LFVA December 2018 Newsletter – Law Firm Vendors Association

What better way to close out 2018 than with a great party at Fig and Olive? This year’s LFVA Holiday Event was a huge success thanks to the hard work of Stacy Fischbach and the Events Committee. While Center City is always a great place to host an event, this time of year it is even more festive. Fig and Olive provided an exceptional space to spend time relishing great food and drink and enjoying the fellowship of friends and business partners. LFVA thanks each of you that attended and took time out of your schedule to join us during this busy time of year.

I also want to thank Lori DiCesare, head of our charity committee, for introducing us to Susan Esserman, Founder and Director of University of Maryland Safe Center. While it was difficult to hear Ambassador Esserman, she briefly spoke about the mission of Safe Center and their fight to combat human trafficking that occurs both globally and right here in Washington DC. For more information on how you can help support this group, please visit www.umdsafecenter.org.

I hope you had a prosperous 2018. In today’s changing business environment, one thing that never changes is our appreciation of the support you show the members of the LFVA. As we heard from Colonel Nicole Malachowski, at our Fall speaker event, as we approach 2019 and the “headwinds” we all must work through within our different organizations, that support we give each other will help make next year a success!

On behalf of all the members of the LFVA, I want to wish you Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Craig

News and Resources

It’s time to renew your Capital Chapter sponsorship! Please click here to download the 2019 Business Partner Program brochure & registration form.

Event Registration Guidelines

Diversity & Inclusion

How to Make Holiday Celebrations More Inclusive

December 2018 Diversity Observances

Community Service

Check Us Out!

Our Website

LFVA Newsletter Committee

Meghan Dunn, ADC Corp.

David Noel, MOI, Inc.

Brian Alvarez, MOI, Inc.

LFVA Holiday Party

This year the LFVA kicked off the holiday season by hosting their annual party on November 29^th at the beautiful Fig & Olive in City Center. As always, it was great seeing old friends and new getting together, enjoying good food and a festive atmosphere.

The evening’s festivities commenced in the airy second floor event space that showcased the beautiful views of the holiday decorations in City Center. Fig & Olive was so named as a tribute the French Region of Provence where fig and olive trees are abundant and represent peace and prosperity. Provence has long been a crossroads of people, cultures and flavors which has influenced all aspects of the Fig & Olive Restaurant.

The featured food of the evening was casual and included a seafood bar and a prime rib serving station with delicious green beans. There was a decadent dessert bar and, needless to say, nothing went to waste!

The Fig & Olive was created with a belief in ‘the magic of Mediterranean cuisine, concentrating on fresh and simple ingredients to feed both the body and the mind.’ This belief is translated in a contemporary and sophisticated yet relaxed way that set the ideal tone for the evening.

To all who joined us and those who could not, thank you for another wonderful year and may 2019 bring you all health, wealth and happiness!

UMD Safe Center for Human Trafficking Survivors

For the year 2018, the LFVA helped support the organization, UMD Safe Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, by way of a donation to help their cause. The Center’s mission is two-fold. First, providing survivor-centered and trauma-informed service that empower trafficking survivors to heal and reclaim their lives. Secondly, to prevent trafficking and better serve survivors through research and policy advocacy.

Just recently, on August 9th of 2018, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced some new anti-human human trafficking initiatives. During a press conference, Gov. Hogan granted $5 million to help victims with direct services such as a 24-hour talk-line, an emergency shelter, among others. Additionally, he gave $4 million in new grants to combat against gangs and violent criminal networks. This was an immense step forward to assisting the SAFE Center. As of August, the SAFE Center has served approximately 80 victims and families since its conception in 2016.

We had the pleasure of having Ambassador Susan G. Esseman attend our event in November. Not only is she founder of the Center, but is also a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she heads the firm’s international trade policy practice and has been active in firm management. Pictured below is Ambassador Susan G. Esseman accepting the donation from Craig Church (LFVA) and Lori DeCesare (LFVA).

To learn more about the Center and see how you can help, please visit https://www.umdsafecenter.org/.

LFVA Member Spotlight

Miller’s Supplies At Work

Miller’s Supplies at Work has only one goal: Making you feel like our only customer. By offering delivery to your department, dock and even your desk at times. We put personalized service first to help you focus on what matters most. Miller’s Supplies at Work is a local company that achieves personalized service for local customers aimed to benefit you and your community. In the long term, the benefits of you shopping local plants seeds in your community that blossom over time. Here are three reasons why it benefits you to support your community by buying from small local businesses.

Keep Funds in Your Community

According to research by the American Independent Business Alliance, up to 48 percent of each purchase at local small businesses is recirculated into the community. While only 14 percent of purchases at chain stores recirculate in the local community. Help keep funds in your community by shopping locally. When you shop locally your money will eventually circulate toward better schools, libraries, and parks in your neighborhood.

Personalized Customer Service

Research shows 86 percent of US consumers consider customer service and being customer focused when choosing small businesses highly important. Having a dedicated customer service support team allows customers to have a personalized experience. It’s a stark difference between calling a large call center that bounces you around to any available representative. A personalized customer service experience that allows one to learn customers needs is highly important to 84 percent of US consumers. At Miller’s Supplies at Work we pride ourselves on the personalized customer service we provide because we know each of our customers are unique.

Local Business Give Back More than Others

Miller’s Supplies at Work donates generously to local organizations. Just to name a few we’ve donated to the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Winchester and the Capital Area Food Bank. As well as thousands of students through our Annual Back-to-School Donations program. According to Community Business Finance, 92% of small business owners personally donate to charities and nonprofit organizations. Generally, the work of local charities and organizations are very important to the longevity of a community.

Benefits of giving back to your community by committing to shop local year-round has a long-term impact. Miller’s Supplies at Work provides multiple categories to workplaces in the DMV including, coffee, office supplies, janitorial solutions and more. Please consider your community before shopping any other than small local businesses.

Miller’s Supplies at Work is a woman-owned small, local business headquartered in Virginia and operates in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. We offer a customized platform, free next day delivery and dedicated personalized customer service.

Website: www.millersatwork.com