Dan Deceder is the Founder and President of Deceder Group, an architectural design firm right here in Ballston. Deceder Group is a next-generation design firm that balances creativity with dependability and embraces the exploration of technology. Founded on the desire to bring personalized attention and service to the design process, Deceder group …

This year marks the 100th year Anniversary for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, one of our business community’s most engaged advocates and invaluable assets. In addition to providing invaluable resources, programs, and advocacy benefitting its hundreds of member organizations - the Chamber has evolved over its century of history to meet a continu…

Roy Phillips co-founded MarginEdge in 2015 to construct a creative solution to make running a restaurant easier. Now a leading restaurant management and bill payment platform, MarginEdge has been recognized on the INC 5000 list for two consecutive years and was named the 10th fastest growing company in the Greater Washington D.C. area. How does a r…

We’re fortunate in Ballston to have an incredible array of neighborhood services – from coffee shops and eateries to bars and top-tier mixologists… but what if you could get all of that in the same place? Slipstream opened their Ballston location’s doors on March, Miranda Mirabella and Ryan Fleming’s fourth location in our area since bringing their…

Isa Seyran is the owner and operator of the Ballstonian, a mobile coffee cart serving Turkish coffee and pastries to the Ballston neighborhood He launched the Ballstonian earlier this spring after an illustrious and storied career in the upper echelons of Washington’s restaurant industry. He earned acclaim and local celebrity with his 2022 publicat…

Carola McGiffert is the owner of 30 Minute Hit Arlington, a women’s kickboxing gym right here in Ballston. After working in public and private sectors on US-China relations, she bought into the 30 Minute Hit franchise during the uncertainty of COVID. Her passion for fitness and women’s empowerment led her to 30 Minute Hit, where she has developed a…

Denise Adams is the Ballston Branch Manager for Northwest Federal Credit Union, a full-service financial institution ranking among the largest credit unions in Virginia and in the top 60 credit unions in the nation. She has spent decades in the financial services industry, and brings a unique expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibi…

Lisa Fikes is the President & CEO of the Leadership Center for Excellence, the region’s trusted, non-profit resource for leadership development and civic engagement. Since 1998, the programs offered at the LCE and the network they nurture has helped people change themselves, businesses, and our community. What skills do leaders need to develop to t…

Christine Searle is the owner of Searle Business Solutions, and has spent more than three decades helping people and organizations navigate finances, taxes, and obstacles. After 24 years at the Red Cross, she served as an Audit Director responsible for internal audits of finance, supply chain, and disaster relief programs - all the while expanding …

Arlington is a true destination for businesses, talented employees, residents, visitors, and guests alike. Our proximity to the world’s most powerful city - combined with our own business community’s identity, forged over decades of hard work and innovation - makes Arlington an ideal location for talented people and impactful organizations to thriv…

Ballston has long-served as a HUB for innovation and technology with impacts far beyond our neighborhood. From tech startups and higher-education institutions to researchers like DARPA, the organizations in our business community have created some of the most important technological innovations our world has seen - ever heard of the internet? The t…

2023 marks the 99th year of operations for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, an incredible asset and perennial keystone of Arlington’s business community. In addition to providing invaluable resources, programs, and advocacy benefitting its hundreds of member organizations - the Chamber has evolved over nearly a century to meet a diverse array of …

It’s more than fair to say ARLnow has become a commanding presence within the Arlington community, and one of the premiere voices across our region. It’s almost a sure bet that you’ve read (or at least shared) some of their coverage - over the past decade plus. As one of the country’s leading Designated Market Areas, our region is one of the most e…

If you’re in Ballston - stop, and look up! Our neighborhood is an urban oasis with neighborhood services, restaurants, retail, and office. And ALL those buildings towering above us are home to what makes our almost 24/7/365 community run. Chances are, one of those buildings is owned by The Shooshan Company; a local developer and community supporter…

If you’re a Ballstonian - or Arlingtonian for that matter - you’ve at least HEARD of the Arlington County Board. And whether it’s a business matter, a community or social issue, or a pandemic-related measure - our county’s governing board has a hand in almost all of the policy decisions and capital improvement implementations we see in Arlington. T…

In Ballston, our restaurant scene is one of our greatest assets, and one of the biggest reasons people are so drawn to our neighborhood - for employees, residents, and neighbors alike. And it’s not just about locations with variety - like the plethora of options at Quarter Market and along Ballston Exchange. Events like the Quarterfest Crawl, the W…

*This episode has been reposted from 6/15 to correct a technical error and to address the closing of the public comment period for the Ballston West Metro Entrance* Ballston’s multi-modal transportation options - combined with ease of bike and walk-ability - have positioned our neighborhood as one of the region’s most accessible areas. And with imp…

Ballston is long-known as home to the most scientists and technologists per capita - but the neighborhood’s exponential growth has made it a hotspot for a new demographic: dogs! At every park and street corner at any hour in Ballston, you’ll find a furry friend and their owner perusing the streets of our neighborhood. With more dogs and dog-friendl…

Ballston has always served as a hub of technology and innovation for the Washington metropolitan region. As technology becomes even more intertwined in our lives (we know Alexa is probably listening as we speak), unique opportunities and creative integrations constantly present new experiences in the world we live in. Dalia Goldgor is the General M…

Even with fun, food, and entertainment options abound - the heart and health of the Ballston neighborhood relies on vital services provided by our healthcare professionals. Our guest today is an expert on resilience, health, and what it means to grow a business in Ballston. Dr. Sara Varghai is a Doctor of Optometry and the owner of NOVA Optique + E…

As a true urban center, Ballston has everything: food, drinks, retail, exercise, events, experiences… all within a few square blocks. But businesses of all industries and sizes face significant challenges - both daily and under special circumstances. Tara Palacios is the Director of BizLaunch, Arlington’s Small Business and Entrepreneurial Assistan…

We live here, we work here, we play here - so it’s easy for us to see why Ballston, and Arlington as a whole, is such an attractive place to be. But what about those who aren’t as acutely aware of the treasure that is our home? Emily Cassell is the Director of the Arlington Convention and Visitor Service - better known as StayArlington. For over 15…

Christine Searle is the owner of Searle Business Solutions, and has spent more than three decades helping people and organizations navigate finances, taxes, and obstacles to achieving their business objectives. After 24 years at the Red Cross, Christine served as an Audit Director responsible for internal audits of finance, supply chain, and disast…

It’s the season of giving, and from our philanthropic businesses and community nonprofits, to our charitable partnerships and volunteer programs: Ballston is proudly one of the most engaged and caring neighborhoods in our region. Joining us for the holidays on BallstonConnect, we have two of our community’s most impactful organizations - and Ballst…

We've been sharing our appreciation for our most impactful businesses and highlighting our community leaders throughout November - and now we're in that time of year where you might be using your Mastercard a little more than usual. Mastercard’s mission is to connect and power an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone by making transactio…

November is the month of giving thanks, and we are shining the light on the people, businesses, and parts of our community that make it so special. Every day and especially Veteran's Day, we’re thankful for the opportunity to celebrate our servicemen and women - and in this case, a veteran-owned business. Charles Kachadoorian is a US ARMY veteran a…

From Quincy Park to Welburn Square, Ballston is a surprisingly green urban environment. But how about taking some of that plant life inside? Joe Ressler is co-owner of REWILD, a plant boutique that has opened their second location just days ago at Ballston Quarter. How does a former poker player open a plant boutique? What’s the difference between …

Emma Violand-Sánchez has used her life experiences and acquired knowledge to change the lives of children in Virginia. She was Arlington’s first Latina teacher, Arlington County School Board’s first Latina member, and a staunch advocate for support and resources for the latino community in Arlington and beyond. In 2011, she founded the Dream Projec…

September 15th marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and the perfect opportunity to speak with Susana Marino, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and one of our region’s most influential businesswomen. As CEO of the Northern Virginia Hispanic Chamber, Susana has educated and empowered hun…

Ballston is home to some of the most innovative, influential, and impactful organizations - not just in our region, but across the country. Each year we see more Ballston businesses recognized for their incredible growth and influence. Today, we’re thrilled to share one of Inc Magazine’s Top 500, recognizing the top-growing companies in the United …

Ballston is home to over 80 bars, restaurants, and eateries: which means a ton of great food options and varieties… and ALSO a ton of talent in the kitchen. On today’s podcast, we’re speaking with someone who can help us all get better in the kitchen. Maria Kopsidas is the creator and owner of Cookology, a recreational culinary school located in Ba…

Shane Pomajambo, owner of WHINO in Ballston Quarter, is a Former New Yorker and has been an active and transformative member of the Washington region’s art scene for the past 15 years. Now, with WHINO in Ballston, he’s combining his passion for art with his appreciation for entertainment around exceptional food and drink. How did his New York City …

Memphis Gold’s journey has lasted over half a century - spanning four full-length albums, nine international tours, and the covers of almost every leading blues magazine. You can find him at our first Cars & Coffee, 7/26/21. How did he first get his start - and how did he parlay it into such an impactful international career? What’s it like to shar…

VIDA Fitness is one of our region’s premiere health and fitness clubs, and has emerged as a staunch advocate of equality and a dedicated supporter of people in need. Their Ballston location opened in March of 2020, and was a local leader for innovative health, safety, and sanitization processes throughout the pandemic. Aaron Moore - the Director of…

May is National Inventor's Month, and we're celebrating the innovation and ingenuity of our neighborhood. Ballston is home of the internet, the barcode, and countless other everyday technologies. Today, we touch on one of our community's most exciting upcoming projects: the renovation of George Mason University's Arlington Campus. Dr. Liza Wilson D…

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Ballston is in Bloom, and we're focused on how our community interacts with nature. It's not just our outdoor green spaces and our Farmer's Market - our neighborhood is home to one of our world's most impactful global environmental nonprofits: The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy has been in Ballston for over 20 years, and we spoke with s…

Pastor John Hoeprich

Ballston is in bloom, and we're shining a light on the amazing ways our urban neighborhood becomes one with nature. April means the return of the Ballston FRESHFARM Farmer's Market, and we've got Caitlin Tuttle of FRESHFARM with us to talk about all the incredible offerings we have this year. We're talking about Caitlin's journey to FRESHFARM conte…

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

To honor Women's History Month, we’re speaking with Dr. Karyn Ewart, Founder and Head of School at The Sycamore School, located right here in Ballston. Dr. Ewart is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in public and private schools for over 20 years. She believes in engaging students to be active members of the community to grow, develop…

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re speaking with Jessica Miller - a Managing Director of the Tenant Advisory Group at Cushman & Wakefield, and the co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating. We’re talking about her journey, challenges women still face in the workplace - specifically in the commercial real estate industry - and…

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Pastor Jason Crenshaw

Romance may steal the limelight during Valentine's Day, but there are many kinds of love - and we LOVE our guest, Sarah Fraser. She's the host of The Sarah Fraser Show, a longtime friend and steward of Ballston, and one of our region’s most beloved radio and television personalities. What was it like to publicly share her weight-loss journey? How d…