Annett Comer
President
Elcomm | "My business partner was leaving the corporate environment and was interested in moving south. He spent eight months looking at different businesses and locations, and Roanoke was one of the locations that made sense. ... When it came down to it, we could put together a much better business model here, with less of a risk factor. "In terms of quality of life, Roanoke offers a real balanced portfolio of outdoor activities, shopping, culture and proximity to larger metropolitan areas. "But the truth is, quality of life doesn't pay the bills. You need a stable business environment, a good workforce, competitive costs, and above all, a reasonable ROI -- which is exactly what Roanoke offers." |
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David Nelson
Plant Manager
Virginia Forge Company | "We were looking for a place that was hospitable to modern manufacturing, and the Roanoke Valley fit the bill. "Virginia Forge is here to stay. Our parent company continues to invest in our location because the Roanoke Valley is an extremely nice area for the poeple who work here -- and for the people from our corporate headquarters when they visit. "The automotive industry is not headquartered in Detroit anymore; it's moved South. So this region is right in the middle of the action. In this area, you have a workforce that's familiar with automotive practices and staff that's familiar with lean principles. That's what the automotive industry needs. The automotive industry is synonymous with high tech and automation. Virginia Forge benefits from the fact that there are other high-tech companies here, and we need support from the same suppliers. I think that applies to other automotive companies as well. |
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Ted Melnik
President
Novozymes Biologicals | "Get here while the gettin' is good. In the next few years, this area will become a hot spot for businesses expanding. Roanoke has such a good cost structure, a great location, especially as cities like Charlotte and Northern Virginia expand outward. "People that have families find the Valley to be a very attractive place to live. The school systems are good. The cost of living is very affordable. And there are a variety of recreational opportunities. "We have a really good workforce here. We can recruit locally and nationally and get top-notch people." |
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G. Michael Pace, Jr.
Managing Partner
Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore | "When you come to the Valley, certainly the geographic beauty is striking. Roanoke has a very vibrant downtown. People want to come here with their families, but they can also take advantage of the energy and advances in technology coming out of Virginia Tech. "Governments in the area are cooperating at a level I've never seen before. It's this cooperative "Can Do" attitude that tells companies we want them here. "I think what keeps companies in the Roanoke Valley is a skilled and committed workforce. And we promote a very pro-business climate. It's a great place to live, work and raise a family." |
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Kenneth Palmer
Manufacturing Technician
Metalsa Roanoke | "In Roanoke, you have lots of skilled workers, so moving new companies here gives people the opportunity to use these skills. I think anyone opening a new place here would find plenty of skilled manufacturing workers who are ready to show off their skills. "Having three girls, it means a lot to me to be able to bring up my kids in this area. The schools are great, and the teachers are much more one-on-one than in big cities "I feel really lucky to be in a place where I can live and be comfortable." |
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Dr. Robert Sandel
President
Virginia Western Community College | "We've developed a flexible rapid-response team for business and industry that can offer training and education programs specific to a company's needs. We can do this quickly and quite cost-effectively. "If a company calls and says they need a training program for their second shift workers, we can start a custom program for them next week. "The key to a bsuiness success today is having a quality workforce. In Virginia Western, we have a community college ready to offer training when a company locates here, as well as to existing companies who want to expand employee capabilities. "Businesses are looking for a quality workforce. We're here to provide that." |
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David Wenzel
Plant Manager
Integrity Windows | "The number one thing we looked at was educational opportunities. The programs at Virginia Western and Virginia Tech were important. There are a lot of qualified graduates and a lot of people with solid manufacturing experience. "Not being from area, we relied on the (Roanoke Valley Economic Development) Partnership for information about the region, the workforce, etc. More importantly, the Partnership got us in touch with other local manufacturers so we could get real opinions. "Roanoke's low crime rate was attractive. The cost of living was very good in Roanoke. We checked to make sure that infrastructure improvements kept up with growth, and that looked good, too." |
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Richard Woolwine
CEO
Atlantic Credit & Finance, Inc. | "When we decided to start Atlantic Credit & Finance, we thought Roanoke would be a good place. We needed a place with a strong labor force, with young college and high school graduates looking for this kind of work. Roanoke has it. "Having grown up here, we know that people have a solid work ethic. Our turnover here is half of what it would be if we were located in Atlanta or Phoenix or other major metropolitan areas. "Our company needs bright, energetic people. The labor pool here has allowed us to grow to about 250 to 300 employees, and I'm confident we'll eventually employ 400 to 500." |
