A local non-profit organization received 234 pairs of donated shoes recently as the result of a unique shoe donation program conceived and brought to market first in the Richmond region, and soon to be expanded to the rest of Virginia and the United States, by Carepoint Medical.

Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer recently completed three leases at Franklin Commons, 5640 Cox Rd., in Innsbrook. SunTrust Bank leased 90,000 square feet, Independent Container Line leased 22,000 square feet and an undisclosed Fortune 100 company leased 44,000 square feet.

Most businesses today have an online presence or are considering the process of creating one. However, just having an online presence isn’t enough. Is your website doing what you want it to do?

Some websites actually may have an undesired effect on prospective clients or, worse, drive traffic to your competition. While these unfortunate problems could occur for any number of reasons, usually, the solution is simple and easily remedied.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill is currently renovating 12 of its restaurants throughout Metro Richmond in an effort it calls the “River City Recharge.” Each restaurant will get a complete interior and exterior makeover worth $200,000, as well as menu and service enhancements. Applebees will also hire 369 team members over six months, including 18 managers. This project will invest more than $8 million in the Richmond/Norfolk market and it’s also one of the first markets in the country to go through these remodels. Completion is expected in mid-June. For details, visit http://www.applebees.com

Martin's Food Markets donated $25,000 to the Central Virginia Food Bank Sunday, in celebration of the company's one-year anniversary of converting 25 stores in the Greater Richmond and Williamsburg communities from Ukrop's stores.

The Virginia Eye Institute (VEI) and HCA Virginia Health System broke ground May 18 on a new eye care center in Towne Center West site, despite threatening storms that forced the proceedings under a tent.

A business name is important. It can tell the public what you offer, it can distinguish the business from others and it can cause the business owners problems if not carefully considered.

Many new business owners spend a great deal of time thinking up their business names without clearing the name before using it and then not properly using it once they get going. A business name is the commercial name a business uses and it may not be the same as the name of the corporation or limited liability company that owns the business.

When Virginia Credit Union decided to produce television commercials featuring its members, among the stars who rose to the top in tryouts was Henrico resident Ronald Lanier.
Although he has long been active in the music ministry at Cedar Street Baptist Church, Lanier tends toward the sidelines and considers himself somewhat shy.

As director of the Virginia Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH), he keeps a low profile as well, helping to coordinate statewide services for the hearing-impaired.