Loudoun County Small Business Awards by InsideNoVa

Extra Edition! NOVEMBER 8, 2013

WWW.LEESBURGTODAY.COM

About this edition

his “extra” edition of Leesburg Today has been produced exclusively for guests and honorees at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Small Business Awards banquet. As a fellow small business and Chamber sponsor, Leesburg Today is proud to recognize all of tonight’s finalists and honorees. Additional coverage of tonight’s event will be published in next week’s editions of Leesburg Today and Ashburn Today. Leesburg Today and Ashburn Today are part of Northern Virginia Media Services, which publishes three other weekly newspapers: the Sun Gazettes in Fairfax and Arlington counties and Prince William Today. The group, based in Leesburg, also publishes the monthly Middleburg Life and produces the LeesburgToday.com and InsideNoVa.com web sites. Its print products reach 160,000 high-income households every week, and the web sites generate more than 1.5 million page views a month. Finally, thank you to the advertisers who made this section possible: • Allusions & More • ArtSquare • CRINET • Dulles Case Center • Modern Mechanical • Primrose School • Signarama • The V Restaurant • The Wellness Connection Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees! - Norman Styer | Editor and Publisher - Bruce Potter | Regional Vice President

Chamber Recognizes Top Small Businesses Entrepreneur of the Year.........................PAGE 3 WINNER »» Shawn Mitchell Modern Mechanical Finalists »» Christopher Little, Duct Doctor USA of Northern Virginia »» Maria Kopsidas Cookology Culinary School »» Susan McCormick The Wellness Connection Small Business of the Year.........................PAGE 4 WINNER »» Loudoun Valley Floors/Loudoun Carpet Care Finalists »» Allegra Print, Signs, Design »» Goodstone Inn & Restaurant »» Modern Mechanical Service Business of the Year.........................PAGE 6 WINNER »» Excel Transportation Services, Inc. Finalists »» NOVA Spray Foam Insulations, LLC »» The Wellness Connection »» Dulles Case Center Non-Profit Organization of the Year.........................PAGE 8 WINNER »» Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/LAWS Finalists »» Art Square, Leesburg »» Loudoun Interfaith »» Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

Rural Business of the Year.........................PAGE 9 WINNER »» Bluemont Vineyard Finalists »» Fields of Athenry Farm »» Goodstone Inn & Restaurant

Retailer of the Year.......................PAGE 13 WINNER »» Transition Triathlon Finalists »» Hunt Country Jewelers »» Re-Love It »» Auctions on Main, Auction Co.

Technology Business of the Year.......................PAGE 10 WINNER »» CRINET, LLC Finalists »» Quote my Contractor.com »» Halo Information Systems

Tourism & Entertainment Business of the Year.......PAGE 14 WINNER »» StageCoach Theatre Company Finalists »» The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards »» King Pinz »» Stone Manor Vineyard & Orchard

Franchisee of the Year.......................PAGE 12 WINNER »» Cartridge World Finalists »» Duct Doctor USA »» Leesburg Sign-a-Rama »» Primrose School of Ashburn

Home Based Business of the Year.......................PAGE 15 WINNER »» Joey’s Smiles Photography Finalists »» A Poetic Peace »» Closet Tag

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

Entrepreneur of the Year

Finalists

Mitchell, Loudoun Valley Floors Take Top Honors said Tony Howard, president and CEO of the Shawn Mitchell of Modern Mechanical Chamber. “Each of these business owners exwas named Entrepreneur of the Year at the emplifies what it means to be a successful enLoudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s trepreneur: smart, focused, hard-working and annual Small Business Awards banquet, and Loudoun Valley Floors/Loudoun Carpet Care committed to the success of their business, their employees and their customers. In adCo. was selected as the Small Business of the dition, each has demonstrated Year. their own personal commitThe awards – along with ment to serve our Loudoun honors in eight other categocommunity, through their ries – were presented tonight selfless contributions to their during the dinner at the Nafellow business owners and to tional Conference Center. the non-profit organizations Mitchell formed Modern they support.” Mechanical in April 2010 and Mitchell also was named to has quickly grown the compaLeesburg Today’s inaugural ny to a well-respected heating, class of “40 Under 40” rising air-conditioning, plumbing business and community and solar power provider leaders earlier this year. with 21 employees. Modern Modern Mechanical has Mechanical was named the SHAWN MITCHELL separated itself from the more chamber’s Service Business than 500 competitors in the of the Year in 2011, when market through extensive networking and Mitchell also was a finalist for Entrepreneur community involvement. Its employees are of the Year. Modern Mechanical was a finalist actively involved in the Loudoun Chamber of for Small Business of the Year this year. Commerce, as well as its Young Professionals “I am proud to say that the competition for and Ambassadors committees, two Leadshare the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Award is groups, and other organizations. perhaps the fiercest I have seen in the eight The company also has donated more than years that I have been associated with the $20,000 to local charities since 2010. One of Loudoun County Small Business Awards,”

the biggest accomplishments Modern Mechanical made in the community was creating and sponsoring the Red, White and Blue Final Salute fundraiser. The event raised more than $11,000 for Final Salute Inc., which helps homeless female veterans and their children find appropriate living conditions. The other finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year were: • Christopher Little of Duct Doctor USA • Maria Kopsidas of Cookology Culinary School • Susan McCormick of The Wellness Connection The Small Business of the Year, Loudoun Valley Floors/Loudoun Carpet Care, is a full-service flooring retailer and carpet care company based in Purcellville. It has been recognized eight times as Loudoun County’s top flooring company in Leesburg Today’s “Best of Loudoun” poll and was named the Chamber’s Retail Business of the Year last year. The company has 23 employees and has grown sales 12 percent over the past year, above average for the industry. (For more details on Loudoun Valley Floors/ Loudoun Carpet Care and the other finalists in the Small Business of the Year category, see Page 4).

CHRISTOPHER LITTLE

MARIA KOPSIDAS

SUSAN McCORMICK

LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Small Business of the Year cleaners. LVF offers carpet, vinyl, wood and restoration of old hardwood floors. Also, we provide a full service carpet and oriental rug cleaning.

Loudoun Valley Floors & Loudoun Carpet Care 129 Bailey Lane | Purcellville, VA 20132 www.loudounvalleyfloors.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Steve Jacobus, Matt Ange, Keith Fleming, and Rich Iwersen. When was Business/Organization Started? Since 1991 Number of Employees: 23

Brief Description of Business/Organization: Loudoun Valley Floors is a full service flooring retailer and a full service carpet cleaning business. We staff fully trained sales associates and certified carpet

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? At Loudoun Valley Floors, we are committed to our company values of honesty, integrity and punctuality. Our company is built on the foundation providing our clients and community with the highest level of respect, pride and appreciation. We strive to set ourselves apart from the competition through our customer service. We realize it is our largest asset and we are constantly working ways to improve. We always try to make our customers feel appreciated not to feel like just a number. We are aware that the community has choices in who they want to do business with and we want them to know that we appreciate them choosing us and try to show it through our efforts on their project.

What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Our biggest challenge is the same as many others, the economic downturn over the past several years. We examined our company closely and implemented a plan that at first was uncertain but over time proved to be a solid solution. The problem was to endure the downturn

without having to lay off employees and have the company and employees survive with less revenue. Our solution was basically to reduce cost in all areas of operations from cutting back on snacks in the office to restructuring the health insurance policy. It was of the utmost importance that our sacrifices not impact our commitment to our customers for the quality of service that we provide. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Loudoun Valley Floors is very proud to be recognized by the Loudoun County Chamber as Retailer of the Year. We have also been granted the Super Service Award from Angie’s List as well as voted “Best Flooring Store” in Loudoun for the eighth time by The Leesburg Today readers. We feel very fortunate that we have experienced a 12% sales growth over the past year for our retail service and service sales; this is above the national average for our industry. We at Loudoun Valley Floors and Loudoun Carpet Care agree the biggest thing that we are proud of (thanks to the support of our customers and community) is that we are in a position to give back to our community by giving contributions of services, materials and funds to local organizations.

· Finalists ·

Allegra Print•Signs•Design

Goodstone Inn & Restaurant 36205 Snake Hill Road | Middleburg, VA 20117 www.goodstone.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Owner: Mark Betts. General Manager: Craig Boyer When was Business/Organization Started? Owner Mark Betts purchased the Goodstone estate in Middleburg in 1996 and converted it into a country inn in 1999. In 2006, Mr. Betts added the Restaurant at Goodstone. In 2010, the working Farm at Goodstone began to supply the farm-to-table restaurant with fresh produce, herbs and ingredients from the gardens. Number of Employees: 30 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Goodstone Inn & Restaurant is a luxurious country inn and French Country restaurant on a breathtaking 265-acre estate. Goodstone offers 18 elegant guestrooms in six distinctive dwellings, fine dining in the farm-to-table restaurant, private wine cellar dining room, horse-themed bar, country spa, estate activities, hiking trails, heated pool and working farm. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Goodstone Inn & Restaurant is a truly unique, quiet country getaway with the finest in farm-to-table dining. Set on 265 acres of rolling hills and peaceful countryside, Goodstone offers only 18 guestrooms and suites in six guest residences.

45668 Terminal Dr. Sterling, Va. 20166 www.Allegradulles.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: John Flynn When was Business/Organization Started? 1988 Number of Employees: 23 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We are a locally-owned printing and marketing solutions provider for small and large businesses. We also specialize in printing signs, posters and banners, including vehicle wraps. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors JOHN FLYNN or similar organizations? We go the extra mile in delivering the best service for our customers, partnering with them to solve their marketing and communications challenges. We are also committed to meeting community needs through charitable giving. For instance, through our FootPRINT Fund® we donate thousands of dollars in print and graphic communications services every year to area nonprofits. We also seek to nurture our employees and offer the best work environment possible. We strongly believe that happy employees create happy customers. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We are proud to announce that this December will mark the fourth year of our FootPRINT Fund® for area nonprofits. Since 2009, we have granted over $100,000 in free printing and sign services to local nonprofit organizations. We realize nonprofits often have to stretch their marketing budgets to accomplish their goals and this is just one way we can help them succeed.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

Modern Mechanical 21730 Red Rum Dr #182, Ashburn, VA 20147 modernmec.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Shawn Mitchell When was Business/Organization Started? April 2010 Number of Employees: 21 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Modern Mechanical is a heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and solar company. Shawn Mitchell recognized the need for a contractor business in Loudoun that would offer personalized service and still give back to the community. At Modern Mechanical, our customers are family and we provide the ability to contact any of our staff 24 hours a day. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? In the past year Modern Mechanical has received Service Business of the Year from the Loudoun Chamber, Washington Business Journal’s #1 Small Business Place to Work, the Lennox Centurion Award and a few other recognitions. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Throughout 2013, Modern Mechanical has significantly increased its donations and time into non-profit organizations. One of the biggest accomplishments Modern Mechanical made in the community was creating and sponsoring the Red, White and Blue Final Salute fundraiser. The event raised over $11,000 for Final Salute Inc., an organization that helps homeless female veterans and their children with the appropriate living conditions along with other supportive material.

Cabinet & Furniture Re-Finishing Allusions

& More

Have you put off upgrading or getting a new look due to tHe HigH cost of cabinet replacement? Hi, my name is Bonnie and I am a Finisher and Decorative Artisan. I am the sole owner of Allusions & more and have been in this business for 15+ years. I am enthusiastic about showing you my amazing and affordable cabinet and custom decorative finishes. I pride myself on my commitment to be creative and to stay on top of new market trends while I create my own signature finishes which I believe does set me apart from others in the decorative cabinet and furniture re-finishing industry.

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LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Service Business of the Year

Excel Transportation Services 405 Glenn Drive, Suite 1. | Sterling, VA 20164 www.excelgroup.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Chris Marchetti When was Business/Organization Started? 1988 Number of Employees: 23 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Excel Transportation Services provides non-stop, door-to-door logistics and transportation services to and from any point in the U.S. We transport lessthan-truckload (LTL) and freight shipments. Our services include occasional truckload moves as well as recurring and routine shipping contracts with our clients. The company also provides on- demand pick-up and delivery, warehousing and critical parts distribution. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Our

business is built on respect: respect for our drivers, respect for our people, and respect for our customers. We foster long-term relationships with our clients and vendors, so that we can continue to achieve consistent quality and timely services. Our tagline says it all: “We Deliver What Others Promise.” In the transportation and logistics business, we know that we are only as good as the last job we did for you, or the last delivery of critical parts we delivered to your customer. It keeps us pretty humble! What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? People: Finding the right kind of people who will embrace our philosophy and deliver the level of service we expect is always a challenge, but we have been very fortunate in that regard. Growth: While growth is wonderful for any business, it also brings a unique set of challenges. Moving into a new city or metropolitan area is challenging because of the risk- you need to be sure there is enough sustainable business there to justify the cost and the resources. We are fortunate in that our customers ask us to serve new areas where they need our services. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Earlier this year we opened a new company headquarters and warehouse in

40,000 square feet of space in Sterling. The old headquarters facility was dark and dingy. It was crowded. The furniture was a hodge-podge of things we had collected over the past 10 years. In fact, we now refer to it as the “cave” or “the dungeon.” We realized that our people spend more waking hours at work than they do at home, and they deserved a more people-friendly environment. Our employees stuck it out in the old location, and we’ve rewarded them with brand new offices beautifully designed, with new matching furniture and state of the art equipment. It’s bright- there is a lot of natural light, and a lot of space to grow comfortably.

· Finalists ·

Nova Spray Foam Insulation LLC Purcellville, VA www.novasprayfoam insulation.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Kenneth Thacker

Dulles Case Center, LLC 22977 Eaglewood Court Suite 160 Dulles, VA 20166 www.dullescasecenter.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Donna Kulesza

When was Business/Organization Started? 2006

When was Business/Organization Started? 2007

Number of Employees: 8

Number of Employees: 7

Brief Description of Business/Organization: We provide open and closed cell spray foam insulation to the Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland triangle area.

Brief Description of Business/Organization: Dulles Case Center is a Pelican and SKB case dealer, with a full manufacturing facility to produce custom foam inserts for cases to protect electronics, photography equipment, firearms, anything that needs to be organized and protected in a case.

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Since our business opened in 2006, we have searched out the top of the line product and trained our technicians through the manufacturer, as well as first aid/CPR/ OSHA 10 hour. We have strived, from the beginning, to be the very best option for our customers. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Our biggest challenge has been getting the correct information to consumers about spray foam insulation. There is a lot of misinformation about the product, most of which is due to poor installation and unscrupulous contractors. Our technicians are OSHA certified and manufacturer trained, to ensure the utmost in professional delivery of our product. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We are most proud that in these tough economic times, we have been able to grow and prosper because we offer great service, with reliable professional staff. Most of our business is referrals, and our focus has always been customer satisfaction.

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Dulles Case Center is the only case dealer in Northern Virginia with a full manufacturing facility to design and produce custom foam inserts and interiors for cases. Customers are able to purchase off the shelf cases to grab and go, or work with our engineer to design a custom solution. Using technology, we have a very rapid turnaround from concept to producing the final product in house. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? This past year has been a turning point for DCC. In 2011, we had a fire at our facility. In February 2013 we finished the final cleanup and painting and put the fire behind us and celebrated with a five year anniversary open house. Surviving a fire and making it to 5 years in a downturn economy is a huge accomplishment. But we’ve also worked hard this past year to be a part of the community through participation in community events or supporting community events. We feel like we are a part of the community now and it feels good.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

The Wellness Connection 24600 Millstream Drive, Suite 340 Stone Ridge, VA 20105 WellnessConnectionLLC.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Susan McCormick When was Business/Organization Started? January 2013 Number of Employees: 2 employees, 25 independent contractors Brief Description of Business/Organization: The Wellness Connection’s business philosophy is to make wellness services more accessible, to build a community of support in Loudoun County and the surrounding neighborhoods, and to get fully engaged in our client’s overall well-being. We provide simplified wellness solutions delivered through a collaborative team of professionals. We are dedicated to serving our clients and the surrounding community with the highest integrity, professionalism, and experience in the field of preventative healthcare. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We strive to be less “clinical” and more relationship driven. We model what we expect from our clients, and we focus on lifestyle changes and prevention as a means to attain good health. We collaborate in mandatory peer supervision sessions, and we approach every case with intentional determination. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? As is reflected in our goals, supporting our community is paramount to our business. All the clinicians who are hired at The Wellness Connection are expected to provide a portion of their time educating and supporting the community – free of charge. They offer sliding scale fees when necessary, and believe that everyone deserves support – even when they can’t afford it.

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Nonprofit of the Year ous LAWS initiatives.

Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) 105 East Market Street | Leesburg, VA 20176 www.lcsj.org

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Nicole Acosta, Executive Director When was Business/Organization Started? 1984 Number of Employees: 30 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) provides free emergency shelter, crisis intervention, legal services, advocacy, counseling, support, teen prevention programs and information for adults and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse in Loudoun County. LAWS also operates The Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop whose proceeds go to help fund vari-

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? LAWS is unique in that it provides an array of holistic services to victims of domestic and sexual violence within one organization, completely free of charge. At LAWS, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are supported by a staff of dedicated advocates, counselors, and attorneys that help them through the trauma of suffering abuse. Not only does LAWS provide services to adult victims, but child victims of abuse have access to counseling and support as well. The Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, a program of LAWS, provides support to child sexual abuse victims.

services to all victims in need.

What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? The biggest challenge we have faced is to continue to keep up with the growing demand for services. As Loudoun County’s growth continues unabated, the number of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault also continues to grow. To meet this need, we continue the need to seek our community’s support. It is the Loudoun community’s support that makes it possible for LAWS to continue to provide

What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? In the last year, LAWS provided direct services to 1,043 victims of domestic and sexual violence; shelter to 36 women and 47 children; responded to 684 crisis hotline calls; assisted 352 women with legal services; helped 207 child victims of abuse with counseling and support groups; and provided violence education and prevention programs to 945 middle and high school teens in Loudoun County.

· Finalists ·

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

Loudoun Interfaith Relief

41793 Tutt Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 www.ltrf.org

750 Miller Drive, Suite A-1 Leesburg, Virginia www.interfaithrelief.org

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Board of Directors-President, Bonnie Sewell; Executive Director, Joanne Hart When was Business/Organization Started? 1974 Number of Employees: 3 full time and 9 part time Brief Description of Business/Organization: Recognizing that horses have a significant and positive influence on people LTR Inc. serves the local community using equine assisted therapy to benefit individuals with special needs. LTR offers the following programs: Therapeutic Riding, Therapeutic Carriage Driving, Hippotherapy, and Horsemanship for Veterans and their families. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? LTR has the broadest scope of programming in equine assisted activities and a professional staff with decades of experience partnering horses with children and adults with disabilities. We are the only Premier Accredited Center in Loudoun County by complying with over 140 rigorous program, administrative, and facility standards set forth by our national organization, PATH Internantional (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship). LTR acts as a host site for instructor certification, offers mentorship for instructor candidates, hosts continuing education workshops and partners with local universities offering a practicum site and research study opportunities.

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Bonnie Inman When was Business/Organization Started? 1991 Number of Employees: 11 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Loudoun Interfaith Relief is a 501 (c) (3) emergency food pantry whose mission is to feed the hungry in Loudoun County. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? LIR is the largest and the only food pantry that focuses on providing healthy and well balanced food for families. Families can receive our service twice a month. Dignity is one of our most important values. In order to receive our services one must provide proof of residency in Loudoun and a picture ID – we ask no other questions. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? The community for LIR is Loudoun County. We live in a rapidly growing community with rapidly growing needs for the working poor. Today, due to the tremendous instability of our economy, substantially more families are facing huge economic challenges. Some of these households verge on the brink of homelessness and other challenges. Quite frankly, the face of hunger has changed dramatically. Some of the families we are serving probably never expected to find themselves in an Emergency Food Pantry. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? I am most proud of the fact that LIR was able to serve everyone in need of our services with food to feed their family. No one has been turned away due to a lack of food.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

ArtSquare 12 Cardinal Park Dr, SE, Suite 101 Leesburg, VA 20175 www.LoudounArtSquare.org Owner/Chairman/CEO: Linda Callagy When was Business/Organization Started? 1993 Number of Employees: 1 full time and 2 part time Brief Description of Business/Organization: ArtSquare is where the visual arts thrive and grow in Loudoun County. Combining a school of fine art, gallery exhibit space and 14 working artist studios, the ArtSquare creative community nurtures, promotes, displays and offers for purchase a remarkable diversity of original artistic expression. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? The major focus of ArtSquare is original fine art, a distinguishing characteristic from other area galleries. Also the significant impact of ArtSquare throughout the entire Loudoun County community as well as its art instruction academy, teaching close to 1,000 individuals of all ages, all skill levels and across a wide range of art mediums. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? ArtSquare is most proud of attracting such a diverse group of artists who exhibit in the galleries. Artists exhibiting their work range from those known worldwide to emerging artists just being discovered as well as the close to 100 artists throughout the region who have displayed their original artwork in the ArtSquare shows

Rural Business of the Year

Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Road Bluemont Virginia 20135 BluemontVineyard.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Mark Zurschmeide, Bruce Zurschmeide, Bob Rupy, Kevin Rupy When was Business/Organization Started? 2006 Number of Employees: 4 full time / 20 part time Brief Description of Business/Organization: The winery tasting room opened in November 2007 as Loudoun’s 15th winery. In its first year, 670 cases were bottled. In 2013 Bluemont will bottle over 5,000 cases. Bluemont has planted Norton, Viognier, Merlot, Petit Manseng, Albarino, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Cab Sauv and Mourvedre growing “estate acreage under vine” from one acre in 2006 to 28 acres in 2013. Our philosophy, mission and goals all revolve around the concept of achieving (delivering) a memorable experience for our visitors and the event. Our goal is to provide an experience, service and product that will elevate the spirits of those who visit. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? The diversity of the wine trail in itself is a benefit to all Loudoun wineries. That being said, Bluemont Vineyard’s location and setting are special. Located at 951’, looking east across

the Loudoun Valley, the views are spectacular. The tasting room décor enhances our visitor’s experience further. Combining these esthetic elements with dedicated focus on customer service, wine and food we think we have set a great foundation for delivering a unique and memorable experience to our visitors and wedding / event clients. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? As we grow, the most challenging aspect has become maintaining vigilance on key aspects of quality (with regard to our wines and our customer experience) and executing the broad-based plan to assure our goals are achieved. Largely, the answer to the challenges of growth lies with our people, our partnerships, and an ongoing effort to keep learning. Aside from foundational financial investment in building our estate vineyards and our production facility to assure the highest quality grapes and wine, investment in developing the people that do the work is most important. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? It is a toss-up between Bluemont Vineyard wines being recognized with a Gold Medal (one of 20 in the state) for its 2010 Cab Franc, in Virginia’s 2013 Governors Cup Wine Competition and fund raising with Loudoun Free Clinic with our 2013 951 5K Run.

· Finalists ·

Fields of Athenry Farm 38082 Snickersville Tpke. | Purcellville, VA 20132 www.fieldsofathenryfarm.com

LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Technology Business of the Year business to the next level and work with you to grow your business by expanding your brand.

CRINET, LLC 23396 Gardenwalk Drive, Ashburn, VA 20148 crinet-llc.com

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Christopher Stopa When was Business/Organization Started? 2011 Number of Employees: 2 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We will help you to build your business brand. We’re a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) providing creative marketing strategies through web solutions, graphic design and multimedia development. We will help take your

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? In the ever-changing digital landscape that businesses operate in today, it’s easy to diminish a brand. Our design principles dive deep in our development to offer a fresh new perspective through the strength of the human spirit. We help build value in a brand message that focuses on interconnections between people and companies. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? The biggest challenge for CRINET has been finding the time to balance home-life and building a successful startup business. I think it brings a whole new meaning to the coined phrase, “need more hours in the day.” Acting as the owner, CEO, office manager and everything in-between has daily challenges that can easily cut deep into “family time” only if you let it. Developing that skill to manage your time wisely and “step away” is important. I also believe there’s a great opportunity in this challenge. It’s at this point the company begins to define its culture. What are you most proud of having accom-

CHRISTOPER STOPA

plished over the past year? Being nominated for Small Business of the Year has been a proud moment for CRIENT this year. It’s a beacon of accomplishment in a sea of uncertainties that startup businesses experience, gaining new business is different, from someone in your community recognizing your hard work and submitting your company for this exciting opportunity. Being here has helped us look at how we’re defining our successes, especially in the early stages of our building our business.

· Finalists ·

QuoteMyContractor.com, Inc.

Halo Information Systems

21730 Red Rum Drive, Suite #182 Ashburn, VA 20147 www.quotemycontractor.com

24 Oak Lane Sterling | Virginia 20165 www.haloinformationsystems.com

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Shawn Mitchell and Nick Mormann

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Tony Schwartz

When was Business/Organization Started? March 2012 Number of Employees: 5 Brief Description of Business/Organization: QuoteMyContractor.com™ provides residential property owners, managers, renters and others with an easy way to get instant, online quotes for home-related projects and services from a trusted group of prescreened professional contractors in the DC metro area. Our patent-pending process saves you time while connecting you with quality contractors. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Two words—“Instant Quote”. Our competitors may help you find contractors and some may even pre-screen them, but none of them will provide an exact quote online in seconds and then instantly pair you with a contractor for that price. Secondly, unlike our competitors, our goal is not to sell a lead to as many contractors as possible and create a spam and phone call nightmare for the homeowner—we link one homeowner with one, trusted contractor. Lastly, for the homeowner, our service is entirely free. Unlike Angie’s List, we don’t charge you fees to get access to the area’s best professional contractors. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Product awareness. The market for connecting consumers with contractors is large and very competitive. We believe that our product is modern, technology-driven, scalable and offers a better value to both contractors and consumers than our competitors are offering. Getting noticed in a crowded market is difficult, so we’re constantly exploring new marketing and advertising avenues and augmenting/modifying as needed to make sure that consumers know that we’re here and we can help. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Successfully offering instant, online quotes for local contractors across more than 1,500 Zip codes in Washington metro area. In January 2013, expanded from 6 to 32 professional contractor services, with everything from HVAC replacement to House Cleaning. Generated more than $450,000 in potential revenue for local contractors in first year. Successful social media campaign and coordinated launch featuring TV, radio, print and Internet advertising. Approved for the Commonwealth’s Small Business Investment Grant Fund. One of 5 out of 300 companies selected to present to a panel of experienced investors at NVTC’s 2014 Entrepreneur Spotlight event, modeled after ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

When was Business/Organization Started? 2003 Number of Employees: 4 Brief Description of Business/ Organization: Halo is a information technology provider helping small and medium businesses manage their IT infrastructure. Adopting a conservative approach to IT management, Halo assists companies by successfully maintaining a proper IT infrastructure, minimizing risk through best-practice risk management, developing disaster recovery plans, and proactively maintaining and optimizing systems. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We live and die by our customer service. As a small, locally owned, family business, Halo puts customer service above all else. Customers don’t have to deal with a list of 10 phone numbers to call for customer service, account representatives, or our accounts receivable department. There’s one company phone number to call. Simple. Halo has been in business for 10 years; a long time in the connected world of the Internet age! We treat each new client as if they are our very first clients. We strive to bring a positive, friendly perception of the office’s “computer-guy.” What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? As an IT company, we have to be on the pulse of new technologies. We need to have our eyes on the horizon for what’s coming in the months ahead. At the same time, we also need to know what customers need at present, and still be able to support those that may not be bleeding edge. We’re in the Internet age now. Our techs are constantly learning new software, new techniques, and new IT services that can benefit our clients. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We’ve transitioned into a more “cloud-based” technology infrastructure by hosting our systems off-site, we’ve become more educated about emerging point of sale technology in the retail space, and we’ve smoothly transitioned into new roles of responsibility, internally, to better service our clients while providing technology outreach to the community.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

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LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Franchisee of the Year

Cartridge World of Ashburn 44050 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza, Unit 171, Ashburn, VA www.Cartridgeworldusa.com/store675

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Don and Sharon Hiatt When was Business/Organization Started? April 2007 Number of Employees: 4 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We take care of your ink and toner needs for home and business. We provide quality ink and toner refills and compatibles for 25-30% off the big store prices. We refill HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, and many others. We also have manufacturer’s products available. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We are locally owned and operated, and we are the

ink and toner experts. We educate customers about their printers and how to print most economically. We only use the highest quality inks and toners...no generics here! We can get the “hard to find” toners that are not stocked on store shelves. We guarantee all of our products 100%, and we offer free next day delivery. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Ink and toner manufacturers do not want us to refill their cartridges. They change each cartridge model so that any ground we have won may be lost on the next cartridge that comes out. We have a great team of Cartridge World owners and vendors that are constantly working to stay current on the cartridges. Our store is often like a lab, where we are dissecting cartridges to see what is inside that we can replace, clean up, or improve. It makes the job fun when we discover a new refill method! What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We are proud to have recycled thousands of cartridges this year. We take in cartridges from our customers and others who are looking for a responsible way to recycle.

The best way to recycle is to reuse, and we do that whenever possible. When a cartridge is not refillable we send it to a recycling partner who grinds up the plastic and uses it in other products. Our cartridges are never sold to another country or melted down, which causes air pollution.

· Finalists ·

Primrose School of Ashburn 44830 Lakeview Overlook Plaza | Ashburn, VA www.PrimroseAshburn.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Victor & Adela Taboada When was Business/ Organization Started? January 2012 Number of Employees: 32 employees Brief Description of Business/Organization: The Primrose School of Ashburn provides educational child care services to children ages 6 weeks old to 10 years of age. Our programs include full day, half day, after school enrichment programs and summer camps programs. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Our proprietary educational system, Balanced Learning®, has been internally developed and improved over the course of 30 years in partnership with expert education consultants, and incorporates the best tenets from the leading early education philosophies. Balanced Learning® combines child-initiated activities (advocated by Montessori and Piaget) with teacher-directed lessons (favored by Vygotsky and Erikson) and strong character development components. Our curriculum is permanently updated and improved to stay fresh, making it a live and engaging system that takes advantage of the latest research in the field. Our teachers receive comprehensive training, making them the best early childhood educators in the industry.

Duct Doctor USA 42449 Spring Splendor Dr.

Signarama of Leesburg 525 East Market Street, Suite D | Leesburg, VA www.leesburgsign.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: John Voigt When was Business/Organization Started? April 2001 Number of Employees: 2 full time, 3 part time Brief Description of Business/Organization: Signarama is the world’s largest full service sign franchise. We are your best source for all manner of commercial signage, banners, vehicle graphics and large format digital printing. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Our goal is to develop relationships and to make our customers successful. We’re less interested in the sale today than the long term relationship with our customer. This focus allows us to find the best solutions for our customers’ sign needs. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? The sign industry as a whole and Signarama in particular are evolving into more than just sign manufacturing as social media and the electronic revolution marches on. I am very proud of being involved in driving the direction of our corporate vision by participating in several franchisee advisory boards. Our corporate vision embraces change, and I am happy to have played a small part in helping direct that change.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

Ashburn, VA 20148 www.ductdoctornova.com www.ductdoctorhr.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Christopher J. Little When was Business/Organization Started? 2004 Number of Employees: 7 Brief Description of Business/ Organization: Duct Doctor USA’s mission is to be America’s Number One Air Duct Cleaner. From initial customer inquiry, to random courtesy follow-ups, I want to instill trust within an industry of question and disbelief. Duct Doctor USA continually works hard to be the trusted source in the air duct cleaning industry. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Duct Doctor USA sets itself apart from its competitors through our employees, our attitudes and the equipment we employ to complete our work projects. Air duct cleaning is our only business, and there are numerous avenues in which we create separation from our competitors. An important avenue, and one of which we are most proud, is the fact that more than 50 top Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning related companies recommend us as “The best at what we do.” What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? This year Duct Doctor USA was awarded a Facilities Maintenance and Management Schedule 03FAC Contract for Air Duct Cleaning services by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). We are very proud of our accomplishment as the award of the Facilities Maintenance and Management Schedule 03FAC enhances Duct Doctor USA’s long-term service to government customers.

Retailer of the Year

Transition Triathlon 222 South King St., Suite 1 Leesburg, VA 20175 www.transitiontri.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Steve Makranczy and Alex Korab When was Business/Organization Started? 2011 Number of Employees: 6 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We are a sports retail store selling a wide array of products for swimming, cycling and running. Our customers are not all triathletes – many are swimmers, cyclists, runners, walkers, golfers, tennis players, etc. In addition to great technical gear such as bikes, we aim to provide an excellent selection of fashionable and technical fitness apparel for both men and women. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Transition Triathlon seeks to support athletes of all levels to reach their goals by providing great products as well as expert advice and service. We are unique in embracing newcomers to the sport and helping them navigate what can be an overwhelming array of

choices in equipment and training. We have the best selection of fitness apparel in the area, especially for women, appropriate not only to triathletes, but to yoga, tennis, golf, hiking and various other outdoor activities. We also provide excellent learning opportunities through our various classes and clinics, from running form instruction to basic bike maintenance. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? For our first year, we ran the business lean, with no additional staffing other than ourselves. This enabled us to provide highly personalized service to all customers, but at the same time requiring a huge time commitment. In seeking staff, we are very conscious of protecting our emerging reputation for personal service by hiring people with the same expert knowledge and commitment to service. Much of this is done by word of mouth recommendations from trusted colleagues. In training new employees, we place a focus on in-depth knowledge of the products and providing excellent customer interaction. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We are most proud when we see the goals of our customers come to life, whether fin-

ishing their first 5k, winning their age-group at a local race , qualifying for elite level competition or completing an intense personal challenge. We love hearing from customers who have achieved a health goal such as losing weight and getting active STEVE MAKRANCZY again or who have reached a AND ALEX KORAB particular personal athletic goal. Here’s just an example of what some of our customers accomplished this summer: reached significant weight loss goal; ran first 10k; learned to swim; rode from Leesburg to Purcelleville on the W&OD; did their first 100-mile bike ride; won a local sprint triathlon; won their age-group at the Half Ironman National Championships; and so much more….it’s inspiring!

· Finalists ·

Re-Love It A Consignment Shoppe 138 North 21st Street | Purcellville, VA 20132 www.reloveit.com Owners: Michael Oaks & Kim Patterson When was Business/Organization Started? 2010 Number of Employees: 9 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Re-Love It is a consignment shop with a boutique feel. We have two separate departments under one roof, a home goods / furniture section along with a fashion section with clothing for the whole family including the men! What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We thrive on presenting a clean, friendly shopping environment to our customers. We greet everyone when they enter ReLove It, then let them have a fun no-pressure shopping experience. Of course we’re there to assist if needed with good old-fashioned customer service like carrying in consignment items from their car and carrying out purchases. We offer free pickup and delivery of large items. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Aside from keeping up with the growth of our company would be our community involvement. We organize the annual Purcellville Halloween Block Party, which over 6,000 people attended in 2012. We donate tens of thousands of dollars of clothing to numerous local charities. We have a lemonade stand in front of our store each Saturday in the summer that is run by kids who raise money for the charity of their choice, Re-Love It pays for 100% of the supplies needed. Being recognized by the Loudoun County Chamber as one of the finalists in the Retailer of the Year division.

Hunt Country Jewelers 105 E. Main Street Purcellville, VA 21032 huntcountry.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Edwin B. Cutshall When was Business/Organization Started? 1977 Number of Employees: 6 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We are a family business that specializes in custom-designed jewelry in gold and platinum, diamonds and colored stones. We focus on designing pieces that are different from what is available commercially. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We are one of very few jewelry stores that not only custom design our entire inventory but we also cut our colored stones and have patented diamond patterns. We refine scrap gold to 24K in-house so we can reuse it in new products. Our gemstone sources around the world are also significant, allowing us to supply any gem one desires. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Many challenges – unstable gold market, uneducated or shady retailers spouting gross distortions of gem and jewelry “facts.” We combat the instability of the market by recycling customers’ materials, which saves them significantly in cost while keeping the sentiment from Grandma’s ring but in a different form.

Auctions on Main, Auction Co. 701 D West Main Street Purcellville, VA 20132 www.auctionsonmain.com

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Mark Albright When was Business/Organization Started? November 2012 Number of Employees: 9 Brief Description of Business/Organization: Auctions on Main sells almost everything and anything on consignment through its weekly auctions at noon and 4 p.m. on Saturdays. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? We are the only full-service auction house in Loudoun County. This means that we pickup, box-up, sell-up, and don’t give up. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? Learning to keep track of so much inventory and reports in a timely manner! Systems and training are the key to overcome consistently all odds. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We have done a number of benefit auctions both at our showroom in Purcellville and at various locations throughout Loudoun County. We are proud to be a part of helping the community grow and give.

What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Easy question – we moved our store from Hillsboro to Purcellville in September. It has been a great decision and we are far busier in our new location than we would have been. Being the only jeweler in town is a bonus! LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Tourism & Entertainment Business of the Year

StageCoach Theatre Company 111 Peyton Road Sterling, VA 20170 www.stagecoachtc.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Co-Owners Mr. Terry Smith and Ms. Jerri Wiseman When was Business/Organization Started? June 2011 Number of Employees: 2 full-time employees, currently 70 contractors (actors and staff) Brief Description of Business/Organization: StageCoach Theatre Company specializes in audience participation murder mystery shows, wine tours and events while fostering a love of the arts with our children’s shows and outdoor theatre. Theatre workshops and playwriting competitions encourage new and seasoned artists.

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? At StageCoach Theatre Company, we produce mainly original scripts from local playwrights. We support teens in the arts by sponsoring a teen playwriting competition. With a format for roving entertainment, we can partner with local venues to serve their customers and adapt to new formats and locations. Audience participation in our shows is highly encouraged. By providing unique entertainment options, we have attracted visitors from outside Virginia while supporting local non-profits and our community. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? As a new business, we wanted more people to find out about us and our shows. We found that by making strategic partnerships with venues with strong followings we could provide a unique experience for their guests while introducing our company. Having just joined the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce in January, we have made connections and partnerships with some amazing businesses and community leaders. Through these partnerships, we have expanded our venue options and added even more productions to our season, which now includes cabarets and ghost tours and will soon include murder mystery beer

JERRI WISEMAN AND TERRY SMITH

tours. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? One of our biggest accomplishments this past year has been the production of our first teen playwriting competition script. Written by a 16-year-old from Aldie, our winning teen playwright not only penned an original murder mystery but also gained experience as an assistant director of the show. She gained immeasurable insight through audience feedback and collaboration with professional actors.

· Finalists ·

Stone Manor Vineyard and Orchard Bed and Breakfast 13193 Mountain Road | Lovettsville, VA 20180 www.mycountryretreat.com Owner/Chairman/CEO: Elizabeth VanHoutte When was Business/Organization Started? 2007 Number of Employees: Three Description of Business/Organization: Stone Manor is a bed and breakfast/boutique small inn and special event site offering wine tastings. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Stone Manor is known for our spa products, beauty, food and loving respect for our guests and community business partners. We custom blend and handcraft every guest’s soaps, shampoo and bath salts. Our rooms are considered some of the most elegant and comfortable in Virginia. We serve a sixcourse plated breakfast that is unique every morning. We are known for our ability to design gourmet breakfasts for vegans, vegetarians or even individuals with food allergies. We work closely with our local restaurants and wineries to deliver the best possible experience for our guests. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? Maintaining quality while increasing business over 35% during the last year.

King Pinz 1602 Village Market Blvd, #100 | Leesburg, VA 20175 www.kingpinzbowl.com Managing Members: Gary and Diane Reedy When was Business/Organization Started? King Pinz opened in Leesburg in June 2010, about three years after the Reedys began to actively market the concept and seek a Loudoun County developer partner. Number of employees: 50 Brief description of business: King Pinz offers upscale bowling with contemporary American dining and entertainment in a vibrant setting. With two private bowling suites, two bars, including the High Rollers Lounge and Cigarbar, King Pinz specializes in events from corporate to casual and everything in between, with accommodations for groups up to 350+. What sets King Pinz apart from its competitors? There is nothing like King Pinz so there are no direct competitors. We offer a unique combination of upscale fun, bowling, dining and entertainment in a hip suburban venue that is popular with families and businesses alike. We specialize in events of all kinds, including fundraisers, celebrations, holiday parties, even weddings. Our guests enjoy chef-supervised on-site catering, custom menus and full bar service. Add A/V services, multimedia capabilities, auxiliary meeting spaces and clients have the option to mix work and pleasure. Our business clients have come to King Pinz for meetings, presentations, new product rollouts, team-building and employee appreciation outings.

2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton, VA 20158 www.thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Owners: Craig and Kim Garten, Andrew and Maryann Fialdini When was Business/Organization Started? September 2011 Number of Employees: 10 Brief Description of Business/Organization: We are a new Virginia farm winery doing business in Loudoun County. What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? Our venue is a unique, modestly restored bank barn that was used as a dairy barn. There were some modifications to the structure, but for the most part it remains undisturbed over the last 103 years. We have created a comfortable, relaxing environment for our customers, both inside and out. Couples can relax by the indoor fireplace while enjoying a glass of wine, and families can gather for a picnic on the lawn overlooking the pond. Whether flying a kite or roasting marshmallows, our guests truly enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Many have referred to a day at The Barns as one taken from a Norman Rockwell painting. In addition to offering daily tours of our historic grounds, The Barns has also become a very popular site for weddings and corporate events. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? We are proud of what our hard work has afforded us ~ a beautiful venue, a quality product and a successful business.

Home Based Business of the Year What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? What sets me apart is my community involvement. When I started this business my wife and I prayed and we told each other as long as I can feed my family and provide for my family we would either shoot non-profits for free or at a very low affordable price. As we became more and more popular we started to see the need for affordable family portraits and affordable senior portraits. Also I saw the need for more affordable professional head shots. I saw that we were going through some bad times in our down economy and families could not afford to have family portraits every year. Having a senior in high school and seeing the pricing of senior photos I knew then I would give them a break.

Joey’s Smiles Photography 16 Mercer Court | Sterling VA 20165 Scene2bseenloudoun.com

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Joey Darley When was Business/Organization Started? May 2008 Number of Employees: 6 including interns Brief Description of Business/Organization: I am a photographer in NOVA and I showcase the people of Northern Virginia. I love to give back to my community.

JOEY DARLEY

also am willing to barter my services. Joining the Chamber and being their photographer has opened up the contacts and overflowed my business with business. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? I was voted in 2012 the Event Photographer of the Year in the DC Metro Area and nominated as a Small Business of the Year for Loudoun County 2012 and a finalist for Community Leader of the Year for 2012 in Loudoun County and this year a finalist for Small Business of the Year in 2013 for Loudoun County.

What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? A bad economy and getting my name out there as a professional photographer. I join the chamber and I

· Finalists ·

A Poetic Peace

Closet Tag LLC

37895 Alberts Farm Drive Purcellville, VA 20132 www.apoeticpeace.com

22799 Settlers Trail Terrace Brambleton VA 20148 www.virginiaclosettag.com

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Lana Heaslip

Owner/Chairman/CEO: Karen Catella

When was Business/Organization Started? 2013

When was Business/Organization Started? 2012

Number of Employees: 1

Brief Description of Business/Organization: Forever gifts of poetry that capture the essence of loved ones. These poems can be celebrations of milestone events such as weddings, births, eulogies, graduations and anniversaries. Lana’s poems are uniquely personal and capture the emotions of her clients using their words set into rhythm and rhyme to evoke both laughter and tears.

Brief Description of Business/Organization: My mission with Closet Tag is to help people de-clutter, get organized, and free their minds so they can focus on important things in life. I started out just doing closets but I do all areas of the home, including organizing garages so people can actually park their cars in the garage!

LANA HEASLIP

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? My business is unique in and of itself. Each poem is original and composed from the thoughts and words of my clients. They are keepsakes that can be passed down through generations. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? The biggest challenge of my business has been communicating the concept of my poetry to people. It can be difficult to understand how someone can write such a personal and unique poem about a perfect stranger. At first, most people are in doubt about the quality of the piece. I have overcome this challenge by sharing this gift at every opportunity. I offer to write poems free of charge in an effort to help people understand what I do and how I do it. I am always rewarded with beautiful testimonials. These kind words and referrals have served me well as far as marketing A Poetic Peace. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? This year I received a phone call from the mother of a brave hero who died in Afghanistan several years ago. Having known this young man personally since he was a small boy, I was able to compose a poem about him, his life and his death. Another mother and dear friend offered her memories and sentiments about this very special boy. It was an honor for me to write this poem and read it at his funeral. His family told me how much they loved and appreciated the poem and that meant everything to me. One year ago, close to the anniversary of his death, his mother called me just to say how much peace and comfort this poem brings to her and of all else, this poem is the most comforting. To think that I was able to provide a grieving, loving mother such comfort was my most proud accomplishment.

KAREN CATELLA

What sets your business/organization apart from your competitors or similar organizations? I work really hard at making sure the customer is happy. If I set up an organizing system, I let the client live with it for a week to make sure it works for them. I check back with them, and If they feel it’s NOT the right solution for them, I give them other options that might work. I am always “tweaking” things to make it just right for the client. I help clients sell their items at consignment shops and I post items for sale on Ebay and Craigslist. What has been the biggest challenge of your business and how have you overcome it? I never had to network before in my previous jobs. Being new to Loudoun County, I didn’t know that many people. I joined a volunteer organization to meet others in the community. When I started my business, a friend introduced me to a Chamber of Commerce member and I started attending their events. I was so impressed with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce that I joined one of their Leadshare groups. It has eased me into the process of networking and drumming up business. The majority of my referrals are from Leadshare members or other Chamber members. What are you most proud of having accomplished over the past year? I am so proud to be In my first year in business as Closet Tag, and a finalist for a Small Business Award. Starting a small business was something I NEVER thought I could do on my own, but thankfully, the process for starting a small business was not as painful as I thought it would be. The Loudoun County site listed eight steps for starting a business and I followed their instructions. Just starting a business can be overwhelming and the thought of processing paperwork could stop future business owners from ever pursuing it. Loudoun County has helped to make it easier in that regard.

LEESBURG TODAY | 2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

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“When we walked into Primrose that first day, we immediately above 90% in school readiness factors felt that not only was this an amazing school but it felt like a show 1.3 times more family. I Primrose have notstudents encountered that much dedication and love in a school and that is why we will be at Primrose for many years Assessment shows Primrose students to come! Words cannot express how much Primrose means to us! Thank you so very much!” Ashley, Primrose School of Ashburn Mom” Primrose School of Ashburn

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2013 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS | LEESBURG TODAY