Photo(s) of the Day II: Tamea's New Digs

Tamea Franco and her photographer granddaughter Leilani Pickens.

Tamea's work shoes on the grate.

After nearly two years of fussing and fighting with various regulatory agencies and government bodies, Global Metalfinishing owner Tamea Woodward has finally opened the new shop in Roanoke--without inviting Roanoke officials to the celebration.

Woodward invested between $1.2 million and $1.3 million in the building and equipment and has added a number of employees. She started the project--which is an offshoot of her other business, East West DyeCom--with seven employees and now had 18. She hopes to have 26 in the next 24 months.

These pictures show Tamea with eight-year-old granddaughter Leilani Pickens, an impressive young photographer, at the opening a little while ago. And they show that Tamea will dress up in heels for any occasion, including the opening of a factory.