My former employer, World Access, which is located at Parham and 64 is changing their name, the Times-Dispatch reports:

World Access is changing its name. Sort of.

Beginning tomorrow, the Henrico County-based insurance company will be known as Mondial Assistance. Mondial means “worldwide” in French.

World Access did not choose the name at random but is instead taking on the name of its French bosses.

World Access has been the North American unit of the French travel insurance company Mondial Assistance since 2000. The parent company operates in 29 countries and is part of Germany’s Allianz AG.

World Access specializes in travel insurance, and offers international medical and travel assistance. It also provides entertainment insurance.

Jon Ansell, its president and chief executive, said the company is changing its name because of the international nature of the work it does. Many of the companies it does business with around the world know the name Mondial but not World Access, he said

We’ve been talking about Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market coming to Short Pump since way back in November. Well, my friend from journalism school back at VCU,  Jack Cooksey, over at Richmond Magazine picked up the story and has done a great job on the Grocery Wars and what these changes will mean to Ukrop’s and the rest of the Richmond grocery market.

Within the next two years, supermarkets around the region will launch an onslaught of changes. In an age when shoppers have more choices than time, the list of new developments is so extensive, it’s enough to make the Pillsbury doughboy’s head spin off.

The list includes no fewer than seven new grocery stores, at least three store expansions and a wave of remodeling projects.

The region’s big “gets” — in the opinion of many foodies — are the two major chains coming to Henrico County’s retail mecca, Short Pump. By 2009, Whole Foods Market plans to open a 35,000-square-foot store in West Broad Village, and Trader Joe’s is expected to arrive later this year with a 12,500-square-foot store in the adjacent Short Pump Station.

By November, Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer The Fresh Market expects to open its second store in the region on Huguenot Road, in space formerly occupied by a Barnes & Noble near Midlothian Turnpike.

Check out the whole story for some good reading on Richmond’s food industry about to change.   I also really like the price comparison snapshot feature, so one can all see an example of price differences at the local stores.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak at the University of Richmond tomorrow. Let’s hope he has something good to say about the economy! As for me, my entire tax refund and economic stimulus check, and vacation allowance will be going towards a new $3,000 transmission in husband’s car. Wonder how much that will do for the local economy.

The national spotlight will be on Richmond tomorrow when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak to the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond.

About 235 business representatives are expected to attend the sold-out luncheon at the University of Richmond. An overflow room for students and others also will be filled, said council President Randolph Bell, former U.S. ambassador at large.

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Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, officially started operating in Henrico on Monday.

Altria bid farewell Friday to New York City and joins its Henrico County-based subsidiary, Philip Morris USA, the nation’s largest cigarette maker, in Virginia.

The move was expected, having been announced as a next step after Altria spun off its international cigarette division. Philip Morris International became a stand-alone unit Friday.

The relocation won’t bring many employees to the Richmond area — company officials have said only a small number made the move from New York. Philip Morris USA had 5,630 full-time equivalent employees in the Richmond area as of Jan. 1.

But the move helps keep the Richmond area on an even keel in the number of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies that have headquarters here.

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As I may have mentioned before, the Richmond Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau is my employer. Which is why I’m pleased to announce that cutting edge Richmond will offer Segway tours of the city in as groups as large as 30 at a time. The new “Give Me Liberty Historic Segway Tours” will start this month. Yes, you know, those mini-stand up motorcycle thingys. I can just see a herd of 30 now, bumping along the cobblestone in Shockoe Slip.
Several months ago, Richmond Tours, run by James River Bus Lines, stopped operating the local tour because it just wasn’t profitable for them. Now, every weekend when I work, I have to tell many disappointed visitors that we just don’t have a comprehensive tour of the city. Many stare at me in disbelief.
Anyway, despite that fact that this sounds like an awesome April Fool’s joke — It is not. And, personally, I couldn’t be happier. I think it is a great idea in concept and I hope it flies. Now if we can just get the visitors, who had envisioned sitting on a bus for 3 hours to imagine standing on a Segway for that long, we’ll be in business.

Segway Tours Start at Visitor Center in April
Beginning in April, guests to the Richmond Region can see the city in a whole new way. Guided Segway tours will depart daily from the Visitor Center in groups as large as 30. Segways are safe, fun, easy to use and provide a totally unique way to tour downtown Richmond. For more information contact Segway of Richmond.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Darrell Olgers
(804) 943-2283 or (804) 355-2100

RICHMOND, VA - Those wondering what lies inside of one of Richmond’s most stately mansions can now not only stop wondering, but also can own some of the contents themselves. An impressive collection of antique and reproduction furniture and fine art amassed over the years by the Brown family of Windemere Mansion on Cary Street Road will be auctioned by Motley’s Auction & Realty Group on April 2, 2008.

Built in the 1860s, the three-story mansion nestled on 3.1 acres was renovated and enlarged in 1907 to 11,000 square feet. The seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom house was highly praised for its interior décor and collection of fine art and furniture. Many of those items, ranging from an enviable collection of American and French antique furniture, fine art, sterling silver, Oriental rugs from small to palace size, and china and porcelain, are now being de-accessioned by the Brown family and will go home with the highest bidder on April 2.

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