By: Paul Yoon
One Language
https://onelanguage.pro



Customer: “Can you please say that again?”

Service Representative: “Let me explain this again for you. I said that FRA, CZE, RUS, GER, and IOC have decided to contact all their POCs at the FAA so that the TSA will have their SOPs good to go. Please go to the TSA HQ office, which is located between the USPS and Run With Us. Fill out the form TSA FM 1069-AC and take it to one of the windows. They will give you a VIS IOC Pass. Make sure to get your POC by scanning the QR Code on your way out.”
​
Customer: “Can you say that again, please?”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Did you ever experience a similar situation when you had to read a document or publication 2 or 3 times just to understand the topic? Have you received a newsletter, contract, registration form, flyer, email, or communication materials that made you more confused and frustrated after having read it?

For most of us, the answer will more than likely be “yes.”

However, the most important question that you need to be asking is “Did I or do I create unclear, confusing, lengthy, and difficult documents and publications? Is my organization, company, or group the creator of these types of materials?”

Many people and organizations struggle with the delivery of clear, concise, and accurate information. Most times the people reading or receiving the information will not provide you with feedback or constructive criticism. They will likely misinterpret, misunderstand, or ignore you due to their confusion of your message.

Subject-matter experts, or “professionals,” tend to make the critical error of assuming that the reader is going to understand the details, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations that you are using. Unclear, overly complex, or specialized language will create barriers in your communication in a variety of societal contexts. Furthermore, recipients of your message will have different professional, cultural, historical, and linguistic barriers that prevent them from understanding your message.

There isn’t a grading scale or measurement tool to be able to tell if you have the clearest, most concise, and highest standards of writing. However, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there are things you can do to make sure that the message you send is the message that is received.

Of course, you might be telling yourself that you don’t have a problem writing in English. Nobody has ever challenged your writing and made grammatical corrections on your emails. However, there is more to this situation than you realize:

• Department of Education
87% of American adults are unable to compare two viewpoints in an article because of their English proficiency
• Department of Education
54% of U.S. adults between the ages of 16 – 74 (130 million adults) read below a 6th-grade level
• Yale University 2021
20% (65 million) of the U.S. workforce population are dyslexic
• Yale University 2021
1 in 10 of the U.S. workforce population(19.2 million adults) are Limited English Proficient (LEP means that you do not speak English “very well,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau)
• General Electric Company
1 manual written in simple plain language led to 94% savings in customer service costs. $375,000 down to $22,000
• Department of Veterans Affairs
$40,000 per document saved after applying simple plain language to letters and notifications. 1,128 call center calls went down to 192 customer service phone calls

Now that you know the importance of good communication and the amount of time and money that it actually saves, here are 5 tips that you can apply when you write an email, create a document, or design marketing materials.
​
1. Write with the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where, and Why
2. Simplify your writing: This is not an essay or writing competition. No one is grading you.
3. Think about your reader: Do not think about what you want to say, but what your reader will read.
4. Use simple and common words: Your job title explains your industry, field, and profession. Using complex and difficult words does not make you sound smart.
5. Read before you send: You need to read what you wrote at least once. It will sound different if you read it out loud. You can always ask someone, not part of your industry, to read your materials. If they do not understand, more than likely no one will understand.
Hopefully, you found this to be informative and educational. I hope that every message you send is the one that is received.


Thank you very much.
Paul Yoon
One Language
https://onelanguage.pro


*By the way, if you are interested in knowing the simplified version of the statement at the top, this is what it could look like.

“Please go to the TSA office, which is located next to the post office.
Let them know that you are an Olympic athlete and need a visitor’s pass.
Please fill out the form that they give you. You will get a visitor’s pass.
Ask for your point-of-contact information.
If you have a mobile phone, please scan the QR code, to get your point-of-contact information.
The QR code is located on the door of the TSA office.”

Over the course of this month, Chamber member Spring Insight, a digital strategy firm here in Bethesda, has been exploring areas of risk that your website opens that have the potential to damage your overall business. We have seen these vulnerabilities impact small businesses that we talk to  in real and damaging ways, and we are here to keep you informed so you can sidestep these risks and use your time to focus on the important stuff like attending Chamber meetings. 

Website Accessibility

Our first item is accessibility. To be honest, this is a topic we have been obsessing over in recent months. We recently covered the topic as it pertains to websites, so we will only lightly touch on it here. What is website accessibility, you ask? Basically, it is creating a website with the proper colors, tools, and coding so that anyone, regardless of any auditory, cognitive, neurological, speech, or visual difficulties, can not only visit the site but also navigate it and process the information contained. 

Website accessibility is becoming increasingly important both as a humanitarian gesture and as good business. Why? There are a myriad of reasons, but one we are closely watching is that it is starting to show up  on the radar of the all-mighty Google. Plus, if your business gets behind the eight-ball on accessibility, you are opening yourself up to the real risk of having it completely inaccessible to anyone. To more fully understand the subject, check out our article discussing why you should care about website accessibility.

Website Maintenance

At Spring Insight, we fully understand what your business stands to lose if a potential customer  visits your website and finds it painfully slow, outdated, clunky when it comes to conversion, or shut down completely. You lose leads, tarnish your reputation, and ultimately, get less dollars in the bank. 

On top of that, your website is at real risk for infiltration when it is not properly maintained. Perhaps I shouldn’t disclose this particular piece of advice because we have won business from businesses whose sites have been hacked and needed to be rebuilt. Something as seemingly innocuous as an outdated plugin can leave your website open to hackers. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are three simple steps you can take to minimize website maintenance-related risks.

1. Update your software, themes, and plug-ins. 
2. Monitor for malware and viruses.
3. Backup and store a previous version of your website.

There is a lot more to learn about these important maintenance tips, check it out by reading Spring Insight’s detailed article on the topic here. 

Privacy Policy

We continued the theme of website risks with an exploration of how your business can be at risk due to your website’s Privacy Policy. A Privacy Policy is put into place as a means to protect personal data your website collects from people while visiting your site. The Privacy Policy is a statement of sorts that tells visitors what information is being collected, what you are doing with that information, and how the data is going to be protected. 
Perhaps you think your small business website doesn’t need a privacy policy. But it actually does. There are tons of regulations around Privacy Policies at the state, federal, and international level. And yes, they are enforced. Wonder what can happen if your site is discovered to be missing this required component? Read Spring Insight’s full article here. 

Contact Form Spam

Last but not least, let us talk about the contact form. Can you think of another part of your website that brings you such joy and pain? On the one hand, that is where new prospective leads come from. More often, instead of incoming leads the contact form ends up bringing us loads of spam, or worse yet, phishing attempts. 

Contact form spam, at its most basic level, is unwelcome or unsolicited email that comes from your website. It can range from the annoying (Hello! I run a virtual assistant company and I am sure we can help you!) to the unsettling (Hello, I am Toya and I want to be your wife) to the unsafe (Hello, I noticed a vulnerability in your website. I can help you fix it.) In other words, this is the stuff that you mostly delete from your inbox and move on with your day. But, not so fast.  


Sure, most of them are easily identifiable as total junk. I have to admit that others are more convincing. The thing is, if they didn’t work, they wouldn’t be around. Want to know what Spring Insight recommends you do to protect your site from this risk? Find the solutions in our full write up of the article here.

You are interested in keeping your website free from the problems associated with these risks. Of course you are! But we get it. When you are running a business, website risk protection may seem like too much trouble. How about hiring a web consultancy to manage your website that is always looking out for these things? Contact us. We are Chamber members and a proud local business in Bethesda!

​

​WeWork Opens First Bethesda, MD Location at The Wilson
Global flexible space provider occupies more than 60,000 square feet across three floors in the new building, offering more than 1,000 dedicated desks and flexible workspace 
 
New York, NY – June 2, 2022 – WeWork (NYSE: WE), a leading flexible space provider, announced today the opening of WeWork The Wilson, the company’s first location in Bethesda, MD. WeWork occupies more than 60,000 square feet across three floors in the new building, offering more than 1,000 dedicated desks. With this opening, WeWork now has 14 locations in the Washington, D.C. metro. 
 
WeWork The Wilson offers members of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, private office space spaces and suites, as well as dedicated space for members using WeWork All Access, the company’s subscription membership that provides access to hundreds of WeWork locations across the globe, and WeWork On Demand, which offer pay-as-you go access to workspaces and conference rooms . 
 
In addition, members have access to conference rooms, classroom spaces and a mother’s room, as well as to shared building amenities including an outdoor retail plaza, a fitness center, a multipurpose rooftop with indoor and outdoor space that can be used as a conference facility or for event and lounge space, a parking garage and a bike room.
 
The opening of WeWork The Wilson comes as the companies of all sizes increasingly embrace flexible and hybrid work solutions. In fact, from January 2022 through April 2022, WeWork All Access bookings in the Washington, D.C. metro increased by an average of 13 percent month- over-month and during the same time period, WeWork On Demand bookings increased by an average of 38 percent-month-over-month. 
 
“WeWork is thrilled to open its first location in Bethesda,” said Errol Williams, Senior Vice President and Head of Community at WeWork. “We’ve seen a fundamental shift in the ways that people want to work, including a rise in demand for hybrid and flexible work in both urban and suburban markets. We’re excited to welcome the Bethesda community to WeWork and to provide a resource for members looking for the utmost in flexible work solutions.” 
 
Among those members is McKay Mortgage Company, a local, family-owned residential home mortgage firm that’s embraced hybrid work. 
 
“Flexible workspace has always made the most sense for McKay Mortgage, as we value flexibility and cost-effectiveness,” said Brendan McKay, the company’s owner. “Most importantly, being a member of WeWork The Wilson allows a small company like ours to be part of a larger community. Even if only one employee is in the office on a particular day, we feed off of all the energy that comes with being in a shared workspace. WeWork is the clear leader in this space, and there is no company we'd rather partner with for our workspace solutions.”
 
“Bethesda is home to a dynamic business community that comprises many different industries, and one thing that we keep hearing across all sectors is that people want flexibility in when and where they work,” said Allie Williams, President and CEO of The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.  “We’re excited to welcome WeWork to the Bethesda community, and know that WeWork’s flexible offerings will support our local businesses and help them thrive.” 
 
In addition, to welcome the Bethesda community to WeWork, the company is offering a special offer for new members: get the first month on us when you sign up for dedicated workspace before June 30, 2022.
 
About WeWork
WeWork (NYSE: WE) was founded in 2010 with the vision to create environments where people and companies come together and do their best work. Since then, we’ve become one of the leading global flexible space providers committed to delivering technology-driven turnkey solutions, flexible spaces, and community experiences. For more information about WeWork, please visit us at wework.com.

April 20, 2022
 
Actively advocating for pro-economic development policies is one of the Greater Bethesda Chamber's highest priorities.  

Earlier this year, the Chamber took the lead in coordinating with other chambers of commerce to successfully advance a measure that makes Montgomery County more competitive in the race to attract the life sciences industry to our community. 
Approved by the County Council in February, the measure establishes a streamlined approval process for the development and expansion of biohealth campuses. This groundbreaking policy takes the development approval process that lasts 1 1/2 years and shortens it to five months.  It applies to new biohealth facilities of at least 150,000 square feet or existing biohealth facilities already located in the County that are expanding by 50,000 square feet or more.
​
"Montgomery County has many advantages that can make us a hub for the biohealth and life science industries," said Chamber President Allie Williams in his comments before the County Council.  " However great these advantages are, they aren't enough to get us to the finish line.  This enhanced approval process represents a huge step forward in proclaiming to the world that Montgomery County is most certainly open for business." 
This is just one of the many issues on which the Chamber has taken a lead.  Read more about the Biohealth Priority Campus approval process here.  To learn more our public policy agenda, visit our website's advocacy page.

​The GBCC wishes to thank all of our members who participated in this year’s Black History Month Spotlight series.  We also thank everyone who has liked, commented, and shared via our social media platforms and website blog.  We hope that these stories inspire all who read them on both a professional and personal level.  We look forward to next year’s series and hope to shine a spotlight on even more members. 
 
To learn more about this year’s participants and their companies, please click the links below.
 
Fred Dorsey, Fred Dorsey with Coldwell Banker
Doris “Shanel” Ramsey, Aldon
Jamil Abdur-Raoof, Black Viking Brewing
Verelyn Gibbs Watson, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Aaron Slaughter, WithumSmith + Brown, PC
Tami Watkins, Pepco
Tennesher Hogarth,  Vylla Home
Obie Sims, Obie’s Cookies
Shaun Taylor, Black Viking Brewing
Felicity Tchoufa, LeBond Day, LLC
Okinyi Ayungo, C.S.C.S., Fitness Wise
Jamaal Wilkins, Washington Commanders
Nina Toche, LaNina
Brandan Stuckey, Bethesda Transportation Solutions
Dee Sanae, Mosaic Visions

those skill sets are those that are
February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 

Today, we would like you to get to know Dee Sanae of Mosaic Visions.
 
Mosaic Visions (MV) is an action-oriented humanitarian organization that also represents multiracial Jews. It is an organization of racially and ethnically diverse Jews and other allies and collaborators that are committed to equity and diversity. This is an organization that is a safe space for Jews of Color and other People of Color to come together to discuss and act on issues of social and civil justice, and diversity-focused on strengthening first and foremost the Jewish community as well as the community-at-large through understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.
 
Through conversation and dialogue, they strategize ways to strengthen and unify the Jewish community by being more inclusive of Jews from all racial and ethnic backgrounds through actions as well as strengthening the local community to be more inclusive. The next level of action is to work in the larger community by establishing action-oriented projects focused on community building nationally and internationally strengthening diverse identities, acceptance, and inclusion.  MV believes in employing both words and deeds that lead to constructive change. 
 
The mission of Mosaic Visions is to form an inclusive space that generates visibility for marginalized and underrepresented Jews of Color (JOCs) within the Global Jewish community through advocacy, awareness, and education. By facilitating diversity, inclusion, racial equity, and social action, both within the Jewish community and beyond, Mosaic Visions also seeks to strengthen the bonds and alliances between the Jewish People and other impacted communities of Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC), forever advancing towards our shared Visions of socially just and tolerant societies.

Dee has been named this year's 2022 honoree of  Jewish Women International's "Women to Watch." She has served as the chair and community service chair for B'nai B'rith International's BBI Connect. She served on the Asian Pacific American Film Festival board as the Vice President and Communications Director. 
 
Dee is a Proud alumna of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is also an Executive Masters of Business Administration candidate focusing on Global Business, Leadership, Governance, and Entrepreneurship Innovation. Dee is a member of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Caucus of Virginia Tech, Diversity, and Inclusion.  She is the Director of the Northern Capital Region Virginia Tech Alumni Association, and DEI Chair of Jewish Women International's National Young Women Network. 


We asked Dee three important questions.  Read her responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
The challenges that I faced early on were a lack of personal and professional experience.  I opened my first business and was a young entrepreneur at the age of 20 while I was still attending college. I was a single mother and found a way to go to school, take care of a young baby and bring in income. I learned grit, resilience, patience, but more importantly drive and problem-solving; those skill sets that are needed in business, life, and being an entrepreneur.  

Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
There are so many people that I have drawn inspiration from in my personal and professional life at different periods. My father was my earliest one with his dedication and strong work ethic. For all the women and women of Color businesswomen that came before me. They paved the way so that I would have the chance and opportunity to be an entrepreneur too. 

Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?
 
My biggest piece of advice is twofold, leadership should want to make the change and be attentive to the needs of the workplace, and that includes the needs of the employees and staff. Hiring and promoting more diverse candidates for leadership positions will give a new overall and rewarding change to organizations that truly want to be more diverse and inclusive When hiring a DEI strategist don’t hire for short-term changes. True change within the organizational environment and the way of thinking of leadership don't happen in one fell swoop, it is with dedication, consistency, and holding each other accountable.  

February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 

​Today, we would like you to get to know Carla Young of the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.
 
Since its beginning in 1926, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) mission has been to build an environment for businesses to grow and prosper.  Our Chamber supports its members by providing both a voice and a forum to help shape public policy and enhance opportunities for exposure, connections, and growth. Our responsibility is to lead by example, holding ourselves to the highest governance principles, ethical standards, and business practices.  Carla transitioned into her role as Director of Membership & Community Engagement in August 2021 from her member company, Aldon, who has been a member for decades.  In addition to her primary responsibilities, she oversees various member programs including Chamber 101, Membership Development Committee, NextExecs (Young Professional Group), Women Network, and Cultural Roundtable Groups.  Carla also serves on the Bethesda Transportation Solutions Advisory Committee and donates her time to various charities including the annual Thanksgiving Give Back in her hometown of Baltimore, MD.
 
We asked Carla three important questions.  Read her responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
Growing up as a sibling of someone with special needs I learned to defend for my brother because he could not defend for himself.  I never imagined I would not know how to defend for myself, but that is exactly what happened for most of my adolescent and even young adult years.  While I was protecting him from the bullies on the playground, I forgot to protect myself.  With two parents having varying ideas on how to respond to the bullies, it was hard for me to know which direction to go in.  One parent is telling you to turn the other cheek and the other parent is telling you to sock them in the eye.  I went with the latter and for that I was considered weak.  
It wasn’t until I left for college and attended The University of Maryland Eastern Shore did I realize that not only did I have a voice, but that my voice deserved to be heard.  I never had any problems speaking up for others or even fighting their battles, I just had a problem with fighting my own.  Now when you are naturally a kindhearted person, you will always attract “wolves” who try to bite and scratch at you, but I learned that my inner strength is bigger than their bark.
 
It takes an infinite amount of time spent getting to know yourself, engaging in countless hours of therapy/counseling, and often relying on your inner circle to remind you of your inner voice.  If I hadn’t found my voice I would not be where I am today nor would I be able to advocate for friends and family who have yet to find their own.  Stepping into this wonderful, new career I have helped businesses find their voice and setting a table where all are welcomed.  My passion is growth, I work to develop strategies to meet new companies, and explore ways to engage their team into what we do here at the chamber.  This is working because in my short time we have welcomed nearly 100 new members.
 
Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
The older I get the more I appreciate all that my parents have done for me in my lifetime.  My mom inspires me to be compassionate, thoughtful, and caring.  My dad inspires me to be courageous, independent, and strong.  My mom has been a care giver most of her life, back to when her own mother suffered from chronic health issues and was constantly in and out of the hospital.  That left my mom to be the “woman of the house” for my grandfather and two uncles.  She went from being a daughter and sister to a wife and mother in her early 20s which did not allow her time to “find herself”.  Caring for my brother with developmental disabilities until his late 30s and then having to care for my dad after his health declined due to complications from his diabetes.  That didn’t stop her from going back to school in her late 40s and receive not one, but 3 degrees in Psychology from Coppin State University.  From there went on to work as a case manager for recently released drug court convicts and being a substitute teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools.  Now it brings me so much joy to have her “live her best life” alongside me in areas of travel, trying new cuisine, attending fun work functions, and experiencing so much that she couldn’t before. 
My dad inspires me on a whole other level.  He is the true definition of the tough only get tougher.  He’s always had his voice for two main reasons, being 1 of 5 kids, and the United States Marine Corp.  He is never afraid to speak his mind and always gives 110% effort into everything he does.  For my mom to be able to stay home with my brother and I he worked 2 full time jobs until my senior year of high school.  Most times I never noticed his hectic schedule because he would still be right in the audience for my school plays, choir performances, and especially at graduation time.  My dad will be the first to tell you he may not be the most book smart, but he is the best life teacher you could ever find. It was because of his guidance I felt ready to leave home for college and even move down to Montgomery County 10 years ago.  He always tells me there is nothing I can’t do and that he is my number one fan.  Fast forward to January 2019 when I received the scariest call of my life.  He went into cardiac arrest and the doctors did not expect him to make it.  My mom then quickly replied, “You don’t know Mark Young, do you?”  Til this day he continues to fight and beat the odds. 
 
So, when you look at me you are looking at the best versions of Mark & Cheryl Young.
 
Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?
 
We cannot erase nor change what happened in the past, but we can certainly correct what is happening today, and better strategize for will happen in the future.  My advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusion within their organization is to first educate and/or provide education for those who do not understand the meaning of the terms.  You cannot bring about change just to simply satisfy a quota.  You must learn to ask the hard to ask questions about why you feel you are struggling to begin with.  Are you holding onto to prior traditions?  Are you concerned about what your peers may think or say?  Are you simply basing your decisions on the information provided by the media?  If your answer is yes to any of those questions, then that in lies the problem.  Education is KEY training is NEEDED, and open mindedness is required for YOU and your business to succeed in a world filled with diversity and inclusivity. 

February is Black History Month.  While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community.  Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series.  This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 



​Today, we would like you to get to know Brandan Stuckey of Bethesda Transportation Solutions.
 
Brandan moved from Birmingham, Alabama in December 2019 to join Bethesda Transportation Solutions (BTS)/Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) to help meet the transportation demands set by MCDOT.  He took on the role as Marketing & Outreach Manager in order to provide transit options for businesses in downtown Bethesda and reduce the single occupancy vehicle rate into the area. BTS is a FREE resource available to commuters and employers in Bethesda's business district who are looking for "another way" to get to work. Their goals are to manage traffic congestion, support alternatives to driving alone, reduce air & noise pollution and promote bicycle & pedestrian access.  In addition to his BTS responsibilities Brandan also sits on the Board of Directors of the GBCC, 2021-2022 class of emerging leaders of Leadership Montgomery, member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, certified drone pilot, member of the Chesapeake chapter of ACT, and proud husband and father.
 
We asked Brandan three important questions.  Read his responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
I’ve learned patience for the process, patience for the journey. I started my career as a photojournalist in Tallahassee, FL covering state house, senate, & Governor press briefings. Those long hours of political coverage required a lot of patience and focus. When I transitioned into the Transportation career field while moving back home to Birmingham, I began to realize just how much politics touches every aspect of my life. I played a pivotal role in establishing Bikeshare and multimodal transportation in a community that was sorely lacking the infrastructure. I faced the challenges of lack of bike lanes, sharrows, and protected lanes, lack of community engagement head on by establishing relationships with local politicians, city officials, business leaders, and community representatives to create a cultural shift necessary for these projects to be successful. All this work was in preparation for what I’m doing today with BUP/BTS. You have your ups and downs but it’s patience that pays. 
Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
Growing up in the heart of South, Birmingham, AL afforded me the surreal experience of choices to either meet heroes of the Civil Rights movement in person or visit the historic landmarks where history was made. No person embodied the spirit of my hometown and that era of change in America than Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. He was the epitome of bravery and courage in the face of great opposition. His emotional intelligence and his capacity for leadership still echoes through history and he inspires my journey today. 
Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?
 
I’d say connect the dots. Lewis Latimer invented the filament for the light bulb that Garrett Morgan used to light the traffic light. Granville Woods’ improvements to the railroads paved the way for mass transit that the Metro provides our region today. Richard Spikes changed the way we drive cars and school buses. These are just a few great Americans that paved the way for the career I have today. Businesses have to look around to see how many of these minds are present and contributing to their company. There’s a fatal flaw that’s systemic in our society which requires a higher level of collective uplift to course correct. We do a good job of identifying the historic harms inflicted upon the communities I descend from, but the solutions haven’t been specific enough and certainly don’t go far enough to warrant any positive outcomes. We must connect the dots to the nation’s crumbling infrastructure that congress is attempting to correct and the deficiencies in Black communities who’ve been cut out and cut off if we don’t want to continue down this road of struggle. Let’s all do our part!

​February is Black History Month. While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community. Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series. This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.




Today, we would like you to get to know Nina Toche, owner of LaNina.

LaNina, named after founder Nina Toche, is a new luxury designer brand which offers shoes, handbags, and clothing for men, and women. LaNina is also a channel for both men and women to have access to unique luxury goods at an affordable cost. Her products are strictly manufactured in Italy using quality handpicked leather. The overall brand development that Nina has created for her brand, from its colors, its designs, and to its exclusiveness. Her products are specifically intended to allure the individual to relish in the world of fashion, with the confidence that they can look exquisite, classic, and luxurious. 

As an immigrant African woman, Nina highly holds her culture background, especially through LaNina products. Her hope for this brand is to inspire all women, especially women of color, Immigrants, her community, and her family & future kids to strive for greatness and believe they can achieve their goals.

We asked Nina three important questions. Read her responses below.

Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?

Becoming a business owner has not been an easy role to accomplish. As a young female diving into the manufacturing / retail industry, the primary challenges I faced was gaining the consumer trust; As I looked at entrepreneurs who were already established in the industry, I questioned how to deal with the competitiveness, and attracting consumers was often the only answer. All I could come up with was to offer a higher quality of products and services at an affordable price, products accessible to all classes of people.

Producing my own brand label of accessories, handbags, suits and shirts was another obstacle to Deal with. Consumers are so used to well-known/household brands and can spend thousands of dollars to buy these brands because of the brand’s reputations; while the same kind of merchandise (sometimes made with higher quality/raw materials) are difficult to sell. It is very important to educate our consumers about the new brand we’re proposing to them so they can understand, and gain satisfaction from their investment.

Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?

I grew up in a beautiful home with my parents filling my siblings and I each day with so much love. I believe my mom inspired me to embrace the retail business as she herself has been in the business (fashion industry) for over 30 years. Retail business being established to my satisfaction was still not complete. I knew what I needed, but GOD had taken too soon the person that from here my source of encouragement was coming from, my father Emmanuel Toche; So, I lost track of my momentum and decided to keep the business at the lower stage and continue with my career as an accountant.
A few years later my baby sister Tahirih Toche who is very creative & a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in California, during an exchange she awoke in me my hunger & passion. After days of discussion, I told her what I could have told my dad years ago and she worked me through each step for the creation of the “LaNina” brand.

Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?

Business is not ever an easy task to fulfill, but I believe once one has a passion for something, obstacles should not be a barrier for growth, but a reason to fight for our voice to be heard, our vision to be known, and a value attributed to our products and services.
My advice to many entrepreneurs and rising or veteran business owners would be to devote time to revise their brand or company mission, surely diversity must be a part of it for your business to make sense; you must make time to learn your community, to study the world and the people living in it and to train & elevate a diverse set of people to work amongst you. Afterall, business is not all about the acquisition and production of goods/services in exchange for money, it’s a way to sustain a livelihood, sharing & developing innovative ideas, embracing cultures (especially in creative industries). It’s wiser to include people of color & diverse backgrounds to contribute to a bigger purpose and inspire the next generation of business owners.

​February is Black History Month. While The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce celebrates all our members throughout the year, this month we are shinning a spotlight on our members within the African American community. Join us all month long for our 2nd annual spotlight series. This special feature helps our communities learn a little more about some of their business leaders who work so hard to make it a community to be proud of.
 


​Today, we would like you to get to know Okinyi Ayungo of FitnessWise.
 
Okinyi Ayungo, C.S.C.S., is the Owner and Executive Director of FitnessWise™. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), a Certified Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Specialist, a Certified CrossFit Level I Coach, and a USA Track and Field Level 1 Coach. In his 24 years as a health professional, Okinyi has served as a consultant to the Montgomery County Road Runners, several local sports teams, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Okinyi has also developed functional training programs and educated other fitness professionals in major health clubs. In leading the FitnessWise Team, Okinyi specializes in using functional exercise modalities to help clients recover from injuries
move better and improve their quality of life.
 
Since 1992, FitnessWise mission has been to deliver innovative and practical services that improve the way people approach health and fitness. FitnessWise™ and the FitnessWise Team are advisors to healthy and post-rehabilitative children, adults, seniors and athletes and their medical professionals. They help parents help their children learn healthy habits. The team helps older adults learn how to improve their quality of life. And help everyone in between.
 
 
We asked Okinyi three important questions. Read his responses below.
 
Q1. What are some challenges you faced early on that helped prepare you for the role you are in today and how did you overcome them?
 
One of the biggest challenges that I faced was expectation. Being a son of immigrants (from Trinidad and Kenya) to the United States, growing up there was a major emphasis on education and an expectation that to be "most successful" one had to become a doctor or a lawyer. Since I loved science and sports as a kid, the expectation was that I would become a doctor. Those expectations led to a good educational foundation in biology, physiology, and neuroscience. But what ultimately led me to my career path was numerous athletic injuries in high school and college. I was fascinated with how therapeutic and rehabilitative exercise could help people improve strength and movement ability. It allowed me to continue doing the sports that I loved. And I wanted to help other people improve their quality of life in similar ways.

However, I had to overcome the fear of "giving up" on the family expectations of becoming a doctor to "just" become a personal trainer. 25 years ago, the image of personal trainers was primarily "meat heads". The fitness industry was overly consumed with body building and aesthetics. So, I had to seek out mentors who approached exercise from a scientific perspective. I had to learn how to apply principles of human physiology, neuroscience, and psychology to exercise. I had to learn how to meld my interests and follow my passion. And I had to teach my family that making people healthier through exercise and keeping them from having to go to the doctor is just as important as what a doctor does.

It took some courage. But thankfully, I had friends and a wonderful wife that supported my decisions and allowed me to take a leap of faith and follow my passion.


Q2. Who/What is your biggest inspiration in both your personal and professional life?
 
My mother is my biggest inspiration. She is an "uneducated", country girl from an island in the Caribbean. But she is the smartest person I know. She is a thinker and a problem solver. And, being a single mother, she had to solve a lot of problems on her own. She instilled common sense, adaptability, and ingenuity in all three of her sons. As a small business owner, I do not believe that there is a task that we cannot figure out. I try to have the same approach in raising our three children and in community work.

Q3. What is your biggest piece of advice to businesses struggling with diversity and inclusivity in the workplace?

If you want something to change, then you must change something. To change to type of candidates that you recruit, you may need to change where you are recruiting from. There is an abundance of talented people from many different backgrounds in our area. But you and the people in charge of hiring will need to step out of the "comfort zone" that you are used to. You will need to present at job fairs that you don't normally do, and you will need to get in front of people that you don't normally do.

To promote inclusivity in the workplace, create an environment where people can get to know each other outside of business. When most people talk to one another for more than a few minutes, they learn that they really have more in common than their differences. If you are the boss or executive, this may mean getting out of the office and having genuine interactions with people in the workplace. When people realize their commonalities, they are more likely to see another person's perspective, not judge him/her/them, and care about how day-to-day things affect people and how they feel.