Ballstonconnect Podcast

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 prioritizes expertise, work ethic, and vibrant company culture - demonstrated in the uniqueness of each project they deliver. How does a Pittsburgh native relocate - and then reimagine workspaces in the national capital region? How has architecture changed with the modern workplace? And what does “Yinz” mean, anyways?

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 continuously evolving array of needs for our people, businesses, and charitable organizations… all to strengthen the business and economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. It’s our pleasure today to host OUR FIRST FOUR-TIME guest - someone who is certainly no stranger to members of the Ballston community and Arlington as a whole. Kate Bates is Chief Executive Officer of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and has served an integral role in advancing businesses in Ballston and across Arlington County.  

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 restauranteur pivot to creating management solutions for the entire industry? How does a company go from a 4-by-5-foot closet to the INC5000? And what about Ballston makes it such an enjoyable place for the food-centric?

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 passion for food and drink to us from the West Coast. A stylish cafe serving pour-over coffee by day & cocktails by night alongside small plates, Slipstream has quickly earned favor across the neighborhood. How does a nurse trade in her stethoscope for a coffee grinder? What’s the secret to balancing great coffee and cocktail programs? And how can one perfect the ever-fashionable avocado toast?

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 publication, Waiter: Reflections & Memories: A Brief History of Washington DC's World-Class Dining Scene. He’s been an active member of the Ballston community for 23 years and a staunch advocate for our community. How does a Turkish playwright and poet end up serving coffees for world-renowned chefs? What’s it like to serve food critics and first ladies? And why are people lining up next to a red truck for their morning brew?

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 passionate and dedicated following in our district. How does a US/China relations expert find her way into fitness? How does one launch a fitness brand during a pandemic? And what about Ballston speaks strongly to future entrepreneurs?

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 accessibility to an already-decorated workplace culture. What’s the difference between a credit union and a “conventional” bank? What can employers learn from DE&I and accessibility practices to improve their workplaces? And how does a girl growing up in New York City realize her dream of becoming a strong businesswoman right here in Virginia?

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 take themselves and their teams to the next level? What can we do to get more involved and give back more to our community? And how do 18 years at a church help prepare someone to educate and inspire the most impactful leaders of our region?

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 her own business. Now, she uses her expertise in complex tax issues and tax law compliance for a variety of individual and business clientele. What’s new for this year’s tax season? How might inflation be affecting returns? And what can we already start doing to help us with next year’s deadline?

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 thrive and prosper. Despite all of our assets, amenities, and efforts… we’re not without obstacles; unprecedented circumstances in the post-covid era have created new challenges for us to navigate and presented opportunities to “refine and redefine” how we work to grow economically and support our businesses and workforce. Ryan Touhill is the Director of Arlington Economic Development, bringing unique experience from neighboring Alexandria to our side of the fence in efforts to generate economic prosperity, collaborative partnerships, and inclusive development across all aspects of our community.

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 tech success of our neighborhood and region have led to incredible growth in the technology sector - but has also created opportunities to grow a talented workforce. Our guest today has founded a number of incredibly successful technology companies, and currently leads the charge for the Arlington Talent Pilot Program. Steve Cooper has built a decades-long career providing technological solutions for Fortune 100s, top federal agencies, and world-class non-profit organizations - and now, he’s taking aim at the growing need for tech talent across Arlington.

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 needs for people, businesses, and charitable organizations… all to strengthen the business and economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. Kate Bates is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. She began with the Chamber as a Member Services Manager in 2007, and has served as its CEO since 2014. She's been named to the 40 under 40 by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, she serves on the board of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and she might very well be the biggest Caps fan we know.

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 engaged and captive  media audiences in the world. But with evermore increasing national influence, our market has opened doors for local coverage from dedicated teams like the one behind ARLnow. Scott Brodbeck is founder, editor, and publisher of Local News Now - which empowers local creators and builds a new model for community-driven, local journalism. In January 2010, he launched ARLnow, connecting hundreds of thousands of Arlingtonians, neighbors, and visitors to the news on our streets. More than a decade later, LNN publishes ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. They also provide services to a growing community of partner sites including PoPville, GGWash, Potomac Local a

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 for decades. They’ve imagined, executed, and managed some of the most impactful properties in Ballston, Arlington, and beyond. Kevin Shooshan, Principal at The Shooshan Company, champions all of its leasing and marketing information. With a history of managing tenant design and construction, securing major deals like GSA headquarters, and research analysis, he’s the perfect person to connect businesses with their perfect fit community (that’s us in Ballston). From office leasing to retail transactions, he’s had a hand in some of the most recognizable and well-patronized businesses in Ballston.

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. Takis Karantonis is an Arlington County Board member, and more specifically, the Arlington County Board liaison to the Ballston BID. He is a graduate of Berlin’s Freie Universitaet, Leadership Arlington, and the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. He’s also the Senior Technical Advisor for the Microloan Program at the Enterprise Development Group of the Ethiopian Community Development Center - and former Executive Director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization.

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 Walking Pizza Tour, Mix Madness, and others have brought well-deserved attention (and hungry mouths) to our community. And speaking of community, our guests today have quickly become stalwarts of the Ballston neighborhood - and embody the best parts of our local restaurant industry. Jason Johnston and Jonah Troth are the creators and co-owners of Ballston Local, a neighborhood hangout spot serving up crave-worthy food and craft cocktails, beer, and wine. After opening last summer, Jason and Jonah have already developed a dedicated following of fans - and have intrigued our community and neighbors with a unique lineup of events and programs.

*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 improvements to our metro, bus stations, and sidewalks - it’s getting even better with time. One proposed project in particular could drastically improve metro access and reimagine how the Ballston neighborhood flows in its continued growth and expansion: the Ballston West Metro Entrance. Robin McElhenny is the Transit Capital Program Manager at Arlington County. She leads the Capital Program Section of the Transportation Bureau overseeing the implementation of the County’s transit capital improvement program. She plays a key leadership role in multi-year capital improvement priority-setting, project development, and implementation for transit infrastructure projects o

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-friendly options than ever, it can be overwhelming for some owners to find the right fit for their pooch. Caroline Carini is a co-founder of the Pals App, a modern approach to connecting dog owners in our community for quick and safe playdates at dog-friendly locations. What are some of the challenges urban pet owners face? What makes Ballston the perfect intersection of technology and pups? And has social-distancing impacted our pets’ social skills just as much as ours?

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 Manager of Electric Gamebox, a Ballston newcomer hoping to reinvent how we play videogames. They combine projection mapping, touch screens, motion tracking and surround sound technologies to deliver an entirely new form of immersive entertainment.  How has gaming evolved with the emergence of innovative technologies? What’s it like to watch hundreds of people each day try to figure out puzzles and strategies? And what’s the future of entertainment-driven, consumer-focused experiences?

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 + Eyecare. Her extensive experience has included work in Baltimore, South Carolina, and Cleveland - where her residency with a heavy emphasis on ocular disease, as well as focus on specialty contact lenses and low vision rehabilitation. Since 2014, she’s served the Arlington community’s eyecare needs - and for the past year, through NOVA Optique + Eyecare in Ballston. What’s it like to deal with insurance from the other side? How do you navigate the challenges of starting a public-facing practice during a pandemic? And why do we have to get that dreaded puff of air in our eyes when we get them checked out?