I would love to get the real skinny on how well non-compete agreements hold up in VA. My personal situation finds me in the printing business. I am going on my tenth year with the same company, I started with them when I was 18. It really is the only trade have ever been in, as well as the only trade that I could bring in a comparable amount of money compared to what I make currently. In the best interest of everyone's time, I will spare the specifics of the "problems" at my current employer. Lets just say that things have changed in a direction that do not wish to continue with them on. They have had me sign multiple non-competes during my tenure. What are my options for finding gainful employment in the same industry, and in the same city? ANY help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

You really are going to have to take the non-compete agreements that you've signed to a local attorney to review to determine whether it's enforceable are not. Courts in Virginia will enforce them if they are reasonable in geographic scope and time frame. For example, a non-compete that says you can never work in the printing business again is unreasonable; one that says you cannot work for a direct competitor for one or two years likely is not. The devil is in the details, and we can't see what you've signed. If you're this concerned, you need to be consulting with a local attorney who can review what exactly you've signed.