AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Eleventh to speak before March 14th’s Monday Referral Group Luncheon was Emily Hofnagel of Fairway Independent Mortgage Company. Her comfort and poise in doing so was evident. Hofnagel is a regular member of the Monday Referral Group, one of three groups of business owners facilitated by the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce. Members get together from noon to 1 pm every other Monday in a meeting room at members Billy and Nancy Greer’s Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi in Arnold.
For a change, however, the group hosted Monday’s celebratory luncheon to bring everyone together in-person after many months of strictly zoom meetings. They also invited some new business owners to try the group on for size.
Daneille Ortiz, who coordinated the get-together, kicked things off by having everyone introduce themselves after which there was time to mingle and network.
According to Ortiz, all three of the Chamber’s referral groups are limited to having just one member from a given industry. Thus, the groups tend to be small but diversified in their interests. The small group structure allows time for members to really get to know each other.
“We’re able to support each other because we know each other’s businesses so well that, when our friends or acquaintances need a specific service, we can recommend someone from our group with full confidence they can do the job,” Ortiz said.
Denise Hightower, a partner in Tree Branch Group, a digital marketing firm, agrees that keeping the group small has its benefits.
“We tend to stay involved in the referral group over a long period of time. I’ve been a member for four years and Danielle, Liz, Nancy, and others have been with it as long or longer,” she said.
One-on-one conversations between the established members and those considering joining were especially helpful.
About twenty minutes into the gathering, it was announced that lunch was served and attendees filed through the buffet line for tacos with all the makings, fruits and desserts contributed by members.
Lunch was a leisurely affair. Between bites, Macaroni Kid Pasadena publisher Laura Colquhoun and realtor Holly Gue exchanged information about each other’s businesses. Macaroni Kid is a Kids’ Website and weekly online newsletter. The Pasadena-based business is hosting some upcoming events that Colquhoun was particularly excited about.
The most interesting part of the event occurred toward the end when everyone in attendance was allowed 30 seconds to explain precisely what their business was about.
The 30-second snapshots of their businesses ran the gamut from practical to creative and fun-inspired to health and wellness-inspired.
Nancy and Billy Greer started with descriptions of the mind and body benefits of the martial arts Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Qi Gong taught by Jing Ying Institute (which attendees caught a glimpse of on their way to the upstairs meeting room).
On the practical side, Mark Belcher noted that he was with First Financial Residential Loans. Having just joined the Chamber, he said he’s pleased about the contacts he’s made and advice he’s received from the moment he joined and appreciated the invitation to the Monday Referral Group luncheon.
Mark Belcher of First Financial Residential Loans was one of the youngest, most enthusiastic attendees 
Alex Cisneros is a personalized insurance producer.
Next came Alex Cisneros who described himself as a personalized insurance producer while Lou Facciponti spoke about his work as a USIS commercial insurance broker. Holly Gue, with the Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Integrity, said she is primarily involved with residential real estate. Emily Hofnagel, as mentioned before, is with Fairway Independent Mortgage Company.
In a different vein, but equally practical according to Hightower, is Tree Branch Group which specializes in website development, social media, video conferencing, films and large-scale virtual events.
On the creative side, Christy, a yogi, has started a non-profit called Maryland Yogi to bring yoga lovers, business owners, creatives, and teachers together in enriching and fun ways. Her organization is hosting a Flower Moon Flow Social at The Metropolitan Rooftop in Annapolis on May 16.
Colquhoun’s Macaroni Kid publishes listings of child friendly events throughout Pasadena, Severna Park and Glen Burnie each week. Macaroni Kid will mark its first-year anniversary with a special event and a Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber ribbon cutting.
Kelly and Maurice Cornwell said they find life is but a dream these days running Dream Vacations, a travel agency specializing in Holy Land tours, cruises and other forms of travel.
“We do everything for you but the packing,” said Kelly.
Liz League and Allison Jesse from the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber spoke about the organization’s many benefits and activities including their upcoming Shop Local Fun Fiesta which will take place at Park Plaza on Saturday, May 7, from 11 am to 3 pm.
Lastly, on the health and wellness front, Danielle Ortiz took the floor to speak about her business Cascades of Wellness and the benefits of the nutritional products of Q Sciences including the pink beverage she contributed to the buffet which was not only delicious but provides energy for the body and enhances concentration.
Danielle thanked everyone for coming and noted that anyone can attend two Monday Referral Group meetings without joining to see if it’s right for them.
A new look for Fishpaws MarketPlace
For those of you who haven’t stopped by in a while, Fishpaws MarketPlace has a fresher look. According to owner Kim Lawson, after years of wear and tear, the floor needed to be replaced.
“The old floor was the same one we’d put in seventeen years ago when we did our reconstruction,” Lawson said. “It really needed to be redone. We’re so pleased with the result. We’re still changing a few things around.”
The marketplace was originally a tavern and gas station in the 1930’s and was owned by the Fishpaw family from the 1940’s through 1960’s. It changed hands a couple times before being purchased by Kim Lawson and her parents, Brad and Chris, in 1982. In 2004, the Lawsons tackled a major reconstruction turning the building into the marketplace seen today that features gourmet foods, and a selection of beer, wines and spirits.
Partners In Care presenting a Data Care Program at Woods Church
Internet technology can be confusing, especially for seniors. If you’re an older adult and you’re concerned about the safety of your personal information, join Partners In Care for a Data Care lesson at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, March 16 from 2 to 3 pm.
