Middleburg Business and Professional Association seeks info on job openings
— The Middleburg Business and Professional Association is asking its members to provide information about job openings as the association prepares to represent its members at a job fair in Leesburg next month.
In order to best represent job openings at member businesses, MBPA is requesting that members email info@visitmiddleburgva.com by March 31 with the following information: the name of the business or organization, a description of the business and details about the job opening, including whether it is full- or part-time, basic requirements such as education, whom to contact about the position and how to apply. A sample information sheet is available here.
The job fair will be held April 16 from 1-4 p.m. at the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Co. at 215 Loudoun St. SW. The association is also seeking volunteers to represent MBPA at the table.
“We need the information from you, including info about your business, about the position, how to apply, etc., so that we can be the best salesman that we can be,” said MBPA Board Member Anne Marie Paquette at the March 12 Biz Buzz, held at Salamander Resort & Spa‘s Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill.
The meeting also served to highlight recent accomplishments of Middleburg businesses, including Salamander’s new five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. With Sheila Johnson at its helm, Salamander became both the first female-owned and female African-American-owned hotel to make the list.
“There’s only 220 five-star properties in the entire world,” said Reggie Cooper, Salamander’s general manager. “And when you look at that list, that includes a lot of Four Seasons, a lot of Ritz-Carltons, a lot of amazing places in Macau and Las Vegas, London, Paris, world-class cities. To think an independent property like this would be able to get itself onto that board is pretty remarkable.”
Other Middleburg businesses winning awards this month included three local wineries that received medals at the Virginia Wineries Association’s annual Governor’s Cup: 50 West, Boxwood Estate Winery and Greenhill Winery & Vineyards. Several MBPA members also received recognition in the Loudoun Times-Mirror‘s “Best of Loudoun” awards, including Goodstone Inn & Restaurant, The Hill School, Climatic Heating & Cooling, Salamander Resort and Visit Loudoun.
The meeting also highlighted several new businesses that have recently moved to town, including WW Monograms, psychologist Kim Miner and Little Lambkins, a children’s clothing and accessories shop located in The Shaggy Ram. Other news of note on the local business front includes the re-opening of Second Chapter Books at its new location at 13 E. Washington St., the beginning of renovations at Old Ox Brewery‘s new location in Middleburg on S. Madison Street, and the 50th anniversary of Middleburg Millwork Inc. Lumber & Hardware on April 1.
MBPA also provided information about its recent Facebook advertising campaigns for the Winter Weekend Sale. The association ran two ads, which each reached 3,000-5,000 people, with 300-775 engagements, including likes, comments and shares.
Also at the meeting, the association provided the results of its recent online membership survey, which received 32 responses. The survey found that 59% of respondents found Biz Buzz to be the most useful member benefit, 41% found print marketing to be the least useful, 66% said social media was the most beneficial ad type, 81% said western Loudoun was the geographic area most familiar with MBPA businesses, and 34% said MBPA marketing should target eastern Loudoun.
Jamie Gaucher, Middleburg’s business and economic development director, also announced at the meeting that the Town of Middleburg is planning to host a workshop on digital literacy for retail businesses next month. Other upcoming events of note include:
- Reception for “Haiku, Poem of Spring” at The Byrne Gallery (March 16 | 5-8 p.m.): The Byrne Gallery presents “Haiku, Poem of Spring: A Celebration of Cherry Blossom Season,” featuring woodblock prints by Tadashi Nakayama, watercolors and works on paper by Pang Tseng Ying and a plum blossom vintage kimono and textiles by Susie Lipscher. The exhibition runs through April 28. Please RSVP to 540-687-6986.
- Middleburg HEALth Fair & 5K at Middleburg Community Center (March 30 | 7 a.m.-1 p.m.): Please join us for this annual event! The 5K will kick off at 8 a.m. and the HEALth Fair starts at 9 a.m. A screening of the movie “Styrofoam Mom” with a presentation and Q&A by its author and producer, Miriam Gennari, begins at 11 a.m. Click here to register for the 5K.
- Foxes on the Fence at Middleburg United Methodist Church (April 1-May 15): The Middleburg Garden Club will be auctioning off 36 hand-painted foxes leaping on the fences on the corner of West Washington Street and Pendleton Street in historic downtown Middleburg. New this year, they have added several hounds and also look for a few female foxes.
- Great Middleburg Cleanup at the Middleburg Community Center (April 13 | 8-10:30 a.m.): Spring is in the air, so it’s time to do a little cleaning! Dress comfortably and be ready to sweep up the streets. All ages welcome!
- Middleburg Concert Series at Middleburg United Methodist Church (April 14 | 4 p.m.): Shenandoah Conservatory’s acclaimed faculty ensemble will present a program which will include works by Beethoven and Mozart for wind instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn) along with piano accompaniment.
- Concert on the Steps at the Middleburg Community Center (April 19 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.): Join us for an evening filled with free fun, live music, food and beverages, and good company!
- Middleburg Spring Races (April 20): The Middleburg Spring Races have become the quintessential event to welcome spring to Virginia, synonymous with the blooming of the daffodils and dogwoods. Join us at Glenwood Park as we “Race to Give.”
- Arbor Day Celebration (April 27): The town of Middleburg will celebrate spring with a special Arbor Day event. Middleburg, a designated Tree City, USA has planned a fun-filled celebration to help increase environmental awareness.
- Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point (April 28): Join us for a day in the country to enjoy the exciting sport of steeplechase racing at Glenwood Park, one of the most beautiful race courses in the nation. This year’s race card once again includes racing over the timber course, the hurdle course and on the flat.
We hope to see you at the next Biz Buzz, to be held at the National Sporting Library & Museum on April 9. RSVP via Facebook or by email to info@visitmiddleburgva.com.
