FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kristin Derlunas
Northern Virginia Family Service
Community/Media Relations
703-219-2123, kderlunas@nvfs.org

NVFS Announces Winners of 14th Annual CARE Awards
Awards Recognize Companies that Create Positive Change in the Workplace

Oakton, Va., Nov. 15, 2006—Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) announced the winners of the 14th Annual CARE Awards (Companies As Responsive Employers) on Nov. 15 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. The CARE Awards recognize outstanding local companies that provide family friendly workplace policies and benefits. Additionally, some important changes to the CARE Awards beginning next year were announced.

"Families are important to every one of the companies in attendance here today," said CARE Advisory Committee Chair and NVFS Board member George Lane. "Because you are the driving forces of the community, you carry a serious responsibility to provide a safe, comfortable work environment that enables your employees to adequately balance their work life with their family life."

"All of the applicants provide extraordinary benefits packages for their employees," Lane continued. "These companies are true leaders in creating the best possible work environments for their employees. Getting to this stage in the competition is truly a significant accomplishment. You are all winners in my book and should be congratulated for what you have accomplished."

The finalists were Military Officers Association of America and Ventera in the Small Size Company category; the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and Oberon & Associates in the Mid Size Company category; and Argon ST and American Systems in the Large Size Company category.

The 2006 CARE Award winners are:

Small Company: Ventera
Ventera provides management consulting and technology solutions to a select number of government and commercial organizations. Ventera's work-life policies and programs are founded on an unshakeable belief that taking good care of their employees translates into real, tangible benefits for their customers, and thus for the company. The company accomplishes success through achievement, fun, pride, respect and teamwork. Ventera provides a comprehensive benefits program, as well as a variety of policies that demonstrate in a very real way their flexibility and caring for their employees.

Mid-Size Company: National Council Teachers of Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is the world's largest mathematics education organization, with 100,000 members and 240 affiliates throughout the United States and Canada. NCTM is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students.

The key work-life elements that NCTM offers include an overall philosophy and practice of open communication, flexibility, empathy, and employee involvement.

Large Size Company: Argon ST
Argon ST, is a diversified supplier of C-4-I-S-R systems (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) that provide critical support to the defense, intelligence, and homeland security communities. Argon ST has a reputation for offering the optimal work-life balance, and its retention success rests on the company's ability to make that reputation a reality. Argon ST prides itself on offering challenging work, professional growth, personal enrichment, and an industry-leading benefits package.

Torchbearer Citation (for previous CARE winners): Datatel
For over 25 years, Datatel Incorporated has focused exclusively on helping colleges and universities manage their business processes. With flexible, single-source technology, professional services, and people who are passionate about education, Datatel continues to be an innovative leader for higher education. Datatel has grown significantly since winning the CARE Award in 2003. The company has grown from 450 to approximately 575 employees, and purchased and integrated a Buffalo-based company of more than 40 employees. Datatel has remained extremely profitable in a very competitive marketplace and has oriented and trained nearly 30 new managers and directors into the culture of quality and service.

Lane announced important changes to the CARE Awards beginning next year. Since the inception of CARE, the committee has recognized only one winner in each category.

Because so many companies have developed such creative, supportive programs, it has become increasingly difficult to recognize only one applicant from each category. Beginning with the 2007 awards, every company that satisfies the criteria established by the Advisory Committee will be recognized as a CARE Award winner. All deserving companies may apply next year - and every year thereafter. Since companies will now be able to win the CARE Award in consecutive years, a Torchbearer Citation for past winners that have demonstrated improvement will no longer be presented.

Since 1992, the CARE Awards have identified the best places to work in Northern Virginia. The program was established to recognize companies that are leaders in providing family-friendly benefits for employees and that are committed to helping employees maintain a healthy work and life balance.

Established in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service is a private, non-profit community service resource dedicated to helping individuals and families find new paths to self-reliance and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps more than 20,000 people find affordable housing, counseling and child care; access to low-cost medical and dental services; foster and respite care, job training; trauma recovery; and much more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.

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