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DEL RAY FARMER'S MARKET
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCIA SMITH Veggies and flowers and pastries... oh, my! The year-round Del Ray Farmers' Market is closing in on its peak season and VIP Alexandria Magazine recently stopped by to capture these amazing moments! In addition to the 20 farmers and vendors who offer an array of produce, meats, cheeses and baked goods, the nonprofit RadKids was on hand to talk about personal safety empowerment education for kids. Be sure to stop by every Saturday from 8am-12pm. Learn more at www.delrayfarmersmarket.com.
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FEATURING FOCUS DATA SOLUTIONS, GOODFYND, SYSTEM ENGINUITIES, HUBSYNC, SHE'S UNIQUE, BURKE & HERBERT BANK, MEKANIC + SALON DEZEN
STORIES BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN THORPE
ERIKHANSEN CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MEKANIC
Erik Hansen was drawn to design at an early age. Today, he is at the fore of emerging technology and transforms the ways organizations reach the audiences they serve. A visionary and born entrepreneur, Hansen's innovative spirit led him to an early career in graphic design in the mid ’90s, bringing him back to the
DC area to finish college at the Corcoran School of
Art & Design and launch his first agency in 2003. In 2004, Hansen also co-founded a foundation that focused on bringing new art to new audiences, which helped shape his continuing passion for working with nonprofit and impact organizations. Over the next few years,
Hansen went through some major changes, both personally and professionally. He also met his wife, Katie
Hansen, with whom he later co-founded
Mekanic, an awardwinning branding agency in Alexandria that prides itself on its innovative use of all platforms, touchpoints and technologies to boost its clients' visibility and success. "At Mekanic, our team executes in nearly every medium; on paper and in pixels, still and in motion, interactive and in-person," says Hansen. "We use beautiful, unexpected ways of sparking connections with people and business through expertly-crafted creative solutions. The end product is nothing short of awesome." Hansen and his team at Mekanic take a human-centered design methodology and believe it is incredibly important to be aware and present in your surroundings. He says that innovation comes from identifying the gaps in our daily lives that need to be bridged with something new or better. "I really don't see myself as an innovator and never have," Hansen admits. "I see myself as a design thinker and someone in pursuit of delivering work that has meaning. The output of that is sometimes very innovative solutions and sometimes it is simply building 'better' products, services, businesses, organizations, experiences and, ultimately, brands. We help our clients take measured risks and try new things, so I think of myself as a change-maker and a Designer with a capital D, not an innovator." At Mekanic, the team holds firmly to the tenets of seven behaviors: "Experiment with intention. Move on swiftly. Invest in yourself. Build relationships. Pass on positivity. Think systemically. Tell great stories. These behaviors can help anyone in their journey to innovate." Hansen continues, "I believe [these behaviors] help in creating positive outcomes that can change the trajectory of a brand and/or people." The work, driven by those behaviors, is what creates moments of surprise and delight for the businesses, organizations and institutions they serve. From logos to virtual reality experiences, new companies to organizations solving climate change, Mekanic's work is purposeful and impactful. "There are these moments almost every day where someone reacts in awe, amazement, curiosity and imagination. That is why we show up every day," says Hansen. In addition to his role as CEO and co-founder at Mekanic, Hansen sits on the Board of Directors for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and is also currently at work on a new venture, the Wonderment Project. Over the years, Hansen found that most great hospitality experiences aren't accessible, whether economically, geographically or culturally. His hope for the future is to affect change in this deficit. "I have been working with some really exciting people to design a new vision of hospitality that will create a place where progress takes on wicked problems," he explains. "I want to create a place for exceptional experiences with profound outcomes for everyone."
SEANGRIFFIN
CEO OF DISASTER TECH
Disasters happen; fires, hurricanes, floods and now... pandemics. We prepare as much as we can, but sometimes it’s just not enough. This is why tech companies like Disaster Tech forecast these events to help mitigate fallout. As CEO of Disaster Tech, Sean Griffin uses his background as a Navy veteran and former director of the National Security
Council to lead a company whose mission is to save lives through the use of purpose-built technologies, innovating the field of risk management and response through these technologies. “What makes me innovative are the people around me,” he says. “It's the collective action taken by communities, centered on solving difficult problems faced by humanity.
That is what fuels innovation and human progress. At
Disaster Tech, we have core design principles, and the first is co-designing with the communities that we serve.
People-centered design is essential to understanding the needs of the community and what is required to solve their problem, where technology can assist in helping to save a life, in a fire, a flood, a collapsed building from an earthquake or in the aftermath of a hurricane. And as important as the life-saving activities in response to a disaster are, the real innovation will be where communities can take collective action to reduce risk and ‘future proof’ their city, town, region or neighborhood against future disasters. This requires people with high levels of risk literacy. They must understand how to identify, interpret and interrogate risks in their own backyard and generate the political will to demand that institutions like government agencies align the resources for planning for and mitigating future risks to storms, sea-level rise and the many perils of climate change.” Griffin's greatest purpose, along with that of Disaster Tech, is saving lives and building technology to aid in this mission. “Our technology is being used by government agencies and energy companies to prepare for future disasters,” he notes. “That is how we save lives.” Clearly, Griffin is passionate about his work—especially when it comes to his local community. “There is a saying that there are no natural disasters and that disasters are a result of bad decisions made by humans that amplify the risk and exposure to hazards like floods,” he posits. “Alexandria is an example where one hurricane moving from east to west along the Potomac could have devastating storm surge and flooding, pushing a massive wall of water onto the land and destroying homes and businesses. How aware are the people of Alexandria of these risks? Our hope is that, through the use of our technologies, citizens are aware of the risk, they prepare and when the storm comes, lives are saved in the process—in Alexandria or in any community across America. If I could design one thing, it would be technology that assists the most vulnerable, since they are at the greatest risk of loss in future disasters.” As fast as technology changes, Griffin knows the importance of staying up-to-date. “I read a lot,” he says of how he keeps abreast of the latest innovations. “Also, I’ve learned to associate with people who seek a better world through innovation and human progress.”
SOFIATABDULRAZAAQ CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF GOODFYND
Over the past decade, mobile businesses such as pop-up boutiques and food trucks have been taking commerce and industry and turning them on their heads, eliminating some of the hassles and costs of permanent brick-and-mortar locations. But with mobility comes an even greater need for visibility and marketing—which is where forward thinkers and innovators like Sofiat Abdulrazaaq come into the equation. Abdulrazaaq uses her understanding of the tech, marketing and business worlds to help these mobile businesses get— and stay—on people’s radar. In these days of constant communication and technologically driven everything, this can mean the world to a small business. I have over 10 years of experience in product leadership and management in addition to privacy and data security law,” says Abdulrazaaq, who created her technology company, Goodfynd, with the specific focus of working with mobile businesses and giving them a digital platform to boost their operations. “I am userfocused and user-centric. I really care about solving complex problems in the simplest way and ensuring I am positively impacting the lives of the people who utilize the technology and innovation I help to create.” That innovation is, indeed, simple: an app that both finds local food trucks and allows users to order from the trucks. “I’m passionate about the people that I serve,” Abdulrazaaq notes. “I am helping to serve the most diverse population in the restaurant industry, a majority of whom are immigrants and people of color. They look like me and my cofounders. It is the single most important thing that wakes me up, and it is what I love to do. The people make it worth it.” For Abdulrazaaq, technology is the cornerstone of her work, the very thing that drives it. “My company builds technology from the ground up and technology is at the core of everything that we do. We take a user-first approach to build the innovation and we stay on top of the latest innovations by building them ourselves. I am very tapped into technology, both emerging and existing technologies. Staying informed through public and private forums, the internet, podcasts, white papers—whatever it takes. I am always educating myself on the latest and greatest, constantly thinking about how I can implement new things for my users.” In creating Goodfynd, Abdulrazaaq hopes to affect change in the mobile business world, using technology to innovate the way mobile businesses operate and, consequently, give them a greater chance at success. “Creating Goodfynd with my two business partners has been the single most impactful experience I could ever hope to develop,” she says. “I have always wanted to not simply hope to innovate, but to actually innovate and bring ideas to fruition. There are no words to fully describe passion and innovation. Innovation is something that's happening because you are solving a problem that is worth solving. You don't exist to be innovative; innovation is about seeing a need. The passion is in the purpose. And if you're not purposeful, there's really no need for you to be, or do anything.”
OLIVERJAMES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL BANKING FOR BURKE & HERBERT BANK, GREATER WASHINGTON METRO REGION AND LOUDOUN COUNTY.
While banking may not be the industry that first springs to mind when one thinks of innovation, banks must make massive shifts in their practices to accommodate ever-advancing technology. Online banking, mobile deposits and video tellers are only a few of the innovative ways that banking has joined the technology age, and people like Oliver James have been at the forefront of many of these changes, ushering banks into tomorrow. Since joining Burke & Herbert Bank (B&HB) as Senior Vice President, Regional Director of Commercial Banking for the Greater Washington Metro Region and Loudoun County, James has been responsible for leading the bank’s growing team of commercial relationship managers in developing a stronger presence in the region— especially with regards to government contracting. Technology is also a large part of James’s charges. “Part of my joining B&HB is to help the bank become more progressive and on-track to meet the market expectations for tech innovation,” he explains, “including the ease of moving money around electronically. The landscape is changing rapidly with fintechs often touting themselves as alternatives to traditional banks.” With more than 20 years of financial industry experience at firms including Wachovia, BB&T and Eagle Bank, James’s last position saw him as Director of Commercial Lending at FVC Bank in Reston, Virginia, where he managed a team of lenders and portfolio managers. As much as has changed in those two decades, James sees the need to keep innovating and using technology to better the banking experience. “Digital banking is the next frontier, and we’re currently working on our platform to offer that next generation virtual banking experience,” he says. “Our customers are looking for real-time payments and the ability to accept and transmit payments instantly. We stay on top of the trends and customer demands through market intel shared internally as well as with our vendors and partners. That is what will keep banks like ours relevant and lasting institutions, even in the age of fintechs that threaten to outmode us.” Based in Alexandria, B&HB is indeed an institution, serving Virginia as the oldest continuously operating bank in the Washington, DC area. The bank’s 20-plus branches offer a full range of business and personal banking products and services designed to meet all of their customers’ needs in banking, borrowing and investing. In his work at B&HB, James works with a wide variety of clients in a broad range of industries, building relationships that will last. “I especially enjoy working with customers in the government contracting arena,” he says. “The client relationships I’ve built and continue to develop are something about which I am very passionate. I love providing customized solutions for our clients and meeting their financial needs.”
KATYAANANIEVA
OWNER OF SHE'S UNIQUE + CO-FOUNDER OF FOUR TWENTY THREE
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING, I LOVE TO EXPLORE NEW COUNTRIES, SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND FIND WAYS TO GROW, LEARN AND IMPROVE!”
Like the beautiful jewelry featured on her websites, Katya Ananieva has layers that are surprising, unique and unexpected. Boasting a background in government consulting, she worked on Air Force strategic planning and workforce development projects, satisfying her more creative side as a style blogger from 2009 to 2015. In 2012, she left the Air Force and bought an Old Town jewelry boutique called She’s Unique with her mother, Sabila Ananieva, bringing innovation to the company that would make it a larger presence in the style world and more accessible to buyers across the globe. We have a constant drive to evolve and use technology to further expand our presence in the local and e-commerce community,” says
Ananieva, who also co-founded a new 14K gold jewelry company,
Four Twenty Three, with her business partner, Ann Franken.
“When I bought the shop in 2012, I had to start from scratch. At that time, there wasn’t a functioning point of sale (POS), inventory management or any type of tech component.
We introduced the best
POS system I could find that year. Since then, we have upgraded to Shopify, built a beautiful e-commerce site and added our presence on all social channels. 10 years ago, Instagram was not used the way it is today, but we were on it as a business and used it as a free marketing tool to share content, jewelry styles, ways to layer and other fun and engaging content. It was a great way to showcase the internal design progress we were making in the physical space and simultaneously connect with our audience online. I began leveraging my contacts in the fashion blogging world to connect with videographers, photographers and other style bloggers. We also began making video and photo content, creating lookbook shoots and sharing everything on social media to grow our audience. At that time, almost nobody else was doing what we were doing.” While She’s Unique is obviously not a tech company, technology is crucial to its success, and Ananieva has parlayed her understanding of social media marketing and branding as well as her tech-savvy to make its presence even greater. “We use technology in all aspects of our business,” she explains. “Nowadays, it takes a lot of back-end work to bring shoppers into physical and e-commerce shops. What we do in the background is almost as important, if not more important, than what we do in the store. For example, we produce a high-quality email that goes out to our 6K mailing list every week. We leverage email segments to target certain fragments of our customer base like our top VIP shoppers, locals and new customers for more effective email marketing. We place a lot of emphasis on understanding the data and consumer behavior. Additionally, we constantly upgrade our e-commerce site with add-ons such as a pre-order feature and our latest online chatbot that helps answer shoppers' questions in real-time. I don’t think a lot of people online realize we’re a small shop, and [that] one of us—mostly me—is the person behind the chat answering their questions.” With nearly 10,000 followers, Instagram has been pivotal for She’s Unique. “Most of the engagement happens on IG stories and reels,” says Ananieva. “It’s important for small businesses with e-commerce platforms to leverage social media and keep on top of the latest trends. Right now, reels and TikTok are the most engaging and it’s where we’re refocusing our energy. Video content will only continue to grow— especially with Gen Z—so we have to keep on top of the trends and produce weekly video content.”
JOHNMCGOWAN
CEO OF HUBSYNC
Benjamin Franklin is famously quoted saying, “… in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” And with that certainty, there is an indisputable need for accountants—though, as old as the accounting industry is, it hasn’t quite kept up with the ever-changing face of technology to streamline processes that once required a great deal of manual work. For HubSync, giving CPA firms cloud-based technology to do their work is their raison d’etre, allowing firms better client communication and creating a superior experience. Founded just over three years ago by long-term
Alexandrian John
McGowan, HubSync was created with the purpose of automating the entire end-toend process for CPA firms and providing a modern, digital experience for clients.
“My goal is that you might actually like filing your taxes after using HubSync,” says HubSync CEO
McGowan. “I love solving business problems with technology. I started building technology solutions early in my career in the Big 4, and it is what drove me to start this company and bring our software platform to the industry. The tax process is fundamentally broken and remains largely paper-based.” This is where HubSync comes in. “We are building an amazing platform that is revolutionizing our industry with a great group of people,” McGowan notes. “I love waking up every day and working with our team and our clients. We built more functionality in 2021 than many companies have built in years, with more to come. The great thing about technology is that the journey never ends.” For
McGowan, that journey began nearly 30 years ago, when he started in the tax and accounting industry at KPMG and then later Deloitte. Now, his day-to-day as CEO requires him to wear a number of hats—a role in which he seems to thrive. “I do a little bit of everything,” he says. “I run our software engineering team, focus on business development and growth and—most importantly—work closely with our clients on digitizing their accounting firms. We are up to 60 people now, all working virtually from different geographical regions across the globe, so we are also focused on building an amazing work culture in the new norm of a distributed workforce.” Naturally, it is crucial that HubSync maintain an edge, keeping up with the latest innovations in tech. “I spend time every day reading up on the latest and greatest technology,” McGown admits. “I have a reputation for sending my development teams new ideas all the time so that we can experiment with the latest innovations. I love pushing the envelope and innovating with new technology. It’s also my job to advise our clients on the adoption of these new ideas, so it is important to stay ahead of the eightball and in front of any incoming tech wave.” More than just part of his work, technology is a passion for McGowan—which may be one of the reasons for his success. “Accounting is notoriously lagging behind the rest of the business landscape. There is so much opportunity for automation in our industry, using technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation,” he notes. “When I see inefficiencies in any process, I always want to solve them. It is really fulfilling when our clients tell us how much easier we’ve made their work lives.”
PAGE MOON +ELIZABETH CHISMAN MOON CO-FOUNDERS OF FOCUS DATA SOLUTIONS
Since launching Focus Data Solutions in 2001, Page Moon and Elizabeth Chisman Moon have revolutionized the concept of IT, later restructuring to offer managed services that streamline the supervision and maintenance of computer networks to achieve costeffective and faster solutions. “Focus Data Solutions was one of the first small business managed services providers,” says Page, who wears the title of co-founder and CIO. “Back when we started, managed services were a new concept. Most small IT firms of the time waited for a call, went on-site, and attempted to fix issues without knowing anything about the computer or the network. We realized how inefficient and time-consuming this was and how management of the computer would revolutionize service delivery. With managed services, we could ensure that each of our managed computers would have the right systems in place (patching, antivirus and m a l w a r e protections, security solutions, etc.), and that allowed us to better target the issue. Since this point, I have leveraged my background in IT to continually refine our service offerings with a concentration on security systems. I take the best tools, systems and products, combine them with our exemplary staff and deliver quality service to our clients. Our clients’ success and security are our innovation.” Adds CEO Elizabeth, “Page’s decision to launch managed services back in 2006 was a huge leap of faith. Our approach is still very customized to the client. It’s simple to roll out managed services to a large list of clients. It’s much more difficult to tailor the experience. That’s really our strong suit and our innovation. During COVID, we created multiple service systems to meet the needs of very different clients in very different situations.” A computer geek since his high school days, Page boasts more than 30 years of IT experience in network engineering, cybersecurity and software development. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he helped start the first shipboard computer repair facility in the Atlantic Fleet and repaired secure voice cryptographic equipment. Over the course of his career, he also designed entire data centers and developed international IT networks for private enterprise as well as government contractors and educational institutions. “Technology was new in the ’80s and, like so many others, what started as an escape and entertainment through computer games became a passion for me,” says Page. “I needed to know how computers worked. I still have that passion today. I am at my happiest when I am faced with a computer or network problem that must be fixed. In 2022, technology changes every day, and I am always tackling a new business situation involving technology. Whether it’s securing a remote workforce during COVID, working with insurance companies on compliance issues or designing security awareness training for our clients’ teams, there is always something new. Our clients’ success drives my passion. There is nothing more satisfying to me than to solve a problem with one of our client’s systems and deliver on our promise to them that their computers, their network and their computer security are in place to keep them productive.” The perfect partner to run the business side of the company, Elizabeth holds more than 20 years of management experience in for-profit as well as non-profit organizations, with experience in strategic planning, communications, client services and organizational development. “I share Page’s passion for our clients’ success,” she says. “I’m also very passionate about running a business where people want to work. I want Focus Data Solutions to be a place where people feel good about their work and are always learning. We encourage our team to bring new ideas and new solutions to our clients. People are at their best when they are free to be creative and solve problems.”
ELISEABDOLLAHI HAIR NERD, HAIR STYLIST + MASTER HAIR EXTENSIONS SPECIALIST OF SALON DEZEN
The self-proclaimed “Hair Nerd” at Salon deZen, Elise Abdollahi is more than a stylist—she’s a passionate pursuer of the latest innovations in the beauty industry, ever in search of the next best trends and ways to perfect them. Insatiable in her desire to offer the best, Abdollahi constantly educates herself to further her business, especially in the realm of hair extensions. A master hair extensions specialist, Abdollahi keeps her finger on the pulse of the constantly changing salon industry, which, in turn, keeps Salon deZen on the cutting edge. “If I see something new, I immediately go to a class to master it,” Abdollahi notes. “My goal is to always be on top of all the latest techniques and technology in hair and beauty so I can be as efficient and knowledgeable as possible. I have done hair extensions for over 10 years now and the evolution of the technology is astonishing. What once started as two different techniques is now exploding into new technologies that incorporate machines and tools to achieve better productivity. Originally taking more than three hours, this luxury service can now be done in an hour with newer, radically innovative equipment. ”The new technologies and techniques to which she refers include the use of lasers. “The Hairdreams Laserbeamer Nano applies hair extensions in a quick, efficient way so that our guests do not have to be at the salon for a long appointment,” Abdollahi explains. “I jumped at the opportunity to become certified in this new hair extension technology because this process is quick and gives gorgeous results in 90 minutes or less. This is a game-changer because it provides beautiful, instant results without the investment of so much time. The instant gratification is amazing.” What drives her is, of course, her clients and the difference she can see in them after their appointment. “The look of pure joy and excitement on my guests’ faces after I am finished with their service gives me passion for my work,” Abdollahi says. “Because of COVID and quarantining as well as other factors going on in the world, many people don’t feel like themselves. Helping everyone achieve their hair dreams is huge for me. When you look beautiful, you feel beautiful. I love to make people feel beautiful and [feel] like they are the best version of themselves.” With all that she has learned over the course of her career, Abdollahi has a vision for what she would like her future to bring. “I would love to design my own hair extensions line,” she admits. “I would want it to be fast and efficient, no matter the type. I also would want the highest quality hair with the greatest longevity. I feel I could bring that innovation to extensions. It would put all of my education and skill to use and provide people with a product that would give them greater confidence.”
JIMWARREN CO-FOUNDER, BOARD SECRETARY + VP OF DESIGN OF ENGINUITY POWER SYSTEMS
Technology has advanced in many fields and applications since the industrial age, and as time has passed, creating innovations that are ecofriendly has been an even greater focus. Through his work at Enginuity Power Systems, Jim Warren is part of that innovative advancement, sitting at the helm of a company focused on pioneering the production of patented ultrahigh-efficiency engines. The world's first production-ready four-stroke inwardly opposed piston engine is ideal for both manufacturers and consumers across an almost endless range of applications. “I innovate because it’s a kind of compulsion,” says Warren, who is one of the founders of Enginuity Power Systems and holds the titles of Board Secretary and VP of Design. “I can’t look at something without seeing how it could be better. When I look at power generation systems, I don’t see them as they are, I see them as they could be, and I want to make them better. I need to make them better. That’s what led to Enginuity’s new private generation appliance. I was looking for a way to showcase my new power production module, and one of my board members, Greg Powell, suggested a home appliance that replaces your water heater, furnace, backup generator and air-conditioner, which seemed like a cool way to do it. I mean, imagine not ever having an electric bill again, not having to buy a backup generator, or worrying about the power going out. Our new private generation system does all that while cutting your home’s carbon footprint by 50 percent the day you install it.” For Warren, the ability to innovate and create comes as naturally as breathing. “People always want to know how someone ends up as an inventor, like maybe there are some classes you can take, or if I went to MIT or something,” he says. “In actuality, being an inventor is kind of like being an opera singer— you are either born with the ability to create new things or you aren’t. My business partners know I have this one particular ability in that I am very creative, but they also know I can’t balance the company books. It’s a tradeoff, I guess.” As cutting-edge as their technology is, Warren and the team at Enginuity did not anticipate the profound effect their work would have. “We didn’t realize that we were going to completely restructure energy distribution when we built our first system,” Warren notes. “Private generation as a home appliance just seemed like it made sense to us as a showcase for our technology. It was only after people at the utilities and Department of Energy got wind of the system and started to approach us that we realized the scope of what the program could be.” At the heart of Warren’s work is a driving passion that is simply based in the desire to impact the world around him. “I want to make people’s lives better, you know, doing well by doing good,” he says. “Unlike most people, however, I am fortunate enough to have the technology and the backing to actually do it. Imagine being able to put a big dent in carbon outputs, and being able to do it on a global scale. That’s where we are right now as a company. We have an appliance that is saving people money and improving their energy security while helping the environment. That’s a rare combination. Everyone’s always saying that people must reduce their standard of living to help the planet, but we just have to rethink how we do things. That’s where innovation comes in.”
