For over eight years, Thai Huynh has helmed Le Bledo Eatery, delighting Springfield’s diverse community with homemade Vietnamese pastries, robust coffee, and a fusion twist—like the special Cheese Steak Banh Mi that bridges tradition and modern taste. Still, Huynh dreamed bigger: to turn in-store success into a digital showcase—one that would let online seekers easily find, engage, and order from Le Bledo.

Website: Le Bledo Eatery
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lebledo/

After two decades in the military and stints as a communications officer for two separate United States presidents, taking care of people became second nature for Pamela Lucas. When retirement led her to a second career in real estate, it’s no surprise she found herself doing more for her tenants than just providing them with a place to live.

Pamela took that advice, educated herself on the adult special needs care industry, and opened her first licensed group home in 2014. Within three years, PAMCO Care was operating three different group residences in Gainesville and Manassas that served adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Website: PAMCO Care
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-lucas-pamcocare/

From its launch as a wholesale bakery in 2016 to its Mason SBDC-aided expansion in 2023, Nordic-Knot’s wholesale pretzel baking business has seen its profile rise right alongside its gourmet pretzels. But for all the growth Eric Lundberg and Melissa Romano’s Scandinavian-style bakery in Reston has experienced, it owes its beginnings to a note and a pretzel once placed on the doorstep of the Lake Anne Brew House, which Melissa also co-owns.

“The note was from a pretzel-making neighbor Eric Lundberg,” Melissa says. “Together, we visualized a pretzel bakery and the Brew House as ‘a match made in malt and salt heaven.’”

Website: Nordic-Knot
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-romano-nk-labh/

Marie just celebrated the transition to working full time on WISE Cities, a startup she founded after feeling the pain of seeing her grandfather socially isolated and disconnected from the community. She had wished for a way to help him find places to meet others and stay aware of programs he could participate in, but found no solution to learn about what was available nearby. Looking at the numbers, she learned of 36 million older adults in the US who lacked a local network of support. WISE Cities had to happen.

Website: WISE Cities
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nvatutoring/

Tri-Ed Tutoring specializes in private one-to-one and small group tutoring for all academic subjects and SAT/ACT Prep. Although Tri-Ed works with a wide range of students from Kindergarten through college, the majority of their students are collegebound high schoolers.

Website: Tri-Ed Tutoring
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nvatutoring/

Like thousands of others, HR Allies founder Danielle Verderosa spent the first six months of the COVID pandemic contemplating if this was the right time for her to do something new with her career. And when the hospitality company she worked for was ultimately forced to lay off more than 60% of its nationwide workforce that year, she knew it was time to leave.

The mission of Method Fitness is simple. It is to raise the standard in the fitness industry by providing a space where clients can feel they are being thoughtfully guided and instructed through their training by utilizing science-backed methodologies and protocols. Read more.

When Kevin and Sharon Hamer went to visit family in Akiak, Alaska, in 2018, they hadn’t planned to come back with a business. With the launch of Akiak Technology, LLC two years later, they had both a business and a plan. Read more.

Virginia Montessori Academy offers educational programs for toddler and primary age groups (ages 16 months to 6 years old). The Montessori approach gives children the freedom to learn in a nurturing environment that is carefully prepared so that each child can reach his/her full potential. Independence is encouraged and supported by providing age-appropriate materials and child sized furniture. Offering a carefully prepared environment to ensure children have all the tools needed for success. Read more.

Amy Peltier Interior Design & Home offers family-friendly residential interiors with a unique design perspective. They assist clients with a variety of projects, ranging from furnishings to entire remodels, additions, and new construction. With almost 20 years of interior design experience and offices located on both the East and West Coast, Peltier Interiors is comfortable, and family focused while still displaying style and refinement. Known for her preppy style infused with a dose of California casual, Amy Peltier procures interiors that are a little classic, a little modern and always fresh. Read more.

Website: Peltier Interiors

Over the past year, a local entrepreneur, working with the Mason Small Business Development Center team, has been focused on bringing a new approach to the “EdTech” sector. Mr. Ganga Bathula is the CEO and Co-Founder of a Fairfax, Virginia based early stage startup called Proctor360 . This innovative company plans to bring highly secure testing and professional certification proctoring directly to consumers. From the outset, Mr. Bathula and his team sought resources and help from the Mason SBDC and its Director and Senior Business Adviser, Timm Johnson and George Siragusa respectively. Using Lean Startup Principles, both Timm and George began providing advice and guidance regarding a strategic plan that would take Proctor360 from concept to commercialization. Read more.

Website: Proctor 360

With over 1400 board games and an ever-growing number of patrons, Crossroads Tabletop Tavern was Mason SBDC’s featured client for National Small Business Week 2019. The owner of this “Boardgame Tavern, ” John Hornberger, wants people to have a place to play their favorite games and have a great time. John grew up enjoying board games and card games with family and friends and is admirably bringing back the great experience of an old-fashioned game night in the age of digital distraction. It is a refreshing call to “Step away from the screen,” that the customers are happily answering. Over the years John’s love of collecting games (antique and current) and hosting game nights has carried his business concept effortlessly. Read more.

Website: Crossroads Tabletop Tavern

Captive Audience is 365 days of tips and lessons in situational awareness, personal protection, travel security, and critical thinking. It teaches you how to think like an operative and arm yourself with the tools to meet and conquer any situation. 365 Days of Survival is a collection of 365 tips and lessons in critical thinking, decision making, human psychology, wilderness survival, urban survival, natural and man-made disaster survival, situational awareness, social engineering, crisis planning and response, and many more tools designed to make you into a force multiplier. Read more.

Website: Captive Audience Prevention

Cupcake Novelties is a custom desserts boutique located in Fairfax, Virginia, with offerings ranging from delicious Cupcakes, Cake Pops, Cupcakes in Jars and Cupcake Bouquets to custom Chocolate dipped desserts including Chocolate covered Oreos, Rice Krispie treats, Pretzels, Marshmallows and exclusive Gold dipped Rock candy! Read more.

Website: Cupcake Novelties

Located in Manassas, Virginia, Creative Beauty Academy(CBA) is making waves in shaping the next generation of talented artists who are versatile in pursuing a career in Esthetics, Makeup, and Special Effects.

Founded and operated by licensed television & special effects Makeup Artist, Paciencia DaCosta, the academy offers continued education with professional certified programs and specialized courses.

Website: Creative Beauty Academy