What Investors Are Looking for and How To Pitch

Entrepreneurs looking for financing?

Bethesda Green is presenting the second of its five finance workshops — What Investors Are Looking for and How to Pitch — on Thursday, January 31, 8-10 am. The panel includes two angel investors and an entrepreneur actively fund raising, who will share their first-hand experience about what it takes to impress investors.

SPEAKERS:

• Anthony Millin, Lerch, Early and Brewer, moderator
• Casey Berman, Berman Ventures, Dingman Angel
• Jason Shrensky, Dingman Angel in Residence
• Greg Merril, CEO, Brain Sentry

LOCATION: Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814

FEE: $15, no charge for incubator companies. Click here for more info.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, January 31. General networking and light refreshments at 8 am; program runs 8:30 – 10 am.

CONTACT US: Email Robert Snyder at rsnyder@bethesdagreen.org or call at 240-396-2440 x103 if you have any questions.

Register here

The Finance Workshop Series is sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

Growing local green businesses

Bethesda Green has launched a Finance Workshop Series & Investor Forum to help grow the green business economy in the region.  The series focuses on educating entrepreneurs about financing opportunities and preparing them to present to investors.

Next workshop:
“What Investors Are Looking For and How To Pitch”
Thursday, Jan. 31
8 – 10 am
Bethesda Green
4825 Cordell Ave, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814

This workshop will address what investors are looking for in an early stage company and how to make an effective presentation to them.  The program panel will include both qualified investors and entrepreneurs who have extensive experience in what it takes to raise funding.  The discussion will go beyond the typical business plan outline to address the key points and approaches that will make your business attractive to potential investors.

Fee: $15 per workshop

General networking and light refreshments available at 8 am; program begins at 8:30.

Tickets available here.

 

Gator Ron’s business born from tragedy

Feature on Gator Ron’s Zesty Sauces & Mixes, a Bethesda Green Business Incubator company

Several years ago, if you had told friends and neighbors Connie Griffith and Debbie Kaufmann that they would be manufacturing and selling barbeque sauces, they would have looked at you and laughed.  Back in 2006, Connie was an established administrator in the medical field, and sat on numerous boards, planning fundraising events and participating in board activities.  Debbie was directing corporate communications for Japanese company Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.’s three U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiaries, happily ensconced in her busy corporate existence.  Both were also busy with their daily social agendas and traveling for both work and pleasure – who would even think about making sauces?

The one person who did think about making sauces – all the time – was Connie’s husband, Ron.  A professional salesman in telecommunications, in his spare time Ron loved to cook and was a fabulous grill master who created and perfected numerous sauces and mixes for meats, poultry, seafood, and other foods, along with recipes for healthy preparation for all of his sauces and mixes.  Ron was a colleague of and close friends with Debbie’s husband, Steve, and the two spoiled Connie and Debbie with delicious dinners as they arrived home from work – grilled wings, barbequed chicken, ribs, shrimp scampi, crab cakes and other favorites.  And the Bloody Mary’s were always a hit – all of Ron’s creations were requested by family and friends alike for parties, tailgating (tailgatoring, as Connie and Debbie now call it), easy, healthy dinners at home, and of course, grilling and barbeques.

After years of receiving these requests, Ron recognized the interest and desire of so many people for his zesty sauces and mixes, and began to research manufacturing and selling them to food lovers everywhere.  This came to a screeching halt when, in September of 2007, Ron was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. His number one priority became dealing with the care and treatment that he would require.  Connie immediately resigned her position on boards to spend every possible moment with her husband.  Two years after his diagnosis, Connie left her position in the medical field to become his full time caregiver.  Debbie’s position with Otsuka was relocated to New Jersey in 2009, and choosing not to move, she started a small communications consulting firm, which ultimately led to her working full time for one of her clients.

During the two years that Connie cared for Ron, he subtly encouraged her to take on his mission.  Knowing that Connie was not a cook, he would sit in his wheelchair in their kitchen and teach her exactly how to prepare each of his secret sauces and mixes.  He used the excuse that he wanted some of his creations for dinner; otherwise, he knew, without his request she would have ordered take out or delivery!  He told his mother he was sorry he’d been unable to start the company so that Connie would have something to fall back on.  He continually encouraged Connie to find something to do when he was gone that she would love and that would make her happy.  And shortly before his death, when Connie was making holiday gifts of Ron’s famous wing sauce and told him she was going to give their friends and relatives the recipes so she wouldn’t have to fulfill all of their requests, he whispered in her ear – barely able to speak at this point – and made her promise she would NEVER give out his recipes!

When Ron passed away in November 2011, Connie went away to reflect on her life and decide what her next step would be.  In the back of her head she heard Ron telling her to do something she loved, and what would be more appropriate – or make her happier – than to follow his dream.  She returned home at holiday time, gave their friends and family their gifts of sauce, which everyone received with joy because it came not just from Connie, but from Ron’s creation as well, and in January, she contacted Debbie and Steve to ask if they would help launch Gator Ron’s Zesty Sauces & Mixes.

The rest, as they say, is history-in-the-making!  Connie and Debbie are going to production July 11-13, and will take delivery of 9,000 bottles of Gator Ron’s Zesty Sauces & Mixes – Gator Ron’s Heavenly Barbeque Sauces (Original and Chipotle), Gator Ron’s Angel Wing Sauce (Original and Spicy), and Gator Ron’s Divine Bloody Mary Mix (Original and Chesapeake).   All products are made with all natural ingredients and free of gluten, and are accompanied by healthy recipes for preparation.  Future sauces will include Shrimp Scampi, Teriyaki, and Crab Cake mix and other favorites.  And a major goal is to manufacture through a dedicated gluten-free facility, using all organic ingredients in the near future.  Steve, a professional sales manager in telecommunications, will be directly involved with sales of Gator Ron’s Zesty Sauces & Mixes.

Connie and Debbie (now, the Sauce Ladies) will be selling the sauces via their website (www.gatorrons.com), at farmers markets, charity fundraising events, and in stores and local markets as they establish relationships with these retailers.

Ron’s father also died of ALS at the age of 59, and Steve’s father and aunt (Debbie’s father-in-law and aunt-in-law) were also victims of this terrible disease.  The three partners have a strong passion to see research for ALS progress to a point where treatments may be identified.  As such, a percentage of proceeds from all sales of Gator Ron’s products will be donated to ALS research to help find a treatment, and ultimately a cure, for ALS.

 

Green job opportunities keep rolling in

Even though it’s been a month since the Bethesda Fields of Green Internship Fair, the green job opportunities keep rolling in. Check out this exciting opportunity for women interested in the green building trades.

A free, 6-week pre-apprenticeship training program in the green building trades, funded through the Department of Labor and administered by the Community Services Agency of the ALF-CIO, is starting in May 2012. An information session about the Building Futures class is scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday, March 27. Interested parties should immediately contact Jennifer Gajdosik, jgajdosik@wowonline.org or call (202)464-1596 ext. 109.

Back on February 25, Bethesda Green hosted its third annual Fields of Green Internship Fair, attracting 24 green employers and more than 120 intern prospects. The employers represented both national and international environmental organizations like The Student Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy and Habitat for Humanity.  Several smaller local companies and non-profits including Rock Creek Conservancy,  Savenia Labs, Anacostia Watershed Society, DC Greenworks, Calleva Outdoor Camp and  Common Cents Solar participated as well.  Over one hundred paid and unpaid environmental internships were available through the employers participating in the event.

The overall feedback from students and employers was that the Fields of Green Internship Fair filled a great need for local area green jobs.  For many of the students who attended this will be their first step in the professional job arena.  And, for our employers who were hoping to attract top talent to their business, they weren’t disappointed.  Bethesda Green strives to create a sustainable community and support green jobs in our local economy.  There is no question that the annual Fields of Green Internship is doing just that!

For more information about employers that participated and internship descriptions, check out the Bethesda Green website.

 

Recycle old cell phones

Local high school green teams and other interested recyclers, here’s a great way to do your part to reduce waste and help support Bethesda Green.  Collect your old cell phones and bring them to Bethesda Green for recycling.

We’ve partnered with two of our Green Business Incubator Companies — GreenSavings.Coop and their Supplier Member VertiGO Solutions — to turn your old cell phones into a valuable donation.

Just bring your old phones to Bethesda Green — 4825 Cordell Avenue, on the second floor above the Capital One Bank — and deposit them in the VertiGO Box at the front desk.   The company’s VertiGO RECOVER service specializes in mobile phone recycling to ensure wireless devices are handled in a way that doesn’t compromise sensitive information or impact the local environment.

VertiGO Solutions will make a cash donation to Bethesda Green for the value of any recycled phones.

 

 

Green News & Events, October 4, 2011

by Dan Rudt                                                                                                               

And the Winner Is…University of Maryland “WaterShed”

The University  of Maryland had two big wins at this year’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. On Friday, UMCP was declared the winner of the architecture prize. On Saturday, the school was named overall winner in a solar home contest that included universities from Belgium, Canada, China, New Zealand and the United States. The UMCP entry, called WaterShed, is a solar powered home that also conserves, filters and reuses water.

New Name and Address for Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment

The nonprofit, created in 2005 to protect and restore the 33 miles of Rock Creek and adjacent parkland, is now called the Rock Creek Conservancy. Their new office is located at the green business incubator at Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200, in Bethesda. The September 26 Bethesda Patch includes an informative piece about the Rock Creek Conservancy written by Beverly Firme.

Are Deer Eating your Plants? Ruth Clausen Has a Solution

Ruth Rogers Clausen has written a book that illustrates how to beautify your yard and garden while keeping the deer away. In 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants: The Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Shrubs that Deer Don’t Eat, Clausen gives each plant a deer resistance rating and explains how to use it in your garden. Enjoy Alan Detrick’s beautiful photography while you plan and shop for next year’s garden. Busboys and Poets. Timber Press.

And If You Are Looking for Native Plants

The Maryland Native Plant Society Website is an excellent source of information about plants native to the Free State. Among the Website’s resources are a listing of plant nurseries around Maryland that stock a number of native plants, and a PDF guide, How to Shop for Native Plants.

North Bethesda Resident Honored by Sierra Club

The Sierra Club on September 23 announced the recipients of its national awards. Among them was Marjorie Richman of North Bethesda. Richman has been leading local and national outings for the Club since 1980 and received the Oliver Kehrlein Award for outstanding service to the Sierra Club’s outings program. The 2011 awards were presented in San Francisco Sept. 23-24 during the Club’s annual meeting.

Upcoming Green Events

Growing Native Webinar, Tuesday, October 4, 11:30 am. Growing Native, a project of Potomac Conservancy, engages thousands of volunteers in the Potomac River region each year to collect native hardwood and shrub seeds. The seeds are donated to state nurseries in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, where they are planted and used to restore streamside forests throughout the 15,000 square mile watershed. Email Deanna Tricarico at tricarico@potomac.org or call (301) 608-1188, x204 for information.

2011 Bethesda Green Gala, Wednesday, October 5, 6:00 – 10:00 pm, Round House Theatre. Come meet local folks from the businesses, non-profits, community organizations and individuals whose innovations, practices and lifestyles promote environmental sustainability — winners and runner-ups of the 2011 Bethesda Magazine Green Awards, who will be announced and recognized for their inspiring work in the environmental community. This promises to be an evening of sharing and connecting as a community where we celebrate our greener future. More information.

Muddy Branch Road Trash Pickup, Saturday, October 08, 8:30am – 11:30am. Join other volunteers and the Muddy Branch Alliance to pick up trash from Muddy Branch Square to Festival Shopping Center. Meet between 8:30 and 9:00 at the Starbucks in Muddy Branch Square. Sign up to help.

Conservation Montgomery Four Corners Community Stroll, Saturday, October 15, 10:00 – Noon. Learn about the natural features of the Four Corners community and the threats to open space in the area. Carol Ann Barth, First Vice President of the Montgomery County Civic Federation, will lead the walk and discussion. More information.

Montgomery County Community Service Week, October 16 – 22. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center invites you and your group to participate. More information.

Green Home Expo, Saturday October 22, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Bethesda Green. Learn easy ways to green your home and save money.  Presentations will cover conservation, efficiency and renewable energy.  In addition to industry vendors, meet representatives from nonprofits and Montgomery County government. More information.

Community Forklift Fundraising Extravaganza, Saturday, October 22, 7:00 – 10:30 pm, 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD. Entertainment by the DC Lady Arm Wrestlers, Silent auction, Wonky Dog food truck, DJ One HeART Muszik, and adult beverages! Must be 21 or over. Community Forklift is a low-cost building materials warehouse open to the general public and a project of Sustainable Community Initiatives, a 501c3 nonprofit. More information on tickets, sponsorships, or to donate a silent auction item.

Food Day, Monday, October 24, 2011, 7:00 pm, at the Church in Bethesda, 5033 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. You are invited to a local screening of the documentary film “Ingredients” co-sponsored by Church in Bethesda, Bethesda Presbyterian and Graceful Growing Together. The evening will also include short presentations by community members about healthy food, sustainable farms and related topics. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

 

Global women’s group visits Bethesda Green

by Jeanette Perthel

On June 30, an international group of women visited Bethesda Green to share ideas and lessons learned about building sustainable communities.  The women were participating in a Global Women in Management Workshop sponsored by the Centre for Development and Population Activities, a group dedicated to empowering women to empower communities.

Global women's group visits Bethesda Green

The visitors are actively working in a variety of fields to strengthen women’s equality and economic independence, providing medical and emotional support, and education and training, all for sustainable development.

Going around the table, each woman introduced herself and country of origin: One woman from Angola, another from Argentina, one from China, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Turkey, and Vietnam.

After introductions, the women asked questions about starting new businesses, such as:  How do you fund-raise?  How do you distribute loans or grants?  What’s the business incubator and how does it work?  Each women jotted down notes while Bethesda Green staff answered their questions.

Throughout the meeting the women told their stories and experiences of their progress and challenges, offering inspiration and hope for women in the future.

Opportunities in some countries are restricted by the government, culture, and economy, but these empowered women are fighting to revolutionize the independence of women in their homelands.  One could feel the electricity of support, equality, and change that is soon to come.  We’re grateful for the chance to hear their stories and proud to offer our encouragement and support.

A Bethesda Green intern, Jeanette Perthel graduated from Churchill High School and is attending Towson University this fall.

 

Bethesda Green Names New Board Leadership

Bethesda Green announced the appointment of a new slate of Board officers to assume leadership at its next meeting January 7, 2011.  Community leader and current Board Member Ilaya Hopkins will serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.  Other officers elected by the Board at its December 2010 meeting include Vice Chair Jeff Burton, Deputy Executive Director at Bethesda Urban Partnership; Treasurer Joseph Chirico, Senior Vice President with Capital One Bank; and Secretary Rosalie Grazzini.

Bethesda Green Co-Founders and former Board Co-Chairs Seth Goldman (President and TeaEO of Honest Tea) and George Leventhal (Montgomery County Councilmember, At Large) championed the growth of the non-profit collaborative of residents, businesses and government since its inception in 2008 and will continue serving as Board Members.

“An important test for any young enterprise is whether it can continue to grow and evolve once the founders step aside.  I’m confident that Bethesda Green is in good hands,” said Goldman.

High among the Bethesda Green successes touted by Leventhal is its Green Business Incubator as an engine of job creation in the community. “Bethesda Green works with and leverages Montgomery County’s strengths to create a green entrepreneurial cluster that will generate economic, environmental and social value for the County’s businesses and residents,” he said.  “The Board fully supports its ongoing development.”

Other Bethesda Green highlights include:

• Installing dozens of recycling bins in downtown Bethesda.
• Educating thousands of people through seminars and trade shows about renewable energy and simple efficiencies to cut carbon output and save money.
• Organizing E-cycling days in partnership with Montgomery County, collecting tons of TVs, computers and other old electronic equipment.
• Convening an internship fair providing hundreds of young people a gateway to future careers.
• Hosting a Gala to spotlight businesses and individuals as champions of sustainable living.
• Strengthening ties between the urban and rural communities in the local agricultural food chain.

New Board Chair Ilaya Hopkins is working with staff and volunteer leadership to outline plans for the future. “Seth and George established a strong foundation for Bethesda Green in its formative years,” said Hopkins. “We look forward in 2011 to building upon our established success, expanding our community impact, providing quality educational programming and driving the creation of new green jobs.”

 

Rain barrel rebates available for co-op members

Aquabarrel is offering rebates of up to $25 for its EarthMinded™ RainStation™ rain barrel to members of the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op and the Maryland Energy and Sustainability Co-op.

Orders placed today (Friday, August 20) may be picked up tomorrow (Saturday, August 21) at the The Takoma Park Co-op, 201 Ethan Allen Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Tel: 301-891-2667.

Aquabarrel and the Maryland Energy and Sustainability Co-op are members of the Bethesda Green Business Incubator.

 

Summer of Success

by Rachel Jaffe

In March 2010, Bethesda Green hosted its inaugural “Fields of Green” Internship Fair to promote green jobs throughout the region.  Among the 35 organizations recruiting interns at the event was the Maryland Energy and Sustainability Co-op (MESC), led by its “Energetic Director” Mike Kennedy, one of the companies in the Bethesda Green Business Incubator.

At the event, Kennedy found four of the five interns working with him this summer.  These interns stand as a reminder of how one successful program can in turn promote other successes.  All of the interns are working for him, not because of the excellent pay (in the form of gumballs and pizza), but the opportunity to simultaneously help themselves gain experience in the workforce and add their voices to the growing movement of awareness about humanity’s impact on the environment.

Miranda Hitchcock, Nick Booth, Claire Lafave, Mike Kennedy, and Julia Chartove (L-R) from the Maryland Energy and Sustainability Co-op

The interns are helping grow MESC, to create a “template for getting green goods and services from pre-qualified businesses into the hands of consumers” as Kennedy puts it.  Yet, though the interns are crafting the bridge between the technology and the people, the vision and the implementation, a relaxed feeling pervades the office.  Julia Chartove, a student at Swarthmore University, loves her ability to “set your own direction,” which she has used to expand her ability to design websites off of a platform.  Claire Lafave, loves the cooperative spirit in the organization and the chance it gave her to extend her skills as an English major at Williams into writing advertisements and grants. Nick Booth, a junior at Wisconsin, marvels at how in a few months “other people’s passion” for environmental stewardship morphed into a cause that he too cared about.

MESC stands as a shining example of the success both of Kennedy’s ability to balance the freedom to explore one’s individual interests and getting down to business, as well as Bethesda Green’s desire to constantly be bringing more people into the environmental community.  To help us continue our success past the summer months, come to one of our First Thursday Happy Hours or the upcoming October 7 Gala.

Rachel Jaffe is a Bethesda Green intern and a student at Stony Brook University.