ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609300013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: COMPILED BY KENNETH SINGLETARY
Asbestos board has new president
CHRISTIANSBURG - D. Neil Talbert, president of HICO Inc., is the new president of the Virginia Board for Asbestos Licensing and Lead Certification.
The board was created in 1993 to form regulations for asbestos and lead-based paint removal. The board comprises nine members, including citizens and representatives, and is responsible for composing, reviewing and revising all regulations on abatement procedures, training and licensing.
Talbert co-founded HICO in Christiansburg in 1986 as a company that specializes in the identification, removal, containment and disposal of hazardous materials. The company employs about 100 people.
Gillie's Confectionary seeks liquor license
BLACKSBURG - Gillie's Confectionary, which has served ice cream, coffee and vegetarian meals in downtown Blacksburg for 21 years, is applying to serve wine and beer.
"I have fought this for a long time," said owner Rene Gillie. "I don't necessarily want it, but I feel it's the ... only way to compete. ... Our nighttime business has died."
Gillie said she doesn't know why the long lines for ice cream for which the landmark eatery has been noted have disappeared. The addition of a dinner menu has not helped, she said.
Gillie said she plans to serve wine by the glass and beer in bottles from about 5 to 10 p.m. No beer in pitchers will be available.
"I'm going to make it nice," she said. "The people who have mentioned it have liked the idea."
Family practitioner opens new office
CHRISTIANSBURG - Dr. Kenneth Jones, a family practitioner who has served patients for 19 years in the town, has opened a new office at the same site of his previous office, which was destroyed by fire in January.
Christiansburg Family Practice will have an open house today from 2 to 4 p.m.
Working with Jones at his Christiansburg Family Practice clinic are Garry Kuiken, a family practitioner, and Gayle Griffin, a nurse practitioner. Also in the building are Craig J. Barnett, a cardiologist, and the Women's Health Center, operated by Robert Young, M.D., and Linda Morrow, M.D., with Phyllis Turk, a nurse midwife.
Hospital CEO named to bank board
CHRISTIANSBURG - David R. Williams, chief executive officer of Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital, has been appointed to the advisory board of the Blacksburg branch of First National Bank. Also on the board are Richard W. Frizzell, chairman; Ernestine Foresman, Marshall J. Frank, Sam R. Graves, John B. Obenchain, Jack W. Prater, Val S. Saban, Gerald Shoemaker and Paul R. Sult.
Williams holds a master's degree in hospital administration and health systems management from Tulane University and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Hospital Association.
PR agency owner heads tourism project
RADFORD - Robert W. "Bob" Thomas, owner of a Radford public relations and advertising agency, is the new chairman of Southwest Development Financing Inc., a $1.5 million tourism project.
The corporation, formed in 1993, funds tourism-related businesses and projects throughout Southwest Virginia. Thomas has served on the corporation's executive committee since its inception.
The corporation makes loans to tourism-related projects in conjunction with conventional lenders and provides money directly to projects that cannot obtain funds elsewhere. Rates are usually lower than current bank interest rates.
Vatell receives start-up grant
BLACKSBURG - Vatell Corporation, a company formed in 1985 to develop and market inventions at Virginia Tech, has been awarded a $15,000 grant given to start-up businesses in Southwest Virginia.
The company will use the grant to buy equipment to make heat flux sensors using new fabrication methods developed by Jim Terrell, a Vatell employee. The "EpiSensors" have application in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, flow metering, remote temperature measurement, fire detection, insulation testing, biological activity assessment, and geothermal energy production.
The grant was given by Virginia Economic Bridge, a partnership between business leaders in Southwest and Northern Virginia that promotes the economies of both regions.
CALENDAR
Thursday: Quality Forum XII, a satellite broadcast featuring business, industry and academic leaders, including Roberta Russell from Virginia Tech's department of management science, at 12:30 p.m., at New River Community College's Rook Hall. Cost: $25. 831-6056.
Thursday: Customs Update for the Import/Export Industry, a symposium sponsored by the Blue Ridge World Trade Association and Wytheville Community College, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wytheville Holiday Inn. Cost: $10 or five people for $25.
Oct. 12: An eight-hour real estate continuing education course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by Wytheville Community College at its Management Training Center in Grayson Hall. Charles Rhett will be the instructor. The cost is $35. To register, call 223-4712 or toll-free outside Wythe County 1-800-468-1195.
Oct. 26 and Nov. 2: A two-day workshop on dental radiation safety is set for Galax Hall at Wytheville Community College for employed dental assistants who have not yet met state requirements for their positions. Cost is $48.15 for Virginia residents and $157.50 for out-of-state residents. Enrollment is limited to 18 participants. Registration deadline is Oct. 21. To register, call 223-4712 or toll-free outside Wythe County 1-800-468-1195.
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Talbert, Kuiken, Griffin, Jones, Williams,by CNBThomas