The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Business Council has named 18 of Virginia’s most creative businesses as finalists for the 2010 Muse Awards. Honored for extraordinary creativity and innovation, businesses from across the Commonwealth of Virginia are invited to participate and share they’re stories of economy, creativity and diverse perspective.

“The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is again a new and exciting resource for stimulating creative inspiration. The Muse Awards honor extraordinary creativity in business and offer the Virginia business community a forum where leaders and entrepreneurs come together to acknowledge the major role creativity plays in our collective outcomes.” said Charles Ajemian, VMFA Business Council Communications Chairman representing Mediaflux.

Winners of the sixth annual Muse Awards will be announced during the Muse Awards Un-Gala on June 16th 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. It all happens in the spectacular James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing, Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Atrium, including the reinstalled galleries at VMFA.

Conceived by the VMFA Business Council, the Un-Gala serves as a creative departure from the more traditional awards dinners and ceremonies – on the evening of the event, the museum opens its galleries, café and grand space to an exciting evening of food, drink, music and the all important handshake.

“We’re excited to see applications from Virginia businesses that are putting their creativity to work. Each year we are inspired by the range and diversity of expressions,” says Jacquelin Crebbs, Business Council Nominations Chair. “As author Daniel Pink has said, successful businesses connect creativity and commerce — right and left brain thinking — and the VMFA Muse Un-Gala is where we put them in the spotlight and let them shine.”

“The newly reinstalled collections, a world class Tiffany exhibition, and the spectacular facilities at VMFA will provide an appropriately inspirational forum for this year’s Muse Award festivities. Creativity is truly an undeniable ingredient of success, and its application within the Virginia business community has helped to shape the Commonwealth into a diverse and impactful economic region, and the nation is watching,” says John Lucas, VMFA Business Council Chairman, representing RBC Wealth Management.

The semi-finalists, in alphabetical order: Alchemy LLC, Barber Martin Agency, Big River, Clutter Cleaner, The Extra Gear, Farm to Family, Floricane, Fountainhead Properties, Green Modern Kits.com, Grow Up With Books, Gunther’s Gourmet Groceries, LLC, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgery and Dental Care, Hookum LLC, La Flor De Mayo,  Madison+Main, Marz Industries, Inc., The Pediatric Connection, Snagajob, SproutLaunch, and Taboo.

Choosing this year’s semi-finalists was difficult. “These were tough decisions,” says Dave Martin, Business Council Member representing Martin Branding Worldwide. “There were some real challenges in confirming the initial 18 companies, a testament to the exciting businesses we discover in this process. We encourage every nominee to continue their outstanding efforts – a number that were left on the table are strongly encouraged to apply again next year.”

Of 18 semi-finalists, nine companies will be selected as Muse Awards winners, one of which will be named “Top Muse” for exceptional creativity. “These nine will be selected by an impressive group of judges, who will review each of the 18 semi-finalists’ applications and select the final nine 2010 winners,” Muse Judges Chairman, Eric Taylor, a VMFA Business Council member representing Genworth Financial, described the judging panel for Muse 2010. “We have a wonderfully accomplished panel of judges for the Muse Awards this year, featuring leaders from different disciplines lending their talents and depth to the judging process.” The 2010 panel includes:

- Mark Foust -Vice President, Communications, HCA Virginia
- Hugh Gouldthorpe -Head Cheerleader, SVP Quality and Communications, Owens and Minor
- Jean Peters- Managing Director, Golden Seeds
- W. Olen Thomas- Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Union First Market Bankshares
- Gregory H. Wingfield- President and CEO, Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc

Muse Award winners receive the now iconic Muse Spiral trophy, a complimentary, one-year Corporate Patron membership (valued at $1,000-1,999), mention in statewide VMFA press releases, as well as recognition in a variety of mediums at the event, online, and in print media – not to mention Muse bragging rights.

For tickets and information, visit www.vmfamuseawards.com or contact Elizabeth Lowsley-Williams, VMFA Corporate Relations Manager, at 804-340-1469 or elizabeth.lowsley-williams@vmfa.museum.

The 2010 Muse Awards Key Sponsors include: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Comcast Spotlight, Genworth Financial, RBC Wealth Management, Richmond Magazine, and Richmond Times Dispatch. With support from Dominion Power, CapTech, Intrinergy, RichTech, TechHead, Whiting Turner.

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About the VMFA Business Council:

An association of executives and leaders from area businesses, the VMFA Business Council is dedicated to promoting and maintaining an active dialogue between Virginia’s business community and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. By working directly with the business community, the Business Council aims to highlight and promote the valuable contributions the museum makes to the quality of life and economic vitality of the region. In addition to creating the Muse Awards, the Business Council has worked to raise awareness for the museum’s capital campaign in support of the largest expansion in VMFA history. More about the VMFA Business Council can be found on the web athttp://www.vmfa.museum/Support/Corporate_Partners/The_Business_Council.aspx.

For additional information:

Business Council Contact:
Charles Ajemian – Muse Chair PR-Communication
Mediaflux Corporation
(804) 370-6474 (cell)
charles@mediaflux.com

VMFA Contact:
Elizabeth Lowsley-Williams
VMFA Corporate Relations
(804) 340-1469 (office)
elizabeth.lowsley-williams@vmfa.museum

Click here to see the Anthem spots that we’ve done.

After accepting this award, Creative Director Terry Taylor said, “We’re not content with just creating compelling communications for our clients, Big River turns the men’s room into compelling reading for an obviously captive audience. We promise it won’t go to our head.”

Harris Williams & Co. was singled out because of the strength of its business and its outstanding reputation as an advisor to the middle market. It was chosen from a field of competitors ranging from large bulge bracket firms to small boutiques. “We are very pleased and proud to receive this honor,” said Hiter Harris, co-founder of Harris Williams & Co. “We are committed to providing best in class service to the middle market, and we work tirelessly to do the best we can for our clients.”

Since being founded in 1991, Harris Williams & Co. has consistently beat its own records year after year. In 2004, Harris Williams & Co. and its affiliates successfully closed 49 transactions, with its sell-side transactions alone topping $4.0 billion in value. Consistent with its focus on the middle market, all of the transactions closed by Harris Williams & Co. and its affiliates fell within its stated target market of up to $500 million in value.

In addition to being named Investment Bank of the Year, Lazy Days’ R.V. Center, Inc., a sell-side assignment for which Harris Williams & Co. was the exclusive advisor, was judged to be Middle Market Deal of the Year. “Our success has always been based upon the quality of our work, and we believe this has differentiated us as a firm,” said Chris Williams, co-founder along with Harris. “We are pleased that this has also brought recognition to our clients.”

The awards were announced in the February 14, 2005 edition of Buyouts and will be presented at the Buyouts East conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on April 9-11, 2005.

Click here to download a PDF version of the feature article in Buyouts magazine.

The UCI BCC (Utility Communicators International Better Communications Competition) is the oldest communications competition in the United States.

There are 20 categories, and “Best of Show” awards in print, television, radio and newspaper. Also there is the coveted “Best of the Best” and the “Communicator of the Year” awards.

UCI is made up of natural gas, electric, cable, water, and telephone utilities, pipeline companies, and holding companies. Work submitted for the competition was created and placed/appeared in 2003.