The world’s largest companies weren’t always the enormous juggernauts and globally-recognized brands that they are today. From Apple to Microsoft, all huge brands started much humbler – as an idea. Entrepreneurs took these big ideas and through hard work, sacrifice and innovative thinking turned them into the giants they are today.
It’s entrepreneurs that drive our economy, create jobs and give us the innovations that change the way we live our daily lives. Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, honors these individuals.
From November 14-20, GEW conducts local, national and global activities designed to help stimulate entrepreneurship. These events connect entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and collaborators, and help them turn their big ideas into realities. More information about GEW is available in the following video:
The National Capital Region has had its share of entrepreneurs and big thinkers. It also remains a hotbed of entrepreneurship. In the spirit of GEW and to help local innovators be the next successful entrepreneur, the National Capital Chapter of ACG is focusing its November monthly meeting entirely on entrepreneurship.
On November 19, three of the National Capital Region’s successful entrepreneurs will come together for a panel discussion and share how they created successful businesses even during difficult economic times. The panel includes:
Amy Nichols – An avid dog lover with a keen business sense, Amy founded Tyson Corner’s Dogtopia in 2002. It was the first dog daycare business in Fairfax County and Amy predicted that busy professionals, facing long commutes and hours away from their homes, were in great need of an alternative to leaving their beloved dog at home alone all day. In 2004 Dogtopia of Tysons Corner grossed more than $1 million. In 2005 Amy franchised the concept nationally, and to date there are 23 Dogtopia locations across the country.
Mary Moslander – Moslander is the Founder and CEO of LiveHealthier, a global provider of innovative comprehensive employee wellness solutions to corporations that help bring healthcare costs under control while boosting employee productivity, job satisfaction and morale. She previously spent ten years as an executive with The Washington Post Company, helping create, build and manage powerful online and e-commerce products and services. She was a member of the executive team that launched washingtonpost.com in 1996, and served as vice president of strategy and product development for the company.
Lynn Ann Casey – In her 20-year career, Lynn Ann Casey has become a thought leader on homeland security and border management. In 2004, she founded Arc Aspicio – a management consulting and information technology company focused on homeland security and intelligence. As CEO, she has created a place where talented, experienced consultants create innovative ways to solve clients’ most difficult homeland security challenges.
To hear more about these very successful entrepreneurs and the keys to their success, register online for November’s monthly meeting at the ACG National Capital’s Web site.