Event Registration

“Two Successful Entrepeneurs,” on creating businesses during the recession.

  • July 12, 2011
  • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • New Location: Mango Mike's, 4580 Duke Street, Alexandria

Registration

  • Non-Membesr of WEBA and Del Ray Business Association
  • WEBA Members and their guests and
    Del Ray Business Association Members and their guests

Registration is closed

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 6-8pm

“Two Successful Entrepeneurs,” on creating businesses during the recession. Co-sponsored by the West End Business Assoc. and Del Ray Business Association 
CHANGE OF LOCATION



NOW AT: MANGO MIKE’S

4580 DUKE ST

ALEXANDRIA

 Free to WEBA and DRBA members with a reservation (703-772-6716) or $10 for non-members or at the door. Cash Bar.

See updated flyer! 
July1220112.pdf

Speakers are Mike Anderson, owner of several restaurants,  and Eric Nelson, owner of Artfully Chocolate.

                                                                                   Mike Anderson on right

Eric Nelson was born in New York City, but has lived in the Washington area for more than 30 years.  Eric has bachelors and masters degrees in Economics. For most of his adult life, Eric was the vice president for international affairs for a telecommunications trade association.  He ended that aspect of his career in order to follow a creative instinct that he had never given full attention. 
 
Eric decided in his mid forties that he needed to jump off a figurative cliff and spend some portion of the rest of his life pursing his passion of becoming an artist.  At first, he put his artwork in galleries along the east coast, from Manhattan to Ft. Lauderdale.  Later, he decided he wanted more control over the marketing of his work and in 2006, he opened Artfully Chocolate, an art gallery come chocolate shop.  In 2007, Artfully Chocolate merged with Kingsbury Chocolates (another local chocolate business) to create Artfully Chocolate/Kingsbury Confections (most often known as ACKC Cocoa Bar).  Their first location was in Washington D.C. which opened in December 2007, followed by a location in the Del Ray section of Alexandria in June of 2008.
 
While Eric and Rob were opening ACKC Cocoa Bar in Washington, Eric and his domestic partner, Edward, saw another opportunity to open another store in Del Ray to showcase Eric’s artwork and in October 2007 opened Artfully Paperundefineda stationery, greeting cards store.  In 2010, they rebranded the store as Artfully Gifts & Chocolate and moved it to a spot near the King Street Metro.  In April 2011, Eric established a strategic marketing relationship with the iconic local ice cream producerundefinedGiffords. As part of the relationship, he took over the management of a Giffords ice cream shop in Chevy Chase and plans to rebrand it as ACKC in the fall of 2011.  All four stores are now carrying Giffords ice cream, in addition to ACKC chocolates and other unique products. 
 
Eric is currently the president of the Del Ray Business Association.  He also serves on the Board of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA) and on the MidCity Business Association in Washington.  He also serves in ex-officio status on the board of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership .  Eric currently lives in Alexandria with his domestic partner, Edward.

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