BallstonConnect Podcast

Love is in the air this February in Ballston, but maybe you’ve found love in a different place: your local animal shelter or pet rescue organization.

We speak with Sue Bell, Executive Director of Homeward Trails and Sam Wolbert, President and CEO of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. What’s the inside scoop on their animal adoptions right now? What challenges do they face? How are they filling the demand for fur love here in Arlington and beyond - and why do our pets love us so much?

Last year, we began 2020 speaking to a local leader with her finger on the pulse of Arlington's business community. At the time, we had no idea how much would change over the next 12 months.

Having navigated so many obstacles as a community, we catch up with Kate Bates, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce on how Arlington united, rallied, and led our region's coronavirus response.

With 2021 in full swing, we open the year with the founder of one of Ballston's largest and fastest-growing businesses. Don't believe us? Ask Forbes!

We're kicking off Season 4 of BallstonConnect Podcast with Jere Simpson, President and CEO of KITEWIRE, who tells his story and how he created a company that's redefining mobile security.

Jere joins us to talk about his entrepreneurial childhood, breaking into business with a few tough lessons, and leading his team with the most forward-thinking culture strategies.

2020 has been unlike anything we'd imagined - but we're not leaving without holiday cheer and reliving some of our favorite moments.

In our final podcast of the year, we speak with the man himself - Santa Claus - and revisit some of our best segments of 2020.

How has COVID impacted the teams at the North Pole? What does Santa think of The Giving Tree at Ballston Quarter? Answers to those questions and some of our top moments from this year in this episode of the BallstonConnect Podcast.

Marymount University has been one of Ballston's most impactful and longest/standing institution. 

In this episode of Ballston Connect Tina Leone talks to Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. 

We will learn the history of Marymount University in Ballston, how they pivoted to continue teaching students during the pandemic, and what an education of the future will be.

The onset of COVID-19 has made outdoor dining the most popular way to eat at restaurants. This is great during the spring and summer, but what will happen as the temperature begins to drop? Many European nations have long enjoyed year-round dining, but now it is our turn to learn the secrets to making outdoor spaces comfortable, even as the snow starts to fall. 

Tina Leone chats with Kate Paine, a Commercial Development Specialist with Arlington County, and Javier Candon, the owner of SER Restaurant in Ballston. We'll discuss what restaurant patrons can expect to see in the coming months, and what challenges the restaurants will face as they face the new season. 

We know that each neighborhood in Arlington has a certain feel. There may be a particular look or brand tied to an area, and that is no accident. Items like banners, benches, and even trashcans can help create a feeling in a public space. This process is known as placemaking, and it is a multifaceted process of creating an identity for a location. 

In this episode, Tina Leone chats with Stephanie Pankiewicz, a  Partner and Landscape Architect with LandDesign. We'll learn which components designers consider when creating a placemaking plan, how great design can impact human behavior, and how placemaking could be permanently changed by the pandemic. 

In this episode, we are talking about hair. Most of us have it, but it became clear in the last year that few of us have any idea how to cut or care for it. 

We chat with Ajia Minnis, owner of Ballston's newest salon, Thrive Hair Bar. We learn what makes Thrive unique as a business specializing in natural styles and hair care, why education about hair and scalp health is so important, and what role hairstyling plays in Black communities. 

The unemployment rates are up, there's a looming presidential election, and COVID conditions are still in full force. How does all this impact our own local real estate market? 

Tina Leone checks the state of the regional market with Jonathan Fox, Principal of The Fox Group with Compass in Arlington. We'll learn if the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the local real estate market, which area in Arlington is "up and coming," and Jonathan's advice for those looking to buy or sell a home. 

We're covering one of the most daunting aspects of adult life: financial planning. 

Tina Leone chats with Clark Miller, Financial Planner and President of Ascent Wealth Strategies Group. Clark helps us demystify the process of planning for your financial future with easy to follow advice on how to get started, and how to grow your investments. 

We also meet the man behind the plan as we learn what childhood experience motivated Clark to turn to financial planning, and what tips he would give to his friends.