Thursday, February 2, 2012

Jan Fox, Four Time Emmy Award Winning Journalist

Jan Fox’s 4 EMMY AWARDS attest to her stellar 30 year career in local network news.  She earned 3 Emmys at WUSA TV9 in Washington, DC: Best Investigative Reporting, Best Feature Story, and the coveted Station Community Service EMMY for her work on child car seat checks.

Jan has been a sought-after “conversation starter” – her word for “speaker”, facilitator, and emcee for more than 40 years, engaging hundreds of audiences and thousands of people.  She loved the thrill of blowing the whistle to welcome a crowd of 16,000 to the Circus in Boston Garden.

She equally loves watching what she calls a “shoe drooler” stand up and speak with confidence.  As a Speaker Coach, Jan has turned many struggling speakers into superstars at the podium.  The results are immediate.

Jan holds a Masters Degree in Education from Lesley University, where she eventually directed the Outreach Program and taught graduate education courses to teachers.

Jan’s new book:  “No MuuMuu, Please!  How to Land a Guest Spot on TV and What to Do When You Get There”.  It is perfect for small businesses and non-profits.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Diane Reedy and husband Gary Reedy are co-owners and operators of King Pinz Luxury Lanes and Sports Grill, which opened in Leesburg, Virginia in June, 2010, bringing upscale family-friendly entertainment to Loudoun County.  King Pinz’s success led to a major expansion of the facility in the summer of 2011.

Bringing a new business concept to fruition in a difficult economic climate took unrelenting hard work and determination, drawing on all of the couple’s cumulative business experience.  The Reedys previously developed and operated family entertainment centers in Northern Virginia starting in the mid-1990s including several Planet Play locations and Centreville Minigolf and Games.  They did this while raising two children and holding fulltime positions – Gary as High School teacher and coach and Diane as Economist at the World Bank.

Diane is a native of Northern Virginia.  She attended GMU in Fairfax where she received a B.S. in Economics and continued PhD studies in Economics at UMd.  After receiving her MA in Economics at UMd she joined the World Bank.  Eventually a demanding work and travel schedule caused her to discontinue her pursuit of a PhD.  During nearly 20 years at the World Bank, Diane’s assignments included infrastructure project development in Asia and Africa, loan administration and Treasury investment management.  Diane left the World Bank in 2000 to devote more time to her family and managing the family businesses.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Maria Kopsidas is the creator and owner of Cookology.  Prior to opening the doors to Cookology, Maria spent fifteen years leading marketing and communications campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, restaurants and charities.  She was publicist for India and Australia at Discovery Channel International, manager of online communications at Grocery Manufacturers Association - the largest and oldest food manufacturer association in the country, and director of communications for an IT provider.  Prior to opening Cookology, Maria was a sought-after marketing consultant.

Growing up in a Mediterranean family with philanthropists, cooks, cookbook authors, health experts and professional chefs on both sides–including a pastry chef in the White House, the idea of a super accessible, affordable cooking school was her dream.  Starting in 2003, Maria took her marketing experience and love of cooking, food, health and people and created Cookology.  Finally, after six years of chasing her dream, working on her marketing career while raising a child, she secured an SBA loan, negotiated a lease, oversaw construction buildout, hired her staff, and opened the doors in February 2009.

 Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tina Johnson is President & CEO of JP Events & Consulting, a full service event management company, creating some of Northern Virginia’s most sought after corporate and private events. Tina founded the company 19 years ago and has grown the company into a successful woman owned business.

Tina is very active in the community; she has been a member of the Board of Directors for Loudoun Interfaith Relief (the largest food pantry in Loudoun County) for nearly 7 years serving as Secretary, Vice President and currently, as the President and Chairman of the Board for a third term. She also serves on the Board of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Loudoun Board, the National Association of Women Business Owners, (NAWBO) Greater DC Chapter and the CEO Cabinet.

As an advocate for small business, she has provided mentoring to other professionals establishing and growing their companies.  Tina strongly believes, to be a strong leader – you must give back and get involved in your community!

Pat has been in the automotive fast lube industry for more than 25 years and wishes to thank and recognize the National Organization of Women (NOW), founded in 1966, without which many, if not most, women executives and CEOs would still be limited to the secretarial pool fetching coffee!  NOW’s original statement of purpose is:  “The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men.”  Fast-forward to the mid-80s, and Pat found herself plunged into a male-dominated industry by circumstance.  Pat is the President/CEO of Potomac Falls Express Lube & Car Wash, which was founded in 1997, and is the only female owned business of its kind in Virginia.  Pat was just unanimously reelected to a second term as President of the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA), her industry’s international trade association.

Maybe Pat changes oil and washes cars for a living  – just like so many other automotive service businesses.  But true to Pat’s character, her business is no ordinary auto service center, and she has set it apart in many important ways.  Potomac Falls Express Lube is an AskPatty, Certified Female Friendly facility ready to wow its female customers.  She and her employees are committed to technical excellence delivered in a convenient professional fashion; her technicians are certified, fluid maintenance experts so they know exactly when and what needs to be put in your vehicle.  Her company has adopted a Sustainability Plan that focuses on People/Planet/Profit:  Economic Success for the business and the community; Social Responsibility to employees, customers and the community; and last, but by no means least, Environmental Responsibility that respects life and natural resources.  Philanthropically minded, the company returns a part of every dollar earned at Potomac Falls Express Lube & Car Wash to the community in a variety of ways supporting numerous Loudoun County non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, Donate Life, active and retired military and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  In addition, Pat sponsors Women’s Car Care Clinics for women and teens to empower them to know how to properly take care of their vehicles and ensure they are safe.

In the last twelve months, Pat was recognized as a Washington Business Journal 2010 Finalist Green Business Awards of Greater Washington in its category of Innovation for her unique, eco-friendly products, services and practices and was named a finalist in SmartCEO magazine as an ECO/CEO of the year for her Environmental Excellence in Business.  She also received a 2010 Gold MarCom Award for “Making Strides in Green Automotive Practices,” and was named a 2011 Enterprising Women of the Year Winner by Enterprising Women magazine – one of 50 women in North America.

Pat is an active member in the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Washington NAWBO, AOCA, International Carwash Association, and the Loudoun County Leadership Council of the American Red Cross.  She has three children, two grandsons and a granddog, Luke.  She and her husband, Jerry, live in Fairfax Station with their trusty Golden Retriever, Sundance.

Featured Speaker for Thursday September 8, 2011

Kate Zurschmeide, Owner, Great Country Farms in Bluemont VA

Kate Zurschmeide and her husband Mark own Great Country Farms located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in scenic Bluemont, VA. Great Country Farms is a 200-acre working farm that offers produce through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and pick-your-own fields, as well as a “fun on the farm experience” for the whole family with its fourteen annual festivals, educational and special events.  A great venue for weddings, children’s birthday parties and corporate picnics, the farm was voted “Agribusiness of the Year” in 1993 and again in 1996 by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.

Although the Zurschmeide family has been farming in Loudoun for over 35 years, they leased much of the land they farmed until Mark and Kate purchased the land in 1993 and created Great Country Farms, with the concept of starting a CSA. Kate continued to work for Verizon until 1999, but then decided to leave to concentrate on farming full-time.  Kate now manages the operations, customer service, sales and marketing for Great Country Farms and for The Stable at Bluemont Vineyard, located across the road from the farm at the family-owned winery.Kate is currently a board member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association Board of Directors for 9 years.  She also served on theLoudoun Rural Economic Development Council for 5 years and served as the chair for 2 of those 5 years.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Richa Badami believes that everyone is here for a purpose and has dedicated her practice to helping people discover their true self.As founder and CEO of Anahatha, Richa helps people on their path of transformation and spiritual growth so they may live their life to the fullest potential.

Born in India, Richa began her own spiritual journey at age 5 learning Yoga, Mantra Chanting and meditation. Over the past 16 years, Richa has studied both eastern and western energy healing and bodywork techniques including: Ayurvedic Siddha Marma, The Melchizedek Method, Reiki, Bach Flower Remedies, Magnified Healing, Core Empowerment, Massage, Medicine Dharma Reiki and Fire Walking. Richa started Anahatha in India in 1996, bringing her practice to the US in 2002. Anahatha holds weekend retreats, one day and half day workshops and seminars, the I AM Consciousness™ 21 week meditation course as well as Reiki Level 1 and 2 Classes.

Richa lives in Ashburn, Virginia with her husband and three beautiful daughters.

Featured Speaker for Thursday July 14, 2011 

Dr. Thara, heads the Integrative Holistic Medical Department at Parma Spa and Center for Health and Medicine. She grew up in Bangalore India and was exposed to Ayurveda at an early age. She learned the importance of tuning into your true nature, nourishing your mind-body in order to maintain vibrant health.

Dr. Thara Kodandaramachandra is a Board Certified Alternative Medical Practitioner and has practiced and taught Ayurvedic Medicine for the last 10 years including a stint of teaching physicians at the prestigious Columbia University in New York.

After graduating from Banglore University, India with a bachelor’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, where she was trained and gained exposure in Western and Eastern Medicine to earn a truly integrated background. She continued on with post graduate studies in Mumbai to receive her Certification in Panchakarma Specialization (Detoxification). She went on to work at the prestigious Indus Valley Ayurvedic Healing Center in India, with many accolades of fame bringing in international following to experience Ayurveda in India.

Her years of experience involved taking clinical care of patients, consulting and prescribing therapeutic regimens leading to fame early on in her career. She was also certified as a Chopra Center Health Practitioner by the Chopra Center in Carlsbad California.

Dr. Thara moved to the United States in 2005 where she joined the Chopra Center and Spa in New York where again she treated patients with different ailments, gender and treating them by the Holistic Medical approach with the natural treatment and­ therapies to evolve into achieving ideal health. Dr. Thara has held mind-body workshops in New York and has been featured in the New York Times.

Ayurveda is the ancient system of healing from India and has captured the attention of the West including the National Institute of Health which is conducting studies in Bangalore. The John Hopkins School of Medicine is offering a longer integrated Medical program synergizing allopathic and alternative schools of Medicine.

Featured Speaker for Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Caren Merrick, webMethods, Inc.

Caren Merrick is a partner with Bibury Partners, an angel fund for early stage technology companies.

Caren is on the board of directors with VisualCV, an innovative online resume and corporate talent management solution.

She was cofounder of enterprise software company, webMethods, Inc. which she and her husband, Phillip, started in their basement, grew it through many challenges and obstacles, and took public on the Nasdaq (WEBM).  She served on the executive management team and led global marketing for the company, helping it to expand to Europe and Asia.

webMethods grew to 1,100 employees worldwide and revenues of nearly $250million.

webMethods was sold to SoftwareAG in Herndon in 2007.

Caren has served on the board of Inova Health Care Services, Greater DC Cares, The Langley School, Fairfax Symphony, and the Advisory Board of Charity Works.

Caren is the first woman in her family to earn a college education, and supported herself through college to earn a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Caren believes that education is the key to realizing opportunity, growth, and success.

She was cofounder and chairman of the webMethods Foundation and chief architect of this innovative nonprofit that empowered employees of webMethods to become engaged in our community through volunteerism and volunteer leadership, and also make grants to entrepreneurial nonprofits that helped low income families achieve their potential in education, work, and life.

Most recently, Caren was appointed to the Governor’s bi-partisan Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission where she made recommendations on how to make Virginia the best place to start and grow a business.

She is a Guest Lecturer at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and Women Corporate Directors.

Ms. Merrick has been a contributor to Politico.com’s Arena, and enjoys sharing her passion and experiences in business and entrepreneurship through speaking and writing.

Caren has been recognized by Volunteer Fairfax with it’s annual Community Champion award, by the Women’s Center of Vienna with their Annual Leadership Award, and was a nominee of the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award which was chaired by the late actor Paul Newman. In May of this year she was named a Tech Titan: Top 100 Technology Leaders by Washingtonian magazine.

Caren moved to Northern Virginia in 1988, has been married to her husband Phillip for nearly 18 years, and they have two sons in the 3^rd and 6^th grades. Her family enjoys fishing, hiking, sailing their Hobie Cat, volunteering, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and church activities.

For more on Caren, see her VisualCV at VisualCV.com/CarenMerrick.

Thursday, May 12th!!

Meet Jen Sterling. Also known as Red.

Jen is president and founder of Red Thinking.

For almost 20 years Jen has helped companies build awareness and brand preference in the marketplace.

Jen was previously the president and co-founder of Hinge where she led the charge for eight years in professional services strategic branding and marketing. She left the firm in early 2010. Prior to Hinge she was the president and founder of a design firm called Spot Color from 1992 to 2002.

Jen is a graduate of Leadership Fairfax and serves on several boards in the Northern Virginia area, including Leadership Fairfax, the Fairfax County Parks Foundation, Entrepreneur’s Organization, Devotion to Children, Initiative for Public Art—Reston, Let’s Help Kids and several private company boards. Her community leadership positions include Chairman of Success in the City, Past Chairman of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Past Chairman of the INC.spire incubator. She is an active mentor for emerging businesses through the Small Business Development Center. Jen was recognized as a finalist for the 2010 Enterprising Women of the Year award and as a winner of the 2010 Hot Momma’s Project providing leadership role models to women and girls globally.

Jen is a graduate of George Washington University where she received a BA in Visual Communications with a minor in Psychology. Today, she speaks frequently to audiences on the topics of branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. In her other life, Jen is a proud wife and mother to her 7-year-old daughter.