
DATE: Sunday, September 21, 1997            TAG: 9709190405

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Scott McCaskey 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

JANET T. WENGER ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ASSOCIATE AT CONFERENCE CENTER

Janet T. Wenger was 5 years old when her family moved from Mechanicsville, Va., to Chesapeake.

``I can remember when we looked at a lot on Centerville Turnpike,'' said Wenger, 37. ``There were no homes anywhere around there. A man - my dad later told me it was William E. Wood - was standing there in the field waiting for us.''

Wenger, who now lives near Fentress Air Field, says she has watched the city ``grow up'' around her, and likes what she sees.

``I'm still kind of out in the country like in the old days,'' she said. ``But I'm not very far from Greenbrier and the mall and shopping. I like the convenience that has come with the growth.''

Wenger also said she likes the people in Chesapeake, noting that everyone is very friendly to one another and that there are lots of ``close-knit'' communities.

``You still get that neighborly feel,'' Wenger said. ``Most everyone you see waves or says hello.''

The long-time resident may live in the city's countryside, but she has a new job that goes hand-in-hand with Chesapeake's continuing expansion. Wenger is an administrative office associate at the recently opened Chesapeake Conference Center, which boasts the largest ballroom in the state.

``We've been really busy getting everything up and running,'' she said. ``We've had a lot of bookings, lots of seminars, conferences, balls and trade shows.''

Before coming to the Conference Center, Wenger had another job that kept her busy as a result of the city's growth, working in the real estate assessors office for the nearly 13 years.

Wenger's husband, Dennis Wenger, is a Chesapeake native. The couple met at Great Bridge High School, where she was a cheerleader, and he played football.

Full name: Janet Tye Wenger

Birthdate: August 7, 1960

Occupation: Administrative office associate at the Chesapeake Conference Center

Hometown: Mechanicsville, Va.

What brought you to Chesapeake? Family moved here

Marital status: Married to Dennis

Children: Ross, 9, Ashton, 5

Favorite type of music: Top 40

Hobbies: Surf-casting, and family time, and watching my son play sports

Perfect day off: On the beach in Cape Hatteras

Favorite Chesapeake restaurant and food: Court House Cafe, and steak and potatoes

Favorite book: ``The Other Side of Midnight,'' by Sidney Sheldon