Virginia Tech is launching its newest MBA program option, the Online MBA, in response to the changing needs of students and the workplace in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The new format allowed us to combine some of the tried and true features of our established in-person MBA formats and online master of information technology to craft the best possible educational experience for students who value consistent interaction with their classmates and also want the flexibility of an online program,” said Parviz Ghandforoush, associate dean for graduate programs.
“We’ve sought to include the best aspects of our top-ranked Evening MBA, experiential-focused Executive MBA and hybrid Professional MBA, both in curriculum development and online delivery,” said Dana Hansson, director of MBA programs. “We’ve integrated feedback from students in all formats to determine how we can offer the best educational experience online.”
It’s this feedback that informed some of the unique features of the 22-month Online MBA that distinguish it from other online MBA offerings in the marketplace.
While fully online, delivery of the new program will be evenly split between synchronous and asynchronous experiences. “While students appreciate the flexibility of asynchronous learning, many shared with us that meeting synchronously best mirrors an on-campus experience. It allows students to participate actively in class discussions and study teams, develop working relationships with their peers and engage with Virginia Tech’s top-notch faculty,” Hansson said.
The program is cohort-based, which means that students complete their studies in lockstep and have the opportunity to build meaningful professional relationships with their classmates.
Students can choose to specialize their MBA in areas where Virginia Tech has significant expertise, such as cybersecurity, entrepreneurism, health information technology and business data analytics. The program also includes an option to study abroad through the international business specialization.
Online MBA students will also share the support and resources available to all Virginia Tech MBA students. Hansson said this includes access to an established MBA alumni mentoring program, personalized academic advising and membership in Virginia Tech’s vast alumni network.
“We’re excited to provide this new opportunity to professionals across the globe who want to further their careers and join our talented group of students and alumni who are proud to call themselves Hokies.”
Applications for the inaugural cohort are due May 1, with classes starting in July and graduation expected in May 2023.
Learn more at mba.vt.edu/online.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has enacted new legislation, which now allows for public sector unions to bargain for employee rights and their conditions of employment.
On May 1, 2021, Virginia’s new law will take effect. This is a major change. Previously, localities such as counties, cities or towns were not allowed to recognize or negotiate with labor unions or associations representing their public sector employees. This new law will affect all different types of public sector employees, which will vary from locality to locality. Under the new law, the county or city has to authorize labor unions in their jurisdiction for them to exist.
Virginia’s New Labor Union Law
The new law reads as follows:
§ 40.1-57.2. (Effective May 1, 2021) Collective bargaining.
A. No state, county, city, town, or like governmental officer, agent, or governing body is vested with or possesses any authority to recognize any labor union or other employee association as a bargaining agent of any public officers or employees, or to collectively bargain or enter into any collective bargaining contract with any such union or association or its agents with respect to any matter relating to them or their employment or service unless, in the case of a county, city, or town, such authority is provided for or permitted by a local ordinance or by a resolution. Any such ordinance or resolution shall provide for procedures for the certification and decertification of exclusive bargaining representatives, including reasonable public notice and opportunity for labor organizations to intervene in the process for designating an exclusive representative of a bargaining unit. As used in this section, “county, city, or town” includes any local school board, and “public officers or employees” includes employees of a local school board.
What This Means
Collective bargaining had previously existed in a number of Virginia localities, including in the City of Alexandria, until a 1977 Virginia Supreme Court ruling that barred local governments from collective bargaining with their employees. Fairfax and Arlington counties are already studying the effects the unionization will have. Loudoun County is reviewing the new law as well. In addition, in preparation for the new legislation, Alexandria has proposed a public employees collective bargaining ordinance, including police, fire, labor and trades, and general government employees. In general, unions are not available for senior or managerial-level employees.
In sum, the new Virginia law will allow counties, cities and towns the ability to adopt ordinances recognizing labor unions and enter into collective bargaining agreements with them. The new law is not mandatory for local jurisdictions, but it allows them the ability to permit employees to have unions. If such union interest arises, counties, cities or towns must vote to adopt or not adopt an ordinance authorizing them within 120 days of receiving certification from a majority of public employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. The legislation will ultimately affect police officers, teachers, fire and other types of government employees in Virginia.
The legislation shows that the days of Virginia as an anti-union state are numbered, and this is likely the first step in what will be evolving legislation over the coming years broadening the scope of labor unions in this state.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
One of the things we love about being a remodeling company in Reston is the diversity of the homes we get to work on! From the original townhomes of Waterview Cluster to the newest condos in Reston, every home tells a story, and we love working with clients who are ready to write theirs.
With many of the houses built in Reston’s early years now well into their fifth decade, you may be living in one and are starting to think it’s time for an update. If this sounds like you, here’s some inspiration for turning your 1970s home into a modern oasis that will stand the test of time.
1. Create a More Open Concept
There was a time when clearly defined rooms were the only way houses were designed and built. It’s very common in older homes in this area. The kitchen. The dining room. The family room. The bonus room that no one really knows what to do with. This often meant the size of the kitchen was compromised leading to odd “U” shaped or cramped galley kitchen.
Over the years, the way we use space has changed with less demand for formal dining rooms and more demand for multi-functional spaces that serve as family gathering areas with informal dining, and let’s face it — once we can safely gather again — the kitchen is THE room where guests congregate.
The kitchen has taken center stage as the place where most homeowners are willing to spend more to get more. The most obvious example of a way to give your kitchen a modern feeling is to create a more open plan concept and increase the usable square footage in your kitchen. This is usually achieved by completely removing walls between rooms. Not in your budget? You can also make a huge difference by creating larger openings between rooms to improve the flow and allow more natural light into your space.
Read our previous blog How to Tell if a Wall is Load-bearing, and ALWAYS get a professional opinion before you take down any walls!
The home below was built at the very end of the ’70s. This is a great example of how removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room enabled us to expand the size of the kitchen and add a large island with lots of room for the family. The dining room was relocated to another room at the front of the home.
In this second example, this Reston townhome had undergone a previous renovation some years ago, but this time around we opened up the kitchen to the dining room, which not only provided better flow and light, it opened up the fabulous view to Lake Thoreau.
2. Flooring, Stairs and Front Doors!
Parquet floors. Small square tiles. Carpet. Painted stair railings. If you love them, don’t change them. However, these are some of the things that really age a home. Some of them are an easy(ish!) fix.
If your hardwood floors have lost their luster, you don’t necessarily need to replace them. Spend the money to get them sanded and refinished. The popularity of hardwood is going nowhere, so if you’ve got some original 1970s wood floors, they are probably a quality product, and the quirks and imperfections acquired over the years make them even more endearing. Take care of them, and give them a chance to shine in their own right!
If you have tile in your kitchen but hardwood floors elsewhere, you may also be able to tooth new hardwood floors into the existing floors. This will require the entire floor to be refinished to avoid a patchy look, but it is possible, and the same flooring throughout provides cohesiveness between spaces.
We’d like to tell you that small square brown/white/yellow/pink/blue 1970s bathroom tile is “in” again. Alas, it’s not. Although a tile called zellige has become popular in recent years, that’s about as close as it gets to the 1970s tile we all know. It’s time to let it go. Want to know more about tile trends and how you can get an updated look? Read our latest blog!
Lastly, unless you live in a cluster neighborhood with HOA rules about what you can and cannot do on the exterior of your home, start with the front door (as long as the Reston Association is OK with that!). Nothing provides better curb appeal and an instant home update than a new front door.
The Reston home below (built in 1970) shows how a beautiful new front door, refinished floors/stairs and modern cable railing bring this home right up to date — but still look perfectly at home!
Meet Reston’s newest Pet of the Week, Hank. This good boy is looking for his forever home.
Here’s what Hank’s friends at NOVA Pets Alive! had to say about him:
Hank is 6 months old, 40 pounds and an all around good boy! He gets along with other dogs and doesn’t appear to be bothered by cats.
His foster mom says: “Hank is a sweet, friendly boy who bonds very quickly and will not let you out of his sight but is not obtrusive — will just sit or lay calmly nearby. He is good at matching the pace of the surroundings; if we are on a walk or playing he is excited and active, but when relaxing he is quiet and relaxed as well. He is a great dog and any adopter would be lucky to have him.”
Are you and Hank the perfect match?
We are proud to announce that our doors are officially open! We spent the past year getting ready to deliver to Reston an assisted living and memory care community designed and built to meet the unique needs of seniors.
Located on Sunrise Valley Drive, adjacent to Reston National Golf Course, it’s beautiful inside and out. We are proud to share that we are the third Kensington community to bring uncompromising care and service to D.C. area seniors and their families.
We will uphold our promise to love and care for your family as we do our own. In fact, we will deliver more comprehensive assistance than many other traditional assisted living communities can offer. Our staff are the most talented and kindhearted professionals we could find. We offer excellent staff-to-resident ratios, which help deepen connections between caregivers and residents. Pocket programs, which are small-group activities tailored to different interests and abilities, foster friendships and boost a sense of mastery.
Two levels of memory care enable us to address the challenges unique to each phase of disease progression. Couples are welcome, even if the care needs of one half of the couple are not the same as the other. Complimentary meals for family and friends make dining together a real treat. And please note, we are taking great care to comply with all COVID safety regulations.
We are currently conducting our tours in-person and are taking all recommended precautions to protect our guests from COVID. We will gladly make a virtual tour available, if you prefer.
No matter what you choose, we’re standing by, eager to listen and ready to help.
Please call us at 571-494-8100 or email us at [email protected] to schedule your tour today!
Visit our website at www.KensingtonReston.com.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
Limited housing inventory continues to be the watchword, though the large number of properties added in the past week with a status of Coming Soon may indicate that things will be losing up soon.
There were 13 new listings this past week in Reston for a total of 68 active listings. The market is very active with 37 properties going under contract and 18 being added to the market in a “Coming Soon” status.
Here are few of the new listings this week in Reston.
- 11705-C Summerchase Circle — 1 BD/1 BA — $235,000
- 1258 New Bedford Lane — 5 BD/5 BA — $1,599,000
- 11900 Moss Point Lane — 3 BD/3 BA — $699,900
A few to watch out for that are in Coming Soon Status:
- 1846 Golf View Court — 4 BD/2 BA — $615,000
- 1829 Ivy Oak Square — 3 BD/2 BA — $419,900
For information on great Reston neighborhoods, or if you would like a free valuation of your home please feel free to contact me.
Meet Reston’s latest Pet of the Week, Adam. This easygoing boy is looking for his forever home.
Here’s what Adam’s friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society had to say about him:
Adam is a large-framed boy. Weighing in at just under 15 pounds, he is long and solid.
Adam is calm, sweet and easygoing. He loves affection and sleeps in bed with his foster mom. Adam has no teeth but that doesn’t affect his eating. He enjoys both wet and dry food. He like toys and has fun batting them around.
Based on his personality, Adam might prefer a quieter home where he will receive one-on-one attention.
Are you and Adam the perfect match?
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Inventory is starting to pick up with a jump in housing inventory to 95 homes — 18 of those are in a “coming soon” status and the remaining 77 are active.
Keep in mind if you are not working with an agent you won’t have access to the houses in a coming soon status. Those can only be sent to you from the multiple listing system from a real estate agent.
Hopefully, this bump is a sign of an early spring market to come!
Here are few of the properties that settled in the past 10 days:
11123 Lake Chapel Lane
3 BD/2.5 BA
List Price: $815,000
Sold Price $818,500
12507 Thunder Chase Drive
4 BD/2.5 BA
List Price: $629,900
Sold Price: $660,000
11428 Tanbark Drive
4 BD/2.5 BA
List Price: $725,000
Sold Price: $715,000
1430 Northgate Square #11B
2 BD/2 BA
List Price: $265,000
Sold Price: $260,000
12000 Market Street #302
3 BD/2 BA
List Price: $570,000
Sold Price: $560,000
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The President is very likely to seek the elimination of all non-compete agreements, except those that are absolutely necessary. A non-compete agreement restricts where and when an employee can work after leaving their current job. Most employees sign a non-compete agreement before they start employment.
Why Change Is Needed
The proposed change is in response to efforts over the past 15 to 20 years where the use of non-compete agreements has gotten out of control and is beginning to cover practically every type of employee. The result has been that some employees, at even the lowest levels of a company, are barred from getting another position, even if they are terminated. It also has caused an inability for lower-wage workers to take better jobs at other employers as their skills develop. If you want to learn more about non-competes, check out this previously published article.
The President, during the campaign, stated that his goal was to:
“Eliminate non-compete clauses and no-poaching agreements that hinder the ability of employees to seek higher wages, better benefits, and working conditions by changing employers. In the American economy, companies compete. Workers should be able to compete, too. But at some point in their careers, 40% of American workers have been subject to non-compete clauses. If workers had the freedom to move to another job, they could expect to earn 5% to 10% more — that’s an additional $2,000 to $4,000 for a worker earning $40,000 each year…”
See more in the President’s Campaign Plan.
Potential Federal Changes to Non-Compete Agreements
It is uncertain whether or not federal legislation instituting a ban on non-compete agreements will pass Congress. There is also the question as to whether or not the President would use an executive order to bar government contractors from using or enforcing non-compete agreements with their employees. Presumably, the President could do so without Congress.
States Start To Limit Non-Compete Agreements
For the moment, most states allow non-compete agreements in some form. This is quickly changing and many states are reconsidering whether or not to permit (or extremely limit) non-compete agreements. For instance, California has maintained a ban on employee non-compete agreements. In addition, other states, such as the District of Columbia, Oklahoma and North Dakota allow them only in narrow circumstances.
In Virginia, non-compete agreements had long been permitted, but the courts here have made them significantly harder to enforce when they deem them unreasonable. Furthermore, Virginia, as of July 2020, enacted a partial ban on non-compete agreements for low[er]-wage employees. Low-wage employees in Virginia are currently defined as those making approximately $62,000 a year or less, so many employees will be affected.
Conclusion
While there are definitely legitimate uses of non-compete agreements, such as to protect companies from the loss of very sensitive business information and/or personnel, some have gone too far with this type of forced agreement in recent years, which has caused the current backlash. There are examples of food service workers or mechanics forced to sign non-compete agreements, forbidding them from working for others.
However, change is coming and long needed. At this point, given the number of states changing their laws, it is only a matter of time before non-compete agreements are only permissible in isolated circumstances. Non-compete agreements remain needed in some types of employment but not in the broad manner that they are being used today.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
There were just nine new listings this past week in Reston. Possibly sellers have been distracted with the news, maybe they are waiting for the so-called spring market. Whatever it was, we are left with a tiny pool of properties for buyers to consider. The total number of homes for sale is 82, which breaks down to 71 active listings and 11 in a “coming soon” status.
One interesting dimension of this pool of listings is that 78% of them are condominiums. The condo market in Reston is slightly softer than the market for townhouses and single-family houses. The average days on market for condos is at 65-plus days, while townhouses and single-family homes have averaged 21 days on the market.
As mentioned last week, the limited inventory is constraining a market that would like to boom. If you have a townhouse or single-family house and are ready to downsize, now is the perfect time. You will have the advantage on both sides of the equation — a fast sale and more inventory to choose from on the buy side.
Here is a look at a few of the new listings in Reston:
- 11529 Pine Cone Court — 3 BD/2.5 BA — $499,272
- 1671 Parkcrest Circle #101 — 1 BD/1 BA — $250,000
- 12013 Taliesin Place #35 — 2 BD/2 BA — $365,000
- 11240 Chestnut Grove Square # 260 — 1 BD/1 BA — $210,000
For information on great Reston neighborhood, or if you’d like a free valuation of your home, please feel free to contact me.
Meet Cute Chloe, a 2-year-old terrier who’s looking for her home sweet home.
Here’s what Cute Chloe’s friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about her:
Look at that face! Chloe is a gorgeous 2-year-old terrier who just LOVES to be with her humans, and at 43 pounds, she’s the perfect size to cuddle.
She came to the shelter as a stray, underweight and with a few scars. She put on a few pounds, her scars have healed and she’s learning that humans are actually pretty cool, especially when giving belly rubs. She is wary around other pups so we are looking for a family without any other pups. We believe in time she will be fine with other pups with the proper introductions, but for now she is enjoying the one-on-one attention, and we think she deserves it.
She enjoys a fenced backyard, but honestly, this is the pup you are looking for if you want a TV cuddle buddy. She wants nothing more than to hang out with her human.
Are you and Cute Chloe the perfect match? Learn more about her.
This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.
Extremely low inventory continues to plague the market — there just are not enough houses on the market to meet the demand. In Reston there is currently ONE single-family home on the market. At the current rate of consumption, we have less than one month of housing inventory to meet buyer demand. We expect record low interest rates to continue through 2021, which is a big component of what is driving demand for housing.
The buy-up market is especially active. If you’re thinking of downsizing, especially if you’re considering a move to a condo, now is the time to do it. You will maximize your profit on the selling side and benefit from a slightly softer condo market on the buy side.
In the past 10 days, 30 properties in Reston successfully completed settlement and transferred ownership. Here are some of the recent sales in Reston:
12046 Creekbend Drive
5 BD/3.5 BA
List Price: $1,100,000
Sold Price: $1,100,000
12130 Purple Sage Court
3 BD/1.5 BA
List Price: $395,000
Sold Price: $400,000
11428 Tanbark Drive
4 BD/2.5 BA
List Price: $725,000
Sold Price: $715,000
1313 Headlands Court
2 BD/1.5 BA
List Price: $399,999
Sold Price: $400,000
1462 Greenmont Court
3 BD/3.5 BA
List Price: $499,500
Sold Price: $532,500
We are proud to announce that our doors are officially open! We spent the past year getting ready to deliver to Reston an assisted living and memory care community designed and built to meet the unique needs of seniors.
Located on Sunrise Valley Drive, adjacent to Reston National Golf Course, it’s beautiful inside and out. We are proud to share that we are the third Kensington community to bring uncompromising care and service to D.C. area seniors and their families.
We will uphold our promise to love and care for your family as we do our own. In fact, we will deliver more comprehensive assistance than many other traditional assisted living communities can offer. Our staff are the most talented and kindhearted professionals we could find. We offer excellent staff-to-resident ratios, which help deepen connections between caregivers and residents. Pocket programs, which are small-group activities tailored to different interests and abilities, foster friendships and boost a sense of mastery.
Two levels of memory care enable us to address the challenges unique to each phase of disease progression. Couples are welcome, even if the care needs of one half of the couple are not the same as the other. Complimentary meals for family and friends make dining together a real treat. And please note, we are taking great care to comply with all COVID safety regulations.
We are currently conducting our tours in-person and are taking all recommended precautions to protect our guests from COVID. We will gladly make a virtual tour available, if you prefer.
No matter what you choose, we’re standing by, eager to listen and ready to help.
Please call us at 571-494-8100 or email us at [email protected] to schedule your tour today!
Visit our website at www.KensingtonReston.com.
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
With record low interest rates and people clamoring for a little more space, the Reston housing market wants to be soaring… wants to be… but is not. Why?
Well, there is very, very little to sell. There are currently just 73 active listings and only two of those are single-family homes. There are 10 properties listed as coming soon.
If you are thinking about selling, now is the time. This is especially true if you are looking to downsize. People who are ready to shed their large homes for something smaller can cash in on equity and then turn around to buy something smaller. Interest rates are so favorable that mortgages are as low or lower than the cost of a nice rental in Reston.
Here’s a look at a few of the new listings in Reston:
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
It’s the New Year and despite the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, home remodeling services are in high demand. The low-key holidays at home and ongoing virtual nature of work and school have many of us thinking ahead to later this year when (hopefully) we’ll be able to entertain once more and/or have family come to stay.
Whether you’ve decided it’s time to remodel your kitchen, create a more open concept on your main level, finally finish that unfinished basement or just simply turn your master bathroom into a retreat, here’s our guide to helping you find the right remodeler for your project.
1. Match your project needs to the right type of remodeler
Knowing who you need is the first step in any remodel. With some many different companies out there, it’s not always easy to navigate who does what. Here’s a good place to start (and it’s one of the biggest questions we get): What’s the difference between a general contractor and a design-build home remodeling company?
A general contractor (sometimes simply referred to as a “GC”) typically focuses on small- to medium-sized interior projects. They are responsible for overseeing the construction phase of your remodel and for finding/hiring the appropriate tradespeople to complete the project if they do not have the expertise themselves or in-house. You, on the other hand, will likely have to come up with the design and, in most circumstances, pick out the materials for the project and project manage it.
GCs are perfectly suited to smaller pull-and-replace type remodels where you are not significantly changing the footprint and are replacing like-for-like in the existing footprint. The quality and price of using a GC varies greatly depending on the level of support they offer, the size of the project and the quality of the project management in keeping the remodel on-time and on-budget.
In terms of a design/build company, a full-service firm (like Synergy Design & Construction) manages all aspects of your home remodel and guides you through your project — from design all the way through construction. They do all the heavy lifting as well as project manage it along the way. Design/build firms tend to focus on medium- to large-scale residential projects: design-thoughtful whole home renovations as well as kitchens, basements and bathrooms. They may also offer services for home additions (though we do not).
Most design/build firms “design everything they build and build everything they design,” so most local firms will not bid on design-only services, and/or the design services they provide cannot be used to hand off to a general contractor. In-house design and professional project management delivers a better customer experience from an accountability and quality perspective, but on the flip side, good design and well-executed construction takes time and may cost more. At Synergy, our typical clients intend to stay in their home to enjoy their space, so we don’t offer kitchen “refreshes,” flips or simple updates like powder rooms (unless it’s part of a larger project).
Do your research and poke around various websites to see examples of the type of work and level of support a company provides. Read testimonials and Google reviews — they are a great way to get a sense of what a company is all about from real clients.
Still need more help? Read Best Remodelers in Reston and Where To Find Them.
2. Don’t play your cards too tight to your chest
It’s one of the biggest hurdles to overcome: being honest about budget. It’s important to have this conversation early in the process so the companies you talk to better understand your investment goals. Your remodeler of choice can be realistic with you in terms of how far your budget will go and how best to maximize it.
Keep in mind a pull-and-replace kitchen remodel is going to cost less than reconfiguring your kitchen to move your sink (for example) or any changes that require additional plumbing, mechanical and electrical work. The level of finish will also drive up cost. From cabinetry to countertops to tile to flooring, these costs add up. Appliance packages alone can be a huge chunk of your budget, so your home remodeler should be able to work with you to determine where to splurge and where to save without sacrificing quality and finish.
