Frederick Factor

Show Summary

Sue Hough is a long-time friend and collaborator of Platinum PR (the team behind the podcast) and is a force of creativity and good in Frederick, Maryland. In this episode, Sue shares her perspective on starting and growing a business as an Asian-American woman business owner. Sue also shares her experience as an engaged and active community member who is passionate about helping the people in Frederick, Maryland. 

Show Notes / Highlights from the Show:

• How Sue’s career path took a turn from pursuing fashion design to offering graphic design 
• Her inspiration behind becoming a business owner
• The creative idea that raised $9,000 for local Frederick businesses during the pandemic
• Why Sue is so passionate about fighting for the underdog
• Advice for aspiring underrepresented entrepreneurs 
• A common stereotype about being Asian -- debunked
• Sue’s Frederick Factor

Guest Bio

Sue Hough is the creative director, founder, and CEO of Octavo Designs, a graphic design studio in Frederick, Maryland. Sue has been a creative force in Frederick since 2000 when she founded Octavo Designs. Since then, Octavo Designs has become locally and nationally recognized. Sue also devotes her efforts to the community and enjoys sponsoring activities and volunteering her design services for numerous regional non-profit organizations, such as Women in Business Committee for the Frederick County Chamber, Rotary Club of Frederick and DEI Committee Member, DBE Panel Member for the City of Frederick, Greater Frederick Advertising Federation, and many more. She was recently recognized as a 2021 George Delaplaine Distinguished Citizen Award Honoree by the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America -- only the second female to receive this honor.

Show Links:

• Learn more about Sue at Octavo Studios
• Connect with Sue on LinkedIn 

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at  https://frederickfactor.com/. Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederickFactor1748

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor

Show Summary

Our guest Ashleigh Kiggans is a stand-out CRE agent, Vice President of MacRo, dedicated community member, and passionate Frederick resident. Sandy spoke with Ashleigh on her career journey, her tips for young underrepresented females, and of course… what the “Frederick Factor” means to her. 

Show Notes / Highlights from the Show:

• Why finding a good mentor is the #1 tip Ashleigh would give young Black women getting started
• The rigorous interview process Ashleigh went through and what made her stand out to her future employer
• Experiences she’s had as a minority woman in real estate development
• Her mentor’s best tip for her
• What Ashleigh would love to see Frederick County (continue to) do 
• Her #1 tip for connecting with the Frederick community 
• Ashleigh’s “Frederick Factor” (what she thinks makes Frederick so special)

Guest Bio

Ashleigh Kiggans is the Vice President of MacRo, Frederick County and Frederick City’s go-to brokerage for value-added commercial real estate and land transactions. After being their senior sales and leasing associate for a few years, she was promoted to Vice President. Kiggans plays a key role within the organization, assisting the leadership team across a wide range of initiatives, including market research, data analysis, client communications and marketing while assisting with the sales and leasing transactional process. She works closely with MacRo’s President, Rocky Mackintosh, on a wide range of key projects. Ashleigh is one of few full-time women active CRE agents in Frederick County, as well as one of the only full-time Black women CRE agents in Frederick County. 

Show Links:

Connect with Ashleigh: 

• LinkedIn
• MacRo Commercial Real Estate 

Ashleigh is a dedicated volunteer of the following nonprofit organizations:
Mental Health Association
Community Foundation of Frederick County
Frederick County Association of Realtors (FCAR)
Federated Charities
She also mentioned the nonprofit, I Believe in Me.

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at  https://frederickfactor.com/. Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederickFactor1748

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor

Show Summary:

As a pediatrician with a health background and as a parent, Jackie Douge has seen the impact of health disparities on Black children and adults in an up-close and personal way. As the host of the podcast What is Black? and the owner of the company What is Black, LLC. Jackie aims to help as many families and children as possible by bringing these conversations to the forefront. In this episode, Jackie shares more about the inspiration behind What is Black? and the impact she’s working to make in the world.

Show Notes / Highlights from the Show:

• The history of Jackie’s podcast, What is Black? and how it got started
• The many different factors that can create health disparities
• Jackie’s journey having “the conversation” with her kids about being Black
• As a front-line worker, the health disparities Jackie has witnessed during COVID-19
• Jackie’s passion for helping families and children and making a difference
• The necessity of uncomfortable conversations to dismantle the various “ism’s” (racism, sexism, etc.) as well as uncomfortable conversations with family members
• Jackie’s tips for the next generation
• Some exciting projects in the works for What is Black?
• Jackie’s Frederick Factor

Guest Bio:

Jacqueline Dougé, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a pediatrician, speaker, and writer. Dr. Dougé holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Medical Degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Rutgers University. She has been featured in several media outlets (e.g., CNN, NPR, NY Times, Washington Post, and Today Show) and is the founder and CEO of a media company, What is Black?, which creates diverse and inclusive programming to uplift and affirm Black families and children.

Show Links:

What is Black? website

What is Black? - Talking About Race Course

Jackie’s personal website - jackiedouge.com

Connect with Jackie and What is Black?:

Twitter: @drdouge

Twitter: @whatisblk 

Instagram: @whatisblk 

Instagram: @drjacquelinedouge  

Facebook: @whatisblk

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at  https://frederickfactor.com/. Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram:

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor

Show Summary

We loved this conversation with Eric Jorgensen, and we’re sure you’ll walk away with as many insights as we did. If you’re a parent of a child with special needs, you’ll gain tremendous value from hearing Eric’s story and learning about the resources he’s created. Eric also shared valuable tips and an insider's perspective on making the hiring process more accessible for people with special needs, why it’s so important, and practical ideas on accessible accommodations in the workplace. Listen in to be a better advocate and ally to those with disabilities or special needs. 

Show Notes

• Eric’s journey of navigating the benefits and services in the disability world for his son that ultimately led to creating Special Needs Navigator
• What’s inside of the booklets he creates for families in all 50 states to help them figure out how to transition their child from child services to adult services successfully
• The difference between the terms “disability” and “special needs” 
• Practical tips for employers to make job interviews more accessible
• Why employers shouldn’t be overly intimidated by the term “reasonable accommodations” and key mindsets to think about accessibility in the workplace
• An insider's perspective on accommodations within the workplace and the big difference these can make
• Why it’s so important to be mindful about trying to do things for someone with special needs and to give them instead a chance to go at their own pace 
• Eric would like other parents with children with disabilities to know: you aren’t alone
• Tips for aspiring underrepresented entrepreneurs 
• Eric’s Frederick Factor

Guest Bio:

Eric Jorgensen, ChSNC, is the founder of Special Needs Navigator and a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer. His company was born out of his journey of being the father to a son with autism. After his wife's sudden and unexpected death right when he was retiring from the Navy, Eric was thrust into navigating the special needs world as a single father in a new state. He promised himself he would do what he could to prevent other families from experiencing what he’d lived through. This led to starting his business, Special Needs Navigator, which helps caregivers, families, and individuals navigate the maze of benefits, resources, and services for their children with special needs.

Show Links:

• Learn More About Eric’s Business and Get In Touch: Special Needs Navigator
• Teaching the Autism Community Trades

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at  https://frederickfactor.com/. Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederickFactor1748

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor

Show Summary

This episode features a lively and fun conversation with the team behind Frederick’s Puerto Rico Distillery, Angel Rivera and Crystal Rivera. They shared their love of Puerto Rican moonshine and what makes it so special--and Sandy even enjoyed sampling some during the interview. Sandy spoke with this father-daughter team and they shared their journey of bringing this beloved beverage to the USA, opening a business during the Pandemic, and falling in love with Frederick. 

Show Notes

• Why Angel and Crystal decided to start their business and only serve the Puerto Rican rum, Pitorro
• Frederick’s “siren call” that led them to open their distillery here
• How they’ve been supported by the Frederick community with open arms
• The distances people will drive to try their authentic Pitorro, which can only be found in Puerto Rico
• Their experiences being an underrepresented business in Frederick, and how they share their native culture with the beauty, integrity, and pride it deserves
• The many ways this father-daughter team is committed to giving back through distillery offerings
• How they had to creatively “pivot” on their opening plans due to opening at the beginning of COVID in March 2020
• Angel and Crystal share their Frederick Factor 

Guest Bio 

Puerto Rico Distillery is located in Frederick, Maryland, and is led by father-daughter team Angel Rivera and Crystal Rivera. They are part of a career Navy family, and are award-winning ambassadors of their culture in the state of Maryland. Puerto Rico Distillery specializes in high-quality artisanal Puerto Rican diaspora rum. Affectionately known on the island as Pitorro, it’s been close to impossible to find it anywhere outside of Puerto Rico. Pitorro is a rum distilled from sugar cane molasses that for centuries has been enjoyed by Puerto Rican families and friends. Puerto Rico Distillery aims to share the unofficial national spirit of Puerto Rico and its rich traditions. 

Show Links:

Learn More About the Puerto Rican Distillery: www.puertoricodistillery.com

Visit their distillery in Frederick, Maryland: 

1341 Hughes Ford Road

Unit 113A

Frederick, MD 21701

• Pitorro Workshop Series - Youtube Videos
• Online Store
• Puerto Rican Distillery on Instagram  
• Attend a tasting (Reservations are encouraged but not required)

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor

Show Summary

In Episode 0, we share the inspiration behind starting the Frederick Factor! Season 1 host and Frederick Factor creator Sandy Dubay shares how the Frederick Factor started as an idea over two years ago, and how it evolved into the podcast it is today. 

Show Notes / Highlights from the Show:

• How the inspiration behind the Frederick Factor was born
• How the Frederick Factor evolved into a podcast focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Learn about Platinum PR, the production and marketing team behind Frederick Factor
• Platinum PR’s experience working with organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and why we wanted to be a part of this conversation in Frederick
• Sneak peek into episodes to come in Season 1!

Show Links:

You can follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederickFactor1748

About the Frederick Factor:

The Frederick Factor Podcast highlights the stories of underrepresented business owners, professionals, and community leaders making an impact in Frederick, Maryland. You can visit our website at https://frederickfactor.com/.

Or, follow the Frederick Factor on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frederickfactor_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrederickFactor