The Rundown:

• Ciao Osteria is a family restaurant in more ways than one.
• You’re at home when you’re at Ciao Osteria.
• Food that is as Italian as you get.
• The customer is king.
• Being married to the restaurant.

Summary

Cousins Sal and Anthony went in together to open Ciao Osteria, the best and most Italian Italian restaurant in northern Virginia. Now, a mere three and a half years later, they’ve won so many awards that their wall doesn’t have room for any more plaques or accolades. They give advice to people thinking of starting a business or opening a restaurant, and give tips on how to make the customer’s experience one worth Yelping about.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:35] Introduction to Sal and Anthony, owner and chef of Ciao Osteria.
• [01:50] How their childhoods helped bring them together for Ciao Osteria.
• [03:34] Ciao Osteria is a family at work.
• [03:54] Starting and expanding Ciao Osteria.
• [05:26] The secret ingredient to rave reviews.
• [07:15] Each dish is the best for each customer.
• [07:48] Inspiration for the dishes.
• [09:33] Ciao Osteria’s struggles.
• [11:34] Transitioning from owning their own restaurants to owning one together.
• [13:28] Creating the customer experience.

The Rundown:

• Love of a lost dog inspires a woman to become a trainer.
• There’s no such thing as a bad dog.
• Training the right end of the leash.
• You can teach an old dog new tricks.
• Dog training is inadvertent life coaching.
• There’s a big difference between a response and a reaction.

Summary:

Behaviors in dogs are external manifestations of internal underlying driving forces, but people often try to fix the wrong end of the leash. Kimberly Artley is a dog trainer, life coach, author, and the founder of Packfit, which helps owners and pups communicate and get to the root causes of so-called ‘bad behavior.’ She gives practical tips on changing human behavior to condition calm for a cool, collected dog.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:39] Introduction to Kimberly Artley, life coach, dog trainer, and author.
• [01:30] There’s no such thing as a bad dog.
• [05:00] Loving animals from a young age.
• [06:12] Lobo.
• [11:50] Losing Lobo, gaining inspiration.
• [14:14] Fixing the right end of the leash.
• [19:25] It’s never too late to train a dog.
• [21:21] Providing a better baseline for understanding.
• [27:23] My Dog, My Buddha.
• [28:13] Packfit.
• [33:14] Contact information for Artley.

Northern VA Advice Givers:  Mark Guttenberg of Guttenberg’s Golf Development Programs

The Rundown:

• A father’s hobby inspires a boy to be a golf pro.
• You can pursue your dreams from a young age.
• The gratification when a student leaves with a smile is heartwarming.
• The love of helping students is passed from generation to generation through coaches.
• The love of golf must come from the child, not the parent.

When you are raising an aspiring golfer, finding the right coach is important. To be successful, the coach must share a relationship and rapport with the child and parents, and the parents must be supportive of the child and coach. Mark Guttenberg is a golf professional with over forty years of experience, both as a student and a coach. He offers practical tips on how to choose the right coach for your child and get the most out of their coaching so everyone wins.   

Northern VA Advice Givers:  Brian Eastman of Safeguard Advisors

The Rundown

•      Most people don’t realize their ability to have control over their investments.
•      There are two things the tax code prohibits for IRA investments.
•      Safeguard Advisors don’t offer investments; they offer guidelines and advice regarding investment possibilities.
•      The three things every investor needs are capital, advisors, and perspective.
•      Investors can educate themselves through the Safeguard Advisors Facebook page, website, investment networking groups, and books and magazines.

Summary

Did you know that you can self-direct your retirement plan? Most people are not aware of this, nor what it really means, let alone how to go about doing so. Brian Eastman, President and Senior Consultant at Safeguard Advisors, an expert in self-directed retirement plans, clears up the confusion. Eastman covers what difficulties a person might face if they are thinking about non-traditional avenues of investment, and how with the right guidance, they may be more in control of their retirement investments and financial future. Although this is unchartered territory for many, his common sense, step-by-step approach to self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s unravels the mysteries.

Northern VA Advice Givers:  Sheyna Burt

The Rundown

• A little girl with a big dream creates a fulfilling life for herself.
• Role models and mentors are all around you.
• Life is richer when you give back through service.
• The value of pursuing your dreams.
• How to find rewarding ways to be of service in your own community.

Summary

Sheyna Burt holds the distinction of not only being an attorney with her own law practice, but serving in her community as a volunteer in numerous organizations, including her role as President of World Doctors Orchestra USA. Her professional and personal work focuses on service and giving back. Her track record is a sterling example of how one can find a balance between their personal and professional lives doing work they love. Burt’s story is inspiring, but more than that, she provides tips and examples of how you can become involved in service to your own community.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00]  Introduction to Sheyna Burt, attorney, musician, and volunteer.
• [00:40]  A brief history of Burt’s background.
• [01:39]  Lofty goals for a little girl.
• [03:30]  Mentors and teachers who influenced Burt’s life choices.
• [04:50]  Burt’s first violin, and finding her “fellow nerds of music”.
• [06:30]  An unnamed  musician made the mistake of telling Burt that she could not pursue both law and music.
• [08:15]  Joining Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra with her two sisters.
• [10:15]  Finding the right fit for her career and volunteer work.
• [14:30]  Service is important to Burt, so she chose family law, and to that added clients including community and arts associations, volunteer organizations, and non-profit boards.
• [16:53]  If you are looking to get involved in music in your community, Google the Arts Council for your area.
• [20:00]  Get involved in community service locally as Burt did.
• [21:35]  Contact information for Burt.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

The Rundown:

• Would you allow a trouble childhood to break you or strengthen you?

• Charlie Chandler learned motivation, discipline, and determination  from sports — and now teaches those skills to young people.

• Improving character helps athletes achieve excellence on and off the field..

• Chandler prepares young athletes for “the game of life” by developing the four Cs: character, commitment, champions, and change.

• The role of fitness, nutrition, and injury prevention in sports training.

• And much more . . .

From a childhood filled with poverty and racial tensions, Charlie Chandler grew into a “gentle giant” — a football coach who instilled quality characteristics in young athletes. As the owner of C4 Explosive Sports Training, Chandler now transforms young lives through education and movement training while developing the four Cs: character, commitment, champions, and change. In this episode, Chandler discusses how he instills character through athletic training, and he offers advice to parents looking for someone to train their kids to play collegiate sports.

Show Notes

[0:00] Ryan Sloper welcomes Charlie Chandler from C4 Explosive Sports Training to the podcast.

[0:40] Chandler talks about his background: growing up in Mississippi with racial tensions and poverty.

[2:30] The roots of Chandler’s gentle strength that helps him instill quality characteristics in others.

[5:20] Spiritual strength and role models gave Chandler focus and determination.

[6:30] Chandler found motivation, discipline, and spark from sports.

[10:30] College football tryouts taught him: “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.”

[14:00] From Jersey Mike’s Subs to coaching high school football.

[16:30] Inspiring stories from Chandler’s years as a head coach.

[18:20] Chandler put aside football to devote more time to his children.

[19:30] C4 Explosive Sports Training prepares young athletes for the game of life by developing the four Cs: character, commitment, champions, and change.

[22:00] Chandler discusses the flawed character of some professional athletes, and the strong character he hopes to instill in young people.

[23:30] How does Chandler instill character through sports training?

[25:20] Educating people about health, nutrition, and fitness.

[28:30] Advice for parents looking to train their son or daughter to play collegiate sports.

[32:00] Educating kids about fitness, nutrition, and guarding the body against injuries.

[33:40] Contact Charlie Chandler through his website c4explosivesportstraining.com, or message him on Facebook.