Northern VA Advice Givers®

Local Experts. Incredible Interviews

Birgit Campana, Grass Roots to Entrepreneur

Born in Denmark, Birgit Campana moved to America with her family when she was only nine. She married at eighteen and did not have the opportunity to attend college. When her friends went into the military, Campana decided to join too, beginning a seventeen-year military career. Campana gives high marks to the U.S. military for teaching her important life skills that enabled her to experience success as an entrepreneur. She credits the Army with developing her work ethic, ability to follow through, and organizational and problem-solving skills.

One thing they instilled in her was going all out to make things happen. “Tell me what you can do, not what you can’t,” and “Bring me as close to yes as possible” were frequent mantras. As well, military leaders she encountered modeled qualities that she values and tries to live by, such as tenacity, strength, justice, and a sense of fair play.

Military Meets Corporate America

After the Army, Campana experienced a series of trials when adjusting to civilian life. Accustomed only to military uniform or casual clothing, Campana had never dressed for business before and had to learn the basics of civilian professional attire. “It was tough,” she says. “I didn’t even know how to put a business outfit together.”

When a series of temp jobs proved unfulfilling, Campana tackled her first “real job” as the Senior Executive Assistant at a non-profit corporation. The workload made it almost impossible to keep up. After eighteen months, she decided it was not going to work and resigned. After she left, the job that she performed as one person was divided among four other employees. In true entrepreneurial fashion, Campana knew that if she were going to work that hard, she would rather work for herself. She explored various business ideas, at one point discussing with her husband the possibility of opening a pizzeria, or trying her hand at Amway, but nothing seemed like a good fit.

While in the military, Campana had taken some medical courses, not really knowing if they would come in handy later. “I’m just fascinated with the human body,” she says. Then one day while she was having a treatment from her chiropractor, she asked him what happened to his massage therapist. He said the therapist had moved on, but that one of his other patients was going to massage therapy school and that she would graduate in just six months. This piqued her interest. “Six months? I could do that,” she said.

Before she left his office that day she had secured an agreement from him that if she graduated from massage therapy school, he would save an office for her where she could treat clients and build her own business. At a time when she was beginning to doubt everything, her husband and her chiropractor believed in her. With the military mindset of ‘going all out to make things happen’, Campana registered for school, soon graduated, and immediately set about getting to work.

A Spa Is Born

When she had first talked about becoming a massage therapist, but still wrestled with feelings of fear and apprehension about the future, a trusted friend and superior from the military said to her, “Sometimes we just need to take that step off the cliff and see what happens. And you know what? If you land on your feet, it’s all good. If you land on your face, you can always flip burgers at McDonald’s, right?” Those words put things into perspective for her and helped keep her motivated to move forward with her business.

Four years later in 2004, she took another leap and signed a lease on a location, which would become the luxurious Dansk Day Spa at Occoquan, VA. She hasn’t looked back, has built a steady and loyal clientele, and employs a staff of women of diverse talents and training who keep her customers coming back. She also holds popular “Open House” events at the spa, meeting regulars and potential clients. At these events she invites other local business owners to network and promote their businesses as well.

For more information on the wide variety of services they offer or to book an appointment, visit the Dansk Day Spa website.

Episode #6 – The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

The Rundown:

  • Seventeen years in the U.S. military taught Danish-born Campana the skills and mental toughness she would need to build her own successful business.
  • Lack of a college education doesn’t have to be a roadblock.
  • Eighteen months in the corporate world was all Campana needed to decide she wanted something better.
  • Actively searching for a career direction and entertaining countless options, Campana’s business idea fell into her lap while she was receiving a chiropractic treatment.
  • A highly successful entrepreneur, Campana provides work for a substantial staff and is part of a flourishing business community in Occoquan, VA.

Service in the U.S. Army taught Birgit Campana problem-solving skills, and it was a good thing. Campana had a big problem. After her military service she was transitioning to civilian life, facing the work force with no college degree, had no idea what kind of work she wanted to do, and needed a job to help support her growing family. Finding her niche was a process and Campana, a highly successful entrepreneur, shares how she developed her business from scratch.

Show Notes

[00:00]  Ryan Sloper welcomes Birgit Campana, massage therapist and owner/operator of Dansk Day Spa in Occoquan, Virginia.

[02:20]  Married at the age of eighteen and with only a high school diploma, Campana joined the military.

[04:15]  The skills and character attributes the military instilled later proved to be instrumental in making her the thriving entrepreneur she is today.

[05:40]  Transition from military life into corporate America.

[08:07]  How a chance conversation changed the course of Campana’s life.

[13:11]  The military skills Campana used to help raise a family, return to school, and launch a new career.

[15:20]  How massage can benefit the body.

[23:10]  Services available at Dansk Day Spa at Occoquan.

Ruth Anderson Embodies Leadership from a Young Age

Ruth Anderson doesn’t just lead as the Occoquan District Supervisor, she also passionately advocates for others to get involved in county government and work their way into leadership roles.

Her drive began in an early and uncharacteristic manner, a byproduct of growing up in rural Alaska. Running the family’s twelve-dog team up and down the Yukon River wasn’t out of the norm for Anderson. “For us it was an everyday type of experience,” she recalls. “Mushing a dog team is a huge lesson in leadership, because you have to lead those dogs when they want to lead you.”

Military Experience and Humanitarian Aid

Watching her mother administer medical services in areas with little or no health care convinced Ruth early on to pursue a career in nursing. Anderson’s family relocated from Alaska to Minnesota, where she obtained her nursing degree and joined the United States Air Force. “I was so sure I could get sent to Alaska,” Anderson says, as she’d hoped to return to the communities of her youth to provide much needed health care. Her supervisors told her that they didn’t send new military nurses to Alaska as it was considered overseas and too much of a cultural shock. Instead, the Alaskan-born Anderson was transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi.

With the initial intent of serving only three years in the Air Force, Anderson soon found that the combination of nursing and the military environment both contributed to her leadership sensibilities. “You are expected to lead those that are maybe below you in rank or less experienced. It’s immediate.” Having found her niche, the three-year stint turned into a twenty-one year career. Of her time in the military, Anderson says, “We were on a mission and I loved being on that mission and taking care of the troops.”

New assignments within the Air Force brought with them opportunities for advancement. Anderson went from staff nurse to charge nurse and eventually became a squadron commander and chief nurse at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. After twenty-one years of service, Anderson retired from the Air Force, but continued to put her skills to use by assisting in the aftermath of war and natural disasters, traveling on fifteen different missions to administer aid in countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Leadership at the Local Level

When the position of Occoquan District Supervisor opened up, Anderson was encouraged to pursue it. “This wasn’t exactly on my bucket list,” she admits, though she’d been no stranger to politics, having a politician husband and being involved in the campaigns of others. “I’d helped many people get elected.” Still, Anderson needed to be persuaded. “I said ‘no’ a few times before I said ‘yes,’ but I am so glad that I did because it opens up so many opportunities to help people.”

As Occoquan District Supervisor, Anderson’s leadership skills are employed in managing the county budget and land use issues. Setting the tax rate and deciding how much money goes to schools is a great responsibility. “We make decisions that affect everyone that lives in the county,” she says.

Call to Action

Facing countless challenges and an initial learning curve never dissuaded Anderson from the position. She encourages others to get involved as well, citing the value of figuring out what it is you stand for and then taking action that supports those core beliefs. Citizens can intern with the county, serve on boards or committees, or seek out civic associations. Anderson asserts that these opportunities are for everyone. “If they come to my office, I will find a niche for them to get involved.” She also encourages people to advocate for their candidates of choice until they feel comfortable running for office themselves.

Strength in Pride

While Anderson enjoys her leadership role as the Occoquan District Supervisor, she also still takes great pride in her service with the United States Air Force. “I will do anything to save our country and the freedoms we have,” Anderson asserts. With that pride and leadership, and through positive example, she hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Ruth Anderson welcomes emails at randerson@pwcgov.org and looks forward to assisting citizens in identifying roles in which they can affect positive change.

Episode #5 – Serving the Military, the Globe, and Northern Virginia

The Rundown:

  • Rural life with limited health care inspires Ruth Anderson’s lifelong commitment to service.
  • Twenty-one years in the United States Air Force cultivates Anderson’s innate leadership skills.
  • Ongoing challenges in county government include budgets, land use management issues, and a continued need for community engagement.
  • Countless opportunities exist for citizens to get involved and make a difference in their community.
  • Making an impact occurs by focusing on one mission at a time and being involved on a local level.

Ruth Anderson didn’t have your typical childhood, but mushing a dog team in Alaska and watching communities struggle with a lack of health care inspired her to become a nurse and pursue a lifelong commitment to service. After 21 years in the Air Force, Anderson became the Occoquan District Supervisor. She provides actionable tips for citizens to become involved with their community and political process.

Show Notes

[0:00] Ruth Anderson is the Occoquan District Supervisor.

[0:59] Anderson discusses a childhood of growing up in five rural Alaskan villages.

[1:43] A unique upbringing, Anderson recalls mushing a dog team and doing homework by the light of a kerosene lamp.

[3:30] Observing her mother in the medical field, Anderson commits to becoming a nurse.

[6:08] Anderson’s family moves from Alaska to Minnesota, where Anderson obtains her degree in nursing and joins the Air Force.

[8:10] Time in the military as an officer both fosters and demands leadership skills.

[9:35] Nursing and a military background lend themselves to humanitarian aid administered after natural disasters.

[10:30] Post-military life, a position opens up for the Occoquan District Supervisor.

[13:00] Challenges for a District Supervisor include managing the county budget and deciding land use issues.

[14:22] To get involved and have a voice, citizens should explore boards, committees, and civic associations.

[15:58] It is hypercritical not to focus on national politics while ignoring what’s occurring locally and the opportunities to get involved.

[19:20] Contact Ruth Anderson at randerson@pwcgov.org to get involved and make an impact.

1776 Promotes International Entrepreneurship

You might not think of college professors as entrepreneurial thinkers. But Noelle London’s parents — both civically engaged academics — modeled for her the core value of entrepreneurship: where people find problems, doers find solutions.

Their socially conscious approach to that motto would eventually inspire their daughter’s work at 1776, a global incubator and seed fund that helps startups throughout the world develop vital industries including education, sustainable energy, healthcare, and transportation.

London was raised in Clemson, South Carolina, and attended the College of Charleston. While studying abroad, she spent time in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. “That’s where I saw that a lot of people don’t have access to the things we consider basic resources,” she says. “I became passionate about the idea of international development, helping people alleviate issues of poverty.”

London was told that if she wanted to work in international development she needed to join the Peace Corps. She thought that meant being sent to dig latrines in Africa. Instead, she joined and was sent to teach entrepreneurship in Nicaragua. “I was nervous about teaching. I felt like I wasn’t an expert — but then I realized entrepreneurship has always been a part of me,” she says. “I worked with women who had never had formal jobs or made their own money. I was able to help them enter export markets with artisanship.”

Back in the States, she studied global policy and how to support entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout the world. That prepared her for her work at 1776.

Focus on Solutions

Startups in developing countries must overcome the challenges posed by a lack of capital, technology, business relationships, and other resources. Like business people everywhere, entrepreneurs in developing countries must face these challenges by focusing on solutions rather than problems.

“One thing that I was amazed by in Nicaragua was their sense of resourcefulness,” London says. “To them, that doesn’t mean having access to venture capital, it means being creative and smart about how you use the very limited resources. It’s a significant advantage for any entrepreneur to go in with that mindset — not ‘this is my budget and this is what I can do with it,’ but ‘this is my problem and this is the resource I need to overcome that challenge.’”

As the Crystal City campus manager of 1776, London helps to grow companies working to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, specifically within the fields of education, energy, health, and transportation. Unlike an accelerator — which is a fast-paced, intense planning program for startups — an incubator provides the curriculum, community, and connections that a company needs to grow.

“By curriculum, I mean that we do 10-week cohorts on things like sales, fundraising, and PR — and we do a number of mentorship sessions on top of that,” London says. “For 45 hours a week, you get a deep dive with an expert in the field for help on legal, accounting, financial projections — we can give them all that curriculum.”

The community focus of the incubator brings together like-minded entrepreneurs for mentor/mentee relationships and discussions of common topics. The connections focus brings entrepreneurs together for networking and gets them in front of potential investors and into piloting opportunities.

“We also have a seed fund associated with 1776,” London says. “Companies coming through our program that are at the right revenue and sales, and they fit closely into our core verticals, we do small investments into those companies.”

Companies are invited to apply to be members with 1776. The application includes questions about the company’s business model, scalability, and which issue area the company addresses. “As far as the stage of company we work with, we’re across the board,” London says. “We have researchers who come to us with an idea they want to commercialize out of a laboratory, and they’re early stage. For the most part, though, we want you to be still early-stage with one to four people — that’s where we can help you the most.”

Developing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Each year, 1776 sponsors Challenge Cup, a competition that promotes international entrepreneurship. The most recent competition included 55 cities around the world. “Whether we were in Nairobi, London, or Shanghai, we were looking for the very best entrepreneurs within each of these ecosystems and within those five areas of healthcare, transportation, energy, smart cities, and education,” London says. “We traveled around the world and had 44 local competitions that fed into nine regional competitions.”

The regional finalists were brought to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong conference in June. Each day’s workshops focused on a specific industry area. 1776 brought in policy makers, investors, and startups to facilitate a conversation about driving forward issue areas like energy and healthcare throughout the world. The conference ended with a global competition, and each of the eight finalists left with up to a million dollars in seed funds.

“It was a really cool experience, and a great way to see entrepreneurs from around the world coming together and sharing those experiences they had trying to solve those challenges with each other,” London says.

The 1776 website has more information about company events including the Challenge Cup, and links to apply for membership. To receive additional news about 1776, there is also a link to subscribe to their newsletter.

Episode #4 – Prepping Startups to Change the World

The Rundown:

  • 1776 is a global incubator and seed fund. Noelle London explains what that means.

  • Entrepreneurs in developing countries are innovating to improve education, energy, health, and transportation systems.

  • Why every new business needs a strong technology component.

  • Developing social entrepreneurs and mission-driven companies.

  • How the Challenge Cup promotes international entrepreneurship through a global competition.

  • The types of startups 1776 partners with.

  • And much more . . .

Noelle London’s passion for international development began while serving in the Peace Corps. She is now the Crystal City campus manager for 1776, a global incubator and seed fund that helps startups internationally transform industries including education, sustainable energy, healthcare, and transportation. In this episode of Northern Virginia Advice Givers, London discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in developing countries, and how global incubators like 1776 are addressing some of the world’s most critical needs.

Show Notes

[0:00] Ryan Sloper welcomes Noelle London from 1776, a global incubator and seed fund.

[1:00] London grew up in South Carolina, studied abroad in Peru, and became passionate about international development.

[2:00] After teaching entrepreneurship in Nicaragua with the Peace Corps, London returned to the States to study global policy.

[3:00] London’s parents modeled the entrepreneurial ethic: “Where people find problems, doers find solutions.” Memories of a civically engaged family.

[6:00] Being a proponent of startups and businesses. The ease of starting a business today.

[8:00] Helping new businesses fail fast and realize what doesn’t work. Becoming an adaptive and tech-savvy business.

[9:00] When do startups need to start raising capital?

[10:00] Challenges faced by entrepreneurs in developing countries.

[12:00] The essential skills and traits of an entrepreneur.

[14:30] Toward creating mission-driven companies. The companies that 1776 supports.

[17:00] What are accelerators and incubators? What services does 1776 offer?

[21:00] 1776 creates a new generation of entrepreneurs through high school internships.

[24:00] Defining and teaching social entrepreneurship.

[26:00] Who are the ideal clients for 1776?

[27: 30] How 1776’s Challenge Cup promotes international entrepreneurship through a global competition.

[30:00] Contacting 1776 and subscribing to their newsletter.

Episode #3 – How Defiance and a Career Change Led to a Dream Job

The Rundown:

  • Would you pay to be locked in a room with 10 people and solve a murder?

  • How Angie Curtis turned her artistic flair for theater design into Escape Room Woodbridge.

  • Escape Room offers three different themed rooms with puzzles appropriate for different age levels.

  • You won’t believe what some people do in the Escape Room when the pressure is on!

  • Why businesses that create memorable experiences are so addictive.

  • And much more . . .

Angie Curtis turned her artistic flair for theater design into one of the area’s hottest new businesses — Escape Room Woodbridge. If you’re not familiar with an Escape Room, it’s like a life-size game of Clue. Contestants in a closed room have one hour to search for clues, solve puzzles, and escape. In this episode of Northern Virginia Advice Givers, Curtis explains why businesses that create memorable experiences are so addictive, and why business success is all about building a rapport with customers.

Show Notes

[0:00] Ryan Sloper welcomes Angie Curtis, co-owner of Escape Room Woodbridge, to the podcast.

[0:40] A “military brat,” Curtis lived in Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, and Korea before settling in Virginia.

[1:20] Artistic flair led Curtis to crafting, painting, knitting, and theater costume design. Her father’s death steered her toward studying business.

[5:20] Curtis became a medical esthetician.

[6:50] What is an Escape Room, and what led Curtis to open one?

[10:00] Businesses that create an experience are the best ones.

[13:00] Escape Room Woodbridge offers multiple themed rooms that will change annually.

[15:00] How to book a game at the Escape Room.

[16:45] You won’t believe what some people do in the Escape Room.

[19:15] How do players solve the puzzle and escape the room?

[22:20] Visit the Escape Room Woodbridge website to explore the themed rooms and schedule a time to play.

[23:20] Building a successful business is about building rapport with customers.

Episode #1 – Educating Clients and Making Home Ownership a Reality

The Rundown:

  • When college is not an option, can entrepreneurs succeed?
  • Develop a strong work ethic and create opportunities for yourself.
  • Guest Brian Eller bootstrapped his way to business success.
  • Why mortgage lenders are not created equal.
  • This down payment assistance program is “free money” for homebuyers.
  • And much more . . .

Are down payment problems stopping you from buying your dream home? Now you’ve got options. Mortgage lender Brian Eller explains a powerful down payment assistance program available through his company, CRM Lending, that can create free money to help you afford a new home without depleting your savings.

Eller is a local entrepreneur with a strong work ethic that has propelled his career and driven him to create successful businesses. In this podcast he talks about growing up in Woodbridge, shares the inspiring stories of the role models who taught him to achieve his dreams, and explains how his desire to best serve homebuyers led him to partner with a local rather than an out-of-state mortgage company.

Show Notes

[0:00] Ryan Sloper welcomes Brian Eller to the podcast.

[0:35] Eller shares his backstory: born and grew up in Virginia, played high school sports, attended community college, struggled for money, and decided to be an entrepreneur.

[2:30] Eller’s first business was a power-washing company. He struggled in the winter months because of the seasonal nature.

[3:30] One winter he worked in a bank, and a friend told him about the money he could make as a loan officer. He contacted Ryan Sloper to find out more about the career.

[4:35] Sloper commends Eller on his work ethic and for propelling his career. Eller discusses two people who modeled a strong ethic to him: his grandpa and a local entrepreneur.

[9:35] Eller began a successful mortgage career but struggled during the housing market crash. He discusses what he learned and how he survived through the lean times.

[12:10] CRM Lending is Eller’s new company. Eller discusses why he left his previous company, and what advantages CRM offers his customers.

[14:40] CRM allows Eller to solve problems for his clients. Eller discusses the challenges holding some people back from qualifying for a mortgage, especially lack of a down payment.

[16:10] CRM offers a down payment assistance program, which attaches a soft second mortgage in the down payment amount to the first mortgage. After three years of on-time payments, the second mortgage falls off.

[18:45] Eller discusses how long he expects interest rates to stay at historically low levels. He describes changes to lending programs like VHDA.

[21:00] Eller’s CRM office is in Woodbridge. He’s licensed to lend in Virginia, Maryland, and Florida.

[21:50] How to contact Brian Eller to get pre-approved or ask questions: phone (703) 856-4412, email brianeller33@gmail.com, or message him on Facebook.