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Aspiring entrepreneurs will get start-up tips from Kristina Bouweiri, president and CEO of Reston Limousine Service, at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority’s next “Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County” webinar starting at 10 a.m. on May 4. Click here to register for the workshop.

Held every other month, Entrepreneurship 101, or “E-101,” is a virtual workshop that features a panel of small business experts on how to start a business. Participants get step-by-step information that covers registering a business, permitting requirements, business feasibility and business plan basics, business certifications, financing options and government resources.

The sessions also feature a successful local entrepreneur such as Bouweiri. As the owner of Reston Limousine, the Washington, D.C., area’s largest luxury transportation provider, she has implemented innovative business strategies over the last two decades. Reston Limousine has a fleet of 250 vehicles – sedans, limousines, vans and buses – as well as 350 drivers and 60 office employees.

“I am honored and excited to be telling my story of how I grew from five cars in 1990 to 250 vehicles today,” Bouweiri said. “As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I have some interesting stories to tell. I have built an incredible team and am very proud that 75 percent of my employees, including managers, are women and minorities. I am blessed and grateful to be in the D.C. region that offers many market segments for transportation.”

E-101 is presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, the Community Business Partnership and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

All participants who attend the entire webinar will receive a virtual “notebook” of business resource information. Networking opportunities will be provided during the event.

“Prospective entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from attending this session and learning from our experts on how to start or grow a business,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. “We thank Kristina Bouweiri, a real Northern Virginia success story, for her participation in the workshop and look forward to hearing her insights on growing Reston Limousine.”

Capital One Center to host pawsitively dog-friendly festival

Ready to have a pawesome time outside? Join a group of Northern Virginia small businesses offering products and services during the Capital One Center’s Pups & Pints, a dog-friendly festival with brews, food trucks, live music and an off-leash dog park. The event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, and Saturday and Sunday, May 8-9, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. each day.

Registration is required and will be capped to ensure a safe, socially distanced environment. Click here to register.

Located steps from the McLean Metro Station, Capital One Center is a mixed-used development at the Capital One headquarters campus in Tysons. Opening later this year will be Capital One Hall, a 1,600-seat performance hall; The Perch, a 1.2-acre skypark that is 10 stories above the street and will have an amphitheater and biergarten; and a hotel. Coming in 2023 is a 900,000 square-foot tower with office and retail space.

During the festival, Capital One Center will convert a nearby parking lot into a dog park complete with food trucks powered by Tysons-based Curbside Kitchen, a biergarten, live music, local businesses offering dog-friendly products and services, and a full day of activities. This event is free to attend, with a $15 donation recommended to support the Capital One Center’s charity partner, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Participating Northern Virginia small businesses will include Pet Wants (Chantilly), Dogtopia, Pup My Style, Barking with the Bradleys and PetSmart (Tysons), Woofies (Reston, Herndon), and Drimmle & Do and Bow Wow Designs (Alexandria).

April 22, 2021