MWBC with DED Staff at the Coffee and Connections event at City Hall, 2024.
The Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) has been an invaluable resource for aspiring and established entrepreneurs since its founding in 2010. MWBC plays a vital role in fostering the growth of small businesses throughout the state of Maryland. As part of its commitment to supporting business development, the Department of Economic Development (DED) has a longstanding relationship with MWBC, referring entrepreneurs to their services for guidance and support. By sending individuals to MWBC, the DED ensures that entrepreneurs have access to the mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities necessary to succeed. Karen Kalantzis, Senior Business Consultant at MWBC, shares insights into her work, the role of the center in the community, and some essential advice for new entrepreneurs. Let’s dive in!
How did MWBC come to be and how did you get involved?
The Small Business Administration created Women’s Business Centers in 1988. Today, there are well over 100 centers in almost every state. The Maryland Women’s Business Center, founded in 2010 as the Rockville Women’s Business Center, is hosted by Rockville Economic Development and now provides support to women and men in Montgomery, Frederick and Prince George’s Counties. I joined the organization during Covid after I was laid off from my previous job.
What is your job and what does it entail?
Karen Kalanzis, Senior Business Consultant
I am a Senior Business Consultant supporting Frederick County entrepreneurs. I help women and men start a business or grow an existing business. We provide free counseling services, free and low-cost business education, and small business resource and networking events. I host Coffee and Connections, a networking group that meets every month, and also help the candidates participating in Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s SHE Pitch competition.
What is the role of MWBC in the greater community?
To help women and men gain the skills, connections and confidence necessary to navigate entrepreneurship.
Tell a success story of a business owner who has used MWBC resources.
The MWBC has helped many women in the city open or grow their businesses such as JoNa’s Outdoor Furniture, The Frederick Ballroom, Nelia African Market, and The Frederick Wig Company. I am currently very excited to hear about the progress Jenni Hoover is making with preparing to open a new indoor swim school called Serenity Swimming. Jenni was a SHE Pitch winner and won over the judges with her business plan and dedication to our community to teach all generations how to be safe in the water.
What are the top 3 common mistakes Frederick business owners make?
I have seen many people make mistakes when starting their business. First, they fail to create a comprehensive plan based in reality before launching the business. They spend too much time thinking about what I call the “fun or pretty things,” such as just the right logo color or uniform design, and not enough time thinking about more serious matters like funding, pricing, and revenue streams. The second mistake is being under-funded. Every business owner is looking for grants from the government, but the reality is a person starting out will have to use or find their own money to invest. The third mistake is thinking that people will automatically come when the business is created. They fail to understand who their customer is, what real needs they have, and how to effectively reach those potential customers with marketing to break through all the noise. So, to sum up, planning is key for a successful business!
MWBC Coffee and Connections networking event at JoNa’s
What advice would you give to new entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own businesses?
Start working on a business plan, interview potential customers about their needs, collect information on startup costs, save money to invest in the business, and improve their credit score if necessary. Also utilize all the resources that are available to you! For mentoring and training, there is the Maryland Women’s Business Center, the Small Business Development Center and SCORE. The City and County Offices of Economic Development are also available to provide assistance. Once you engage with one of these offices, you will typically have many doors open to you.
With a mission to provide support and guidance to business owners, particularly women, the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) provides the guidance that many entrepreneurs need to succeed. From free counseling services to business events and webinars, MWBC is here to help navigate the entrepreneurial terrain. Visit https://www.marylandwbc.org/ to schedule a counseling sessions. If you would like to learn more about small business resources, reach out to our Economic Development team at 301.600.6360 or email businessinfrederick@cityoffrederickmd.gov.
