Below read about news, opportunities, and events in Hampton Roads related to your fellow Chamber members.  Submissions may have been edited for length. Members, email Lisa Jones to submit information. A word count of 80 words of less is preferred.

MSA, P.C. would like to congratulate President and Founder Robert S. Miller, III, PE, FNSPE, who was recently inducted to the Hardy Cross Hall of Fame by the Old Dominion University Civil and Environmental Visiting Council (ODU CEEVC). Miller was honored by the Norfolk Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the ODU CEEVC at the 2013 Annual Engineer’s Week Banquet, sponsored by the Engineers Club of Hampton Roads. The Hardy Cross Hall of Fame Award is given yearly to one engineer whose lifetime contributions to professional and community service have significantly advanced the engineering profession.www.msaonline.com.

Eternawell Comprehensive Wellness is hosting an open house on June 8, in North Suffolk, Virginia, to celebrate their Grand Opening. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with opening remarks beginning at 11:30 a.m. This day will also serve as a Family Wellness Event including area vendors, family activities and a prize giveaway every 30 minutes with free services. Service will include, personal training, nutrition, massage, yoga, stress management & cooking classes. There will also be information on in-home and corporate wellness. www.eternawell.com.

The Virginia Aquarium’s Mentoring Young Scientists (MYS) program was selected by a panel of community judges to receive a 2013 Hampton Roads Volunteer Achievement Award in the Youth Group Category.  Accepting the honor at the Awards Dinner on April 24 was Aquarium Educator and MYS Coordinator Jovonne Vrechek. She was joined by MYS Volunteer Jeff Stewart and two students who participate in the MYS program, Morgan Will and Esteban Martinez www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

Butterflies grace Virginia Aquarium upland river room and IMAX screen this Summer!Imagine seeing the miracle of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, gently waving its wings to dry them in preparation for its first flight. Experience the lighter-than-air touch of a butterfly landing on your sleeve, or daintily sipping nectar from your hand. The Aquarium presents an immersive butterfly experience, in its Upland River Room beginning June 1^st. You can watch them come to life through emergence boxes, and feed them yourself. The exhibit is included with Aquarium admission. For more information, call (757) 385-FISH (3474) or visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

The Virginia Aquarium presents: Dolphin watching, daily beginning May 25! Observe bottlenose dolphins and their dynamic behaviors during a 90-minute ocean excursion. Experienced educators on board will introduce you to Virginia’s favorite spring and summer guests. Call 757 385-FISH for more information or visit www.virginiaaquarium.com for the schedule. Admission FEE: $21 per adult (12 years & over); $15 per child (4 – 11 years old). Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed. Trips may be cancelled due to boating conditions.

Join the Virginia Aquarium in Cruise the Creek, daily beginning May 25! Explore Owls Creek during a gentle 30-minute pontoon cruise focused on salt marsh ecology. Scan the mudflats for fiddler crabs and animal tracks, listen for the calls of osprey and kingfishers, and look for signs of muskrat and otter activities. Admission fee: $7 per person; $5 for members per combo tickets. For more information, call (757) 385-FISH or visit http://www.virginiaaquarium.com

The Virginia Aquarium presents: Ocean Collections - a boat trip that explores coastal waters with a hands-on approach. Guests will assist with the collection of fish, study creatures up-close and watch for pelicans and marine life. This trip is only offered on Fridays, July 6 - August 31, 3:00pm-4:15pm. Admission fee: $19 for adults and $14 for children (4-11 years old). For more information, call (757) 385-FISH or visit www.virginiaaquarium.com.

Don’t miss out on PREMIUM EXPERIENCES!  Guests can enhance their visits to the Virginia Aquarium by purchasing Premium Experiences. This includes the immersive experience Seal Splash (summer only) as well as Behind the Scene Tours with seals, sea turtles and sharks.BONUS EXPERIENCES,free with Aquarium admission. For more information, call (757) 385-FISH or visit http://www.virginiaaquarium.com.

The Virginia Aquarium presents: Wildflower Wednesdays! Join us in the Wildflower Garden, outside the Bay & Ocean Pavilion, to learn how to turn your yard into a backyard habitat to attract butterflies. Fun butterfly crafts and activities will also be offered. This schedule runs June through August, from 10:00am-2:00pm. For more information, call (757) 385-FISH or visit http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/.

The Virginia Aquarium will make a splash!  Come celebrate World Ocean's Day 2013 scheduled for June 8, from 11:00am – 3:00pm. Enjoy a day full of fun, story times and activity carts to help Aquarium guests learn more about the marine environment.  A "fishy fun" scavenger hunt will lead guests on a tour through the Ocean Pavilion to find clues to unlock a treasure chest filled with prizes. Meet divers in the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium and find out what it's like to be underwater with the fishes. Participate in other fun activities throughout the day. For more information, call (757) 385-FISH or visit www.virginiaaquarium.com.

The Virginia Aquarium presents: Discovery Days for children aged 4-6.Programs include age appropriate discussions, activities and crafts. All programs are from 2pm-3:15 pm in the Marsh Pavilion Discovery Room unless otherwise noted. Admission Fee: $7 members, $10 non-members. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Call (757) 385-0278 or email programs@VirginiaAquarium.com  for more information.

The Virginia Aquarium presents: Just for Toddlers, free with paid admission! On Toddler Tuesdays: preschoolers will enjoy stories, songs, and an adventure in the aquarium. Every third Tuesday of the month, features a puppet show. On Toddler Trek Thursdays:guest will participate in an outdoor exploration session for early learners and their parents, and fun outdoor activities. Early Expeditions Wednesdays: bring your toddler to the Conservation Station in the Bay and Ocean Pavilion to solve an animal mystery. These 30-minute programs are all scheduled for 11am, and are held in the Marsh Pavilion. For more information call (757) 385-FISH, or visit http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/.

BizCard Xpress will host an Open House on Thursday, May 23 at 3:30 pm in Virginia Beach to celebrate its Grand Opening.  Built on a 27 year old business model, there are now 20 locations open around the US with 8 more in development. The new store is located at 3780 Virginia Beach Blvd in Birchwood S/C, west of Rosemont Rd.  The event, scheduled to take place between 3:30pm-6:00pm, includes a ribbon cutting and refreshments as guest tour the store and socialize.  For more information, visit www.bizcardexpress.com.

In federal court May 3, Judge Glen E. Conrad, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, entered a final judgment upholding the validity of Ashbury International Group, Inc.’s patent on its modular sniper rifle technology. Ashbury, a Central Virginia based small business, is an eighteen year old DOD contractor, systems integrator, engineering, manufacturing and logistics company serving the government, military, and special operations communities in the United States and in allied foreign nations. Ashbury was represented by Robert Angle, Rob Elliott and Virginia Flynn of Troutman Sanders LLP, and D. Alan Nunley of Reston, Virginia. Troutman Sanders LLP is an international law firm with more than 600 lawyers and offices located throughout the United States and China.  For more information about Troutman Sanders, visit http://www.troutmansanders.com/

Dreifa Letterboxes announces a “Million Notes from Dad Campaign.” Through the sale of one million letterboxes, Dreifa intends to capture the hearts of one million fathers for their children and who will leave a legacy for them through their words, captured in their own words. The Dreifa Letterbox is theplacefor storing treasured notes and cards, those received from people you love and want to hold close forever. Each letterbox comes with 15 elegant note cards and complementing lined envelopes. Orders are pre-release and will be shipped late summer. The Dreifa Letterbox collection is made in the U.S.A. For more information, visit www.dreifaletterboxes.com

The GEICO Skytypers are scheduled to participate in the 2013 Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival taking place May 31-June 2, 2013. During the missions the pilots fly 250 feet apart in a wide “line-abreast” formation. The team “types” dot-matrix-style messages that are approximately 1,000 feet tall which can be viewed from up to 15 miles in any direction and span up to eight miles in length. In addition, people from all over Virginia Beach will be able to view the GEICO Skytypers giant billboards in the sky. The 2103 Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival schedule includes: Friday, May 31, 2013 12:00pm-3:00pm; Saturday, June 1, 2013 12:00pm-3:00pm; Sunday, June 2, 2013 12:00pm-3:00pm. Complimentary General Admission, VIP Tickets are available. For more information, visit http://www.patrioticfestival.com/

Sandy Dumont, the Image Architect, is an internationally known image consultant in the arena of corporate, political and celebrity image and has spoken to audiences throughout the USA, Europe and Asia about Dress for Success principles. Her revolutionary new book “Color Me Correctly, Please” is the culmination of 30 years research in the arena of color analysis and color psychology, combined with power dressing for women. Sandy is an internationally-known image consultant and has spoken on three continents about Dress for Success principles. Her book is available at Amazon and on her website: www.theimagearchitect.com.

Join nTelosWireless as they celebrate their new Lynnhaven retail location with an Open House on May 25. This event is scheduled to take place from 5:00pm-6:00pm, with opening remarks beginning at 5:10pm.To commemorate the new store which is located at 2704 North Mall Dr., the public is invited for food and entertainment. The new store will be the third retail location in Virginia Beach, and the 14^th in Hampton Roads. The store features include live phone bars that allow shoppers to try up to 28 different live phones including the iPhone 5 and Android Smartphones. The hands-on experience gives customers the opportunity to try a phone before purchasing. For more information, visit www.ntelos.com

Emergency Services Training Associates (ESTA) is hosting a three day Emergency Services Crisis Communication Training seminar. Scheduled for June 17-19, it will be held at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel.  For more information, call (757)621-9610 or email ESTA911@Hotmail.com

Snopes.com has received information about a new form of credit card fraud, in which scammers pretend to be investigation agents for Visa and MasterCard in order to obtain credit card security codes. Understanding how the telephone scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. To learn more, please visit: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center will host its fourth annual Sensible Seafood Fest May 23 from 7pm- 10pm. This adults-only event showcases the Aquarium’s Sensible Seafood Program  by offering tasty samples from 25 Sensible Seafood restaurant and business partners, as well as other food vendors. Local beer and wines will also be featured. Guests can visit exhibits and learn about regional efforts focused on restoration, sustainability, and environmental stewardship at educational booths, and vote on their favorite dish. Tickets are $45 per person ($40 for Aquarium members). For more information, call 757-385-0300 or visit http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/about-us/Pages/culinary-events.aspx.%20

The Virginia Beach Jaycees have chosen longtime hotelier and civic leader Bruce Thompson as their 2012 Virginia Beach First Citizen. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Key PHR Hotels & Resorts, joins 61 prior honorees that have devoted their time, talents, and leadership to benefit Virginia Beach and its citizens. Thompson helped organized the annual JT Walk to Defeat ALS, which has raised over $5 million. Thompson was also instrumental in the creation of Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground on the oceanfront at 1^st Street, the first fully accessible facility of its kind for the disabled.

Join sustainable expert Barton Seaver as he Kicks-Off the Sensible Seafood Fest Events! Scheduled for May 19, this event will take place in the Virginia Aquarium 3D Theater at 1pm. Followed by a reception and book signing from 2pm-4pm. Seaver will address “The Communion of the Commons: Living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.”Seaver’s overall mission is to restore people’s relationship with the planet through dinner. He is a chef and author as well as the newly appointed director of Harvard’s Healthy and Sustainable Food Program. Reservations are required for this free event. For more information call (757) 385-0300.

Darren Schultz, owner of Copico has been honored for his company’s sales growth by CPrint International during the bi-annual board meeting in Richmond. CPrint International awards printers who have demonstrated a significant sales growth over the past year. CPrint is available only to printers who demonstrate exceptional quality and service by maintaining standards in operations, training, equipment and software as well as worker benefits and working conditions. Companies from throughout North America participate in the program. Copico is the only printer in Suffolk County that qualified for the prestigious CPrint designation. For more information, call 757-934-2113, e-mail dschultz@ecopico.com, or visit http://www.ecopico.com/.

Insercorp’s goal in designing Windsor-VA.gov was to capture the delicate “small town feel” and avowed charm of the Town of Windsor. Visitors of the Town of Windsor’s website may read about the town’s history or access important resources to include a listing of municipal services, a form for citizens or businesses to report a concern to a specific department, or even a downloadable and printable community newsletter! Insercorp continues to expand its Government Services throughout western Hampton Roads. Visit http://www.windsor-va.gov/ to check out the Town’s new website.

Old Dominion Steel & Container Co., Inc. is pleased to announce that their President, Suzie Archer, has been named the recipient of the Citizen of the Month award. Archer was recognized and honored for her outstanding community leadership, and for making a difference in our city—and the world. Archer also serves as a board member for several other organizations in Hampton Roads, with her main focus on Chesapeake. She is the first woman to serve on Chesapeake’s board for the Economic Development Authority. She is on the advisory board for Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters and volunteers once a week at the hospital. Archer is a past recipient of the Athena Award from the Chamber.

The City of Norfolk, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), and the Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education are co-sponsoring "SCOPE YOUR FUTURE" - a Registered Apprenticeship Expo on May 23, from 4pm-8pm at the Norfolk Scope Arena. There will be a series of events taken place throughout the day to focus on workforce training and employers which provide apprenticeship opportunities. The general public workshops will be held in the morning from 9am until noon to assist job seekers in honing their skills. In addition to financial aid, sessions on dressing for success; mock Interviews; and resume writing will occur. More than 75 employers who are potentially hiring for apprenticeships will be exhibiting. This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.norfolkdevelopment.com/. 

Secured Network Solutions, Inc. (SNS) is an internationally reaching self performing Small Minority Owned contractor located in Chesapeake, focused on designing, installing, testing and documenting the systems and pathways of ISP/OSP structured cabling, fire alarm, security, A/V, DAS, clocks and intercom/paging solutions.  Located on 1119 Executive in Chesapeake; SNS operates six directional drills and the peripheral equipment required to safely transport and support complex operations. For more information, visit Teamsns.com or call (757) 819-7647

The Renova Wellness Center offers weekly education seminars open to the public. Seminars begin at 10:00 a.m. and usually last 1-2 hours. Refreshments will be available. The April Education series is all about public health awareness and includes: A Obesity Epidemic and Heart Disease class (April 6), and an Immune Modulation Therapy class (April 20). The May educational series is all about mental health and fitness and includes: A Hormones class (May 11) and a Lyme Disease class (May 18). The June educational series is all about men’s health and includes: An Immune Modulation Therapy class (June 1), a Heart Disease in Men class (June 8), A Men’s Hormone class (June 22) and a Fitness and Nutrition class (June 29). For more information, visit http://www.renovawellness.com/ or call (757) 622-1919.

On May 16 from 3pm-5pm at the Ted Constant Center at Old Dominion University, Urban Land Institute’s Hampton Roads District Council, in a continuing alliance with ODU, the Hampton Roads Partnership and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, will update participants on what has transpired since last May 17. This event includes a review of results since the 2012 meeting. Participants will learn about the current status of the Reality Check process, hear from Robert Grow of Envision Utah, a model for how the public and private sectors can collaborate, and engage with a high level panel of local decision makers on next steps. A reception follows from 5pm - 6pm. There is no cost to attend either event. Prospective participants must RSVP to Sabrina@rubincommunications.com  by April 12.

Experience the Difference. Pembroke Mall has announced the following additions to their store lineup: Old Navy, Coastal Edge, Bahama Breeze, Off Broadway, and The Children’s Place. The addition of these national retailers is the continuation of the remerchandising of the Pembroke Mall, Hampton Roads most senior shopping center. Off Broadway opens in March and The Children’s Place will open in June. Bahama Breeze, a Darden Restaurant concept, will open its first Virginia location at the Pembroke Mall. This location will also include an outdoor patio/bar area. For more information please call Susie Wentworth at (757) 497-6255, or contact by email at swentworth@pembrokemall.com

Whole Foods Market, Virginia Beach, andthe Virginia Aquarium presents "The Communion of the Commons: Living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed". This event will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013, 1 - 4 pm in the Virginia Aquarium 3D IMAX Theater.Barton Seaver, chef, author, and newly appointed Director of Harvard’s Healthy and Sustainable Food Program, will share his global experiences to connect people, cultures, and ecosystems through food. . His books, “For Cod and Country” and, newly released, “Where There’s Smoke”, will also be available for purchase and signing. For more information or to register, call the aquarium guest services office at (757) 385-0300.

The Virginia Aquarium will host its fourth annual Sensible Seafood Fest May 23, from 7 -10pm. This adults-only event appeals to ‘foodies’ taste buds as well as all who would enjoy sampling from more than 25 sensible seafood restaurant partners. Local beer and wines will also be featured. As guests follow the food trail, they can visit exhibits and learn about regional efforts focused on restoration, sustainability, and environmental stewardship at educational booths provided by participants. Tickets are $45 per person ($40 for Aquarium members). This includes all food plus three beverage tickets. For more information call 757-385-0300, or purchase tickets online at www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

The Virginia Aquarium presents SUNWISE Day! Everyone should protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, using sunscreen, and by staying in the shade. Take the SUNWISE challenge to find out how the Virginia Aquarium resident animals protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays. This event is scheduled for Friday, May 24 from 11am-3pm. For more information call (757) 385-FISH (3474), or visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

The Virginia Aquarium presents Cruise the Creek Trips, beginning April 1!Explore Owls Creek during a gentle 30-minute pontoon cruise focused on salt marsh ecology. Scan the mudflats for fiddler crabs and animal tracks, listen for the calls of osprey and kingfishers, and look for signs of muskrat and other activities. Trips will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays through May 19. Beginning Memorial Day weekend Cruise the Creek Trips will be offered daily through the summer. Call 757 385-FISH  for more information or visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com for the schedule. FEE: $7 per person; $5 for members or combo tickets.          

The Virginia Aquarium presents:Discovery Days for children aged 4-6.Programs include age appropriate discussions, activities and crafts. All programs are from 2pm-3:15 pm in the Marsh Pavilion Discovery Room unless otherwise noted. Scheduled events include: April 4, Copy Cat Mimicry; April 18, A Walk in Nature; May 9, Marvelous Mommies; May 23, Life in a Log; and June 6, Life on a Piling. Fee: $7 members, $10 non-members. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Call (757) 385-0278 or email programs@VirginiaAquarium.com  for more information.