Reporter's Notebook
Notes and thoughts from the travels of Virginia Business writers and editors

Virginia Business
July 2006

Austin Ligon’s speech in late May before the Virginia Council of CEOs sounded a touch like a valedictory address. The CEO of Richmond-based CarMax Inc. talked about the evolution of the company and lessons learned along the way.

The people listening to the speech at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond knew that Ligon had announced plans to retire once his successor was found. What they did not know is that his successor was being picked that day.

Thomas J. Folliard, the company’s vice president of store operations, was named president and CEO effective June 21. He joined the company in 1993.

He inherits a company that Ligon guided from the concept stage in the early 1990s to become the undisputed national leader in the used-car industry. The company now has 71 stores and revenue of $6.2 billion. “The biggest opportunities are in places where nobody else looks,” Ligon says.

Calling all chefs: A new Culinary Institute of Virginia will open this fall in Norfolk. ECPI College of Technology, a private college, is teaming with the New England Culinary Institute to develop a European-style curriculum that will combine classroom instruction with hands-on experiences at local hospitality businesses. Classes will be held at what was formerly a Johnson & Wales University culinary school in Norfolk Commerce Park.

“The timing of the culinary school’s departure and the need for this type of work force training make the Hampton Roads location very appealing,” Mark Dreyfus, ECPI’s president, said in a statement. “We want to work with area restaurants and hotels to heighten the profile of our regional cuisine and be a vital ingredient to enhance the tourism and hospitality industries.”

ECPI plans to invest $3.5 million to open the school with a staff of 75 and space for 500 students. For enrollment information, visit www.chefva.com.

Condo living apparently is an acquired taste. Last month’s issue looked at the growing number of high-rise luxury condos being built around the state. An accompanying online poll asked readers if they would sell their houses to move into such new digs. The early response wasn’t encouraging for condo builders. By June 7, 85 votes had been cast, with 66, or 77 percent, saying “No.”