Talbot County and business resource representatives were on hand at the BAAM Athletic Center on a bright Saturday morning this past September to greet small business leaders as they arrived for Money Maryland. The free event was presented by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the program’s developer, Will Holmes Consulting.
Talbot County and business resource representatives were on hand at the BAAM Athletic Center on a bright Saturday morning this past September to greet small business leaders as they arrived for Money Maryland. The free event was presented by the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the program’s developer, Will Holmes Consulting.
Money Maryland included a full day of panelist discussions and a day-long business resource fair. Guests enjoyed complimentary Rise Up Coffee in the morning, and a full lunch catered by Royal “T” Catering of Easton, Maryland.
“Money Maryland brought together important resources from throughout the local region and state to help our businesses grow,” said Cassandra Vanhooser, director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism. “Nothing replaces face-to-face time with people who can help your business find resources to prosper, and that’s exactly what we delivered through the generous help of our partners.”
Lisa Wilson is the owner of Beauty of Restoration Treatment Center on Glenwood Avenue in Easton, Maryland, and one of more than 80 participants registered for the event. She says she came to help grow her 30-year business and revenues while keeping up with the latest technology and social media platform updates.
Wilson said the panelists were very knowledgeable and shared a lot of wisdom and advice for business owners.
“Today’s talk about marketing, social media, and advertisements was great,” she says. “We learned how important it is to reach out to other businesses so that we can grow together.”
BAAM Executive Director Dina Daly says providing space for the Money Maryland event was an opportunity to give small and minority businesses access to the tools needed for a thriving successful business.
“Growing up, my parents always emphasized the importance of an education. So it was never a question that I would be going to college but how to get there was something that I needed assistance with as my parents, who were recent immigrants didn’t know how to provide that assistance to me” she recalls. “After college and starting a career and family, my husband wanted to open his own business and along with a close friend, they opened a local restaurant.
“This gave them an opportunity not only to start their own small business but also helped in creating jobs in our community. It was tough as we weren’t aware of the support available. Starting our business came with a lot of trial and error along the way.
“We had no mentors in the area when we started our first company over 20 years ago,” she says.
Daly says hosting the event was a way to share many of these important lessons with people in a much easier way. “Connecting with others is a great way to advance your business, your profitability, and your job creation capacity,” she says.
The event included free learning sessions, interactive panel discussions, and connections to free business resources, workforce training, loans, grants, and support for small businesses. Attendees learned more about marketing and branding for small businesses; profitably pricing products, services, and contracts; and funding options for startups and growing companies.
Panelists included Meshelle Howard, director of small business programs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA); Dawn Foster, CEO of D. Foster Marketing; Myah Koepfer and Mackenzy Perkins, account managers at iFrog Marketing Solutions; Dr. Rhonda Farrell, CEO of Global Innovation Strategies; Amy Keller, owner of Aging at Home Solution; Jed Anthony, commercial relationships manager at Shore United Bank; Nick Rudolph, Baltimore regional director for Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc.; Richard Ojuri, vice president business banking at M&T Bank; and Eric Stewart, vice president of sales at EMS Commercial.
Money Maryland offered connections with representatives from Chesapeake College’s business and industry navigator, the Comptroller of Maryland, Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, Maryland Capital Enterprises, Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Health Connection, Maryland Small Business Development Center, PNC Bank, Shore United Bank, Talbot County Free Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s rural development office.
Shore United Bank Regional President Butch Townsend says the bank participated in Money Maryland as part of its outreach to small businesses. “Shore United Bank is committed to supporting corporations of all sizes and especially small local businesses,” he says. “We’re here to make sure we take care of every aspect of the small business community and the individuals who lead them.”
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
Business owners and managers are encouraged to receive the department’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking business news by subscribing at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 215 Bay Street, Easton, Md.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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