Rockville REDI Business Plan Competition Now Accepting Applications!

This from Rockville Redi:

Rockville Economic Development announces the commencement of the 7th Annual StartRight! Women’s Business Plan Competition ,which is open to Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia businesses that are at least 51% women-owned and have been in operation for two years or less. The top prize for the 2010 winner will be the EagleBank First Prize of $10,000 cash along with in-kind prizes of a $10,000 Comcast Spotlight customized advertising package and a one year virtual membership in the Montgomery County Innovation Network from the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development. Other prizes include the Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy and Ecker Second Prize of $5,000 cash, the Foster, Soltoff and Love Third Prize of $2,500 cash, and the ActionCoach Judges’Choice prize of $2,500 cash.

In 2009, 40 women submitted business plans. Eight were selected to make an oral presentation to a panel of judges. Jodi A. Cook, PhD, the founder and CEO of Thesia Medical, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland took the EagleBank First Prize. “The StartRight! Women’s Business Plan Competition was extremely valuable,” says Dr. Cook. “The review process and honest feedback was nothing but helpful, and REDI and the sponsors networked me with potential investors and legal, business and finance experts. I’d encourage every entrepreneur out there to enter as many competitions as possible and especially this one because the prizes are significant and provide early stage companies with meaningful funds.”

In its first six years, the StartRight! Competition attracted more than 170 participants from across the region. Jessica Hsu, CEO, and Jennifer Hsu, President, of DC-based Clairvoyant Technologies, Inc., won the Shulman, Rogers Second prize in 2009 and moved to Montgomery County shortly after the competition. “Participating in the competition was the deciding factor for us to move to Montgomery County,” says Jessica Hsu. “The competition introduced us to REDI and other organizations in Montgomery County that ultimately made the connections for us to make the move. The competition prize gave us added credibility.” The company’s first product is Pi’s Kingdom, a digital game-based learning tool that is closely aligned with one of the nation’s most widely used mathematics curricula. The prize funds were used to help develop a second prototype product. “The business plan is the heart and vision of what you want to do and how you are going to do it,” continued Ms. Hsu. “The competition process forces you to sit down and explore the multiple facets of your business plan idea. It also provides valuable feedback from industry veterans that guides you to think of new angles and possibilities.”

Lisa Martin, owner of Howard County-based Wellness Evolution, LLC, a full service holistic health and fitness studio, took the 2009 Foster, Soltoff & Love Third Prize. The company, which incorporates fitness, nutrition, massage therapy, acupuncture and life coaching into its programs, , is located in Columbia, Maryland.

“The goal of this business plan writing competition is to encourage women entrepreneurs to create a roadmap to success,” said Sally Sternbach, Executive Director of REDI. “Statistics show that women entrepreneurs are a growing segment of the small business community, and this competition is designed to encourage them and provide them with precious resources to help them grow their business. It also dovetails with our monthly business plan writing seminars which provide men and woman entrepreneurs with the tools needed to write an effective business plan.”

Executive summaries for the competition are due by March 26, 2010 and full business plans are due by March 31, 2010. Complete rules are available at www.RockvilleREDI.org.

Each month, Rockville Economic Development, Inc. provides free programs and events. Upcoming seminars include a class for those considering entrepreneurship, “The ABC’s of Starting a Business”, on February 12, and “How to Write a Business Plan” on February 23rd. To learn more about these seminars, visit www.RockvilleREDI.org.

Carmen’s Italian Ice Open On Dig-Out Day! Interview With Jason

As Rockville Central readers know, one of my very favorite local businesses is Carmen’s Italian Ice near Woodley Gardens park. When I learned from their Twitter account (@CarmensCarts) that they were planning to open up today, I rejoiced. Since I was in the neighborhood anyway, digging out my dad’s driveway, I thought I would drop by and say hi.

There were a handful of customers enjoying coffee and bagels, and more came by while I was there. It was great to see the camaraderie that the combination of a great place and a bit of adverse conditions could bring about!

I taped this interview with Carmen’s owner Jason Mandler. Enjoy!

First Watch Daytime Cafe Reviewed: Yum

I was delighted to see this recent review of one of my favorite all-time breakfast spots, First Watch Daytime Cafe in Rockville Town Square. I have spent many a pleasant moment in First Watch, not only eating their fabulous food but also holding court in meeting after meeting. If you’re looking for somewhere to go in the day, First Watch is a great bet.

This from the review:

Everyone is always on the lookout for a great brunch and breakfast joint. In the Washington D.C. metro area, one place you’ll want to pay a visit to is the FirstWatch Daytime Café, located in Rockville, Maryland.

Perhaps the only problem with the FirstWatch Daytime Café in Rockville for brunch or breakfast is that there are so many awesome looking menu items that you may have a hard time narrowing down your choices. Some are innovative like their specialty Crepeggs, which offer a thin crepe combined with whipped eggs. Others are more traditional and you’ll find classic breakfast and brunch fare as well.

Read the full review here.

100 Gibbs St., Unit D
Rockville, MD 20850
301-762-0621

Enter Rockville Living’s First Photo Contest

Rockville Living is having its first ever contest called “Stay Warm, Rockville!”. I’ve already entered. You should too!

At LA Boxing "I burn 1,000 per hour by kickboxing to stay absolutely hot" Photo by Francine Duley.

It’s simple. You need to send along a picture of you or a friend doing whatever it is you like to do to stay warm in Rockville during these frigid temperatures. Helen Triolo suggests “eating chili at Hard Times, drinking a steaming espresso at Lola Cafe, downing a bowl of delicious New Orleans’s Gumbo at Potomac Grill, working out at Gold’s Gym – wherever you like to go to stay warm and toasty when it’s snowing or gray outside.”

To enter you can either upload the photo to Rockville Living’s Facebook page or email it to news@rockvilleliving.com.

You need to tell:

• Where the picture was taken
• By whom if it’s important, and
• What caption you’d like to go with the photo.

The picture will be posted on the Facebook page and at Rockville Living starting on February 1st. Specifically the photo will be placed on the listing page for the business. If the person in the photo also owns a business, it will appear on that listing page as well. Helen explains “For example, if Ruth Hanessian sends a photo of herself having lunch at El Mariachi, the photo will appear on both the El Mariachi page and the Animal Exchange page.”

What can you win?

For the business with the most entries as of 5 p.m. February 28, 2010, we’ll send a gift certificate for $25 to each of 5 people with entries for that business (or a check for $25 if gift certificates are not applicable). If there are more than 5 entries for one business, we’ll do a drawing. If there are fewer than 5, we’ll include people from the business with the next highest number.

You can submit for more than one business/organizations. Of course, they all must have a Rockville address.

Add Your Two Cents’ To Just Up The Pike’s Great Peruvian Taste Test

As many Rockville Central readers know, Dan Reed’s Just Up The Pike was a key inspiration when I got it into my head that it might be fun to write a blog about my neighborhood. (Cindy Cotte Griffiths encouraged me to think bigger, as you can see from the comments on a recent POTD.)

Dan asked for our help with a little project of his, and we are happy to oblige. Asks Dan:

What is there to say about pollo a la brasa other than that it is amazingwhen done correctly, when the meat falls off the bone, when the skin is tender but not gummy? When it is properly supported by sides of rich, fluffy rice and plantanos charred but still golden inside?

Well, put it that way and it’s hard to imagine anything better. Here’s how you can help. Dan is trying to find the best Peruvian chicken place in the area. Head on over to his post at Just Up The Pike and leave your vote in the comments!

Or — I am sure Dan won’t mind — leave your ideas in the comments here and Dan can pull from them in his vote tabulation.

Cake Dreams Opens Today

Photo by Jonathan Smith

Rockville Central contributor, Jonathan Smith, contacted the owners of our newest Rockville establishment, the enticing Cake Dreams,  for a sneak preview. Rush on over for a cupcake to welcome them to the neighborhood!

2010 is shaping up as a hot year for the food business in Rockville. Buffalo Wild Wings is here for the end of football season, and I’m sure will be a destination during March madness. I’ve already eaten four times at PitaHut, the great new falafel and shwarma joint where Chopstix used to be. And just today I tried our latest delicious newcomer, CakeDreams. The chocolate cupcake is just incredible. More on that in a moment.

Photo by Jonathan Smith

Michelle and Kevin are Rockville people. Kevin’s been here all his life, and Michelle a majority of hers (originally from NY). They have one daughter at Rockville High School, and another at Montgomery College. Michelle was an art student and is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine’s Pastry Arts program and has enjoyed some critical acclaim. A recent wedding cake she created for a Naval Academy wedding is about to be featured on the cover of The Knot!

Back to that chocolate cupcake. My wife was thrilled with me when I brought one home to her. It was rich and moist and fudgy. Made from scratch with really good chocolate. And it was FRESH. We found it to be way way better than what you get at the grocery store, or other small bakeries for that matter.

Photo from Cake Dreams Website

Cake Dreams is located at 90 West Montgomery Avenue (two doors down from Bombay Bistro) and opens today from 11 AM to 7 PM.

Jonathan Smith

Rockville Debt Collector Closes Due To Lack Of Funds

According to the Associated Press and the Baltimore Sun, Rockville-based debt collection firm Mann Bracken has closed its 24 nationwide offices. This has left consumers wondering how to make payments.

Last Thursday, a Maryland judge ordered that tens of thousands of suits involving the firm be dismissed. State officials revoked its license.

The result is confusion. Here’s how the Baltimore Sun put it:

Tens of thousands of lawsuits against Maryland debtors over unpaid bills are being tossed out of court because the law firm pursuing the debt-collection cases has abruptly shut down.

The move gives a temporary reprieve to Marylanders in default on a variety of bills, particularly credit card payments, and burdens the already strained District Court system, which now has to sort through the legal morass left behind. It is unclear whether the creditors will refile the lawsuits seeking payment.

The Mann Bracken law firm, based in Rockville, and its clients have been accused in civil lawsuits and by regulators of not complying with debt-collection laws and of using high-pressure tactics and harassing borrowers. The firm collapsed after an affiliate filed for bankruptcy in November.

In an ironic twist, the shutdown was prompted by the bankruptcy of one of Mann Bracken’s affiliates, which left firm without cash to pay creditors. Officials have said they will either disband or seek bankruptcy protection within the next 30 days.

Max van Balgooy: Three Top Washingtonian Restaurants In Rockville

Rockville Central friend Max van Balgooy, whose “Max For Rockville” blog is increasingly required reading, has a nice spotlight today on three Rockville restaurants that made the Washingtonian’s “top 100″ list: Cava, Spice Xing, and Addie’s.

His piece begins:

The January 2010 issue of Washingtonian magazine lists a couple restaurants in Rockville among the “100 Very Best” in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.  They are part of an exclusive club that includes Komi (#1), the Inn at Little Washington (#11), and 2 Amys (#28).  We’re delighted that the restaurants in Rockville are being recognized and that a few of them are meeting an extraordinarily high standard for quality.

Thanks for this, Max!

Learn To Set Up Your Small Business With Quickbooks

One of the issues that came up during the debates in years past over the new zoning laws (aka, “RORZOR“) was the number of small- and home-based business scattered throughout Rockville. Our good friend Rich Gottfried was at the forefront of the effort to make sure that very small businesses were not unduly penalized with odd regulations requiring them to list all the people who come to their house, etc.

As a small business owner myself, and as a financially challenged individual, I can tell you that I know I need to use Quickbooks in my business but I am terrible at doing it. So I was delighted to learn about an upcoming seminar sponsored by Rockville Economic Development, Inc. devoted to helping people figure out and get set up on Quickbooks. And, the seminar is free.

“Learn the basic financial and accounting management concepts for your company, why it is important to set up a financial system properly, and how to set one up,” says the invite. Sounds good to me!

Here are the details:

Thank you to Rockville REDI for providing this and other useful services.

Animal Exchange’s Hanessian A YouTube Star

Long time readers of Rockville Central know that one of our very best friends and early supporters is Ruth Hanessian, owner of the Animal Exchange. This pet store is truly one of the crossroads of Rockville and whenever I am there I always see someone new.

What you might not know, however, is that Ruth is a veritable YouTube star!

For about a year now, aided behind the camera by Chas Hausheer, Ruth has been creating informative videos and uploading them to her page on YouTube. They cover a wide variety of subjects and animals, ranging from caring for cockatiels to bearded dragons to how to feed chicks.

Anyone who’s added a video to YouTube knows that most videos don’t get a whole lot of views, and most video producers don’t get that many subscribers. It’s a rare clip that sees more than 50 viewers, and most folks just have a small handful of subscribers.

Near as I can tell, though, Ruth is at the top of the heap for Rockville, with a whopping 221,306 total video views and more than 340 subscribers! This is really quite an accomplishment.

For those who know Ruth, this is especially delightful because she makes a point of claiming not to understand the Internet. But we know better.

Go visit her YouTube page and browse. Leave a comment!

Meantime, here is her most-watched video, her compendium on bearded dragons: