What's Working in Washington

Gina Schaefer is the CEO and founder of a chain of hardware stores called A Few Cool Hardware Stores. In fact, there are more than a few - with a total of 14 locations throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia! On today's episode, Gina shares her inspiring story of success, explaining how a unique business model revitalized her urban community and changed hundreds of lives in the process.

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Patty Simonton, director of Bethesda Green's Be Green Business Program, believes that sustainable companies offer attractive returns to investors and to the planet. At Bethesda Green, Patty and her colleagues work to find, fund, and grow companies who are creating innovative and sustainable solutions to modern challenges. With Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) on the rise, you won't want to miss Patty and Mark's enlightening conversation.

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Terry Hsiao is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Marymount University's College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology. On today's episode, Terry breaks down the complexities of cryptocurrency, blockchain, NFTs, and more, explaining how decentralized finance (DeFi), an emerging financial technology that removes third parties in financial transactions, may soon replace banks, credit cards, and currency as we know it.

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Kelly Collis is the D.C. Marketing Manager at Alto, a VC-backed rideshare startup that uniquely employs professional drivers operating a fleet of branded vehicles. Unlike traditional rideshare services, which rely on independent contractors, Kelly explains how Alto's unique business model combines traditional employment and consistent branding to create a safe, luxurious, and reliable experience for riders.

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Paige Hopkins is a reporter for Axios DC covering all things transportation, culture, and real estate. In today's conversation, Paige and Mark discuss the things that DC residents care about most. Paige explains what COVID did to DC real estate, reveals interesting elements of the DC social scene, and evaluates the effects of decreased metro ridership.

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Mary Abbajay, President and co-founder of Careerstone Group, and Stefan Midford, President and founder of Capango, agree that the workplace is in the midst of a fundamental shift. From the restaurant and retail industry to corporate America, being physically present with colleagues and superiors is essential for career advancement. Don't miss this special mashup episode that compares, contrasts, and predicts the future of work, from two experts who know it best.

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Richard Levick is the Chairman and CEO of LEVICK, a leading crisis management PR firm based in Washington, D.C.. Richard reminds listeners of the unsettling reality of media: that sometimes, the truth is made by the first person there. Richard describes how his firm advises companies who are struggling with PR issues in which their brand reputation, customers, or profits may be compromised, and how LEVICK helps them come out stronger on the other side.

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Saba Tshibaka had just 10 seconds to pitch her startup to Pharrell Williams. Now, her company, Rendered, is thriving in the D.C. area and beyond. Listen to Saba’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey to learn how a simple love of thrifting blossomed into a successful sustainable business selling responsibly-sourced clothing and accessories.

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This week’s episode of What’s Working in Washington is a special collaboration between two brilliant guests - David Goodfriend and Tom Donohue. David, current president of public policy advocacy firm The Goodfriend Group, and Tom, former CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Congress, exemplify how What’s Working in Washington can have very different meanings for very different guests. These two individuals share sometimes parallel, sometimes conflicting views about regulation— creating a one-of-a-kind mashup episode you don’t want to miss.

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Betsy Fischer Martin is the executive director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University in Washington, D.C.. She was previously the executive producer of NBC's Meet the Press for almost 23 years. Betsy is an expert when it comes to political candidates, their exposure to media and how to effectively present their message. She joins Mark for a conversation on the gender imbalance in politics, explaining the barriers faced by women running for office and what must be done to recruit, promote, and support female political leadership.

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