Welcome from the New Publisher
Virginia is for Business

by Bernard A. Niemeier
for Virginia Business
February 2007

Growing up in Virginia, I remember when the snow once topped 24-inches. I was in seventh grade; it was a long time ago. Global warming notwithstanding, it would be reasonable to paraphrase Eliot (T.S. not Yamin) by saying, "Winter is the cruelest of months." Unlike many other states which are blanketed with snow all winter, the commonwealth often compresses the season's coldest days into 30 or fewer. As of this writing, I've not seen the season's first snowflake. Maybe that will change by the time you receive this edition, but probably not by much.

Virginia is a wonderful place for business. In addition to having strong economic development, a vibrant work force and a fair regulatory environment, it is a great place to live. The state enjoys excellent public and private education. Its colleges consistently rank among the best in the United States, and the Old Dominion is rated the top state in providing children the chance to have successful lives. The history of the commonwealth begins the history of the nation. Elementary schools make annual trips to the nation's capital. Virginia enjoys a wealth of leisure activities, from alpine-style climbing on Old Rag Mountain in the northern Shenandoah, to fly fishing on the Rapidan, Conway and Jackson rivers.

Virginia's wine industry is probably the most fully developed east of California. No matter what your interests, Virginia is not only a good place for executives to do business; it's a good place for their families to live.

At Virginia Business, we're fortunate to have a brand which draws on the strength of the commonwealth. This is a great state, one where any business can prosper.

Speaking of prosperity, this month's magazine includes the results of our annual Small Business Success Story of the Year competition. This year's winner is NanoSonic Inc. of Blacksburg, the developer of Metal Rubber. We celebrated its success at a luncheon hosted by BB&T Corp. at the University of Virginia's Darden School in late January.

We also debut a new Business Diversity Quarterly Report, which will look at the growing influence of women- and minority-owned companies. Rounding out this month's coverage are two banking stories, one looking at Capital One's bank acquisitions and another examining the U.S. Treasury's latest plans for $1 coins.

So it's about as cold as the Old Dominion gets outside and this is a good time for reading. You may have thought this column was about welcoming a new publisher, but it's really a welcome message from Virginia Business to our readers. We have big expectations for 2007. Enjoy the magazine, let us know what you like or dislike and keep coming back each month. Above all, enjoy Virginia; it's great for business.