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Festive Foods

Festive Foods

When Lauren Levine and Howard Foer left their jobs in 1987 to start their own full-service catering and event planning company together, they aimed to raise the bar for catered events in the D.C. metro area. For the past 25 years, Festive Foods has honored its motto to cater to the individual and served up one memorable event after another. From corporate luncheons to intimate weddings and gala dinners for Washington’s elite, Festive Foods has earned a reputation as one of the best catering vendors in the area.

Gene Riechers: Valhalla Partners

Gene Riechers:  Valhalla Partners

With over 25 years of experience in venture capital, Gene Riechers has a wealth of knowledge for entrepreneurs to draw on. Gene was one of the founders of the Valhalla Partners, where he remains as a Senior Advisor. Prior to co-founding Valhalla Partners, Gene was co-founder and managing director at FBR Technology Partners, where he helped to foster a culture of success, overseeing the initial public offering of webMethods, the most successful IPO in history. Gene has spent years working in a variety of senior operating roles at technology companies and is the co-founder of the MindShare program, an invitation only development program for CEOs in the greater Washington D.C. region. We were fortunate to speak to Gene and ask him a few questions about venture capital and entrepreneurship.

Shannon Kennedy : A Smartphone Case for Protection

Shannon Kennedy : A Smartphone Case for Protection

Smart phones have become central to our lives, getting smarter and smarter with each passing generation. However, with progress, comes great danger.  ese sophisticated devices resting in our pockets and being held against our cheeks are emitting potentially harmful waves of electromagnetic radiation that penetrate into our body, possibly doing untold amounts of harm. Pong Research has developed a simple solution that has the potential to save lives. Operating out of Leesburg, Virginia, a team of physicists and entrepreneurs led by Shannon Kennedy, have developed the Pong case for smart phones and iPads. We spoke to Shannon about Pong Research and how his revolutionary cases redirect electromagnetic radiation away from user without limiting your device’s signal strength.

Nick Funnell : This Bloke's Got Taste

Nick Funnell : This Bloke's Got Taste

Everyone loves a good beer. An ice cold pilsner after a long day toiling under the summer sun, or a hearty stout paired with a juicy steak, or a Belgian wheat beer topped with an orange wedge are all things of exceeding beauty and delight. Beer is the every-man’s drink, but is also highly refined and as sophisticated as the brewer wants it to be. Enter Nick Funnell. Nick is Great American Restaurant’s master brewer and the creator of some truly magnificent beers, some of which have garnered him professional plaudits and won him award after award. Nick took some time off his busy schedule to speak with us about our favorite drink.

Questions Begin the Quest

     Many people emphasize the importance of an answer to a question as opposed to the importance of the question being asked. According to Peter Drucker, well known writer and management consultant, “The most common source of mistakes in management decisions is the emphasis on finding the right answer rather than the right question.”

     It makes sense…we are a society focused on the results.  We focus on chase, conquer, and move on to the next goal.  Often we focus on what’s not working instead of what is working.  Well thought-out questions begin a quest.  You get a great deal of information when you ask the right questions.  With the right questions, you get a sense of awe and inspiration. 

Small Business Seminar at Germantown Library

Small Business Seminar at Germantown Library

The following information was sent to us by Karen Falcon: 

 

A small business seminar entitled “Is There a Business in Your Future?” will be held at the Germantown Library on May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. The library is located at 19840 Century Blvd.

A Preview of Spaces 21, 22 & 23 at the 2012 DC Design House

A Preview of Spaces 21, 22 & 23 at the 2012 DC Design House

This is the Eighth of an Eight-Part Feature on the designers’ vision and progress at the DC Design House, which is now open through May 13th. The DC Design House benefits Children's National Medical Center.

Victoria Sanchez of Victoria Sanchez Interiors in Alexandria, VA, www.victoriasanchezinteriors.com, was inspired by her own children for the design of Space 21, the Teenager’s Getaway. “I looked to their likes and dislikes, and their wants and desires as I created this design,” says Sanchez, who is excited to part of the Design House but also knows the amount of work that had to be completed in a short period of time.