Chamber Insider Blog

To see the FULL list of SBA Finalists, click here.
Thanks, Donna Fortier, of Mobile Hope, and congratulations on your nomination! 
Click here to see all of the “Meet the Finalists” posts.  
The 22nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards is Friday, November 4th!  Register Here

1.  Tell us your story of how your company got to where it is today?
When the issue of youth homelessness was brought to my attention, I didn’t believe something like that could exist in our community. After doing significant due diligence and finding out that it did indeed exist, I left a great paying job and new it was my mission to be the voice for these unacknowledged, invisible and silent kids.

Realizing there were kids in our community with no safe place to call home, it was important for me to create a program that these kids can come to feel safe, loved and supported. Having them refer their friends to us, who too are living in very difficult circumstances, is taken as a badge of honor and proves we are making a very positive impact on them. We work every day to listen to them, not judge them and put a sense of calm on the chaos in which they live. We focus on how they can reach their dreams and become successful and productive members of our community. From helping them graduate High School to getting jobs or enlisting in the military we work every day getting them back on track.

When they choose to come to volunteer with us or just hang out and talk, we know we making a positive difference. Teaching them life isn’t easy and people can be cruel, but rising above that and learning how to deal with difficulties is something we all have to work on. Choosing to do more for these kids is important and something we take seriously. They weren’t given a choice for the life they were given. These kids have been living in survivor mode every day with no true support system and this creates challenges that we work together to overcome. Saving our future one child at a time is how we start each and every day! It was vitally important for me to create a nonprofit that is community owned, community valued and community supported and that is where Mobile Hope is today and that is a value we will not change!

2.   What would it mean to you and your company to win a Small Business Award?
Winning the SBA awards would mean a tremendous amount in, not only acknowledging the hard work that we do every day to help better the lives of “our Kids”, but would also go a long way in helping to raise awareness on an issue that is hard to accept exists in our community and throughout the nation.

3.   If you weren’t running your own business, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t running my own business I would be relaxing with my kids at the beach. 

4.   What book are you reading right now? / What is your favorite book?
I have just started reading “The Girl on a Train.” I have several favorite books as my interest is very eclectic… from the classics to Dr. Seuss.

5.  What is your favorite app (computer/phone)?
My favorite app is Shazam. This is the best app, as it listens to music and gives you the name of the song, the album and lyrics.

6.   If you have 24 hours off, and your family was out of town, what would you do?
Unfortunately, I’d probably be cleaning my house as it is often neglected because I’m busy running a business.

7.  What is the smallest thing that has made the largest impact on your business?
The smallest thing that has had the most impact on me are the smiles and hugs we receive every day from the “kids” we help. Helping them through some of their most difficult times, and being able to see them smile as they realize their current situation doesn’t define who they are is so emotionally impactful and truly keeps us going. 

8.  What did you want to be when you grew up? / What was a childhood dream that you had?
My childhood dream job was to be a surgeon with operation smile, traveling the world helping to fix cleft palates and facial deformities and putting smiles on children’s faces was what I always thought I would end up doing.

9.  Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?
I can’t say one person has been the most influential as it has been my parents. Being an Army brat and an only child, I grew up traveling a lot, which meant meeting new people and making new friends every 2 years. Having my parents as a constant positive influence has led me to jobs that have always had a community engagement focus.

10.   What is your favorite thing about living/running a business in Loudoun County?
My favorite thing about living and running a business in Loudoun is how compassionate and giving our community is. It is humbling how many people in Loudoun want to get involved, give back or make positive change! While we are a large county, the atmosphere here feels more of a small town, and that is my favorite thing about living and working here.

 Thanks, Donna Fortier, of Mobile Hope, and congratulations on your nomination! 
Click here to see all of the “Meet the Finalists” posts.  
The 22nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards is Friday, November 4th!  Register Here