This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on November 4th, 2021. Last year’s column – “Holidays with a twist” – noted that the 2020 holiday season was challenged by pandemic restrictions, but it highlighted ways we could still make the most of Alexandria’s… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on September 2nd, 2021. The pandemic has upended our lives for 19 months, but it’s taught us some worthwhile lessons to reflect on. We’ve been reminded of essential business operations principles. We now practice self-care. We’ve… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on August 5th, 2021. Just when we thought we had turned the corner, we’re now dealing with more uncertainty, and perhaps something of a setback. We’re again being encouraged to wear masks – vaccinated or not… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on July 1, 2021. How long did it take for you to feel comfortable not wearing your mask in public? We’re making our way through this awkward period known as we “return to normal”. On one… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on June 3, 2021. After the last year and a half of the pandemic, many of us are ready to get out and experience the fresh air, warm weather and human interaction. Easing of pandemic restrictions… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on May 6, 2021. Hope springs eternal. All the indicators seem to be headed in the right direction and social distancing restrictions are scaling back. Many of us have begun taking small steps toward the lifestyle… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on March 4, 2021. Going into the pandemic was chaotic and unpredictable and we had to make consequential decisions on the fly. The road ahead certainly has its share of unpredictability, but the rollout of vaccines… Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on January 7, 2021. As we closed out 2020 there was unanimous consensus that it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year in almost every respect. As we toasted the incoming 2020, we had… Read more »

This week’s post was written by Ray Sidney-Smith of W3 Consulting, social media consultant and facilitator of the monthly Roundtable for the Alexandria SBDC.  As the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, started to circulate around the United States, Alexandria, Virginia small businesses began being impacted around March 14th when the City of Alexandria declared a local emergency…. Read more »

This post is written by Bill Reagan, Executive Director of the SBDC and first appeared in the Alexandria Times on December 3, 2020. This has been a year when familiar terms took on new meaning and significance. Examples – “community spread,” “flattening the curve,” “nonessential businesses” and “pivot.” Let’s explore pivoting. Among the imperatives for… Read more »