AED Holds Annual Colloquium
AED's Terry Holzheimer presented the annual roundup of Arlington's business, development and tourism market for 2006, along with forecasts for 2007 to a packed room of developers and real estate brokers on February 9. Sprinkled in were his ever-popular quotes from a variety of economists, baseball legends and early American settlers (really, its true!) To view the complete presentation, visit the Arlington Economic Development Web site.

Save the Date: 12th Annual ABBIES
Save the date for this year's annual ABBIES ceremony, a celebration of Arlington's best businesses, sponsored by the Arlington Economic Development Commission and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. The 12th Annual ABBIES ceremony will be held on May 15, 2007. Nominations are now being accepted and are due by March 29, 2007. To be nominated, a company must:

• Be a viable on-going, full-time business which has experienced significant growth or stability over its business life.
• Be well known and thought of by its customers or clients for consistently delivering exceptional quality or service.
• Be an industry leader in Arlington OR must have a unique approach to delivery of its goods or services.
• Have displayed an interest in and concern for the Arlington community, either corporately or through its employees backed by the company.

Shirlington Lures Two Popular Urban Establishments
Shirlington will soon be the new home of two well-known and popular urban establishments. Cakelove and Busboys and Poets, both located on the U Street corridor in D.C. will be opening outposts in Shirlington in late spring. They'll feed not only theater goers - both stage and film - but also the thousands of residents and visitors that regularly pack the popular neighborhood. Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal owns Luna Grill, also located in Shirlington. Warren Brown, owner of Cakelove is the star of the Food Network show "Sugar Rush," and recently made Inc. Magazine's list of 26 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs. "I'm going to Shirlington 'cause it's the bomb," Brown said. "Lots of parking. People know it for its food. It looks really cute, too." Thanks Warren, we like your cupcakes too.

Arlington Schools Receive Award
Arlington Public Schools last week received the Congressional Victory Against Hunger award for its work promoting healthier lifestyles among students, faculty members and parents. U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) presented the award to Superintendent Robert Smith on Jan. 12 2007, during the school system’s second annual student health forum. The School Board has established a school health committee and in 2005 banned sodas and certain snacks from school vending machines. The Arlington school system is one of 15 organizations nationwide to receive the $1,000 award, which is given to organizations that have demonstrated success in implementing wellness programs.

Arlington Named one of Virginia's Healthiest Communities
The Schroeder Center for Healthcare Policy at the College of William and Mary released its ranking of Virginia’s healthiest communities today. Poquoson City is the healthiest community: Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Falls Church City, Arlington County, Powhatan County, Highland County, York County, Stafford County and Fauquier County rounded out the top ten. Communities were evaluated based on 14 types of risk factors and outcomes – including prevalence of smoking, motor vehicle deaths, lack of health insurance, poverty, activity limitations and cancer deaths. The methodology used to compile the index was a modified version of that used by the United Health Foundation’s 2006 edition of “America’s Health Rankings,” which ranked all 50 states. Full story -->

February Business Read:
A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The time-tested strategy for successful investing
by Burton G. Malkiel
Call# 332.6/MALKI

Since it was first published in 1973, Malkiel's book has been a classic. This new edition remains required reading for professionals, academicians, and individuals concerned with investments. Competition within financial markets, the wide dissemination of information, and the speed with which security prices change produce efficient security markets. Such efficiency implies that few individuals or investment strategies will consistently outperform the market on a risk-adjusted basis. Malkiel clearly explains fundamental and technical investment theories and how their mediocre to average performance lends support to the efficient market hypothesis. He acknowledges that some professional portfolio managers and investment strategies have outperformed the averages but argues that transaction costs and fees tend to consume any advantages. Standing by his notorious claim that "a blindfolded chimpanzee throwing darts" at the NYSE listings could pick stocks as well as the Wall Street pros, Malkiel advises investors to "buy and hold" a diversified portfolio heavy on index funds that passively mirror the market, which usually out-perform actively managed funds. His witty, acerbic style and persuasive arguments will delight readers but, alas, leave Wall Street unmoved. Taken from Choice (9/1/2003) and Publishers Weekly (4/15/2003)

Search for and reserve A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The time-tested strategy for successful investing at the Arlington County Library. Search for call number 332.6/MALKI. Need a library card? Apply Online

Newspaper Association of America Delivered in Arlington
Newspaper Association of America (NAA) a nonprofit organization representing the $55 billion newspaper industry recently relocated to 4401 Wilson Boulevard. NAA members account for nearly 90 percent of the daily circulation in the United States and a wide range of non-daily U.S. newspapers.

Clark Realty Sets up Shop in Arlington
Clark Realty announced it will locate their offices in the NRECA Building at 4401 Wilson Boulevard. Over the last century, the Clark organization has become one of the country's premier developers of multifamily housing and is the largest privately held general building contractor in the nation.

SecureWorks and NRECA to Offer Discounted Information Security Services to NRECA Members
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and SecureWorks have partnered to offer SecureWorks' information security services to NRECA's members at a discounted rate. The agreement will give NRECA members access to all of SecureWorks' managed security services at a 10 percent discount. SecureWorks is one of 60 organizations in NRECA's National Discount Program designed to provide pre-negotiated discounts with leading service providers. Full story -->

AES to Sell Venezuelan Stake for $739.3 million
AES Corp. said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Venezuela to sell the company's 82% stake in Electricidad de Caracas to the government for $739.3 million. The sale is contingent on the negotiation of a "mutually satisfactory" definitive agreement, the Arlington, Va.-based power company said. The understanding is in effect through March 31. Full story -->

buySAFE Continues Expansion, Adds Three New Enterprise Customers
buySAFE, Inc. announced that online merchants ACityDiscount, Carter's Fine Jewelry, and CompSource are now using the buySAFE trust solution on their Websites to achieve greater consumer confidence and higher site conversion. buySAFE is the leading trust and safety company for e-commerce transactions. Full story -->

Watson Wyatt Worldwide Reports Second Quarter EPS of $0.58 on Strong Revenue Growth
Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:WW), a leading international human capital and financial management consulting firm, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, which ended December 31, 2006. Revenues were $366.4 million for the quarter, an increase of 16% from the second quarter of fiscal 2006 revenues of $315.8 million. Income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was $26.0 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, an increase from $17.2 million or $0.41 per diluted share in the prior-year second quarter. Full story -->

Cyveillance Announces Record Growth in 2006 Lead by New Services and Partnership Strategy
Arlington-based Cyveillance, a leading provider of online risk monitoring and management solutions, announced it has seen record growth in 2006 due to key service offerings and a calculated partnership strategy. With several new services and partnerships yet to be announced, the company reports that it is uniquely positioned to continue on this growth path in 2007 and further solidify its position as a leader in the market. Full story -->

Reuters Selects Plateau’s Hosted Solution to Expedite Global Enterprise-Wide E-learning
Arlington's Plateau Systems, a leading provider of software for developing, managing and optimizing organizational skills and talent, announced that Reuters, the world’s largest international news and financial information source, has selected Plateau’s integrated learning management system (LMS). Reuters will deploy Plateau’s fully hosted LMS solution to support and streamline elearning and other learning initiatives across its entire workforce, which encompasses 16,800 employees in 89 countries. Full story -->

Synergy in Ballston
The Education Development Center will hold a symposium in Feb at the Westin Gateway Arlington, hosting educators from 33 states as part of a $73 million program funded by the National Science Foundation. Full story -->

Sorrento Buying BridgeStreet Worldwide
Sorrento Asset Management, a Dublin, Ireland-based privately held investment group, will buy BridgeStreet Worldwide -- a corporate housing unit -- from independent hotel management company Interstate Hotels & Resorts Inc. BridgeStreet's management team will stay in northern Virginia. Full story -->

Pearson Health Solutions Introduces informis(TM) at the Medicare Advantage Congress
Pearson Government Solutions of Arlington, Va., designs, builds, and operates solutions that optimize the performance of public sector entities in delivering information, benefits, and services to their constituents. Clients include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Pearson has over 5,500 employees worldwide. Full story -->

BioInformatics, LLC to Speak on Life Scientists Media Engagement at LPA 3rd Annual Product Managers Breakfast
Bill Kelly, President of BioInformatics, LLC, will present key findings from Marketing to Life Scientists 2006: Capitalizing on Media Engagement at the Laboratory Products Association's (LPA) 3rd Annual Product Managers' breakfast. The event is the world's largest, most comprehensive conference and exposition devoted to laboratory science. Arlington-based BioInformatics, LLC, a market research and consulting firm -- surveyed 1,300 life scientists worldwide to produce Marketing to Life Scientists 2006. Full story -->

AES Executive Joins Alternative Energy Group's Board
AES, one of the largest power companies in the world, is bringing its muscle to a national group that's an advocate for alternative energy. Robert Hemphill, executive vice president of Arlington-based AES, will serve on the board of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, which represents organizations involved in battery, hybrid and fuel-cell technologies. AES, which operates in 26 countries on five continents, is the fifth energy company to have a representative on the D.C.-based association's board.

CSC Wins MDA Contract
Computer Science Corp., of Arlington, Va., won a $151,451,731(estimated) cost-plus-fixed-fee (level of effort) contract from the Missile Defense Agency for scientific, engineering, and technical assistance support as part of the National Team. Work will be performed at Arlington, Va. and Missile Defense facilities and is expected to be complete by January 2012.

Arlington's Reagan National Airport Handles Record Numbers
Reagan National Airport handled a record number of passengers last year while Dulles International Airport saw a drop in travelers, according to figures released in February 2007 by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. National Airport in Arlington, Va., served 18.5 million passengers in 2006, an increase of about 4 percent from the previous record of 17.8 million passengers in 2005. Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Va., served about 23 million passengers in 2006, a 15 percent drop from a record 27 million passengers in 2005.

Arlington-Based FBR Group Realigns Corporate Structure
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group (FBR Group), the Arlington-based investment banking firm, said that it has shifted its corporate structure to reflect last summer's formation of its FBR Capital Markets unit. FBR Group owns approximately 72% of FBR Capital Markets, which now houses the firm's investment banking, institutional brokerage, research and asset management operations. Full story -->

Shirlington Hotel Approved
The Arlington County Board approved the 4.1 Site Plan application of the Shirlington HHG Hotel Development, LP for a 7-story, 142 room Hilton Garden Inn located on a 0.79 acre parcel on Arlington Mill Drive between S. Randolph Street and S. Stafford Street. The hotel will feature a mix of studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, an indoor pool, exercise facilities and 1,290 square feet of meeting rooms. Parking for the hotel will be provided in the new 750-car parking garage located across S. Stafford Street. This hotel was part of the Phase II development approved by the County Board in late 2000 for Federal Realty Investment Trust. The completion of the hotel will be the final element of the Phase II plan to be developed.

Marriott Purchases Crystal City Property
Marriott International bought two acres at Crystal Drive and Potomac Avenue in Crystal City for an undisclosed price from Meridian Group of Bethesda. Marriott said it plans to develop on the site two hotels, a Renaissance and a Residence Inn, totaling 625 rooms. The hotel is part of a mixed-use project at Potomac Yard.

Arlington's Reagan National Airport Handles Record Numbers
Reagan National Airport handled a record number of passengers last year while Dulles International Airport saw a drop in travelers, according to figures released in February 2007 by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. National Airport in Arlington, Va., served 18.5 million passengers in 2006, an increase of about 4 percent from the previous record of 17.8 million passengers in 2005. Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Va., served about 23 million passengers in 2006, a 15 percent drop from a record 27 million passengers in 2005.

Sunburst Hospitality Celebrates Opening of Arlington Residence Court
Sunburst Hospitality announced the successful February 1st opening of the Arlington Residence Court, an upscale extended-stay all-suite hotel in the Clarion Collection. Located 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport and steps away from Courthouse Metro the Arlington Residence Court is within view of the District of Columbia’s tidal basin and national monuments. Complete information on the newly opened hotel, including its rates and amenities, can be accessed on the Arlington Residence Court hotel Web site. Full story -->

Arlington Establishments Dominate AOL Best Sports Bar Guide
According to AOL Cityguide, Arlington has some of the best sports bars in the area. In its “City’s Best 2007 Winners,” Arlington dominated the Top Ten List with nearly half located in Arlington and the Crystal City Sports Pub leading the pack. Full story -->

Downward Dog in Clarendon
Yoga apparel company Lululemon Athletica will soon be stretching across the Potomac into Clarendon. Plans are in the works for a retail store to open at 2847 Clarendon Boulevard by the end of March. The store will feature the company's full range of men's and women's yoga gear including clothing, water bottles, bags, foam bricks and mats.

Rays the Steak Moving to Navy League Building
"Ray's the Steak is pulling up stakes and moving to a bigger location," reported Erin Killian in the Washington Business Journal. Currently located in Rosslyn at 1725 Wilson Boulevard, the popular steak house is moving to the Navy League building at 2300 Wilson at Courthouse. Also home to Sala Thai, Five Guys and Robeks, the new, larger space is "more accommodating," according to chef/owner Michael Landrum.

Big Buns Gourmet Grill and Vapiano Coming to Ballston
With the opening of the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston, new restaurants and cafes are reaping the rewards of those hungry hockey fans. Two new eateries are planning an early spring opening: Craig Carey’s 50-seat fast-casual restaurant, Big Buns Gourmet Grill, will serve burgers and hot dogs at 4401 Wilson Boulevard. Also scheduled is Germany-based Italian fast-casual chain Vapiano, which has signed a lease for 4,600 square feet in the same building.

BizLaunch Events The following events are sponsored by BizLaunch, Arlington’s Small Business Assistance Network. Events are free, unless otherwise noted. For more information on BizLaunch program, visit the BizLaunch Web site.

Overview of SBA’s Programs and Services
February 21, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Arlington County Public Library, Central, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Auditorium, Arlington, VA 22201
Learn about the benefits and services currently offered by the SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, many of them free. Join this workshop to learn ways that you can improve your business. To register, contact Darnell Roseboro, call (703) 228-0898 or visit the BizLaunch Website, and click on events.

Starting a Business in Arlington County
March 1, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Arlington County Public Library, Central, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Auditorium, Arlington, VA 22201
Learn how to get a business license, certificate of occupancy, and state registration, plus learn about free tools which can help you write a business plan, develop a marketing strategy and financing options. Also, find out which organizations can help you map out your entrepreneurial plans for free. To register, contact Darnell Roseboro, call (703) 228-0898 or visit the BizLaunch Website, and click on events.

Contracting Opportunities – Strategic Planning to Win a Bid with Large Corporations March 15, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Arlington Economic Development, 1100 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1500, Arlington, VA 22201
Cost: $20.00
To register, contact Darnell Roseboro, call (703) 228-0898 or visit the BizLaunch Website, and click on events.

BizLaunch Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs
March 30 – 31
3/30: 1-4 p.m.
3/31: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Northern Virginia Community College – Arlington Center, 4600 N. Fairfax Drive, 1st Floor, Arlington, VA 22203
Cost: $80
Back by popular demand! Learn all you need to know in 1 ½ intense days to understand what it means to be an entrepreneur. Business experts from Northern Virginia Community College will help you to learn all the key aspects of becoming a small business owner and growing your business. An opportunity to critique your business plan will be offered. Seating is limited, RSVP early. To register, contact Darnell Roseboro, call (703) 228-0898 or visit the BizLaunch Website, and click on events.

Writing a Successful Business Plan
March 21, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Arlington County Public Library, Central, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Auditorium Arlington, VA 22201
Ready to start a business but need help developing the perfect business plan? What do banks and landlords really look for in your proposal? Do you really need pro-forma projections if you haven’t been in business that long? If you have trouble answering these questions please join us March 21st and learn the strategies to write the perfect plan for your business. To register, contact Darnell Roseboro, call (703) 228-0898 or visit the BizLaunch Website, and click on events.

Local Area Events

Envision Your Success: 2007 Mega Job Fair and Entrepreneurship Expo
March 17, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA
Sponsor: Business Development Assistance Group (BDAG), Fairfax County Government and Skill Source Centers
Cost: FREE
Contact: Sandra G. Kourany (703) 324-7281 or Sandra.kourany@fairfaxcounty.gov
The 2007 Expo will provide business resources and useful pointers for individuals considering entrepreneurial endeavors, connect job seekers with hiring employers, and employers with job-seekers for on the spot interviews, and provide business to business networking opportunities to regional employers and their organizations.