Business News & Notes

Dr. Fuller Forum on TV Today

A video tape of the forum on the economic parameters of the Northern Virginia region surrounding the City of Falls Church presented by Dr. Stephen Fuller, Director of the Center of Regional Analysis at George Mason University, last month is being replayed on Falls Church Cable Television today, June 23, at 2:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Cox Cable Channel 12 or Starpower Cable Channel 2. In the 2 1/2 hour forum, given at George Mason High School , Dr. Fuller outlines the enormous opportunities for growth in the region, as well as possible pitfalls. The presentation was a preliminary report on a study Dr. Fuller is conducting for the City of Falls Church .

Mitretek `Best to Work For’

Falls Church’s Mitretek Systems, Inc., has been named one of the best 25 medium-sized businesses in the U.S. to work for announced at the annual conference of the Society for Human Resource Management in San Diego this week. It is the second annual release of top 25 small and medium-sized businesses to work for by the society. The companies were selected and ranked by the Great Place to Work Institute. “Companies on this list are financially successful and provide generous salaries, benefits packages, employee ownership options and bonuses. As a result, they have motivated employees at the top of their game,” according to a press release. Mitretek Systems, Inc., was ranked 22nd among the top 25 medium-sized companies.

General Dynamics’ New Contracts

The Land Systems unit of Falls Church’s General Dynamics announced that it has landed two major contracts from the U.S. Army’s TACOM Lifecycle Management Command for work on upgrades to 60 M1A2 Abram tanks and on modifications to the tanks’ systems technical support. The two contracts total $155 million. The tanks are described as “the latest, most technologically advanced Abrams tank.” The retrofit “is part of an overall M1A2 tanks upgrade program that integrates new information technologies to improve soldier war fighting capability with enhanced command and control features like color maps and displays, high-density computer memory, increased micro-processing speed and networked communications. The tanks have been in service for 15 years. General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church , employs 70,100 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion.

Van Metre Celebrates 50 Years

Van Metre Companies hosted a celebration of 50 years of successful development projects last week at the site of its first project, the Fairfax Square Apartments built in the 1960s. Among the dignitaries present were State Sen. and independent gubernatorial canddiate Russ Potts and Fairfax Supervisor Sharon Bulova. “We have succeeded over the years through our family-oriented approach to the industry and long-lasting relationships with key community leaders, vendors and customers,” said Al Van Metre, Sr., Van Metre chairman, CEO and founder. “This event gives us an opportunity to thank these individuals for making our growth and success possible throughout this remarkable tenure, and to look forward to the next half-century.” The company has built more than 15,000 single family homes, townhomes, condominiums and apartments in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Yanofchick Feted

Brian Yanofchick, son of Mary Yanofchick and the late Clarence Yanofchick of Falls Church, received the Midcareer Award from the Catholic Healthy Association June 7 for his work as senior vice president of mission services for the Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the Catholic health ministry.

Dulles Corridor Web Site

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project has launched its new web site, www.dullesmetro.com, to provide the latest information on the 23-mile extension of the regional Metrorail system from just west of the East Falls Church Metro station to eastern Loudoun County . The extension will be built in two phases, the first from East Falls Church with four stations in Tysons Corner to an interim terminal station at Wiehle Avenue on the eastern edge of Reston . The second phase will run from Wiehle through Reston and Herndon to Dulles Airport to Route 772 in Loudoun County . Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2006.