New to pythons

[distaff]

I am new to the world of pythons and have a few questions that I'm hoping people with real experience can answer. I work at a wildlife rehab center that also takes in abandoned exotic animals for veterinary care until they can be placed in good homes. A few months ago a small ball python was found in the street and brought to us (he was 236 g). Our vets said he was perfectly healthy, and just needed to gain some weight. I ended up fostering him for two months and absolutely fell in love with him. However, I did not have the right set up / cage / etc and so when a great home came available, I gave him up. Since then I have been wanting to get one of my own. I have been slowly gathering equipment and supplies, and now I think I'm ready to start looking for a snake.
Now to my question, I'm not comfortable buying from petsmart, the employees could not tell me where the snakes come from. One said they were captive bred from a "good" breeder, another said they were imports (I'm assuming they were wild caught or imported from Africa), and the manager said that they came from various "sources". So there will be a reptile expo in Richmond VA next month and it's not too far of a drive for me, and I was wondering where some of you have gotten your snakes? Any particular breeders that may be in the Virginia / North Carolin / Maryland area that are particularlly wonderful. Also, is it generally better to get one from a breeder?
I'm not looking for any particular morph, I just want a healthy male snake that will eat fairly well and be gentle.

The reputation of the breeder (and there are many good ones) is more important than proximity. The snakes get shipped overnight.
That said, I think Peter Kahl (spell?) is near you. Dave Palumbo (Muscle Serpents University) has a good video with him.