We 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 about restoring self-confidence. - The most valuable things that she learned from the Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP), AAEDC's business accelerator program. - Why she decided to pursue (and become the very first recipient of) a loan from AAEDC's VOLT Microloan Fund to grow her business, and how she plans to keep growing it in big ways in the future. - How Claire Huxtable was crucial to her early entrepreneurial mindset. - Some of the many things that she loves about owning a business in and living in Anne Arundel County. So tune in for an inspirational episode that's full of love and yes, plenty of before and after images that you have to see to believe!

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. So, whether you want to start a business in the future or grow the one you've already got - or hear how your employer might improve your workplace - tune in for a mashup of valuable business views you can use! Thanks to the owners of the following businesses - and one nonprofit! - for providing such GREAT advice: Annapolis Latino Market & Sin Fronteras Anne Arundel County Food Bank Chesapeake Dog Training City Clean Forward Brewing Greenstreet Gardens KG Truck & Auto Kratos Moore Crunch Morris Hill Farm Peake Social Skinlogic The Braiding Palace Wild Kid Acres

🚨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 throughout the entire Delmarva region.Some of the 70,000 SKUs of items that Greenstreet stocks, from the diverse plants grown in its six acres of greenhouses to its many products for pooches, and some of the many agricultural experiences that it offers.What makes the holiday season an especially great time to visit Lothian AND Greenstreet's Annapolis Pop Up Shop, at Annapolis Town Center, for some fun and in-person shopping.And why he is such a huge proponent of shopping small and local, supporting his community, and providing jobs - and of course plants! - to all sorts of people throughout the year. So tune in to hear a great conversation AND see plenty of footage that's guaranteed to give you all the holiday feels!

Just 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 between running the non-profit and running a business, from managing funds to maintaining a facility, and the many ways that its work benefits our local economy - including partnering with and purchasing from local farmers.Some of AACFB's newest initiatives - including a diaper program that supports 1,000 babies per month, a Backpack Buddies program that provides 14,000 AACPS students with out-of-school meals, and a brand new Maryland Department of Agriculture-funded mobile food pantry that distributes food all over Anne Arundel County, from Lothian to Brooklyn Park.The many ways that individuals and businesses can support AACFB, from donating food and time and money to hosting and attending food drives and charitable events, and why it's important to do so during the holiday season AND throughout the year. PLUS the episode includes the very special presentation of a $1,000 “golf check” from our Arundel Grown event, in honor of longtime Arundel Ag Director Lisa Barge, AND a very sincere promise that AAEDC looks forward to keeping on December 8. So tune in for an episode that's sure to make you thankful for what you have - and just might also inspire you to give!

With 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 weigh a rhinoceros for the first time, and emBARK upon opening a dog walking (and soonafter dog training) business in Annapolis in 2009.Her training philosophy - including why she believes that all dogs (and all other animals) are trainable, whatever their age and however RUFF their behavior, and that they (and their owners) all need a personalized training plan that's part science, part art.How she used a VOLT Fund loan to take her business, which had grown to the point of consistently turning away potential clients, from home-based to brick-and-mortar - plus why she loved the process.AND her top tips on dog training, running a business, and places to, surprise, surprise, take your dog for a walk in Anne Arundel County. So tune in to this purely PAWSitive story of small business success TODAY!

With 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 Kid home - and what purposes they serve, from food to therapy.The importance of the farm's multiple revenue streams, including production and agritourism, and of running it as a business.Why he's so excited about Wild Kid's brand new 100% volunteer-built barn, which not only provides a home for horses but will also help underrepresented farmers access the market. Why he believes that “Farming is the only truly fully redemptive profession in the entire world" - and how he plans to help create more farmers in the future.Plus MUCH more! So tune in for an episode that's not only inspirational but, YES, filled with footage of PLENTY of cute farm animals!

Happy 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") and Annapolis Latino Market and, after facing and overcoming the enormous unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a direct hit by the Annapolis Tornado, respectively, why they're both so successful - including fresh-pressed corn tortillas!Why he thinks Maryland and Anne Arundel County are, and can continue to be, the best state and county for business - including, for example, organizations like AAEDC and the Maryland Department of Commerce making business resources and procurement opportunities more accessible to the Hispanic population.The great value of Anne Arundel County's Minority & Hispanic Business Talks, sponsored by AAEDC during Hispanic Heritage Month and hosted by Sergio Polanco, Anne Arundel County’s Hispanic Latino Multicultural Affairs Officer, and the Anne Arundel County Office of Community Engagement and Constituent Services throughout the year.His top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs and favorite places to eat in Anne Arundel County (aside from Sin Fronteras, of course).PLUS his must-try dish at Sin Fronteras and his two must-buy items at Annapolis Latino Market. So tune in for an episode that's filled with entrepreneurial inspiration and, starting at 11:30, a full tour of Annapolis Latino Market!

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 his mom, Kathy Watson, aka "Mama Crunch," to discuss: How Marcus found his peace, and his "missing puzzle piece," in pretzels, and what made him think that the business could work.How it felt for Marcus to make his first sale and, less than one year after launching the business at the Crofton Farmers' Market, how it feels to now be selling at big-name businesses including Graul's Market, The Maryland Inn, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mount Washington Hospital, Jimmy's Famous Seafood, AND most recently Camden Yards - PLUS shipping to every single state in the U.S. AND representing Anne Arundel County at the MACo 2023 Taste of Maryland Reception!Why Mama Crunch thinks we can and should celebrate autism-owned businesses, just like we celebrate minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses, and why Marcus's autism helps him succeed.Why Marcus says "If you’re happy with yourself, you’ll be happy with your business."Why Mama Crunch says "Anne Arundel County has so many resources that can catapult your business beyond."AND much more! So sit back, turn on your snack-a-vision, and discover why “The world needs Moore Crunch!”

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 the business (and a proud VOLT Fund loan recipient!), to discuss: Her path from vet tech to trauma nurse to aesthetician. How a VOLT Fund loan helped her take her business from home-based to brick-and-mortar.The process behind deciding what services to offer, including ear-catching ones like Glowtox and Cryoprobe.Her top tips for other early-stage entrepreneurs.Her favorite things about owning a business in and living in Severna Park. So tune in to learn about an ArundelBiz - and an ArundelBiz owner - that's all about smartly aging your skin!

With 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 at four of the county's ten farmers' markets (the Severna Park Farmers Market, Honey's Harvest Farmers Market, Anne Arundel County Farmers Market, and Farragut Farmers Market), right on the farm, and through deliveries.Being proud to have their eggs and chicken, respectively, on the 2022 and 2023 Arundel Grown Farm To Table Tasting menu.The intense planning involved in feeding and moving and raising an ever-growing number of pastured animals, then harvesting and storing their meat, in order to generate revenue year round.How a $1,000 matching grant from the Arundel Ag Mini Grant Program helped them pull the trigger on getting a gate to better control both animal and human traffic on the farm.Their growth plans for the future, from considering a Butcher Box-style subscription to connecting with more retail partners.Business advice for early-stage farmers, including taking advantage of resources at organizations like Arundel Ag and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC).Why they say "We couldn't ask for a better county to be farming in." *SHOW NOTES* Learn more about the ⁠2023 Arundel Grown Farm To Table Tasting⁠ - Arundel Ag's signature summer event that celebrates all of Anne Arundel County's diverse producers by featuring an expansive tasting menu made with local ingredients, wine, live music, and goodie bags filled with info about local producers and sponsors' discounts and samples. Read our Farm Business Profile featuring Morris Hill Farm. Learn about the Arundel Ag Mini Grant, which offers Anne Arundel County farmers a one-to-one match of up to $1,000 to expand operations.

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 we're excited to publish an episode featuring our third VOLT Fund Series guest of 2023: Liliane Badawu, a native of Cameroon and the very proud owner of the The Braiding Palace in Glen Burnie. We sat down with Lilly, not only a VOLT Fund loan and grant recipient but also a member of our first Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) cohort, to discuss: How she decided to leave her day job and, following in the footsteps of her entrepreneurial parents, go all-in on opening her own business in Anne Arundel County.The biggest lessons that she learned from IVP - and why her cohort "felt like a family from the very first class."How AAEDC’s VOLT COVID Relief Loan and Grant Program helped her business survive, and even grow, amid the COVID pandemic.What makes The Braiding Palace - aka "the place where hair dreams come true" - so special and successful, and what she has planned for its future. So tune in to learn about an ArundelBiz - and an ArundelBiz owner - that's all about the braids!

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 Fund Series guests, to discuss: Why, after working at a dealership for 15 years, Kelsey decided to turn what began as a side hustle into his own single-bay business.How Stephanie, aka "the secret weapon," came to join the business and help it grow by applying her DOD contracting experience and pursuing every professional development opportunity she could find. Why they viewed the combination of an AAEDC Volt Fund loan and an AAEDC Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund loan as "the unicorn loan" when seeking to buy a new building for their rapidly-expanding business, which grew from 6 to 20 employees within a month of their move.How the business has evolved and grown over time, and what they have planned for its future.Plus some of their top business tips and some of their favorite places to eat in Anne Arundel County. So tune in to learn about a "unicorn business" and a power couple that has no plans of slowing down! Learn more about the VOLT Fund - a casino revenue-funded loan program offers small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Maryland loans from $25,000 to $500,000 for purposes such as business and commercial real estate acquisition and expansion, lease-hold improvements, equipment, and working capital - here. Learn more about the ACR Fund - a loan program that offers business and property owners in certain areas of Anne Arundel County loans of up to $100,000 (and, for a limited time, 25% of approved loans as a grant) for building exterior and site improvements - here.

Happy 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 a single cornhole league in 2019 to leagues for a dozen sports today, and what makes it special.The most valuable lessons he learned from - and partnerships he forged after - IVP.His appreciation for his Filipino heritage and for the opportunity to become a business owner.Plus some of his top tips for business owners and a few of his favorite places to go in Anne Arundel County. So tune in to learn about an ArundelBiz that aims to be, as Jeremiah says, "the peak of your week!"

Four 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. Why he immediately viewed the ACR Fund as a "no-brainer" when he first discovered it, through his commercial real estate agent, and how his $100,000 loan allowed him to purchase and renovate his business's new headquarters.Why his location in Northern Anne Arundel County is great for both business and pleasure.PLUS some of his top tips for business owners and a few of his most memorable jobs. So tune in for some spring cleaning inspiration AND some business education TODAY! Learn more about the ACR Fund - a loan program that offers business and property owners in certain areas of Anne Arundel County loans of up to $100,000 (and, for a limited time, 25% of approved loans as a grant) for building exterior and site improvements - here.

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, with that in mind, we’re happy to share that we'll be celebrating the occasion by featuring ten of the 135 total business owners (and counting!) who have received a total of nearly $17,000,000 in VOLT Fund loans from AAEDC. We sat down with our first VOLT Fund series guest, Forward Brewing founder Cam Bowdren, to discuss: How he and his wife, Claire, went from being craft beer-loving Annapolitans to the owners of a craft beer-brewing business in Eastport - including the role of the Brewers Association of Maryland and, of course, a VOLT Fund loan.How he learned about the VOLT Fund (spoiler alert: Severn Savings Bank), what made it a great option, and what the loan was used for.Some of the highlights of Forward's first three years, from launching beer clubs and hosting weekly running and biking groups to putting New Roots Farm pork on its menu and collaborating with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis Pride, and Watermark.Some of what he's looking FORWARD to, from working the Annapolis Cup Croquet Match in April and celebrating Forward's three-year anniversary in May to seeing Forward's logo on the Annapolis Blues professional soccer team's jerseys and taking boat trips aboard the Sally IVth.PLUS some of his favorite places to visit in Anne Arundel County and some of his top tips for business owners. So tune in to learn more about Anne Arundel County's newest brewing business and how a loan from AAEDC helped it get going!

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 connected with AAEDC.What the "robust menu of resources" includes, and why they're so valuable to business owners.How and why IVP has grown since its inception, in January 2021, in terms of attention, funding, and economic impact.Some of the most memorable members of the first four cohorts including previous podcast guests Magothy Payments, Cake Artista, Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake, and MuralizeIt Interiors.Why, as Will says, "If you're serious about your growth and serious about making an impact in the county," you should consider applying to be a member of an upcoming cohort in 2023. So tune in to learn more about the Inclusive Ventures Program and why you, or someone you know, might want to be a part of it!

Perfectly 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 why it's so important to national security.What makes working as an engineer at Kratos specifically, and as an engineer in general, so exciting and fulfilling - and why Peterson says that "If you're an engineer you can do just about anything."Why Anne Arundel County - aka "the tech hub by the Bay" - is an ideal location for a 42-location company that works with a wide array of business partners and relies on a highly-educated talent pool.Why the county is also the perfect place for an outdoorsy person such as himself to live.Plus some super-exciting things that he expects Kratos to work on in the future. We promise this is our only episode with b-roll of a rocket launch (SPOILER ALERT!), so tune in today!

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 county in 2023. Wes discusses: The best spots for date nights, family meals, and ethnic flavors.Grocery store happenings, including the arrival of a super-"fresh" concept and a relocation that almost brings tears to his eyes."The best places to start (or end) your day with some sugar."And the uber-anticipated reopening of an iconic Annapolis restaurant where - spoiler alert! - Grayson ate his first gyro and Steve went on his very first date. So turn on your smell-a-vision, get ready to make some reservations, and tune in!

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 the future or improve the one you've already got - or discover ways that your employer might improve your workplace - tune in for an invaluable mashup of insights! Thanks to the owners of Fluttr, Magothy Payments, New Roots Farm, Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake, Himmel's Landscape and Garden Center, The Breakfast Shoppe, Maher's Florist, Great Frogs Winery, Vuong's Taekwondo and Fitness Center, Clear: Restoration and PreDisaster Consulting, MuralizeIt Interiors, Cake Artista, Purview, Makeathe, and Blank Slate for providing such GREAT advice!

As 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 to launch its Registered Apprenticeship Program for drivers and creating a strong company culture through benefits and annual events.Some of CE's most notable projects, from the foundations of countless homes and businesses in Anne Arundel County to the new Nice Middleton Bridge over the Potomac River and the much-anticipated new Hillman Garage in downtown Annapolis.CE's longstanding commitment to philanthropy, with Chaney Cares' efforts now focused on the Boys & Girls Club, Raise A Reader, Habitat for Humanity, and Farming For Hunger.PLUS why you - or someone you know - might want to join the Chaney team. So tune in to get a bite-sized look at a company that's been pouring foundations - and driving dozens of eye-catching trucks - all over Anne Arundel for six decades!