CREATIVE THINKING WORKSHOP
SMALL BUSINESSES + NONPROFITS 2025
EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN
January 17, 2025
11:00am - 2:00pm
WHERE
Hyattsville Library
6530 Adelphi Rd
Hyattsville, MD 20782
FREE!
This event is FREE to attend!
Space is limited, register below.
WHY ATTEND?
Please join us for a unique workshop that will teach you how to think creatively about your small business and nonprofit spaces. Attendees will learn about the latest federal, state, and county funding opportunities, building products and ideas on how to enhance “bricks and mortar” spaces. The event will be free for attendees. Funders will share numerous resources to get the financial support you need for your next capital project.
The conference will be held at the Hyattsville Library. Lunch will be provided.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER
Triple Line Studio is a woman-owned small business in Hyattsville, providing architectural services for small businesses and nonprofits. We work with clients to design their spaces - old or new, big or small, owned or leased - and amplify their mission to support their organization’s triple bottom line. From stakeholder engagement to concept plans we have the tools to coach them along the way. We provide the information they need to target grants, dazzle donors, interest investors, and launch a capital project to transform their organization.
AGENDA
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | REGISTRATION & COFFEE sponsored by ZEKE’S
Registration will open at 10:30 AM. Attendees are welcome to have a coffee sponsored by Zeke’s and network in the library lobby.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | INTRODUCTION & PRESENTATION
Triple Line Studio will open the event with highlights from the TLS Resource page. This will be followed by a presentation “Green Incentives: Federal, State, and Local Funding for your Capital Project!”
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | networking EXPO & lunch sponsored by Cocineros & ernest maier
Attendees will pick up a free lunch generously sponsored by Cocineros and Ernest Maier and tour the mini-expo talking to funding and project experts.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | WORKSHOPS
Participate in the break-out session/workshop of your choice.
PRESENTATION: “GREEN” INCENTIVES
“Green Incentives: Federal, State, and Local Funding for your Capital Project!”
JOSH STEINMETZ, PE, CEM
EIDE BAILLY
Josh directs the 179D Energy Incentives Team at Eide Bailly, providing federal tax benefits to clients with energy-efficient buildings. As a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Energy Manager, he also consults on the technical aspects of building design and economics while providing onsite expertise. Josh's attention to detail helps make the process of obtaining energy incentives smooth and effective. From onboarding to final certification, each project is handled with professionalism and accuracy. When he’s not looking at chillers, boilers and LED lighting, Josh enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, bowling and softball.
CAREY L. JONES
MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST
Carey L. Jones is a Preservation Officer with the Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit Program. In her current capacity Ms. Jones reviews state and Federal tax credit projects and provides technical support for owners of historic properties. Before joining MHT, Ms. Jones worked as a Senior Preservation Planner/Secretary to the Commission of Architectural Review for the City of Richmond, Virginia, where she was the primary point of contact for the local historic district program. Ms. Jones has a BA in History/Political Science from Rutgers University and an MA in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University.
KAYLEIGH Katzenberger
CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST
Kayleigh joined the trust in June 2022. She serves as the Program Coordinator for the Restoration team and manages the Anne Arundel Community Tree Planting Mini Grant Program. Prior to starting full time at the Trust, Kayleigh worked as the intern for both the programmatic teams and the development team while earning her B.S. in Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Born and raised in the Chesapeake Bay region, she has a passion for working with the Chesapeake and working toward preservation and restoration through education. She is excited to work with the Trust and help support them in any way they need to achieve their goals. When not working she enjoys spending time outside whether on the water or hiking in one of the many national areas Maryland offers.
WADE SEWELL
CLEARPATH RENEWABLES
Wade Sewell is an Environmental Scientist and Sustainability Consultant that founded two companies in the renewable energy industry. ClearGreen is a solar consultancy that helps residential and commercial clients procure high quality solar energy systems. ClearPath Renewables is a full service environmental commodity brokerage focusing on Maryland geothermal and solar renewable energy credits. Wade holds a Masters in Environmental Science from Drexel University and an MBA with a focus on Sustainability from the University of North Carolina. He's worked for DuPont, the US Army, and Arcadis before entering the world of entrepreneurship over 20 years ago. He's married with two children and serves as an elected member of the Harford County Board of Education and treasurer for Fallston Soccer. He enjoys mountain biking, kayaking, camping, exploring new geographies, and loves playing board games with his family and friends.
DORCAS OLAWUNI
PEPCO
Dorcas Olawuni is a Sr Program Manager with the Energy Efficiency Programs Team at Pepco Holdings, Incorporated, under Exelon. The programs that Dorcas runs are in the Pepco MD and Delmarva Power and Light (DPL) regions and they are the Small Business Program, the Energy Efficient Communities Program and the Combined Heat and Power Program, which are all Commercial and Industrial Programs. These are a few of the programs that are offered to helping businesses and organizations save money on their energy Bill and use energy efficiently.
CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL
MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION
Christopher Russell is the Energy Program Manager, State Buildings, Building Codes at the Maryland Energy Administration. Christopher is the author of “Managing Energy from the Top Down” and “North American Energy Audit Program Best Practices.” He holds an M.B.A. and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and a B.A. from McGill University. He is recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Energy Manager. He is an Advisory Board member for the Texas A&M Industrial Energy Technology Conference and for Brotman Financial Services.
MARGARET (MEG) CEFAIL
MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION
Margaret (Meg) Cefail is an Energy Program Manager with the Maryland Energy Administration. She works with a number of programs that help Maryland residents and organizations adopt clean, efficient, and resilient energy technologies. Meg has been with MEA for seven years and is proud to work with clean energy programs that assist Marylanders in their efforts to reduce the effects of climate change.
RAYYA NEWMAN, AIA, LEED BD+C, SEED
TRIPLE LINE STUDIO (EVENT ORGANIZER)
Rayya is a public interest architect and the founder of Triple Line Studio. Licensed in Maryland and DC, she has worked in the DC area for over 20 years. In 2017 her project, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, an adaptive reuse project in the heart of historic Hyattsville, won Preservation Maryland’s Community Choice Award. In addition to running her own firm, Rayya also teaches design studios as a professor at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.
LUNCH EXPO
EIDE BAILLY
Eide Bailly is a certified public accounting and business advisory firm committed to helping our clients grow, thrive, and embrace opportunities and innovation.
CLEARPATH RENEWABLES
ClearPath’s Mission: to return the greatest value to our customers from their renewable energy system investment.
MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINSTRATION
The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is to promote clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner. MEA will advance impactful energy policies and programs to help achieve Maryland’s clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST
The Chesapeake Bay Trust awards $20-30 million in grant funding each year to hundreds of nonprofits and community organizations throughout the region for hands-on projects that are ensuring cleaner, greener, healthier Chesapeake, Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny watersheds for years to come.
MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST
The Maryland Historical Trust is the state agency dedicated to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past. Through research, conservation and education, the Maryland Historical Trust assists the people of Maryland in understanding their historical and cultural heritage.
PEPCO ENERGY SAVINGS FOR BUSINESS
The Pepco Energy Savings for Business Program provides financial incentives for you to install new energy-efficient equipment in your business.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland is one of ten university-based centers across the country that provides communities with the tools and information necessary to manage change for a healthy environment and an enhanced quality of life.
WACIF
The Washington Area Community Investment Fund's (Wacif) mission is to promote equity and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C. region. Our mission is driven by three strategic pillars: inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development, and is fulfilled by providing access to capital products and services, and capacity-building technical assistance to low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs.
C & A ELECTRICAL & FIRE ALARMS
C & A, Inc. is a Maryland-based corporation specializing in Electrical and Fire Alarm remodeling construction.
WILLS DECORATING
For a huge selection of premium custom blinds, draperies, in-stock and special order wallpaper, flooring from ceramic tile, vinyl tile, laminates, and hardwood to carpet and Benjamin Moore paint visit Wills Decorating in Hyattsville, Maryland. Upholstery services are also offered. Whether you are a homeowner, business or contractor, our designers can help you pull it all together from the floor to the ceiling.
PNC BANK
PNC Bank offers a wide range of personal banking services including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans and much more.
EDGE ENERGY
EDGE Energy stands out as a six-time ENERGY STAR® Contractor of the Year with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We’re here to help eliminate your energy bills and get free from fossil fuels with high performance solar panels, heat pumps, and more.
ERNEST MAIER
Ernest Maier has been proud to manufacture and distribute innovative and sustainable building materials like low carbon concrete and fiberglass rebar for nearly 100 years from our home in Bladensburg.
WORKSHOPS:
KID FRIENDLY SPACES
In this workshop, participants will hear from expert architects on tips for kid friendly spaces. Whether it is a daycare, summer camp, art center, school, church, or restaurant, creating an environment that is welcoming for kids can put parents at ease and potentially expand your business.
JENNIE BLACK, AIA, WELL AP, LSSYB
HKS
With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in commercial and residential interior architecture. Jennie’s unique combination of historic preservation and architecture lend to her keen attention to detail in all design projects. Her passion for sustainability and wellness helps consider the impact on the users as well as the environment.
JOSEF FUENTES, AIA, LEED AP, PMP, LSSYB
HKS
Josef Fuentes has 20 years of experience across mixed use office/retail and healthcare projects. He is working at HKS Inc, a large full service architectural firm, and has been blurring his role as project manager and project architect. Additionally, he has been working on two projects under Citizen HKS (subgroup within HKS) for his passion in socially responsible work. He was one of the founders for the DC chapter of Architecture for Humanity (AfHdc) in 2005 where he was contributing his time to promote socially responsible design.
STOREFRONTS & SIGNAGE
In this workshop, Dean Dawn Jourdan, based on her extensive research, will share concepts to inspire your storefront and signage. Joined by Renee Harris from the City of Hyattsville participants can ask questions about their projects and how to get funding.
DAWN E. JOURDAN, ESQ., PH.D, AICP
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & PRESERVATION
Dawn Jourdan is the Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Dawn studies issues at the intersection of urban planning and law. Her book (with co-author Eric Strauss) Planning for Wicked Problems: A Planner’s Guide to Land Use Law, is used to train undergraduate and graduate students who pursue degrees in urban planning in applicable legal principles. Dawn is well-known for her work in the field of on-premise sign regulation. With an interdisciplinary group of scholars, she crafted a model sign code for the International Sign Association (ISA). She founded the Academic Advisory Council for Signage Research and Education and served as the editor of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Signage and Wayfinding. She currently serves as the chair of the Planners Outreach Subcommittee for ISA.
FIRE & LIFE SAFETY
In this workshop, architect Karla Brent, will share project examples who have utilized the Neighborhood Design Center’s Arts Space Technical Assistance Program to upgrade their spaces and make sure they meet fire and life safety code requirements.
KARLA BRENT
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER
Holding an architect license in the state of Maryland, Karla is developing the Arts Space Technical Assistance program at NDC. She offers guidance to local artists and arts groups in defining their spatial needs while also complying with life safety code. Her passion to uplift underserved communities began at Norwich University where she received her Masters of Architecture. In her thesis, Karla studied informal settlements and how water infrastructure can be constructed and implemented into communities without using heavy machinery. Outside of work, Karla can be found roller skating anywhere that she won’t get yelled at for it.
PARTNERS
Thank you to our partners!
