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  • Home
  • About the Guild
    • Our Vision and Mission
      • Strategic Plan – 2020
  • Membership
    • Join the Guild
    • Renew Your Membership
  • Find a Property or Partner
    • Find a B&B
    • Find By Map
    • Find By Category
    • Find By Name
  • Meetings & Events
    • 2022 Open House Event
  • More
    • Service Providers
    • Blog
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Philanthropy

Business SPOT LIGHT: Mortgage Hall Estate

October 31, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOTLIGHT – “From Florida to Virginia and from the 1800s to Now.”
Mortgage Hall Estate
By: Robin Cunningham (Reston Limousine )

Moving from Florida to Virginia seems a bit backward (at least to me – I dream of escaping the cold and living in eternal sunshine!) as you often hear of people moving from the cold to the sun’s warmth. But for Sabrina Sutton, leaving the sunshine in Florida for Virginia’s seasons made sense.

Sabrina grew up in upstate NY Saratoga Springs, and after she finished high school, she moved to Florida. With a business management degree and extensive hospitality industry experience, she left FL after 12 years and moved to VA. She knew she’d land on her hospitality feet here – not only did Sabrina land on her feet, but she also jumped all the way in!

In 2013 Sabrina was looking for a sizeable farm-like property to purchase so she and her family could enjoy all that living on a farm had to offer. It didn’t take long before a property dating back to the mid-1800s caught her eye – Mortgage Hall Estate.

Mortgage Hall Estate is nestled in Middleburg’s horse and wine country and sits on 121 acres of pure beauty and majesty. It had been zoned for development at one time, but that ultimately fell through so the property was foreclosed and sold “as-is” through Middleburg Bank. Also, the estate sat empty for over ten years. In case you’re wondering what could happen when a house sits vacant for that long and is sold “as-is,” here are just a few things Sabrina had to deal with after she bought the estate: radiators that had froze and busted, snakes in the house and in the walls, no heat or air conditioning, and there was plumbing but no toilets – in short, the house had to be gutted to make it livable.

But Sabrina could see past all of that. Instead, the estate reminded her of a hotel – big, roomy, touristy, and full of potential and memory making.

Sabrina and her two daughters lived on-site and she spent one year working with a crew and renovation experts to bring life back to the Mortgage Hall. She transformed the shell of Mortgage Hall into a glorious and romantic estate that sleeps 20, can accommodate up to 200 for a company retreat, and hosts weddings throughout the year. The estate is beautifully furnished with furniture bought at auctions and sales. In addition, there is a fire pit to gather around, walking trails, a gas grill for cookouts, and a pond for fishing and picnics.

Once Mortgage Hall was transformed, furnished, and ready for the next chapter, Sabrina would sell it. However, fate stepped in and had another plan. So, instead of selling, Sabrina took the Airbnb route, and for the last eight years, Mortgage Hall has seen success as an Airbnb.

It is rented for corporate retreats, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Many repeat visitors return each year – booking for the next year before departing from the current visit.

The transformation didn’t stop at the estate. Sabrina has recently transformed their 30-stable barn into an event space that hosts weddings and special events. With more than 5000 square feet of flexible event space, decorative lighting, and other special touches, the sky is the limit to how guests can transform this space.

In October 2019, Sabrina became the estate’s sole owner; in February 2022, she sold it but continues to manage and lease it from the new owners.

When I asked Sabrina what she was most proud of (there is certainly plenty to boast about!), it wasn’t the impressive transformation of an empty building with snakes and no electricity or toilets into a warm, welcoming, beautifully decorated home. Instead, Sabrina is proud that she has made something special where families gather, enjoy themselves, and make memories that will last a lifetime – just as you’d expect from an estate that has been here since the 1800s.

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: StageCoach Theatre Company

September 26, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOTLIGHT – “A Star is Born”
StageCoach Theatre Company
By: Robin Cunningham (Reston Limousine)

The first thing to know about the StageCoach Theatre Company is that their name has meaning; scratch that, make it meanings.

When I asked co-owner Jerri Wiseman about the name, she assured me it was selected intentionally and with much thought. First is ‘Stage’ – which has obvious significance for a theatre company, as it is the primary platform for their services. Then you have ‘Coach.’ In this case, ‘Coach’ refers to the teaching and mentoring they offer to their students. And, when you put Stage and Coach together, you get StageCoach, a mobile way to “take the show on the road.” So, there you have it
one word with three significant and essential meanings.

StageCoach Theatre Company was founded in 2011, about two years after Jerri and Terry Smith first met. In 2009 Jerri moved back to VA after living overseas (where she belonged to a local, non-profit theatre group) and knew that an excellent way to meet people and do something she loved would be to join a theatre group. So Jerri auditioned for and got a role in a murder mystery. Then, about two years in, she realized she wanted to produce more, and Terry realized he wanted to write more. So as the saying goes, “a star was born,” and the StageCoach Theatre Company opened its doors.

StageCoach began as a traveling troupe of performers doing murder mysteries at local wineries and restaurants, and they continue to do so. However, StageCoach has grown and blossomed into so much more. In addition to offering summer camps for teens and pre-teens, after-school classes, theatre workshops, and private coaching sessions are available.

As if teaching and coaching the stars of tomorrow isn’t enough, they also have a myriad of events and shows scheduled throughout the year. StageCoach has magic shows up their sleeves, Drag Cabaret performances to appeal to all the senses, and interactive ghost story mysteries perfect for this time of year.

While owning a theater can have its challenges (yes, we’re talking to you, Covid), it also has its shining moments. One particular shining example is a high school student who came to StageCoach a few years ago as a meek and mild, not quite booming with confidence or self-assuredness, young actor. However, this teenager embraced all that StageCoach had to offer and teach, and throughout the last couple of years, has blossomed into a confident and incredibly talented actor. He currently performs on stage along with professional actors in Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe. Imagine knowing the impact you had on a person can change their future trajectory – that’s what StageCoach Theatre Company is all about.

But don’t think that Covid left them unaffected
one nice thing about dinner theatre and murder mysteries is the closeness and quaintness these shows provide. Both were taboo during Covid. Closing their doors wasn’t an option, and as they say, the show must go on, but how and where? Oatlands Historic Home and Gardens came to the rescue!

Talk about a win-win. Oatlands had the space for the performers and guests to spread out and on-site catering by Pure Perfection for the dinner part of the ‘dinner’ theatre. It’s a match made in heaven that continues today, showing that not everything that came from Covid is terrible.

Jerri says that surviving Covid was one of their most significant accomplishments. While other businesses were closing their doors, StageCoach survived the pandemic. Jerri and Terry, along with their new business partner April Bridgeman, knew for sure that the support of the community/friends/fans made it possible for them to stay in business. Knowing that others had their backs encouraged them to keep their doors open and look for new ways to deliver their products and experience. As Jerri said, “We knew we couldn’t do it alone. It takes a village, sponsors, acting and directing troupes, and venues to help run a theatre. There are many challenges; the key is knowing who to call.”

For anyone interested, it is worth noting that StageCoach brings the show to you (remember why they picked the name StageCoach?). So if you have guests looking for live entertainment, team building, or maybe some creative workshops, Jerri and the crew are happy to oblige and bring it to you. Or, if you are looking for something offsite, don’t forget the dinner theatre at Oatlands, and live performances at the theater in Ashburn are always an option.

So, there you have it. StageCoach is much more than a theatre company – it is a community where you can perform, learn, and shine like the stars.

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: Old 690 Brewing Company

August 29, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOT LIGHT
“Four Friends and an Idea”

Old 690 Brewing Company
By: Robin Cunningham (Reston Limousine)

For anyone that has kids, you know that is where many adult friendships begin. You know how it starts: class field trips, school activities, sports, youth groups, proms, homecomings, carpools, etc., and before you know it, you have lifelong friends and maybe even a brewing company.

The year is 2012, and four friends are getting together as friends often do. The next thing you know, some brainstorming takes place, and it is decided that they should open a brewery! Since Mark and Rhonda Powell had the more considerable lot, they agreed the brewery would be on their property and began construction at the end of 2012.

In early 2013, Old 690 Brewing Company was established and officially opened in August 2014. Old 690 was the first “legal” brewery in Loudoun County. But unfortunately, they couldn’t open until the law that allows limited breweries to operate in the state of VA passed. This law limits the amount of beer a brewery can make and sell, and mandates that breweries grow and plant on their property. So, when you go to Old 690, some of the things you’ll see and hear are hops, herbs, blueberries, and rows and rows of cut flowers such as zinnias, cosmos, asters, and marigolds – all visited by an abundance of butterflies!

Three of the four partners have “ real jobs” so Ronda Powell oversees all things Old 690 – along with their “fantastic team that is more like family” Old 690 is closed Mondays and Tuesdays (see their hours here), allowing Ronda to volunteer and help the community. Their passion for helping others has set Old 690 apart from other Loudoun County breweries. From when they first opened their doors, Old 690 began hosting fundraisers to support non-profits such as Wounded Warriors, Rescue Dogs for Vets, local food banks, and Tree of Life Ministries. While they’re too modest to admit this, their spirit of helping others has positively impacted other LoCo breweries, and now other breweries are helping their communities too.

It is hard to talk to anyone about business or work without addressing the elephant in the room: Covid. Like every business we know and can imagine, Old 690 was significantly impacted and had to shut its doors just like everyone else. Since four heads are better than one, they brainstormed some more, and while it didn’t lead to opening a new business as their original brainstorming session did, it did lead to figuring out how to sustain their current business. Old 690 Brewing Company became a beer delivery service! They used their converted ambulance (think an adult version of an ice cream truck) and delivered beer to their customers and non-customers! Ronda said their customers “ were fabulous with their support and loyalty” until Old 690 could, once again, open its doors. Regardless of Covid, it is no surprise and certainly worth the reminder that supporting small businesses is vital to our communities.

Old 690 makes all their beer in-house and keeps 12 beers on tap, including a few favorites: Raspberry Wheat, Blonde, and Hillsboro Gap IPA. On rare occasions, they run out of these favorites, and customers have been known to give them the stink eye as they make another selection. In addition to beer, Old 690 serves seltzers and food made there on site. Food trucks are often scheduled on Saturdays as well.

In the spirit of keeping their guests entertained and trying to appeal to everyone, Old 690 hosts Open Mic night on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month – with the 3rd Friday being open mic night for kids (how cool is that?). On the 4th Friday of each month is Bingo, which is super fun and a fundraiser for community non-profits. It also offers live entertainment every Saturday.

Some people might think that mixing business and friendship is risky. However, these four partners bring their unique personalities, skillset, and talent to the table, making Old 690 flourish and succeed, which was the idea all along.

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: Hidden View Bed & Breakfast

July 30, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOT LIGHT
Hidden View Bed & Breakfast

By: Leslie Tharp, Stone Gables Bed & Breakfast, Leesburg, VA

You may wonder where bed & breakfast owners go for a quick getaway when they don’t have guests. When Wayne and I recently noted an open date on our calendar. I quickly checked to see if there was an available suite at Hidden View so we could take advantage of some much-needed downtime! We were in luck and booked the Haven Suite for one night! We couldn’t wait to get in that lovely lap pool and enjoy the fabulous views. As soon as our guests left the morning of our booking, we locked the doors and headed out. On our way to Hidden View, we decided to hit Harpers Ferry Brewery since we hadn’t been there yet. Yes, my Certified Tourism Ambassador persona kicked in needed to see what this place was all about so we could let our guests know what we thought. Beer, pizza, and incredible views. You can see the town of Harpers Ferry, and where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. Great place to visit if you are out that way or enjoying all the activities that Harpers Ferry Adventure Center has to offer! After lunch, we headed to Hidden View. When we arrived, Cheri and Ray greeted and gave us the grand tour. Amazing. It is such a beautiful B&B. They have five fabulous suites and many common areas for guests to spread out.

The grounds are spectacular with a walking path through the woods and around the property, beautiful gardens, a koi pond, a gazebo area, fire pits, views all around; and, did I mention the pool? We quickly found some rafts and lazily floated around as we watched a momma bird feeding her babies in a nearby birdhouse. It was just what I needed! Our room was cozy and quiet, the bed comfy, and breakfast the following day was perfect. A must-stay!! Thanks, Cheri and Ray, for such a lovely time! While there, we learned a little about them, and Cheri sent me their story below.

In 2014, during one of our weekend get-a-ways to a favorite winery near the mountains, we talked about what we would do as a career if money weren’t a factor. Ray, who loves being outdoors with nature and is excellent with plants, mentioned he would love to learn how to run a vineyard; going wine-ing probably helped to form that thought. Cheri, who loves organization and decorating, thought of real estate and home staging.

When we arrived at the winery, we were still discussing our dreams and sharing them with our friends who owned the winery. Finally, they looked at us and said, “we don’t see you doing that. We see you more as B&B people; and oh, by the way, the bed & breakfast right behind us is thinking about coming on the market soon. We think you should buy it.” So when we finished our wine, we decided to drive to the property and check it out.

This B&B was beautiful, and we instantly fell in love with it! It was a large, newer Victorian home with open acreage for a vineyard and stunning sweeping mountain views. We thought that this property could give us both of our dreams. That evening, while we dined, we were still so excited about the thought of this dream that it was all we talked about; and we knew before dessert — that we had to consider this further.

The next day, we looked into website articles like: “So you want to be an Innkeeper.” We compiled a fantasy list of what would make the perfect bed and breakfast for us: a spacious home with a view, plenty of outdoor space to enjoy, a property that we could turn into a destination location where people could enjoy staying on-site, and a place that offered our guests plenty of activities in the surrounding area, 4-6 guest rooms, lots of fireplaces, pretty grounds, and good owner’s quarters. We purchased books on the subject, attended seminars, and met with other B&B owners.

Once armed with more data on the industry, the business, and the local real estate market, we reached out to the proprietors of that perfect B&B and scheduled an on-site meeting to discuss their plans to sell it. It didn’t take long for them to realize that we weren’t ready to buy and for us to realize that they weren’t prepared to sell. However, sometimes things happen for a reason, and this was one of those times. The B&B recently lost its resident innkeeper, and since we wanted to learn more about the business, we all realized that we could help each other out. Ray and I offered to become their innkeepers to meet their needs in support of their guests. We called this our “interim program,” and though some friends thought we were crazy to work for free, we saw this as a rare opportunity to live the lifestyle before doing it. We started the very next weekend.

On our first day, the owner met us on-site to help us get familiar with where everything was; to understand their processes, what needed to be done, how they like to attend to their guests and their needs; and, of course, how to flip the rooms for new guests properly. Oddly, that was the last time we saw the owners in the year and a half that we ran their business. We took care of the shopping, menu plans, and preparations. Greeted the guest, gave tours of the house, and attended to their needs many times above and beyond what the business would have had us do. We helped guests plan their weekend activities and special events and sometimes invited them to join us when they didn’t have any plans. Our guests may have started as strangers, but before they left — they were friends, and many that we keep in touch with today. Our weekend’ work’ was also our ‘weekend getaway,’ and we loved meeting and socializing with the exciting variety of people that stay at B&Bs
 we loved our job!

Unfortunately, when the owners were ready to sell, we could not agree on the price. So we attended to the last guests on the books for that year, then the business closed and never reopened. We were devastated and lost. We didn’t know what to do with our weekends anymore and felt lonely with losing new friends each weekend.

Months later, while wine-ing again, we passed a property with a ‘For Sale’ sign in front of it. Because of the winding driveway up the mountain, we couldn’t see the house from the road, so we kept driving to the winery. On our way back, we decided to turn onto the driveway to look. We were instantly hooked; it was even better than the first inn! That sparkle was back in our eyes! Thinking we were leading with our hearts and not our heads, we looked seriously at all available properties in the area to be sure this would be the right one. And after months of looking. We decided it was!

Things moved fast since we placed our offer, and they accepted. So we started to box up our home of 15 years, one that we truly loved and invested in, and with great neighbors; and put it on the market. It sold the same time we were moving to Hillsboro, VA.

But our work and investment on the new property were far from done. Turning this private home on 10-acres with its’ beautiful panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the valley between the hills, and neighboring farms and vineyards into a licensed and permitted 5-guest room bed & breakfast was the next project.

Walls came down to enlarge rooms, and walls went up so each guest room had a private en-suite bathroom. We painted, repaired the pool surround, refinished the deck, and added planting beds, gardens, fountains, and walkways. Installed a second septic field, whole house humidifiers, and a tankless water heater to ensure there was plenty of hot water. We removed carpets and replaced them with hardwood floors. And we also built out the basement as the owner’s quarters so that guests could have the ability to not only rent all of the rooms for their own needs but could also rent the manor and the property to support day guests for numerous types of events.

We then purchased furniture, new mattresses, and luxury bedding. We crafted rock walls outside to give the property a more natural presence and added many plants with more to come. Finally, we added a fountain to the side patio and a fire pit to the front field with fantastic sunset views.

We know that running and managing a B&B isn’t for everyone. It isn’t a get-rich endeavor. But, it is a labor of love. We love the home, property, and views. And, we look forward to sharing this perfect place with all our guests, soon-to-be friends, and extended friends and family.

At Hidden View, we look forward to hosting your stay!

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: Get to Know The Global Local

June 27, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOT LIGHT: The Global Local

By: Tyra Flynn – Global Local, Leesburg, VA

 

“The Global Local is a buzzing, vibrant, local shopping space designed with the town square marketplace in mind. Every item is carefully curated for Loudoun County through a collection of
handpicked, local and global, socially-conscious vendors. We offer an eclectic mix of locals-only
home goods and apparel as well as specialty women’s, men’s and children’s gifts.”

Tyra Flynn standing outside The Global Local

I moved to DC in 1997 to work on my Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
I met my hubby, John in my second year, who was working for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. We married June 19, 1999 right here in Loudoun County at Raspberry Plain Manor
and were on our way overseas October 1, 2001!

We lived overseas for 15 years moving every 2 years to new and exotic locations throughout the
Middle East and Europe; India, Tunisia, Syria, Dubai, The Netherlands and Jerusalem. It was during
this time abroad that I fell in love with the global bazaar/souk type of shopping experience, and it
was here, in these markets that the dream of The Global Local was born. You didn’t go to the market
to just grab something and go home, you went for the experience. It was a social treat to wander
through the open air markets, mingling with locals and vendors alike, taking time to absorb all the sights, sounds and flavors that surrounded you. I came back to Loudoun County with the dream of recreating this exciting shopping space for locals in my community. Along the way, we grew our family and have 4 incredible kids who each will make their mark on the world in unique ways: Meaghen 21, Liam 18, Abby 16 and Evelyn 12. They have all been incredibly supportive of this journey and are my biggest cheerleaders!

 

We’re proud to help local consumers shop for mindful goods. We aim to spread positivity both at home and around the world. When selecting vendors, we prioritize the artists and brands that give back and our global vendors guarantee a living wage for their artisans.

Locally, we support several Loudoun Charities and Service Organizations such as Loudoun Cares, Women Giving Back, LAWS, the Loudoun Arts Council, Mobile Hope, and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. We are also actively involved in the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and have recently

joined the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun as a coalition partner. We are incredibly grateful to have been invited to be a resource partner for the Loudoun Bed and Breakfast Guild.

There are so many artists, entrepreneurs, makers and farmers, small businesses, and promising startups in our county! We have been so lucky to have collaborated with many of them and hope to continue adding local artists and businesses to our list of partners. First Fridays are BACK in downtown
Leesburg and we are so excited! We showcase a different artist every month, inviting them to do live demonstrations of their crafts for the duration of the evening. We also host artist workshops in our secret

garden, such as clay and metal earrings, flower bouquet making, and decoupage oyster shell dishes to name a few!

 

The best part about being a small business in Loudoun County, are the people. We have made meaningful relationships with fellow entrepreneurs that will last a lifetime. They inspire and encourage us, look out for and commiserate with us. And most importantly they are there to enjoy this incredible experience with us.

We are grateful everyday to the people of Loudoun County for helping to make our dream come true. We look forward to continuing to share our Global Local experience with you all!

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: Get to Know Kristina Bouweiri – CEO and Owner of Reston Limousine

June 3, 2022by Hillary Coley0 comments

Business SPOT LIGHTBy: Robin Cunningham (Reston Limo)

Many people have refined their “elevator pitch” to keep it concise and within the one-minute time frame we have all been instructed to perfect.

Reston Limo’s Fleet

Kristina Bouweiri has also perfected her elevator speech. But because her path to where she is now (owner and CEO of Reston Limo) was not a straight line, her elevator pitch is a bit longer than the prized one minute.

Born in Japan and having lived in more than six countries in 18 years, her parents were employed by the Foreign Service, Kristina never saw herself as a business owner settled in Loudoun County, VA but then again, her life isn’t a straight line.

After living overseas, Kristina came to the states to attend George Washington University where she’d graduate with a degree in International Affairs. While attending GWU, she got an internship with the Overseas Education Fund (whose mission it is to lift the status of women in third-world countries), and the plan was to follow in her father’s footsteps – especially when they offered her a job as a program associate for its African department – which took her Somalia and Kenya.

However, the straight line curved when she realized that the non-profit world was not for her, so she returned to the U.S. The job market was tough, but so is Kristina, and she took a commission only advertising sales job working out of the Westin Hotel in Washington D.C. Her days consisted of cold calling businesses she found in the yellow pages (for anyone scratching their head wondering what in the world that is, think of a paper/book version if Google and LinkedIn collided) and one day she stumbled on William Bouweiri, owner of Reston Limousine Service, Inc. He agreed to an appointment and Kristina made her advertising sales pitch. Not only did she seal the deal with a sale, but she got a date too! And again, the line took a turn when, less than a year later, their whirlwind romance led to marriage and Kristina joined William at Reston Limo.

When Kristina first joined William, Reston Limo was a fleet of five cars that serviced corporate clients. It didn’t take long for Kristina to recognize the value in diversifying the business and expanding their markets. With the wedding business booming here in Loudoun County, the most obvious market to pursue was the wedding industry and before they knew it, Reston Limo would routinely have 40+ weddings on the books each weekend! The next growth spurt for Reston Limo was when Kristina started bidding on government contracts – and winning every contract she bid on!

Not only was the business growing but William and Kristina’s family was as well. They quickly had four kids and knew they needed a bigger house, so William oversaw the building of their custom home in Leesburg while Kristina continued to work and grow the business. It wasn’t long before they realized that Kristina exceled at running Reston Limo and William loved being a stay-at-home dad. However, the line would curve again when they both realized that marriage wasn’t in their cards, so they divorced, and Kristina bought out William for sole ownership of Reston Limo.

Kristina continued to network, not only here in Loudoun County, but Maryland and Washington D.C. as well, and Reston Limo continued to grow. Today, besides weddings, wine tours, government contracts and airport shuttles; Reston Limo can be seen on the George Mason campus providing shuttle service for students, as well as providing shuttle service for well-known construction companies and their employees, local bus trips and sight-seeing tours, and car service for celebrities and dignitaries.

Anyone that has met Kristina would say she is a force of nature, and her list of accomplishments would certainly back that up:

In addition to growing Reston Limo to be one of the Top 10 largest luxury transportation companies in the nation, Kristina founded the monthly networking program Sterling Women and co-founded the annual Virginia Women’s Business Conference – two programs that have helped hundreds of women entrepreneurs and executives achieve their professional goals. She is an active business community leader and has served or currently serves on boards around the DC region and beyond, including Enterprising Women magazine DC Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Greater Washington, Northern Virginia Community College, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation, and Loudoun CEO Cabinet, among others. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at George Mason University’s School of Business, she helped launch a Women in Business Initiative program to support students, alumnae and other businesswomen.

Here it is 30+ years later, and the path to get to where she is today might not have been a straight one, and it might not fit into a one-minute elevator pitch, but it has led her be at the helm of Reston Limo where she has grown a fleet of five vehicles to a successful business, with affiliate partners all over the globe, and more than 200 vehicles in its fleet – from sedans to coach buses. 

So, the question is, where can Reston Limo take you?

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Community

Business SPOT LIGHT: “A Vacation for the Day That is Less Than an Hour Away”

April 20, 2022by Leslie Tharp0 comments
By: Leslie Tharp (Stone Gables B&B) and Robin Cunningham (Reston Limo)

David O Weinschel and Douglas Armstrong’s friendship has lasted longer than some marriages
39 years and the planets certainly aligned for these two to have met at all. 

Photo of Owners of Bluemont Station

David was born in New York, grew up in Reston, VA, and went to school in Florida where he studied Hotel & Restaurant Management, Travel & Tourism and Club Management.

Doug was born in Pennsylvania, lived in Africa, and traveled through Europe for 9 years (his father worked for the State Dept.). When Doug returned to the U.S., he began working in restaurants and hotels where he developed an appreciation for, and interest in, the hospitality industry.  Doug worked his way through night school and studied Accounting and Management.

In 1983 both Douglas and David were working at TGI Fridays Restaurant in Tyson’s Corner when they struck up a conversation and discovered that they each had a strong desire to work for themselves.  A friendship quickly formed, and they spent most weekends for the next four years working on a plan to open their own catering business. 

In 1985, they created Country Gourmet, a deli storefront, and within two years they opened their first dining establishment in Sterling.  The Country Gourmet quickly morphed into providing catering to executive jets at the Dulles Airport and by 1990 their corporate lunch and wedding catering business were thriving. They changed their name to Celebrations Catering and their company quickly became the most popular corporate catering company in the new frontier, known as the Dulles Corridor, for office lunches as well as holiday parties and team building events.

As the area grew in population and diversity, couples were discovering alternative locations for weddings other than hotels and social halls – couples and wedding planners were realizing the possibilities at wineries, barns, B & B’s, as well as spacious tents set up at parks and private estates.  Celebrations Catering was the first in the area to step up and meet these opportunities by providing catering at Selma, Oatlands and Morven Park, on a weekly basis.  With Celebrations Catering growing, David and Douglas charted their course to have their own wedding venue where they could continue to prefect their craft and provide their own catering to their clients.

One of their co-workers, who grew up in Round Hill, told them about an article in the Loudoun Times Mirror that mentioned a property for sale called Whitehall Farm.  David and Douglas took a ride to Bluemont to see Whitehall Farm, and the rest, as they say, is history.

They liked what they saw so they used their brick size cell phones to call the owners and asked permission to drive through the property.  They were greeted with open arms and developed a fruitful relationship with Mac (Zora) and Jim Brownell.  Once David and Douglas got the necessary county approvals, they bought the farm – so to speak.

It wasn’t long before Whitehall Farm became known for their high-quality events, and it also became clear they’d need more space to continue to grow so David and Douglas purchased the adjacent acreage.  In addition, they also expanded the Manor House so that as our area grows, they can continue to provide a superior event experience for both social and corporate events. 

During COVID, it became increasingly evident that the enjoyment of open space and family fun was moving outside – beyond the flat screen.  Prior to Covid, Whitehall Farm had been used for private, corporate, and social events; but truth be told, it is much too beautiful and scenic to not share it with the community.  And with that realization, a working Virginia Farm Winery and Brewery on the 50 fabulous acres named the Bluemont Station* was born. The brewery and farm winery are named after the old Southern Railway line that used to run between Alexandria and Bluemont right through their property.

Bluemont Station is celebrating their 10th year anniversary of growing wine grapes on the farm and their much anticipated, heirloom Wine Berries, will be a welcome addition to their seasonal craft beers.  Bluemont Station will continue to expand with more crops that are used in the production of their beers and wines; and Celebrations Catering continues to provide Bluemont Station a wide variety of flavorful food including Smashburgers, Bruschetta Trio, the Railroad Reuben Sandwich, Bavarian pretzels, and pizza.

A great source of pride for David and Douglas is that Bluemont Station team members include great planners, creative chefs, as well as dedicated bartenders and servers that will make any event a special and stress-free one.  Bluemont Station hires exceptional staff that provides top-notch customer service so guests can enjoy a sense of renewal while having fun with friends and family. 

Bluemont Station is open all year and their Facebook and Instagram followers are always up to date on activities and events, entertainment, hours of operation, and new seasonal menu selections. 

David and Douglas’ vision for the future is to continue with the same values they created 37 years ago and that is to provide delicious cuisine, one-of-a-kind craft beverages and quality events so that their guests realize that their “happy place” is still a “Vacation for the Day that is Less Than an Hour Away”. 

*As homage to the history of Bluemont, we are telling the story of the past and making it relevant for the future. Bluemont, previously called Snickersville, was a resort community in the early 1900’s with a hotel, boarding houses, ice cream parlor, dance hall, general store and movie theatre.  The Name “Bluemont Station” allows us to tell the story of the entire community that has grown up around the Station. As an example, 100 years ago, Washingtonians would come out by railroad from DC and Northern Virginia and the trains would bring milk and produce into “the city”.  Now, a newer generation is coming out by car and bicycle, dining and relaxing at our farm and those of our hospitality industry neighbors, lodging in the area, enjoying farm fresh foods, brews and wines from the region and bringing it back home to enjoy with other friends and family members; all the time planning their next visit to Bluemont Station.  

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Top 6 Reasons to Visit Loudoun’s Wine Country

April 14, 2019by Hillary Coley0 comments

One of the best things about visiting Northern Virginia is it feels like you could spend days visiting all the wineries, and still find more that you haven’t visited yet. Loudoun County alone boasts 44 of the 280 wineries in Virginia (16%) as of 2017, more than any other county in the Commonwealth.  The wineries are embraced by visitors and locals alike, with more wineries planned in the coming years.  If that isn’t reason enough to visit Loudoun County’s vineyards, here are more reasons to make your way here:

1. Enjoy the Country Vistas and Open Spaces

Loudoun County is nestled at the top of Virginia, surrounded by the Potomac River to the northwest and is surrounded by showcasing the Loudoun Valley which lies between the Catoctin and Bull Run Mountains to the east and also the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. The area is often hilly with some great vineyards like Bluemont making full use of these views. 

In addition, Western Loudoun also has a rich farming heritage leaving much of the land undeveloped and giving visitors a chance to see gorgeous country scenes, and plenty of land to explore.  Despite being rural and quiet, Loudoun County is very accessible thanks to the Dulles International Airport, and routes in and out of the county like the Dulles Greenway and historic Route 15.

2.  Visit Our Historic Sites

Loudoun County’s wineries are surrounded by history, thanks to the county’s strategic location during the Civil War.  For an outdoor adventure you can visit Ball’s Bluff Battlefield and National Cemetery. After that, you can visit one of our man historic homes including Oatlands Historic House and Gardens and Dodona Manor which was home to George C. Marshall of the Marshall plan.

3.  Not Just Wineries

Though you might be visiting some of the best wineries in Loudoun County such as Fabbioli Cellars, Bluemont Vineyard, or Crushed Cellars you might also be interested in the many craft breweries we have.  Make sure to take a look at Lost Rhino Brewery, Dragon Hops, and Crooked Run Brewing for some great atmosphere.

wineries in loudoun county love to do wine tastings using fluted glass

Alcohol not your style?  Maybe some tea will suit your fancy.

4.  Dine at our local farm to table restaurants

There is a lot of passion for farming in Loudoun and not just about the wine.  Many restaurants are interested in sourcing local and sustainable ingredients for your dinner table.  For instance, some of our favorite farm to table restaurants are The Restaurant at Potowmack Farm, Market Table Bistro, and Grandale Restaurant.

5.  Stay at our Bed and Breakfasts hosted by locals that will guide your stay

Most importantly, we had to mention the hosts of our Bed & Breakfasts in Loudoun County that will be happy to help you plan your D.C. wine country journey by giving you the best, local advice while enjoying your stay.  The experience can be anything from a beautiful historic home to your own private cottage in the beautiful rural landscape.  There are bed & breakfasts with pools, with wedding & event sites, and of course cozy rooms with breakfast!

Check out our Bed & Breakfast members here to learn more about staying in Loudoun County in style!


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