ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610280023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Compact disc markets Blacksburg businesses
BLACKSBURG - The newest product from Personal Technology Innovators, a start-up computer company at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center, is a free compact disc that helps residents find Blacksburg businesses.
The Blacksburg Business Locator is part of the reason David Shanks, head of Radford University's Small Business Development Center, has chosen the firm as his Success Story of the Year. The disc will be distributed free to all on-campus students at Virginia Tech this week and will be available free later to other town residents.
President Rick Parrish formed PTI as a part-time business in 1992 and began working with it full time in April. The company has 10 employees with plans to hire up to 20 more within two years. It moved to the Corporate Research Center in September.
The business locator CD provides users with a map showing how to get to participating businesses from Tech's campus. "Hot" links allow users to navigate directly through the Internet to the web sites of the two dozen local businesses that are PTI customers, giving users access to up-to-date information and coupons, and the ability to place on-line orders. Also included is a calendar of local and campus events, and information about government services and businesses. It is paid for by on-screen advertisements. The company has plans to produce a business locator for Radford.
PTI, which focuses on local small- and medium-sized local companies, also offers training classes, World Wide Web access, advanced graphic design, software development and Internet marketing services. It is also an Intergraph Computer Center, which provides assistance with computer-aided design and geographic information systems.
Community services official promoted
Dennis Cropper has been named director of the New River Valley Community Services' adult and family services unit.
Cropper, a Radford resident, has worked for the organization for more than 14 years as a coordinator in the mental health services unit. A clinical psychologist, he coordinated evaluation services with schools, courts and other agencies, among other responsibilities.
A native of Ohio, Cropper received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati, a master's degree in oceanography and a doctorate in psychology from Texas A&M University.
Adult and Family Services has about 150 staff members who offer services such as outpatient counseling, day support, residential and case management, supported employment and living to adults and families. The focus is on clients with mental illness, substance abuse or developmental disabilities.
Cropper said the primary challenge of his new job will be balancing financial restraints with providing services.
New River Community Services is the region's largest health and human services provider, one of 40 such organizations in Virginia that provide services for mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse.
Tech student joins Internet business
BLACKSBURG - Internet Business Technologies, a year-old web site design company at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center, has hired Ben Jones, a 24-year-old Virginia Tech student, to be its vice president of sales.
Jones said his age has not been a detriment to his work. His position as vice president doesn't come up during many of the sales calls he makes, he said.
"I go in just like anyone else and try to sell our products," he said.
Jones will oversee the company's growing sales force and develop a sales evaluation method. He is a part-time student at Virginia Tech in liberal arts and sciences, set to graduate during the next school year. Jones also is a referee for high school, college and professional soccer leagues.
WPI to hold open house
BLACKSBURG - Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, and Virginia Tech President Paul Torgersen will be at an open house for the Waste Policy Institute's new building at the university's Corporate Research Center at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Also on hand will be Leonard Peters, president of Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, and Dean Eyman, president of WPI. The public is invited.
The nonprofit institute helps clients make and implement environmental restoration and management policies, working with government, industry and the public.
Treatment plant opens at Radford arsenal
RADFORD - The Radford Army Ammunition Plant's new Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, unveiled last week will mean improved quality of discharge into the New River because of upgrades in instrumentation and more treatment capacity, the plant said in a news release.
The project cost more than $15 million and was begun in 1993.
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Cropper, Jonesby CNB