Serving FairfaxFairfax Areas of Burke Education Learning Fun ‘Tiny‘Tiny Page 8 Follow on Twitter: @ffxconnection on Twitter: Follow Dancers’Dancers’ HonoredHonored News, Page 7 Classified, Page 13 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 12 ❖ Entertainment, Page 10 Showered With Support News, Page 3 Tiny Dancers performing a traditional ballet number, ‘The Paintbrushes.’ Minority-Owned Businesses Prosper in Fairfax County News, Page 2 Photo Contributed www.ConnectionNewspapers.comAugust 16-22, 2012 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comFairfax Connection ❖ August 16-22, 2012 ❖ 1 The County Line Local Minority-Owned Businesses Prosper Companies generate Fairfax County’s more than $1 billion Minority-Owned in revenue and Business Rankings provide more than Listed below are the 11 Fairfax County companies on the Hispanic Business 500, and their ranking: ❖ 21. MicroTech, LLC, Tysons Corner 1,000 jobs. ❖ 102. GeoLogics Corporation, Alexandria ❖ 114. SCI Consulting Services, Inc., Tysons Corner By Victoria Ross ❖ 117. COmputing TechnologieS, Inc., Fairfax ❖ The Connection 134. Priority One Services, Inc., Alexandria ❖ 138. Kemron Environmental Services, Inc., Tysons Corner usinesses owned by Hispanics, Af- ❖ 166. Citizant, Chantilly rican-Americans and women ❖ 186. Communications Resource, Inc. (CRI), shine in Fairfax County, according Tysons Corner B ❖ 205. NMR Consulting, Inc., Chantilly to the latest national rankings for ❖ 424. Engineering, Management & Integration, largest or fastest-growing companies. Inc., Herndon “Fairfax County is proud to be a commu- ❖ 434. MAC Aerospace Corp., Chantilly Photo by Photo nity in which companies of all descriptions Listed below are the five Fairfax County companies can and do succeed to a greater extent than and their rankings based on the 2012 Black Enter- in the rest of the region, the state or the prise (BE) magazine list of the 100 largest African American-owned companies in the U.S. country,” said Gerald L. Gordon, president Ross Victoria ❖ 8. Thompson Hospitality, Herndon and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic ❖ 51. COMTek (Communications Technologies, Development Authority, which supports and Inc.), Chantilly monitors the growth of local businesses. ❖ 55. SoBran, Fairfax ❖ Eleven Fairfax County-based companies 61. Metters Incorporated, Tysons Corner ❖ 80. InScope International, Reston are among the 500 largest Hispanic-owned /The Connection businesses in the nation based on revenue— Listed below are two of the 50 fastest-growing more than the total in 40 states, according women-owned companies in North America, accord- to a recent report by HispanicBusiness.com. ing to the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and American Express OPEN, the small business di- The Fairfax County companies are among vision of American Express 22 from Virginia on the 2012 Hispanic Busi- ❖ 10. GCS, Inc., Tysons Corner ness 500 list. ❖ 36. Ampcus Inc., Chantilly Together these companies generated The staff of Helios HR in Herndon, one of Fairfax County’s thriving $655 million in revenue and employed more women-owned businesses: (Back row, from left) Stephanie Eberhart, strong spirit of collaboration in Fairfax than 3,000 workers in 2011, according to Andrea Parker, Sarah Smith, Ellyn Krause, Judy-Ann McKenzie, Kathy County supported by the Chambers, our Hispanic Business. Five Fairfax County- Albarado, Stephanie Kotch, Stacey Holst (Front Row, from left) Natalie elected officials, our business leaders and based companies are on the 2012 Black Oddenino, Michele Wooding, Dean Klein, Amy Levin-Murchie. nonprofit partners,” Albarado said. “There Enterprise (BE) magazine list of the 100 are many who are willing to provide largest African American-owned companies Fairfax County is also on the cutting-edge consulting firm in September 2001. She said mentorship and support opportunity. It’s an in the U.S. The 2012 BE 100 Industrial/Ser- when it comes to women-owned businesses. she has seen steady growth and support for exceptional county indeed.” vice list appeared in the June 2012 issue of According to the Women Presidents’ Orga- women-owned businesses in the past de- The FCEDA’s Business Diversity Division the magazine. Those five companies gen- nization (WPO), a peer-advisory group for cade. supports the growth of these enterprises by erated $613 million in revenue and counted multimillion-dollar women-owned busi- An award-winning business executive, organizing and hosting workshops that more than 5,000 employees in 2011, ac- nesses and American Express OPEN, the Albarado was recently named Lady Fairfax showcase local, state and federal resources cording to Black Enterprise. small business division of American Express, by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors available to entrepreneurs and small busi- Only seven states have more companies two Fairfax County-based companies made and was a top finalist for the Fairfax nesses and by hosting SCORE business on the BE 100 list than Fairfax County. In the 2012 list of the 50 fastest-growing Chamber’s woman-owned business execu- counselors. For more information, go to addition, Fairfax County has more minor- woman-owned/led companies in North tive award in 2011. www.fairfaxcountyeda.org. For more infor- ity-owned firms than 21 states and the Dis- America. “I feel fortunate that I live and work in a mation on Helios HR, and the company’s trict of Columbia, according to the U.S. Kathy Albarado, CEO of Helios HR in community so very supportive of entrepre- community outreach efforts, go to Census Bureau. Herndon, launched her human resources neurs and growing businesses. There is a www.helioshr.com. Nearly 800 Jobs Added to the Local Economy Information technology firms and professional service companies see growth. nformation technology firms con- based firms using a Fairfax County location technology and telecommunications sectors qualified job candidates have no prob- Itinue to do well in a sluggish to expand in North America. and is creating 57 jobs in the Tysons Cor- lem relocating to Fairfax County, given economy, according to a new report One of the most prominent announce- ner area of the county. its reputation as a desirable place to live.” from the Fairfax County Economic De- ments during the quarter came from “We can attribute our success in Fairfax “While much of the country and the velopment Authority (FCEDA). During Engility, a government services company County to multiple factors,” said Michael world is suffering from a weak economy, the second quarter of 2012, the FCEDA that established its headquarters in the Kasmir, co-founder and president of the FCEDA continues to work with a wide provided services and resources to 33 Chantilly area of Fairfax County after spin- Kaztronix. “First and foremost, Fairfax variety of companies that are creating businesses that are adding almost 800 ning off from L-3 Communications. Engility County has a high density of evolving tech- jobs, diversifying Fairfax County’s eco- jobs in Fairfax County. will add 50 jobs in addition to its current nology companies seeking the best and nomic base and contributing to the local Most of these businesses are in the in- workforce of 300. Another announcement brightest talent, which the county’s prox- tax base,” said Gerald L. Gordon, presi- formation technology and professional came from Kaztronix, a staffing company imity to major universities makes easily dent and CEO of the FCEDA. services sectors and four are foreign- that specializes in the health care, scientific identifiable…From a recruiting perspective, —Victoria Ross 2 ❖ Fairfax Connection ❖ August 16-22, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photos by Deb Cobb/The Connection Photos Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) and Fairfax County Police Chief David Rohrer were among several community and faith leaders that spoke at the Aug. 9 candlelight vigil held at the More than 300 people of all faiths gathered for a candlelight vigil at the Sikh temple in Fairfax Station Sikh temple. “Our nation and our county Fairfax Station on Thursday, Aug. 9, less than a week after a gunman opened fire at a are made stronger by standing in solidarity when some- Sikh temple in Wisconsin, killing six and injuring three. one is hurt,” said Bulova during the vigil. Transcending Fear With Messages of Hope also remarked on the quick re- Fairfax Station Sikh temple holds candlelight sponse of Fairfax County police vigil to honor victims of Wisconsin shootings. officers, who showed up at the Fairfax Station temple soon af- By Victoria Ross “We pray for the family of the shooter, the ter hearing about the rampage The Connection seventh life lost in this tragedy.” in Wisconsin. “We stand with you today in solidarity as “We knew the congregation t was an evening of unity, resilience you wrestle with the strong feelings evoked would be on edge after we and hope as more than 300 people of by last Sunday’s act of terror at your heard about the shootings on Iall faiths gathered for a candlelight gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wis.,” said the Rev. Sunday,” said Captain Joe Hill, vigil at the Sikh temple in Fairfax Sta- Scott Sammler-Michael, senior minister of commander of the West Spring- tion on Thursday, Aug. 9, less than a week the Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church field District police station. “We after a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in Burke. showed up here, just to check in Wisconsin, killing six and injuring three. “Too many in our world claim they know in, and they were very appre- Members of the Sikh Foundation of North- the mind and will of God, but such extrava- ciative of our presence.” ern Virginia, which hosted the vigil, wel- gant assumptions too often lead preachers comed visitors to the gurdwara (or temple) and politicians to deny the humanity of NAVDEEP SINGH, policy ad- by providing headscarves to guests and in- whole classes of people, be they immigrants, visor for the Sikh American Le- viting them into the sanctuary for an inter- prisoners, Muslims, Sikhs or homosexuals,” gal Defense and Education faith prayer service.