Shows
Eye On Annapolis Daily News BriefLocal Business Spotlight: Anne Arundel Economic Development CorporationLoans, data, and grants! Oh my! While this is not The Wizard of Oz, some may say that the AAEDC does the work of wizards! Today, we sit down with Amy Gowan, the President and CEO of this quasi-public entity whose sole purpose is to help businesses succeed in Anne Arundel County! We discuss how diverse the county is and how the EDC is involved, from supporting our farmers in South County to a new Town Center in Glen Burnie. We discuss the programs for minority businesses (IVP) and the depth of knowledge and connections...
2025-08-3047 min
Pittman and Friends PodcastAmy Gowan on Anne Arundel Economic Development CorporationCounty Executive Steuart Pittman welcomes Amy Gowan, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC), for a fascinating exploration of what drives economic prosperity in communities and how local government can facilitate business success.Amy brings a uniquely diverse background to her role, having worked in homeless services, housing policy, planning departments, and as an advisor to both a mayor and city council member before landing in economic development. This nonlinear career path gives her invaluable perspective on both sides of the development equation – understanding regulatory constraints while championing business growth.The co...
2025-04-0132 min
My Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Levonye ProfessionalsWe couldn't think of a better day than Valentine's Day to publish a My ArundelBiz Podcast episode featuring an ArundelBiz that's all about self-love: Levonye Professionals.
We sat down with Yalmikia Edmonds, the coincidentally red- and pink-clad owner of the hair restoration center based in Glen Burnie, to discuss:
- How wanting to continue servicing her cosmetology clients and pursuing new knowledge resulted in building her own business.
- What inspired the "Levonye" name and what makes her business unique.
- The many different hair loss conditions that exist, and why the many ways she treats them is really ab...
2024-02-1436 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring the Top Business Tips of 2023!Looking for some business tips for 2024?!
We're excited to publish a video featuring some of the top business tips and pieces of advice from the 17 business owners who appeared on the My ArundelBiz Podcast in 2023.
They cover it all, from what questions to ask yourself when you're just starting (or thinking about starting) a business to what to focus on as your business grows. But all of the advice has one thing in common: it comes from an Anne Arundel County business owner who's learned it from experience and is sharing it so that others can succeed.
...
2024-01-2208 min
Grow Your Business and Grow Your WealthEpisode 174: Amy GowanWhat does it take to drive economic growth and support businesses in a dynamic county like Anne Arundel? Welcome to the Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth podcast with your host, Gary Heldt. In this enlightening episode, guest Amy Gowan, the dynamic President and CEO of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. Amy shares her insights on the corporation's vital role in fostering economic development and supporting the business community in Anne Arundel County.Amy Gowan leads the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, focusing on various critical business services, including financing, site selection, research, permitting, workforce d...
2023-12-2023 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Greenstreet Gardens🚨The 2023 My ArundelBiz HOLIDAY POD is HERE!🚨
Our FIFTH holiday episode - and perhaps most footage-filled episode ever - features Greenstreet Gardens, a family-owned nursery and garden center based in Lothian.
We sat down with Ray Greenstreet, the sometimes Santa hat-wearing owner of the 23-year-old ag-based business, to discuss:
Why, after spending many years as a Long Island-based sales rep for Ball Seed Company, he decided to return to Maryland and buy Windermere Gardens in 2000.
How much the company has grown since - including opening a second garden center, in Alexandria, and providing residential AND commercial landscaping services throug...
2023-12-1238 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring The Anne Arundel County Food BankJust in time for a holiday focused on food, we're proud to publish a special episode featuring a nonprofit that seeks to ensure that all members of our community have enough: the Anne Arundel County Food Bank (AACFB).
We sat down with Leah Paley, CEO of the 37-year-old organization, to discuss:
The many ways that AACFB works to alleviate food insecurity in Anne Arundel County, where 8.1% of residents (47,000+ people) don't know where their next meal is coming from - and over half of these individuals don't qualify for federal assistance.
The many similarities...
2023-11-2232 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Chesapeake Dog TrainingWith the holiday season approaching, our next well-timed episode features a business that's all about helping make it - and every other time of year - as stress-free and comfortable as possible for canines (as well as their humans): Chesapeake Dog Training.
We sat down with Linda Stallings, founder and owner of the 14-year-old company that "connects people and dogs through training" (and our 80TH VOLT Fund loan recipient!) to discuss:
What made her decide to leave her super-exciting job at the Baltimore Zoo, where she enjoyed solving everyday problems like how to...
2023-11-1540 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Wild Kid AcresWith the fall harvest season in full swing we're excited to feature one of the hundreds of farms in Anne Arundel County: Wild Kid Acres.
We sat down with Gerardo Martinez, owner of the five-acre agricultural enrichment and education center, to discuss:
How a trip to Cameroon inspired a United States Naval Academy graduate and corporate leadership business founder who, notably, happened to grow up on a flower farm but hate farming, decide to start a farm in Edgewater.
The wide variety of animals, many of them "donated without consent," that call Wild...
2023-11-0435 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Wild Kid AcresWith harvest season upon us and Business Appreciation Week in Anne Arundel County ahead, we're excited to publish an episode featuring one of the hundreds of farms in Anne Arundel County: Wild Kid Acres.
We sat down with Gerardo Martinez, owner of the five-acre farm in Edgewater, to discuss:
How a very inspirational trip to Cameroon made a former farm-hating boy, United States Naval Academy grad, and corporate leadership business founder decide to become a farm.
The biggest challenges that he faced when turning what had been a dump into a place that...
2023-10-2043 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Annapolis Latino Market & Sin Fronteras CafeHappy Hispanic Heritage Month, Anne Arundel!
Two weeks into the month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, we're excited to highlight TWO of the many great Hispanic-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County: Annapolis Latino Market (ALM) and Sin Fronteras Cafe.
We sat down with Walter Vasquez, owner of both Annapolis-based businesses (and many others), to discuss:
The valuable experience that he gained while working in El Salvador, Miami, and New York City before moving to Maryland in 2007.
What inspired him to open Sin Fronteras (which means "No Borders"...
2023-09-2935 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Moore Crunch!As September arrives and Anne Arundel County residents of all ages adjust to new routines - from returning to school or college to watching football throughout their weekends - a perennial question arises: What can I (or my kids) snack on?
With that question in mind, we're excited to publish our next My ArundelBiz Podcast featuring Moore Crunch: a new but VERY fast-growing business offering sweet and savory gourmet pretzels.
We sat down with Marcus Moore, the Crofton-based business's owner - and one of just ten individuals with autism in the country who owns 100% of his business! - and...
2023-09-0737 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Skinlogic (VOLT Fund Series #4)Skin isn't just the biggest organ of the body - it's also big business! That's clearly the case in Anne Arundel County, where a simple Google search for "skin care services" will yield a lengthy list of places for dermatology, cosmetology, and everything in between.
With that in mind we’re pleased to publish a My ArundelBiz Podcast episode featuring one of the newest spots for skin care in the region: Skinlogic, a boutique medical spa in Severna Park.
We sat down with Meredith Baker, founder and owner of th...
2023-08-0720 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Morris Hill FarmWith the Maryland Buy Local Challenge and our Arundel Grown Farm To Table Tasting just days away, we're excited to publish a My ArundelBiz Podcast episode featuring one of Anne Arundel County's many farm-based businesses: Morris Hill Farm.
We sat down with Dave and Vicki Haberkorn, owners of the small family farm in Tracy's Landing, to discuss:
The journey from community farming and chicken plucking in Florida to full-time farming in southern Anne Arundel County five years ago.
Why it's so fulfilling to sell directly to customers all over Anne Arundel - including...
2023-07-2037 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Special Edition: AAEDC Celebrates 30 Years!Exactly thirty years after AAEDC was created, on July 1, 1993, we're excited to publish a VERY special My ArundelBiz Podcast episode celebrating our 30th anniversary.
We sat down with the two women who have been with AAEDC since day one - Jill Seamon, Administrative Officer and two-time Interim CEO, and Lisa Grunder, Manager of Loan Administration - for a conversation that was both a walk down memory lane and a look toward the future.
We discussed:
How Jill and Lisa started at - and why they’ve stayed at - AAEDC, and how their definitions of "economic development" have ev...
2023-07-0129 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring The Braiding Palace (VOLT Fund Series #3)Among many things June is National Immigrant Heritage Month: a time to honor and celebrate the very wide array of contributions that immigrants have made and are continuing to make to our country. On the economic side of things it's a time to, as this year's White House Proclamation states, celebrate the fact that "Immigrants own approximately one in five businesses, create millions of jobs, pay hundreds of billions in taxes, and spend even more on American goods;" that, simply put, "immigrants keep our Nation strong and our economy growing."
With that in mind...
2023-06-0525 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring KG Truck & Auto (VOLT Fund Series #2)Ten years after awarding our very first VOLT Fund loan (on May 23, 2019) and ten days after the four-year anniversary of publishing our very first My ArundelBiz Podcast episode (on May 13, 2019), we're excited to feature a dynamic duo that exemplifies just what our now officially "award-winning" podcast aims to do: give Anne Arundel County business owners a platform to share their unique stories and, in many cases, how AAEDC helped them grow.
We sat down with Kelsey and Stephanie Gary, President and Vice President of Glen Burnie-based KG Truck and Auto and our second VOLT...
2023-05-2337 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Peake SocialHappy May Day and Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Anne Arundel!
We're excited to be celebrating lots of things this month, from the arrival of warmer weather to the graduation of our March 2023 Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) cohort, and we're pleased to feature a business owner who's a big fan of both: Jeremiah Batucan, owner of Peake Social.
We sat down with Jeremiah, a proud Filipino American and a proud graduate of our March 2022 IVP cohort, to discuss:
The creation and growth of the Annapolis-based adult social sports league, from...
2023-05-0127 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring City CleanFour weeks after the first day of spring and eight weeks after announcing some big news about our Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund, we're excited to publish an episode featuring a business that is a big fan of both: City Clean Inc.
We sat down with Dan Steele, owner of the Brooklyn Park-based power washing company and one of 62 Anne Arundel County business owners who have received an ACR loan since 2007, to discuss:
How he decided to start City Clean and why its work leaves customers - and the employees who do it - so satisfied.
...
2023-04-1719 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Forward Brewing (VOLT Fund Series #1)Sure it might be April Fool's Day but YES, NO FOOLING, we really are publishing a My ArundelBiz Podcast episode on a Saturday - and we're doing it for a VERY special reason:
2023 is AAEDC’s 10th year of managing the VOLT Fund - a casino revenue-funded program that assists small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Maryland by offering them loans from $25,000 to $500,000 - on behalf of the MD Department of Commerce, and April just so happens to be the month when we received our first VOLT Fund funds (on April 17, 2013 to be precise).
SO...
2023-04-0126 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring The Inclusive Ventures Program 2.0!Fresh off our announcement of the first cohort of business owners to complete our Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) in 2023 - notably our first all-women cohort! - we're pleased to publish our second My ArundelBiz Podcast episode focused on all-things IVP.
We sat down with Barbara Quaye, AAEDC Business Development Director and IVP Manager, and IVP Facilitator Will Holmes to discuss:
The origins of IVP - an initiative that aims to help small and minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow by providing a robust menu of resources - and how Holmes...
2023-03-1032 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Kratos Defense & Security SolutionsPerfectly timed with National Engineers Week, a celebration running from February 19-25, 2023, we're pleased to publish an episode featuring one of Anne Arundel County's most exciting employers of engineers: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a company that “develops and fields transformative, affordable systems, platforms, and products for national security and communications needs."
We sat down with Josh Peterson, Senior Vice President of Kratos's Glen Burnie-based Space and Missile Defense Systems division, to discuss:
What he and his team do, from ballistic missile emulations and high-speed hypersonic testing to supporting the development of an "air-breathing hypersonic weapon system," and...
2023-02-2223 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: 2022 & 2023 New Eats in Anne Arundel County!With Valentine's Day - aka the biggest day for dinner dates - and Annapolis Restaurant Week ahead, there's no better time for one of our most anticipated My ArundelBiz Podcast episodes yet: 2022 & 2023 New Eats in Anne Arundel County.
Featuring AAEDC Vice President of Business Development & Real Estate Wes MacQuilliam - aka the TRUE Anne Arundel County real estate guru - this very special episode takes a look at some of the most-anticipated restaurants and grocery stores to open in Anne Arundel County in 2022 - and, just as importantly, some of the most-anticipated culinary locations coming to the...
2023-02-0317 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring the Top Business Tips of 2022!As the first full work week of 2023 begins, we're excited to publish a video featuring some of the top tips and pieces of advice from the 17 business owners who appeared on the My ArundelBiz Podcast in 2022.
The tips run the gamut, from how to pursue your passion to how to find and treat your employees, but they all have one thing in common: they come from an Anne Arundel County business owner who's learned them from experience and is sharing them so that others can succeed.
So, whether you want to start a business in...
2023-01-0908 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Chaney EnterprisesAs 2022 comes to a close we're excited to feature a company that celebrated its sixtieth year in business throughout it: Chaney Enterprises (CE).
We sat down with Hall Chaney, third-generation CEO of the family-owned business, to discuss:
How CE has grown from a humble sand and gravel business in Charles County to a Gambrills-headquartered company with sand, gravel, and ready-mix concrete plants throughout the Mid-Atlantic and roughly 750 employees.
The benefits and obstacles of running a third-generation family business.
How CE recruits and retains its employees, including recently working with AAEDC and the Maryland Department of Commerce t...
2022-12-3035 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Blank SlateWith Christmas just a week away we're excited to publish a special holiday episode featuring Blank Slate, “an entrepreneurship collective that’s passionate about helping small brands start, grow, and thrive.”
We sat down with Taryn Ouzts, founder of one of many new businesses to open in the Annapolis Mall in 2022, to discuss:
How horrible migraines led her to create one of her three businesses, Burnt Culture Co., and how her experience with an accelerator program led her to create Blank Slate.
The mission of the collective - equity (NOT equality!) for small business owners - and th...
2022-12-1839 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring MakeatheWith the holiday feasting season upon us we're pleased to feature one of Anne Arundel County's many great producers: Makeathe.
We sat down with Tom Giancola, self-proclaimed "bread guy" and owner of the Annapolis-based cottage food business, to discuss:
How he decided to build "Annapolis's Underground Bakery," a full-scale professional commercial kitchen, under his home, and give the business such a unique name.
Why he finds the history of bread baking, connecting with customers - and with fellow producers - at farmers' markets, and regularly donating bread to the hungry so inspirational.
How he has grown...
2022-11-2229 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Purview!We ended October, notably designated as both National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month, by featuring Purview, a fast-growing telehealth software company.
We sat down with Josh DeBartolo, COO of the Annapolis-based business, to discuss:
Why second opinions are so important, especially when it comes to cancer, and how Purview's "remote second opinion software" works.
How Purview has grown and how AAEDC and Department of Commerce resources, for example our Workforce Training Grants, have helped it continue to grow.
What makes Anne Arundel County such a great place for the company to be lo...
2022-10-3131 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Cake Artista!We're helping Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) go out with a bang AND celebrating National Dessert Day (TODAY, October 14) by publishing another special episode featuring one of the many great Hispanic-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County: Cake Artista.
We sat down with Sandie Torres, owner of the almost ten year-old cake and confections baking business, to discuss:
How the self-described "Make It Happen Captain" decided to leave corporate America and start the business with her sister, whom she loved baking with as a child in a single-parent household, and give it such a great name.
...
2022-10-1419 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring MuralizeIt InteriorsAs we hit the halfway point of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, we're celebrating one of the many great Hispanic-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County: MuralizeIt Interiors.
We sat down with Andrea Moragues and Sonia Alignani, co-owners of the Crofton-based home staging and interior design company, to discuss:
How the two art-loving Argentinians very randomly met in America, 15 years ago, and decided to transition from a mural-painting business to MuralizeIt.
What home staging is, why it's so important, and how they do it.
How in just four years the business has grown from two garages...
2022-09-2923 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Clear Restoration & Pre-Disaster Consulting"YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A PLAN!"
At least that's what Clear Restoration & Pre-Disaster Consulting's Vince Scarfo says - and, after marking National Disaster Preparedness Month (September) by hosting him on the latest episode of the My ArundelBiz podcast, we believe it!
We sat down with Vince, Chief Revenue Officer at the Millersville-based business, to discuss:
How he and founder Chip Cunningham have grown Clear by treating restoration as a business and seeking, then implementing, "constant process improvement."
Hiring, training, and retaining great employees - including pursuing Maryland's Job Creation Tax Credit after learning about it f...
2022-09-0129 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Project Opportunity & The Spouse Entrepreneurship Training Course"A lot of Veterans don't realize that when they go into programs like mine (Project Opportunity) and yours (Inclusive Ventures Program) that they possess a lot of skills and talents that are going to help them be successful at what they want to do (start or grow their business)." - Joe Giordano, Project Opportunity Founder
With the summer flying by and Labor Day fast-approaching, the My ArundelBiz podcast is proud to highlight Project Opportunity, a free entrepreneurship training program designed solely for Veterans (Active Duty, Guard/Reserve Personnel, and Veterans) who want to start or expand their sm...
2022-08-1021 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Arundel Ag & The Maryland Buy Local Challenge!With summer officially here – FYI, it arrived on June 21 – and thoughts of fresh produce and farmers’ markets on our minds, the My ArundelBiz podcast returned to Great Frogs Winery - the beautiful site of the 2022 Arundel Grown Farm To Table Tasting - to highlight Maryland Buy Local Week and how Arundel Ag is celebrating it.
We sat down with Lisa Barge, Agricultural Marketing & Development Manager at Arundel Ag, to discuss:
The origin and purpose of Maryland Buy Local Week and the Maryland Buy Local Challenge, which were created by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), and how...
2022-07-0718 min
My Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Vuong's Martial ArtsAs Asian American and Pacific Islander Month comes to a close, we're celebrating one of the many great Asian American-owned businesses - and, at 30 years old, likely one of the oldest - in Anne Arundel County: Vuong's Martial Arts.
We sat down with Chien Vuong, owner of the self-proclaimed "best martial arts school ever," to discuss:
How he fell in love with martial arts and decided, at the ripe old age of 12, that he would one day open a taekwondo studio.
The work ethic instilled in him by his mom, who worked as a special forces...
2022-05-3132 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Great Frogs WineryWith National Wine Day (May 25!) and much-awaited warmer weather (YAY!) approaching - and, to keep it 100, because who needs an excuse for wine?! - there's no better time for our next guest: Great Frogs Winery.
We sat down with Andrea O'Shea, co-owner of the one and only winery in Annapolis, to discuss:
How she and her husband, Nate, fell in love with wine and decided to start a winery in, of all places, Anne Arundel County.
How the business has continued to evolve and overcome a wide array of challenges, from a natural disaster to a...
2022-05-1828 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Maher's FloristWhat better way for the My ArundelBiz podcast to welcome May - a month filled with celebratory occasions including Mother's Day, high school proms, graduations, and weddings - than to feature one of Anne Arundel County's many great flower-flinging businesses: Maher's Florist.
We sat down with Kim Wharton, owner of the Pasadena-based biz, to discuss:
How she fell in love with flowers - despite originally having "no interest" in them - while working alongside her mom, who opened the business in 1977.
How the business has continued to evolve and set itself apart amid various challenges, from...
2022-05-0215 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring The Breakfast ShoppeLOVE brunch?!
Well then you're in luck because, whether you knew it or not, there just so happens to be one week left in National Brunch Month (April!) and our next My ArundelBiz podcast episode just so happens to feature one of the top spots to get your brunch on in Anne Arundel County any time of year: The Breakfast Shoppe.
We sat down with Jeff Fitchett, owner of the family-owned and -operated Severna Park staple, to discuss:
How he went from washing dishes at 15 to unexpectedly becoming the owner of The Breakfast Shoppe...
2022-04-2521 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Himmel's Landscape & Garden CenterBecause today (April 13) is International Plant Appreciation Day AND because April showers are making us think of the planting of and emergence of May flowers, there's no better time for My ArundelBiz to feature its next great guest: Himmel's Landscape & Garden Center.
We sat down with Elizabeth Elliott, owner of the Pasadena-based biz, to discuss:
How she fell in love with landscaping while working at Himmel's, over 20 years ago, and took a circuitous path before becoming its owner in 2018.
How a VOLT Fund loan from AAEDC allowed her to purchase, then very quickly expand, the business.
Th...
2022-04-1321 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Pirate Adventures On the Chesapeake!Although Women's History Month officially ended on March 31, we're kicking off April by spotlighting another one of the many awesome woman-owned businesses in Anne ARRRRRRRRundel County: Pirate Adventures On The Chesapeake.
We sat down with Emily Tomasini, founder of the 20 year-old company, to discuss:
How seeing a pirate ship in Cape Cod inspired her to open her business in Annapolis.
Dealing with the challenges of a seasonal, weather-dependent business that's "all about the boat."
What makes the Pirate Adventure experience so memorable - HINT: it involves pirate tattoos and water cannons! - and how she and he...
2022-04-0127 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring New Roots Farm!We're celebrating Women's History Month by spotlighting two of the many awesome woman-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County. In our latest episode of the My ArundelBiz podcast we sat down with Sarah Campbell, owner of New Roots Farm - an ag-based ArundelBiz that offers some of the freshest meat in Maryland.
Sarah discusses:
How she decided to become a fourth-generation farmer focused on raising cows, pigs, chicken, and sheep.
What it's like to operate in an ever-changing, traditionally male-dominated industry that requires her to wear tons of hats and deal with tons of variables.
How she HATC...
2022-03-1843 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Magothy PaymentsWe're continuing to celebrate Black History Month by spotlighting another awesome black-owned business in Anne Arundel County: Magothy Payments.
In our latest My ArundelBiz podcast we sat down with Jaron Rice, Magothy’s owner and a proud member of our second Inclusive Ventures Program cohort, to discuss:
What inspired him to create a payment processing company focused on small business.
How Magothy's niche services and customer service have helped it become Maryland's highest-rated merchant services provider.
The positive and negative effects of COVID on his business.
PLUS his top five tips for entrepreneurs and his top...
2022-02-2233 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring RTB CycleWe're celebrating Black History Month by spotlighting some terrific Anne Arundel County businesses. In our latest My ArundelBiz podcast we sat down with Chuanda Mason, owner of RTB (Ride The Beat) Cycle - an ArundelBiz that offers the highest-energy spin classes in Odenton.
Not only an entrepreneur but also a Veteran, Chuanda discusses:
how she fell in love with then decided to actually start a business based on spin
how lessons learned from her entrepreneurial mom and her time in the military have helped her succeed
how she faced and overcame the many challenges that COVID-19 pres...
2022-02-1022 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Fluttr!The second My ArundelBiz podcast of 2022 features Fluttr, an internet-based personal greeting card service that's set to launch just in time for Valentine's Day - AND in time for all of the very many other holidays and non-holidays when you want to show you care!
Matt discusses:
how a frustrating Mother's Day inspired him to found the company, and how he came up with its name.
what makes the service unique, from its 55-member artist network and 730 customizable cards to its back-end technology.
how he plans to grow the company, with the help of a VOLT...
2022-02-0235 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring The Inclusive Ventures Program!Now that the New Year is here and many folks are likely resolving to start or grow their business, we're excited to publish a very special episode of the My ArundelBiz podcast featuring BIG news for 2022: details on who should apply for, how to apply for, and when to apply for our third Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) cohort!
We sat down with AAEDC Business Development Associate Keasha Haythe, who led the development of and manages IVP, to discuss:
The origins of IVP, which aims to help small and minority-, women-, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel...
2022-01-0521 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Holiday Memories FarmWith Christmas a week away, we're excited to publish our third, and final, holiday-themed episode of the 2021 season - very fittingly, featuring an ArundelBiz that's all about celebrating the holidays and making memories with family: Holiday Memories Farm.
We sat down with Gary Palmer, owner of the family-owned West River farm - an agricultural business offering Christmas trees, chicken and duck eggs, produce, and more - to talk about all-things Anne Arundel ag.
We discuss how Gary went from firefighter to farmer; the intricacies of managing inventory of Christmas trees, eggs, and other offerings; and h...
2021-12-1725 min
TEDCO Talks with Troy LeMaile-StovallTEDCO Talks with Ben Birge, Anne Arundel Economic Development CorporationJoin TEDCO's CEO & Executive Director, Troy LeMaile-Stovall, in thought-provoking conversations with regional leaders about the future of Maryland’s innovation ecosystem. Troy had the opportunity to interview Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation's President & CEO, Ben Birge. Watch now to learn more about AAEDC and the exciting new things happening in Anne Arundel County to support Maryland's entrepreneurial community. Learn more about AAEDC: https://www.aaedc.org/
2021-12-0141 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Franklin's ToysAlthough many folks likely got a good deal of their holiday shopping done on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday, most likely also have a few items left on their lists - especially given the dreaded supply chain issues of 2021. What's more, a good number of traditionalists have surely been waiting until the calendar strikes December to put up their trees and begin shopping for the presents to put under them.
With this in mind we sat down with Stephen Kaufmann, co-owner of Franklin's Toys - an awesome ArundelBiz that offers a diverse blend of new...
2021-12-0121 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Dangerously Delicious PiesDid somebody say PIE?!!!
Hear "DD," and the first business that probably comes to mind is Dunkin' Donuts. But for Anne Arundel County residents in the know, it stands for Dangerously Delicious - a first-class purveyor of, you guessed it, pies that are so damn delicious they're dangerous.
With this ample alliteration in mind and the holidays upon us, we sat down with Chris Miller, owner of Dangerously Delicious Pies Annapolis - an awesome ArundelBiz that offers diverse sweet and savory pies, quiches, coffee, and more - for the first of three holiday-themed episodes that wi...
2021-11-1817 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring Cheaper Than A GeekARE YOU CYBERSAFE & CYBERSECURE?!
Whether you think you are or not, the answer is that you're probably not as much as you could be.
With this in mind, we sat down with Chris Barber, "chief geek" at (and owner of) Cheaper Than A Geek, a computer repair and IT services company based in Crofton, Maryland, to talk all-things computer service and #cybersecurity during #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth (October).
We discuss what motivated Chris to start the business (it involves a horrible experience that he'll never forget), how he recruits and retains employees who deliver exceptional customer s...
2021-10-2832 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring GoodtimerThey say nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes. But as every parent knows there's something else that definitely belongs on the list: misbehaving kids!
With that in mind we sat down with Adam Ashley, co-creator of Goodtimer - an electronic educational toy that encourages kids to form healthy habits using positive reinforcement, tangible incentives, and family participation - for the latest episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast. We discuss what motivated Adam and his wife to develop the product (hint: they have young kids!), how being the first small business in Anne Arundel...
2021-10-1940 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: New Eats in Anne Arundel!Looking for a new restaurant to try? Or maybe wondering what culinary concoctions are coming to Anne Arundel County next?
Then tune in to this special episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast for a look at some of the newest restaurants to open their doors, as well as many of those coming soon, with AAEDC’s in-house business development and real estate guru Wes MacQuilliam.
You’ll hear Wes and podcast hosts Grayson Orphe and Rosa Cruz discuss where to get “the best Buffalo chicken pizza” in the county, where to go for date night, and more...
2021-08-3128 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring CapitalSUPOur waterways are what help make Anne Arundel so special. That’s why we’re featuring an entrepreneur helping to make the water accessible and fun for all in the newest episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast!
Capital SUP is a maritime-based #ArundelBiz in the heart of Annapolis uniquely impacting our local waterways while driving new tourism activities like SUP (aka Stand Up Paddleboarding). In this podcast interview with co-founder Kevin Haigis, learn all about stand up paddleboarding and the activities (and local music!) you can explore without land… or even the need for a boat!
2021-05-2526 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring JDA ManagementEarlier this year AAEDC launched a minority business growth program called Inclusive Ventures Program convened by Keasha Haythe here in our office. In addition to education, growth guidance, and a $5,000 seed investment grant, mentors were made available to offer support for these growing entrepreneurs. In the most recent episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast we feature one such mentor- Dr. Johnetta Thurston, founder of JDA Management and Consulting Group .
Johnetta is the founder and principal consultant of JDA Management and Consulting Group, LLC (JDA). With over 25 years of human resources, training, project management, and leadership development experience...
2021-05-1036 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast Featuring KCW EngineeringAt the end of March we sat down with Kim Groves, CEO of KCW Engineering Technologies, Inc. to talk about leading and life values. Accepting the Baltimore Business Journal 2020 Mentor of the Year, growing a strong Anne Arundel STEM pipeline of young females, supporting local volunteer projects, leading a company to growth during a pandemic...our latest My ArundelBiz Podcast guest is the perfect spotlight to look back on Women's History Month.
“Now that I am in this position in the company, who am I to not take that and multiply it? You can’t be what you...
2021-04-0642 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast- the 2020 Wrap Up2020. A year like no other.
But one thing for sure is there will never be a shortage of uplifting stories in our #AnneArundel community! Look back with us as we remember special stories and examples of #ArundelBiz owners who pivoted and persevered throughout 2020.
2020-12-2931 minMy Arundel BizMy AundelBiz Podcast: Blk Ankr Originals LLC“Who is the face behind #StrongerTogether and why is Blk Ankr Originals LLC "more than just a t-shirt"?
In the newest podcast episode, get to know local #ArundelBiz owner Matt Reese and why he is so deeply rooted in the greater Annapolis community!”
2020-10-2349 minMy Arundel BizMy AundelBiz Podcast: Mojo Creative DigitalThe newest edition of the My ArundelBiz Podcast is all about adjustment and what we as a community can do to rally around our ArundelBiz who have made major adjustments. We sit down with Alexander Fakeri, Owner of Mojo Creative Digital, an Anne Arundel based creative marketing and advertising agency celebrating their 16th anniversary as a company to talk about pivoting your business online and our new community Shop Safe. Shop Local campaign.
2020-09-1637 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: Ben BirgeAt the beginning of July, we welcomed Ben Birge as the new CEO of AAEDC. In this episode we get to know the newest leader of the AAEDC team- why he chose Anne Arundel over California, his background in county governments, what he's most looking forward to working on in economic development, and more!
2020-07-2133 minMy Arundel BizMy AundelBiz Podcast: Humdinger ProductionsIn our newest quarantined episode we sit down with Alexis and Kacy Jenkins, founders of Humdinger Productions who have pivoted their concert and events focused business during #COVID19 to Infection Mitigation.
Plus, how can businesses get new improvements and PPE purchases covered with our newly launched CEP Grant?
Find out!
2020-06-0841 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: The Montana Masks IntiativeCOVID-19 has changed daily life for all in Anne Arundel County, forcing many businesses to make hard decisions and pivots. During this time of uncertainty it brings us joy to feature one such incredible pivot for the greater good. In this virtual "quarantined" episode, the My ArundelBiz Podcast team talks to Steve and Joan Saint Armour, co-founders of Eclipse Group in Annapolis. By collaborating with Saint Mary's High School, other schools, the Anne Arundel County Public Library System, and private donors, the Saint Armour's set up a 3D printer network that runs 24-7 to make Montana Masks (aka reusable...
2020-04-2940 minMy Arundel BizMy Arundel Biz Podcast: Grip BoostThe My ArundelBiz Podcast team sat down with former Terps' and Ravens' Tight End Matt Furstenburg, who is now CEO of Grip Boost. Learn about how this team of engineering PhDs from the University of Maryland’s Chemical Engineering Department, entrepreneur businessman Harry Geller, and Matt turned "crab to grab" in the form of lasting grip gloves for sports like football, golf, and baseball right here in Anne Arundel.
2020-02-2018 minMy Arundel BizMy Arundel Biz Podcast: Ink Generation#ArundelBiz Ink Generation started in CEO Ezequiel Cembalo's basement in 2012 and has now grown to a 6,500 sqft warehouse. In this newest episode the ArundelBiz Podcast team heads to Glen Burnie to find out what makes this screen printing business unique.
2020-01-2820 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: The Red Lotus Float SpaThe podcast team heads to Hanover to find out what flotation therapy is all about and why Marie Bittinger opened the new Red Lotus Float Spa in Anne Arundel.
2019-12-3019 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast: Veterans Day Edition Featuring Maritime Conference Center and USO BWIOn this special Veterans Day edition of the My ArundelBiz Podcast we sit down with #AnneArundel's Maritime Conference Center, also home to MITAGS, and the USO-Metro to highlight unique partnerships that bring value to our Veterans and Servicemembers.
2019-11-0821 minMy Arundel BizMy Arundel Biz Podcast - Coming SoonCurious about what new businesses are opening around Anne Arundel? AAEDC's Wes MacQuilliam gives the scoop on new breweries, restaurants and local shopping coming soon to your communities.
2019-10-0317 minMy Arundel BizMy Arundel Biz Podcast - Next CenturyOn the eve of the 18th anniversary of 9/11 the My ArundelBiz Podcast team sat down with John McBeth, CEO of Next Century to talk about why the company was founded in response and the guiding principles driving their innovation forward today.
2019-09-2323 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - MACo Summer ConferenceThis special edition was taped live from the MACo Summer Conference Bayfront Exhibit Hall in Ocean City and features a lively discussion with AAEDC CEO Jerry Walker and Maryland Association of Counties Associate Director Kevin Kinnally. Audio portions may include background noise.
2019-09-1126 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - Annapolis Sailing SchoolOn this fun, nautical, summer themed edition of the My ArundelBiz Podcast we sit down with John Cosby, Managing Director of Annapolis Sailing School in Annapolis, "America's Sailing Capital," as they celebrate 60 years of businesses in Anne Arundel.
2019-08-2120 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - ServProOn this episode of My ArundelBiz Podcast the AAEDC team sits down with strong woman entrepreneur Diane Whittles, owner of ServPro of Annapolis/Severna Park, ServPro of Edgewater/ Deale/Churchton and Lothian, and recently purchased ServPro of Pasadena/Gibson Island/Lake Shore.
2019-07-3112 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - Thanksgiving Farm WineryIn this episode the AAEDC team sits down with Maureen Heimbuch of Thanksgiving Farm Winery. We talked about their special attention to land, how they produce a completely unique bottle of wine, and how they manage to juggle full time jobs in North County while staying involved in bettering Anne Arundel agriculture!
2019-07-1614 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - Mulch MateOn this episode of My ArundelBiz Podcast we head to Glen Burnie to talk to Nick Carlson, CEO and Co-Founder of Dawson Manufacturing, creators of Mulch Mate to learn about the machine revolutionizing the landscaping business and the lessons they’ve learned in starting a business along the way.
2019-06-2621 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - The Cyphers AgencyIn this episode we talk to Dave Cyphers about the history of The Cyphers Agency and its humble beginnings. He also gives advice for others who have that entrepreneurial spirit.
2019-06-1413 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - JessyJaysOn this second episode of My ArundelBiz we sit with Jayleen Fonseca and Jesse Ramirez and talk about their restaurant "JessyJays" located in South Anne Arundel County. They discuss their business goals, funding, ideas, and the process of getting started in business.
2019-05-2921 minMy Arundel BizMy ArundelBiz Podcast - Crooked Crab BrewingIn this episode we talk to Crooked Crab Brewing owner Dan Messeca about his roots, how he and his partners started the first brewery in Anne Arundel County, and the future of his business.
2019-05-1312 min