Henrico-based "Choose.It" recently won second place in the Tech Challenge Hanover, a state-wide competition that invited startups to compete for a chance at a $10,000 first prize and tenancy at the Dominion Resources Innovation Center in Hanover County. The company offers customers the ability to request deals they want, as opposed to receiving non-targeted offers from “deal-of-the-day” websites. Choose.It will receive a $500 co-pay for Kauffman FastTrac classes provided thru InnoVA, as well as free, ongoing consulting services from William H. Daughtrey, Dominion Resources Innovation Center’s entrepreneur-in-residence.

Jessica M. Hawthorne has been hired as youth program coordinator at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, an organization that works with schools, businesses and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, she conducts diversity and inclusion programs for middle school, high school and college students across the Commonwealth. Hawthorne has particular responsibility for VCIC’s assemblies, one-day youth forums and multi-day student retreats.

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer recently announced that Ellen M. Drake has joined the Residential Services Group as a residential portfolio manager in its Glen Allen office. She will manage a portfolio of residential multi-family properties in the metro Richmond and Hampton Roads areas. Drake graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and served as the director of property management for Monroe Properties in downtown Richmond. Drake holds the Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) designation from the National Apartment Association and is currently enrolled in the Certified Property Manager (CPM) curriculum through the Institute of Real Estate Management.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA), located in Innsbrook, recently was named one of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Virginia. The annual list of “Best Places to Work” was created by Virginia Business and Best Companies Group. The survey and award program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state's economy, its work force and businesses. VSCPA was honored in the small employer category, having fewer than 100 employees. The rankings of the 3rd annual Best Places to Work in Virginia will be unveiled and published in the February 2013 issue of Virginia Business.

Paul Queally, co-president of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, will moderate a panel of Wall Street executives at “The Word from Wall Street” Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. at University of Richmond’s Queally Hall, Ukrop Auditorium. Queally received a bachelor of arts degree from Richmond in 1986 and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School in 1990. He was a general partner at The Sprout Group, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette’s private equity group prior to joining Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in 1996. “The Word from Wall Street” is a featured event in the Robins Executive Speaker Series.

The Richmond Area Diversity Roundtable is hosting Disability Awareness and Etiquette training on Nov. 8 at 8 a.m. at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, 2001 Maywill St., Suite 202. Participants will learn how to build better relationships and increase their awareness level of the needs of people with disabilities. The program is free and open to the public but will be of special interest to business and community leaders, human resource personnel and those pursing diversity within their organizations.

Thomas Fredell has joined Glen Allen-based Snagajob as the company’s chief technology officer. Fredell will oversee Snagajob’s engineering and product departments and is charged with enhancing and expanding the company’s product offerings and support architecture. Prior to joining Snagajob, Fredell served as chief technology officer at IntraLinks for 10 years. He is also the founder of Membly.com, a social sharing site that helps users capture, contribute and share memories, and serves as a board member for the Knowledge Is Power Program in Massachusetts, which prepares students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.

The new location combining the Toys ‘R Us and Babies ‘R Us brands will hold its grand opening Friday, Oct. 12 at 11801 W. Broad St. Giveaways, discounts, kid-friendly activities and visits from popular costumed characters will continue throughout the weekend, Oct. 12-14. In conjunction with the grand opening, the Toys ‘R Us Children’s Fund has awarded a $10,000 grant to Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia to support wish fulfillment in Richmond-area communities.