Photo courtesy of Dr. Steve Jacobs

Optometrist Steve Jacobs (second from left) and his patients donated to two local organizations: the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center and NRV Cares. Pictured from left: Linda Moody, executive director of Valley Interfaith Child Care Center; Jacobs; Bev Walters, executive director of NRV Cares; and Pat Boyle, volunteer coordinator of Valley Interfaith Child Care Center.

Patients were given the option of donating a portion of their manufacturer discounts to two local organizations: the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center and NRV Cares.

The more than 20 patients donated more that $500, and Jacobs matched the donation, meaning he will send $500 donations to each of the organizations, he said Monday.

But the event is not over.

Jacobs said he is also holding a raffle of items donated by about 20 Blacksburg businesses (about $400 retail value), with the winner getting it all. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10.

The proceeds will also go to the two organizations. He hopes to raise an additional $500 by the drawing Dec. 19.

C.I.T.C. Imaging celebrates 20 years in business

Charge It Toner Company (C.I.T.C.) Imaging is celebrating 20 years this month as a company focused on customer service and strong environmental practices.

The company has a unique relationship with their customers, manager Eddie Stike said in a news release. The customers are also the company's clients.

C.I.T.C. pays its customers for their empty cartridges, whether they are using remanufactured products or OEM products.

C.I.T.C., with five full-time employees, picks up the empty cartridges at the customer's site.

"We're proud to be part of an effort that's having a positive impact on our own environment," Stike said.

Over 20 years in business, officials estimate as many as 96,000 cartridges have been recycled rather than disposed of.

The company works with both Radford University and Virginia Tech, as well as the school systems in Pulaski County, Radford and Giles County.

In addition to Stike, the company employs James Lane (service manager), Kevin Poston (cartridge technician), Trina Stike (office manager) and Amber Stike (secretary).

C.I.T.C. opened for business in Radford in November of 1979. In 1995, it moved to 405 Franklin St. in Christiansburg.

Regional cooperation topic of meeting

This month's Technology and Toast from the NewVa Corridor Technology Council is titled "81 Reasons to Connect."

The guest speaker is Jay Foster, president of SoftSolutions Inc., member of the Roanoke Creative Connectors Initiative and a former NCTC president.

The meeting will be from 7:15 to 9 a.m. Thursday at the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

The discussion will include how technology companies in the NewVa region face many of the same challenges, whether they are in Blacksburg, Roanoke or somewhere in between.

Two of those challenges are finding the right technical talent and transportation to and from the region.

To address both of these issues and others that affect the area's future collective success, organizers of the meeting said, "We need to be thinking of the two as part of a whole rather than separate regions."

Schultz-Creehan named a tech leader

A Southwest Virginia business magazine has named Blacksburg engineering firm Schultz-Creehan a tech/industry leader in its November Best of Business issue.

"Schultz-Creehan personifies the kind of entrepreneurial spirit we have in mind when we hand out any kind of award here at Valley Business Front," said Dan Smith, the magazine's editor.

"Schultz-Creehan has not only been a solid, growing company that is providing high-quality jobs for the region, but it is a good corporate citizen with workers who are treated well and its intention beyond simply piling up profit is clear."

The magazine's FrontList comes out toward the end of every year. The winners are chosen by the magazine.