The Color of Space
Entrepreneurs find their businesses' white space
What Grifasi understood was that the mass market in eyewear was taken by national brands. Instead, he built a brand around quality. His second shop, located in Dupont Circle, focuses on personalized services providing patients and customers with state-of-the-art, unique eyewear in an elegant, relaxed environment where sophisticated staff assist in the selection of eyewear that reflects an individual’s personality and lifestyle.
Sean Bugg’s career path has taken him from the private sector to the world of nonprofits. Since 2000, he has lead Metro Weekly, Washington’s LGBT newsmagazine, with Randy Shulman. First as editor then as co-publisher, Bugg helped guide the magazine’s growth from a small publication into a nationally recognized source of news and features, both in print and online. “During my time as co-publisher of the magazine, I created the Metro Weekly Next Generation Awards to recognize the accomplishments and potential of LGBT leaders under the age of 30,” Bugg recollects. The awards program has now gone “24/52/365” as the Next Generation Leadership Foundation with Bugg as executive director.
Bugg will work to achieve the goals of the organization, including: fundraising activity, administration, programming, finances, relationship building, and working with the board of directors to oversee the direction to get NGLF established as the first of its kind organization geared toward the development of LGBT youth leadership.
Both entrepreneurs have a deep understanding of their market and found the white space to implement visions that will succeed through dedication, hard work and continued creativity.
Ernesto Santalla, Chamber president, is also president of Studio Santalla Inc., an architectural and interior design firm.
Winner of the 2012 NGLCC Chamber of the Year Award, the Chamber means business. For more information, visit caglcc.org.
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