Black Business Database of Montgomery County, MD

Black Business Database of Montgomery County, MD Find a Local Black Owned Business in Montgomery County

🗳️ Before You Vote, Know What You Stand ForWith Montgomery County's Primary Election approaching on June 23, many voters...
06/18/2026

🗳️ Before You Vote, Know What You Stand For

With Montgomery County's Primary Election approaching on June 23, many voters are being flooded with campaign mailers, advertisements, questionnaires, and endorsements.

But before evaluating candidates, there is an important question every voter should ask:

What issues matter most to me?

For Black business owners, local elections can influence everything from permitting and licensing processes to economic development, public safety, transportation, workforce development, and access to opportunities.

In our latest BBD article, Tony Parchment explores a different approach to voting. Instead of starting with the candidates, start by identifying your priorities, understanding the challenges facing Montgomery County, and learning from trusted organizations and community leaders who have spent time researching the issues.

This article is not about telling anyone who to vote for. It's about making sure your vote reflects your values, your business priorities, and your vision for the future of Montgomery County.

Take a few minutes to read the article, get informed, and most importantly, make a plan to vote.

Read the full article here: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/68d30a9594728bc39aa24be94b319d21

🌟 Member Spotlight: Turning Self-Care Into a Daily PracticeFor **Maria Richardson**, Envisage Candle and Bath Company be...
06/16/2026

🌟 Member Spotlight: Turning Self-Care Into a Daily Practice

For **Maria Richardson**, Envisage Candle and Bath Company began with a deeply personal journey.

After supporting her daughter through treatment and recovery from childhood cancer, Maria found herself facing a challenge many caregivers understand all too well: learning how to care for herself after spending so much time caring for everyone else.

That experience inspired the creation of **Envisage Candle and Bath Company**, a Montgomery County-based business offering handcrafted candles, soaps, and bath products designed to encourage people, especially women, to slow down, recharge, and prioritize their well-being.

"Part of my brand's purpose is to continue to push the message that you matter," Maria shares. "Sometimes we need reminders because we're constantly giving ourselves away to other people."

Today, Maria handcrafts every product herself, carefully selecting ingredients and creating products that are both thoughtful and gentle for customers with sensitivities. Alongside running the business, she continues a successful career in the legal industry and recently completed the Montgomery County Black Collective's AMBER Fellowship Program.

Her mission remains simple but powerful: helping people create moments of peace, joy, and self-care in their everyday lives.

As Maria reminds us: "Do something for yourself. Don't feel guilty about it. Carve out that time. Those moments can make a world of difference."

Learn more: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/business-story/54229abfcfa5649e7003b83dd4755294

🗳️ Your Business Has a Voice. Are You Using It?When many business owners think about elections, they focus on national r...
06/10/2026

🗳️ Your Business Has a Voice. Are You Using It?

When many business owners think about elections, they focus on national races. But some of the decisions that most directly impact your business happen much closer to home.

County budgets. Small business programs. Contracting opportunities. Workforce development. Permitting and licensing processes. Economic development initiatives.

These local decisions shape the environment in which businesses operate every day.

In our latest BBD article, **"Your Business Has a Voice: Why Local Elections Matter More Than Many Black Business Owners Realize,"** we explore why staying informed, engaged, and active in local elections is an important part of business leadership.

This isn't about supporting a particular candidate or political party. It's about understanding the issues, learning where candidates stand, and ensuring that the voices of Black business owners are represented in conversations that impact our community and economy.

Awareness matters. Participation matters. Presence matters.

As election season approaches, take time to learn about the issues, attend candidate forums, ask questions, and most importantly, vote.

Read the full article here: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923

Member Spotlight: Building Systems That Run and Leaders That RiseStrong organizations need more than growth. They need s...
05/19/2026

Member Spotlight: Building Systems That Run and Leaders That Rise

Strong organizations need more than growth. They need structure, leadership, and systems that can support what comes next.

That is exactly what HR Boutique LLC was built to provide.

Founded by Precious Jewell, HR Boutique partners with nonprofits, healthcare providers, schools, construction and engineering firms, and growing businesses that are ready to professionalize their people operations and strengthen leadership from within.

From HR systems, payroll technology, and compliance frameworks to executive coaching and leadership development, HR Boutique helps organizations create the operational backbone needed for sustainable growth.

As Precious says, “We don’t just hand clients a binder. We partner with them until the systems run and the leaders rise.”

Since launching in 2023, HR Boutique has continued building momentum across Montgomery County through leadership programs, workforce initiatives, HR trainings, and participation in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Most recently, the company secured its Maryland Health Care Staff Agency license and continues pursuing growth opportunities through government contracting and scalable workforce solutions.

At the heart of the business is a simple but powerful belief: organizations do their best work when their people, systems, and leadership are built to last.

Learn More: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/business-story/8613985ec49eb8f757ae6439e879bb2a

🔑 Strong businesses are not built on growth alone. They are built on protection, structure, and preparation.Our BBD BAIL...
05/12/2026

🔑 Strong businesses are not built on growth alone. They are built on protection, structure, and preparation.

Our BBD BAIL Team series continues with Parts 3 and 4, focused on two areas many business owners postpone until something goes wrong: Insurance and Legal.

In these latest articles, we explore:
• Why insurance is more than a requirement and should be part of your growth strategy
• How proper legal guidance helps protect your business, contracts, brand, and future opportunities
• The importance of building strong advisor relationships before challenges arise
• How proactive planning creates stronger, more sustainable businesses

The BAIL Team series is designed to help business owners strengthen the foundation behind the scenes so they can grow with greater confidence and clarity.

📘 Part 3: Protect What You’re Building: Why Insurance Is a Business Strategy, Not an Expense
https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/43ec517d68b6edd3015b3edc9a11367b

📘 Part 4: Build It Right From the Start: How Legal Guidance Protects and Positions Your Business
https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/9778d5d219c5080b9a6a17bef029331c

Member Spotlight: Turning Products Into Meaningful Brand ExperiencesBranded merchandise is often treated as an afterthou...
05/05/2026

Member Spotlight: Turning Products Into Meaningful Brand Experiences

Branded merchandise is often treated as an afterthought. A logo on a pen. A giveaway at an event.

But for Audrey Awasom, it’s something much more intentional.

As President and CEO of Luminary Branded Solutions, Audrey partners with businesses, organizations, and government agencies to create product experiences that go beyond visibility and actually build connection, loyalty, and lasting impressions.

Her approach is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: people remember how you make them feel. Through thoughtfully designed products, Luminary helps brands extend that feeling long after an interaction ends.

From custom event experiences to employee appreciation and strategic brand moments, Audrey and her team focus on creating items that people don’t just receive, but keep, use, and remember.

What started as a natural instinct for transformation has grown into a strategic business, one that is now focused on expanding production capabilities and creating more opportunities locally within Montgomery County.

For organizations looking to move beyond standard promotional items and create something truly memorable, Luminary Branded Solutions offers a different way to think about brand impact.

Learn more: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/business-story/7647966b7343c29048673252e490f736

Most business owners focus on visibility, sales, and growth. But what truly sustains a business is the foundation behind...
04/28/2026

Most business owners focus on visibility, sales, and growth. But what truly sustains a business is the foundation behind it.

That’s why we’ve launched a new BBD series: The BAIL Team.
Banker. Accountant. Insurance. Legal.

These are not just service providers. They are strategic partners who help you make smarter decisions, manage risk, and position your business for long-term success.

We’re kicking off the series with the first two articles:

• Your Banker Is Not Just for Loans: How to Build a Financial Partner Who Supports Your Growth
• More Than Taxes: How the Right Accountant Helps You Make Smarter Business Decisions

If you’re serious about building a business that lasts, these are relationships worth investing in.

Read both articles and start strengthening your foundation:

Banker: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/d1fe173d08e959397adf34b1d77e88d7

Accountant: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/f033ab37c30201f73f142449d037028d

Member Spotlight: Turning Experience Into ImpactAfter more than two decades working in child welfare, education law, and...
04/21/2026

Member Spotlight: Turning Experience Into Impact

After more than two decades working in child welfare, education law, and crisis response, Stacy Reid Swain is building something deeply needed for families navigating complex systems.

Through Axion Legal Strategy, Stacy brings together her experience in law, advocacy, care coordination, and family support to help individuals move through some of life’s most overwhelming moments with clarity and confidence.

From supporting families through special education challenges to helping adult children care for aging parents, her work sits at the intersection of legal guidance and real-life decision-making. It’s not just about understanding the system. It’s about helping people move through it.

As Stacy shares, “Sometimes they need legal advice. Sometimes they need someone to help them understand the system and communicate with providers. Sometimes they need both.”

Rooted in Montgomery County and shaped by a lifetime of service, Axion Legal Strategy reflects a simple but powerful mission: helping families navigate difficult transitions with dignity, compassion, and informed support.

Read more: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/business-story/2a38a4a9316c49e5a833517c45d31070

🌱 Building the Future Workforce Starts TodayMontgomery County is full of opportunity. But for many young adults, especia...
04/14/2026

🌱 Building the Future Workforce Starts Today

Montgomery County is full of opportunity. But for many young adults, especially first-generation-to-college students, the path from education to career is not always clear.

That’s where Future Link is making a difference.

In our latest BBD feature, we take a closer look at how Future Link is helping close the opportunity divide by providing long-term support, career coaching, mentorship, and direct connections to employers.

As they share, “Future Link doesn’t just prepare students for the next step. We launch them into sustainable career pathways.”

For business owners, this is more than a community initiative. It’s an opportunity to build a stronger, more prepared talent pipeline while making a meaningful impact.

From hosting paid internships to mentoring and partnerships, there are real, practical ways to get involved.

If you’re thinking about workforce development, hiring, or how to invest in the next generation of professionals, this is a conversation worth being part of.

Read the full article and learn how you can connect with Future Link: https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/article/35f4a8d465e6e1edc05f3d8ab658c551

Member Spotlight: Reinvention as a Business ModelSome businesses are built from a single idea. Others are built through ...
04/07/2026

Member Spotlight: Reinvention as a Business Model

Some businesses are built from a single idea. Others are built through experience, resilience, and the willingness to start again.

This week, we’re spotlighting Cenita Johnson-Jackson, founder of Three Owl Communications Inc., a marketing and communications company rooted in storytelling, reinvention, and purpose.

After a 29-year career in fashion and entertainment, caregiving for her father, and navigating multiple life transitions, Cenita rebuilt her path through digital marketing and content creation. What began as a creative outlet, her YouTube show Aging with Purpose, has grown into both a platform for impact and a powerful marketing engine.

Today, through her boutique agency Digital Vault Media, Cenita works with mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, and personal brands to create meaningful, strategic social media content that connects and resonates. Her work is guided by a clear belief: businesses that lead with purpose tell better stories.

Her journey is a reminder that reinvention is not a setback. It is a strategy.

Now rooted in Silver Spring and deeply connected to Montgomery County’s business ecosystem, Cenita continues to build, create, and help others share their stories with clarity and impact.

https://database.theblackbusinesscouncil.org/business-story/c7e1249ffc03eb9ded908c236bd1996d

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Kensington, MD
20895

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