Your source for business tips from the members of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce; including everything you should know (but probably don't) about the hidden gems in Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. Follow us to stay in-the-know!
NOVEC joins the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and customer-owned electric cooperatives across the country to honor line technicians on April 9 — National Lineworker Appreciation Day.
NOVEC’s line technicians work in blistering summer heat, bitter winter cold, late into the night and in the dark hours of the early morning to ensure our members have power. Lineworkers brave the elements and put their lives at risk every day to keep the lights on.
“To be a lineman, you need mental fortitude, physical strength, technical skills, and a true desire to help others when the power goes out,” says Skip Hollcroft, manager of NOVEC’s Construction department and our line technicians. “Not everyone can be a lineman. Their hard work, bravery and dedication deserve to be recognized.”
Please join us on April 9, and throughout the year, to celebrate line technicians all over the U.S. You can show your support on social media with #ThankALineworker.
Soon the buzzing you hear in NOVEC’s right-of-way areas may be coming from bees! In 2017, NOVEC began a pilot project to help improve and protect the populations of some of our local pollinator friends by planting wildflower seeds in the Co-op’s right-of-way areas.
Over the years steady human growth within NOVEC’s region has taken a toll on the amount of wildflowers in the area, drastically reducing bee and butterfly populations. These populations are essential to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Fortunately some of these bee and butterfly species have already found refuge in NOVEC’s right-of-way areas, where wildflowers have continued to grow naturally underneath power lines. The pollinator project works to restore valuable wildflowers to additional right-of-way areas in an effort to boost native pollinator populations.
Similar projects have been initiated throughout the country. Several cooperatives, including a few in neighboring North Carolina, have begun the process of creating “butterfly highways” in their right-of-way areas. These “highways” provide a valuable route for migrating butterflies and create a healthy habitat for other pollinator species in the region. NOVEC hopes to join the growing number of cooperatives using right-of-way areas as a tool to help protect these invaluable pollinators.
NOVEC’s vegetation management department is expanding the project in 2018. Low-growing, pollinator-friendly plants like Milkweed (Butterfly Weed) and Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm) will be planted in right-of-way areas throughout the territory along with several other regional wildflowers.
Groundhog Day is Feb. 2, 2018! Follow these 10 energy-saving tips in case Punxutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter weather:
1. Set a furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Generally, leave a heat pump thermostat at a constant setting, but if the home is unoccupied for four or more hours, set the thermostat back five degrees.
2. Replace heating-system filters regularly. By restricting air flow,a dirty filter reduces efficiency and comfort. Get filters delivered regularly to your door by signing up with Filter Easy. Go to www.filtereasy.com/novec,or call 800-308-1186.
3. Set a water heater thermostat at 120 degrees or between “hot”and “warm.”
4. Open drapes, blinds, and shades on south- and west-facing windows during the day to let in the sun.Close treatments at night to trap solar heat indoors.
5. Close glass doors over a wood-burning fireplace to prevent home heat from going up the chimney. When not in use, close the fireplace’s flue damper as well as the glass doors.
6. Insert foam rubber insulation pads under wall outlet and switch covers,and insert child-protection covers into outlets to stop drafts.
7. Be sure windows and storm windows are shut and locked.If feasible, remove window air conditioners. Apply caulk and weatherstripping if outdoor temperatures are above 40 degrees. If not, consider covering windows with clear plastic.
8. Attach insulating sweeps on exterior doors at thresholds to block cold-air drafts. For a temporary solution,push old towels against thresholds.
9. Keep doors of an attached garage closed as much as possible to prevent cold air infiltrating indoors.
10. Install a cover specially made for attic entrances or insulate around the attic door.
For more energy-saving ideas, go to www.novec.com/save. To learn more about Phil the forecaster, visit www.groundhog.org.
NOVEC Scholarship Applications opened Jan. 4, 2018!
NOVEC will award higher-education scholarships this spring to high school seniors whose families receive electricity from an electric cooperative.
NOVEC’s Scholarships
The NOVEC Scholarship Program will award $1,500 college scholarships to high school students who live in NOVEC’s service territory in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties and the City of Manassas Park. One $1,500 scholarship will go to a home-school or private-school student who lives in NOVEC’s service territory. Interested students may apply online by going to NOVEC’s website, www.novec.com/scholarships, and clicking on the link to AwardSpringTM — a secure website. NOVEC will start accepting applications Jan. 4, 2018. Scholarship committees will review all applications and select recipients. From these recipients, they will select the most outstanding student for the $1,500 J. Manley Garber Scholarship. This student will receive a total of $3,000.
Applications and all required materials must be submitted online by March 13. Failure to submit a complete package by the deadline will disqualify students from consideration.
NOVEC’s Application Requirements:
· Be a college-bound high school senior whose home is currently served by NOVEC.
· Have at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a minimum 4.0 scale. A transcript that includes first-semester grades can be attached to the online application or mailed to Cindy Fithian, NOVEC, P.O. Box 2710, Manassas, VA 20108.
· Submit SAT scores. Unofficial SAT scores will be accepted.
· Demonstrate a wide range of participation and leadership in extracurricular activities, community service, and/or work experience.
· Two letters of recommendation — one from a high school official (teacher, counselor, school coach, etc.) and one from a member of the community (house of worship, Scout or club leader, community sports coach, supervisor, etc.) These letters may be attached to the online application.
· A 350-400 word autobiographical essay. The theme should describe experiences that have shaped the applicant’s life, present activities, and future aspirations. List colleges, universities, technical or trade schools the student applied to or the one the student plans to attend. NOVEC representatives will present scholarships at award ceremonies at the students’ schools. The names of recipients will be listed on NOVEC’s website and in the August 2018 edition of Cooperative Living magazine.
A cancer diagnosis is never welcome news, especially when it is pediatric cancer. Parents have many questions when their child is diagnosed and often don’t know where to turn. Aflac has many resources dedicated to helping families with children affected by pediatric cancer. In addition to insurance agents and staff members who can explain each level of coverage and options, Aflac has made strides in their corporate citizenship efforts to fight pediatric cancer.
Giving Back
In 1995, an Aflac agent was approached by a mother of a child fighting cancer and asked for a donation of $25,000 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Aflac CEO Dan Amos did donate, but instead gave $3 Million and the center was renamed the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Since then, the company has shown that this giving spirit and fight against pediatric cancer is important to everyone at every level.
They have raised and donated over $100 Million to the center, which is recognized as one of the largest children’s cancer centers in the US. It is a national leader in hematology, childhood cancer, blood and bone marrow transplant programs and serves infants through young adults and has cared for more than 2,300 children with cancer and 4,200 children with blood disorders annually. Aflac’s spirit of giving isn’t just at the corporate level; it reaches all levels of the organization. Much of the funds donated come from independent Aflac insurance agents who contribute from their monthly commission checks. Additionally, all employees are given the opportunity to regularly contribute with payroll deductions.
Less than 4% of federal funding is earmarked for pediatric cancer – and that just isn’t enough. Aflac created a donation program where cash gifts are welcomed and accepted, but also, a mere mention on social media will garner a donation to the cause.
Ringing the Bell to Fight Cancer
Children fight each and every day through tough, lifesaving treatments at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. When a child completes their treatment, it’s cause for celebration. Aflac has a tradition, the child who finished treatment gets to ring the “End of Treatment” bell. Doctors, nurses and medical staff line the hall while a child rings the bell along with his or her family, to signify the closing of a difficult chapter and to celebrate that they beat cancer.
Aflac Duckprints
Aflac has a national grassroots organization called “Aflac Duckprints” with the primary goal of raising awareness and donations by honoring those who have left their footprints in the fight against childhood cancer.
Aflac is working hard not just to protect patients with quality healthcare and comprehensive insurance, but they are active participants in the fight against cancer. Together, we can all fight to cure children’s cancer.
Rob Cavaleri is a Special Projects Coordinator with Aflac, a supplemental and voluntary benefits program. Contact him at [email protected] or 703-328-1561 Follow him on social media at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-cavaleri-50b6b and https://www.facebook.com/AflacCavaleri
Why you Need a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Consultant
There’s simply too much at stake and massive amounts of corporate resources at risk to allow a technology implementation to be conducted by anyone but a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Consultant. Studies have shown that approximately 3 out of 4 technology implementations fail. These failures are characterized by one or more of the following circumstances occurring:
· Takes longer to implement than expected
· Costs more than expected
· Fails to deliver at least half of the expected business benefits
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Consultants are trained to:
· Handle a project from beginning to end
· Keep projects on schedule and on budget
· Manage the scope of the project
· Provide clients with a structured plan
· Use proven and repeatable processes and techniques
· Control and mitigate risk
· Resolve problems more quickly
Furthermore, Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Consultants are required to maintain their training and skills with annual educational requirements. The benefits to having an implementation managed by a PMP include:
· Cost savings
· Time savings
· Peace of mind during a challenging and complicated time
· Creating a flexible environment to adjust and re-align resources as project scope may change
Karen Louis, CPA, PMP is the Managing Member of WJ Technologies (WiJiT) a company that provides project based accounting software and services to project based businesses with a special expertise in the government contracting industry. Please contact Karen at [email protected] or 703.885.8178. Follow her at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/966212/
1) Before a storm disrupts power service, customers should make sure that NOVEC has their current phone numbers. This expedites outage reporting and power restoration. Customers who list their cell phone number can also use our texting service to text to report — learn more at http://ow.ly/TZF330g4mK1. Update your phone numbers by logging in at www.novec.com or call customer service at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500.
2) Have a safe shelter plan in place, including plans for any disabled individuals that may have limited mobility.
3) Have an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, flashlights, fresh batteries, battery-operated radio, lanterns, canned fuel, matches, and first aid. If applicable, have enough prescription drugs, pet food, and baby-care items. (detailed list below)
4) Keep cell phones charged.
5) Have a chimney sweep clean a wood-burning fireplace and flue before storm season arrives to help keep you safe when using it. The fireplace may get used more during an outage.
6) NOVEC’s right-of-way crews work year-round to trim tree branches that might fall on power lines. If a NOVEC customer sees a tree or tree branches that look like they could fall on power lines, contact NOVEC’s right-of-way department at 703-392-1661 or call customer service.
7) Post emergency phone numbers near the phone for quick access.
8) Pick one out-of-state relative or friend for family members to call if they become separated during a storm. It is often easier to call out-of-state than within an area that’s experiencing a storm. Post the contact person’s name and phone number near the phone.
Emergency Kit for Cold-weather Outages
· Non-perishable food
· Manual can opener
· Bottled water — Date the water and replace it every six months. Don’t store it in sunlight.
· Lanterns
· Flashlights
· Fresh batteries
· Battery-operated radio or charged smartphone
· Canned fuel and matches for heating food in a chafing dish or fondue pot
· First-aid supplies
· Enough pet food, baby-care items, and prescription drugs if applicable
· Plenty of firewood for a wood-burning stove or fireplace. Cover it with a tarp to keep it dry, or put some in a carport or garage.
Solar, wind, biomass…? Biomass isn’t often mentioned in the discussion of renewable energy production, but maybe it should be.
Throughout the country, utility companies are leveraging the renewable resources around them to provide power to customers. While these resources vary from region to region, the goal is the same — to provide cleaner power to customers at an affordable cost. Many local utilities are able to take advantage of abundant sunlight, consistent wind and large waterways that are available to produce hydropower. For much of Virginia, though, these natural resources aren’t available in quantities sufficient for reliable and economic power generation. What Virginia does have plenty of is wood waste — perfect for biomass power production.
So how does NOVEC’s biomass power production work? Loads of leftover wood waste, typically left in forests to decay, are chipped and delivered by truck to NOVEC’s Halifax Biomass plant. The wood waste is then burned to create energy that can be used by up to 16,000 homes. The process adds no new source of contaminates to the environment, and unlike coal-burning power plants it does not emit mercury and sulfur into the air. The facility has an electro-static precipitator that traps particulates in the exhaust stream and reduces them to a permitted level. The final collected matter, also known as fly ash, is then distributed to local farmers as a liming agent.
NOVEC’s Biomass facility is located in Virginia’s Southside region where acres of forests and commercial logging create abundant wood waste that can be used all year. The plant has been operational since 2013 and can generate up to 49 megawatts of electricity. To give you an idea of just how much energy that is, a 160-acre solar installation located in central Virginia is expected to produce 17 megawatts, or enough to power about 4,250 homes.
“Being good stewards of the environment has always been a priority at NOVEC,” said Co-op President and CEO Stan Feuerberg. “Before 2013, we distributed green electricity generated by hydropower and landfill gases. We had been actively seeking an appropriate way to increase the amount of alternative energy in our resource portfolio. The biomass power plant is helping us meet our goal.”
In addition to providing renewable energy from its biomass facility, NOVEC works with customers both large and small to set up solar installations throughout its territory. The Co-op’s net metering program provides customers the opportunity to produce their own solar energy and feed excess power back to the grid. The program has grown each year and some of its larger solar customers produce as much as 190 kilowatts of power.
NOVEC is committed to providing safe and reliable power and will continue to investigate all renewable energy resources available. There have been exciting strides made in alternative energy development in recent years, but among renewable-energy sources available in Virginia today, biomass power production is still one of the most dependable, economical, and environmentally friendly.
Cyber-attacks on organizations, including government contractors and federal agencies, have been rapidly increasing over time. With a lack of defined security policies, processes, and controls, many government contractors are ill-equipped to effectively handle potential cyber-attacks that could severely undermine business operations and swiftly lead to insurmountable damages as data and records are destroyed. (Submitted by http://www.wjtechnologies.com)
BE FOREWARNED
There’s an old Latin saying which, when translated, states “Forewarned is forearmed.” Toward that end, we’d like to share these resources from our affiliate, CohnReznick, that may assist you in preparation for cyber-attacks:
1. GovCon Insights: Maintain DFARS Cybersecurity Compliance with Advanced Technology Solutions – click here to access information on how a defense contractor can demonstrate DFARS Clause Compliance.
2. GovCon Insights: Understanding the Government Standard on Cybersecurity and DFARS Compliance Requirements – click here to access a report on how security requirements are categorized into 14 Control Families.
Karen Louis, CPA, PMP is the Managing Member of WJ Technologies (WiJiT) a company that provides project based accounting software and services to project based businesses with a special expertise in the government contracting industry. Please contact Karen at [email protected] or 703.885.8178. Follow her at:
Secret Service to Educate Local Business Leaders on Relevant Cyber Threats
On Monday, October 30, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast featuring Kyo Dolan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Cyber Policy, Strategy & Outreach for the U.S. Secret Service Office of Investigations. The breakfast and talk, titled Access Denied: Cyber Security Awareness & Preparedness, will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Chamber’s Headquarters (9720 Capital Court, Suite 203; Manassas, VA 20110).
Dolan’s presentation will focus on awareness of significant cybercrime trends as witnessed by the Secret Service, with a special focus on what to do when a business finds out it has been compromised. She will also cover emerging threats targeting mobile devices, personal and business networks; and suggestions for good cyber-hygiene.
While small businesses and not-for-profit organizations often believe they are safe from cybercrimes, recent statistics show their increasing vulnerability. According to the Ponemon Institute’s 2017 global analysis on the cost of a data breach (Ponemon 2017) the estimated average cost of a breach was $141 per compromised record. This cost is based on numerous factors that impact the business as they try to recover from a breach, including:
Lost revenue due to loss of compliance certifications or damage to their reputation.
Notifying all customers whose data was compromised;
Hiring a Public Relations firm to help manage the emergency;
Retaining an attorney to deal with any lawsuits or government investigation;
Recruiting additional forensics services to understand how and where the compromise occurred, and what must be restored;
Restoring data and cleaning up any networks that have been breached;
Considering how quickly those costs could add up, the impact on any business could be devastating, particularly for smaller organizations with limited funds.
Believing that mitigating the risk of exposure begins with education and training, the Chamber has opened their Access Denied breakfast to anyone doing business in or around Prince William County. Members of the Prince William Chamber pay $25 per person and non-members will be charged $30. Registration is available online at pwchamber.org or by calling 703-368-6600. R&K Cyber Solutions is the event sponsor.
Understand the Hidden Risks When Changing Accounting Systems
Important Considerations Regarding Data Migration and Archiving
Many government contractors are moving to cloud-based ERP/Accounting solutions as these systems offer a broad array of benefits. Government contractors must be keenly aware of the impact changing accounting systems may have on their accounting practices, procedures and compliance with government regulatory requirements. This article will frame the situation and the issues you should consider if you are planning to change accounting systems.
Accurate, Complete and Reliable
Government contractors are subject to specific regulations surrounding their accounting system’s capability to provide adequate, reliable data for supporting historical costs and pricing of follow-on acquisitions. As requested (normally) by a Contracting Officer (CO), the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) will examine a government contractor’s accounting system to determine whether it is being operated in such a manner as to meet the adequacy criteria of the DFARS Business Systems Rules. The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) stipulates 18 criteria that the system must provide (DFARS 252.244-7006) to be deemed adequate, which is used to evaluate Department of Defense (DoD) contractors’ systems. We summarized these 18 criteria into five major capabilities:
1. Internal control environment over approval, structure, access, monitoring and policies
2. Segregation of direct and indirect costs on a monthly basis for allocation to projects
3. Reporting costs under general ledger control, subsidiary cost ledger and transactional details
4. Timekeeping and labor distribution of direct and indirect labor costs
5. Compliance with contract terms, conditions, regulations and other laws
If the accounting system can perform these operations satisfactorily, DCAA will issue a report to the administrative CO stating that the accounting system is adequate. Based on the auditor’s report, the CO will make a final determination and notify the contractor in writing. Contractors with approval determination of adequate, can substantiate their claimed costs to seek reimbursement, plus indicate their systems’ approved status in response to requests for proposal (RFP).
Unknown <and Costly> Risks
If a government contractor migrates to a new accounting system and the data from the old system has not been properly archived and transferred, the “deemed adequate” status as described above may no longer be valid. The contractor is no longer using the same accounting software that was in place during the audit of the internal controls over the identification, capture, allocation and reporting of those costs. An accounting system is intertwined and codependent on the information system’s controls to classify, accumulate and report incurred costs. CO’s run great risk by accepting outdated audit reports of accounting systems when the accounting software, which is an integral part of the overall system’s control mechanism, has changed.
Contractors must either have the system re-audited or face the risk of the new accounting system’s status being regarded as “not evaluated” in contract business analysis repository (CBAR) [DCMA-INST 131 (IPC-1), Dec 1, 2015)]. A “not evaluated” accounting system factors into whether a CO may award contracts which are awarded based on costs. This includes cost-plus fixed fee; cost plus award fee; cost sharing; Time & materials with a cost reimbursable component; fixed price with progress payments based on costs and fixed price incentive fee contracts.
Movement to Cloud-Based Accounting
Up until recently, most software was acquired via a perpetual license, where the company owned the software (license). When the software resided on company servers, there was no problem archiving the data if they moved to a new software application because they owned that software license. Today, an increasing number of companies are moving to the cloud where they lease the software via a subscription. Therefore, in a cloud-based model, companies do not own the software license.
When migrating from an “on premise” (owned) application to a “cloud-based” (leased) application, companies must consider (1) how to archive their legacy system’s data, and (2) whether to migrate some or all of their historical data to the new accounting system. Either way, source documents must be preserved to confirm the costs that have previously been billed to the government. Keep in mind that the legacy system is still the system of record and DCAA auditors will perform their audit procedures against this data regardless of whether historical data was migrated to new accounting system.
Contractors must also ensure they have access to supporting source documents as well as the mapping files used to translate data from their legacy accounting system. Failure to have this data available would risk DCAA questioning costs and possibly putting the acceptability of new accounting system at risk.
Record Retention Requirements
Federal Acquisition Regulations 4.703 (FAR) requires contractors to make available records and other supporting evidence to satisfy contract negotiation, administration and audit requirements for three years after final payment, or the period specified in FAR 4.705-4.705.3, whichever period expires first. However, contractors may be required to make records available for a longer period if, required by contract or if the contractor did not file their incurred cost submission in a timely manner.
Consultative Wisdom and Direction
While selecting a new accounting system and developing an implementation plan presents numerous inherent challenges, government contractors must also:
· Evaluate continued adherence to regulatory requirements
· Determine how to handle the loss of approval of their accounting system
· Determine if an accounting practice change will occur
· Determine how to access historical data
Karen Louis, CPA, PMP is the Managing Member of WJ Technologies (WiJiT) a company that provides project based accounting software and services to project based businesses with a special expertise in the government contracting industry. Please contact Karen at [email protected] or 703.885.8178. Follow her at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/966212/
Get in the Halloween spirit, but celebrate safely!
Halloween is big. It’s become such a popular holiday event that the National Retail Federation (NRF) expects more than half of America’s 326 million people will shop, decorate, or flock to festivities in one way or another in October.
For retailers, Halloween has become a huge “treat” as it kicks off the holiday-buying season. NRF predicted consumers would spend $8.4 billion on Halloween in 2016, including almost $400 million on greeting cards. That’s about $83 on average for every U.S. shopper – up from $74 per shopper in 2015.
Fright in the Night Safety
No matter how ghosts, goblins, and gremlins celebrate Halloween, NOVEC urges everyone to be safe. For electrical things that enhance fright in the night, NOVEC says:
Make sure a nationally recognized certification organization, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL), has approved electrical decorations.
Make sure electrical decorations used outdoors are marked for outdoor use.
Inspect light strings for dangerous cracked or frayed sockets, bare wires, or loose connections.
When attaching light strings to trees, shrubs or railings, don’t puncture them with nails or staples.
Don’t place cords where trick-or-treaters will trip on them. Keep cords away from snow or water.
Read instructions to know how many light strings can be connected together safely.
Plug lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters. If needed, purchase portable outdoor GFCIs at stores that carry electrical supplies.
If using incandescent holiday lights, which produce heat, keep them away from dry leaves and children wearing costumes. LED holiday lights don’t produce heat, are safer, and use much less energy.
Make sure house walkways are clear and well-lit for trick-or-treaters.
Turn out all lights and decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Have a fire extinguisher available and know how to use it.
For more electrical safety information, visit www.novec.com/safety.
As weather and schedules change, don’t forget about adjusting your home energy consumption!
FIVE BACK TO SCHOOL ENERGY TIPS:
1. Unplug devices
With the kids back at school, you can unplug video game consoles, televisions or computers that aren’t used during the day to reduce “phantom” energy use. Even when turned off, those devices use a small amount of electricity while plugged in. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “phantom” loads can account for as much as 10 percent of monthly energy costs.
2. Adjust the thermostat
With nobody or fewer people home during the day, the thermostat can be increased a few degrees. You can potentially save 4-8 percent for every degree you allow the temperature to increase. You can also install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature for you, making saving on energy even easier.
3. Close or open the blinds
Before you leave the house, adjust your blinds — especially those receiving direct sunlight. Blocking the sunlight (or allowing sunlight in when outside temperatures drop) can help your air conditioning and heating units consume less energy.
4. Don’t forget the fridge
When preparing the evening’s dinner or making school lunches for the next day, take out all the food you need from the refrigerator and close the door behind you. Leaving the door open or repeatedly opening and closing the door forces the fridge to work harder to stay cold, increasing energy use and costs.
5. Purchase energy-efficient products
Upgrading your computer or appliances? ENERGY STAR rated products can make a considerable impact on energy consumption. Computer monitors with the ENERGY STAR logo are up to 90 percent more efficient with their “sleep-mode” feature.
Visit www.novec.com/save to find more energy-saving tips!
Today, it’s easy to find authentic Mexican food staples like tortillas and chips in our area, but this wasn’t always the case. Nearly 50 years ago, two friends who worked for the United States government changed that. Eugene Suarez, Sr., the Chief of Police for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bill King, an anthropologist, regularly spent time with congressmen that hosted state society dinners and other large events for their constituents who had moved to Washington, DC. When those from southwestern states clamored for Mexican food, a Congressman asked if anyone knew how to make it. Eugene answered the call, despite no real experience!
After failed attempts to have tortillas shipped from Arizona (often arriving broken, stale, or otherwise inedible), Eugene and Bill decided to learn the craft of making tortillas from scratch. In 1971, they purchased a small line of machines, including cook tanks, an oven, and other needed accoutrements, and rented a small building in Herndon. Bill studied the art of making tortillas, and the pair sought the cooking expertise of Eugene’s mother, Carmen, a native of Hermosillo, Mexico.
The operation launched, and S&K (for Suarez and King) Industries was born. The two men kept their government day jobs, so all of the work producing corn tortillas was done at night! On their way home from Washington, DC, they’d stop by a flour mill to pick up 200 pounds of corn, which was brought to their facility, ground and made into tortillas, and delivered to a handful of clients—all restaurants.
It was a family business of the most literal definition! Bill, his wife and their two daughters, Eugene Sr., and his son Eugene Jr. (Gene), as well as a few other local friends started production at around 8:00 p.m. each evening and finished in the wee hours of the morning, delivering fresh tortillas immediately after making them.
As time passed, their customer base grew, and they even launched a successful Mexican food restaurant, using many of Carmen’s recipes. Eventually, Eugene Sr. and Bill decided to go their separate ways, with the former continuing the tortilla manufacturing and the latter keeping the restaurant. In the early 1980s, after a hiatus from the business, Gene returned and engineered the move from Herndon to a custom-built facility in Manassas Park, where it has been ever since.
Gene and his wife Peggy (who has also worked for the company for 27 years) explain that although its trade name is S&K Industries, the company’s products are manufactured and sold under three brand names, including Abuelita, Casa de Carmen, and Nana’s Cocina. In addition to corn and flour tortillas as well as flavored wraps, they make just about any variation on a tortilla chip known to man! Chips can be made of yellow, white, or blue corn; they can be round, triangular, or in strip form, flavored (guacamole, spicy salsa), salted or unsalted! They even make “raw” chips, which are refrigerated and sent to restaurants to fry onsite and serve fresh to customers. Word of mouth played an important role in helping the company grow in its early years, but eventually it connected with a broker network. Today, the grand majority of its products are sold to distributors and foodservice companies, but it also sells to retail companies, such as Costco, Whole Foods, and Harris Teeter, and even some small specialty shops. Its reach extends up and down the East Coast and into parts of the Midwest and Ontario, Canada. In addition, it has a presence in several local school districts, with specific products being used in Prince William County Schools, Fairfax County
Schools, Anne Arundel County Schools and others.
The company has always remembered it s roots and remains loyal to employees while responding to local needs. It speaks volumes that many of its employees have been there for 20 years or more, and they are well-rewarded for their hard work. In addition, the business regularly donates to countless causes, including schools, fire and police departments, homeless shelters, and food pantries. Gene notes that they delight in presenting to local groups as well. He recalls one such event—a Career Day at nearby Cougar Elementary School—when he described how a bag of corn is ground up to become nixtamal and used to make tortillas and chips. The kids’ favorite part was sampling the end product!
It takes a lot to launch a business and continue holding it to the highest standards. It takes even more to do so and remain successful over an extended period. This company had done both, and chip lovers far and wide are grateful! To learn more, visit www.abuelita.com.
Published in Discovery: It’s summertime 1963, and the American girl group Angels has a hit song “My Boyfriend’s Back in Town,” made famous by The Chiffons. Hey-la, hey-la, the sun is shining, and the ’60s songs and smiles are on at Swirlie’s, a soft-serve ice cream destination on Pennsylvania Avenue on the outskirts of Manassas.
Now in their seventh season, owners David and Suzanne Corbin couldn’t be happier as they dole out dollops of their silky smooth ice cream confections to a legion of loyal followers who enjoy the oldies tunes along with their treats. Serving up a myriad of flavors and topping choices, the Corbins set up shop from early March to before Thanksgiving in November.
“I like nostalgia,” grins David who, as a youngster, fondly recalls visiting a doting grandfather and his “Dairy Delight” ice cream shop in Sperryville. David may have gotten ice cream in his blood to find himself finally at the helm of ice cream heaven. After years of working the Prince William County Fair and serving food at NASCAR events at the Old Dominion Speedway, it was serendipitous that the Corbins met Ron Devine, who owned Swirlie’s ice cream shop at the time.
“I credit God and Ron Devine for our success,” laughs David. For the Corbins, serving ice cream is only the beginning. They want to make memories for families as well. They have created a classy, retro carnival look, with 12 tables adorned with colorful blue and white hurricane proof umbrellas. On Fridays, families enjoy free movies in the grassy area that surrounds their large parking lot. There’s plenty of room for kids to run and play in the protective view of their parents. It’s a fun and friendly atmosphere, and that’s exactly how the Corbins like it.
While ice cream is the main theme at Swirlie’s, the Corbins offer another foodie creation on Saturdays—porky taters, a baked potato with fixings stuffed with pulled pork. Hawaiian shaved ice, technically known as TropicalSno, is another big seller. As light as cotton candy, with the icy airiness of snowflakes melting in your mouth, this specialty treat is shaved from a large block of ice. But unlike traditional snow cones, these shaved ice confections are flavored through and through—no juice falling to the bottom—just heavenly snow mist available in a rainbow of juices like blue raspberry, lemon, mango, strawberry, grape, and orange. Additionally, the Corbins created gelatos—a frozen confection of shaved ice with ice cream in the middle. The combination is divine, lovely to look at and deliciously wonderful to consume.
Other specialty flavors include cookie dough, warm apple pie sundae, New York cheesecake sundae, and banana split. Suzanne makes her own praline nuts and brownies, and enjoys offering seasonally themed treats like pumpkin whoopie pie ice cream sandwiches in the fall, and Easter egg baskets in spring. And let’s not forget your canine companions: there are pup cups for them.
Going through several hundred gallons of ice cream a week, David is a stickler for the little details that make all the difference, like keeping their ice cream machinery in meticulous working order with daily cleanings. Both the Corbins have an unwavering commitment to serving their community through Spirit Nights, and hosting sport teams and groups like the Boy Scouts, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting those organizations.
The Corbins are hands-on owners and are on site every day. While Suzanne manages their staff of nearly 20, David concentrates on the grounds, the landscape, the collection of nostalgic objects he has on display, and whatever else is necessary to keep things running smoothly.
Together, they’ve built Swirlie’s—open Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.—a business big on ice cream, atmosphere, quality and good service.
“And we’ve met so many people...many of them now our friends,” smiles David. “This is a perfect fit for us.” To learn more, stop by or call (703) 361-3830.
“Great service! Representatives were very polite!”
“Service was faster and better than I expected!”
This experience was un-matched! I’ll definitely bring my business back here!”
We’ve all received outstanding service – and maybe even said something to a friend or posted it on Facebook. You may even have said “I’m going to write to the manager and tell them how wonderful it was!” But minutes turn to hours, days, weeks – it’s not so fresh & compelling any more.
Why did we wait? Why didn’t we do it? Could it be that it’s just too hard to think of the right things to say?
Not anymore! While I encourage you to take the time to write those inspired original testimonials or recommendations, use this formula to get you thinking – and if nothing else comes to mind, send this in – it will be greatly appreciated!
People love stories, so your testimonial should be you, telling the story of your experience. Make it personal (without going overboard) and specific, so others reading it will know WHY they also want your experience.
To make this easy, I’ve set it up as a “fill-in-the-blank” formula.
Let’s build a few examples using the pieces in bold. Feel free to print and fill in the blanks on your own:
I was asked to be Best Man in my friend Garret’s wedding…
I needed a headshot for my work portfolio…
I had no idea what to get my husband for his birthday…
My 42 year-old husband died…
Problem:_________________________________________
I’ll have to give a toast at the reception and I hate speaking to groups. I never know what to say.
I’m not very good with hair and makeup, and have little time to get ready.
He didn’t need/want anything special and he’s always difficult to buy for.
We hadn’t reviewed our will, finances, or insurance in a long time.
Senses that you experienced: _______________________________
Every time I thought about speaking in front of 200 people, I started thinking I was smelling burnt toast. (That’s normal, right?) I felt nervous but didn't want to let them down.
I had heard (and seen) horror stories of people’s photos being unrecognizable.
I felt totally clueless.
I was confused, adrift and alone.
Who is the hero?: _______________________________
A speaking coach
Mila Jackson of Mila Jackson Photography
Prince William Engraving
Randy Jones at First Financial Group
What they did: _______________________________
My coach helped me write a simple, meaningful toast gave me effective tips on controlling my nerves long enough to share it.
Mila brought people with her to the photo shoot to fix my hair and apply perfect makeup. Then Mila took the pictures while I still looked fresh.
The staff personalized a set of his dad’s old cuff links (they can engrave on ANYTHING) creating a truly unique gift.
Randy reminded me of all the things we already had in place, gently explained what needed to be done, and empowered me through all the decisions I would have to make--decisions on which I would have previously followed my husband’s lead.
How it turned out: _______________________________
I gave my toast; everyone laughed at the jokes and got teary-eyed in all the right places.
I looked and felt my best and have terrific photos to show for it!
He’s told all of our family and friends how much this gift has meant to him.
While our family grieves and learns how to keep living, we can do it free of financial worries.
How you feel now: _______________________________
I’m so relieved. When it’s Garret’s (the groom) turn to be MY Best Man, I’ll be spending him to my speaking coach.
I feel confident in displaying my photos, knowing that they look like the best version of me.
I’m so proud that he is (finally) so happy with a gift!
What a sense of relief. I feel more peaceful and hopeful for my family’s future.
Recommendation statement:
I recommend _________ for _______________.
-or-
Next time I need _________________, I'll call ______________.
Don’t let those opportunities pass you by – or the people/businesses/products you are so excited about go un-acknowledged. Use this simple formula to save you time and make someone’s day!
Content provided by Peggy Kimmey, Membership Engagement Specialist at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. www.pwchamber.org
Scamming imposters have been extorting money from electric utility customers across the nation for several years. Their criminal activities have increased in recent months. NOVEC wants all customers to protect themselves by being aware of scammers’ tactics.
You may get a phone call or visit to your front door from someone claiming to be from NOVEC or any other utility company. The person may wear an authentic-looking uniform, safety vest and hard hat, and may have business cards printed with the utility’s logo — but chances are the person is an imposter trying to scam you.
Scammers tell people they must make a payment right away, typically by purchasing a prepaid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores. They instruct people to call a specified number to make the “payment” within an hour. Don’t be fooled: The phone answer message may be the scammer’s recording of a message from a real utility company — not always NOVEC’s phone message. The scammer may also press for certain financial information from you. If you ask questions or resist, the imposter threatens to shut off your power.
Imposters target vulnerable populations, including people who do not speak English fluently, the elderly, and people who may not be aware of scams. They may attempt to do this through phone, by email or in person.
Protect yourself and your business by understanding that:
· NOVEC will never ask or require you to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
· NOVEC bills may be paid online, by phone, by automatic bank draft, in person, or via the U.S. Post Office.
· NOVEC sends customers with delinquent accounts an advance disconnection notice with the regular monthly bill — never a single notice shortly before disconnecting service.
What to do if you encounter a scammer
If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, call the local police and then call NOVEC at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500. Never dial the phone number provided by a suspected scammer.
Learn more about protecting yourself from scammers at www.novec.com/scams and how to identify real NOVEC employees and contractors at www.novec.com/whosonmyproperty.
