BallstonConnect Podcast Ballston BID

Christine Searle is the owner of Searle Business Solutions, and has spent more than three decades helping people and organizations navigate finances, taxes, and obstacles. After 24 years at the Red Cross, she served as an Audit Director responsible for internal audits of finance, supply chain, and disaster relief programs - all the while expanding her own business. Now, she uses her expertise in complex tax issues and tax law compliance for a variety of individual and business clientele.
What’s new for this year’s tax season? How might inflation be affecting returns? And what can we already start doing to help us with next year’s deadline?

Arlington is a true destination for businesses, talented employees, residents, visitors, and guests alike. Our proximity to the world’s most powerful city - combined with our own business community’s identity, forged over decades of hard work and innovation - makes Arlington an ideal location for talented people and impactful organizations to thrive and prosper. Despite all of our assets, amenities, and efforts… we’re not without obstacles; unprecedented circumstances in the post-covid era have created new challenges for us to navigate and presented opportunities to “refine and redefine” how we work to grow economically and support our businesses and workforce.
Ryan Touhill is the Director of Arlington Economic Development, bringing unique experience from neighboring Alexandria to our side of the fence in efforts to generate economic prosperity, collaborative partnerships, and inclusive development across all aspects of our community.

Ballston has long-served as a HUB for innovation and technology with impacts far beyond our neighborhood. From tech startups and higher-education institutions to researchers like DARPA, the organizations in our business community have created some of the most important technological innovations our world has seen - ever heard of the internet? The tech success of our neighborhood and region have led to incredible growth in the technology sector - but has also created opportunities to grow a talented workforce.
Our guest today has founded a number of incredibly successful technology companies, and currently leads the charge for the Arlington Talent Pilot Program. Steve Cooper has built a decades-long career providing technological solutions for Fortune 100s, top federal agencies, and world-class non-profit organizations - and now, he’s taking aim at the growing need for tech talent across Arlington.

2023 marks the 99th year of operations for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, an incredible asset and perennial keystone of Arlington’s business community. In addition to providing invaluable resources, programs, and advocacy benefitting its hundreds of member organizations - the Chamber has evolved over nearly a century to meet a diverse array of needs for people, businesses, and charitable organizations… all to strengthen the business and economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington.
Kate Bates is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. She began with the Chamber as a Member Services Manager in 2007, and has served as its CEO since 2014. She's been named to the 40 under 40 by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, she serves on the board of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and she might very well be the biggest Caps fan we know.

It’s more than fair to say ARLnow has become a commanding presence within the Arlington community, and one of the premiere voices across our region. It’s almost a sure bet that you’ve read (or at least shared) some of their coverage - over the past decade plus. As one of the country’s leading Designated Market Areas, our region is one of the most engaged and captive  media audiences in the world. But with evermore increasing national influence, our market has opened doors for local coverage from dedicated teams like the one behind ARLnow.
Scott Brodbeck is founder, editor, and publisher of Local News Now - which empowers local creators and builds a new model for community-driven, local journalism. In January 2010, he launched ARLnow, connecting hundreds of thousands of Arlingtonians, neighbors, and visitors to the news on our streets. More than a decade later, LNN publishes ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. They also provide services to a growing community of partner sites including PoPville, GGWash, Potomac Local and Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

If you’re in Ballston - stop, and look up! Our neighborhood is an urban oasis with neighborhood services, restaurants, retail, and office. And ALL those buildings towering above us are home to what makes our almost 24/7/365 community run. Chances are, one of those buildings is owned by The Shooshan Company; a local developer and community supporter for decades. They’ve imagined, executed, and managed some of the most impactful properties in Ballston, Arlington, and beyond.
Kevin Shooshan, Principal at The Shooshan Company, champions all of its leasing and marketing information. With a history of managing tenant design and construction, securing major deals like GSA headquarters, and research analysis, he’s the perfect person to connect businesses with their perfect fit community (that’s us in Ballston). From office leasing to retail transactions, he’s had a hand in some of the most recognizable and well-patronized businesses in Ballston.