Katie Marden, Owner/Founder, Flash Running Wild
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The average office environment has seen a lot of changes over the past two years, some objectively positive and others arguably negative. On the one hand, employees are being allowed to telework far more frequently, if not 100% of the time, with more flexible hours. On the other hand, this flexibility has come at a cost for many of us – that definitive line that used to exist between work hours and home/family/friends/life hours, that line has been blurred, if not completely erased. No longer do we feel justified in ignoring our email after 6:00 p.m., and squeezing in some work before dropping the kids off at school is completely normal now, if not expected. 

Elizabeth Addington, Operations Manager, Arlington Chamber of Commerce
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​Hello, fellow Arlingtonians! I am Elizabeth Addington, the new Operations Manager at the Chamber. Proudly born and raised in Alexandria and a current resident of Arlington, I’m delighted to support my community in this new role. I graduated from James Madison University in 2018 with a degree in Art History and Technical Theatre and earned a Master’s in Management from George Mason University in 2021. With my passion for mission-driven work, relationship building, and back-of-house operations, I am thrilled to serve as the Chamber’s first point of contact for our members and greater Arlington community. I am inspired by the Chamber's spirit and willingness to always lend a helping hand and its genuine investment in the growth and success of each and every individual, small business, and large organization in Arlington.

By Kara Simon, Owner/Operator, Loving Heart Holistic Wellness

The New York Times defines Civic Engagement as “working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.” In this blog, I want to highlight the importance of civic engagement and share why it matters as a business owner.