Loading Events

Events

Build It with #FairfaxEDA

Celebrate National Small Business Week by attending a half-day workshop dedicated to growing your small business in Fairfax County.
Every year, since 1963, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation through National Small Business Week.
Join the FCEDA and SBA Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, District Director, Antonio Doss, who will kick off the celebration with opening remarks. In addition, hear from local small business experts who will discuss various subjects at the half-day event dedicated to building and growing your small business in Fairfax County. International award-winning, financial planning expert, Ric Edelman, will deliver the keynote address.
Highlights of the celebration include the following:
  • How to start a business in Fairfax County
  • The local Entrepreneur ecosystem and resources for growing your company
  • Best practices for Branding and Marketing your business
  • Financial Management Strategies
  • Human Resource Best Practices
  • Technology Solutions for your small business

    Agenda

    7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
    Registration & Networking Breakfast
    8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
    Welcome Remarks
    Karen Smaw, Director, Business Diversity, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    8:10 AM – 8:25 AM
    Opening Remarks
    Antonio Doss, District Director, US Small Business Administration, Washington, DC, Area Metropolitan District Office
    8:25 AM – 8:35 AM
    The Value of Economic Development in Fairfax County
    Alan Fogg, Vice President, Communications and Research, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    8:35 AM – 9:00 AM
    Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County
    Karen Smaw, Director, Business Diversity, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
    Market Intelligence
    Theresa Rhodes, Manager, Business Research, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    9:20 AM – 9:40 AM
    Commercial Real Estate Options
    Stephen Tarditi, Commercial Real Estate Manager, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
    Zoning and Permitting
    Meaghan Kiefer, BizEx Partner, Office of the County Executive, Fairfax County Government
    10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Keynote Address
    Ric Edelman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Edelman Financial Engines
    10:30 AM – 10:40 AM
    Networking Break
    10:40 AM – 11:05 AM
    Small Business Financing & Financial Management Strategies
    Karlene Sinclair Robinson, Assistant Director, Business Finance Center, Community Business Partnership
    11:05 AM – 11:30 AM
    Marketing and Branding Your Business
    Jen Dalton, CEO, Brand Mirror
    11:30 AM – 11:55 PM
    Technology Best Practices for Startups
    Rosemarie Savino, COO, Gravatate
    11:55 AM – 12:20 PM
    Human Resource Management
    Best Practices for Small Businesses
    Talmar Anderson, CEO, Boss Actions
    12:20 PM – 12:30 PM
    Closing Remarks
    Karen Smaw, Director, Business Diversity, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
    12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
    Networking Luncheon

Click here to register for the event.

For more information, contact Karen Smaw at ksmaw@fceda.org.

Register Now

Event Date May, 8

Event Time 11:30pm - 5:00am

Featured News

May 4, 2026

TurbineOne Relocates Headquarters to Fairfax County from San Francisco

Fairfax County, Virginia — TurbineOne, a defense technology firm specializing in AI-powered machine learning software solutions, announced today it will relocate its headquarters from San Francisco, California to the Chantilly area of Fairfax County creating 22 new jobs through a $424,000 investment. As part of this relocation, TurbineOne will develop T1 Edgeworks, an innovative, experiential learning center designed to showcase the advanced capabilities and real-world applications of their technology. “Virginia is a natural home for TurbineOne’s next chapter,” said Ian…
Read More
April 24, 2026

How Enabled Intelligence and Melwood Are Redefining Talent Strategy in the AI Economy

From Insight to Advantage When Peter Kant founded Enabled Intelligence in 2020, he had one main goal: to improve AI data labeling and geospatial intelligence for U.S. national security by developing a domestic workforce specializing in data annotation. Prior to Enabled Intelligence’s inception, many data labeling companies outsourced data annotation work to countries like India and the Philippines. Kant’s lightbulb moment occurred after reading about an Israeli military unit that trains service members on the autism spectrum to excel in data labeling. He saw an opportunity to apply a similar model in the United States by tapping into a highly capable but…
Read More
April 18, 2026

Blue Sky Innovators Open SkyLab in Reston, FCEDA-GMU Partnership Building the Talent Pipeline, Hoskins Honored by National Children’s Museum

Blue Sky Innovators Launches SkyLab, Driving Next-Gen Innovation in Fairfax NOVA Blue Sky Innovators, a dual-use technology company delivering insight to operations for government and commercial customers, recently celebrated a major milestone with the launch of SkyLab, a $7 million expansion in Fairfax County that will create 175 new jobs and add approximately 20,000 square feet of secure innovation and laboratory space at its Reston headquarters on Sunset Hills Road. On Thursday, April 9th, Blue Sky Innovators hosted an open…
Read More