicapped service. The company currently has 16 employees and 16 vans.

Real Time Consultants PTY LTD is a systems integrator based in Victoria, Australia, with a branch office in Roanoke. They provide specialist software and consulting services in the industrial automation markets. Their specialties include process modeling software for rolling mill applications and design of real time and embedded systems for a variety of industrial automation projects. We have extensive experience with real time communication systems including traditional network architectures and emerging technologies such as wireless networking. Mr. Ken McDonald, who has 20 years experience as an electrical engineer in the industrial automation marketplace, heads Real Time Consultants PTY LTD. Ken and his family have been frequent visitors to the Roanoke Valley over the past 13 years. Currently, our Senior Systems specialist Mr. Jack Hulsinga is on assignment in Roanoke, accompanied by his wife Dorothy.

Signs, Logos & More..., opened July 29, 1996, as the Center?s first tenant, came to life in January 1994. Brian Keys, owner, opened for business in Lynchburg with Phase I and is now branching into the Roanoke Valley with Phase II of Signs, Logos & More... Mr. Keys offers such products as banners, vehicle magnets, and Cor-X and Sintra signs, in addition to larger metal and wood signs. Mr. Keys utilized a creative approach in offering design suggestions and is also quite prepared to work with customers on specific design requests. Add to this -- competitive pricing, and Signs, Logos & More... looks forward to a bright future in the Roanoke Valley. The company closed its Roanoke operation in June 1997 to concentrate complete effort on its headquarters in Forest, Virginia, after a franchise located in Lynchburg, creating new market competition. Since that time, they have expanded their facility in Forest and are continuing to grow.

SoftSolutions, Inc. (SSI), a start-up company focusing on software development and information technology systems for manufacturing operations, located in the Center on April 28, 1998. The company?s primary focus is in the area of information technology to integrate plant floor information into corporate enterprise systems. SoftSolutions is uniquely positioned as an information technology firm focused exclusively on increasing manufacturing productivity. SSI will target Fortune 500 manufacturing clients who understand the importance of real-time accurate information. Most of the products and services offered by SSI are currently being supplied by firms outside Virginia. The company is owned by Jay Foster, who has extensive experience in the field of high-tech, industrial applications, as well as over 10 years experience with personal computers, software programming, and database systems. Foster holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a master?s degree in Business Administration. SoftSolutions currently has 12 employees and has doubled its leased space in the Center and has opened a branch office at Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. SoftSolutions graduated from the Center on May 31, 2002, and moved to new offices in downtown Roanoke.

Sweeney & Associates, Inc., an electrical, heating, and air conditioning contractor, moved into the NCVC on March 1, 1998. The company provides installation, repair, and maintenance services to residential and commercial customers. Sweeney & Associates was established as a home-based business in 1993, and is owned and operated by Analisa Waggie and James Sweeney. Sweeney & Associates graduated from the Center on March 1 and moved into its new location on Patterson Avenue in the City of Roanoke. The company also has an office in Hampton, Virginia.and James Sweeney. Sweeney & Associates graduated from the Center on March 1 and moved into its new location on Patterson Avenue in the City of Roanoke. The company also has an office in Hampton, Virginia.

SynCom Electronics provides a customer-oriented approach in the marketing of electronic interconnection products and is fast becoming a leading vendor and manufacturer of connectors and cable assemblies for the computer, radio, and telecommunications manufacturing industry. SynCom offers customer design and full engineering support of their products. The company currently sells domestically as well as exports to Canada. Founders Scott Rice and Christopher Gray are co-presidents of the corporation. Mr. Rice heads the engineering and manufacturing end of the business, and Mr. Gray handles the marketing and sales. The company opened in the NCVC in August 1996 as the Center?s second tenant and expanded within the facility in August 1997. SynCom graduated in April 1998 after purchasing the former Harris Office Furniture warehouse on Campbell Avenue and relocated their business to that location. The acquisition of this new facility gave SynCom the necessary space to expand into full production of their products. Since graduation, SynCom has completely renovated two of the three stories of their new facility and currently employs 15 people.

The Drivers Edge, Inc., owned by Rick Osmann, opened in the Center in September 1999. The company?s main focus is to be a driver monitoring service for parents of teenaged drivers, offering parents better oversight of their children, and the ability to intervene before poor driving habits become legal or financial liabilities. The Drivers Edge borrows on the concept of a fleet or driver monitoring service currently used by that of trucking companies and commercial fleets. Subscribers to the service will receive a dash sticker for placement inside the vehicle and a specially designed bumper sticker to place on the vehicle their child will drive. The sticker will have a toll free number (877-4My-Edge) that others can call to report safety concerns regarding the driver. These reports will be immediately forwarded to the subscribing parent to provide a verbal report of the call followed by a faxed report. The Drivers? Edge graduated from the Center in September 2001.

The Administrative Assistant, Inc. located in the Center on June 15, 2002. The company, owned by Misty Gregg, provides administrative tasks customized to a company?s specific needs or requirements. Services range from helping a business ?catch up? on administrative work, to going on site as needed to perform tasks. The services are available with no time commitment required, so that the business owner can get exactly what is needed without any extras being added.

The Document Management Group entered the Center in November 1997 operating as LaserTone/DocStar. Owned by Dale Moats, the company initially sold and serviced DocStar electronic filing systems. In February 1998, LaserTone acquired the distributorship for Xerox machines in the Roanoke Valley. As a result, LaserTone doubled its leased space within the facility and hired a Xerox representative. In late 2002, the company incorporated and became The Document Management Group, increasing their product line to include Toshiba office equipment. LaserTone/DocStar located in the Center in November 1997. Owned by Dale Moats, the company sells and services DocStar electronic filing systems. The DocStar system is an electronic filing cabinet capable of storing and retrieving paper documents. DocStar finds any document instantly, saves office space, guards against loss, theft or damage, enables users to share documents simultaneously, and makes a complete back-up copy of all paper files. In February 1998, LaserTone acquired the distributorship for Xerox machines in the Roanoke Valley. As a result, LaserTone doubled its leased space within the facility and hired a Xerox representative.

Thompson Brain Injury Rehab, Inc. opened in the Center in December 1999. Patty Thompson, owner of the business, started the company in 1996. She specializes in rehabilitation of patients suffering from brain injuries and teaches skills necessary for those patients to function at home and in the workplace. TBI moved from the Center in November to continue the operation from Franklin County as a home-based business.

True Sun Technologies, Inc. opened in the Center in January 1999. The company, owned by Mike Zinni and Susan Reuter, provides software project management consulting and software development services to medium and large companies. True Sun Technologies has specific expertise in automated manufacturing, real-time applications, and database applications using object-oriented development techniques in a variety of programming languages including C++, Visual Basic, ADA and Perl. The Software Project Leadership service offered provides leadership and experience to companies that have a software project to implement. The technical expertise to implement the project may be provided by the client company, by True Sun Technologies, by another consultant, or by a combination of these. Software Project Leadership will lead the definition of scope, scheduling, cost estimates, time estimates, third party interfacing and problem resolution. The Software Development Service offered will provide the experience and expertise to implement a well-defined software project. True Sun Technologies may work along with the client?s in-house development team or may implement the entire project. True Sun Technologies software development consultants are capable of supplying full life-cycle system development including requirements analysis, design specification, usability studies, database design, implementation testing, product packaging and training for the project. Susan and Mike were formerly with GE Industrial Control Systems and have more than 25 years of experience in process control software and real-time automation software. True Sun expanded its offices in the Center in December 1999. In January 2001 Sue Reuter bought Mike Zinni?s share of the company, and in March 2001 the company name was changed to Ziiva. Ziiva graduated from Center in September 2001 and moved to their new location in Salem, Virginia.

Valley Boiler opened in the Center on July 12, 1999, as a transitional tenant during the renovation of their new facility. The company, owned and operated by Gary and Nani Jarrell, provides installation, repair and service of boilers, cooling towers, chillers, and heat exchangers. Valley Boiler moved into their new facility on Salem Avenue in downtown Roanoke in October 1999. They presently have nine full-time and two part-time employees. Immediate plans include completion of a building, which will provide another 2100 square feet of shop and warehouse space. While sticking to their mission statement, ?to provide a premier service oriented business that takes care of all our customer?s heating and hot water requirements by responding to their needs promptly, with understanding, and an outstanding quality of workmanship?, future plans are to continue providing service to others, expanding and growing the business, and knowing at the end of each day they have conducted business in an honest and ethical manner.

Virginia Trenchless opened in the Center in May 2000. The company is engaged in the trenchless underground utility contracting business. The expansion of underground fiberoptic and telecommunications transmission infrastructure combined with new technology in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machinery has created a strong business opportunity for HDD contractors. Environmental concerns for minimal surface disruption and utility line upgrades and additions are expanding this demand. The company is owned by John Frederick, Virginia Trenchless graduated from the Center in May 2006 and will operate from Salem.

Virginia Utility Protection Services, LLC, moved into the Center on July 23, 2001. Often referred to as ?Miss Utility?, it is the ?one call? Virginia information exchange center for excavators, contractors and property owners planning any kind of excavation or digging. The Miss Utility center notifies participating utilities of the upcoming excavation work so they can locate and mark their underground facilities in advance to prevent possible damage to underground utility lines, injury, property damage and service outages. These services are currently out-sourced to third party vendors. Plans are currently underway to bring the notification center services in house. VUPS, LLC, will be opening a call center in the valley by the end of the first quarter 2002. VUPS, LLC, moved into their new offices at the Roanoke Center for Industry on January 1, 2002.