For Angel Hough, who sells land, houses and commercial property with her husband Doug on Lake Anna and in the surrounding area, real estate was the right profession because of the freedom it offers.

Mark Cook has been in the detailing industry for 25 years, and for the last 11 of them, he’s been based here in Louisa as owner of Foxbrook Auto Detailing.

It’s a point of pride for Chris and Laura Denkers that they were able to keep all of their staff at Coyote Hole Ciderworks employed, without furloughs, through the worst part of this year’s coronavirus pandemic.

  Kristy Bazzanella operates Louisa Creative Counseling LLC in the town of Mineral. She launched her business after helping her mother Jean for many years managing Christopher Run Campground.

 Since Mike Kavros opened Callie Opie’s Orchard a few years ago, his restaurant near Lake Anna has become one of Louisa County’s most popular dining spots. Recently he built a large barn next to the eatery to accommodate large events.

Jon and Stephanie Koren are the owners of Lake Anna Tractor and Hardware at the corner of Chopping Road and Zachary Taylor Highway in Mineral. The couple is eager to serve customers’ hardware, equipment and repair needs, and looks forward to giving back to the community in other ways.

Libby Sandridge has found that one of her most valuable assets as a realtor is the deep knowledge she has of her community.

Northern Virginia Title & Escrow, Inc. had been in business for approximately 10 years when its leadership saw an opportunity to expand and place an office near the growing community we all know and love as Lake Anna. It was then that Terri Wood got the phone call that changed her life. …

Breese Brockman (pictured at right) knew she had made the right decision to operate The Boxley Inn when she hosted two weddings for local families in her first 12 months.

Lake Country Marine has been serving Lake Anna and central Virginia area boaters since 2004, as a marine sales and service dealership, located at Anna Point Marina.

A life event and divine intervention are what Katherine Testa says led her to start a business 16 years ago. That might explain the name she chose for her enterprise, Heaven’s Way Cleaning Service.

StrangeHouse Skate Shop opened first came to Louisa in 2010, but Frank and Margaret Molina have been selling skating equipment and accessories since 2003.

1st Choice Electrical and Security is a minority-owned, veteran-owned business in Bumpass. Founded by Aaron Dudley in 2002, they have been serving residential, commercial and government buildings for nearly 20 years.

Liz Wilson is an Associate Broker with the Lake Anna Long & Foster office. She has been in real estate for 18 years, received the following designations; GRI, Graduate of the Real Estate Institute, ABR, Accredited Buyers Representative, and CSP, Certified Short Sale Professional. Liz’s e…

Does your vehicle have a chipped windshield or a broken window? Virginia Glassman understands how frustrating this can be for you. They want you to enjoy hassle-free auto glass repair services at prices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Howard Loudin left his job in 1999 as a company vice president and general manager to strike out on his own. He has never looked back.

One of the more distinctive destinations for visitors and locals in Louisa County is Fifty-Third Winery, with a tasting room in a building certified as environmentally-friendly just off Shannon Hill Road.

Kathy Stiles founded Earlyhouse in 2000 on Yanceyville Road. It quickly became a popular choice for couples planning weddings.

Main Street Plumbing & Electrical Inc, family-owned and operated, is a one-stop shop for all your electrical, heating, plumbing and cooling needs. Large repairs or minor projects, this shop has supplies for the contractor or homeowner at wholesale pricing. 

Jeff Owen founded JO Contractors in 1997 to follow his passion for designing and constructing unique homes and remodeling projects. They service commercial and residential needs in Lake Anna and in the Richmond area. 

Bill Billingsley has resided in Central Virginia since 1992, currently residing in Mineral. He’s founder and CEO of F.W. Billingsley and Company, Inc., a full-service auction company. 

Dan Ferrell has owned Ferrell’s Termite & Pest Control for over 23 years. The family-run business has branched out to deliver additional services since that first year.   

Melvin Burruss has been practicing law since 1993 when he graduated from Florida State University College of Law. Before attending law school, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of California-Berkeley and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford Universi…

Dockside Realty has been helping people buy and sell homes on Lake Anna since 1994. Led by owner Dave Moberly, Dockside’s team of more than 20 realtors has listed and sold more homes on the lake than any other real estate company in the area, according to their website.

Dr. Kristine Jones opened Animal Medical Center of Louisa in March of 1993, a move that she describes as “one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Cogar Plumbing was founded in 1993 and serves customers in Louisa, Spotsylvania and elsewhere in the region. Bernie Cogar decided to start his own business because that is what he had always wanted and dreamed of: To be self-employed and serve the people’s plumbing needs.

Tony Barrett developed his knowledge of home security systems through his work in residential and commercial construction in the Louisa County area. He later worked for a large security company before purchasing his own business in 2004. 

Revitalizing Pleasants Landing was supposed to be “the fun retirement project” for Mike Vallerie when he bought the property at the east end of Lake Anna five years ago. 

Tires Unlimited has been serving drivers in Louisa and the surrounding counties for three decades, offering services for vehicles ranging from electrical to engine to heating and cooling systems to tires. Since 2017, the shop has been run by Jeff Griffin, who purchased the business from long…

Kenny Throckmorton has been working with cars in Louisa since 1979, when he moved from South Boston and came to work at his uncle’s shop. During his time there, he “took a lot of interest” in pursuing working on vehicles as a career. 

Belmont Farm Distillery began selling spirits in 1988, allowing owners Chuck and Jeanette Miller to continue a family tradition of moonshining. In total, they bottle and sell 15 varities of moonshine and other liquors. They also bottle and sell Climax Moonshine for Tim Smith, one of the star…

What started as a hobby and a way to reward her special needs students has turned into a home business for Barbara Kempf, one she could never have imagined.

Precision Wholesale Transmission was founded in Bumpass in 1987. Owner and operator Mark Balita said he decided to run his own business because he was “aspiring for the American dream.”

Billy Rogers got his start in the plumbing business working for various contractors, and later worked as a plumbing inspector for the city of Richmond and Henrico County. In 2003, he decided to go into business for himself.

Larry Davies, pastor at Mount Pleasant and Mineral United Methodist Churches, has spent a lot of time this year talking about how to respond to a crisis.

Herman and Hilda Gibson will mark the 40th anniversary of opening Gibson’s Auto Service in Mineral, Va. next April 20, 2021.  Herman had always wanted to have a business of his own because he liked tinkering with cars.  He received a degree in Automotive Technology from Danville Community Co…

For the past 40 years Dukes Creek Marina has been the go-to destination when it comes to an “all-in-one” stop. Located perfectly on Lake Anna, it is on the “cold” side of Lake Anna about 20 minutes from Lake Anna State Park at 3831 Breaknock Road, Bumpass.

As with many business owners who have found success in Louisa County, Jim Usas’ story began elsewhere.

Donna Sherwood-Graves opened Colonial Florist and Antiques in Gordonsville in 1975. Originally from Gordonsville herself, she decided to open the business there after seeing that the town didn’t have a florist. 

Jean Bazzanella thought she would settle into being a full-time mother and housewife after working for a time for an attorney and at a bank. Then Lake Anna happened.

Hall’s Body Shop and Towing has been helping people get back on the road after accidents for more than 55 years.  

For John Hull Jr., plumbing is very much a family business. His father, John Hull Sr., founded Quality Plumbing in 1968 and the family has been serving residents of Louisa County and the surrounding areas for more than 50 years. They offer a variety of plumbing and remodeling services for bo…

Louisa Auto Parts was founded by Earl Ellis in 1962 and has served the Louisa community for nearly 60 years under the leadership of the Ellis family.

Founded in 1963 under the name Ed’s Texaco, Louisa Boat & Motor has been serving the residents of Lake Anna, Lake Louisa, Lake Monticello and Lake of the Woods, as well as the surrounding communities and counties for more than 50 years.

Besley Implements opened its doors more than 60 years ago when it was founded by William and Evelyn Besley. Their son Brooks began working there in 1961 and took over the business 20 years later.

Maddox Feed Store, one of Louisa County’s oldest businesses with some eight decades of service, came back to life in late 2019 after it was closed briefly. The store continues to provide products for farmers and gardeners, with a distinctly local and down-home flavor.

Serving Louisa County and Lake Anna, The Central Virginian is an award-winning member of the Virginia Press Association.

Rappahannock Electrical Cooperative has been serving parts of Louisa County since 1936. Today, it serves nearly 13,000 member-owners in Louisa, plus more than 59,000 in the surrounding counties.

The William A. Cooke Foundation continues an almost century-long legacy of service to the Louisa County community.