Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS) President David Crawford cuts ribbon with his wife, Janet,
Roanoke City Councilman Bill Bestpitch, RMS employees and Roanoke stakeholders.
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Rainwater Management Solutions Opens Headquarters in
City of Roanoke
Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS), a thriving new business to the City of
Roanoke
,
celebrated with a Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting on Thursday, September 26 in their new offices located at 2550 Shenandoah Avenue.
RMS is an industry-leading supplier, system integrator, and professional services firm, specializing in turnkey solutions for rainwater and stormwater management. Their knowledgeable staff has a combined experience of over 70 years in the rainwater harvesting business. The firm provides complete rainwater harvesting systems and solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural projects. Additionally, RMS offers professional design and consulting services to development, engineering, and architectural firms seeking specialized rainwater and stormwater management system design capabilities. Many RMS clients are focused on earning LEED points. And, the firm is proud of their exclusive North American dealership of German-made
WISY
filters.
Water conservation and management is increasingly becoming a worldwide survival issue due to accelerating water shortages, property development, and population growth, aging infrastructures, growing agricultural demands, a general warming trend, and the ever-increasing cost of and demand for natural water resources.
David Crawford, CEO and founder of RMS worked in the health arena prior to founding RMS and knew that large commercial laundries utilized a significant amount of water on a daily basis to clean hospital linens. Observing this and other examples of the growing use of drinking water in commercial and residential sectors, David became a strong advocate of water conservation and management. His advocacy led him to begin researching methods for conserving drinking water and utilizing the availability of rainwater. Thus was formed the concept of a business that would focus on rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management practices.
During 1999, using empty laundry soap barrels, David created a prototype rain barrel for rainwater collection. After refinements and experimentation, he succeeded in creating a system that worked for rainwater harvesting. He advertised the system at a home show and as a result, sold several residential home systems.
RMS has since evolved from the rain barrel days to the company it is today. In addition to providing professional services to organizations and individuals involved in water conservation, sustainable water management and green building standards in their projects, RMS executives are lecturers at colleges and universities, encouraging architecture and engineering graduates to transition from theory to application and design of effective rainwater systems. RMS also sponsors workshops and programs that award LEED Continuing Education Units.
Congratulations to RMS on their new City of Roanoke headquarters! To learn more about the company, please visit www.rainwatermanagement.com.
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Virginia Western to host free talk by
national STEM speaker Deanne Bell
Co-host of CNBC’s ‘Make Me a Millionaire Inventor’ to discuss STEM careers that students will love on October 9th
Virginia Western Community College invites the public to attend a free talk on
Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.
by national expert Deanne Bell on science and technology careers that are far from boring. From her work with NASA to travels in Tibet, Bell has had experiences in a wide range of innovative and STEM careers
.
Bell is an engineer, television host and the founder of
FutureEngineers.org
, a platform that hosts national invitation challenges for students. She received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Prior to becoming a TV host, Deanne designed opto-mechanics for military aircraft sensors and worked as a senior application engineer for a CAD software startup company in Boston.
In 2006, Deanne took her first job in television as a co-host for the Peabody Award winning children’s series, Design Squad. She is currently a co-host for CNBC’s ‘Make Me a Millionaire Inventor', and her previous hosting credits include ESPN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and DIY Network.
In 2014, Deanne founded Future Engineers, which hosted its inaugural challenge in partnership with NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation. Students were asked to create a digital 3D model of a space tool, and the winning design is being 3D printed aboard the International Space Station.
The event will be held in Whitman Theater. For a map and directions, please visit
Virginia Western Community College is a forward-thinking community college inspiring individual, community and economic transformation. It provides quality educational opportunities that empower students for success and strengthen communities. The college provides credit academic programs and non-credit workforce training along with distance learning online and dual enrollment courses in area high schools. To learn more, visit
www.virginiawestern.edu
.
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Family of Roanoke lawyer, philanthropist William Lemon
contributes $1 million to support
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
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William and Barbara Lemon, along with the Lemon family, recently made a $1 million gift to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC to help the institute recruit and retain world-class researchers.
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The William Jacob and Barbara Boyle Lemon family has made a $1 million gift to the
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
at VTC. The gift will help researchers develop new ways to treat diseases that impact millions of people.
“If the institute achieves what we think it’s going to, it will continue to grow its impact and visibility as a recognized example for changing medical discovery worldwide. It’s going to have the potential to make medical breakthroughs that will benefit the world population,” said William J. Lemon, a Roanoke lawyer, army veteran, and philanthropist. “We have a strong foundation at VTC, but need to continue to attract and retain top researchers.”
The gift will help the rapidly expanding research institute continue to recruit and retain world-class researchers, including scientists working at the interface of the institute's core focus areas, such as cancer, cardiovascular science, and neuroscience. The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute research portfolio is anticipated to double in size with the expansion of a 140,000-square-foot building, slated to open next fall, where roughly 400 additional scientists and staff will be working by 2027.
“We are extremely grateful for the Lemon family's generous gift to the research institute,” said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and vice president for health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech.
Recruitment for the new building's research teams began earlier this summer.
"The Lemon family's gift will help us competitively recruit and retain the very best people to advance the pace and impact of discovery and the translation of those discoveries to practice in the key health areas that we have targeted,” said Friedlander.
This generous gift to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute was contributed by the Lemon family, which along with William Lemon and his late wife, Barbara, includes their children Sarah Ludwig, Tucker Lemon, and Stephen Lemon.
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Oakey’s Receives National Recognition for Innovative Programming
and Outstanding Community Outreach
Oakey’s
has been honored by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) with the 2019 Pursuit of Excellence Award. Only 160 firms from around the world received this prestigious recognition, placing Oakey’s among an elite group of funeral service providers. Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients raise the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards and providing unsurpassed service to families and communities.
In order to earn an NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award, a participating funeral home must meet or exceed business standards set forth by the program and demonstrate proficiency in key areas of funeral service, such as compliance with state and federal regulations; providing ongoing education and professional development opportunities for staff; offering outstanding programs and resources to bereaved families; maintaining an active level of involvement within the community; participating and actively serving in the funeral service profession; and promoting funeral home services through a variety of marketing, advertising and public relations programs. Participants are also required to adhere to a Pledge of Ethical Practices.
“Oakey’s voluntary participation in the Pursuit of Excellence Award program reflects a steadfast dedication to exceed the expectations of those they serve,” said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper, CAE. “This prestigious recognition assures families of the high-quality, compassionate service they will receive the moment they walk through the funeral home’s front door.”
Oakey’s was recognized for programs offered to the community which include the Hospice Caregiver’s Award recognizing the work hospice caregivers do for families in the Roanoke Region, the annual Memorial Service recognizing loved ones lost throughout the year, and the professional training and certification of Oakey’s funeral directors. Additionally, the South Chapel Cremation Tribute Center was a significant part of this prestigious recognition. The state-of-the-art facility built in 2017, offers a beautiful and inviting place for families to gather for ceremonies and elevates the cremation experience allowing families to be a part of the loved one’s journey.
Oakey’s Funeral Service opened its doors in 1866 in the City of Roanoke. The locally owned family business has five chapels in the Roanoke Valley, as well as
Oakey’s Pet Funeral Home & Crematory
, Roanoke’s only full service pet funeral home, which opened in 2009, and
Oakey’s Cremation Tribute Center
, which opened in 2017 to meet the response to the growing demand for cremation.
NFDA, with headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin is the world's leading and largest funeral service association, serving more than 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. For more information, visit
www.nfda.org
.
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Starting a New Business?
When starting a new business, please complete a
New Business Application
and contact the Commissioner of the Revenue's office at (540) 853-2524 or revenue@roanokeva.gov so your business will have the correct classification from the start. Also, representatives of the Commissioner of the Revenue's office are able to guide you to other offices and agencies to ensure your business is properly registered.
The business license tax is assessed on each business operating in the City of Roanoke. A new business must obtain a business license prior to transacting any business. Business licenses must be renewed annually on or before March 1, and a renewal notice will be sent to each business.
To learn more, please visit the Featured BizLink above.
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Spotlight on Business
Elevating Your Image
What you wear can mean as much as what you say.
Did you know that dark colors command authority? How about that greens make people seem warm and friendly? People have both physical and emotional reactions to the clothing tones worn by others. Realizing how color influences responses while recognizing what shades look best on you can make a big difference in your professional success.
Elevating Your Image
was founded in 2017 by Beth Garrett. She was fascinated with how color could transform one’s appearance initially, but as she discovered how much it could affect the behavior of others, she evolved it into a business that supports business leaders and managers. Garrett specializes in helping men and women identify their personal color palette while also providing consultation to clients who want to choose the right colors to help achieve a particular aim.
Garrett states, “Those who have not strategically included their wardrobe as part of their career plan are missing a key piece of being able to make a great first impression. We all know that rarely is there an opportunity for a first impression “do over,” so, it is important to get it right the first time.”
Garrett, is a certified Image/Color Consultant. She works with clients to help them create the right image designed around how to best project for success. She notes that many leaders spend time contemplating what colors and logos are best for branding their businesses, but neglect identifying the right colors and styles for branding their personal image.
Creating a successful personal image comes from knowing what colors enhance one’s appearance, what styles flatter the body type, and knowing how to dress in different environments. Pair this knowledge with the right wardrobe tools and individuals can embrace each day confidently knowing they look their best without guessing. A core service Garrett provides is a Color Analysis.
Few realize there are physical and emotional reactions to the colors we wear. The Physical reaction occurs when a color is worn under the face. Light reflects that color onto the face. Based on certain skin tone and hair colors a reaction occurs. Some colors will enhance the face and other colors will not be flattering. Additionally, some colors can help give the appearance of youthfulness and vitality; other colors can age the face and give an appearance of tiredness and sickliness.
An emotional reaction relates to how others see us based on the colors we wear. It is an unconscious association that the brain makes. Color can affect the mood of a room and can be a mood booster. Additionally, color can influence how others perceive you.
For example: if a meeting, speech or event makes it necessary for someone to be perceived as authoritative and a leader, a dark color should be worn. The key to this situation is to wear the right dark color that projects authority but also enhances one’s appearance. Garrett notes certain people should not wear black as it is not a complimentary color for various skin, hair and eye tones.
Wearing the right styles for one’s body type is another key factor to consider when putting together a specific Image. Not all styles flatter all body types. If someone is heavy set, tailored garments that accentuate the body form are generally a poor choice.
Many professionals, particularly women, have a closet full of clothing they never wear. Garrett notes this means there’s a good possibility this person has picked the wrong styles or colors, that instead of flattering their appearance, is undermining it. Unconsciously, we do not feel good when wearing garments that work against our most flattering features. Shopping without the right knowledge to select appropriate clothing for our coloring and body type wastes money, time and closet space. Garret claims that with the right tools, professionals can save time and money when shopping. She helps clients to be able to identify immediately what flatters their appearance with consulting support, and in some cases, even as a personal shopping assistant.
Elevating Your Image
offers the following services designed to help clients project the right image and dress confidently:
·
Wardrobe Consultations
·
Color Analysis
·
Style Analysis
·
Wardrobe Building/Organization
·
Shopping Assistance
·
Presentations/Education for Teams
Anyone who is the face of a business or is in sales, needs a way to differentiate themselves from others to be successful. And, who isn’t selling something these days? Creating the right image and enhancing one’s appearance is a great way to gain an edge by making a better first impression.
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Virginia Tech BUSINESS BITS
The Tough Side of Leadership
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Some days it is easy to be a leader, it’s a pleasure. The organization is humming along, results are happening, employee morale is high, and life is good. But leadership has a tough side too. It is a cycle and there are definitely challenges. How can we stretch our leadership skills to be a strong leader ready for anything? This month we’ll take a look at some of the tougher sides of leadership and what to do now to embrace practices that will make us better leaders.
1.
Integrity.
Most leaders try to operate with integrity (or at least we hope they do). What I am talking about here is more authenticity. Sometimes we compromise our personal standards in order to please others or accomplish tasks. The tough side of leadership calls for us to be authentic all the time, and that leads to personal integrity and being true to yourself and to your values.
2.
Being intentional.
It doesn’t matter what happened to you last week, where you grew up, how many good or bad breaks you have had…everyone is able to choose how to act and react. Yes, sometimes it is harder than others to choose well. This is where being intentional can come in. Making mindful decisions in how you act, speak and listen leads to intentional choices. Making intentional choices takes time and thought, and is one of the tough sides of leadership. Remember, every decision contributes to a trajectory.
3.
Discomfort.
All the magic happens outside of your comfort zone. How often do you go there? How often do you take a deep breath and say the risky words? Being uncomfortable helps develop your leadership capacity. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes!
4.
Distance yourself from Outcomes.
You can plan your day, plan an event, or plan a presentation. What you can’t plan is the outcome. It is wise to consider the outcome you want, set intentions and plan strategically, but the tough side of leadership calls for us not to base our success on the outcomes. In this way we enjoy the process so much more.
5.
Legacy.
Often we have a discussion about what we want to be known for at the end of our life. I would challenge you to consider how you operate every day instead. Every day we wake up and choose what to do and what impact to make. Those decisions add up to your character and reputation! What legacy do you want to leave today?
Business Bits
is brought to you by Lesa Hanlin (
Lesa@vt.edu
), Virginia Tech, Executive Director, Roanoke Regional Initiatives (540-767-6100).
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Virginia's Blue Ridge Tourism Edging Closer to $1 Billion Economic Impact
Becoming increasingly popular as a mountain vacation destination, visitors to Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) spent
$892 million dollars in direct spending
during 2018, up from $850 million in 2017.
Regional tourism also supported over 8,000 jobs and contributed $64 million in state and local tax collections.
This marks the 9th consecutive year of record growth.
“We experienced an incredible $42 million expansion in only one year,” commented
Landon Howard, President of Visit Virginia Blue Ridge
. “Working with our five jurisdictional partners including the Cities of Roanoke and Salem as well as the Counties of Franklin, Botetourt, and Roanoke along with our 1,500 industry partners, we are together reaching new heights for VBR as a destination”.
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Virginia Western begins monthly information sessions Oct. 8
for Community College Access Program (CCAP)
Students, parents invited to learn more about scholarship program and deadlines.
Parents and students interested in learning more about Virginia Western’s Community College Access Program (CCAP) are invited to attend any of the public information sessions planned in October through January 2020. The 2020 CCAP application period opened Oct. 1 and closes Feb. 1, 2020.
Administrators from the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation and Office of Financial Aid will be on hand to answer questions about CCAP, which provides up to three years of tuition for Roanoke Valley high school graduates who meet program requirements.
The following meetings will be held in Whitman Theatre on the campus of Virginia Western, 3095 Colonial Avenue in Roanoke. (For a map and parking information, see
virginiawestern.edu/about
)
Oct. 8, 2019:
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Nov. 7, 2019:
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Dec. 10, 2019:
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Jan. 9, 2020:
6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Virginia Western Educational Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with Virginia Western Community College, raises support for CCAP through a public/private funding partnership. Since 2008, more than 2,830 Roanoke Valley students have participated in the program.
Supporting CCAP’s Future:
The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation has embarked on a fundraising campaign to support the evolution of its transformative Community College Access Program. Program enhancements include part-time eligibility, three years for completion, and the inclusion of the acquisition of industry-recognized certificates and credentials.
For more information about how you can join the localities, businesses, foundations, alumni, parents and friends that make college possible, contact Amanda Mansfield, Philanthropy Director;
Virginia Western Community College is a forward-thinking community college inspiring individual, community and economic transformation. It provides quality educational opportunities that empower students for success and strengthen communities. The college provides credit academic programs and non-credit workforce training along with distance learning online and dual enrollment courses in area high schools. To learn more, visit
www.virginiawestern.edu
.
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The City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development is on
Facebook
and
Instagram
! Please "like" or "follow" us today!
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Don't forget...BizRoanoke is on
RVTV
Channel 3!
BizRoanoke is a monthly television program highlighting economic activity and programs
within the City of Roanoke.
Tune into RVTV Channel 3 to learn more, access it on our website at
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Check it Out!
City Owned Available Property
The City of Roanoke has a variety of properties, from existing buildings to buildable sites,
presently available for acquisition. The purchase of City property must be approved by Council; this requires potential buyers to submit a proposal for the property.
For more information on available properties and the proposal process, please visit the links below:
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Take the Ride Smart Challenge!
Join RIDE Solutions in taking
100,000
miles off the road this October by taking the Ride Smart Challenge!
Bike, walk, carpool, take the bus, or telework instead of driving alone for trips throughout the month. Every trip counts – your telecommute to work, your bike trip to the grocery store, your bus trip to see a friend: every mile taken off the road helps!
Every trip you log brings us closer to 100,000 miles. And every trip also earns you points you can cash in for valuable rewards, as well as the chance to win dozens of weekly prize drawings for RIDE Solutions swag, gift certificates, and more! Plus, the individual who logs the most trips will win a RIDE Solutions prize pack including a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.com or the local business of their choice.
Finally, area organizations will be competing to log the most total trips and most trips by mode. Every time you log a trip, it counts towards your organizations race. So let’s see who leads the pack by the end of October!
How does it work?
Easy! Download the RIDE Solutions app or
register/log in
and start logging your trips – that’s all there is to it! You can follow the event progress on the main page to see the impact the Ride Smart Challenge is having in the region, and every trip you log automatically counts towards your organization’s race.
You’ll earn points like you always have, plus we’ll draw randomly each week from everyone who’s logged a trip for our dozens of weekly prizes.
Why Ride Smart?
Every mile not driven has benefits that impact us right here in central and southwest Virginia:
- Reduce vehicle emissions that can cause smog and induce health problems in our most vulnerable populations;
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions – every gallon of gas not burned saves about 24 lbs of greenhouse gases;
- About $0.90 of every $1 spent on gas leaves the local economy. Driving less and walking, biking, carpooling, and taking transit more means more money stays in our local economy.
Visit
www.ridesolutions.org/ridesmart
for more information on the challenge and for tons of resources to help you explore your options, from Google Transit to safe bike route requests and free carpool matches.
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Recent Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings in the City of Roanoke
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Council Member Anita James Price and BluSky's Vice President Carey Hart, joined by employees and Roanoke stakeholders, cut the ribbon at the October 1st Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting of BluSky in the City of Roanoke.
BluSky, an industry-leading professional services firm specializes in restoration, renovation, environmental services and roofing for commercial and residential customers. The company recently located to 723 Gainsboro Road in the
City of Roanoke.
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Plant Manager Fabian Farmer snaps a selfie with Roanoke City Council Members prior to company ribbon-cutting.
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CEO Richard McEvoy cuts ribbon with Plant Manager Fabian Farmer and Roanoke City Council Members Djuna Osborne,Trish White-Boyd, and Bill Bestpitch.
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Roanoke City Council Members Trish White-Boyd, Djuna Osborne and Bill Bestpitch (pictured l to r).
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Council Members Trish White-Boyd, Djuna Osborne and Bill Bestpitch all participated on Wednesday evening, October 2 at the Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting of Voyant Beauty.
A new company to the City of Roanoke, located at 4411 Plantation Road is the result of three great companies coming together - Vee Pak, CEI, and Aware Products LA, to become an industry-leading, innovative personal care and beauty products company. Headquartered in Chicago, the company has seven manufacturing locations within the US and in Europe.
Voyant Beauty brings not only their manufacturing expertise of noteworthy beauty products to Roanoke, but an outstanding investment and 150 full-time and part-time positions with plans to continue their growth with additional new jobs.
CEO Richard McEvoy, COO Bill Smith and AVP of Human Resources Ann Miller were in Roanoke to celebrate the opening along with Roanoke Plant Manager Fabian Farmer and HR Manager Geneva Jennings.
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Vice-Mayor Joseph Cobb celebrated with A Little Bit Hippy Owner Heidi Bundy, during a Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting for the new store on Thursday, October 3rd at Valley View Mall. Ms. Bundy is pictured above cutting the ribbon, and also in an interview with WDBJ reporter Pete DeLuca.
A Little Bit Hippy opened their doors in Roanoke in 1999 targeting shoppers who love the 60’s and 70’s. Originally based in the Roanoke City Market Building, A Little Bit Hippy relocated to Towers and is now expanding their footprint to accommodate shoppers at Valley View Mall.
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Tuesday, October 8 - 4 to 7 p.m.
Business Smart Start
Business Smart Start is an introduction to owning your own business. Topics covered include deciding on a legal entity structure, basic accounting and tax issues, steps you need to take for permits and licensing, steps to writing a business plan and basics of marketing and market research. The nine steps to market research are covered to determine if your business idea makes sense. The class is for individuals in business, or those thinking of starting a business even if it might be years in the future. This class is 3.0 hours long so topics will only be briefly covered.
Fee:
$20
Location:
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
210 S Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
For more information, contact
Tom Tanner by telephone at 540-983-0717 or email at
ttanner@roanokechamber.org
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Upcoming Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture Series brings nationally renowned experts to Roanoke. The
free public lectures
are open to members of the general public as well as to Virginia Tech and Carilion faculty, students, and staff.
The Science of Minority Health and Health Disparities: NIMHD Perspective
When:
October 17, 2019, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Director, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
Where:
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
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