Myrna Hoffman is a licensed toy inventor. A decade ago, a major U.S. manufacturer signed a licensing agreement, then failed to produce her product, causing her to have to shut down her company and her dream. Two years ago she restarted her business with the help of the Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia. She also entered and won Oxygen Media's "Build Your Own Business" Contest and is off and running today with her toy company OOZ & OZ. “The Center held my hand, encouraged me, helped me ask the right questions this time, and fed me chocolate when I needed it. They helped me believe in myself, get motivated, and identify my weak areas.” Ms. Hoffman gives back to the Center by putting together workshop kits and helping host weekend events. To date, she has won twelve national and international awards for her toy. Go to www.oozandoz.com and check it out!
Dahlia Lopez - Precious Moments Childcare
Dahlia Lopez - Precious Moments Childcare Dahlia Lopez is a Hispanic home-based child care provider in Springfield, Virginia. To start her business, Precious Moments Childcare LLC, she came to the Center to take classes in marketing and record keeping. She also took the "Growing Your Child Care Business" classes which the Center offers in partnership with Fairfax County's Office for Children. “They gave me so many valuable resources. I have no business background, and I was stepping into something I’d never done. Through the Center’s direction, I learned about permits, marketing my business, references, and most of all, how to keep everything in order.
Kekelwa Dall - Kendal Seniors Care
Kekelwa Dall immigrated from Zambia. After working at the United Nations and World Bank, she decided to pursue her lifelong interest in community services by starting Kendal Seniors Care. Researching local demographics, she spotted a need for providing basic healthcare and homecare services to the elderly in Northern Virginia. She turned to Fairfax County’s Office for Women first and they pointed her to the Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia. Here she has taken classes, received counseling, and met the microloan officer from the Enterprise Development Group from whom she later received a loan. The Center also helped her polish her business plan. “They have helped me with my plan, marketing, financial aspects, and networking. Without them, I would have been fumbling around in the dark.”
Patricia Sands - Spill-Guard LLC
Patricia sands Helping to care for her father, who suffered from a stroke, Patricia Sands experienced the difficulty of caring for a bedridden loved one. It was during this time that she conceived of a product – a spill-proof male urinal – that could make both nursing care and the patient’s experience less difficult. She arrived at the Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia with a viable idea, a patent and a desire to learn how to make this product succeed in the business world. A year later, the Spill-Guard has received glowing industry reviews and is poised to burst into the nursing care world, proving that a business can have a major social impact and also be a financial success. www.spill-guard.com .
Dahlia Lopez - Precious Moments Childcare
