Arlington (VA) Chamber of Commerce | Arlington, VA 22201 - Chamber Blog

3 Things I Learned About Leadership Through Observing Escape Rooms

7/17/2019

By Andrew Nicholson, Bonds Escape Room

I’ve always found escape rooms to be a microcosm of the workplace in that you have a team working together to complete a common goal within a set amount of time. I’ve worked at Bond’s Escape Room for three years, and during my time I’ve written hundreds of puzzles and watched countless groups try to solve them. I’ve observed many players and corporate teams hash out various strategies for success; however, few have actually worked. In order to “escape,” groups must communicate effectively, think critically, and make-up for each other’s weaknesses. In many cases, a leader naturally emerges to delegate and take charge of the group. I believe these workplace like games can be invaluable for understanding the inner workings of a team.

8 Business Signage Stats You Need to Know

7/10/2019

By Tony Hill, AlphaGraphics

Any smart business owner knows that it takes more than just a great product or model to operate a successful company. The true driver of success is sales, and sales stem from good advertising and branding. Focusing on these core competencies is a fundamental way to drive business that grows your bottom line, which in turn results in success.

The cornerstone of every successful brick and mortar brand is a great piece of store signage. Business signage is important for so many reasons—namely

because it sets the tone for your storefront, creates brand association, attracts attention, and serves as an informative tool. There’s an immense amount of importance placed on your business’ signage.

Has Your Business Connected with AED Lately?

7/3/2019

By Marian Marquez, Arlington Economic Development

During the month of May, Arlington Economic Development (AED) celebrated Business Appreciation Month in Arlington with a series of high-profile business events. However, this work is not confined to just one month per year; we do it year-round at AED! This activity, otherwise known as AED’s Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program, doesn’t usually make headlines but is an important pillar of our economic development strategy.

Prioritizing People Over Results: What Coaching Taught Me About Leadership

6/26/2019

By Chris Smith, ChangeSmith

Anybody who tells you they know everything they need to know about leadership is mistaken. Leader learning never stops. Even as I am called upon by our clients to coach and advise leaders as the managing principal of ChangeSmith, I too continue to learn, and that might be my favorite part of my work.

I have been a management consultant in the professional services industry for over 22 years. I have supported leaders in the Federal, commercial, and trade association spaces, and represented some of the best firms in the Washington, DC metro area. While my work has always been an effective way to support my family, I haven’t always loved it. In fact, about five years ago, I was ready to quit and walk away when my wife encouraged me to pursue a dream of running my own firm.

Why Business Owners Should Take a Break this Summer & How to Do It

6/19/2019

By Tara Palacios, Arlington Economic Development's BizLaunch

Summer is nearly here! You’ve spent the last several months growing your business, managing your business, attending industry events, networking, and so much more. With the remainder of your time, you’ve been having “fun,” attending birthday parties, graduations, weddings, and catching up with the family. Now what?

Take a break.

Yes, take a break. I give you permission. As an entrepreneur, you deserve it. Give yourself time this summer to smell the roses, take care of yourself and recharge the batteries. The following is my list of must-do’s, so you are ready for the fall to further grow and manage your business, and attend more industry events!

Gaining Real-World Experience at the Chamber

6/12/2019

By Miki Gilmore, Communications Associate, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

I’ve been at the Chamber for eight months now working in the communications role in a variety of capacities. The opportunity to grow within the role during my time at the Chamber has given me many learning moments that I will take with me for the rest of my career as a graphic designer.

I was born in Yokohama, Japan then moved to Rockville, Maryland in 2006 where I have lived for the past 13 years. In 2017, I graduated Bryn Mawr College with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. Once I finished school, I found that I wanted to embark on a more creative career path, so I enrolled at Montgomery College to explore a new passion for graphic and web design.

3 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Bookkeeper

6/5/2019

By Indre Bauza, Supporting Strategies

Sometimes small-business owners have trouble delegating responsibilities. Once you've invested so much time and money (in many cases) in launching a business, it's difficult to relinquish control over aspects of that business - especially the finances.

As your business grows, you eventually realize there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything yourself. Unless your goal in launching the business was to become a full-time bookkeeper, that's one of the first areas you should consider outsourcing. Have questions regarding how to outsource the financial aspect of your small-business and choose a fitting bookkeeper? Here are some answers.

Ambassador Spotlight: Sarah DeVoe

5/29/2019

By Sarah DeVoe, Burdette Smith & Bish, LLC

The Ambassador Committee works to strengthen the Chamber membership by making every member feel welcome at Chamber events and encouraging them to become involved. This amazing group of volunteers are the first Chamber members many of us meet, and are always friendly faces throughout our memberships.

All new members are given an Ambassador to the Chamber when they first join. Our Ambassador Committee looks to reach out to new members in their first year, serving as an additional resource as long time Chamber members. Ambassadors serve as a trusted voice to new members on how to maximize the Chamber membership, based on the objectives of the new member, and also look to greet new members at upcoming Chamber events.

To get to know your Ambassadors better, we present Sarah DeVoe, CPA and Partner at Burdette Smith and Bish, LLC.

Benefits of Providing Responsible Investment Options for Retirement Plans

5/22/2019

By Marcio Silveira, Toler Financial Group

Did you know that through responsible investing employers can align their retirement plans with the values of their company and its employees? Providing these types of investment options for employee benefits, specifically retirement plans, not only strengthens company morale but also leads to attracting and retaining top talent for organizations.

Let me explain further, starting with a definition of responsible investing.

Responsible investing is the investment process that integrates the pure financial dimensions of return and risk with environmental, social, and governance considerations, also known as ESG factors. This certain type of investing refers to strategies that integrate these factors into the selection process for employee benefits, including retirement plans.

Interning Abroad

5/15/2019

By Hanna Kim, Intern, Arlington Chamber of Commerce

I have been interning at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce for about seven months, since November 2018. My journey to the United States actually started when I was a student in China. I spent two-and-a-half years studying in China, where I had a lot of opportunity to work on projects with a Korean government agency, an international trade company, and a marketing firm.

Through those experiences, I started to study the growth and decline of small and medium-sized firms. During my last semester, I prepared a thesis about cases of direct investment by Korean companies in China. Once I completed my studies, I realized that I needed a comprehensive understanding of what America is like, because the U.S. and Korea have a close partnership – not only economically, but also politically.