Spirit of Entrepreneur Award Winners 2010

Winners of the Spirit of Entrepreneur Awards Recognized 

Recipients of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” awards were recognized at the February 3, 2010 Entrepreneur’s Exchange meeting

• Spirit of Entrepreneur, Member: Amy Yule, Pecan Yummies
• Spirit of Entrepreneur, Non-member: Steve Kolbe, Analysis
• Spirit of Entrepreneur, Rising Star: Christian Hendricks, Sagitta Marketing 

The awards were sponsored by Council Baradel Kosmerl and Nolan, PA.

“Our annual awards event allows EE to recognize those individuals whose leadership and vision continue to make a positive impact on our business communities.  The success stories that the winners share inspire those around them to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit to grow their businesses” says Ann Alsina, EE Chairman of the Board.

• Margaret Shea-Moore from Syndicus standing in for Michael McNees
• Vince Iatesta, Caffe Pronto
• Amy Yule, Pecan Yummies
• Chris Ourand, O Communication
• Christian Hendricks, Sagitta Marketing
• Donnie Calderone, Analysys standing in for Steve Kolbe
• Ann Alsina
• Joanne DeLoache

 Spirit of Entrepreneur Award Winners 2009

Rising Star: Derek Watson

Derek Watson founded Advanced Urban Project Solutions in 2007 to assist businesses looking to relocate.  AUP Solutions starts with a needs analysis to determine location, size and other requirements, then manages the process through to punch-list and move-in.  In less than two years, AUP Solutions has managed projects for such clients as Children's Medical Centers and the Embassy of the Maldives.  Derek pioneered a new method of partnership with land owners to mitigate up-front purchase risk, generating a greater return for owners by offering a percent of profit above a set cap.

Spirit of Entrepreneur- Member: Yarrow
Yarrow is the CEO (Chief Entrepreneurial Officer) of Conscious Toolbox.com.  
She is a Motivational & Inspirational Speaker, Corporate Executive/Employee Trainer, Personal Energy Coach and Author.  Her expertise in “energy” is featured in an article “Space Woman” in The Baltimore Magazine (Oct 2007.) Yarrow facilitates business groups, associations and individuals in shifting their life by exploring current thinking, behavior and paradigms. Using her powerful training tool, Master Your Energy©, Yarrow skillfully guides people through a  series of self-reflection to understand their personal role in creating the culture in  their workplace and personal lifestyle.In addition, by harnessing the power of the internet, she brings unique products,    services, concepts and practical tools to people who are seeking to live happier,  healthier and more conscious. Yarrow is passionate about empowering individuals  who want more out of life and who are motivated toward self-development and  personal growth.  Read more...

Spirit of Entrepreneur- Nonmember: Paul Reed Smith
The road from my workshop in a historic, haunted Annapolis garret to a state-of-the-art factory was a tough one. Fact is, I always loved working with my hands. Why else would a high school kid sign up for three or four shop classes at a time? My first guitar was built as a challenge to my college music professor for some credits. I got an "A" and decided to pursue my dream of making guitars for a living. There were a lot of late night brain- storms. I was lucky if I finished a guitar a month. Once a guitar was completed, I'd play it at a gig ­ field testing in the purest sense. Every design change taught me something new. The next change was built on what I had learned or on feedback from other players test driving the equipment. Over ten years we went through three headstocks, several renditions of body shapes, many tremolo designs, and many experiments with woods and construction methods to get the right mix.I remember hanging out at the local concert arenas for six or seven hours before a show to make friends with the roadies. With a backstage pass in hand, I'd peddle my guitars to the stars. One night in ten I'd make a sale. Carlos Santana, Al Di Meola, Howard Leese, and other well known players agreed to check one out. I made deals. If someone gave me an order, made a deposit, and then didn't love the finished guitar, I'd give them their deposit back even if I couldn't make my rent the next day. Read more...

EE Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award 2005

Becky McLaughlin Treakle Recipient of the
Entrepreneur’s Exchange ‘Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award’

Becky McLaughlin-Treakle created Personalized Travel Consultants with the traveler in mind. Personalized service from start to finish was of utmost importance to Becky. Her idea of turning 'your travel dreams to reality' reflects in all she does. Her extensive expertise in sales and marketing and her ability to cater to her clients’ exact needs and expectations make her patrons ‘clients for life.’ Becky has been in the travel industry for over 8 years- as a front line consultant with other travel companies, and now as the owner and founder of Personalized Travel Consultants. Due to the tremendous response to a needed 'personalized travel service' Personalized Travel Consultants has expanded its offices from Annapolis, Maryland; to Kent Island, Maryland; Atlantic, Iowa; and Des Moines, Iowa.

Becky is intensely involved within her community. She is an active member with the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce, Business Network International, and the Annapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the 20th anniversary of Entrepreneurs Exchange in fall 2005, Becky was honored with the Spirit of Entrepreneurship award. Her constituents at the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce also recognized her unique approach to travel with a nomination as Entrepreneur of the Year award in June of 2005. Becky continues to prove her dedication to her clients by being nominated as Queen Anne’s County Chamber Entrepreneur 2005.

EE Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award 2003

Cynthia McBride and Richard Morgan Recipients of the
Entrepreneur’s Exchange ‘Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award’

The Entrepreneur’s Exchange has awarded its ‘Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award’ to two community leaders, Cynthia McBride and Richard J. Morgan. The award was presented at The Entrepreneur’s Exchange monthly meeting on January 8, 2003, at the Yellow Fin restaurant located on Rt. 2 on the South River. The meeting began at 11:30, with seating for lunch at 12:00; the featured speaker will be Jim Breiner, publisher of the Baltimore Business Journal. 

In 1980, Cynthia McBride opened McBride Gallery in downtown Annapolis, with her Benfield Gallery premiering in Severna Park shortly after that in 1983. As a successful gallery owner, Ms. McBride has been featured in national publications, including Art Business News, Decor Magazine, and is frequently interviewed as a local business owner for the Annapolis newspaper, The Capital/Gazette. She is the featured speaker at many local and regional art and art business organizations and is a popular consultant to new galleries in the region.

Currently, she serves on the board of trustees for the Anne Arundel Medical Center, also serving on the executive committee for the Hospital. Ms. McBride enjoys volunteer committee work for the Anne Arundel Cultural Arts Foundation, Annapolis Gallery Association’s “Annual Art Walk” and chairs the Poster Project for the “Rotary 4-Way Test,” an international education program for school children.

Active as a volunteer in many community efforts, Ms. McBride was selected in 1997 as one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women.” She has served as president of the Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the Anne Arundel County Cultural Arts Foundation, and the first woman president of the Annapolis Rotary Club, winning the District award for “Best Rotary Club.”

“I was surprised and humbled to learn that I was to be awarded the ‘EE Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award’. After all, who would expect to receive an award for doing what they love, every day?, says McBride. The Entrepreneur’s Exchange exemplifies in so many ways what I believe, that the undeniable strength of a community is the success of its small businesses. It is just as important to remember the basic tenant of the ‘olden days’?.maintain strong business and personal relationships within the community. This award recognizes that balance, and I thank you very much!”

 Richard J. Morgan has over 30 years of banking and financial management experience. Most recently, he formed CommerceFirst Bancorp (1999) and its subsidiary CommerceFirst Bank that opened for business in June 2000. Prior to opening this bank and returning to the banking industry, he was a cabinet level officer in the Anne Arundel County Executive administration where he managed economic and community development programs throughout Anne Arundel County as president and chief executive officer of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. From 1990 to 1997, Morgan served as a founder, president and chief executive officer of Annapolis National Bank (now Bank Annapolis).

Morgan received recognition as the 2002 Business Leader of the Year by the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce (AAACCC). He also received the both the Service Excellence Award (1998) and the County Business Leader of the Year (1994) from the Anne Arundel Trade Council (now AAACCC). The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) selected Morgan as the Financial Services Leader of the Year (1994) for the State of Maryland. He serves on the board of trustees of Anne Arundel Medical Center.

"I can think of no higher community honor than to be recognized by my peer entrepreneurs of Entrepreneur’s Exchange,” says Morgan. The members of EE know the trials, sacrifice, along with both tangible and intangible rewards of starting and sustaining growth of a small enterprise."

Formed in 1985, The Entrepreneur’s Exchange is a nonprofit organization providing encouragement, support, education, information exchange and marketing exposure to small business owners or individuals with the entrepreneurial spirit.