As the largest employer in the Roanoke Valley, and the driving force behind our local economy, Carilion Clinic is an 800 pound gorilla of sorts, second only to Virginia Tech in terms of it’s regional economic impact. The new clinic facility, and soon to be constructed medical school, will undoubtedly provide a major economic boost [...]
For as long as I can remember, there has been a great deal of talk around the Roanoke Valley about regional cooperation, but in my lifetime I have witnessed very few concrete results. The current debate over the location of an intermodal freight facility in Elliston gives us a clear example of why progress is [...]
I’m one of those people who take my right to vote seriously, and I can’t remember the last time I didn’t vote in a local, state, or national election. Unfortunately, I also can’t remember the last time there was a candidate on any ballot that I was actually excited to vote for. In most cases, [...]
On Tuesday evening, I attended a forum with all of the candidates for Roanoke City Council and Mayor. Actually, all of the candidates save one were in attendance. Brian Wishneff’s decision not to participate was probably related to the fact that he had publicly referred to his fellow council members as slimy democracy hating thugs [...]
According to today’s issue of the Roanoke Times, the state has reached a settlement with families of the victims of the shootings at Virginia Tech. Details are not clear at this point, but what is known is that “the majority of the families” have agreed to a settlement totaling $11,000,000.00. While I have nothing but [...]
With the start of the Summer Olympic Games just a few short months away, you have to wonder what was going through the minds of the International Olympic Committee members when the games were awarded to Beijing. Forget about the inevitable protests by human rights activists, and forget about the calls for boycotts that will [...]
I’ve spent a great deal of time lately trying to figure out what to do for the next stage of my working life. As a serial career changer, I’ve been through the process before, and each time I re-evaluate the possibilities, I become more convinced that the key to success lies in understanding myself. Finding [...]
Tuesday evening I performed my last official act in connection with Foodies. After dedicating 4 years of my life to the company, I had expected that it would be very difficult to walk away. Fortunately, I’ve had several months to adjust to the idea while I continued to teach classes for the new owners. When [...]