In a time when virtual conference calls, emails, texts, and social media have dominated our personal and professional lives over the past 18 months, there is simply no substitute for in-person connections and collaboration.

   As the year progresses, many of us are starting to see COVID in our rearview mirror. The percentage of people receiving at least one vaccination is approaching 70%; herd immunity is increasing; masks are disappearing; restrictions on crowd sizes are easing; even New York state, after 474 days, has finally declared an end to its state of emergency. Locally, the latest survey from the Retail Alliance shows signs of increasing optimism in our local business community. Europe has even reopened to outside visitors. The only thing left to do, start singing a resounding rendition of “Happy Days Are Here Again!”

With the formation of Tropical Storm/Hurri­cane Elsa in the Atlantic Ocean, the annual "will it or won't it" speculation begins. Small-business owners must begin, if they have not already done so, to look at how a tropical storm or hurricane might affect their business and what options are available to them.

Legislation is working its way through the U.S. Congress, and if it passes, would have grave ramifications for Virginia’s business climate, economic development, and job creation efforts. The bill is called the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. But despite its name, it is anything but positive. It is a union wish list of anti-business policies that ultimately harm businesses and workers alike.

After 15 months of varying levels of shutdown and mandated restrictions on our businesses, our economy is ready to boom once again, and we’re all ready to get back to living a normal life heading into the summer. That obviously includes reconnecting with friends and family at restaurants and bars and heading to the beach or mountains for well-deserved breaks and missed celebrations of life’s events.