Biophilic Design Blurring Boundaries
If the terms “biophilia” and “biophilic design” are new to you, you are not alone. Even some architects have to Google it, yet its principles are at the root of their work. For others in the field, the term may elicit a figurative eye roll, as designers of buildings and landscapes have been nurturing the […]
Brick and Mortar Isn’t Dead, Not by a Long Shot
In short, retail is about to get a lot less bifurcated. Some of the most successful merchants will be those that understand how to bridge the worlds of bricks and clicks and provide a cohesive, omnichannel experience to customers. “Retail has always been a rapidly changing industry, but the sector experienced significant, seismic shifts during […]
Taking on the Affordable Housing Crisis
Across the country, in places both urban and rural, principals, teachers, even school bus drivers are being trained to spot students who may be struggling with housing insecurity. There can be sudden behavioral changes, poor hygiene, chronic fatigue, erratic attendance or difficulty socializing. Perhaps a child is avoiding questions relating to their current address, or […]
Billy Foster: Finding Comfort in Community Banking
GUEST COLUMN By Billy Foster As a community bank, we’re well aware of the conversations people are having about the recent turbulence in the U.S. banking system. According to a Gallup Poll conducted this spring, a total of 48% of U.S. adults indicate that they’re worried about the safety of the money they’ve entrusted to […]
Progress & Preservation: Wetlands Studies and Solutions, Inc
Small Business Spotlight | Wetlands Studies and Solutions, Inc. What may appear to the untrained eye as commonplace swamps are actually important wetlands that serve as rich habitats for “breeding and feeding” thousands of unique plants and animals. Wetlands are important for a number of reasons, says Bob Kerr, director of the Hampton Roads Division […]
Perspectives on Coastal Virginia’s Small Business Scene
From your favorite ice cream shop to your local auto shop, small businesses provide the products and services that we rely on for fun and function in our daily lives. But small businesses are also major drivers of economic growth in Coastal Virginia. Job Creation Approximately half of the private work force in Virginia is […]
She’s Got the Power: Selma Spratley
One summer while a student at Hampton University, Selma Spratley got a part-time job that changed her life. A psychology major, she was considering graduate school. A master’s degree would allow her to become a counselor. A friend of her brother told her the Surry Power Station, in her hometown, was hiring. She got a […]
A Personal Touch in a Digital Age
Small Business Spotlight | Jacobson Fine Papers & Gifts In an era of email and texting, there’s one thing that technology will never replace – the joy of receiving a handwritten note on beautiful paper or a formal invitation. “There’s nothing like a nice, handwritten note,” says Melissa Lange, owner, president and jack-of-all-trades at locally […]
What’s the Status of Coastal Virginia’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem?
The dialog was flowing at this summer’s HR Chamber-Strome Business Series panel discussion, “Developing an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Hampton Roads.” But the time we had together was all too short, and we longed for a deeper dive. So we asked two of the panelists, Paul Nolde, managing director of 757 Collab and Blair Durham, business […]