District 4 Small Business Spotlight

The Backyard Naturalist

Owner: Debi Klein
Business Address: 17910 Georgia Avenue Olney, MD 20832
Type of Business: Retail Birding/Nature Specialty Gift Shop
Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays,  12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sundays

Number of employees: 7
Years in business: 25
Facebook: The Backyard Naturalist
Twitter: @BackyardNatural
Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce

“Over thirty years ago, I was a retail/small business consultant for seven years, prior to opening The Backyard Naturalist. I was hired by The Audubon Naturalist Society as their consultant and to make a long story short, I fell head over heels in love with birds and birding! As nature and the environment became ever more important to our culture, I was urged to take my talents and open my own shop!”
— Debi Klein, Owner

Springboard Training, LLC

Photo Courtesy of Springboard Training, LLC President, Sylvia Henderson

President: Sylvia Henderson
Business Address: P.O. Box 588, Olney, MD 20830-0588
Services offered: Business consulting, coaching, and training
Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Number of Employees: 2
Years in Operation: 14

Blog: IdeaConversations.com
Facebook: SpringboardTraining.1

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: eWomenNetwork – Montgomery County MD Chapter, Leadership Montgomery, Greater Olney Toastmasters, Olney Entrepreneurs Club, National Speakers Association – DC Area Chapter, Vistage International

“Part of my mission – personally and professionally – is to support other entrepreneurs and local businesses however I can. While there are a finite number of hours in the day and energy to be expended, if I can share a resource, refer someone, suggest a small piece of guidance, or work long-term with an individual or business to help them make differences in their lives or the lives of others, I will do my best to do so.” — Sylvia Henderson, President

Upcoming event:
Business Owner/CEO Breakfast & Business Forum
Norbeck Country Club
June 2, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Owner/CEO Peer Advisory Group formation & business issue processing. Complimentary hot breakfast. Must RSVP to Sylvia Henderson at (301) 260-1538 or Sylvia@SpringboardTraining.com.

Gorman’s Garments & Gear

Owner: Shannon Gorman 
Business Address: 3333 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Suite 001, Olney MD 20832
Type of Business: Retail Uniform/Embroidery
Hours of Operation: Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Tues/Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sat 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Number of Employees: 10
Years in Operation: 12
Facebook: Gorman’s Garments & Gear
Website: http://gormansgg.com/
Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce

I took time off to stay at home and raise four sons. When it was time to enter the workforce again, I was looking for something unique and challenging. I started our business in my home and developed our customer base for two years prior to finding retail space.  — Shannon Gorman, Owner

Check out Shannon Gorman’s Montgomery Municipal Cable Channel 16 interview on the birth and growth of her business. Visit MMCTV and search the archives for “Shannon Gorman.”

SeekingSitters, Montgomery County

Local Owner: Linda Quinones 
Type of Business: Baby/Pet/House Sitting Services
Hours of Operation: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Number of Employees: 2
Years in Operation: Less than one year

Facebook: SeekingSitters D.C. & Montgomery County
Twitter: @LindaQuinones3
Instagram: SeekingSitters_MOCO
Pinterest: LindaQuinones3

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce, Mom’s Inc Networking Group, WINC networking group

I was looking for a career change and my daughter had been a sitter with SeekingSitters in Denver.  She really liked the way events were assigned, and that the families she was sitting for were background screened in addition to the sitters.  She recommended it when heard I was looking for a change.  Having four children of my own, I know how difficult it can be to find safe, reliable sitters/nannies. — Linda Quinones, Local Owner

Grandma Kona LLC

Local Owner: Sharon Weiner
Type of Business: Mobile Shave Ice Experience
Business Address: 4624 Winding Stone Circle Olney, MD 20832
Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Number of Employees: 2
Years in Operation: One year
Website: www.kona-ice.com/
Twitter: @GrandmaKona
Facebook: Kona Ice of Central Gaithersburg/Germantown
Instagram: GrandmaKona

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Member, Gaithersburg/Germantown Chamber of Commerce

I wanted to retire from a corporate job and create a family business that we can pass down to my grandchildren… We love to support the community and we love to help raise funds for all types of organizations.  We offer a straight percentage of give back based on sales of the day. — Sharon Weiner, Owner

Berrend Dance Centre

Director: Patricia Berrend
Type of Business: Dance School (Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Music and Motion, Adult Ballet)
Business Address: 3460 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Suite 210, Olney, MD 20832
Hours of Operation: 6 days/week. Mornings through evenings
Number of Employees: 10, Years in Operation: 11
Website: http://www.berrenddancecentre.com/
Facebook: Berrend Dance Centre

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce

I left The Washington Ballet in order to start a dance school of my own in Montgomery County so I could create my own curriculum to inspire and teach the many talented and motivated students who want to learn ballet. That, and I really love my students!

The Dance Centre offers a full and varied curriculum with instruction in all disciplines of dance for students at all levels, an excellent faculty from the most prestigious companies and university programs, and small class sizes, encouraging the development of talent, confidence and self-discipline through individual attention. The atmosphere is one of enthusiasm for the dance arts as well as dedication to the very highest standards of dance training for all students. Former Berrend students are currently in several noteworthy companies such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Carolina Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Merce Cunningham Company, City Dance, Roxey Ballet, and Lucy Bowen and Company.— Patricia Berrend, Director 

Christopher’s Hardware

Owner: Thomas Christopher
Type of Business: Hardware Store
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sat 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sun 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Business Address: 500 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Number of Employees: 12
Years in Operation: 20
Website: christophershardwarestore.com
Facebook: Christopher’s Hardware

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce

I worked at a local hardware store in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it. We purchased our first store in the early 1980’s and we’ve been in business ever since. We pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service and being a part of the Olney-Sandy Spring-Ashton communities. 

We envision a model of continued growth and expansion such as into complementary products and services such as rental equipment, lumber, farm and ranch and hopefully much more. — Thomas Christopher, Owner

Quinter Design

Owner: Robyn Quinter
Type of Business: Graphic Design Company
Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Business Address: Brookeville, MD
Number of Employees: 2.5
Years in Operation: 22
Website: quinterdesign.com
Facebook: Quinter Design
Twitter: @QuinterDesign

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Business Networking International (BNI) (Robyn is president of the Olney BNI Breakfast of Business Champions); Member, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce; Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce.

Quinter Design was started in 1993 to allow me the flexibility to deal with our two special needs children by working from home.

In five years, Quinter Design will continue its mission to rid the world of unattractive and ineffective marketing materials and continue to grow the business. — Robyn Quinter, Owner

Upcoming Events/Promotions

• To acknowledge Small Business Week, Quinter Design offers special pricing May 4-9 on the small but mighty asset that every business needs — business cards. We offer a 22% discount on graphic design of cards + sliding discounts on printing services.
• To coincide with our 22nd anniversary, Quinter Design offers monthly specials during the week of the 22nd of each month. For May 17-23, our offer is a 22% discount on trade show displays and accessories, some restrictions apply.

Luxuria Salon & Spa

Owner: Marggie Wyman
Type of Business: Hair Salon & Spa
Hours of Operation: Tues- Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Fri 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sun 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Business Address: 17830 New Hampshire Ave #100, Ashton, MD 20861
Number of Employees: 20, Years in Operation: 12
Website: luxuriasalonandspa.com/
Facebook: Luxuria Salon & Spa
Twitter: @LuxuriaSalon
Instagram: @LuxuriaSalon

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Member, Olney Chamber of Commerce

I wanted a company that would make women feel beautiful inside and out. We are very fortunate to have provided service to this wonderful community for the last 12 years. It has been a pleasure and an honor. Our team understands the importance of beauty; we dedicate ourselves in unsurpassed talent and customer service. — Marggie Wyman, Owner

Blue Mash Golf Course

Owner: Joseph Hills
Type of Business: Public Golf Course and Driving Range
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to Sunset
Business Address: 5821 Olney-Laytonsville Rd, Laytonsville, MD 20882
Number of Employees: 6 full time, 50 part time
Years in Operation: 14
Website: bluemash.com
Facebook: BlueMashGolfCourse
Twitter: @BlueMashGC

Professional/Local Business Affiliations: Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, Olney Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Rockville Chamber of Commerce, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association, Washington Metropolitan Golf Association, Maryland State Golf Association, Mid-Atlantic Golf Association.

I grew up in the golf industry; my father is a golf course architect.  I worked in maintenance and construction, and after college worked for my father in the design business for a few years.  I liked the development side of things, so I set out to develop my own golf course.  I found land in 1991 and worked through the County and State permitting processes for 10 years, opening Blue Mash in 2001. — Joseph Hills, Owner

Upcoming Events/Promotions

• Blue Mash Junior Camps from June 15- August 21
• Newbie Tuesdays – Bring a first timer to Blue Mash and Your Round is Free