March 2001
Development Update
Companies in the News
Events
Promotions/AppointmentsDEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Arlington's Market Share Continues to be Strong
Arlington's share of the red-hot Northern Virginia office market for 2000 was about 10 percent or approximately 900,000 square feet. Every real estate firm that tracks the market has a slightly different way of defining net absorption, but a glance at the year-end numbers from 7 of these researchers shows that Arlington has been able to maintain its share of the NOVA market. Estimates for Arlington range from 8.8% to 14%. This is slightly up from last year, where the same firm's estimates had a spread of 7.6% to 12.1%.Arlington a Favorite Place of Planners
Arlington County has experienced growing pains, but generally is on the right track with its mixed-use development accessible by public transportation, according to Peter Katz, author of a book on "New Urbanism" and a national expert on urban planning. At a forum sponsored by Arlingtonians for a Better County, Katz said the county has avoided the problems of some other suburban areas. ``Among planners,'' Katz said, ``Arlington County is actually one of the favorite places. …."New urbanism involves mixed-use development with well-defined neighborhoods, a variety of housing and retail choices, pedestrian-friendly schools, and resident input in planning. In approving new mixed-use developments, the Arlington County Board has promoted the ``urban village" concept and stressed the mixed-use character of the sites, designed to let people live where they work and avoid sprawl. The county continues to attract large-scale developments such as Potomac Yard, Market Common in Clarendon, Pentagon Row, Arlington Gateway, and Shirlington Village.
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Tech Entrepreneur Community Center Opens
A new breed of technology "incubator," the Tech Entrepreneur Community Center (TECC) (www.TECConline.org), recently opened in Arlington. The TECC, located on the 244 Technology Corridor (one of Arlington's most diverse areas and home to one of only 9 Central Telco Offices in the country), has developed a network of more than 70 organizations that will provide support to startup companies, including business planning and development. The center will also provide office space. More than just a tech council or incubator, TECC is unique in that unlike other technology support concepts, sponsoring companies will not hold a share in startup companies. Instead, startups and emerging growth companies will pay their way and keep their equity and independence in order to keep growing as they see fit. Richard Litman, an attorney who hosts a daily radio program on technology, is the chairman of the board of the TECC.AES To Enter Czech and German Power Markets
An acquisition today by a subsidiary of Arlington, Va.-based AES Corp. is expected to take the power generation company to new places, quite literally. AES Pacific has agreed to pay about $210 million to buy all the energy assets of Waltham, Mass.-based Thermo Ecotek Corp., giving the company entrance into the Czech and German markets. AES President and CEO Dennis Bakke said his company also plans to add five solid fuel-fired businesses in the United States as a result of the deal.Westlake and Cherokee Make Techway "Fast 50" List of Growing Companies
Washington Techway magazine has released its list of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the DC area (www.washtech.com/news/software/7758-1.html). The ranking is based on revenue growth from 1996 to 2000. Congratulations to Arlington-based Westlake Internet Training and Cherokee Information Services for making the prestigious list. Techway reported that 45 of the companies on the list are privately held. The list had 35 companies from Virginia, 12 from Maryland, and three from DC.InfoComm Study Shows Strong Federal Tech Spending in DC Area
A new report on Greater Washington's technology sector said that the area would likely handle an economic slowdown better than most regions because of the large amount of government technology spending. The report--"Building the New Economy: Implementing the InfoComm Revolution in the National Capital Area"--says that DC-area technology firms received nearly $13.5 billion in federal technology spending in 1999. Authors of the report said this was nearly five times more than is spent on technology by the federal government in Silicon Valley. The report showed that 552,000 employees work in the region's technology sector, compared to 330,000 government employees. The report was conducted by the DC High Tech Council, the District of Columbia government, George Mason University, Hale and Dorr, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the State of Maryland.Full reports are available by emailing to: marketing.department@haledorr.com
USAToday.com Launches Baseball Web Site
Arlington-based USAToday and USA Today Baseball Weekly have launched a new baseball web site, called Baseballweekly.com. The site combines USAToday.com's existing baseball section with Baseball Weekly's site. Features on the site include breaking news, daily box scores, statistics, standings, a daily fantasy baseball column, and team-by-team notes.OWC Wins CIT Award For WIM Project At Virginia's Smart Road
The Omni Weight Corporation (www.owcsls.com), located in Arlington's IncubatorAMERICA, has been awarded a senior technology "Challenge Award" by Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), for evaluation of weigh-in-motion (WIM) measurement systems. The analysis will be conducted by OWC and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VATECH) utilizing VATECH's "Smart Road" facility, a 2-mile instrumented test bed for new pavement and transportation technologies.OWC was established in 2000 by Vesa Koivisto, the inventor and principal owner of Omni Weight Control Ltd. of Lappeenranta, Finland, to enhance state-of-the-art measurement technology. Mr. Koivisto established Omni Weight Control, Ltd. in 1993 to develop and commercialize his invention for multipurpose weight measurement systems.
Washingtonpost.com Launches New Email Newsletters
Washingtonpost.com (www.washingtonpost.com) announced that it is launching four new email newsletters. The newsletters will provide news headlines, news alerts, sports updates, and information on weekend entertainment. "washingtonpost.com is one of the most visited news sites on the web, but we understand that people are increasingly getting information delivered across many different electronic platforms," said Christopher Schroeder, CEO of washingtonpost.com, "Our goal is to offer content through every available digital device, and give users the most personalized experience possible." http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/010206/va_washing_2.htmlCyveillance Releases New Solutions
Cyveillance, continuing its focus on providing automated internet intelligence, recently unveiled the following new solutions designed to help companies maximize their online presence:
- Cyveillance's Brand Management helps companies strengthen brand perception and increase site traffic by providing control over online brand reach, integrity, and representation.
- Cyveillance's Partner Management allows companies to maximize revenues through proactive management of online partner relationships.
- Cyveillance's Competitive Intelligence positions businesses for competitive success through analysis of competitive branding, partnering, and online strategies.
GroupServe Secures $3.5 Million in First Round
Arlington-based GroupServe (www.groupserve.com), a developer of wireless-enabled, Internet-based applications for team collaboration, recently announced that it secured $3.5 million in its first round of venture financing. Monumental Venture Partners and MVP America led the investment; other participants in the round included ForceNine and individual investors. GroupServe said that its products aim to simplify communications between project teams and mobile device users.Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Opens New Dallas Office
As part of its expansion into the energy sector, Arlington-based Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. announced on Wednesday that it has opened a new Dallas office and recruited two senior investment bankers to join its existing 22-person energy banking, research, and institutional brokerage team.Arlington's TIA Reaffirms its Support of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Arlington-based Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA; www.tiaonline.org) in early February assessed the impact of the U.S. Telecommunications Act of 1996 in a press release coinciding with the Act's fifth anniversary. TIA observes that while competition among facilities-based service providers at the local level has not grown at a quick enough pace, it has taken root as investment in infrastructure has soared.TIA noted that the Act unleashed a wave of expansion and upgrades in existing telecom networks and the creation of scores of new competitive service providers. As a result, annual spending on telecommunications equipment, software and services in United States has increased 67 percent since 1996, from $365 billion to $609 billion in 2000, according to TIA's 2001 MultiMedia Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. TIA anticipates that it will continue to grow at a compound annual rate of 12 percent through 2004, reaching $954 billion.
Arlington Tech Firm Wins Two Awards
Software Performance Systems, Inc. (SPS) a Crystal City-based business specializing in enterprise IT services for government, commercial, and international clients, recently received recognition for demonstrating its ability to deliver superior solutions and consulting services both home and abroad. SPS developed a system called www.NauticalCharts.gov that won of one of five 2001 Excellence.gov awards. There were approximately 1,300 nominated systems. Mr. Alan Balutis of the Federal CIO Council presented the awards at the e-Gov Procurement Conference on January 31, 2001. The awards for outstanding eGovernment systems were jointly sponsored by The Federal CIO Council, the Council for Excellence in Government, and the Industry Advisory Council. SPS developed the site for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey from a grant from the IT Innovation Fund.For more information, please contact Tom Taylor, Director, Business Development, SPS, tel. 703-797-7847.
Cvent Signs Strategic Partnership With StarCite
Arlington-based Cvent (www.cvent.com), a provider of online registration services for events, and Philadelphia-based StarCite, Inc., a provider of business-to-business services for the meetings and events marketplace, announced that they have signed a strategic partnership to deliver Internet-based technology to the meetings and events industry. The agreement calls for StarCite to integrate Cvent's online registration and data analysis tools into its online marketplace.EVENTS
The Bus Has Almost Left the Station
The Arlington Bus Tour and Real Estate Colloquium will be held on March 30, 2001. This personalized tour will be led by members of the real estate community. Here is your chance to see what's happening in Arlington, and what new projects are planned. Sign up now by going to www.smartplace.org. Hope to see you on the bus!Stephen Covey To Speak in Arlington
Stephen Covey will present his Lessons in Leadership program "Leadership is a Choice: The Four Roles of a Leader" on Thursday, May 17, in Crystal City (Crystal Gateway Marriott). Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold more than 12 million copies and is still on many bestseller lists. Time magazine recognized him as "one of American's 25 most influential people". For more information, call 800.873.3451 or register on-line at www.lessonsinleadership.com.Social Entrepreneurship Seminar
Nonprofit staff and volunteer leaders can learn how to help their organizations adopt entrepreneurial strategies, as well as learn the opportunities and pitfalls of such strategies, at the "Social Entrepreneurship" seminar, to be held Friday, April 20, 8:30 - noon, at the Arlington campus of George Mason University. The seminar features Jerr Boschee, the founder and executive director of The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs and author of "Merging Mission & Money." The seminar costs $15 ($10 for GMU students); for more information, call 703-993-8187 or 703-993-8189.Boardrooms Around the Beltway
The Board of Trade (www.bot.org) will present Boardrooms Around the Beltway (washingtonpost.com) on April 18, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at washingtonpost.com, 1515 Courthouse Road, Arlington. This month's program is hosted by Chris Schroeder, Publisher and CEO of WashingtonPost.Newsweek interactive, which includes the highly regarded washingtonpost.msnbc.com and newsweek.com. This promises to be an exciting discussion about two of the most visited community, news and information sites in the world. Cost is $75 per person; members only. Sponsored by KPMG LLP.Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group to Hold Investor Conferences in Arlington
Arlington-based Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group announced that it will hold two major investor conferences this year. The 6th Annual Technology & Growth Investor Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Reston on May 20 - 22; the 8th Annual Financial, Real Estate, and Energy Investor Conference will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington DC on Sept. 5 -7. (http://www.fbrcorp.com/newsroom/prview.asp?ID=111)Arlington E-Government Summit Draws 40 Local Tech Leaders
Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board Chair, has declared e-Government one of Arlington's major initiatives for 2001. To ensure that the needs of the local business community are met, Mr. Fisette, along with Arlington Chief Information Officer Jack Belcher, the Arlington County Department of Economic Development, and the Arlington Chamber e-Council, held a Tech Summit, "The Role of Business in e-Government," on March 1 at the NRECA conference center in Ballston. e-Government experts from 40 local companies participated. The summit can be seen in its entirety on Channel 31 throughout March. For more information about this Summit, possible future Tech Summits, and a copy of Arlington County's e-Government Master Plan 2001, go to http://www.co.arlington.va.us/portals/scripts/egov.asp.PROMOTIONS/APPOINTMENTS
Stroup Assumes CEO Responsibilities for GroupServe
Arlington-based GroupServe (www.groupserve.com), a developer of Internet-based applications used for team collaboration, announced that its president, Tom Stroup, will also take on the role of CEO. Andrew Roscoe, the former CEO, will stay on as executive director. The company is expected to launch its newest team collaboration application in March.Schneck to Serve as Veridian CTO
Veridian (www.veridian.com) announced that Dr. Paul B. Schneck will serve as Veridian's Chief Technology Officer (CTO). A recognized expert, instructor, speaker, consultant, and author in the information and advanced technology sciences, knowledge management, and supercomputing disciplines, Dr. Schneck is credited with the development, the patent, and the commercialization of software offered by Veridian, to prevent the theft of intellectual property.Veridian delivers full-service, information-based solutions to commercial and government clients. A private company with annual revenues of $650 million, Veridian operates at more than 50 locations in the US and overseas, and employs nearly 5,000 computer scientists and software development engineers, systems analysts, information security specialists, scientists, engineers and other information technology professionals.
Russell Ramsey To Leave Top Post of FBR To Run New VC Firm
Arlington-based Friedman, Billings, Ramsey (FBR) Group, an investment bank, announced on Tuesday that Russell Ramsey, the firm's president and co-CEO, will step down from his positions to run a new venture capital firm by the end of the year. The new fund, called Capital Crossover, has over $200 million in committed capital and will be located in FBR's Arlington headquarters. The fund, which will target late-stage companies, will be a separate company from FBR. "Current market conditions create many opportunities for technology investing, which I am enthusiastic about pursuing," said Ramsey. FBR will be a major investor in Capital Crossover. Two weeks ago, the Washington Business Journal reported that FBR is considering being acquired.Maden CEO To Head Enlighten
Three weeks after agreeing to buy an equity stake in San Mateo, Calif.-based Enlighten Software Solutions Inc., Arlington-based information technology firm Maden Technologies Inc. said Wednesday it has advanced funds to the systems management software company and installed its CEO as head of Enlighten.
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