Courtland Jones, a junior at GWHS, and Calan Parks of Bland County lead the boys.
Courtland Jones, a junior at GWHS, and Calan Parks of Bland County lead the boys.
Hitachi Energy’s factory in Bland hosts second dinner honoring those touched by breast cancer
Hitachi Energy’s Bland employees formed a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.
LeRae Merritt with Hitachi Energy employees.
Hitachi Energy’s Bland facility welcomed about 50 guests Sunday evening for its second Breast Cancer Survivor & Warrior Dinner, a free community event recognizing survivors, those in treatment, and family and friends who have supported them. Guests arrived at the event dressed formally in their favorite shade of pink.
Open to everyone, the dinner brought community members and leaders together with Hitachi Energy employees for an evening of recognition and support, uniting neighbors who have faced breast cancer in their own lives and in the lives of people they love.
The dinner was organized by LeRae Merritt, administrative assistant at the facility, who helped care for a close friend through her breast cancer journey. When Merritt moved to the area, she saw a need for an event where people affected by breast cancer could gather in recognition of survivors, individuals still fighting, and those who have been lost.
“It can feel very isolating, and I want to let them know they’re not alone,” Merritt said. “Every community has survivors, people receiving treatment, and families who are remembering someone they have lost to breast cancer. We wanted to bring them into one room and honor them together.”
For Hitachi Energy Bland Factory Manager Wes Strock, the dinner is a way to support employees and community members whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.
“Many of our own employees have been personally affected by breast cancer, and we wanted to make sure that support started here,” Strock said. “Our employees turned something deeply personal into a night that brings people together, and we’re proud to stand beside them.”
The dinner marks the second year Hitachi Energy’s factory in Bland has opened its doors to honor the community’s survivors, warriors, and the people who stand beside them.
Members of the Edith Bolling Wilson Board of Trustees are pictured with Mr. Cary Fuller, honoree for the museum celebration, and Betsy Ely portraying First Lady Mrs. Wilson.
Members of the Edith Bolling Wilson Board of Trustees are pictured with Mr. Cary Fuller, honoree for the museum celebration, and Betsy Ely portraying First Lady Mrs. Wilson.
Stephens earns accolades
Last week, Dr. Josh Stephens received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce.
When Dr. Josh Stephens opened Alpha Therapy four years ago, he envisioned more than establishing a successful physical therapy practice. He wanted to build a business that would make a lasting difference in the lives of the people and community he has called home for his entire life.
As Alpha Therapy prepares to celebrate its fourth anniversary in November, that vision has grown from a small independent business in Max Meadows into one of Wythe County’s prominent physical therapy providers. Now located at 200 East Monroe Street in Wytheville, in the former Coulter’s Florist building, the practice continues to expand its reach while maintaining the community-centered philosophy that inspired its founding.
On Oct. 21, Stephens received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce. The recognition came as a surprise to Stephens, who learned he would receive the honor while vacationing with his family at Disney World.
“I certainly had no clue I was going to be honored in such a way,” Stephens said. “Sitting there with so many prestigious members of the county that I have looked up to my entire life made the moment even more special.”
The award was presented during the chamber’s annual banquet at the Red Stag Dinner Theater in Wytheville. For Stephens, the evening represented not only a professional milestone but also an opportunity to reflect on the people who shaped his understanding of community service.
Among those influences, none has been more important than his father, Michael Stephens, Wythe County’s longtime treasurer. In addition to his public service, Michael Stephens has coached recreational league sports and played a pivotal role in the Wythe County Relay for Life, along with participating in numerous other civic activities.
His example continues to guide his son’s approach to business and community involvement.
“In my 36 years of living in Wytheville, if I could be half the servant to my community that my father has been, then I have happily done my job,” Stephens said.
That commitment is evident in Alpha Therapy’s involvement throughout the region. Stephens supports local athletes at both the high school and professional levels and has helped initiate and sponsor community programs and professional sports organizations, including the Blue Ridge Bobcats professional hockey team. He has also supported martial artist Robbie Ring.
His investment in local youth extends beyond financial and professional support. Stephens coaches sports teams involving his three young children, allowing him to contribute directly to the same community that has supported his family and business.
Although running a physical therapy practice can easily consume 60 hours a week, Stephens said his professional responsibilities must be balanced with his role as a husband and father. His wife of 11 years, Megan, serves as assistant principal at Scott Memorial Middle School.
Stephens also credits his mother, Vickie, who left her position at the Vision Center inside Wytheville’s Walmart to help him establish Alpha Therapy.
“Without the undying support of my family, my vision for this business would have never happened,” he said. “They make it possible that I can have my business and still be able to spend time with my family, which is of the utmost importance.”
He also praised his employees, emphasizing that Alpha Therapy’s success depends on a shared commitment to serving the community.
“My staff and I are working towards the same things,” Stephens said. “We want Alpha Therapy to be a constant source of support to Wythe County and its people.”
During an Oct. 23 phone interview, Stephens is looking ahead to the newest innovations in patient care. As 2026 draws to a close, Stephens said Alpha Therapy will continue building on the community presence it has established since opening its doors. For him, the fourth anniversary and Entrepreneur of the Year recognition are reminders of the responsibility that comes with running a local business.
“We want to make sure that everyone in Wythe County knows that we are there for them,” he said. “We are here for any physical therapy need that they may have.”
For more information about Alpha Therapy, visit www.alphatherapyva.com or call 276-625-6683.
