Category: Technology
Technology
At times, people at NASA Langley Research Center get confused about which Ferebee to talk to.
Michelle is the deputy director of strategic relationships. She works with outside organizations and companies that want to benefit from the center's research and technology.
Melvin is manager of the Space Technology Projects Office in the Exploration and Space Operations Directorate. His job is to make Langley researchers and their abilities shine within the agency.
"I often say, you need to talk with my wife about that," Melvin said.
An ODU chemistry professor and an EVMS obstetrician have received patents for their inventions.
Patrick Hatcher, a geochemist and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Old Dominion University, has received a patent for developing a technology that will streamline a process that turns algae into biodiesel fuel.
Hatcher, along with his research partner, Zhanfei Liu, applied for the patent in 2007.
Sen. Mark Warner has thrown down the gauntlet.
The junior Democratic senator from Northern Virginia and the co-founder of Nextel said he's willing to put his own money into creating an angel network for startup companies in Hampton Roads.
Now it's up to the technology and entrepreneurial community in Hampton Roads to accept the challenge by pushing the idea and perhaps putting up some of their own money.
"I'm willing to pony up and put my money where my mouth is," Warner told an audience at a luncheon staged by the Hampton Roads Technology Council.
A new study on the economic competitiveness of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, which oversees the development of the industry statewide, questions whether its relationship with the ODU Research Foundation is in the authority's best interest.
The study, submitted by Delaware-based KPMG Corporate Finance and announced by Gov. Bob McDonnell late last month, identified steps that would make the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island the best commercial space launch facility in the country.
Bringing in the new year with a new set of rules doesn't necessarily mean dusting off your code of conduct and creating more stringent guidelines for the workplace.
A shift in mentality could be in order though, like embracing social media on the job or taking a fresh approach to leadership.
"There is a trust deficit among people in how they view leaders, both in and outside of the military," said Chuck Hollingsworth, commanding officer for the Center for Personal and Professional Development for the U.S. Navy in Virginia Beach.
Two local professionals in construction and engineering are among the first of 34 people nationwide to receive a new accreditation, the Certificate of Management-Building Information Modeling, or CM-BIM.
The accreditation, offered by the Associated General Contractors of America, distinguishes professionals with an advanced understanding of computer-generated models and their ability to make construction projects more efficient.
Kyle Jacocks and Mickey Gsell of Clark Nexsen in Norfolk have received the accreditation.
It's been a year since President Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 - and the numbers are in.
Telework Week 2011, an initiative that stemmed from the act, encouraged federal agencies and businesses to pledge to telework, or work from home, the week of Feb. 14-18.
The Alexandria-based organization heading telework efforts, Telework Exchange, found that nearly 40,000 individuals and organizations pledged to participate this year. The initiative saved $2.7 million in commuting costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1,818 tons.
John Biagas, owner and CEO of Bay Electric Co., doesn't like to brag about the growth of his company even though he has plenty to brag about.
Not only is Biagas known for his business skills, he has a reputation as the go-to guy with many Peninsula youth organizations.
Since he bought the company in February 1997 from Shirley and Pee-Wee Culbreth, it has grown from three employees to 178 and now does $87 million in business annually. Ten trucks make up the company fleet.
Whether it's through new technology, processes, behavior modeling, lessons from the military or using the input of many to enhance business, innovative developments are available in Hampton Roads to propel companies into the 21st century. Cox Business and Inside Business have assembled a panel of experts to discuss those innovations on Dec. 13. But we begin the conversation here.
Melvin J. Ferebee Jr.
Manager, Space Technology Project Office, NASA Langley Research Center
By Danielle Walker
danielle.walker@insidebiz.com
Cox Communications Inc. has announced it is pulling the plug on its wireless phone service.
While the company will continue to provide service for existing Cox Wireless customers through March 30, all sales for the service were discontinued Nov. 16.
Cox Wireless became available to Hampton Roads customers Nov. 19 of last year.
