Mason Enterprise Center 
Fairfax
 
December 2019 Newsletter  
MEC-FairfaxMECfairfax
FedWriters receives grant from City of Fairfax
The Fairfax City Economic Development Authority awarded the City Connected $15,000 Grant to FedWriters, a professional writing, communication, and analysis company that is "graduating" from the city-supported MEC-Fairfax and relocating to a commercial location within the city - and committing to investing in either the creation of new jobs or the permanence of a business in Fairfax City. Founded in 2010 by Mitchell Cho, FedWriters has grown to a staff of 65 employees and, in 2019, ranked #146 on the Inc500 list of fastestgrowing companies in America. Christopher Bruno, director of the Fairfax City Economic Development Office, said, "Businesses like FedWriters contribute substantially to success of Fairfax through additional economic activity, and a clear endorsement of the advantages of conducting business here in the city, adjacent to George Mason University." Cho praised the MEC as "an invaluable resource for helping grow FedWriters," adding, "the support staff and services are incredible, the building amenities are top notch, and the real office location gives the startups credibility they need to grow effectively. We continuously strive to grow our connection to the university, and our location right in the heart of the City of Fairfax make us a very convenient location for Mason interns and recent grads to work with us."
MEC-Fairfax new initiatives
The MEC-Fairfax has introduced a number of new initiatives designed to help small businesses and startups grow and succeed.  Like many small business owners, MEC clients can get bogged down working in their business instead of focusing on working on their business.  Our mission is to encourage business owners to focus on the big picture, plan, and strategize for success, not micromanage simple tasks. In 2019, the MEC established several partnerships with large corporations to introduce new benefits, with the objective of expanding support services to our clients to help them concentrate on working on their business and alleviate their day-to-day burdens.  These services include HR & payroll solutions with Paychex, online bookkeeping and tax accounting services through KPMG Spark, group medical insurance plans with Kaiser Permanente, banking services with a number of local banks, including Atlantic Union Bank. 
 
In addition, the MEC has recruited six highly respected experts to provide advice and guidance to MEC clients on specific subjects, ranging from taxation, contract law, IP protection, branding, to valuation and exits.  These in-house mentors have been able to help companies navigate treacherous negotiations, refine strategies, and work on new marketing plans. Lastly, the MEC has established two pilot programs for high-growth companies.  The first one, through the City of Fairfax EDA, will give a $5,000 grant to promising companies which move in to the MEC. The second sponsorship program with Atlantic Union Bank, designed for high-tech or science-based companies spun off from universities or other research institutes, covers 50 percent of the rent for up to a year. At the MEC
MEC-Fairfax launches 2020 Lunch & Learn Series
The MEC launches its 2020 Lunch & Learn series on Wednesday, January 29 with The 2% CEO Habits of Profitability.™ Led by Kirk W. McLaren, CEO of Foresight CFO, this workshop is designed for business owners who are focused on growing the top line while not leaving money on the table. In 75-minutes, participants will learn how to use the numbers to win more customers, keep the customers you have, have the people and capacity to perform, and earn top percentile financial results., Impact Financial Management Certification instructor, the growth financial management lecturer at Georgetown University graduate studies, and author of The 2% CEO Club™. 
 
Kirk holds an MBA and M.A. in Finance & Accounting, M.A. in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS, Graduate Certificate in International Business from Georgetown University, Bachelors of Science from University of Maryland University College, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), and earned his Impact Financial Management Certification (IFM). His love for small businesses led to the development of the Impact Financial Management™  method to develop CFO's into Growth CFO's and guide their performance. Growth CFO's are not traditional compliance/accounting officers in any sense of the world. 
MEC-Fairfax welcomes CV Inc.
CV, Inc. is an Asian American small business DBE/MBE firm established in 2009 providing engineering and support services. Being a small firm, CV, Inc. offers the unique advantage of a small firm owner-to-client accountability combined with impressive depth of experience, and resource capability to meet the project demands of any scope or size. Our operation methodology is defined by three principles - "...Communication leading to Transparency...", "...Training leading to Efficiency...", and "...Innovation leading to Creativity...".
MEC-Fairfax welcomes Gallant Gold Media LLC
Gallant Gold Media LLC is an Independent Media Company headquartered in metro Washington, DC.
Focusing on Capitol Hill Report, Books, Music, Events, Performances... positivity, inspiration, and Climate Action.
MEC-Fairfax welcomes Kindness Cloud Foundation
The Kindness Cloud Foundation is a nonprofit foundation committed to the cause of increasing amount of Kindness in the World. Our goal is to encourage a Movement of Kindness. In focusing on Kindness, we are trying to go beyond merely reacting to all the challenges and injustices in the world, as important as these may be. We are also trying to create a vision of, and to support, a World Working Well. We are focused on positivity.

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