Virginia Beach received one of the lowest customer satisfaction scores for water utility service in a countrywide study.
The results come in J.D. Power‘s 2016 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, which the firm said was based on 28,000 online interviews with residential customers of 84 water utilities across the country.
The scores range from 0 to 1,000 points for full satisfaction. Virginia Beach received an overall score of 668. That was the fourth lowest mark among 30 water utilities in the study’s South Region, and the 12th lowest scores among all 84 utilities surveyed.
J.D. Power measured overall satisfaction by examining 33 attributes within six factors — delivery, price, billing and payment, conservation, communications and customer service.
Erica Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities, said the city is inquiring about specifics of the survey to learn what questions were asked and what residents said they appreciated from their service. She said the city has worked to provide the service that residents expect, including the introduction of paperless billing.
“We always welcome the opportunity to improve our service,” Roberts said in a phone interview.
Norfolk, VA (Courtesy of mamatrains.com)
Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy, a Norfolk training center for maritime careers, was named the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce‘s small business of the year this week at its Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon. The academy was selected from six finalists and received an award package of free advertising and event tickets. The reward package is valued at $10,000, according to the chamber.
The academy’s courses include firefighting, electrical control equipment and engineering watch. The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce will submit the academy to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to be considered for the national small business award in 2017.
Max Greenhood, president of digital agency company Rocketbike, was named the Hampton Roads Chamber’s 2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The company develops websites and marketing strategies for businesses.
Regent University was listed among the top 25 most affordable, medium-sized, private nonprofit universities in the country by affordableschools.net. The college search and rankings site says the list is based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The site gave an average annual net price for Regent of $16,880 and an average grants and scholarships aid package of $7,532 for the students who receive one.
Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer reported the following lease transactions:
Steppin Stones Academy & Preschool, Inc. leased 10,301 square feet in Newtown-Baker Crossing at 665 Newtown Road.
Dollar General leased 9,756 square feet at 3600 South Plaza Trail.
Capital Interior Contractors, Inc. leased 3,500 square feet in Airport Industrial Park at 5728 Ward Ave.
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